This time normal is good

Wednesday April 17

I wasn’t sure what angle to go with for today’s therapeutic post. A lot of very different things have been swirling around in my head.

I woke up this morning hoping for a normal day. It was going to be the most normal day yet — I had physical therapy before work, which was my first time since Monday at 3 p.m. that I spoke to someone face-to-face that wasn’t a co-worker, cab driver, or Starbucks barista (besides a quick comment or two with my roommates this morning).

I was going to judge “normal” by how normal 7News kept its television schedule. I turned on my TV at 7 a.m. to see if we were staying on-air. It was the TODAY show. The day was already looking to be more normal.

The day didn’t continue that way because of various breaking news stories and false reports by many major news outlets about the identification and arrest of a suspect. This is one of the many angles I was going to take, but I wasn’t ready to analyze the way the media dealt with this situation. These thoughts will be included in a future post when the wounds of Monday aren’t as fresh in my mind and I’m able to dissect things better.

I think normal is a good thing. I’ve read hundreds of articles, tweets, blog posts, Facebook statuses, heard interviews, talk shows, etc. and something stuck with me in all of that, and for the life of me I wish I could give the source credit, but I just can’t remember. If you know what I’m talking about please comment below. Thank you.

It was about life returning to normal. It’s good that this morning felt more normal. It doesn’t mean we’re forgetting what happened.This isn’t something this city, nation or world is going to forget anytime soon. We are healing. We can’t, and won’t, stay wounded forever.

Returning to normal means the person (or people) who did this doesn’t win. Boston is strong and we’ve shown it this week and we’ll continue to show it in the weeks, months and years to come.

After the breaking news-filled day, Boston returned to “normal” with its first professional sporting event in the city since the marathon. The Boston Bruins, a team I have grown to love more than the city itself, had a game set for Monday night, which was rescheduled for a later date. They played a regularly-scheduled game tonight.

If you know anything about Boston it should be the city’s love of its sports teams. This game meant a lot to this city and the pregame ceremonies showed the Bruins felt the same way. The pregame video portraying #BostonStrong (another angle I was going to take for today’s post…which will likely be tomorrow) with an amazing video. Followed by one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen — the entire arena singing the national anthem.

My friend texted me when I sat down to write this post asking how I was doing. I responded, “It depends on the hour…I’m exhausted…But right now I’m happy for the first time since Monday [morning]. I think the Bruins stuff helped. It still doesn’t really seem real.”

The Bruins ended up losing in a shootout to the Buffalo Sabres. A win would have been too perfect. Boston is used to losing (ahem, the Red Sox championship drought) so it almost seemed fitting. Both teams saluted the fans after the game as the fans chanted USA — it was an escape from reality, yet a perfect reminder of how people can come together and show the world what really matters. We’re strong and we’re not going anywhere.

The Bruins reminded us of life before  Monday afternoon. They reminded us that as hard as it is, life does go on and we do move forward. We still remember what happened, but we’re not going to let that change what we do. We will be normal again.

We still have a ways to go. There are still armed officials lining the streets, some people are still not allowed back into their homes, streets in Boston are still a crime scene, people are in the hospital, funerals need to be had, but this is the first step towards normalcy.

I’m not one to enjoy “normal”. Heck, I’m anything but normal and I’m glad, but this time normal is good.

There are a few things I think everyone should watch/read/absorb from various sources:

Jon Stewart thanked Boston on Tuesday night during his show, the Daily Show, saying, “Thank you for once again in the face of gross inhumanity inspiring and solidifying my belief in humanity and the people of this country.” Stewart went on to use a Boston Celtics coffee cup while his guest, Tom Cruise, had a Boston Bruins cup.

Stephen Colbert had a more humorous take on Boston’s resilience. He started by saying “nothing these terrorists do is going to shake [the people of Boston]…Boston was founded by Pilgrims, a people so tough they had to buckle their Goddamn hats on…A city that made it through the Big Dig, a project that backed up traffic for 16 years. I mean, there are commuters that are just getting home now…”

Author Dennis Lehane wrote “Messing with the wrong city”, an opinion story for the New York Times which perfectly describes the people of this amazing city. He wrote, in part, “Trust me, we won’t be giving up any civil liberties to keep ourselves safe because of this. We won’t cancel next year’s marathon. We won’t drive to New Hampshire and stockpile weapons. When the authorities find the weak and terminally maladjusted culprit or culprits, we’ll roll our eyes at whatever backward ideology they embrace and move on with our lives.”

