Potterpalooza

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The seventh and final book of the Harry Potter franchise was released at midnight on July 21st, 2007. Lines were a mile long down Harvard St. in Allston, and the police presence was heavy.

If the integrity of the line was lost and, god forbid, someone lost their pre-paid ticket, they would be forced to wait a day or two to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The tension was palpable. We stood in line for hours, silently acknowledging that a riot could break out at any moment.

We escaped with our lives. Barely.

Emergency Slideshow

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A series of photos from the sets of Emergency, Gizor and Gorm, Plastic, Sins of the Flesh, and a bunch of other productions.

Boston Slideshow

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Living in Boston I learned to love 2 things: Grimey subways and the Boston Red Sox. In October especially, it seemed like that’s all there was. The Red Sox and Grime. The Red Sox and Grime.

As often as I could, I took the green line to Fenway Park. The grimiest subway in Boston to the grimiest ballpark in America. Looking back on it now, those are two of the things I miss the most. The worse the T ride, the more nostalgic I become.

Walkoff

Going to the game, I always told myself it didn’t matter if they won. I was just happy to be at a live ballgame. That worked until June 2nd, 2005.

On that day, I caught a rain check day game at the Fens. Baltimore was in town, and Keith Foulke (who was pitching like crap that year) blew a tie game in the top of the 9th.

The Sox were down 4-3 with Orioles closer BJ Ryan (who was pitching lights out that year) on the mound.

With 1 out, my jersey’s namesake, Mark Bellhorn walked.
With 2 outs, Renteria bunted for a hit.
That brought my cat’s namesake, David Ortiz to the plate.

With 2 outs and a full count, Big Papi blasted one into the right field bullpen.

Seeing a game live is fun, win or lose, I had told myself. That thought vanished forever from my mind as I watched the ball sail over the fences. I saw it in slow motion, saw the spin. I felt the wind whistle around the threads of the ball. I saw the right fielder give up on it, and I saw the crowd explode.

It was better than sex.

It was like sex with 35,000 people, all of us coming at once.

It was cool.