Hello Again

Ok so I know that we've been strangers to blogging for a little while now (actually about 7 months or so LOL) so I thought I would hopefully get our 2010 blogging skills back in order...let's see where to start...

* Bridge's parents are finally moving back home after being gone since '07 in St. Louis. It has been hectic for them but I think it's a good decision. Bridge, Vik, Uncle J, and myself are all going up at different times within the next week to help with the "convoy" home. Soon after, Bridge will begin her preparation for taking an LSAT so she can support me as a lawyer (j/k haha)

* I was recently offered a new position at Northeast Lakeview College doing more advising and getting exposure to different departments since NLC is growing fast. I've been at St. Philip's for six years this year so it'll be a big adjustment for me leaving my comfort zone but I'm always up for a challenge.

* We've almost done with planning our vacation to Boston this summer. I've always wanted to check out America's oldest major city and the history and people around Massachusetts. I've been to other areas up in the northeast like NYC, DC, Philly, and Baltimore but never Boston. Bridge has been to NYC before so this will be good for her too. Plus I am eager to see the Red Sox play. Yup that's right the BOSTON RED SOX! Now you're probably wondering how does a goofy guy in South Texas end up liking the Red Sox?

I was always a casual baseball fan. Growing up around here it was usually rooting for the Astros, Nolan Ryan, or even the San Antonio Dodgers (remember them?) but that's all. The Spurs and the Cowboys were bigger names around here. So yeah I grew up loving Gervin, Robinson, and Duncan as well as Staubach, Aikman, and Romo. But all that changed in 2004. I always liked a good rivalry and none is better than the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry...the underdog Sox versus the mighty Yanks. MLB playoffs are notoriously dramatic since they are shorter and played often back to back. In '04, I remember laying on the couch and turning on Fox to watch the ALCS pitting the highly favored Yankees (they won their division that year) against the hapless Red Sox. To fill you in, the Red Sox hadn't had any luck in over 80+ years since they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The Yankees began decades of success while the Red Sox often lived in the shadow of their east coast neighbors. The "Curse of the Bambino" is legendary in Boston because of that business deal back in the 1920's. Well the '04 ALCS was no different. The Yanks went up 3-0 against the Sox and, again, the fortunes of Bostonians everywhere were sucked dry. The Sox gave up 19 runs in the first game of that series as a matter of fact. So when Game 4 was played, naturally everyone expected the Yanks to coast on into the Fall Classic.

But that wasn't to happen. The Sox pulled it out like 6-5 in extra innings to force a Game 5. Nobody expected them to do it again but they won that one too. Fast forward through Game 6 (another Red Sox win) and finally into Game 7 at old Yankee Stadium. The eyes of baseball fans were watching to see if the Yanks would choke or not with the series now knotted up 3-3. By this time, I had been glued to the TV. That lazy night of Game 1 now had me all caught up in this drama! I watched each game with intent of someone watching something like they've never seen before. I saw that Boston Red Sox squad come together and play with heart against a mighty opponent that no one had expected them to defeat. Furthermore, it was also my birthday too so it was an added treat. The Red Sox ultimately defeated the Yankees like 9-3 in Game 7 and on the road too! Immediately the Fox crew went to the streets in Boston and it was absolute pandemonium. It reminded me of when our Spurs won their first title in 1999 with all that craziness! I thought to myself that I would like to visit Boston someday because that city has pride and that is good.

Anyways I was just dumbfounded that the Red Sox became only the third team in the history of professional sports to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a 7 game series. And they did it in dramatic fashion against their opponent of almost 100 years. I thought to myself that I'd found a team to root for as close to my heart as my Spurs or the Cowboys. The Boston Red Sox are the "everyman" team. By that I mean that they represent any fan (or any person even) who has lived in others shadows, that works hard, that doesn't give up, and eventually wins. For almost a century, the Sox were constantly sub-par and had to hear it from sports buffs everywhere about how poor they were. But they just kept hoping season after season to get back to prominence. While Yankee fans are also as loyal, they have been spoiled by years of greatness. They expect their Yanks to destroy the teams they play. They expect the Yanks to win, win, win. When the Yankees did not even make the playoffs in 2008, it was almost like the end of the world was near. The Yankees to me represent trying to get over that hill you have tried to conquer for years. They are that which you have tried to defeat but could not. When the Sox defeated the Yankees in 2004, they conquered their 'hill' and eventually won their first championship since 1918. However, Red Sox fans, better known as the Red Sox Nation, are a unique group of people from all walks of life with chapters nationwide that get together to support their team. They don't care what others say, they just have faith. Faith in anything is a hard thing to have in today's world. But they got it and pass it down from generation to generation. I recommend everyone watch the 2005 film "Fever Pitch" starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. I've seen it numerous times and each time it still makes me laugh and be happy that I'm a Sox fan. I was a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation-TX (yes they have membership cards) since 2005 with the exception of this past year when I forgot to renew (dumb me).

Now that I'm getting to go to Boston with Bridge this summer, I'm excited. I think the city will be really neat. My dad has been there as well as a few of my friends and all say it's a friendly town. The day when we catch the train to Fenway Park will be exciting. To walk in and see a piece of American history will be thrilling. Fenway Park has been around since 1912 and has not changed much since then. Bostonians are very protective of their ballpark and do not like it messed with. Many have suggested that a new Fenway be built like the Yankees just did with their ballpark. But those in Red Sox nation won't let it happen. Fenway Park will stand until God Almighty tears it down Himself. How can you not admire loyalty to a team like that? So even many of the seats are still the original classic wooden type as well as the older stairways and smaller food stands. It would be like walking into a time-warp.

Bridge and I are doing well. People tell us all the time how good we look together. Yes it's true we have fun. We like to do random things and just live life. I think that's a good philosophy. But it doesn't come without work too. Yes we do have a good relationship but, despite what some might think, it does take work too sometimes. We're always learning about each other and fortunately it is not hard to make our relationship work because it's fun. Life isn't always a bed of roses. But, at the core, is our friendship. Not only are we a couple, but we're also best friends. That's something I'm proud of. So to all who read this, thanks for reading and... GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!