An "Interesting" Day

Yesterday I went to the NJ Nets sports career fair in Continental Airlines Arena. It was definitely an "interesting" day/night. I don't know if any jobs will come out of it yet, but none of the "big boys" were really hiring at the moment. Anyways, nothing really interesting happened there except a lot of boring waits on long lines. A free Nets ticket was also offered as part of the package for the fair. When I went back to my car some of the guys who went to the fair, and had parked their car next to mine, were changing out of their suits and into Nets jerseys. They weren't doing it in their car but outside. Did they think I wanted a personal strip show? It seems there are no rules or seperations (of private and public) in this world.

Since my little brother has been dying to go to a Nets game I offered to go pick him up from school and then drive back to the arena for the game. You can't beat having a sports fan for a sister. This was my first basketball game (now I have to go to a football game to complete the big sports four). The constant music throughout the game was great. It was definitely fun and I have always liked the Nets, but it reinforced how much I really love baseball and hockey.

By the end of the game my section had pretty much empied out. As we stood up to leave there were four Jewish guys at the bottom of the section who were also leaving. On their way out of their row they turned around. All four stopped, pointed, and stared at me for a full two minutes. So what if you see other Jewish people, or girls, at a game. It is New Jersey. Were they waiting for me to wave, go down and give them my number, or do they just like looking? Well I just ignored them and continued with my victory dance :-).

Then, on our way out of the arena, a married Jewish guy (who was with some friends and their wives) wished me and my brother a mazal tov. For what, I do not know. We clealry look like siblings. I know that at times I look 15, but I was wearing makeup because of the career fair so I don't think I looked 15 then and my brother definitely doesn't look older than 15 (if even that old). It was very odd.

Finally, while me and my brother were speedwalking to the car, which was parked by Giants Stadium, we almost walked right into my cousin on a date. It was a good thing I recognized her from behind two seconds before we would have passed them. She's from Brooklyn and not the type you would expect to see at a Nets game, so I was surprised to say the least. I didn't think she would appreciate an interuption or introductions so I forced myself to slow down and stay about 100 ft. back. Those of you that know me know I cannot walk slowly. It truly takes a conscious effort. And dates tend to walk really slowly. Their car was parked at the opposite end from ours ( should I say oh shucks? ;-) ) I don't know why, but I have a knack for meeting my cousins while they are on dates.

That's the end of my stories from last night. More to come.

4 days and change until the Yankees season opener in Oakland

Single

I recently came across this song from Natasha Bedingfield. This goes out to all those people who say, "Oh my gosh, your 21 and not married?" The answer is no I'm not, and I'm happy being single as long as it lasts. When I find the right guy I will get married, but for right now I am enjoying single life.

"Single"
Ah yeah that's right
All you single people out there
This is for you

I'm not waitin' around for a man to save me
(Cos I'm happy where I am)
Don't depend on a guy to validate me
(No no)
I don't need to be anyone's baby
(Is that so hard to understand?)
No I don't need another half to make me whole

Make your move if you want doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up you either got it or you don't

This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm tradin' places
Right now a star's in the ascendant

I'm single (Right now)
That's how I wanna be
I'm single (Right now)
That's how I wanna be

Ah yeah Uh Huh that's right

Don't need to be on somebody's arm to look good
(I like who I am)
I'm not saying I don't wanna fall in love 'cos I would
I'm not gonna get hooked up just 'cos you say I should
(Can't romance on demand)
I'm gonna wait so I'm sorry if you misunderstood

Everything in it's right time everything in it's right place
I know I'll settle down one day
But 'til then I like it this way it's my way
Eh I like it this way
Make your move if you want doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up you either got it or you don't

'Til then I'm single
This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm tradin' places
Right now a star's in the ascendant

WBC

The WBC, otherwise known as the World Baseball Classic, is no longer a mystery. Here are my personal opinions. Overall, the tournament was a great idea. It really put baseball on the international stage. Also, there was only one major injury to a major league player out of the 150+ who played (a pitcher on the Nationals who is gone for the season). But that injury will hurt the Nationals. Beforehand possible injuries had been a major concern and the major criticism of those against the WBC.

Team USA's early exit helped point out many of the problems with the way the tournament was played.

• pitchers were limited to 50 pitches: that isn't real baseball, if a pitcher is dominant over seven inning the a team can go strait to its best releivers to close out the game, but with this rule another starting pitcher can come in, stink, and cost them the game
• March is too early for MLB players to compete at a playoff level after only a week on spring training: of the 2 teams that made it to the finals, japan and Cuba, there was only one major laegue player, Ichiro; most of the other teams in the tournament had been playing the whole winter or started spring training earlier
• the weird formula for the tie-breaker that does not necessarily favor the better team
• baseball cannot be played as a series of one game playoffs: anything can happen in one game and it does not prove who is the better team, the World Series is a best out of seven, a pitcher can have a bad day, players may not be able to hit a certain pitcher but clobber the others....

There is also no seemingly great time to play the WBC. March is hard for MLB players who are not ready, and pits the Classic against March Madness. A-Rod suggeted the time may work if Team USA and others could have their own spring training and start preparing in February. If the WBC took place in middle of the MLB season during a 2 week break, any injuries could ruin a team's stretch run. The final option would be in November, after the season is over and players are still performing near their peak.

