T-48

Well, it's been a while since my last post, but not for a lack of things to say ... I can guarantee you that. I've just been busy. Some things have happened since May: I have a new job (yeah Digitas!); I have a nephew on the way (congrats G and J!); and I have been working tirelessly to crank out as many of my "30 before 30" list as possible before Sunday. 

Yes that's right, this Sunday, I will be 30, so I thought what better time to write a post than now.

I'm not afraid of it. I'm excited. I am looking forward to the rest of my life ... want to know why? Do you remember my first blog post from last November? 

That task #30 that I was oh so sneaky about. Well, whether I accomplished the other 29 things or not (which 'aint looking good) that one was most important. Although it was listed at the bottom of my list, it was really very much by itself at the top and it happened ... making this the best year of my life.

You probably could have guessed it a year ago if you read anything I wrote, asked me about how she was doing, or saw my face when she walked in to a room ... but I asked the girl of my dreams to marry me. 

And she said yes!

It all went down on August 25, 2012 and could not have been more perfect. To top it all off, the entire day, Nat's mysterious journey from hair salon to hotel to boutique and eventually to me, was all captured on film by the best videographer in the country, and his team, Michael Justin Films. 

Mike is a great friend and captures the real moments and emotions that sometimes we miss. He frames the experiences we want to look back on and presents them digitally in a way that will keep them with us forever. Natalie and I love what he can do with a camera, so I thought somehow and someway we could pull this off ... and we did. 

I started this blog about half hour ago by telling the story from my eyes, but then decided I want to save that. I'll release a play-by-play when we have the video to show (hopefully in the next month or so ... it's coming!).

But yes, Natalie and I are getting married ... August 24, 2013 at Sebasco Harbor Resorts (pictured right) in Phippsburg, ME. We have been cranking through the big items by picking the spot, the date, the photographer, the band and of course, the videographer.

Everyone often warns us or laughs about all the work we have to do to get ready for the "big day", but so far, we have laughed and smiled our way through every decision. We woke up the morning after being engaged ... threw away the late night pizza boxes (ahem) ... and made a promise to ourselves that we were going to have fun with this. We were not going to let the little things we know we'll encounter while planning create any issues for what will undoubtedly be the best day of our lives.

We couldn't be more excited ... and look forward to sharing the day with probably the majority of people who actually read my blog :) But either way, you'll see the video.

I have to send a blog thank you to Nat's friends, my friends, and both of our families for everything they did to help me accomplish this 30th task. I could not have done it without them and as I said on that day, we are so grateful that they were there to share the moment with us and of course, celebrate into the wee New York morning hours.

Have a good weekend everyone and I hope that you are able to accomplish the things in the next year that you really want to. Take the time to do that one thing that what will make you the happiest ... like I did.

I am looking forward to 60 more years with my beautiful bride to be.

Happy Friday,
Marshy

The 2nd Best Defenseman In NHL History Retires

Today, we lose one of the greats - Nicklas Lidstrom will announce his retirement from the sport of hockey. This does not come as much of a surprise as the man is 42 years old without a contract into next season, and it is safe to say that there is nothing left for him to accomplish on the frozen pond.

The Swedish Captain's credentials include:

• - 11 All-star Appearances
• - 7 Norris Trophies (nominated 12 of 14 years)
• - 1 Conn Smythe
• - 1 Olympic Gold
• - 4 Stanley Cups and the 1st European Captain to ever hoist Lord Stanley

Seriously, nothing left. I put only #4 of the Bruins ahead of him in the list of all time greats when it comes to NHL defensemen and would go so far as to say he is the greatest athlete to ever play in the city of Detroit. We can debate Joe Louis, Ty Cobb, Barry Sanders, and of course, I'll throw Stevie Y into that mix, but looking at the numbers and influence, it's going to #5.

Lidstrom played over 1,500 NHL games and very rarely spent time off the ice with injuries. His steadiness, sure hands, and play making ability is not only going to be missed by the Wings, but by the game of hockey. Nik's way of playing the game is hard to find in today's blue liners who rip clappers up over 100 mph with ease and go out of their way for a big hit. He played the game with class and a pure ability that is going to make finding the next Captain in Detroit extremely difficult (although I think Mr. Datsuyk is a suitable successor).

