The Sounds of Football

When Thanksgiving approaches, we look forward to many things. Meeting with family (for some), eating as much food as humanly possible, or relaxing with a great after dinner turkey nap. For me, while I look forward to these things as well, another important part of enjoying Thanksgiving is football, but not for the conventional reasons. What I mean is that, while I am a football fan, I am not the biggest fan. I know a bit about the game, and the big names and the teams, and do enjoy to watch. But for me, the sounds of football shape the background music for the holiday. I grew up with football on the television throughout my childhood, since my father is a very big fan of the sport. So, my memories of Thanksgivings past include football as much as they do eating or meeting with my family. I would sleep in, until around 11 a.m., and wake up to hear the television with sounds of whistles, tackles, huddles, and announcers telling us about the game. I would walk out into the living room, where the sun would peek through the trees and shine through the 12' x 7' window, shedding light throughout the house. The cool brisk air outside can be seen in the breath of the players, while I cozied up on the couch with my favorite blanket and my dog. After we ate dinner, I would help clean up, then find my spot on the couch with my dad in his recliner. With our bellies filled with turkey, a nap was not far away. For me, it doesn't matter who's winning the game (unless the Patriots are playing), or what the announcers are saying. What's nostalgic for me are all of the sounds coming together, filling my ears with turkey day tradition.

Boston Loves Lowell

Congratulations to Mike Lowell, for signing with the Boston Red Sox! You made the right choice in all aspects. Boston is the best way for you to win another World Series title, and it was the best choice to prove your character. Since you turned down that extra year and extra money and went with the 3 years, 37.5 million dollars, you will be praised and cheered from every seat at fenway, every bar stool on Landsdown, from every couch in New England. You were absolutely unstoppable last season, and the fans know that you have so much more to contribute to the team and to your personal career records. You've proven yourself to be a stand-up guy, Mike, and for Boston fans that's almost more important than the numbers. Need I mention Johnny Damon? I don't think that you would have wanted your face printed on thousands of T-shirts with slogans indicating your traitor-ship (referring only to the option for your return to the Yankees). What's the point in taking more money to play for a team that won't give you the acclaim that you deserve, and probably won't make it to another world series? But you know, Mike, I think you said it best:

“I really don’t believe everything should be about money,” Lowell said. “I just didn’t think my happiness should be bought just by dollars.”

You are a saint, Mike Lowell, because I, among other Red Sox fans, perpetually hope that there are players like you who really mean this point, players who play the game to play the game instead of just looking to make the most money. It seems today that there are only a small percentage of players like you left, who will place their happiness above salary. Thank goodness that baseball isn't a world of A-rods, a world of players who only want self-acclaim and the most money and fame. Thank you, Mike Lowell, for keeping my hope alive that there are still good guys in baseball.

Career? A personal reflection.

So, the baseball season is over for now, so for the next few weeks I will have to find something new to talk about. My professor has instructed the class to use these blogs as something that could be useful to us in our future careers. This is definitely a great idea, but, um, I discovered that I really don't have a clue as to what I would like to do with myself after college. I'm in the Professional Communications major, but to be honest I'm really not sure where that will take me either. I just feel like the major is taking me to a place I would like to be other than any other major. I have always been a really good student, all around. I view this as a good thing, but also I feel that no particular subject has pulled me toward any definite direction. How do students know exactly what job they'd like to do? I guess some people are just born with a sense of direction, and some aren't so lucky. So, my plan from here on out is to continue to be a good student, and hope that something jumps out at me. Well, maybe I will have to put in a little more effort than that, but there's one thing that I do know for sure: I definitely do not want to be a bartender for the rest of my life. Some people like it and can make a great living off of it, but to me, it's not worth the stress, and I need to explore other avenues in order to be happy. I feel that I've worked too hard to settle. Wish me luck!

Did anyone notice that the Red Sox just won the World Series?

The Red Sox are World Series champs! But you wouldn't know it. They swept the Colorado Rockies to win their second World Series in three years! But that's not important. Apparently the only important news on the days following the Red Sox victory is about, what else, the New York Yankees. Heaven forbid that some people may have missed the game on Sunday night, because they would not have been able to see news coverage the day after. The headliner: Alex Rodriguez opting out of his contract with the Yankees. And his joke of an agent decided to announce this news in the eighth inning of the World Series, right before the Red Sox were looking to win the game and the Series! Let's not discuss how every one of the Red Sox starting pitchers got the win in each of the four games of the Series, or how the entire lineup including the rookies hit better than the usual power hitters, or even that they swept to make their record in the last two World Series 8-0. Nah, A-Rod's leaving of the Yankees is much more important. He's one of the most horrible post-season players in the game, yet he will be asking for 30 million dollars a year for whatever team wants to suffer his membership. No matter what we do, the Yankees are like cockroaches. They still seem to find their way into the World Series.

By the way, congrats to Eric Gagne for his World Series ring! He deserves it!

National Novel Writing Month: A Daunting Task

Full-time college students take on writing a 50,000 word novel in one month, for fun.

-by Alia Murphy

As November approaches, thousands of writers like Michelle of Shirley, Massachusetts, prepare to sign up for National Novel Writing Month, an annual commitment to write a 50,000 word novel in one month.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an organization made to inspire novel writers around the country. For years, NaNoWriMo has pushed these aspiring writers to their limits by giving them a seemingly impossible task: writing a 50,000 word novel in just thirty days.
Michelle, a student at Fitchburg State College, was successful in her first year, and will be participating for her second consecutive year. In November of 2006, she completed her 50,000 word novel by the deadline of November 30th. She, among thousands of others who completed their novels, received a certificate as an award. “It’s a difficult task. If you complete it you should definitely be proud of yourself.”

Michelle had always maintained an interest in writing, and when she discovered NaNoWriMo through an advertisement on Yahoo!, she decided to go for it. “I was never determined enough to do it, and when I saw this ad, I thought it would be a cool way to try it.”

While NaNoWriMo may seem to be an extremely difficult task, especially to those who are not writers, the novel writers are willing participants, and enjoy the project. “It’s a lot of fun. You definitely build communities with the other people that do it.” In fact, while I was interviewing Michelle, another student who participates in the project overheard the interview, and engaged in conversation with her.

The website, www.NaNoWriMo.org, acts as the meeting ground for the participants. Here is where they sign up and record their progress throughout the month of November. Also, the website allows the participants to communicate with each other about their novels and any problems they may be having. It is a way to inspire writers to follow their ambitions while they are given support and structure.

Eric Gagne is like Herpes.

You can't always see him, but you know that he's there. And if he shows up, your night is definitely ruined.

I don't know what happened to him, but being a member of the Red Sox is definitely not his place. How can a professional major league pitcher be so terrible? I'm not one to bash any member of my beloved home team, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Gagne is a spy for the Yankees. In mid-September, Gagne had allowed 13 runs in 14 IP since July when he became a member of the Sox. He only had one successful one-two-three inning in 2 1/2 months. He blew multiple saves in September, which helped the Yankees get right back on our heels. It's almost like he wants to lose, everytime he plays. It's unbearable. If Tito brings him in during the remainder of the ALCS against Cleveland, man are the fans going to have some words for him. He's gone beyond proving that not only can he not pitch, he cannot save a game or even maintain a lead or a tie game (Game 3!!!). He needs to go somewhere, and fast. There is no place for him on the Red Sox. Not mention that we gave up Kason Gabbard for him. HELLO! Kason Gabbard! The pitcher was looking great on the Sox, and he will continue to shine on the Texas Rangers. In Theo we trust, for sure, but i guess no one is perfect. Hopefully Theo can continue leading us in the right direction by getting rid of the mistake - Eric Gagne.

Indians, here we come.

We've swept the Angels to cliam our spot in the American League Championship Series. Our next conquest: the Cleveland Indians. I have to say, it was a toss up for me between the Yankees or the Indians to win their series. On one hand, I would love to play the Yankees just to further the rivalry, and how better to win a championship than to sit the Yankees down. But on the other hand, I'm sick of playing them. Yes, it's the greatest rivalry in sports, but we play them about 20 times a season. Not to mention, we've already proved our point on the issue. We've already defeated the Yankees in a postseason for the ALCS title (CHOKE!!). So, I am looking forward to playing the Indians. Not to say that they are any less of a team, they have been on fire. They certainly won the series, as opposed to the Yankees losing. Their pitching has been "lights out," and their bats have been swinging. I just hope that the Red Sox can keep up the momentum that they have had throughout the postseason thus far.

Friday, 7:30 p.m., the first game of the ALCS begins with a pitching match-up to watch for. Beckett vs. Sabathia. It's going to be a tough series, but I have a good feeling that the Red Sox can pull it out.

GO SOX!