Is this post dumb? A little bit but hey, you could be Dustin Pedroia who actively participated in a dancing contest that he was in way over his head in(warning: disturbing Papelbon picture to your right)
Despite that, it's always good to learn about the people behind the keyboard.
Chad, I enjoyed your Top-50... but... country music? Man, it's not that bad out there, really! Get yourself to an indie radio station, stat!
I'm not proud of it, J.T. I actually listen to 92.5 more than anything.
Jeez, I thought Pedroia was working out all winter. He looks like he's been doing 16 oz. curls.
The McDonalds thing I could see, but you haven't had a hot dog in 20 years? Charlie (or can I call you Chuck?), unless you left "I'm a vegetarian" off this list, with the number of sporting events you must have attended in the last 20 years, this is inconceivable. Were you so disturbed by your tearful confession in the principal's office that you swore off hot dogs forever??
Eddie Andelman's radio career is currently rolling over in its grave.
Great list. I had the same thinking about Pedrioa. What do they do at the Athletes Performance Institute? Eat lots of Cake? Not feeling the country music, but to each their own. I live in New Hampshire and can stand the Winters. My brother tells me that California is the ultimate for a sports fan. Football at 10am in the morning. Can't beat that.
Don't be so hard on yourself for that 2.7 ppg. If I remember right your HS team didn't substitute it did line changes.
Lots of good stuff, but Country? Really?
being 6'6" isn't all it's cracked up to be. 6'3" is far more practical, if only for a reasonable shoe size... 15 is two sizes above bizarre and makes it nearly impossible to find what you want. i'd trade that three inches for two shoe sizes any day.
Great list...but I think you missed one...
#51: Chuck Wagon holds the Concord Monitor Sports Department record for most expletives said under one's breath while editing a page...I think the final total was 29.
It's either that or something about your Duckler impression...hope all is well...
LL, you remember correctly. We subbed 5 for 5, at least in the first half (I think). My job was to rebound and not accidentally elbow any of our good players.
Not a vegan. Just as picky as a chick. I don't eat hamburgers too often, either.
Yup, those swears were directed at Misha. Hope all is well, old pal.
Chad, hilarious list. I'm with you about the country. I used to hate it, but now that the "hillbilly twang" is significantly subdued, it's mostly rock music.
You hail from Bath, ME? Had no idea.
I return to Georgetown each summer - will be back there from Denver mid Mayish - and have doubtless seen your Morse championship banner hanging in the Y.
If you're around this summer, would be psyched to buy you a few of what Pedro's been drinking at API.
I was a manager on the Brewer team you beat in that State Championship game that year--Not that I'm bitter, but Tommy Maines is a Class A jerk. At halftime we could hear him screaming through the walls of the locker room, even thought you guys were ahead at the time. Anyway, I'm a displaced Mainer living in Northern Virginia. Don't regret leaving Maine--you're not missing much. I miss the summers and being able to see and/or hear the Red Sox easily. I love reading your blog--keep up the good work.
As I read your list, I found myself thinking that many of mine would be similar -- including the country music and the impatience with friends who don't work as hard at keeping in touch as I do. Since I am quite a bit older than you, my first 45 was "Hey Jude" and I once took a class from Stephen King at the University of Maine.
Keep up the good work. I lov your blog.
I've been reading this blog for well over a year and had no idea you were from Bath, ME. I grew up outside of Brunswick and went to Mt. Ararat. Used to play the Bath Golf Course and go to The Cabin for pizza. After graduating from Bowdoin(I still have no idea why I went there) I moved to Oregon to get as far away from Maine as I could.
I always though Tom Maines was a jerk too. One of his assistant coaches (Andy Moore) came and coached our basketball team my senior year and he was great although we sucked (3-17). We probably know some of the same people even though I graduated HS in 1984.
Is it true that between winter and black fly season residents of Maine only have a month and three days to enjoy the outside?
A month and three days might be exaggerating it. But it's a lovely month.
Jim, Andy used to run the summer hoops program in Bath when I was growing up. Great guy. Always felt bad about kicking the hell out of Mt. Ararat when he was the coach.
Stephen, I don't get up to Bath too often these days, just to visit my parents mostly. But if I do happen to be around, I'll certainly take you up on that beverage offer. And the Cabin was fantastic.
Kevin D., are you Chris's brother? I worked with him at the Maine Campus for a few years. Very nice kid and a good writer. As for Maines, he definitely was a screamer, and putting up with it probably wouldn't have been worthwhile if we hadn't won. But he ended up having a pretty big impact on my life, all things considered. I stayed out of trouble in high school primarily because I was afraid he would kill me, and he had faith in me as a basketball player when I could barely complete a footwork drill without tripping. He was good to me, despite the damage he did to my eardrums.
