Kid's Stuff

Yesterday my parents went and saw Toy Story 3. My mom came home feeling very nostalgic. She started talking about old toys and things and eventually my sister brought the conversation to old blankets. Each of us growing up, myself and my two sisters, had something we'd carry around and sleep with as kids. My younger sister and I both had blankets and my older sister had a Winnie The Pooh pillow that my grandmother made her.

At some point in my life I didn't have the blanket anymore. My younger sister's original blanket was so beat up that it was nothing more than a short knot of fabric. My older sister still has her pillow to this day on her bed.

Tonight I found out my mom has both the knot and my old blanket up in her room. She brought them both down, both sealed in bags. According to my younger sister, at some point when I was a kid my mom decided I was too old for or old enough not to need a blanket anymore and took it from me. I apparently was incredibly upset, so much so that my younger sister has never forgotten this event. I, on the other hand, have no recollection of it ever occuring. I do not remember how old I was when I no longer had this in my life, and I don't remember under what circumstances it's removal happened.

It was definitely interesting seeing it again. It is a big more tattered than I remembered it being. They got it for me when I was just a new born and I can remember that at one time it could cover me completely. I know I had it in this house which I did not move into until I was 7. So this blanket was with me, almost daily, for over seven year, most likely closer to ten. Considering how my sister's looks, I'd say the few rips and wholes are minimal.

Did you have something like this when you were growing up? Maybe a toy or pillow, something that never left your side for a big part of your childhood?

No Shoes

Today, Toms Shoes, a company known for the conrtibution to developing countries, hosted an national day without shoes. To promote awareness, people today went without shoes regardless of where they went.

Even though it is not the safest, or cleanest place, I braved the Bronx and went barefoot most of the day. I had to wear shoes to work this morning, but from 1 pm on, it was bare feet.

I was a bit worried about the grass, but all in all I was unencumbered by the lack of footwear. My only run-in was at TD Bank where the ATM was closed, and I was not allowed into the main bank. I was allowed in the coffee shop, and the laundromat, however.

It was a cool event, and enough people asked that I felt like it mattered.

I hope that I can keep up on my new idea. Recently, after flipping through my Facebook photos I started reflecting back on my college years and some of my fondest memories. I started wondering what some of the best times were and mentally began scanning my college career. This along with a friend of mine's idea to make it his newest blog project has made me want to do something similar.

I won't be make a top 10 list, or discussing major events throughout college. Instead I am going to use this space, maybe for awhile, maybe every couple of days, to reflect on single moments that stand out in my years here. I hope it doesn't bore anyone.

Harmony

Today was interesting. It was in the mid 70s, despite it being only in the first week of April. The Phillies were playing their last exhibition game at home, and I just happened to be in the city, but...

I was next door, inside, watching the very bad 76ers. I have not been back to that arena since Iverson was on the team, and we were one of the most exciting organizations to watch. I loved it then, and being back today was all too strange. I had never seen the arena this empty. A place that can hold almost 40,000 people was probably holding close to 10,000. The introductions, game play, and cheers all just felt sad. I know teams go through their slumps, but when I got familiar with the NBA and the 76ers was on their rise. I grew up following them as they became a spectacle. One of the first games I remember was the opening game at the new arena. I still have the ticket. With Iverson, and Jerry Stackhouse featured on the ticket.

Eight years since I last attended a game there, today was a reminder of what the place used to look like, sound like, and feel like. So much has changed. Not with the building itself, however. If you did not tell me what the date was I would not realize it had been so long. It was a really great time, those seasons almost ten years ago.


I think I am getting old.

trying to keep this going

So,

Todays launch went well in that almost everyone got on the site and had alot of feedback, but the login feature broke about 3 hours in and so most people just got to view the site from the public side. login function still broken

phillies continue to stress, strain, and ultimately lose their lead in the final moments/inning of the game.

getting sick of only seeing the sun once a week.

falling asleep on the way to/from work more often and its only mid june

found out the the positioning of the earth is so perfect/the habitiability of this planet is so fragile that if the earth was tilted 1 more degree in either direction the earth would not be habitable as areas near the equator would be too hot and the poles too cold to survive

iphone 3.0 woulda been sweet if at&t hadnt dropped the ball making the two biggest advancements - the tethering and MMS delayed to 2010 and late summer respectively. so tomorrows big os upgrade is a universal search function and copy/paste

soulpancake is continuing to move up on my list of sites i look forward to checking. blog style site backed by rainn wilson with brain prompt and thoughtful propositions and reflections. one of todays was the following. after reflecting on the ability to still buy a polaroid camera but polaroid film no longer available, or the nostalgic feeling a mailed letter (something from another person and not the million adds or bills that com in the mail) can bring in the age of texting a twitter the blog prompted:

what 5 things do you miss the most now that they are gone?

love the question - haven't given it much thought and while im sure i could rattle of 5 quick ones like pogs and or new episodes of arrested development i will try to post again tomorrow with some real ones. ill start with this: 1.) recess