We're taking bets that all guys want to be Hunter...

First off I will be finishing Year Five on Sunday. There was a lot of controversy with Year Four and I want to make sure that I don't piss off everyone with this one. Or maybe I do want to piss off everyone. We will see.

Recently I have had to drive a lot in the snow. The roads overall have been pretty good considering that the DOT has had to do so much work. Though I think that Connecticut has missed the boat with its 7 part sand/2 part salt mixture as Massachusetts roads have been much better. Although they are probably killing the environment I feel much safer.

The most fun part about driving on the roads has been losing control of my car for a second or two at a time. Usually it involves fishtailing around a corner or in one case a 360 degree spin out on Route 5 with no one around. (Don't tell my mother or she will kill me. I am not sure if I can be grounded yet. :)) Each time I got quick control of the car and completely enjoyed myself while I was dealing with it. I contribute this enjoyment to the TV shows Hunter and The Dukes of Hazzard.

In every episode Hunter would do a 180 degree turn in the middle of a busy LA street. He had a shitty green car, but it would always perform that turn flawlessly. The General Lee was one of the coolest cars ever and it could jump anything or come out of any fishtail fine. It was amazing.

I think that most males would love to be able to do that on a regular basis. (Jon Victorine was even in a car that did that on the highway once.) If you missed your turn you could just tell your passengers that you were pulling a "Hunter" and everyone would brace for the turn. Now, I am not suggesting that everyone tries to do this, but you must admit it is fun when you go into that fishtail. You imagine that you are Jason Bourne trying to ellude the Russian Mob or you are trying to out run Cleatus to get home to your cousin Daisy Duke. (Gross I know, but it was the South in the early 80s.) So the next time it snows find a huge parking lot and do some fishtailing and 360's. It beats shovelling. :)

We're taking bets that the winner is...

It is Oscar time. I have started a pick the winners group on Oscars.com. Join my group and see if you can pick the winners. No prizes. Just for fun. The groups is called Movie Buffs. Oscar Predictions

We're taking bets that you can be my Bodyguard...

So "The Bodyguard" was on this weekend and I am still confused. I have been confused about this for over 12 years. I cannot figure out whether Kevin Costner ended up with Whitney Houston or not.

I mean, conventional wisdom says that it never could have worked. He was stuffy and she was fun. He was old and she was young. He was in politics and she was in entertainment. He was white and she was black. (Actually, they still are.) He ended up in Iowa and she was in LA. There were a lot of things against the two of them.

But then I think about the kiss at the end. She stopped the plane and ran to him. She was singing their song. People can travel. Opposites do attract. It could be possible.

I would like to know other people's opinions on this subject. Because I am the hopeless romantic and believe in the happy ending I think they got together. Tell me what you think.

WTBT Volume 2

We're taking bets that...

* this Blizzard has been the hardest to predict for meteorologists.
* Big Ben has to play the game of his life this weekend to win.
* you need to read Ashlee Simpson's response to her awful performance at the Orange Bowl in US Magazine.
* it was a very sad day at Eastern Connecticut State yesterday. Sad. :(
* they could have come up with better name than "Cat".
* Villanova pulled off another great upset against Kansas this weekend.
* Lost is one of the most addicting shows on television.
* there is nothing like sitting by a fire with friends during a blizzard.
* ESPN's College GameDay for Basketball is pretty cool.
* Paris Hilton should spend a night in jail for petty theft. I don't care if it was her video or not.
* Spitting is gross. Especially in tennis.
* you have to like the new Apprentice 3 concept of Street vs. Books.
* A-Rod should shut his mouth because he is going to receive the beating not Schilling.
* Bill Cosby has got to do a better job of keeping his Fat Albert in his pants.
* the heads of NHL Hockey have met and no one still cares.
* Betty White is doing a great job even in her 80's.
* if it comes down to kicking you are pretty happy with Adam Viniateri being on the Patriots side.
* the dirty bomb scare in Boston scared you a little.
* you can't believe it has been 14 years since Magic Johnson announced he had HIV.
* Tara Reid is about a year to late to have a wardrobe malfunction.
* the Falcons are poised to make the big upset.
* GWB's daughter Jenna Bush is hot.
* you are happy if you don't have to shovel and you should give props to the people that do. Shout outs to Bob, Mike and all of the UML Res. Life Housekeepers.

We're taking bets that we are being attacked by gay cartoons..

I am a proud Catholic. Despite all of the problems we have had lately with priests and closing churches I like being a Catholic. I also believe that with religion you do not have to agree with everything that your particular religion subscribes to. I think it is ridiculous priests can't be married or women for example.

So when I read that Christian Conservatives are "coming out" against a video about diversity and tolerance because the underlying theme is that it is okay to be gay it mad me upset to be a Catholic. Now I know that it isn't only Catholics, but they are definitely a part of this. Why does everything need scrutiny like this. It has "pro-gay subtest"? What the hell does that mean? Maybe I am too liberal or being from Massachusetts has clouded my judgment, but I think this is absolutely ridiculous. I think that the Christian Conservatives should be concerned about the sexual connotations in SpongeBob Squarepants, but not that he has gay subtest. (Though I Googled "SpongeBob Squarepants Gay" and got 175,000 hits.)

This has gotten out of hand. There have been gay cartoon characters for years. I mean Heckle and Jeckle, Chip and Dale, Snagglepuss and Big Bird? The whole idea of this cartoon is to promote tolerance and diversity. If that means that children will be more tolerate of the gay population then I say let them watch it everyday if we have to. The Christian Conservatives have the right to believe what they do, but I think in this case they need to get a life and go "fear monger" somewhere else.

We're taking bets that this is overblown...

