As I write this, I’m looking over some pictures from the recent year and I can’t help but reminisce about all the new places and experiences I’ve encountered since moving to Nap Town. Between traveling to parts of the country I previously had never been, or interacting with the very unique (and slightly off) Indiana natives, it’s been a great first year. I mean, I even learned that Indianapolis is also referred to as Nap Town…a good attempt at street cred but not exactly threatening to the likes of Compton, South Central, or B-More.
One of the pastimes that I seem to be enjoying lately is coverbands. Now I’m not talking tribute bands or a revival band with 3 of the original 4 members…I’ve done that before and they are half-way cool. I’m talking full-on, fake hair, makeup and spandex. A little weird, but overall, I don’t have a problem with it. My issue comes with the coverband opening act…another coverband! With the same fake hair, makeup and spandex. My question is, at what point do these dudes climb the coverband corporate ladder and become a full-fledged headliner?
Something else that I have reflected upon over the past year is my work environment. While I love the people I work with, I’ve fallen into a bit of an everyday pattern regarding where I sit at lunch, who I socialize with, and where I park every morning. I’ve never found this to be a problem until I was asked to attend a meeting in a different building (mind you, still attached to mine). I immediately started asking around about how to get there, what to bring, and any advice that would help me on my journey. Again, same building. But the interesting part was when I got there, I didn’t recognize a single person, they dressed funny, and had weird accents. It was like I took a left at the end of the hall and ended up in Prague!
A week ago, Indy got a lot of snow and I found myself stuck in my house, with a driveway full of snow, a real-wheel drive car, and no snow shovel. I called around and it was decided that we would work from home. I’m thinking great…I can run errands, hit the gym, maybe the food court at the mall for some Sbarro’s. But instead, I ended up shoveling my driveway for 4 hours with a shovel I had to borrow from my neighbor. And of course, as I’m shoveling, I have everyone passing by telling me, “Welcome to Indiana” and, “Bet it doesn’t snow like this in Southern California”….like it’s the first time I’ve seen a snowflake. So yesterday when I drove past their house, I threw some trash on their front yard and flipped off their 8 year-old. “Bet they don’t do that in Indiana!”
Speaking of snow, did you know teachers have a special “snow hotline” that they call in the morning to find out if their school is open or closed? Yea, the whole thing’s anonymous, almost like the America’s Most Wanted tip-line. It’s all very underground and suspicious if you ask me.
My buddy Trader was watching a college basketball game recently where powerhouse Middle Tennessee State was taking on the Fighting Whatever’s from Winthrop. First, why the hell is he watching this game? Nevermind. Anyway, the crackpot sideline reporter (not Erin Andrews) was reporting on an interview she did with a player from Nigeria. She asked the player what it’s like to have an African-American president and he said not a big deal because growing up in Nigeria, all he’s ever known are African-American presidents. But wait, how has he had an African-American president in Nigeria? Wouldn’t that just be an African president?
Another question: is it irregardless or regardless?
On a serious note, one of my closest friends from Indy is moving to Missouri for basic training, and then she will complete a tour in Afghanistan. When she first told me about this, I asked why anyone would vacation in Afghanistan. I mean, isn’t it a bad time? I always heard summer was the time of year to gather the loved ones and make that annual trip to the Middle East. Anyway, Aly is a very talented law student and accomplished athlete and Uncle Sam has determined that she would be a welcome addition to the men and women serving overseas.
I met Aly my second day in Nap Town and after she beat me in a game of H.O.R.S.E., I knew we would become great friends. Over the past year we have played a lot of basketball together, watched Rudy countless times, and even took part in a late-night trip to a less the upstanding “club” with a few NBA players (picture late-night rap video come to life). She’s watched my dogs when I’ve gone out of town, introduced me to fine dining, Indy style (hot dog street vendor at 3 am), and always remained a close friend, even when we didn’t talk for a month or two.
In short, Aly will be a great friend for the rest of my life. No matter the distance, or even the country, I know I can count on a random text from her letting me know just how bad the Lakers lost the night before. She’s the kind of person we all want to be like. But unfortunately, I know that for most of us, that’s not possible. No matter how hard we try, most of us will never get to that level. That’s why people like Aly are so special and that’s why saying goodbye is so hard.
