Friday, December 31, 2004

WTBT End of the Year Edition...

We're taking bets that...
* this year couldn't have ended on a worst note with the tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
* there is some Good News in 2004.
* you are going to miss Jerry Orbach even though he will be on TV everyday for the rest of your lives.
* it definitely was Boston's year for Sports.
* you think this year will be better than last year.
* getting a hot dog from these ladies might be exciting. Hot Dog Ladies
* Shaq vs. Kobe was kind of boring.
* Anna Nicole is not going to have enough money to get drunk anymore.
* Jermaine O'Neal got lucky getting his suspension reduced.
* the best decision by a Kennedy recently was Patrick deciding not to run for Senate in Rhode Island.
* it is going to be funny watching the ball drop with Regis Philbin and not Dick Clark.
* George Carlin is going to have a tough time making rehab jokes after he gets out.
* the BCS actually got something right in by not putting Cal in a BCS bowl.
* this was an awful blog today, but thankfully not a lot of people are going to read it.
* I can't wait to continue this column in 2005. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Thursday, December 30, 2004

We're taking bets that no one puts Jerry in the corner...

Sadly, Jerry Orbach of Law & Order fame died yesterday at the age of 69. He was on the show for 12 years, which is an eternity when it comes to that show. He had 3 different partners, 2 captains, 3 District Attorneys, 2 Executive ADAs, and 5 ADAs. Not too bad for the king of the TV Drama one-liners.

Jerry was a great actor who had a lot of memorable movie roles. He is probably most famous for being Baby's father in Dirty Dancing. Many people don't realize that he also was the voice of Lumiere in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Thankfully he and his wisecracks will live forever in reruns on TNT and TBS.

Unfortunately now we just need to wait for the third famous person to pass away.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

We're taking bets that they are my favorites...

Before reading this please read the post before. Thank you.

Here is my list of my Top Ten Favorite Celebrities of 2004. Can you believe that there is more guys on my list than women? Geez I must be losing it. Anyway, tell me who your favorites were in my comments section.

10. Dane Cook - He is my favorite comedian and he will make my list until the end of time. He was at game four of the World Series and is a diehard Red Sox fan. If you don't know how funny he is check out his website. Dane
9. Lindsay Lohan - I know she has become a complete media whore, but she definitely was one of my favorites this year. She dated Fez and that has to count for something. Unfortunately she broke up with him too.
8. Zach Braff - My favorite TV doctor on Scrubs and he wrote and starred in one of my favorite movies of 2004 Garden State. This guy is an absolute riot and I think he will be a huge stars in years to come.
7. Rodney Dangerfield - Sadly the world was robbed of his comeback at 83 years old. He will be greatly missed and I give him a ton of respect.
6. Flava Flav - He actually made watching The Surreal Life worth watching. He is kind of funny and I would watch him again.
5. William Shatner - Yes that William Shatner. He put out a CD (which isn't half bad). His weird acting style is actually very fresh on Boston Legal. He has become one of the best characters on TV today.
4. Kate Winslet - If you have not seen her this year you didn't see some great movies. She may be the best actress of our generation. Get every movie she has been in and watch it twice because it is worth it. (Alright just watch Titanic once because that movie is so freaking long. Fast forward to just the parts she is in.)
3. Johnny Depp - He almost won the Oscar for Pirates of the Caribbean. He is getting rave reviews for Finding Neverland and was in my favorite trailer of the year for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Is there anyone out there that is any cooler?
2. Natalie Portman - She was wonderful in every movie she was in. She maybe be my biggest crush of the year especially after seeing her as a stripper in Closer. If you haven't fallen in love with her yet you will.
1. Jon Stewart - He is my second favorite comedian. Jon has a hit TV show on Comedy Central. He had a bestselling book America (The Book).He was able to make the presidential election fun with his quick wit and great commentaries on the ridiculousness. Finally, Jon was able to call someone a "dick" on live TV and not get a lot of flak for it. Could he have had a better year? I can't wait to the Presidential Election in 2008.