In no way is this an apology, but rather a clarification. I am sorry that people have been offended. At the same time everything here is fact. The situation was a fiasco not the relationship. I am completely supportive of their current relationship, but at the time they should have been honest. Everyone needs to get over themselves and realize that this is my account of the past. Just like everyone who has ever done a biography it can be interpreted in different ways by different people.

If you don't like what I write then do not read it. I have kept the truly private stuff private and will continue to do so unless someone wants to start a fight. I don't fight fair and don't really care about you if you want to start a fight on these pages. I hope that everything can stay peaceful. I love ya all and will be over this in the next few hours. :) Why hold a grudge?

Greg

We're taking bets that it was a special time... YEAR FOUR

Here is Year Four. If you remember any stories and want to include them please post in the comments section.

Building: Donahue Hall
Dean of Student Life: Larry Siegel
Dir. of Res. Life: Annie Ciaraldi
Dir. of Res. Operations: Greg Wilder
Asst. Dir. of Res. Life: Derek Costa

RDs - B: Bonnie Maitland - C: Beth Willis - E: Barbara Gray - F: Lynn Kimball - L: Andy Lapp & Nick Piscitello Sh: Michael Puglisi - Sm: Michael Kerver

Well we added Lynn and Mike. You may have loved or hated Lynn, but I will tell you that she took crazy to a level I had not seen before. Within two hours of working with her she told us that she had major personal issues and loved to drink while she was at LSU. I then sat her down and told her that it was okay to go to bars/clubs in the area because we were adults and if there happened to be 21 & over students there it was okay. I was then deemed unprofessional for sharing this open and honest information. She never wanted any help and wasn't all that personable to the rest of the RDs. Thankfully she left mid year. Mike was an enthusiastic guy who wasn't quite ready for the RD job at Lowell. He did his best and he needs props for that. He started dating a RA within the first two weeks of school and came to me for advice. I directed him to GW and told him that honesty was the best policy. He decided against that and another UML fiasco ensued. Senior Staff didn't want him to date her, but the University Policy does not discourage it. We found out that Mike looked ugly in a dress and thankfully he lasted the whole year. He really did try and just wasn't cut out for the job.

Barbara and Kerver were great in Smith and Eames. Barbara was her usually quiet self, but loved by all. Mike was definitely military, but he was a great leader. Mike & Andy had a hate/hate relationship which made for numerous awkward staff meeting moments. Beth finally was in charge of Concordia and did a fantastic job. She also had a dating fiasco that would have gone a lot better if she had been honest with the bosses. Some basic advice for everyone... BE HONEST WITH EVERYONE BECAUSE THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND OUT!!!

Andy, Bonnie & I were the holdovers. We all had odd trust issues with each other, but we survived. Dane Cook opened up the year with a great show. He yelled at me as I was trying to give him directions. Everything worked out, but I thought I had offended someone that I actually idolized. BACHA was a blast at UML. The staff worked so hard and we got a ton of praise from other Universities. UML riots ensued during the Red Sox/Yankees series. They were pretty tame and I watched game 5 of the Oakland series with my upstairs neighbors because I thought my roof was going to cave in.

I found out that I was a problem all semester, but no one said anything to me. I still am not sure what I really did wrong, but Larry SCREAMING at me in a meeting changed how I worked second semester. Andy went to Fox to fill Lynn's spot and Nick took over in Leitch. Andy had a rough semester as did the rest of Fox with hot water issues. It was pretty awful. Nick did a great job considering he had no judicial experience. We had a great Spring Carnival kick off in front of Donahue with Tracy Morgan being as awful as he could be afterwards. Overall it was a pretty good year.

My Staff: ARD - Angela Kungulus RAs - Katrina Thompson, Chris Obara, Tricia Ryan, Paola Tarantino, Shannon Seidel, Mike Bonosaro, Corinne Mancevice, Jim Dineen, Jason Iovanna, Joey Martinez, Kendra Godzyk, Dianna Crowell, Mariel Tejada Office Worker: Tess Buck

This was a pretty kick ass staff. Tricia, Dianna, Kendra, Jason, Mike & Mari came back from last year's great staff. Mari held up the fort on the 5th floor. She did a great job considering how many freshmen she had up there. Tricia took on the challenge of being a better RA, which she did an excellent job at. Mike returned from NJ and was a great RA. Probably better than the rest of his time combined. Dianna concentrated on getting a job which she did. Kendra and Jason were around for first semester, but circumstances led them to leave for different things. Jason became a DK brother. Still not sure if that was the best thing for him, but he seems to be doing alright.

Katrina did a fantastic job although she thought I was a horrible RD. No big deal there. She kept the party atmosphere up and was always involved in something. Chris was almost killed many times by the women on staff. I think that he benefitted most from being an RA. He definitely had his faults (paperwork, inserting his foot in mouth), but he did a pretty good job and we had some great supervisories about life. Paola was our already has a degree, but I am trying to be a nurse RA. She struggled but did much better second semester on the 4th floor. Shannon was the happiest person that I have ever met. She always made the staff smile. She was amazing considering how much she had to do with Track, RA and school. Joey became like a younger brother who I loved to pick on. He brought his "player" attitude to the staff even though he wasn't really a player. More of a pretty guy who liked to wax his eyebrows. Corinne was a pleasant surprise especially since we got off on the wrong foot the previous January. She was the most unique member of the staff and got a branding on her left arm. We talked through a ton of stuff and had a lot of fun together. Jim was the music/jock who grossed out the staff a lot. Change your underwear man. :) Then there was Tess our extra staff person who made our building better by putting up flyers and signs. I think she was in the office more than everyone combined.

Angela was one of the best parts of being in Donahue last year. No one really saw what I saw in her. She is absolutely amazing. She has a tough exterior and a heart of gold. We became excellent friends and she proved anyone who doubted her wrong. She is still just "SPECIAL" to me.