Detroit has seen some struggles over the last decade and continues to do so. Losing this fixture on the Wings blue line is not going to help anyone when next year rolls around. The Winter Classic is going to be something special. You do not have to be a fan of Detroit, the Wings, or even hockey to appreciate what he brought to the spot. The Red Wings are the NHL's most visible franchise and as a fan myself since the early 90s, it won't be the same not seeing Nik block a shot in the last minute of a game, rip one 6 inches off the ice on the PowerPlay, or again hoist the Cup over his head.

People often ask me why I like the Red Wings and I tell them there are two reasons: Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom. Two of the games best at what they did and two of the games greatest guys. My first trip over to Sweden in 1994 when I was 12, I was going with my brother's team of 16 year olds as a practice player, pick up skate guy, and glorified water boy, so I spent the tournament games in the stands with the parents and players from around the world on other teams. All of the Swedish kids would come up to me and ask the same things. They would say, "You are from America?? You watch the NHL?? Do you know Nicklas Lidstrom??" He is a legend in his homeland where hockey is a way of life. The Swedes continue to shine in the NHL, but I am not sure any will have the impact on the athletes of my generation that Lidstrom did.

We will miss you, Captain and congratulations on one of the greatest NHL careers ever seen and undoubtedly, the best by a defenseman in my lifetime.

Have a good weekend all!
Marshy

Hoppin' Mad Mud Run

Happy Monday Bloggees,

Yesterday, Nat and I checked a big one off the 30 before 30 list completing the Hoppin' Mad Mud Run 10k in Amesbury, MA.

Here is what we looked like going in:

And here is what we looked like coming out:

Believe it or not, it was a blast. And this is coming from the guy who hates being dirty even a little bit and showers twice a day. We weren't really sure what to expect going in except from seeing pictures of past events that it was going to be muddy and there were going to be some obstacles. So, we were ready for that. What we weren't ready for ... was the hills!

We showed up in plenty of time before our heat, 11:21am, and were able to get the lay of the land, fuel up, stretch out, ya know do some race stuff. What also was promising was that there were tons of families around and they were holding a mini-mud run for the youngsters which was 1 mile. Was pretty hilarious seeing the 3ft, 75 lbs kids going up through a few of the obstacles and obviously ending in the massive pool of mud before the finish line. This one 11 year old did a full back flip off the mountain in front of the mud pool and I was thinking I'd try and do the same for my grand finale. As it turns out, the adults were not jumping after running 6.1 miles. We were crawling - under wires and flags and poles, through two massive pools of just straight up mud to cross the finish line.

When it came time for the big boys and girls, they broke it up into "heats" so the hardo's who were trying to set records got to go off first and then the remaining 300-400 casual mudders went off in 3 separate groups to break out the obstacles. Some of our favorites were the guys from Cody Brewing drinking beers at the start line and then some other larger teams going all out with frog costumes, Jerseylicious outfits, and more.

Then, like it or not, we were off and it started fine. We ran through the farmlands and wineries of Amesbury (who knew Amesbury had wineries??) for about 3 miles which was pretty scenic, but basically up hill the entire time. Not easy and after the biggest of said hills, we approached our first obstacle. Pretty basic wood logs which you had to alternate jumping over and crawling under and then into back to back 5ft high wooden walls to boost yourself over. Not too bad, did a good deed by helping a fellow mudder over the wall who was struggling, and this was promptly followed by the first water break, so ... half way there. Great.

Then it got a little ugly. For the next 3 miles, we were consistently hurling over walls, up a massive hill for half a mile carrying tires (past many "i'm going to puke" comments during this one), through weird wooden obstacles, up soapy wet tarps, up ropes and ladders, etc... and all while crawling occasionally through mini mud pools which as you can see from pic 2, didn't help our closing out the race speed.

Nevertheless, we finished and finished strong. We did not win any medals or set any world 10k records, but we got it done and will be back next year, hopefully with a few of you. The greatest part of the race came after being hosed off by the local fire department with the free beers and live music at the finish line. We threw our shoes away like everybody else and joined the party (a little late, but we made it).