We're taking bets that we need to help...

Three years ago the United States had its worst tragedy on 9/11. People from all over the world donated time and money to help the victims of this tragedy. Over 55,000 people in 11 countries have died due to the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the number is still rising. Please do your part by donating to the Red Cross. You can donate directly to the Disaster Relief Fund and even $5.00 can help. Do your part to help our global community.

We're taking bets that it is a Winter Wonderland in New England...

A huge snowstorm hit most of New England over the last 24 hours. We got about 8+ inches of snow in Lowell. It was very windy and extremely cold. We also had work called off today, which almost never happens. It was very nice to see the city covered in snow today and hopefully there was not too many car accidents. Thankfully we don't have to be like these Snow Starved People.

Snow is one of the reasons I never want to leave the Northeast. We experience seasons like no other region in the United States. This Friday it will be almost 50 degrees; today it was 22 degrees. Where else in the country is it like that? We experience an unbelievably beautiful fall and our summers are not that crazy hot like other places. People are correct when they say if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes because it is bound to change. I think this is the best region if you want to experience the beauty of the seasons. Tell me what you think...

Monday, December 27, 2004

We're taking bets that the world lost a great man today...

Reggie White died today of a heart attack at the age of 43. Those of you who have never heard of him he was the greatest defensive lineman to ever play in the NFL. He was not only a great football player but he also was an unbelievable human being. He worked tirelessly for inner-city youths and was an ordained minister. He left behind a wife and two lovely children. He affected the lives of thousands of people in the NFL and all over the world. This link (Reggie White Memories) goes to a few of the things people said about him.

He was known as The Minister of Defense when he was a player. I will leave you with a quote that exemplifies who he was as a person. He is someone that I truly admired and hope that one day I can be remembered like he will be.



"I am more concerned that my kids will remember me as a man of God than a great football player." - Reggie White


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Sunday, December 26, 2004

We're taking bets that babies aren't meant to go to the movies...

Every year since 1997(maybe 1998) I have gone to the movies on Christmas night. It was a tradition started by Ian and I to celebrate his birthday which is Christmas Day. We decided to go to two movies this year. As always it was a fun time and I got to see his parents, who are two of my favorite people. (Thea & Brian too.)

When Ian and I were in the second movie that started at 9:30 pm there was two women with a 5 month old (or younger) baby. Now I understand that it can be hard to get out when you have a child and babysitters can be very expensive, but come on!!! When the baby started to cry they just tried to soothe him/her and not take her out of the theater. Now my movie experience was negatively affected by this. It made me very disappointed and wonder.

Who is at fault? Should the theater have a policy on babies under a certain age? Is the mother completely neglect in having her baby out that late at night? I am curious to hear other's thoughts on this topic. Make comments and tell me what you think.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

We're taking bets that Mistletoe isn't free...

Merry Christmas to everyone!!! I hope that you have had a great day so far. I just wanted to leave you with an interesting little story about the man bringing a little kid down. Bah Humbug to them. Hopefully your Christmas is better than this kid. :)

Friday, December 24, 2004

We're taking bets that here comes Santa Claus...

Make sure you have all your little ones track Santa tonight. NORAD was extremely nice in providing this service, now in its 50th year. I know that I will be in bed when he comes to my parents house this year. :) Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Love, Greg

We're taking bets that last minute shoppers just aren't in the Holiday Spirit...

Holy Crap. I went to Barnes & Noble in Holyoke, MA with my brother today. I wanted to just get him a book that I thought he would like. I had already done my Christmas shopping so this was a impulse trip. (We were coming back from my Grandfather's in Westfield, MA) I expected people to be a little testy, but WOW!!!

Getting into the parking lot was a chore in itself. People were fighting for parking spaces and there was plenty. Just none right in front. The store did a great job of making the lines move as they had every register running. Everyone seemed to be on edge though. We found the book, proceeded to the front and paid. Then we had to try and leave the parking lot.