Im about your same age Chad.. I love old country.. the outlaw stuff.. waylon and willy.. Country today is just pop Britney/Pink with a twang.. but I guess I shouldnt be surprised..You're more Wild Boys DD than Hungry Like the Wolf DD and both sucked bad.
As for fatherhood and such.. I give a big prayer out to The Big O.. I couldnt imagine.
Loved the list, but I have to also say... "Country music"?
I'd rather hear a cat get strangled.
I'm pretty sure there are country songs about cats getting strangled.
Hey CF--I am indeed Chris's little brother. He's the writer of the family--this is the first blog I've ever responded to. He's been working up in Lincoln for the past 10 years. He got the job the same year I got married! A few years ago he got an honorable mention from the Maine Press Association for a story he wrote about when Mattanawcook Academy won a title in football. He works his butt off and does a great job. I'm very proud to call him my brother. Between reading your post and what Chad had to say about the basketball team, it's been a day of strange connections!
Glad to hear Chris is doing well, and tell him to drop me an email some time.
By the way, I am Chad.
I can relate to the country stuff. The older I get, it seems the better it works for me.
Yeah, and that sucks.
Not dumb at all kid, this was great stuff. The line about your 0.9375 GPA was priceless.
The first utterance:
"Moss signs to 3-year deal with Pats"
$27 million of which $15 million is guaranteed. Expensive? yes. Worthy? we'll have to wait and see. I do believe however, that he needed to show more than a single year of commitment to be worth that.
For a dude my age (23), Office Space is right up there. Particularly now that I have a FT job and am constantly swearing at the machines that "make my life easier." What I would give to take a bat to one of these while hearing "D--- it Feels Good to be a Gangsta" in the background...
Lived near Concord (know Suncook?) for almost half my life, and the thing I remember most is the work I had to do to get the picture just right for baseball on 68.
Any list that includes wiffle ball is OK with me. But come down to CT some summer night and I'll put that screwball in the cheap seats.
Should have had Dazed and Confused on that list, too.
And just when you're looking for the screwball, limpy, I hit you with the Derek Lowe-in-Game 7 sinker.
Loved the quote from Tito talking about Pedroia at the Dancing With the Stars thingy:
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack," Francona said. "My chest hurt, I was laughing so hard. Pedroia is a moron. You can write that. He is a moron. He was dancing, he looked like a puppet on a string. He’s such a little gamer, but he’s looking over knowing we were crushing him. He’s drinking the Red Bull. He’s exhausted. He’s trying to do these things with this girl he’s not strong enough to do. It was hilarious."
Hat tip: the genuises at Surviving Grady
Chad, I think I'd rather play LF for the Sox than sing like Sinatra. Especially if I played it more like Yaz than, say, Greenwell. However, singing like the young Sinatra would be real cool. Yeah, really cool. I'd also fancy my chances at the "Grab a Grannie" dance, too.
Also, you've got to take a sabbatical or something like it and live not just outside NE, but outside the US. It gives you real perspective on what is important in your life. I've done it for about 1/3 of my life and I'm easily 10 years older than you.
You can throw like Derek Lowe all you want. The rest of us will probably be drinking beer too.
Brings back memories of my infamous F B I Q report card. Dad: "What the H*^& us a Q?"
Quit pickin' on my little brothers, Hap and Null - that's my job.
You think you're a useless tool? Our step-grandmother got all of our wives pink toolboxes for Christmas a couple years back, because she knew the men in our family are incompetent at fixing anything (This is true). The really sad part is, I think it's the only tool box in my house now...
I remember seeing your youngest brother working at the grocery store in Concord. His name tag was perfect:
MISHA P.
I wish I'd known the first part of No. 38 this time four years ago. Also, tall people aren't supposed to be able to bench over 300 (that's what I've been telling myself, anyway).
Yep, I remember that name tag too. Must have been done by someone with a great sense of humor. - I mean really, was the initial of his last name really necessary? Were there a flock of other Misha's working at Shaw's? If nothing else, my parents blessed us all with Brazilian Soccer player names.
And dburba, the fact that most people who grew up in Concord don't live there now should have been a big clue.
Love it!
"Five years ago, I could bench-press over 300 pounds."
Did you just call me a punk?
Chad, love your blog. Your bro's name is Misha? Do you have Russian ancestry? I'm married to a beautiful Russian girl (there is no other kind), and she named our son Michael, and calls him Misha.
About number 36: I grew up in Freeport (Pine Tree Academy, class of 1981), and moved to So Cal in 1986. Love the weather here, 10AM football is the best. I miss Maine, but not enough to move back. Come out for the Sox exhibition game in the LA Coliseum March 29. If you need a ticket, you can have one of mine.
It's a blog dude, you can do whatev. I live in Canterbury, NH (outside of Concord) and it's drowsier, we don't have a bar. I am with you all the way on the winter thing, you think there's a chance Florida would trade it's weather rights for the seatbelt law and two seasons to be named later?