We had a great time in Da Hue whether it was having the least amount of damage in the history of Donahue to dealing with "Riots" in Lowell. Plenty of nights out at the Olde Court and tons of fun at staff meetings. Donahue was the place to be.

We're taking bets that it hit too close to home...

I am taking a break from writing my Year by Year reviews. It is taking quite an emotional toll and I will finish them over the next two nights.

I went to see In Good Company tonight. This movie was phenomenal and no it is not because I think Scarlett Johansson is hot. She is very hot; but that isn't the reason. It really said a lot to me about my recent decisions. It told me that everything was going to be okay. The last few days have been pretty hard because I am going to miss so many people and feel I have let a lot of my students down. I know I need to make this decision for myself, but I am not that great at being selfish. Then this movie came along and kicked my ass into moving forward.

Everyone should see this movie. It will make you smile, laugh and potentially cry. The soundtrack was excellent and the acting superb.

We're taking bets that Da Hue was born... YEAR THREE

Here is Year Three. If you remember any stories and want to include them please post in the comments section.
Building: Donahue Hall
Dean of Student Life: Larry Siegel
Dir. of Res. Life: Annie Ciaraldi
Dir. of Res. Operations: Greg Wilder
RDs - B: Bonnie Maitland - C: Danielle Cochrane - E: Ramya Kumar - F: Derek Costa - L: Kim "Wicked Crazy" McFerran & Andy Lapp Sh: Kishshana Palmer - Sm: Andy Lapp & Hassan Borhot

Kishshana didn't show up for her first two days of work and Kim showed us that she was completely crazy. Kim had more stories than anyone I had ever met. She took crazy to a level that I could not even comprehend. At NACA she made me so uncomfortable that I slept in my car at a McDonald's instead of in my room. Thankfully she went out drinking with staff the night before Winter Opening and was promptly fired. Plus she really had a bad smell to her. :( Bonnie & I rescued the building. We got the mess ready for Andy who did an excellent job getting Leitch to a good place. Kishshana on the other hand didn't care about UML one bit. She thought this was going to be a blow off job. Thankfully she left at the end of May too. Though she screwed Bonnie by not paying her the money she owed her.

Bonnie and I continued our not really trusting each other work relationship. It didn't do any harm, but it definitely did help either of us. Danielle did a pretty good job over in Concordia though she was wicked burnt out by the end. Hassan filled in pretty well over in Smith and Ramya did a great job in Eames that led to jobs at Michigan State and now Arizona State.Derek had perhaps the worst year an RD could ever had. First semester they had four fires that were caused by an arsonist. Everyone's lives in Fox were disrupted for a solid month. Finally they did a big article and The Connector and it stopped for the rest of first semester. Second semester came and they didn't have any other major problems until Larry & Annie went on vacation for Spring Carnival week. A student died from unknown(to me) causes. There were lots of rumors of drug usage and alcohol. Who knows, but Derek was one of the first people on the scene and that has to have an affect on him every day. The next night they had another fire set by an arsonist and they caught him. Unfortunately it was caused by one of the Fox RAs Brendan Pollard. I hope he has gotten a ton of help because he was crazy. How the fuck can you put 500+ lives in jeopardy like that. He is one of the charter members of people that creep Greg out and will never get a second chance in my book. There is only two other members if you are wondering. Miraculously the Fox Hall Staff pulled through and I think that Derek did a better job than the year before when he got the RD of the year.

My Staff: ARD - Niamh Brady RAs - John Harrison, Mariel Tejada, Tricia Ryan, Bryan Wint, Rosie Lankowski, Kendra Godzyk, Josh Loiselle, Diana Crowell, Kristen Czarnecki, Mike Bonosaro, Jason Iovanna, Colleen Brady, Sylvia Aguilar & Daniel Callahan

Everyone on this staff was so incredible in their own unique way. John Harrison was the Student Senate President and everyone thought he was going to be a major problem. He learned to love Res. Life and the Donahue Staff became his family. He did a freakish cry/laugh thing and told a great story about a pooping raccoon. I was glad that I got to work with him as he taught me a ton. Colleen Brady was well Colleen Brady. She started "Shit Surprise" for the staff. It became our staff motto. Sylvia was our youngest looking older person. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. She had such a cute accent. Mike left mid year for Afghanistan which turned out to be a lost semester in New Jersey. Thankfully. Diana had a rough exterior that we slowly chipped through and she was a great office worker. Josh was our computer guy who was loved by each and everyone of his residents. Daniel took over for Sylvia mid semester and continued his quest to be the funniest guy on the planet. He did so many off the wall things that it was hard to keep up. Breaking the security booth chair was probably the worst of it. Kristen (Ciznerski) did a great job as an RA. It was weird working with someone who I had put on probation during her first year in Leitch. She and I had many long conversations about family, religion, boys and other fun life events.

Tricia was the person no one thought I would hire. I saw something special in her and learned that I was right. She had one of the most negative attitudes ever. We fought through that and she actually got to know her residents. She still can get attitudy, but we worked it out pretty well. The greatest thing about Tricia she was always available for a hug. :)

Biggy & Rosie were a lot different. Biggy became the best RA I have ever seen at confronting situations. There isn't a situation he couldn't handle and he worked very hard to get rid of his late bulletin board reputation. Rosie hated working for me this time and didn't think I put enough time into her. She may have been right, but there were other people I needed to work with and I knew she had a good handle on things. It was good for her to become the Sheehy ARD, even if it meant working for Kishshana.

Kendra took over for Rosie. She was excellent and we had a connection that even to this day I cannot quite explain. Either way she makes me smile. Jason took over for Mike. He was a great part of staff and we worked on a lot of issues. He is another person I would call a little brother.