We get in the car and get out of our space. We then hit the wall-o-traffic in the parking lot. When it was our time to go I crept up with the car and the car in line decided to do the "I don't see you" block. Luckily we were not in a rush, but the girl did the most infuriating thing. She looked towards my car, but never made eye contact. Like she actually didn't see me trying to get out. I was driving a big RED SUV. The only way she could of missed me is if she was Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder. If that is the case I am not sure she should be driving. No holiday spirit whatsoever. It wasn't like we were trying to leave the Tweeter Center after a concert or something. It is the holidays and I think she should have been a little nicer. Remember that when you are driving to and from whereever you need to go this holiday. Everyone is in a rush. Let that person in because one car is not going to make that big of a difference. Have a Great & SAFE Holiday EVERYONE!!!

Thursday, December 23, 2004

We're taking bets that I want a new pet...

By now everyone has probably heard about Little Nicky. Little Nicky has made the news as the first cloned pet to order in the United States. I am greatly disturbed by this. I understand that pets are very important parts of families, but when grandpa dies I don't want an exact copy of him. Although everything will look the same, the experiences that he has won't define who he was. It will be a totally different person.

Cloning is going to be a huge issue over the next 25 years and I just hope that we do not clone humans. If there was a way to just clone human internal organs I would support that, but not the whole person. Death is something that is a part of life. It does not seem right to try and cheat death by "bringing someone back." Maybe I am in the minority on this issue, but I don't want to change my grandmother's diapers in the hope that when she grows up she will be just like my old grandmother except younger than me.

I think that as a society we need to learn how to grieve. Losing a family member(pets too) is very hard, but stop trying to bring them back. I think clones may be the zombies of the future and they will rise up to eat our brains one day. Just a thought. Tell me what you think.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

We're taking bets that you are not tired of Christmas yet...

Here are my Top 10 Christmas movies/Specials. They may not be all directly Christmas movies, but they are my favorites around the holidays. Tell me what your favorite are.

10. Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase never made a good movie after this one. Extremely funny - It is very nipply in here... might be one of the best lines ever.
9. Frosty the Snowman - Every kid made at least one snowman in hopes that he would come alive like Frosty did.
8. Charlie Brown Christmas - Not as good as "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", but a classic in its own right. I think my Christmas tree looks a little Charlie Brownish this year.
7. Love Actually - This is a great holiday movie. Definitely makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Especially when Colin Firth tells the Portugese girl he loves her.
6. It's a Wonderful Life - Capra's classic needs to be watched at least once around Christmas time. Every time that girl says the thing about the angels I get a little teary.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original) This is absolutely fantastic. I really like when he takes all of the Roast Beast.
4. Year Without a Santa Claus - The Heatmiser and Snowmiser as brothers. Musical numbers. Mother Nature. This is awesome.
3. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - This will always be my version of how Santa originated. Besides Mrs. Claus was a hot claymation teacher when she was young. :)
2. Christmas Story - You'll shoot your eye out after watching this for 24 hours straight, but it is so worth it. YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!!!
1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - You can't be Burl Ives and Herbie the Dentist. Besides Bumbles bounce and that was one of the most important lessons of them all.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

We're taking bets that you should sing it loud and sing it proud...

Another List for 2004. This time it is music and I have decided to list twenty. These are my favorite songs of 2004 and not necessarily the charts Top 20. Tell me in the comments sections what your favorite songs were or if you think I am wrong.

