Life is good...somewhat!

Actually the only low point recently was being in the stadium watching the Patriots lose to the Colts, but more on that in a second.

So the last week has been a blessing, my best friend and his wife came out for the game and some hanging out time. They landed on Saturday and while I was working Letha took them around Boston. They walked from the Aquarium to Southe Boston and then back to Cambridge. All in all I would guess about 7-10 miles worth of hoofing it. Then I got off work and we had a few beers at Tommy Doyle's Pub near my work. They had this amazing Pumpkin Beer. I swear it tasted like I was drinking a beer and eating a piece of pumpkin pie at the same time, it was delicious.

Then we headed home to get ready for the night, my roomate Erin was gonna show us a good time in Downtown Boston. So we hopped the T (subway) and headed to Legal Sea Foods, some amazing food. If you don't mind spending around $40 a person with one alcoholic drink. Then we headed in to the party district and went to Hennessy's (Boston's Best Irish Pub, according to the banner across the front of it). Good time, the band playing that night knew the crowd they were playing to, as it seemed everyone who went to college then came here to party. Then made it home and crashed.

Then came Sunday. We woke up and had lunch with my brother, his wife, my niece and nephew at Friendly's (imagine Denny's with slightly better food and AMAZING ice cream).

Then we packed up the car with all the materials needed for good tailgating. On to the game. What should have been a 15-20 ride was a 45 minute one because everyone heading to the game seemed to be tailgating. We got to park in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium (which according to my brother, fills up rather quickly). So there we are dressed in our gear (Me in Pats gear and Lee, Laura, and Letha all in Colts stuff). I was amazed they didn't get more shit that night. I got it way worse when I was in the Bronx watching the Red Sox. Then we went in and I was just in awe.

This stadium is amazing, most likely because it's only 4 years old. I just sat there feeling surreal. I've been to Pats games before but they were ALL in the RCA Dome. This was the best sporting event I've ever been to. It was amazing to be in a stadium more lively than Fenway, we stood for 96% of the game. We were yelling at every play on either side of the ball. I will have to say that Colts fan are lucky they're in a dome. Because there is nothing like not being able to hear the person talking to you due to the crowd noise, but I would like to see what happens in an open aired stadium. I was absolutely devistated at the end of the game, but to be that close to the Colts after 5 turnovers and without Rodney Harrison I'm waiting to see them in the playoffs and the dome has never intimitated us. If we can get Brady to show up in the BIG games again then I still take him over Peyton anyday. It's no secret that our last 3 losses, including last year's playoffs, have been at the hand of good ol' Tommy Boy. It's like he just now decided to get what Peyton has had for many years. Great game to be at if I were just a football fan, an okay game to be at if you're a Pats fan. But it is a game I will never forget being able to watch it with the people I got to.

The next day we headed down to New York City to get Letha home and to show our guests an amazing last day. We first headed to Battery Park so we could see the Statue of Liberty from the Southern most tip of Manhattan.

Then we walked to Ground Zero and saw the constuction that is taking place. They also had pictures from different parts of the tragedy as well as a time line from 9/11. While standing there I got chills and starting welling up seeing the pictures and remembering that day.

So from there we headed to Times Square, we had to wait until night, which right now is like 5:30. Because who wants to see Times Square in the daytime (unless you're name is Shane)? From there we headed to Grand Central Station then to Rockefeller Center and ice skated.

It was cool and expensive. I can't remember the last time I spent $22 so I could do something for an hour an a half. I'm sure I have but I can't remember the last time I did. Then Letha stayed while the rest of us packed up the car and drove back. We got home at 2 a.m. The next morning marked the end of the whirlwind tour for Lee and Laura, as I dropped them off before heading off to work. Till next time… enjoy some pics from the weekend.