There are so many more amazing stories, opinion pieces, videos, photos, etc. that are helping me cope and try to understand or put into works what has happened. This was just a sampling of what stuck out the most to me on Tuesday.

Worth every penny

Nothing like new indoor shoes!

Sunday Jan. 29

I started yet another adventure today — indoor soccer.

I was impressed how quickly I got back into the game. My touch on the ball wasn’t as poor as I expected it to be, my ankle didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I expected it to (having forgotten my inserts and my ankle brace) and although I did get very, very tired I wasn’t as out of shape as I thought I would be (that being said, I was not whatsoever in shape for an indoor soccer match). If I hadn’t joined the gym when I did I think I’d be singing a much different tune — but I still have a ways to go.

I paid $100 for this league (I think it’s 10 games long, then playoffs) and so far it’s been worth every penny. Today we lost, 7-2, but I think after we get used to playing with one another and get back into soccer shape we’ll be a pretty decent team — it wasn’t like the team we played was amazing at all… they just clearly were better at communicating where we barely knew each other’s names. We need to work on quicker, shorter passes instead of trying to carry the ball ourselves. We also need to work on shooting — at the net — and controlling the ball on the bouncy indoor surface. Otherwise, I think we did a pretty good job. I was impressed with the skills we had.

I’m so excited for this league. It’ll actually make me do things on Sundays and not to mention it’s GREAT exercise! This was a fantastic life decision. Woo.

Birthdays, Bruins and Brews

Wednesday April 27

I love alliterations, but I do prefer to call “brews” pints. Anyway…. The bike to work was normal and surprisingly warm, which only means great things for the day ahead. My theory panned out.

Work was going as normal, although I was a wee bit sleepy from staying up past my 6-7 p.m. bedtime from watching the Bruins game. My ‘boss’ (she doesn’t like when we refer to her as boss) took notice and suggested for tonight’s Game 7 I should go out and switch shifts with one of my coworkers for Thursday… That means no waking up at 2 a.m., but having to be at work at Noon… That’s eight hours after I normally start. (Note: I’d switch shifts with him all the time, but he works Thurs. to Sun. so that wouldn’t work)

My coworker luckily agreed and I was excited for a wonderful sunny afternoon, hockey and celebrating my friend’s 24th birthday. I put on my biking clothes and headed home from work, only to receive a phone call when I was near Fenway Park from the birthday boy who had just finished his exam.

It didn’t take much convincing on his end to get me to go get a pint at a local establishment (in my running clothes – which I HATE going out in, haha) seeing as he was only a block from where I was. Good timing. I locked my bike up and we went to Cask n’ Flagon and had an appetizer and a beer. We chatted and enjoyed the sunny afternoon (naturally I got sunburned) before taking the ‘T’ home and getting ready for the evening… HOCKEY.

The Bruins won. In overtime. That perfectly describes how wonderful the evening was. A grand ending to a friend’s birthday. Lovely. Yay Bruins. BRING ON THE FLYERS.

No cheering in the press box – Belfast Day 3

Saturday Oct. 2

My first day of my sports journalism class when I was a junior at UMass I learned one of the most important, yet most difficult to follow, rules of being a sports reporter. The wise Steve Fox said, “No cheering in the press box.”

Well, picture this. I’m in Ireland with my favorite hockey team covering a game. I’m staying in their hotel, mingling with them in their locker room and riding the elevators with them to and from our hotel rooms, I’m seeing them at bars and explaining their greatness to various Irish people around Belfast.

Boston Bruins vs. Belfast Giants Selects at Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland

For the first two days I held in my excitement to see them in the hallway and knowing exactly who they were. To be in the locker room and actually recording their voices to then use later in an article. To be standing alongside Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, Tim Thomas, Shawn Thornton and various other Bruins sipping on beverages and waiting to be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Belfast. To contain my excitement when one of them acknowledged me with a smile was nearly unbearable.