20. Blink 182 - I Miss You
19. Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
18. Evanescense - My Immortal
17. Joss Stone - You Had Me
16. Modest Mouse - Float On
15. Chingy - One Call Away
14. Dashboard Confessional - Vindicated
13. Terror Squad - Lean Back
12. Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy - I Don't Wanna Know
11. Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me
10. Kelis - Milkshake - Her milkshake definitely brings all the boys to the yard.
9. Los Lonely Boys - Heaven - They have become one of my favorite bands and their CD was one of the must buys of 2004.
8. Eamon - Fuck It(I don't want you back) - What a great song about how being cheated on. The new male anthem to evil women. (I do not know any evil women, but if I did...)
7. Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama - Once it's stuck in your head it was very hard to get it out.
6. Big & Rich - Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy - Now guys have a new reason to want to become a cowboy and it's not for the boots.
5. Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - Yeah - Although it may have been one of the most overplayed songs of the year you definitely liked it the first time you heard it.
4. Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying - Should be everyone's motto.
3. Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved - Great song on a great album. These guys may be talked about like U2 and Aerosmith years from now.
2. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - I don't care what anyone says this is a great song. She will always be my favorite American Idol winner and she is starting to put out some good music.
1. Gavin DeGraw - Don't Wanna Be - No this is not because I just saw him in concert and met him. This is a great song and it has a real good message.

Monday, December 20, 2004

We're taking bets that it was all just "ACTING!!!"...

I have felt in a mood to continue with end of the year Top Ten lists for 2004. Here are my Top Ten (ok 11) favorite movies of 2004. Remember these are only movies I have seen. Tell me in the comments sections what your favorite movies were or if you think I am wrong.

10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner or Azkaban - The best of the series so far. I think that Daniel Radcliffe(Harry) really is becoming a very good actor and there is no doubt that Emma Watson(Hermoine) is going to be extremely hot once she gets older. :)
9. Mean Girls - The movie that launched the sickening Lindsay Lohan phenomenon. Tina Fey wrote a great look at the cattiness of popular high school girls. Very funny and well worth the rental.
8. Ray - Jamie Foxx finally found a Oscar winning role. The only thing better than Jamie Foxx in the movie was the performance by Regina King as his "road wife." She probably won't get an Oscar nomination, but she deserves it.
7. Friday Night Lights - They actually got a sports movie right. If you have not read my one and only movie review of the year go back and check it out.
6. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - This was a purely funny movie. You may not like Ben Stiller, but he found a great villain role in White Goodman. Vince Vaughn was just "money."
5(tie). The Incredibles - It is amazing that Disney is actually going to let Pixar Animation go after so many good movies. I would think that they would pony up any amount of money to keep them. This was an absolutely wonderful superhero movie. Even though it was a cartoon you felt for the characters. Definitely a must see.
5(tie). Sideways - Paul Giamatti may be one of the most underrated actors of our time. This is a wonderful movie about two middle aged men and a trip through California wine country. Beautifully directed by Alexander Payne.
4. The Bourne Supremacy - Matt Damon has proven that he is one of the best young actors around. Although this movie may get you a little seasick it was easily the best action flick of the year. It was a pure enjoyment from the beginning to the end.
3. Spiderman 2 - The second best superhero movie ever next to the original Batman. This was more than just an action movie. Alfred Molina was a great villain as Doc Ock. I can't wait for the next of the series.
2. Garden State - Zach Braff is always wonderful on NBC's Scrubs and now he is a great screenwriter and movie actor. This is a great story with 1,000 great lines and Natalie Portman in her best role since Beautiful Girls.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - I think that I can say without a second thought that screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is a genius. He writes unbelievably original movies that are funny, serious, romantic and spellbinding. Jim Carrey was fantastic and Kate Winslet was wonderful as always.

Honorable Mention: Collateral - Spanglish - Miracle - Ocean's Twelve - Kill Bill Vol. 2 - Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events - Anchorman - Shrek 2 - National Treasure

Saturday, December 18, 2004

We're taking bets that there were some great events of 2004...

Here are my Top Ten Entertainment Events of 2004. I probably missed 1,000,000 other things, but this is what I thought of. Leave me a list of yours or ones you think I missed.:

10. Oprah gave away cars on her show. - Of course it probably cost each member $5,000 in taxes. Thanks a lot, I waited a year to get tickets and now I owe the government money.
9. Martha Stewart goes to jail. - I am sure that everyone has very nice cells with lots of pastels and toilet cozies.
8. Janet's Wardrobe malfunction. - Really not that "big" a deal, but it was on live television. At least Tara Reid showed hers in its full glory.
7. Lord of the Rings dominates the Oscars. We did get to see that Peter Jackson actually is a hobbit. At least he wore a tuxedo.
6. Ron Artest goes fan crazy. I hate even putting it up here, but it was entertainment. I must have watched it at least 100 times.
5. Bill Rancic won the first "Apprentice" job. Kwame was so much better, but it was Trump's way of keeping the black man down. Did a pretty good job during season 2 with Kevin too.
4. Ashlee Simpson can't sing due to Acid Reflux. I can't sing because my singing voice sucks. I think that most of us would have liked it if she used that excuse.
3. Jon Stewart goes on Crossfire and bitch slaps the co-hosts. It was a riot and everyone should see it.
2. The Presidential Election. Bush won and we have four more years of funny things on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
1. The Boston Red Sox win the World Series. Definitely entertainment. Hasn't happened in 86 years and millions of New Englanders will now die happy.

Friday, December 17, 2004

We're taking bets that baseball is even exciting in the winter...

It has been almost two months now since the BOSTON RED SOX WON the WORLD SERIES. In that time many people thought that most of New England was going to collapse into the Atlantic Ocean, but we have gone on just fine. Frickin A even graced us with a wonderful version of their Christmas song. (Lyrics) We have started our now annual venture to the Super Bowl with the Patriots and we have found that Pro Hockey didn't mean that much to us. We are even looking forward to a run at repeating as World Series Champions next year.

WHOA now does that mean we can still say 'Wait til next year'? I think it does. We have signed David Wells and Edgar Renteria to our already potent team. We are saying who the F cares about Pedro leaving? We all know that signing V-Tek is our #1 priority and it should happen pretty soon. It is going to be exciting 2005.

Now there is a lot of other craziness in baseball to follow. One year wonder Adrian Beltre got $64 million from Seattle and I can see that being the biggest bust of the off-season. (not counting $53 million to ex-New York hater Pedro) Tim Hudson was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Is Atlanta GM John Schuerholz an official baseball GOD yet? 13 straight years making it to the playoffs that it doesn't matter that they only won one World Series. Steinbrenner's Money Bag Yankees cannot even boast that.

Everyone here is Boston is now waiting for the fall of the Berlin Wall er... Randy Johnson trade collapse. It may still happen, but it just doesn't make sense for the Dodgers to do. If the Yankees do get Freak of Nature it would be like Heather Locklear replacing Shelley Long on Cheers instead of Kirstie Alley. An awesome show would have vaulted into the best show ever. Hmmm, imagine if that happened. It could have spawned the greatest spin-off ever... Sam's Kids. It would have been a bunch of gorgeous kids playing around on the beach hooking up with everyone in sight. Kind of like the O.C.

Anyway, back to baseball. This has been an exciting off-season and it seems like 2005 will be great for baseball too. Forget steriods and mark down April 11th on your calendar when the Red Sox raise the banner against those Freaking Yankees. YANKEES SUCK!!! YANKEES SUCK!!!

Thursday, December 16, 2004

We're taking bets that I may go berserk...

It is the time to be merry, joyous, helpful, friendly, and litigious. AHHHHHH!!! I am a pretty accepting person when it comes to everyone's right to an opinion. Although I usually think that my opinion is correct, I don't complain when other express one. Everyone has a right to protest as they see fit and disagree with things that they don't like, but we have finally gone too far.

In Milford, CT a local family got permission from the city to put up a nativity scene on the Town Green. Overall it seems pretty harmless, but NO!!!! The American Atheists are having a protest tomorrow and thinking of filing a lawsuit over the nativity scene. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I think I am going to start protesting when the farmer's market comes back to Lowell near the Police Station this spring, because I don't believe in farms.

No one has to believe in God and I am sure there are times that everyone wonders if he/she really exists. This has gone way too far. Protest all you want, but a lawsuit banning it from the Town Green. BAH HUMBUG to the Atheists!!! BAH HUMBUG to Frivolous Lawsuits!!!

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

We're taking bets that this is messed up...

I have canceled my planned vacation to the Ukraine and will now only eat soup I make myself. The picture below is of Viktor Yushchenko who is running for office in the Ukraine. The one on the left is what he looked like in August and the one on the right is what he looks like now. His doctors say he has been poisoned by Dioxin probably in his food. It will continue to plague him for a minimum of two years if not the rest of his life. Crazy would be the easy way to describe this. I think that OH MY GOD!!!! would fit better.

Currently we do not have anything like this in the United State politics. We just have Nanny gate happening every couple of minutes with a Bush cabinet appointee. I am curious to hear what other think about this. Give me your comments.

3 months of being in the sun too long?

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Tuesday, December 14, 2004

We're taking bets that one in a million would be good odds...

Brother against Brother... Babies having Babies. Holy crap it actually happened that way. Well not really, but it is a fun way to look at it. Has everyone heard about the twins who had twin boys on the same day? Definitely freakish. Now I know that they were C-section births, but they had the same due date so there was definitely a chance.

Could this be a sign of the apocalypse? I mean has anyone else heard of this ever happening? What is next; locusts, frogs, or a river of blood? Next thing you know Henry Winkler is going to make a comeback in the WB's The New Happy Days. This is absolutely craziness. Life as we know it could be over or it is just me trying to illicit a Y2K computer scare. Yeah I wish I had that much influence.

Monday, December 13, 2004

We're taking bets that a needle in a haystack is easier to find...

Well the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai says that we will catch Osama bin Laden sooner or later. I was kind of wondering if he knows where the Lindbergh Baby and Jimmy Hoffa are located. (If you don't know who they are look it up.) It has been over three years since 9/11 and we are no closer to catching him than we were then.

One would think that a 6'5" 160 lbs. 47 year old on dialysis would be pretty easy to spot and catch. But he has eluded us for years. Karzai did say that it would take some luck to catch them but you can't be a fugitive forever. Didn't Frank Abagnale Jr. (The guy from Catch Me If You Can) escape the law for ten plus years and he started out at 16 years old? I don't see it happening.

I hope that Karzai has a specially trained group of Jawas and Tusken Raiders because that is the only way you are going to find him in the desert. Either that or they should use the Spaceballs technique and literally comb the desert. Unfortunately Osama bin Laden will probably never be caught, but now that the Red Sox have won the World Series maybe I can wish for something else this Christmas.

Saturday, December 11, 2004

WTBT Volume Sixteen

We're taking bets that...

* chestnuts roasting on an open fire sounds like it might hurt.
* with all of their crazy spending the Arizona Diamondbacks will be the next team to be bought out by Major League baseball.
* what happened in Columbus, OH to the ex-lead singer of Pantera was awful.
* you can't believe that David Wells is going to be a Red Sox.
* Wacko Jacko will finally get prison time after the fingerprint evidence was found.
* it shouldn't be that hard for Notre Dame to get a football coach but it is for the second time in four years.
* if you wanna do something fun at work you should try this - Snow Plow Boston.
* UConn should never have lost to UMass in college basketball.
* there is almost nothing better than a practical joke on a friend.
* Ocean's Twelve is a very fun movie.
* Corey Dillon is going to run silly all over Cincinnati this weekend.
* you laughed real hard while watching Dodgeball on DVD.
* not having college football on Saturday's makes afternoon television watching boring.
* smelly feet, Britany Spears and an airplane flight don't mix. Damn Girl!!!
* the NHL is negotiating with the Players Association and no one really cares.
* Kerik telling GWB "no" wasn't the first time he's heard it and won't be the last.
* you can't believe how well the Seattle Supersonics are doing, but you are real happy for Ray Allen.
* there is nothing like fighting Santas.
* UML Hockey maybe the best team outside of the Hockey East and the worst team in it.
* everyday there is something that makes you not get out of bed. This story does it for me.
* Gavin DeGraw has a great career ahead of him and you should buy his CD right away.

Friday, December 10, 2004

We're taking bets that I can be a fan...

