Summer of Dan

Unlike any other

I've had this sitting in my Drafts for almost 3 months now. I just couldn't post it. I think it's because I felt like it was more final that way. Dumb, I know, but it's just always been hard for me to press PUBLISH.

My Papa passed away a few months ago, a few days after coming home from the hospital. He passed quietly in his sleep that afternoon, a week before his 56th wedding anniversary to my Nana. He was surrounded by family and I truly believe all was right with him when he went. He told me maybe 6 months ago that he didn't like how people had to go through what he was going through. It was a moment I'll always remember. We rarely had serious conversations that didn't end in laughing at each other, making some wise ass comment, or that took an overly serious tone.

But he was right. He didn't think it was right for anyone to live a life like he did and not be in control of so much of it at the end. I couldn't agree more.

Papa was the most easy going, funny, witty, smart guy you could ever meet. He was sarcastic but wasn’t an old grump. He had a way about him. He was older than old school. He defined the term. He was the hardest worker, he did a job until it was done right, he truly was old school. He was a tough old Irish bastard from Dorchester Mass. who loved his family and friends and didn’t want to be fussed over. He was a Sea Bee. He was a loving husband, a father for 4, a grandfather of 9, and he lived to see his first great grandchild. 

I miss him a lot. I can't imagine what my Nana is actually going through, I get small glimpses of it when I talk to her sometimes. I called her today and got her voicemail, only to hear my grandfather's voice asking me to leave a message. I didn't expect it and it kicked me in the balls. Bittersweet. More bitter than sweet. The lump in my throat hung around for a while after that. 

But it's great knowing I can call my Nana and hear his voice still. I'm sure she feels the same way. 

Papa, we love you, we miss you, but we know you're hanging around up there keeping an eye on us.

“To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart.” 

-Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXLIII

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXLII

Everything's All Right

Just gonna leave this right here...(please ignore the misspelling, I didn't do it, I promise)

And while that is a very well done Saturday Night Live skit and mimics real life, below are real life sentiments. 

The Patriots are getting healthy at the right time and on the right side of the ball. Brandon Spikes is back, Chung seems like he is back fully, and McCourty has had a few games to get back into the swing of things. If we want to sniff the Super Bowl they all have to play like they are capable. I think they can and they will. The question is really can any team in the AFC keep up with them on the scoreboard?

Time will tell.

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXLI

Is this Geocities 2.0?

Looking up information on George R. R. Martin, who wrote Game of Thrones, I wound up on his website. 

I thought I was back in 1996 on a Geocities website. The colors, the layout, everything. I was waiting for some God awful midi music to start playing and some flame gifs to erupt on one of the toolbars.

Amazing writer but he obviously needs a website consultant like yesterday.

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXL

Don’t Be A Di*k During Meals With Friends and Family

I won't take credit for this at all, but it's a great idea that needs to get around more.

New Challenge for 2012

The first person to crack and look at their phone picks up the check. The (initial) purpose of the game was to get everyone off the phones free from twitter/fb/texting and to encourage conversations.

Rules:

1) The game starts after everyone has ordered.
2) Everybody places their phone on the table face down.
3) The first person to flip over their phone loses the game.
4) Loser of the game pays for the bill.
5) If the bill comes before anyone has flipped over their phone everybody is declared a winner and pays for their own meal.

Emergencies are the exception. If your phone is blowing up and you need to take a call it's understandable. The aim is to get people away from their phones when they are with friends and family and work on that social interaction rather than work on a social distraction.

I'm going to try this with my sister and my cousin. Because dammit all I want to do is eat for free and they are easy prey. I will not try this with my buddy Flack because he only got a cellphone for the first time within the last year and I'd be shocked if he actually even knows how to use it.

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXXXIX

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXXXVIII