remembering two
status check - content
background ambiance - radiohead, track 7 on "ok computer"

it's hard to gear yourself up for a jolly day of work when you know your big assignment for the day is to cover a memorial. but i found myself as geared for it as i could be, primiarly because by properly covering one fallen soldier, i felt i was honoring the memory of another.

i felt particularly determined to write something beyond the simple "they gathered tonight" type of piece and didn't fully realize why until i was sitting in the church, watching the soldier's loved ones fill the pews. i thought back to nearly a year ago, when i sat in a different church, clutching tissues and speaking with the girl with which i'd been best friends in elementary school. we watched for other familiar faces, commenting on former classmates as we spotted them. considering we didn't have our five year reunion, it felt like an unexpected one - in a "the big chill" sort of way. we were attending justin's funeral - he'd been killed while serving in iraq.

i didn't have much to say after the services. i recall writing a political rant sometime around when i'd learned of his death - blasting bush for putting troops in harm's way while he sat back in the white house doing god knows what he does. but as far as really writing about how i felt watching justin's little brother walk into the church dressed in uniform - i don't think i said much. i didn't know what i was thinking, what i felt. i don't think i even know now. it's still surreal - those moments when i happen to come across a photo from high school or the great asshole marathon of project graduation, when a group of us challenged each other behind our hands of cards, grinning like fools. we followed cards with the ever-logical jumping on hotel beds. justin's in one shot, shirtless, grinning as he flew through the air.

anyway. as i saw people i'd never met looking the same way i looked at that service, i knew i wanted to really do them - and this soldier - justice. i think i did. it'll run tomorrow, so look for it if you have access to the paper. it was another one of those assignments where you realize how tough the job can be - i spoke with many members of his family, who were all incredibly gracious and sharing, which made it easier. it's just tough, sometimes, having to be the outsider hoping to speak with people about the source of their collective grief.

but it's what you do. and you do it so people understand. and learn about someone people care about so other people can care, too - or at least know. and once you get past the initial awkwardness that comes with walking up to someone and introducing yourself, you feel like you're doing something important. for them and for you.

not to mention for chris. and, although i'm sure he never met justin, it was important for justin, too.
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in other news. what the hell is this about advertising on bases at major league parks? what brilliant mind thought of that plan? i'm disgusted. there are some things that should be held sacred, and once you're talking about inside the baseball diamond, you're on off-limits grounds. do what you want with the rest of the stadium (how could i criticize advertising there when the citgo sign is one of my favorite baseball-related images?), but bases? who's going to see them? i'm not looking at what's on first base during a close play. i'm looking at pokey reese trying to beat out a hit. and who can see them, anyway? for the fans, the base is a block of white that, with these new ads, will feature a small bit of color on them that will annoy everyone. is the real idea to convince basemen and infielders that they need to see the spiderman sequel? will daubach suddenly be overcome by an overwhelming desire to find out what happens to mk in spidey 2 while he tries to prevent a runner from stealing?

this is something i could see - maybe - in new york (george would be all up on that). but FENWAY? if i see that shite at my favorite ballpark when i go to my first game of the season, things will get ugly. this after they've been bitching about the cellphone-waving fans - while i'm not crazy about the phone-waves either, at least this base thing is something mlb can control. you want to talk about distraction? you're putting it on your own bases. wake up already.

i am however, quite pleased with my boys, finally ending the streak with their win over cleveland this evening. finally putting us back above new york - a half game now, but we'll be able to strech it out. pedro's on the mound tomorrow, bats are starting to swing again, and i'm hoping oakland will beat the yankees. brown's due for a loss anyway.
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another interesting show scheduled for nectar's. ryan montbleau on the 21st. i've been listening to some mp3s lately and i'm quite impressed. that extended weekend will rock - mraz thursday, montbleau friday, mystery dinner theater (for work, no less!) saturday. exxxcellent.

related links:
- boston red sox (http://www.bostonredsox.com) (my favorite boys of summer - this, my friends, is baseball)
- tragi-comics: si.com article on new on-base advertising (from http://www.sportillustrated.com)(ridiculous, absurd, disgusting)
- ryan montbleau (http://www.ryanmontbleau.com)(a new voice, thus far uncorrupted by fame. hurrah!)