Then came Mari and Niamh. Mari walked into the Main Office one day looking for a job and I convinced her to be an RA. Although she said she would never be one. We became fast friends and I am so glad that she came into my life. Niamh worked for me all summer and I think we spoke 50 words to each other. She didn't like me all that much and thought I was mean. Then we threw Skittles and Starbursts around the office during Opening and a friendship was born. We had numerous late night talks and she ended up being one of my closest friends. There are probably thousands of more words to say about the two of them, but they already know how much they mean to me and I will continue to show they for the rest of my life.

We had a lot of fun in Donahue. The staff gave me a big "Shit Surprise". We dealt with the Women's Soccer Team and Field Hockey team. 104 was always having a good time. We eliminated a ton of damage in the building and made it the best place to live on campus.

We're taking bets that it just got better... Year Two

Here is Year Two. If you remember any stories and want to include them please post in the comments section.

Building: Leitch Hall
Dean of Students: Ellen Duggan aka THE NUN
Dir. of Res. Life: Larry Siegel
Asst. Dir. of Res. Life: Annie Ciaraldi & Greg Wilder

RDs - B: Bonnie Maitland - C: Emily Neal - D: Renee Gately - E: Diana Rita - F: Derek Costa - Sh: Barbara Nardone - Sm: Andy Lapp

Costaface got the big promotion and Bonnie came into our lives. Diana Rita was a huge waste of time. She was a nursing major who did Peace Corp stuff and had no clue about what to do. Thankfully Eames was in a good place. Barbara had moved to Sheehy and we started our second year together. I bet Larry that Derek would make some major mistakes in Fox (Which he did), but he did an unbelievable job overall and won the RD of the Year. Thankfully we moved Drewpac to Smith and he did a pretty good job there although he worked 50 hours a week at Hannaford and was taking classes. We had three scandals. Two firings of an RA in Donahue. One person people liked and the other people didn't. Then we had the Sheehy fiasco that Barbara took so much shit for. She supported her staff so much, but in the end she supported Res. Life because it was her job. I don't think some people ever forgave her and for that they should be ashamed. I also had a knock down drag-out fight with Dean Duggan. I told her she treated RDs like shit and should be respectful of them. It got so bad that Larry had to come in because he thought she was going to kill me. It made things better for every RD, but me. Thankfully she decided to retire. :)

Bonnie was quite a talker and never ever seemed to get upset. It was a big difference for us all. We didn't really get along all that well as we ran our buildings very differently. We've had our ups and downs, but we have put it all past us now.

My Staff: ARD - Danielle Cochrane RAs - Bryan Wint, Christopher Geen, Tim Kahlert, Sebastian (Wesley) Benjamin, Nick Piscitello, Dan Chandonnet, Michael Griffin, Bob Bailey, Dave Silen, Nick Parisi, Ryan Donaher, Jose Mercado, Shaunna Vargas, & Rosie Lankowski

We had an absolutely kick ass staff. My first one I hired here at Lowell. There was a ton of drama just a few days into the semester. We "broke into" the Bourgeois Office and planted hundreds of balloons. Some of them had baby powder in them. Tim the Ninja was born. We then had the mysterious car break-ins as a retaliation. To this day not many people really know what happened with that.

We truly became a staff during that crisis. It helped us when 9/11 happened and everything changed in all of our lives. Parents wanted Fox evacuated because it was an obvious target of terrorism. My first phone call was to Barbara. Once I found out she was okay and her family was alright I could breath again. We caught kids smoking pot because it had stressed them out. We had candlelight vigils and watching the news became a part of college students lives.

My brother and sister came to visit for the one and only time together. We bowled and my brother and Rosie hit it off. Too bad she still had a boyfriend. We had a very special student in Olivia who caused us a great deal of stress and is probably one of our biggest success stories four years later. I will always be proud of how Danielle, Rosie & Shaunna handled her issues.

Nick continued to be an awesome RA and he built the BINGO machine. I owe him a lot for that and I don't think he will ever know how much. He is one of those people with a great smile and just make you feel lucky you got to know him. Bob Bailey was a unique individual and had the best pants. Sebastian kept the staff chill with his great sense of humor and his wonderful poetry.

I also got the privilege of working with two awesome people in Michael Griffin "GRIFF" and Bryan Wint "BIGGY". They both were excellent in their own unique ways. Griff was like my little brother. He still is to this day. Biggy became one of my instant favorites because he loved to challenge me and we had so much in common. He has my utmost respect to this day and will always be someone I consider to be a great friend.

As the semester went along we had a lot of fun until an incident happened in late November. I unfortunately had to fire Jose. That may have been the hardest day I have ever had as an RD. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about the sadness we both endured. Thankfully he did not hold any grudges and is still a friend today. We got to hire Geen who brought smiles to all of our faces.

Second semester we hired Ryan, Nick and Dave. Dave was my biggest mistake ever and led me never to trust hiring an RA I did not interview. He almost single handedly took the building down. We put up with so much shit especially from Kunal. He is one of the few people that I would mind still strangling. :) Ryan was another story. He did a great job and found his soulmate in Shaunna. They got engaged recently and I couldn't be happier for them. He also found a great friend in Biggy. Nick came to us from Smith Hall. He was a freaky dancer and gave weird massages, but we loved him none the less. No one knew then that he would overcome any obstacle and be successful in UML Res. Life.

It was our first ever try at Training in the Tsongas. No one got hurt bad that time. There also was a naked guy running through the 4th floor. We also had the shooting during Spring Training Right on the corner of University Ave & Pawtucket Street. I walked home from the banquet. (Which was at Lenzi's) That day marked the beginning of the end. :( The nice thing was that other than my staff no one really knew I was gone. I learned I was going to move to Donahue and another chapter would begin.

We're taking bets that Lowell didn't know what hit it... Year One

I thought it would be fun for people to read the recap of the last 4 1/2 years at UMass Lowell. It may be long & it should be fun. I will be doing this each of the next five days. If you remember any stories and want to include them please post in the comments section.

Building: Leitch Hall
Dean of Students: Ellen Duggan aka THE NUN
Dir. of Res. Life: Larry Siegle
Asst. Dir. of Res. Life: Annie Ciaraldi & Greg Wilder

RDs - B: Barbara Nardone - C: Emily Neal - D: Renee Gately - E: Kristin Lamond(now Costa) - F: Alana Greene(Or as we used to meanly joke "That's Alotta Greene") - Sh: Karen Humphrey-Johnson & Andy Lapp - Sm: Derek Costa

Lowell was not quite ready for the "newbies" Renee & myself. I was very arrogant and thought I knew everything. Renee was graduate coming back. We became fast friends and stuck together through everything. I even convinced her that Kelly was going to beat Richard in Survivor. Her husband Kevin & I bonded by talking baseball. She has always been one of my favorite people and still is today. Costaface was born as GW and I did a great job of teasing Derek. He did love the cake so much. :) Karen left mid year to go to admissions and we brought Andy to Lowell. He had a rough time over in Sheehy, but he was fun to hang with. We dealt with a "Slappy Says" scandal in The Connector, but we did a good job of putting that behind us and firing him. We had a real Casino night that was actually kind of boring. We did nothing for our Opening Week and I knew that had to change. Everyone seemed to deal with my arrogance; although Larry and I got into a bunch of battles. I also started a great relationship with Athletics. Also Mary Connelly, Brenda Evans and THE NUN did not like me. It is tough being on the bad side of a nun. :)

I met the one person who changed how I looked at life in Barbara. She was amazing. I was so sad when I found out she was dating someone. So I innocently helped to break her and her boyfriend up. ;) Breaking her toe helped. We started dating in late September and it was a great time in my life. Remember that being clumsy can work for you especially when you spill a whole glass of wine on you during your first date. We were a pretty good couple and despite our rough ending we had a great beginning. I look back now and it really makes me smile.

My Staff: ARDs - XXXXXX XXXXX & Brianne Standbridge (now Crook) RAs - Dan Brenn, Pat Martin, Nick Parisi, Jose Mercado, Rob Allen, Paul Grande, Billy Olsen, Pha Chhoeun, Erin Conlin, Danielle Cochrane, Shaunna Vargas, Tim Kahlert, Dan Chandonnet

I was taught about the RA toolkit with an island adventure video during RA training and Leitch Love was developed. We had the most fun office on campus with video games, VCR and just about anything you needed. We had a Hall Council that wanted to do midget tossing and mud wrestling as programs. We had so much fun with Rob taking "Fat Pat" under his wing and Pat dropping every class but one and driving the National Escort Van from the Brewery Lot. We had movies outside, pool tournaments inside and Mike Dalli raising hell as our ISO. There was talk of infidelity by certain staff members and we were the center of the O-Pi World. We lost parking in the Big Fox Lot for the Construction of the Rec Center. Miss Charisma taught us all about the wonderful world of drag. It was such a special first semester.

Unfortunately I had to let go XXXXXX and hire Brianne. XXXXXX and I never recovered our friendship after that. (Yes XXXXXX deserved to be let go.) It was one of the worst firings I had until about 11 months later. I will always regret how we were never able to get over it. Brianne did an alright job, but the staff was mad I didn't hire Nick. We got through it though. Paul left mid semester. We lost some of our attitude when he left. :) I then had to counsel EMT Billy out of the job and hired Tim. I loved Billy. He always made me laugh and I still have that giggle doll he got me for Christmas. I hope he and Michelle are very happy. I had to fire Erin for an alcohol infraction. Thankfully it brought one of the greatest people that I have ever met into my life, Shaunna. It was amazing to have seen her grow from a timid freshman to an unbelievable woman. We continued to have fun with people walking on cars and a huge snowstorm. I had to speak to Tim numerous times about his "mouth", but we found out we had a lot in common. Pat and I broke the office window with Jose watching. I found out how much I hate End of the Year Banquets at Jimmy's IV when Rob peed himself and what seemed like everyone on staff got drunk. I think that I learned as much in that year as I ever had before. What a year. What would happen next.

Leitch Love FOREVER!!!

We're taking bets that the news was weird today...

Does it really matter to anyone that a mammal may have eaten a dinosaur once? How important is it if Shakespeare had syphilis? Maybe to a few of these crazy scientists. My life will not change one bit with this groundbreaking information.

Now this information could change everyone lives, because it has kept me up at night for years. I have been so concerned about those two and now that they aren't at the in the spotlight I am glad that they can be friends again.

I think that these kids had a great idea, but tater tots are just too tempting to throw. I mean that and cubed jello. The funniest part was the quote by the kid sitting with the foreign exchange students. Like they have never been part of a food fight.

Lastly the stupid guy of the week. I think that men shouldn't be allow to play with fire. Though the thought of roasted pig does sound exciting.

WTBT 2005 Volume One

We're taking bets that...

* sometimes the toughest decisions are the right ones to make.
* the Phoenix Suns may win 70 games this year.
* if you live near the Chelmsford Walmart you are happy that the district manager changed his picture and is a lot less creepy.
* the Indianapolis Colts are in for their biggest challenge of the year this weekend.
* Wade Boggs does deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, but I am not sure he is what I would call a Red Sox Hall of Famer. If didn't ride that damn horse in Yankee Stadium.
* you are pulling for Jennifer and Brad to make a comeback.
* some kickers should keep their feet out of their mouths. Just ask Mike VanderJERK!(used courtesy of Rodney Harrison)
* the difference between is as easy as seeing Joe Simpson and Zhang Tong.
* it has been a rough year for UCONN Husky Basketball, but I still think they both will make some noise in the Big Dance in March.
* Mr Blackwell did a good job naming Nicolette Sheridan his worst dressed.
* you actually want to say Nicorette instead of Nicolette. :)
* it would be refreshing if Matt Leinart stayed at USC.
* you are a little bothered by all these natural disasters.
* Randy Johnson is in big trouble in NY if he has already pushed one cameraman.
* no matter what some critics say Committed is a great new comedy on NBC and everyone should watch it.
* Jennie Finch is making me want to get a man purse.
* WTBT CLASSIC (Still true) being in the right place at the right time is the key to getting a good backrub.
* you are not too sure about Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, but you will watch the new Superman movie when it comes out anyway.
* that if I didn't love the Patriots I would be rooting for Ben Rothlisberger and the Steelers to win the Super Bowl.
* MC Hammer would not be my choice for officiating a marriage, but Vince Neil liked him.
* if you were a failure in Olympic Basketball you are having a pretty good NBA year.
* no matter how cold it gets in the United States you can't complain compare to these people.
* the Mets paid way too much for Carlos Beltran.
* this would have been a good fight to see. Meow!!!
* I appreciate all of my family, friends, staff and colleagues for the support they have given me. It will never be forgotten. :)

We're taking bets that this makes you love your parents more...

There isn't much to say about the Simpson family debacles. No I am not talking about OJ, but rather Ashlee, Jessica and patriarch Joe. It is very creepy.

You can read and listen all about it.

Daddy Dearest

Cover Your Ears

We're taking bets that all hope is gone...

This is pretty tough for me to even say... People make decisions and it is sometimes for the best, but do they understand who they are hurting. Why O WHY HAVE Jennifer and Brad split up?!?

It just doesn't seem right. They were the golden couple of Hollywood. Everytime you saw them together it just looked like they fit. To me they were the Tom and Jerry of movies. If they cannot make it in this crazy world what hope do others have? I mean will Jennifer Garner break Ben's heart again. Can Britney Spears keep Kevin in line? Will Freddie be able to keep his prints on Sarah? Will J.Lo "Get Real" and dump Marc Anthony?

Thankfully it isn't craziness like there was in old Hollywood where Rock Hudson almost married everyone of his co-stars even though he was really gay. (Not sure what "really gay" is, but it sounds good.) Or when Elizabeth Taylor married everyone even as she got uglier and uglier. I say we need to follow the wonderful example set by Brigit Nielsen and Flavor Flav. Why get married when you can fool around and have others as well? :)

We're taking bets that this is funny...

Here are five funny news stories from the last few days. They mad me laugh and I hope you do to. :)

1. Best place to go if you are afraid of poisonous animals.
2. GWB may be the smartest Bush. :)
3. Here comes the judge.
4. "Can't we all just get along?" said the high pitched pig.
5. Hide your watermelons everyone!!!

I will have a real post later today or tonight. Enjoy!!!

We're taking bets that something will come along...

Thanks to everyone who wished me well while I was sleeping the last 48 hours. I do appreciate it very much.

It is always friends that help you make decisions. Not by telling you what to do, but by making sure you have perspective. My best friend, Ian, always does that for me. He knows me very well and understands that I will make my own decisions. His advice and information is very valuable to me. It has helped a great deal. The other thing that I know is when I make my inevitably bad decision he won't look down on me, but rather support me in any way he can. He won't judge me even if he disagrees. It is what a true friend does. I believe I have a couple of those and I am very thankful for that. Hopefully they will be there for me when I make the rest of my life decisions. :)

We're taking bets that this is parenting today...

I am very proud of these parents. They actually are taking responsiblility for their child's tardiness. I do wonder about the school bus system here in Pearland, Texas. Maybe she should take the bus since her parents do not seem reliable. :)

We're taking bets that the fat lady has sung, but she can't...

I think we have final confirmation. Ashlee Simpson CAN'T SING!!! Over 70,000 people booed her at the Orange Bowl halftime show last night. She sounded like a humpback whale sending a mating call. Not that I have heard that, but I imagine that is what it would be like.

It all started when she couldn't sing on her own TV show and then snowballed to SNL this fall. Sadly it has moved from humorous to down right sad. I understand she has lived in her sister's "Shadow", but maybe she should have just stuck to acting. She actually is pretty good on 7th Heaven. So I have heard, I actually have only watched one or two shows and she was on for a total of 4 minutes.

This is a case of her Dad trying to push her too far. He is her manager and he knows she cannot sing, but he's still pushing her. It is absolutely crazy. Someone close to her has to say something. Who the heck is booking her for these gigs anyway? Is she paying them to sing? At least she wasn't the worst Simpson there. OJ was in the crowd supporting his Trojans. No not the condoms, but the USC Trojans. Maybe they should do a duet. I bet it would sell and she dyed her hair brunette so she will be safe. :)

We're taking bets that 2005 will get better - Part 2...

I have been thinking a lot about my New Year's Day Post. I think that it was pretty honest and open for a shy and closed off person like myself. It is hard to sometimes be as honest as you want to without the fear of getting hurt. In the last few days I stumbled across something that sums up my "nice guy" feelings. Nice Guy Rant Not a bad little rant. I couldn't have written it better myself.

The problem is there are so many freaking dirtbags out there. Women don't trust these men, but they like that they are assertive. When I work my bouncer job at the Brewery in Lowell I see some many guys just being creepy. Standing on the outside of the dance floor just gawking at the women. Then there are the creeps who dance, but are just trying to cop a feel on the dance floor by gyrating up against any woman they can find. It really is kind of gross. These guys give men such a bad rap that I have a tough time believing that anyone gets into a relationship.

So to all the nice guys out there you have to realize that the deck is stacked against you. You might be attractive, wonderful and it won't help one single bit. We just need to keep trying and maybe the creepy angle works. :)

We're taking bets that this story is great...