The last 24 hours have really rocked. There isn't much else to say about it. Okay there is a ton to say and here it goes...

I was The Runner for the Gavin DeGraw show at UMass Lowell today. That means I drive him and anyone from his posse (Yes he has a very impressive posse. No ladies that isn't code for something else. Ick.). Normally it is a pretty boring job except that I get to meet Gavin and talk to him for a little while.

Gavin by the way is very cool and down to earth. He really loves music and talked about Led Zepplin, The Beatles, Dave Matthews and fake music aka Teeny Bop Pop. He stayed for over 2 hours to sign autographs for fans and take pictures with them at the UML show. That is almost unheard of. He was very impressive and he really rocked. His music was fantastic and everyone seemed to have a great time. He was extremely funny and took time to talk to just about everyone.

Anyway, Gavin was playing Kiss 108's Jingle Ball at the Tsongas Arena before the show at UML. That means I got an ALL ACCESS BACKSTAGE PASS to the show. I bumped into Vanessa Carlton right after her sound check. I said hi, but she kind of ignored me. I guess if you were bumped into by me you probably would ignore me too. The I had dinner with Gavin and his manager Otto at the hospitality area. We then fought traffic and went over to the Doubletree Suites so he could do interviews. As we got their Gavin's song "I Don't Wanna Be" came on the radio. He totally cranked my radio and just listened to his song. Let me tell you how surreal it is to be in a car with someone and their own song is being played on the radio. I asked him if it was weird and he said it was but it was also really cool.

I then got to watch him do his set backstage. I stood with Tyler Hilton who was on WB's One Tree Hill who also sings. I then saw JoJo who is about 4'5" and dresses like a hussy. I don't think she realizes she is 14. I can't wait for her to go on stage touching herself and realize that she hasn't reached puberty. She also has a crew of 4'6" dancers that follow her around. Once Gavin finished we went to his dressing room were I saw the guys for Bowling for Soup a few doors down. While in Gavin's dressing room the guys from Switchfoot were just next door (actually on the other side of pipe & drape) acoustically practicing "Dare to Move." It was incredible.

I have a ton of other stories (Messing with Jenna & her friends, Shooting Hoops alone in a dark Rec Center, and spending time with my favorite person) I almost don't want to go to sleep. I can't believe that I got had this experience. I am not a person who fawns over famous people, but it was so neat to experience. Tomorrow I will return to be just an average RD who tries his best to make his staff and residents have a great time at college. But today I will cherish as one of the few days I truly had fun and smiled this semester and didn't have to be anyone but me. (Cheesy ending I know, but what the hell.)

Thursday, December 09, 2004

We're taking bets that it is all a lie...

Okay, maybe everything isn't that bad, but I look back on the things we knew when we were children and so many things turned out to be a lie. Remember when Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Baseball Players were real. Three out of those four were imaginary by the time we were 12. (I was a fragile child and it took me a little longer to find out.) Now the fourth thing isn't real anymore either. Baseball Players are actually wrestler who are posing as home run hitters. Maybe everyone is taking steroids. What actually is real and what is fake anymore in professional baseball?

Why do we get told so many things that aren't true as a kid? Are we really going to break because we were given the truth? It is a shame. The next thing you know people are going to tell me that warm cookies and milk aren't good for you anymore. I miss the days of innocence when I actually was safe just by holding my mom or dad's hand. So many great things with so many lies. :(

Monday, December 06, 2004

We're taking bets that scientists are trying to help Mother Earth...

Cell phones will now blossom into flowers. Motorola has been working on a cell phone cover that will turn into a sunflower once it biodegrades. Of course the rest of the phone will reek havoc on the earth for the next billion years, but we will have tons of sunflowers on top of plastic junk heaps.

At least scientists are trying to do something good; though you would think that working on a cure for cancer would be a little higher priority. I would think that baby diapers that can become lilacs would be a better idea. How many of those things get thrown away everyday? I think that McDonalds containers that can turn into oak trees would be cool too. I wonder what will come next. Maybe cars that can turn into robots.

