A lot to be thankful for

Thanksgiving is the one holiday that all American's celebrate, which is what makes it so great.  It's a time for family and friends to get together and do what Americans do best; eat.  It also allows us a time to reflect on the things we are thankful for.  Little things in life that are often times taken for granted. 

I'm thankful for my family and friends who have always been there for me.  It's interesting how as kids we often take what our parents do for us for granted.  We complain about not getting a new phone or having too early of a curfew.  When you get older you realize that they did this because they care. 

At the Old Brogue last night, I realized how many people I had lost contact with over the years.  It's amazing how your friends change as time passes and life happens.  I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of great people in my life, and am thankful that I still keep in touch with a core set of 4 or 5 of my closest friends.

I'm thankful that I have the freedom and opportunity to do what I want. I'm thankful for lazy Sunday's on the couch watching football. For having a job I enjoy and that I am proud of.  I'm thankful for Saturday afternoons on the Potomac with good beer and a good book. I'm thankful for my health and the ability to play pick up basketball whenever I want.  Most of all I'm happy that after 24 years I've finally realized that it is always better to look at things with the glass half full.  There's a lot of bad stuff going on, but that makes it even more important to appreciate the good. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I Belong in Boston

I went to Boston last weekend to visit college friends and had a blast. After I got off the plane Thursday night at Logan Airport, I immediately saw a Dunkin Donuts and felt at home. I grew up in the DC area and love it here, but I feel like Boston is where I will end up eventually. Let's face it, a red headed, brutally honest, hardcore sports fan like me doesn't belong anywhere else. Hell, Sam Adams is even my favorite beer.

The people of Boston live and die with their sports teams just like me. Friday night I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express across from the Banknorth Garden and ate at a Celtics and Bruins restaurant called Halftime Pizza. It was such a great feeling being around people that loved the Celtics as much as I did. Pictures of Larry Legend, Bill Russell, and Brian Scalabrini adorned the walls. Celtic green was everywhere, and you could feel the excitement in the air for the upcoming game. As much as I love repping Boston sports in DC, being around people that share your passions is a great feeling.
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Boston gets a bad rap sometimes for being front runners, but that is simply not the case. There are only a few cities in America that are more hardcore about their sports teams than Boston. My parents always used to wonder why I would revolve my day around Celtics or Patriots games. Maybe it is ridiculous to the casual fan, but to Boston fans it is a way of life.

The people of Boston may come across as angry or mean at first glance, but in reality they are honest people who will tell you what they think to your face. That is what I love about them. With Bostonians, what you see is what you get. Plus, given the weather there, I think they have a right to be short tempered every once in awhile.

Boston is a beautiful city filled with passionate people. Maybe that is why so many people that are born in the area stay there. Some of my best times in my life have been in that city, and something tells me at some point I will be back.