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far to yesterday's blog. Read it if you want... Comment too. I will e-mail you soon Mike. I have a follow up that I will finish some time tomorrow.

I just wanted everyone to read this story as it is funny and has awful irony. Remember Religious Groups need to follow the rules too. God does not protect rule breakers. :)

Satan's Sled

We're taking bets 2005 will get better...

Before anyone starts reading this is not an attempt for anyone to feel sorry for me. It is merely just me getting some words out so that I can start 2005 on a good note. So here it goes...

I spent New Years Eve with all of my friends tonight. Alright I spent it by myself working at the Brewery celebrating with hundreds of people that I didn't know. I shook more hands and was told Happy New Years more than ever before. I realize that I have put myself into a strange hole in my life and I am not sure if there is any way that I will get out.

I work a job that I love at UMass Lowell, but many of the people are either my colleagues or students and not my friends. (There are some exceptions.) I spend hours avoiding a "real job" and getting my degree because I am afraid I won't enjoy something else. People just don't understand what it is to be the "RD". Every "RD" has a different experience and even we have a tough time relating to each other. We do way too much and never really ask for thank yous. We give even when we think we have no more to give. It's okay though, because it is the job we chose and I really love it.

This job has ruined some of my best relationships. From Kathi(ex-fiancee though it never would have worked. Thankfully she saw that.) to Barbara(shoulda been fiancee, but I screwed up way too many times to ever be trusted again. Plus we fought way too much) to tons of friends (Renee, Brian, Kelly, Diane, etc). The job may leave me single for a long long time. (Adding 40 pounds this semester doesn't help. Ever notice that no one tells you that you look awful even though you know you do? Not even a "Is something wrong Greg?") I do know that I actually am an average looking guy when you can't see my enormous second chin and large belly. Remember being a "nice guy" only counts for so much. Though I have decided that this year I am going to stop fucking around with my weight, because I am not ready to die yet and that will come soon if I don't stop.

Life just seems to be passing me by. It doesn't help that I realize that I may have missed my chance to be with my soulmate. Who that is I am not quite sure, but I keep getting that feeling that I either blew it or didn't realize that she was there and moved on to someone else. I keep getting older and I don't see the Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da for me. It is sad when I take so much joy in another's child especially GW & Melody's Eliza. Though I probably could listen to little kid stories all day and be happy.

I keep alienating my friends and family. If my sister didn't know what I looked like we probably would never talk. I speak to my best friend once a month if we are lucky. I have been a jerk to some of my other friends. Especially Dan, but I never know what to say so I just do nothing and don't call. Spending time alone has actually become more of the norm than it should be, but I don't reach out. It is sad how confusing I actually am and I am not sure about myself. Insomnia and over thinking are a real bad combination.

Enough of the PITY PARTY for Greg!!! 2005 is going to be a good year for me. Why? Because I fucking say it is going to be and I determine that better than anyone. I hope everyone is sleeping well and wakes up tomorrow with a smile on their face. I do feel a ton better.

HAVE A GREAT 2005 EVERYONE!!! I LOVE YA ALL!!!

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!!!

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.

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...

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

Posted by Hello

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.

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. :)

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!!

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!!!

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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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.

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.

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.

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.)

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. :(

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.

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. :)

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

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.

We're taking bets that BCS stands for Big Crappy System...

Even if you are not a College football fan you can appreciate the craziness that is the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) this year. There are 5 teams that are undefeated this year in College Football. Only two teams get to play for the "National Championship" and the others get relegated to another BCS bowl. Or in Boise State's case the Liberty Bowl against Louisville which might be the best team in the country, but played one average game against Miami and lost.

Now I have probably lost a bunch of you already so let me put this in terms that you can understand. It is kind of like if the top two singers of American Idol get voted off early because white America wants the Hawaiian chick to win. Oh wait that happened. It is more like the TV Producers of Friends could only keep two of the Friends including Gunther, Mr. & Mrs. Geller and Phoebe's husband. They decide to use a TV critics poll, 6 obscure internet sites that decide who the best characters are based on clothing and hairstyles. Even though Gunther is one of the true gems of the show you know that he has no shot. Everyone knows it is probably going to be Ross and Rachel, but so many people think that Joey had a great couple of seasons. Everyone just wishes that they all could get a chance in some sort of playoff system where maybe the audience votes or something. This is what College Football Fans are dealing with this year. Could you even imagine if this happen in TV Land?

The undefeated teams are USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Utah and Boise State. Utah and Boise State don't matter because they are not one of the precious BCS Conferences so they are going to get the shaft no matter what. The BCS has even gone on record as saying that they would not even consider putting Utah against Auburn if they both remain undefeated. That would be like saying that CSI couldn't go on the air Thursday nights because ER is going to beat it. Looking back that would have been a huge mistake.

The reason we don't have a playoff is because the college presidents of the major football schools say it would be too tough for kids with finals. Funny thing is that Division 1-AA, Division 2 and Division 3 football all have a playoff system that is completed before Christmas. Last I checked if schools who actually make education important can do that so can Division 1-A. The sad thing is that everything is about money and the Big Conferences are not going to give that up and let the little guys get some play. It is always about money.

So this upcoming football weekend I am praying for 3 things to happen. USC plays UCLA, Oklahoma plays Colorado, and Auburn plays Tennessee. I hope each of these teams lose and the BCS is forced to play Utah vs. Boise State for the National Championship. Oh wait that can't happen because California and Texas are both ahead of Utah in the BCS rankings and they would play for the title. UGH!!!

We're taking bets that guys can be freaky protective...

What is it about men who are in relationships? They seem to be afraid of every guy that walks near their beau. Usually they then get touchy to show everyone that they are a couple. Half of the time you don't really notice, but the other half of the time it is kind of overboard. I think that if guys could they would pee on their women's leg to mark their territory.