Sunday, December 05, 2004

We're taking bets that drunks are funny...

I have long believed that drunks are very funny. My belief has been strengthened by the fact that I now work security at The Brewery in Lowell, MA. I get to see some of the funniest interactions. Some of them are actually pretty sad. There was a girl tonight who could not even walk out of the club on her own. Another guy we shut off kept trying to come back in and the police finally arrested him.

The most fun is watching people who are interested in each other, but are totally drunk. They look like little kids who are getting to see a puppy for the first time. They don't know what to make of the other while at the same time they are totally into each other. The best is when you know that they are going to regret it in the morning. The girl probably has extensions that she needs to take out of her hair or the guy has false teeth and only has one in the middle.

Remember that being drunk is a very fun thing as long as you are responsible. Also remember that being the sober one in a group of drunks might be the most fun you can have and you will always be able to remember it. :)

Friday, December 03, 2004

WTBT Volume 15

We're taking bets that...

* it is scary when they outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security knocks on wood when talking about how safe the US is today.
* Jason Giambi is not having a good Christmas Season.
* "Phil the Sore" could be a new popular TV character. Phil the Sore
* you should watch at least a little bit of the Army/Navy football game this weekend.
* Ivana definitely shouldn't of went with show my underwear to make money strategy on The Apprentice.
* Ty Willingham got the screw job at Notre Dame. Too bad Touchdown Jesus couldn't help a brother out.
* Julia Roberts wasn't too crazy with Finn & Hazel as her twins names. It could have been worse.
* it was awesome seeing Illinois blow away #1 Wake Forest this early in the season.
* you are strangely looking forward to seeing Ocean's Eleven.
* Urban Meyer should stay at Utah because Florida or Notre Dame have too unrealistic expectations.
* Tom Brokaw was the best of the big three and it is sad to see him go. I do like Brian Williams though and I think he will turn out to be the best over the next 20 years.
* BALCO has become a very bad word.
* Boston Legal is a great show and everyone should watch at 10 pm Sunday Nights on ABC.
* Pedro Martinez in a Mets uniform is better than in a Yankees one.
* the weather outside is frightful.
* it doesn't surprise you how the police caught these crooks. Doughnut Trail
* it is amazing the NFL could have three 15-1 teams and a playoff team that is 7-9.
* if you like Sports Rants you should read my brother's blog. Rob's Blog

Thursday, December 02, 2004

We're taking bets that Ginger wins out this time...

Holy Cow!!! If you have not watched the new tv show The Real Gilligan's Island on TBS you are completely missing out. The show has the best villian on television since Omarosa on The Apprentice. She is the Millionaire's wife, her name is Donna Bevens and she is completely crazy. She has offended just about everyone on the show except her husband and he usually sleeps through her craziness. The best was when the gay professor was arguing with her and she was complete bigotted. That is not all though.

Rachel Hunter and Nicole Eggert are competing to be the Ginger's on the show. Does it get much hotter than that. The trouble is you don't know which one to root for. Part of me really would love to keep seeing Stacey's Mom aka Rachel Hunter, but at the same time Nicole Eggert is the Charles in Charge and Baywatch girl. What kind of choice is that? That is like asking me to choose my favorite Darren from Bewitched. They both were great in their own right and it is just too hard to choose.

Then you have the really hot Mary Ann and the average Mary Ann. One girl is definitely much more wholesome than the other. She probably should be the Mary Ann, but the other one is definitely hotter. She also might hook-up with one of the Gilligan's and that is riveting TV.

Lastly, (actually because no one really cares about the Millionaire, His Wife, the Skipper or the Professor) is the Gilligans. One of them is a 20 year old out of Boston who is actually a player. Which makes him completely anti-Gilligan, but it makes for great TV. The other guy is a gangly 6'7" guy who couldn't have been better cast. Add to the fact that they have competitions each episode and eliminate one of the competing castmates.

Everyone needs to watch this show and tell me what they think. Especially because we are reaching a boring part of the TV season.