Directions

With all the technology out there, on the road nothing beats the GPS. I went to Lawrence for the weekend with my sisters, and before I left I printed out directions from MapQuest. Things were going fine ...until...I made that wrong turn. That's when the trusty cell phone came out as I tried to figure out where I was and how to correct my mistake. MapQuest was useless. After a few phone calls I was back on track. It makes you think how you ever used to get along without cell phones. But both my Mom and my Dad also have GPS systems in their cars and nothing beats it. Although the ever present voice seems to chime in every 2 minutes to remind you what road you are onthere have been improvements made so that you do not get bored of that same female or male voice. The driver can now choose from about 10 voices: female, male, British accent, southern accent.... Furthermore, at critical moments in your journey a famous person will chime in and say something about a wrong turn or how your wife actually got you to your destination. Technology today is quite amazing.

Appreciating the Present

There is nothing like reading about your family's past to appreciate the present. During WWII my father's uncles formed a Russian partisan group and provided a safe haven to any Jew that made it to their hideout in the forest. The bigger the group got the more danger there was of being found by the Germans or Russians who were Nazi loyalists, but they never turned anyone away. If anything they tried to save as many Jews as they could reach. Life in the forests was not easy, but they were free. And as partisans the Jews were allowed to fight back against the Germans, kill as many as they could, destroy supply routes, raid ammunition sites, and do their best to try and drive the Germans out and save the Jews that were left. The only way to survive in the forests was for every person in the group to contribute in some form. Every one had to work together and remain united. There were arguments, jealousy, and rebellions within the group which jeopardized its survival. But those incidents just served to prove that if the Jews did not remain united then they had no hope of survival.

The group was fighting back against the "Haman" of their generation. About 1,200 Jews who were part of the Russian partisan group walked out of the forests when the war ended. The survival of the Jews showed that we won. But Haman was able to do a lot of damage, and there are many lessons to be learned by those in our generation.


Also, on a lighter note, I have been catching up on my Yankee history in my "free time". From the moment I walked into Yankee Stadium on my 15th birthday I was hooked on game of baseball and the Yankees. To be taken seriously as a fan I had to prove myself an equal so I learned all the ins and outs of the game. I knew all the statistics and numbers to back up my points. But, there was something missing in my baseball knowledge. I only had a vague notion of Yankee history and the teams that came before the 1998 world champion Yankees.

Thanks to the library, where I picked up 100 Years of the New York Yankees and quite a collection of baseball books, (a humble beginning) I have developed a greater appreciation for the Yankees of the present and past. And for all you "non-baseball fans", there are some inspirational stories even you can learn from and appreciate. For example, there was short segment on Jim Abbott, a man born with only one hand, who overcame all odds and made it to the majors as a very talented pitcher. He even went on to pitch a no-hitter for the Yankees, an exraordinary feat which is accomplished by few. In the history of the game (more than 100 years) there have only been about 250 no-hitters ever thrown.

expect more posts on baseball as the regular season approaches :-)

Older than I look

No complaints from me. Sure sometimes it's annoying when strangers thinks I am still in high school, when the reality is I have already graduated from college. Sometimes I do want to be treated as an adult. But, looking fifteen definitely has it's advantages. As the cashier in the pizza store pointed out to me, "They always need people like you to act in movies/TV shows to play the high school age girls." :-D He was dead serious. For five minutes he went on about how it was my destiny, and when my pizza was ready I grabbed it, thanked him for the complement, and ran out of there because he was getting a little too persistent.

It is also a lot of fun to see people's reactions when I tell them I am 21. Their mouths drop open. Usually, if someone doesn't know me I try to make them guess my age and then tell them how off they were. A recent episode that sticks in my mind is when I was coming back from winter break in California. In the airport as I was getting in line for security checks I presented my ID to the man checking tickets. As I was handing him my ID he shook his head and told me I didn't need one because I was under 18. But I insisted that he check my license. His mouth dropped open in shock for I was not 15, but 21.

The best part of looking young, for now, is that I get to pretend I'm just a kid for a little longer. Pretend that I have all the time in the world.

Chasing a Dream

Another day gone by. Applications are the worst thing after standarized tests. Learn to fear the LSDAS, otherwise known as the Law School Data Assembly Service. Give me a logic games any day. An MBA is starting to look more attractive as a means of finding my dream job. Because I will not settle. If that means I have to make less money and work longer hours, so be it. If I am not doing what I love I will be miserable. Well maybe not miserable, but not happy. I need to do something that I find exciting, stimulating, creative, and fun. So my senior year I decided to do a 360 and go from a political career to try to find a sports job or internship to get me started. Hopefully it's not too late to find a job. Anyways...stay tuned. A very frustrated, but determined, dream seeker.

Incomplete

Finally. I figured this is a good way to let out some of my thoughts and feelings as well as bounce around a few ideas. As I get started on my future I have a goal. I know what I want. I am pursuing a dream, but there is something missing. I try to go on like nothing happened, nothing is missing, but I can't. So I am left feeling incomplete.