But, I was in Belfast as a professional journalist covering the Boston Bruins for various Irish-American newspapers and I had to act that way. I did, however, want to run up to Blake Wheeler and ask if he remembered me when we played hockey together at the age of five, or ask Tuukka if he knows any Turtinen’s in Finland or go back-to-back with Chara to see how tall he actually is (I did stand next to him in a post-game interview, I go up to about his elbow).

I made it through all of the events – and then the biggest test of them all – attending a Bruins game, but not being allowed to show emotion, no cheering, no high-fives, just good, solid reporting.

Well, Fox, you’d be proud of me. On the inside I was jumping up and down, but on the outside I typed notes into my computer and analyzed the Bruins and Giants Selects style of play preparing questions that would be asked before I got the opportunity in the post-game press conference.

I was a big-league journalist for three days. Thank you, Steve Fox (along with the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, Matt Voutour and The Soccer Guys), for teaching me what being a real sports journalist is about so I didn’t make a complete fool of myself in front of people I one day hope to work for, or right alongside.

In the game, the Bruins defeated the Belfast Giants Selects, 5-1, after going down, 1-0, with a little over four minutes remaining in the second period. Then, with 1:36 left in the second, the Bruins scored three goals in less than one minute. The B’s proceeded to score two more goals in the third period, including a penalty shot goal by Bruin’s rookie, Tyler Seguin.

My favorite quote of the night came from Thornton, who had 24 family members (most or possibly all from the Belfast area) in attendance at the game. He said, “I think if my mom waved at me one more time she was going to sprain her wrist.” The quote came after a question about if he and the other Bruins were able to “drink it all in” even though they were playing – were they able to enjoy themselves and the different type of atmosphere the Odyssey Arena presented.

For a more detailed wrap and a sidebar about the Thornton clan, pick up an Irish Emigrant or visit the website come Monday – I’ll also be posting a link later on.

Stupid Sharks + Soccer

Saturday Aug. 7

The original plan for the day was to wake up early, hop in my car and join my friend Danielle at the beach. But no. The sharks haven’t gotten enough attention from “Shark Week” on Discovery Channel in the last week, they had to get on the news in Boston too by surrounding the shoreline. That means no beach and me not having anything to do on a lovely Saturday.

I was going to apply for jobs… but I didn’t want to jinx myself for the jobs I am waiting to hear from post interview. I am very superstitious, if you didn’t know, I think it comes with the OCD and playing sports. Instead I looked up flights to travel to places I can’t afford, avoided doing laundry and cleaning my room and prepared for the evening by studying up on the New England Revolution because I was covering them again for The Soccer Guys.

This was now my third time covering a Revs game for The Soccer Guys and I must say, I’ve become quite the pro. I still need my GPS to get to the stadium, but upon arrival I’m a seasoned veteran (haha). I stick my media parking pass in my window, cut the long line of cars waiting to park for the tailgate, and snag a spot in media parking. I head into security, put my bag on the table and get the fun plastic wristband attached to my bag to prove I have nothing dangerous inside. Then I check in at the media table, “Melissa Turtinen with The Soccer Guys.”

Ok, so I guess I’m not a seasoned veteran, yet, because I still get the hand made sticker press pass… but I know what to do. I walk through the doors and head to the elevator (that I had so much trouble with my first time at the stadium) and wait for the attendant to come down and get me.

“Red level, please.” and we go on up for the snacks. Rarely do I eat (ok one out of three times I’ve gotten something to nibble on), but I always get a fountain soda (the only way to drink soda is from a fountain). Then I head up to the blue level and take my spot, always the same spot, at one of the desks. I read over the game notes and watch the teams warm up, watch some Spanish television and Seinfeld and await kickoff.

Post-game interviews have also gotten easier. The first time I had to follow the black carpet and I nearly got lost under the stands. But now, I’ve got it down. I feel like a real professional. Woo. Oh, and to top the evening off, I got a free T-shirt advertising the opening of the lower bowl at Gillette for the 2011 season. I love free stuff.

Keep updated on all things Revolution and all things soccer via The Soccer Guys and look for my story!

In other news, I’ve decided that I’ll be heading home in two days (Tuesday-Sunday) in honor of Mikey’s wedding! I’m so excited! One week away! And the flight, thanks to my grandparents loads and loads of frequent flyer miles – because clearly I’m a Turtinen and we wait until the last minute to book flights (in this case there was a reason) and they go up to $500… Now it’s practically free! What great GParents I have!

Fenway’s got it all

Boston skyline from the ferry, via my cell phone

Wednesday July 21

I’m not quite sure why it took me all through high school and college to realize working at a summer camp was something I was meant to do. You get to play… and if you know me at all, well, I LOVE to play, anything. So summer camp is perfect. I get to go on adventures (hello, clearly my favorite thing) and play all day long.

Today we got to go to a place I’ve always wanted to go to – the Boston Harbor Islands. Our entire site met by the Aquarium to have breakfast and board the ferry to Spectacle Island. There we would spend the day in the sun. The boat ride was short, but it was fun to see the Boston skyline from a different viewpoint (I love skylines).

We got to the island and set up camp at a picnic table near the showers and headed for the ocean (if you can call the harbor waters the ocean). Being a counselor, we are required to join our campers in the water… no matter the temperature or our mood. So, in a went. Into the freezing cold harbor water and splashed around in the saltiest water I’ve ever been in. But it was fun.

After lunch we followed the trails around the island and read the historical plaques that identified what Spectacle Island was used for in the past… landfills and glue factory – poor horses. One of my campers wanted to race me… in a 150+ yard sprint. I was hesitant, one because I hate to lose. Two, because I am not a good sprinter due to my major ankle and knee issues. And lastly, because it was freaking hot out and I didn’t want to run and trip and fall on a gravel path on some island in the harbor. But, I’m a good counselor and I raced him.

I won (very proud). After my race, one of my co-couselors approached me about my run.

“I bet the track team lovedddd you!”

“Huh?”

“You are so fast! I bet you were great in track!”

“You think I ran track? Ha. I haven’t sprinted since my last soccer game when I was 18 years old.”

Another counselor approached me telling me that I had great form and I should be a runner. I was in shock. Apparently I should have joined track…

After the day of camp I rushed home and showered as two of my friends waited patiently (ha, not really) for me to get ready and we were going to head to a few pubs before the Football at Fenway (yes, a soccer game at Fenway Park) at 8 p.m.

Football at Fenway

Side note – Fenway has had quite the year this year. Red Sox baseball (per usual), the freaking Bruins vs. Flyers and Frozen Fenway and now, for the first time since 1931, the Celtic FC was playing a game at the beloved ball park. I have been to Red Sox games, even when the Twins played the Red Sox this spring… nothing compares to the environment of a different sport at Fenway Park. Fenway is better with ice… and coming in at a close second is Fenway as a soccer pitch.

We made a stop at Crossroads Irish Pub near Kenmore station and then followed up our late lunch/early dinner with a trip to the Landsdowne Pub on the infamous Yawkey Way.

The pub was filled with Celtic supporters singing Celtic related songs. It made me so happy. Also present at the Landsdowne Pub were some old friends – if you can call them old – coworkers from the Irish Emigrant. It was so fun to see them, especially in such an Irish atmosphere outside of work.

The night was awesome, but led into a very tired Thursday.

Movies, graveyards and soccer

Tuesday July 20

The Loews theater near the Boston Common shows $1 movies every Tuesday at 10 a.m. A PERFECT field trip for my campers – in fact, the entire camp. We all hoped on the T (very difficult controlling many children on public transportation, but we managed) and went to the Boylston T stop, got off, got everyone’s movie tickets (nearly $15 in coins) and went and saw Hotel for Dogs. A very cute flick that, yes, I cried in. Movies and books make me very, very emotional. I get wrapped up in the plot and feel like it’s my own life – that combined with me crying at everything, well I’m a lost cause.

After the movie we went to Boston Common to play on the playground by the frog pond. While there, our supervisor suggested if we like history (I LOVE history) that we should bring them up to the Granary Burial Ground just a block-ish away from the park. So, I asked some campers if they wanted to go and several showed interest.

Me, along with another counselor, brought six of the campers to the burial ground. I, being the Freedom Trail vetran that I am, was giving them a rather detailed account of who was where and what they did in the burial ground.

We did have a few hiccups, though. One of my campers, a native spanish speaker I believe from Mexico, was very nervous about entering the burial ground.

“Why are we going in there? That’s disrespectful. We can’t go in there!” He said as we approached the burial ground.

“We are going to learn about the historical figures that are buried there…”

“We can’t go inside!”

I was confused and the only thing I could think of was Spanish class in high school and Dia de los Muertos. I was wondering if his culture doesn’t enter burial grounds at any time but Dia de los Muertos.

But once we got in, he was running around having a great time. He, in fact, knew more about the historical figures buried there than the U.S.-born campers. He rattled off facts about Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Sam Adams and John Hancock – way to pay attention in school, buddy!

After camp, I went and covered the New England Revolution game for my friends’ soccer blog. This time I was much more successful navigating my way through the corridors and finding out where to go. Plus, I got a sweet SuperLiga press pass!

Follow the black carpet

Saturday July 10

As many of you know, I spent the majority of my senior year of college at UMass sporting events – but not tailgating for football games and pregaming in apartments before the matchup. No, I got to games more than an hour beforehand with my laptop in tow ready to critique the play, analyze the game and write a wrap or a sidebar about one of the various sports I covered during my tenure.

So last night brought back many fond memories of sitting with my best friends in press boxes, chatting with media relations people and watching some of my favorite sports. Last night I covered the New England Revolution soccer game at Gillette Stadium for The Soccer Guys.

The Soccer Guys is a soccer blog that a couple of my friends/collegues/classmates from UMass started last year – and they are doing a damn good job at keeping up their content, getting new hits and getting freaking press passes for a Revs game, congrats again, guys.

Anyway, I was asked if I could cover the game for them as a contributing writer and I was more than excited – and way nervous – to do it. And my awkward self probably made it very entertaining for the employees of media relations for the Revs.

I got there, checked in and asked where to go.

“Through those two doors.” The doors were five feet from me, so I walked through them and was underneath Gillette Stadium – not a small place I might add. Then I saw several people hop on what looked like a freight elevator. I thought to myself, that’s weird that the media takes that, hm. So I waited outside of it.

“No, not there…. down the hall to the normal elevators on your left.” The guy said as he was jogging towards me.

I was hoping this wasn’t going to foreshadow the remainder of my evening.

I waited by the elevator as two men came and were too waiting also to travel up to the “blue” or “red” levels. They were going to red, I told the elevator attendant blue. I got off the elevator, showed the security guard my badge and politely said, “So… I’ve never been here before, what do I do?”

He chuckled and then gave me a very vivid tour and explained the ins and outs of the press areas. I thanked him and walked to the red level to get me some free fountain bevs – one of my favorite things.

I sat at a small table and watched people go through the buffet line (free, too, for the media. I was not hungry, nerds). After sitting for a little, I went upstairs back to the blue level about 40 minutes before kickoff. I set up my computer and read about the Revs – I know a lot about the sport of soccer, but when you’ve missed half a season and never seen an MLS game before, it can be quite intimidating to try and write a story about it.

The game went well – what a good game for my first Revs game, too! Check out my story.

Then it was time for interviews. I asked one of the Revs representatives where to go. It just happened to be the same guy that had to show me the correct elevator.

“Go down where you came from and instead of leaving the doors you walked in, follow the black carpet.”

Vague.

So, I followed a lady and remembered my directions hoping that the lady was also going to the post-game interviews. I found the black carpet and followed it like the yellow brick road. And just like Dorothy, there were some obstacles in my path between where I was and Oz – or interviews. There were signs that said, “Interviews” so I followed… until I got so far I ended up leaving the stadium. I turned back and saw the Revs locker room and waited for a minute… until I saw a crowd down the hall where I came from. I hustled and made it to the post-game presser and then followed everyone into the Revs locker room.

With a few mishaps, I was successful and got quotes and wrote my story. And gosh, was it fun!

I love soccer

Monday June 21

Today was a DOF – Day of Fun – with my friend Courtney. Both of us soccer fans were very eager to spend the day at pubs watching the various soccer games of the day, and of course stop by and see the penguins.

We got up and met at the Black Rose, a pub near Fanny Hall, to watch Chile defeat Switzerland, 1-0, at 10 a.m. We enjoyed a nice Irish breakfast and a few pints of Magners.. including Magners newest addition to their ciders, pear.

Let’s discuss this for a moment. I am a huge fan of Magners. In fact, it’s probably my favorite bevvy ever. Probably because I think apple juice is by far the best liquid man ever invented. Then mix apple juice and alcohol? It’s a match made in heaven. I was nervous to try Magners Pear, I didn’t want to be disappointed in a Magners product. Well, I wasn’t, after I got passed the inital “this isn’t apple juice taste” of the first sip. The remainder of the pint was delicious and I recommend it to any cider lover – and those who aren’t cider lovers try Magners anyway because its heavenly.

Now, back to my day. After the Chile v. Swiss game, Courtney and I finished our pints and went to the New England Aquarium just a few short steps away. Courtney had never been and I’m a member by association who loves talking about the glorious creatures inside the tanks. The best part is, it’s free, for us, making the aquarium that much better.

First we stopped at the Harbor Seals (free to the public, so I suggest visiting them and the Fur seals in the back of the aquarium if you don’t want to fork over the $30 for admission). Well, we saw some Harbor Seal sex and moved inside. We spent two or so hours wandering the tanks of the aquarium, petting animals in the tide pool and staring at my beloved penguins. Come 2 p.m. we knew we had to leave the fishes to see some more soccer.

We walked down the street to Paddy O’s, another bar in the Fanny Hall area, to watch Spain defeat Honduras, 2-0. I was very excited for Spain to win that match – I’m bias, I took Spanish for years and my cousins lived there. Plus, it’s a very fun country to visit (loveeee Barceona!) After the match, and several Magners, Jameson and other bevvys we hoped on the T to meet Becky at yet another bar.

We ended up at the Brighton Beer Garden just two blocks from my house. We watched highlights from the day of soccer (can you say, whoaaa Portugal on the 7-0 win over Korea DPR?!?!?! insane.) Then we headed our seperate directions for the evening.

You’d think after a long day of consuming various beverages I’d be a little tired, but now my usual 10 p.m. bedtime felt like it was 1 in the afternoon. I stayed up far later than I normally do and I have no idea why. Oh well.

UP

Wednesday November 11

Happy Veteran’s Day! In honor of all of the men and women who have fought for our country I decided to buy the movie UP, which is one of my favorite movies ever.

What could be better than a movie about adventures?

It came out yesterday and I was going to buy it at Barnes and Noble, but even my favorite movie isn’t worth the $40 price tag. I looked online at target and it said it was $30… Now I may have just gotten paid, but that’s still a steep price for a movie that will go on sale. So I decided I’d try Best Buy (I heard it was only $16 there). It’s in the same complex as Target and I needed contact solution. I went to Target first grabbed my solution and at the checkout there it was… UP, for $15.99. I bought it and went home to watch the wonderful flick.

It was just as amazing as I had remembered it.

Shortly there after Becky came home and wanted to go to the mall. I joined her and we shopped around for a girl she works with. Then of course we stopped at Target. I had forgotten to buy nylons for work, so it was a worthwhile trip. I also bought the movie Happy Feet (dancing penguins? Heck yes!) Plus it was onsale for $10. And I bought rainbow sherbet. Delicious.

After our shopping adventure I was going to go on another… but this time to teach Paul how to buy hockey equipment and go to the Museum of Bad Art. First stop was Play It Again Sports in Dedham. This was entertaining. Paul needed everything except skates, a helmet and a stick.

Paul's first pair of shoulder pads

We spent probably 45 minutes to an hour in the store. Making sure everything fit and trying to find used but not crappy things – he ended up buying most things new.

I felt like a mother trying to pick out her son’s first bag full of equipment. I was so excited for the little guy (or.. Paul).

After the shopping spree we got in the car to go to the museum. On the Web site it says it’s open as long as movies were playing in the movie theater. Well, there were movies playing, but apparently by 8:15 they no longer let anyone in. We tried to get someone’s attention inside, but it failed. We left Dedham without see a bunch of bad art. Sad day.

A trip out with Paul wouldn’t be complete without “grabbing a pint.” We went to his beloved Flanns (ok I love it too) and got sandwiches for $5 (huge, so much food) and I got a Magners (mmm).