Kull's World

Just when you think you've seen it all...

This comes along!

No, I wasn't trolling the internet searching for my Sox soulmate.  I am very happy with my wife who puts up with my obsession.  However, the Globe ran an article today about it in today's edition.

But I can think of a few people that would benefit from such a service!

"What a Len!"

That was the expression of the summer of 1986, at least for a week of camping in Point Sebago, Maine.  I don't even remember who exactly the kids were, friends of friends or something.  But in that group of kids I hung out with that week, if someone did something stupid, you were called a "Len".  Because at the beginning of that summer, 20 years ago yesterday, Len Bias did the stupidest thing a man could do...snorted too much coke and died.  What a Len!

I chose to link to the Sports Guy's recollection of the event, because I think I relate best to his version.  He wrote this one in 2001 but re-posted it yesterday.  Same feelings, just five years later.  This WAS the "where were you when Kennedy was shot?" moment for Celtics fans in the 80's, especially for youngsters like me who were counting on this dude to take the torch from Larry Legend and keep putting banners up into the 90's and beyond. 

I'll never forget when I heard about it.  Beginning of summer vacation, the phone rings, it's my friend Rich.  I'm just expecting to make plans to walk up the street to his house and play touch football or whiffle ball with him and the Guilfoil Brothers, but instead he says "Len Bias is dead".  What, what, what?  Holy shit, what an idiot, blah, blah, blah.  And after some discussion, we still ended up playing football and whiffle ball that day.  But we talked a lot about how much of a moron Bias was and how he messed up the next generation of Celtics' teams.  And here we are, 20 years later, no more banners.  I can't believe Shaughnessy hasn't written a "Curse of Lenny" book yet.

What could have been...

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Mr. & Mrs. GT

Kristin and I had the pleasure of attending the nuptials of two great friends of ours on Saturday, Gerry & Julie. As we were driving to the church in Bulldog Land (hometown of Boston Rob - Canton, MA) I asked Kristin "so, which side of the church do we sit on?" We were perplexed! This is the first wedding that I had ever attended where I found myself friends with both the bride and the groom from day one (well, other than Barry & Jen but I was in that wedding and dateless so that was easy). Most of the time, we've been friends with one or the other and become friends with the other half, but still there's always been a definitive "we're on the groom's side" feel to it. Not so here. I met Gerry on my 2nd date with Kristin, at a "Secret Squirrel" Bowling Night, and met Julie shortly there after, coincidentally at another bowling night. Since then we've become great friends with the both of them through sporting events, happy hours, HBSP parties, golf outings, softball games, etc. Good people.

So anyway, if you need to know, we sat on the bride's side. Mostly because we thought "The Asylum" would fill up the groom's side just fine. We had a great time as expected. Great food, good drink, and even better people to celebrate with. And although we ended our night shortly before midnight when the official festivities were over, word is the Wedding Party kept it going til the sun came up, doing the best to live up to the "Party of the Year" hype. Well done.

Congratulations Julie & Gerry...hope you're having a blast in Hawaii!

Star Mystery...

Okay, what's the deal?  In the past week, I have received two issues of the trashy Star Magazine with my name on the address label!  Who is the jokester and sent this piece of trash to me?

Okay..... maybe we kinda enjoy it.  But I'll be pissed if we get a bill for it!

Real Estate Rant

So I pull into my driveway yesterday and my landlord greets me.  After some small chitchat about my new company vehicle, he gets down to business.

I’ll share a small sample of conversation that followed:

(Forgive the grammatical errors; I am attempting to quote his poor English exactly)

LL: So tomorrow is 1^st of the month and leaves you 60 days til the end of your lease, so we need to talk about getting paperwork completed for next lease.

ME: Yeah, we need to talk about that.  We can’t sign another lease this year because we are getting serious about buying a house and cannot commit to another 12 months of a lease.  We hope to find a home by the end of our lease.

LL:  Oh….really?  I didn’t know you were still looking to buy a house?

ME:  Well, yeah remember we were looking last year but the timing wasn’t right with the baby and Kristin going back to work at the end of the lease, so we committed to another year’s lease after asking you for tenant at will?

LL:  Yes, I know but I didn’t realize you were still looking now.  I thought you would stay here.

ME:  Of course we are still looking, we need to purchase a home, start building equity and living the American Dream!  If you can extend the lease on a month-to-month basis, we could give you at least 60 days notice before we moved out.

LL:  No, I cannot do that.  Too difficult to rent apartment from September to December, I have to get rented in summer months.

ME:  I totally understand, so that is why I am telling you that we will not be renewing the lease, unless you can give us tenant at will.

LL:  So are you working with a real estate agent?

ME:  Yes, he is a very good friend or ours.

LL:  What about mortgage, you working with specialist?

ME:  Yes, my best friend’s stepmother is a big wig at a Mortgage Company; we are using one of her people.

LL:  So have you found a place to buy yet?  Because when I bought my first house it took me nearly 6 months from the day I put the bid in until I moved in.  It takes very long time you know.

ME:  No offense, but you are the only person I have ever heard of that had that experience.  The majority of places we look at are vacant and ready for a quick closing.

LL:  Oh, I wish I would have known you were looking, I could be helping you by driving around and looking for houses for you.

ME:  Thanks but we have plenty of help and spend 2-3 hours a day dissecting the MLS for houses.  We feel bad and have loved living here, love the location the space is great, we just need to move on and buy our own home and build equity ya know?

LL: Yeah but you’re not really building equity in anything for many years.

ME:  Yes, that is the idea.   It’s a slow process but at least the monthly money goes into your equity and not just to rent.  Plus, we get screwed every year on taxes cuz we don’t own a home.

LL:  Yeah but that money you get back in taxes, it’s not like it’s free money; that is money that you have spent.

ME:  Well, whatever I’d still rather get a check for $5000 in April than have to pay $2000.

LL:  Geez, I wish I knew you weren’t staying I wouldn’t have sunk all that money into the new room.

ME:  Well, you knew all along we only use that for storage anyway.  And now you can market the apartment as a 3 bedroom!

LL: Yeah but most people only look for 2 bedrooms.  Usually 2 friends or a young couple like you guys.

ME:  Well, it’s still a nice addition and can be used as an office or something.

LL:  Okay, well talk to Kristin and IF you decide not to renew the lease, can you put it in writing for me?

ME:  No problem, and I’m pretty much telling you we are not renewing the lease, but I’ll type it up tonight and give it to you with the rent check tomorrow.  I am sorry man, we’ve been dreading this day.  But we gotta do what we gotta do.

LL:  I know, I just wish I knew earlier.

And cut….this conversation literally went on for an hour.   He was all over the place. Back and forth.  One minute he was saying building equity is a bad thing the next minute he is contemplating buying another house because I told him what kind of mortgage packages I was being offered.  It was amazing.  I really wish I could have recorded the entire thing.  I hope I captured some of the whacko-ness for your reading pleasure.