701. mix bag of randomness and happenings

04/15/2015

701 mix bag of random thoughts and happenings 4 15 2015

GUILTY! in the first degree.

That was the verdict for the second week in a row in two high profile cases in the Boston MA area as former New England Patriot, Arron Hernandez was found guilty of all charges today. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Last week, Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was found guilty of all 30 charges. The Jury is in deliberation to decide if he should get life or the death penalty.

April 15, 2013, at 2:49 PM a bomb was set off in Boston, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. This act of cruelty, of cowardness, of hatred towards Americans left 3 people dead and scarred over 200 physically, emotionally and financially.

I remember where I was when I heard about the tragedy. I was in my room, on the phone with Karen and my Mom told me that there was an explosion in Boston. The initial report was that a gas tank at a gas station near Fenway Park, exploded. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something far worse.
My mom got a text from a wife of a runner, who is a family friend, both the husband and his niece, both who I know pretty well through my temple, were ok and were diverted down another street where the runners gathered and could meet their love ones while a half of a mile away, the most horrifying act played out and the most heroic, unselfish acts ensued with the men and women who did not know what had happened or if it would happen again, their only concern was helping those victims.

America, the land of the free and the home of the braves has united once again and on this day not only in Boston but all across the land, we unite and we are BOSTON STRONG!

Monday we will celebrate Patriots day here in Massachusetts with the running of the 119th Boston Marathon.
USA! USA!USA! USA!

In the world of baseball and for black American’s, this is an important date in history as Jackie Robinson “broke the color barrier” when he took the field on April 15th, 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
*NOTE: I find this a bit miss-informational, as there was actually blacks playing professional baseball prior to the turn of the 20th century.
**however, it is a point in history where time changed. It was an entire decade later when the Ms. Park protest happened.

As an American of this generation, I cannot fathom nor comprehend racism… or any isms for that matter.

Mr. Robinson did endure lots of segregation and hatred everywhere he went and through it all, he stood tall and channeled any anger he may have had to be a hall of fame baseball player. He is an amazing human and a true gentleman.

This milestone in baseball history is celebrated across Major League Baseball today with every player wearing the number 42, the number Jackie Robinson wore.

Grant Writing Class
I’m enjoying it. I’m learning a lot and things which I can actually use in normal day life as well as the field of grant writing. After each lesson, you take a quiz. I got 5 wrong so far in the 45 questions. I only have 3 more lessons to go then a final exam.

PUSHUPS!
On January first I started by doing 3 sets of pushups, doing between 8-10 per a rep.
I am now up to doing 3 sets between 15 and 20 per a rep.
In the 105 days of this year, I only missed 3 days of not working out.
I know that not many, if anyone will mention that my muscles are bigger. I mean, if your brother or male friend is working out, would you mention something? Hmm, well, maybe a female would but not many people I know. I know one lady who will go GAGA over them.

Phone conversation with Karen

I was curious and asked her if she minded that I remember things, that I have a great memory. (I know she doesn't and wasn't sure if it's like... annoying to her or makes her feel bad)
She said no, not at all. She is always amazed some of the stuff I can remember and the detail in which I can remember them

I was curious-thinking about this last week…
What will we do when I visit Indianapolis hopefully late this summer?
She said first, there's not that much to do and named a few things, I said, come on, it's a major city.
She: well... we can go to the zoo, the Children's museum (which I said would be really fun to go with her because it would let the child inside of her come out) she said it would be really fun for me since everything is hands-on.
ME: yup, so you can just take my hand and show me.
She: exactly.
SHE: There is this giant clock that is water-operated completely
(The description sounds like a water fall where after every 15 minutes, water is released from the top of this “clock” and depending on the quarter of the hour, depends on what part of the clock is filled with water and every 12 hours, the entire clock drains down and is brought back to the top and the cycle starts all over.)
She had also mentioned “old buildings” which I laughed and she goes “whaaaat?” I said, you are talking to someone who lives in MA. I’m pretty sure we have older buildings. (She made that sound that kids do that sounds like half spitting, half rolling your lips, usually followed by “brat!”) She then giggled.
ME: what? I went to college in Salem MA. There are houses that are 400 years old. OH! Actually, in my own town, we have the Iron Works which was built in the early 1600’s and is still standing and operating.
SHE: fine, we won’t go see old houses. (Mentioned some old famous author’s house)
ME: No no, it would be fun to go with you to those places.
SHE: I knew you would go.

Another thing she came up with was a horse and buggy ride through the city.
ME: hmm I've never done that before.
She: ok, we're definitely do that.
ME: you promise?
She: promise
(aww, how romantic, heheh)

SHE: We can go to the Indianapolis Speed way museum.
ME: OH! THAT’S RIGHT! Indianapolis, racing. Not that I could care about racing at all but it would be pretty cool to go see that plus some of my friends would be jealous.
SHE: I don’t care about car racing either but it would be fun. I haven’t been there since I was like 6 years old.
ME: I’m sure it has changed since then.
She: Mmhhmm

ME: and meet your parents, if you want me to.
She: of course I want you to meet them. You've asked about it a few times, makes me wonder if you want to meet them.
ME: yes
She: Good
ME: I have to make a good first impression.
She: oh whatever. They'll like you.
She: My mom asks about you from time to time.
ME: she does?????
She: mmhhmm, she asks how you are and what you've been up to.

I'm thinking this is a good thing

Taxes
My father always waits till the last possible moment to hand over all the tax papers to his accountant, he turned them over about 10 days ago. Tom (accountant) said that since I don’t make enough, I didn’t have to file so he didn’t file my taxes. I was NOT a happy camper as my taxes hasn’t changed in the last … forever, and I always get back a few hundred dollars. I know it’s not much but it was something and that something was going to be my spending money for my SF trip. I explained the situation to my father. He asked Tom and after looking my information over, he said that he had made a mistake and will file. (I’m not sure what type of mistake he could make, besides not looking at my information at all) my father told me on Friday, that I will be getting about $230 back. I’m glad I said something and that my Dad questioned Tom.

My BFF and adventure buddy Lisa called me yesterday to tell me she got her hair cut. It’s not really short, it’s just that she wanted it to be cleaned up, to give it style as well as colored. “My hair is blond blond” She said that she needs to get her nails done. She then told me that I need to get a haircut. She said in my last pic, my hair was puffed out from under my hat I was wearing. I didn’t know it was that bad lol. I’m going to wait another week. I want my hair to look-feel freshly cut for SF.

Other things I have to do before SF…
Exchange the RedSox Tank top I bought for Lisa for a bigger size.
Buy a white dress shirt to go with the tie she has for me to wear that goes with the dress she bought.
Email Lisa all the email confirmations I have
Hotel, air flights, baseball games, Alcatraz, restaurant.com and groupon.com coupon for a restaurant and the wine tasting
Make a reservation for the restaurant I want to take her to on Mother’s day night.
Find out if I have to make a reservation for the wine tasting.

23 more days!