No, Misha is Sven's brother. Thank god.
Eh, don't worry Chad, I've been reading your blog for a while, and it's nice to know a little more about who you are. I think people can better relate to writing when they know the face behind the pen (or the keyboard).
Chad, Neko Case. Check out Blacklisted, and Furnace Room Lullaby. You will be happy.
Twang on!
Hey Chad,
Not sure if you'll remember me (Christopher White, Stephenie's little brother), but I graduated from Morse 2 years after you and we use to play ball at Fisher Mitchell in the evenings.
I miss those days and I haven't shot hoops in years. Glad to hear you're doing well and still a huge Sox fan!
I will say with regard to Tom Maines, he was the best coach I ever played for, bar none. I don't know many of his players who can't say he sincerely had a positive impact on their life. Here's to the Blue and the White down at old Morse High!
0.9375?
That's like dean's list material compared to my first semester --> 0.16.
And look where I ended up. Needless to say, it's not something I often tell my, ahem, clients.
country has become my favorite musical genre.
What do you think of Western Swing, such as Bob Wills? I love it, as it is a mixture of pop, folk, jazz, and blues. Willie Nelson does some. Asleep at the Wheel is a Western Swing band, but they do not have the improvisational skill that Bob's bands had.
hey bud,
love your thoughts. read your top fifty and noticed you are pining to play ball.
I'm 35 and after 17 years i finally found a league for old guys like us.
Mine is called the "pioneer valley over thirty baseball league"or PVOTB. Google it; I was on the Mariners last year (This year we will be called the dirt dogs and the league is moving over to all wood.) There MUST be a league near you. I have kids too and even if you can only make a few practices and a quarter of the games it will be well worth it....trust me.
timothy
Chad, it was me (formerly Jenn Boutin) that made the Jenn/Jenna comparison...I've thought that for years, before I stumbled back upon you while not looking for the Blueberry Guy.
And I've gotta say, the world is getting smaller and smaller. Finding DeBeck's little brother here? (Kevin, I worked with Chad and Chris at The Maine Campus way back when. Your bro was a great guy and a fantistic writer!) What's gonna happen next? Is Bigney gonna turn up?
Catching up on the comments . . .
Jenn, once I gave it some thought, you were definitely atop the suspect list. For some reason I figured it was someone with Maine Campus ties. And one of the really cool and unexpected effects of starting this blog is that I have heard from so many people I'd lost touch with, both from high school and UMaine. I heard from Bonnie Simcock a few weeks ago for the first time in years. Still waiting to hear from Castellano and Stu Davis, though. And Bigney. Always wondered what happened to Mike McLaughlin, too. He was a great guy and a heck of a writer.
Chris, of course I remember you. Hell, when I was around five or six, I used to come over to your house while my dad refereed men's league hoop games at the high school. It's good to hear from you, I hope all is well, and tell Steph I hope to see her at our 20th this year. Every time I drive by Fisher Mitchell, I find myself half expecting to see a game going on. That was really a good time, a good group to play with. No jerks or chuckers, with the possible exception of me.
Tim, I'd love to play in a rec league, but I work nights at the paper, which makes it tough. I'm lucky if I can make it to pickup hoops once a week.
Dr. Pride Boy, I'm certain you're a hell of a doctor - and definitely the world's premier auto racing writer-turned-doc - but you were one crappy door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. Now gimme a call sometime, you punk. And what's up with your dad's retirement party? I want to be there.
Gringo, saw Willie Nelson a few years ago. It was a blast. Not all that familiar with Western Swing, but if it's good enough for Willie, it's good enough for me.
I'm happy to see some comments from people who worked with Chris at the Campus--he never really talked about the people he knew or the work he did there--In fact, the way we found out that he had won a writer of the month award was that our Dad found the framed picture in the back seat of his car! I'm going to call him and let him know that you all are thinking of him. It's funny--he's the writer of the group, I'm a 7th grade teacher, and our little sister is a social worker. Funny how life turns out, isn't it? Down here in VA, there is a league called the Ponce de Leon league for old farts like us who like to play baseball. I haven't had a chance to play yet, because you need $500 to play. If I spent that kind of money to play baseball, I think my wife would kill me. And I have two little boys to chase. I just hope I have a chance to play again before I get to be to old!
Chad-
Just wanted to tell you your 50 things post has touched off a flurry of similar posts up in the River Valley region of Western Maine. Thanks a lot. Now I have to try to remember all of these facts about other people.
Dave
That was a great post! It made me think of a lot of things that happened in my life. I'm a diehard Red Sox fan fascinated by New England sports. I Googled Maine Guides and came across TATB.
I will be catching a few Seadogs games in May. I can't wait to go to Maine!
One other thing, I'm from the same hometown as Dustin Pedroia.....Woodland, California! We are proud of our little big man, bad dancing and all! I saw his dance routine on NESN.com. Hilarious!
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