Aly, please be safe. Thank you for making me feel welcome and for always being a friend. I will never forget the fun times we’ve shared and I’ll look forward to making it rain with you again very soon. Enjoy Afghanistan, but stay away from the Halwaua-e-Aurd-e-Sujee (http://asiarecipe.com/afgdesserts.html#sujee) ……I heard it’s out of season. Saying good-bye sucks, I guess this is growing up.
One of the pastimes that I seem to be enjoying lately is coverbands. Now I’m not talking tribute bands or a revival band with 3 of the original 4 members…I’ve done that before and they are half-way cool. I’m talking full-on, fake hair, makeup and spandex. A little weird, but overall, I don’t have a problem with it. My issue comes with the coverband opening act…another coverband! With the same fake hair, makeup and spandex. My question is, at what point do these dudes climb the coverband corporate ladder and become a full-fledged headliner?
Something else that I have reflected upon over the past year is my work environment. While I love the people I work with, I’ve fallen into a bit of an everyday pattern regarding where I sit at lunch, who I socialize with, and where I park every morning. I’ve never found this to be a problem until I was asked to attend a meeting in a different building (mind you, still attached to mine). I immediately started asking around about how to get there, what to bring, and any advice that would help me on my journey. Again, same building. But the interesting part was when I got there, I didn’t recognize a single person, they dressed funny, and had weird accents. It was like I took a left at the end of the hall and ended up in Prague!
A week ago, Indy got a lot of snow and I found myself stuck in my house, with a driveway full of snow, a real-wheel drive car, and no snow shovel. I called around and it was decided that we would work from home. I’m thinking great…I can run errands, hit the gym, maybe the food court at the mall for some Sbarro’s. But instead, I ended up shoveling my driveway for 4 hours with a shovel I had to borrow from my neighbor. And of course, as I’m shoveling, I have everyone passing by telling me, “Welcome to Indiana” and, “Bet it doesn’t snow like this in Southern California”….like it’s the first time I’ve seen a snowflake. So yesterday when I drove past their house, I threw some trash on their front yard and flipped off their 8 year-old. “Bet they don’t do that in Indiana!”
Speaking of snow, did you know teachers have a special “snow hotline” that they call in the morning to find out if their school is open or closed? Yea, the whole thing’s anonymous, almost like the America’s Most Wanted tip-line. It’s all very underground and suspicious if you ask me.
My buddy Trader was watching a college basketball game recently where powerhouse Middle Tennessee State was taking on the Fighting Whatever’s from Winthrop. First, why the hell is he watching this game? Nevermind. Anyway, the crackpot sideline reporter (not Erin Andrews) was reporting on an interview she did with a player from Nigeria. She asked the player what it’s like to have an African-American president and he said not a big deal because growing up in Nigeria, all he’s ever known are African-American presidents. But wait, how has he had an African-American president in Nigeria? Wouldn’t that just be an African president?
Another question: is it irregardless or regardless?
On a serious note, one of my closest friends from Indy is moving to Missouri for basic training, and then she will complete a tour in Afghanistan. When she first told me about this, I asked why anyone would vacation in Afghanistan. I mean, isn’t it a bad time? I always heard summer was the time of year to gather the loved ones and make that annual trip to the Middle East. Anyway, Aly is a very talented law student and accomplished athlete and Uncle Sam has determined that she would be a welcome addition to the men and women serving overseas.
I met Aly my second day in Nap Town and after she beat me in a game of H.O.R.S.E., I knew we would become great friends. Over the past year we have played a lot of basketball together, watched Rudy countless times, and even took part in a late-night trip to a less the upstanding “club” with a few NBA players (picture late-night rap video come to life). She’s watched my dogs when I’ve gone out of town, introduced me to fine dining, Indy style (hot dog street vendor at 3 am), and always remained a close friend, even when we didn’t talk for a month or two.
In short, Aly will be a great friend for the rest of my life. No matter the distance, or even the country, I know I can count on a random text from her letting me know just how bad the Lakers lost the night before. She’s the kind of person we all want to be like. But unfortunately, I know that for most of us, that’s not possible. No matter how hard we try, most of us will never get to that level. That’s why people like Aly are so special and that’s why saying goodbye is so hard.
Aly, please be safe. Thank you for making me feel welcome and for always being a friend. I will never forget the fun times we’ve shared and I’ll look forward to making it rain with you again very soon. Enjoy Afghanistan, but stay away from the Halwaua-e-Aurd-e-Sujee (http://asiarecipe.com/afgdesserts.html#sujee) ……I heard it’s out of season. Saying good-bye sucks, I guess this is growing up.