Now I am an average looking guy. I am overweight, but not in a disgusting way yet. I am definitely not a threat to guys, but even I can illicit the "MY GIRLFRIEND! STAY AWAY" reaction. I was in my local Starbucks waiting to order an Egg Nog Latte when the guy in front of my looked in my direction. I thought it was odd, but then he grabbed his girlfriend's hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Now this didn't seem to be a normal thing for him, because she looked at him like he was crazy and said, "What's up with you?" I actually laughed out loud. I was not looking to break up his relationship, but rather just wanted some coffee. Why do we have to be so insecure about our relationships? Women may be even worse, but they come right out and say things to other women. Guys just try to mark their territory. Is it this way in the gay community as well? I wonder.

To all guys in relationships out there... I AM NOT A THREAT!!! Let me live my life without acting weird around me. Currently I am not even a squirrel trying to get a nut, but rather I have decided to hibernate for the winter. Remember the girl is with you for a reason don't overreact and pee on them. (Unless that is what you are into and to that I say GROSS!!)

We're taking bets that Charlie Brown has nothing on me...

So I started my Charlie Brown Christmas yesterday. Every year I need to get a real Christmas Tree. It is very important to me. A fake Christmas Tree just doesn't do it. I have experienced a fake tree and it is kind of like fake boobs. They are nice to look at, but they just don't feel right. There is something special about a real Christmas Tree. It has a great smell that you just can't duplicate. It makes me feel like Christmas is actually on its way.

I went to on my annual Christmas Tree trip to the Loop in Methuen. It started because Danielle Cochrane had suggested a tree farm in the area. Well I got completely lost the first time and ended up seeing a movie and going to Home Depot. Home Depot has some great trees and it is pretty much a no hassle shopping trip. I saw National Treasure, which was a great movie. The ending was a little disappointing, but overall it was very good. That Bruckheimer does such a great job producing movies.

I then went to Home Depot and found the perfect tree. It really was great; full in every area with one spot that I could hide if turned it the right way. The last two years I have lived in the lap of luxury with a high ceiling that allowed me to get a pretty tall tree. Not tall like Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation but tall for a single guy living in an apartment. I have since moved to a smaller apartment with much lower ceilings.

All of this would have been great to remember when I was buying the tree. So I brought the tree home in my SUV; which wasn't as convenient as I thought it would be. The tree was a little too long for the car and I had to bring it all the way to the front. Putting it on the top would have made sense, but I rarely make sense. After almost crashing 5 or 6 times I made it home. I got it upstairs and took out my Christmas Tree Saw to cut the bottom so I could water the tree. I cut of about 6 inches and tried to put the tree in my room. It was about a foot and a half too big.

My tree is now a distant memory of what it was. I had to cut a bunch of branches off the bottom and about another foot and a half. It has a small gap that I am trying to hide with ornaments, but I don't think I am being that successful. I wouldn't trade it for a fake tree, but it is a little disappointing. At least it can only get better from here. Thankfully, the Christmas season is always a joy. I am now going to go outside and wait for Lucy to pull the ball away when I try to kick it.

We're taking bets that you don't get funnier on Thanksgiving than this...

This is a clip from the Thanksgiving episode of WKRP. It is only audio unfortunately, but it is funny none the less. Enjoy.

Turkeys Away Then click the audio file. It is hilarious. :)

WTBT Volume Fourteen

We're taking bets that...

* being right isn't all that it is cracked up to be.
* you can't believe it has been 20 years since Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass to Gerald Phelan that beat Miami.
* Thanksgiving is the one holiday that only turkeys can get upset about.
* the Chicago Bulls may have trouble winning 5 games this year.
* you are excited about all the great DVD releases over the next 4 weeks.
* it is creepy that Mariah Carey wants to be called Mimi now.
* football on Thanksgiving just doesn't create that much excitement with the Cowboys and Lions. Maybe it is time to give other teams a chance.
- SPECIAL NBA BRAWL SECTION
* the players never should have gone into the stands.
* Ron Artest may be the crazier than Latrell Sprewell and he choked his coach.
* Ben Wallace got off easy because he started the entire thing and kept escalating it.
* you are going to think twice about going to your next NBA if you have good seats.
* the Indiana Pacers chances of winning a World Championship are probably gone.
* the Detroit fans should get punished too.
* Jim Gray is always in the right place for bad things to happen and him to get the interview.
* this was bound to happen.
* you haven't seen that many good punches in a heavyweight fight over the last 5 years.
* the NBA will never be the same.
- SPECIAL NBA BRAWL SECTION
* since no one really watches CBS news Dan Rather isn't going to be missed.
* it is going to be a little more expensive to see a Red Sox game next year.
* you better be careful if you are a hunter in Wisconsin.
* this is why you always have to be nice to housekeepers. Housekeeper leaves millions to school.
* U2 is one of the best bands for fans. What a great surprise concert yesterday in NYC.
* the Red Sox are going to miss Gabe Kapler.
* postpartum depression is very scary as seen by the lady who severed the arms off of her baby girl.
* UML Hockey is bound to start winning some of its close games.

We're taking bets that I still get choked up...

Everyone has a television show, movie or song that always gets them emotional. Whether it is a warm fuzzy feeling or tears we all have it. For me it is on the show Friends when Ross first kisses Rachel. Many people who knew me when it was first on know that I had a small obsession with the show. I have since mellowed a little. Though everytime I see that episode I will stop what I am doing and watch it in its entirety. Kind of like most people are when Shawshank Redemption or Christmas Story come on. I know it is the hopeless romantic in me, but I think it is a great scene.

I am wondering what everyone else has for their TV, Movie or Song that gets them emotional. Please make a comment. I will leave this up until I have 10 comments, because I think it is important now that the holidays are coming up to be a little emotional. :)