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Jun
13

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Another one for the record books

Category: Celtics, General 1 Comment

Wow. Two Celtics posts in a row. This is getting disturbing. Not having watched or cared about basketball before last month, I feel a little odd being so excited about this team and this series. But it’s hard not too. I mean, it’s historic.

Jenn watched the first few minutes with me, and it did nothing to change her feelings about basketball. The Celtics looked like they couldn’t hit the side of a barn –nothing was going in, and meanwhile the Lakers were absolutely on fire. Everything was working for them. After just a few minutes, one of the announcers was already calling the game and setting the series at 2-2. Apparently, he’d forgotten that the Celtics had nearly blown a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter of game 2. In my limited basketball experience, even I know that anything is possible, especially with this team.

Anyway, the only ones blowing leads last night were the Lakers. Things looked dismal at half-time, when the Celtics were still down by 18 (after a ridiculous, buzzer-beating 3-pointer by some Lakers bench guy) and clearly getting outplayed. At the beginning of the game, I had commented to Jenn that I didn’t really like seeing the locker room speeches by the coaches, but I loved hearing what Doc Rivers had to say during half-time — focus on your defense, and the points will come. And that’s exactly what happened. The Lakers, who had scored 58 in the first half, struggled to score 33 in the second, and the Celtics confidence and play got better and better. The points came.
They finally tied it with ten minutes left, and took a lead for the first time with four minutes to go. They never gave it up. Final score, 97-91.

Wow. I can’t wait for Father’s Day.

Jun
6

By

A movie moment

Category: Celtics, Disney, General Leave a Comment

I’ve never been a basketball fan, but these days, in Boston, it’s hard not to get into the winning ways of our sports teams. So, I have found myself watching and enjoying this playoff run for the Celtics, and starting to see what people like about the game. And one of the things that I have found so great, as in baseball, has been the way that the home crowd seems to have a tangible effect on the game. When they’re into it, it’s almost as if they can will the players to be better. Still, I don’t think I have the mental or physical capacity to get into another sport, especially now that the Bruins look like they’ll be interesting again next season.

Anyway, regardless of whether this basketball thing works out, last night’s game will stay with me. I only watched the second half, but I’m glad I did, because I’ve never seen anything like what happened with Paul Pierce. Apparently his first half was pretty lackluster, at least if you judge by the three points he scored, but he broke out of the gate in the third quarter and within 45 seconds had scored five more. He was on fire. Then, a few minutes later, he was hit by his own teammate, fell to the ground, and didn’t get up. Watching him on the floor, clearly in great pain, and then having to be carried off the court and put in a wheelchair, you could feel the crowd fall out of the game immediately. You could almost see the giant question mark hanging over the court.

Happily, this only lasted about two minutes, because, without warning, Pierce came through the tunnel, knee taped up but walking on his own, and the crowd went wild, louder than ever before. Then he came back on the court and played like a man who wanted to single-handedly lead his team to victory, at one point hitting two three-pointers in a row, within about 20 seconds, to give the Celtics a four-point lead. Damn, it was better than any Disney movie could have done it.

That was a defining moment. I don’t know if he’ll be able to walk today, but he’s still gotta feel pretty good about last night.

Jun
4

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Bryan and Stacey get hitched

Category: France, General, Profiteroles, Weddings Leave a Comment

I’m not putting these pictures up in any particular order, but it made sense to do the photos from the actual wedding next, since it was the reason we were in Europe to begin with. The ceremony and reception were at the Villa Arnaga, in Cambo-les-Bains. The villa was the home of Edmond Rostand, who wrote the play, Cyrano de Bergerac. It was a gorgeous location, and though the rain forced the ceremony itself indoors, it stopped in time for the reception.

The food was amazing, from the finger foods immediately after the wedding to the meal and desserts. Among the highlights was the croquembouche, a profiterole cone that is a traditional French alternative to the wedding cake.

And it goes without saying that the Bryan and Stacey looked fantastic.

Jun
3

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The European vacation, as seen by Sammy

Category: France, General, Sammy, Shoes 2 Comments

We’re back from Biarritz and London, and while it’s going to take a while to post all the good pictures, I thought I’d start with a manageable collection —the pictures that Sammy took.  The first few were on the Nikon, and when we saw how much he enjoyed it, we just gave him the little Canon to use whenever we were out and about.  He seems to have a fascination with feet, but overall, I was very impressed.  He has a good eye for composition, and it’s great to finally have pictures of the two of us!

Jun
3

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Impeccable logic

Category: General, Sammy, Sushi 2 Comments

Sammy and I are driving home last night, past the Japanese restaurant we all like, when I start to hear some whining from the back seat.

“I want sushi.  Sushi is the only thing that will make me feel better.”

“Feel better?  What’s wrong?” I ask.  “Why do you feel bad?”

“I feel bad,” he says, “because it’s been so long since I’ve had sushi.”

What kind of five-year-old comes up with logic like that?