Tuesday, July 05, 2005

2.2 "Get out of the bronze age already."


The Big Neil Newsletter, Series 2, Volume 2

Today's headlines:

1. The Big Neil Newsletter Goes the Way of the Blog!

2. Boston Does the Fourth of July Right: Too Many Sweaty, Drunk People in Too Little Space

3. Big Neil Bewilders New Housemates with the Gift of "A Taste of Sri Lanka"



1. The Big Neil Newsletter Goes the Way of the Blog!

After a few subscribers exhorted me to get out of the bronze age already, I relented and set up this next generation of Big Neil Newsletters online. Now, subscribers have options: 1. Continue to receive the full text of each newsletter, right in your inbox. This is the default choice, so you needn't do a thing. 2. Receive an email with a link to the blog every time it has been updated. Simply let me know if you prefer this, and I will accomodate. 3. Unsubscribe from the email list, and visit the blog on your own, checking for updates as you like. Let me know, and I will remove you from the email list.

What's the benefit for visiting the BNN in blog form? Well, besides a cooler looking design, you get pictures! And you can make public comments on each entry if you like. And you'd be part of the cutting-edge hip blogger scene. Because sending mass emails is soooo 2003.

The link is, appropriately: http://ilovebigneil.blogspot.com/.

2. Boston Does the Fourth of July Right: Too Many Sweaty, Drunk People in Too Little Space

A few classmates of mine and I thought it would be fitting to go to Fenway Park on Sunday to observe America's pastime as the Red Sox took on the Blue Jays. What we ended up observing, however, was the inside of a T train filled to the brim with swarthy Red Sox fans, who were all eyeing my classmate Aaron with furrowed brows- he opted to go to the game in full Blue Jays regalia, down to the pristine MLB-authorized jersey. When we finally made it out of the train, we spent the afternoon on the sun-drenched sidewalk, 'striking out' when it came to finding tickets. When we eventually decided to give up and head home, well into the fourth inning, the lowest priced tickets available were $90. We had fun anyway!

Yesterday, the fourth, was much more successful, but would bring even more bouts of wall-to-wall sweaty people. My classmates Nikki and Aaron (yes, the wacky nut who goes to Fenway in a Blue Jays jersey) hosted a barbecue, and I was appointed to my favorite position: grill master. We feasted well on sloppy hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and toasted marshmallows. Many classmates of mine showed up, as well as second-years and other people in A.R.T.'s employ. Before we knew it, the back porch was a sardine can of engorged, glutted actors.

At that point we decided to abandon the pit of empty beer cans, soggy chips, grease-spattered paper plates and head off as a small army in search of fireworks. We walked along the river on Memorial Drive for what had to be three miles or more, just in time to witness the fireworks in all their glory. And truly, they were spectacular. The biggest ones were so enormous they filled my entire field of vision and my body rattled with each blast. I couldn't resist looking behind me a couple of times to look at the sea of faces in the flickering light, each one held fast in rapturous attention. For a moment, I felt truly patriotic- part of a grand, unified family- and then a classmate yelled in my ear, "Woah, look at those ones, they're like giant radioactive sperm!"

On the way back, Monica and I spent over an hour stuck underground on the T in between Central Square and Harvard. It was packed in tighter than the day before, and a couple people passed out from the heat and lack of oxygen. The guy behind me had a case of 'train rage.' We should have walked the whole way.

3. Big Neil Bewilders New Housemates with the Gift of "A Taste of Sri Lanka"

In an effort to win over my housemates, tonight Monica and I decided to cook dinner for everybody. One of them is a vegetarian, and if I've cooked for you before, you'll remember that it had meat in it. Luckily, for Christmas last year my sister sent me a cornucopia of Indian and Sri Lankan spices, sauces, and unclassifiable substances, with a handmade book of recipes. In truth, I had been nervous to attempt the cuisine before, but tonight we were richly rewarded (thanks to the quality and exactitude of my sister's recipes, not to any particular cooking prowess on my part). We had tomato curry, masoor dal, and thel dala. I feel worldly.

My housemates Christine, Margaret, and Eliza (Harvard grad students all) seemed to have a good time. That's a good thing, because tomorrow A.R.T. begins and I'm unlikely to see much of them ever again.

4. In Conclusion

It's safe to say that I am pretty scared about beginning school tomorrow. At the same time, I'm impatient to get started. I'm like the guy who's been standing in line forever waiting to bungee jump.

I miss my family and friends (all of you). At the same time, I'm really liking my classmates. I guess they'll be my family for the next two years.

On Thursday Monica leaves to join her friends for a vacation in New Orleans. I don't know when we'll be in the same place next, but it's likely a long time from now. I'll miss her something FIERCE.

Let's hope my next newsletter is not a blubbering mass of emotional jelly.

Thanks for all your emails and words of encouragement!!

Love and affection,

Neil

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous7:55 AM

    Nice to have you in town. Give me a shout any time you want out of the city. The pool is open!

    ReplyDelete