The town of Amesbury and the people of Heat Event Management did an AMAZING job. Local breweries such as Woodchuck, Cody Brewing, Ipswich Ale, and many more provided much needed post run beverages and a band played non stop from the minute we got there until the minute we left. The cops and fire department were great about closing roads and again, hosing down hurds of muddy peeps. Overall, an awesome experience and I recommend it to anybody, because it was the perfect amount of "fun" and "tough".

As they say, I'm just the right amount of "good sore" today ... 

Please pass the Advil.

Have a good week all,

Marshy

The usage of "right?" by today's presenter/executive

I have a new pet peeve which is becoming more and more apparent every single day I sit on business calls or attend meetings, whether internal or external. This may be something completely going on in my mind, an isolate event at my company, or something that everyone can relate with, but either way it is something I had to vent about.

Here's the situaish:

You're at a big company meeting or an internal strategy session or even on a client call where someone is presenting some results. The person speaking is a C-level exec/VP/Director or a Principal Analyst and as they are talking through their material, they end the majority of their statements with, or really even just throw in the word, "...right?" I'm actually not even sure if a "?" is the correct punctuation to put at the end of "right" because sometimes it's a simple statement.

For example, "Hello All. I am here to discuss how we are going to change our strategy of sales. Today, we are selling apples and oranges, right? Well tomorrrow, right, we'll be needing to sell grapes and bananas as well, right? Bananas are delicious. Monkeys, right, are always going to be eating bananas and if they are our key clients, right, then we need to provide them with the fruit they enjoy, right? It seems obvious, right?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?

Presenters today are just throwing in this added word ... "right?" or "right" .... as a fluid part or ending to the sentence/question that they are speaking, and most of the time a question is not even needed!! They are not asking you to confirm what they are saying. It's more like they are confirming it for themselves and forcing you to agree with them, right? (see what I did there?) There's no pause for question, because they are jumping into their next point ... or even mid point! And sure enough, ending that point with the word today seems to be nothing but ... "right?".

It's not "do you agree with me?" or "make sense?" ... it's "right?". It is happening more and more every day and my question is, is this a new thing? Am I crazy? Did someone start this "right" trend and now everyone is  on board? Is there a presenter's handbook/manual that I'm not keeping up to date on? To bring out another pet peeve of mine which usually finds itself in emails, but ... "what am i missing?"

I'm starting to notice it more and more and there really is nothing anyone can do about it, except continue to be annoyed by it and listen to it, because usually the "right person" is way above me and who am I to question authority?

Nevertheless, I'm not a fan of publically speaking figures ending their points with "right" or throwing in "rights" left and right these days. And that's that.

Right?!.?.!

Game 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnJIgvbn3Xo

A while back, I wrote a blog ( http://goo.gl/LdwzI ) about Tyler Seguin being a dbag, which created some controversy among my followers. Many said, "the kids 19 years old and an NHL stud, let him be" and others said, "I don't care who he is, he needs to check himself." No matter which side of the dbag fence you are on, one thing is for sure, THE KID CAME THROUGH ON SUNDAY NIGHT!

http://goo.gl/ePTM3 A huge thanks to Nicky Backstrom for turning the puckover in his own zone early in OT and a hell of a pass from Lucic, but this is the type of finish the B's have been missing this series.

That's the burst of speed, electricity, jump, whatever you want to call it, that we need out of him if the B's are going to go back to back. Not at the red light outside of the Garden. You know what else I think? I think the kid needed it too. Last year when he was being ridiculed and shit on by the Sports Hub about his playoff performance, he went out and did this http://goo.gl/jVCgB in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

This series has been one for the ages. A lot of people said it would go 7, but no one would have thought all 6 games would be decided by 1 goal. The NHL is under a lot of scrutiny this year, especially in these playoffs, but either way you look at it, they are shaping up to be some of the best we've ever seen with upsets, fights, suspensions, and OT thrillers. I expect nothing less tonight.

I was in the Garden for Game 1 and the place was rocking. The Caps took Game 2 and Game 5 in our building, because fans may have been getting a little lackadaisical just expecting the Cup to come back to Boston on it's own. I think we all know that it's going to be a grind, but put the last 6 behind us, and it starts tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6OCp-7BrxU&feature=relmfu

Believe it or not, I like the B's to win another close one, maybe even another OT winner. When it comes down to it: 1) we have the better team; 2) we have the momentum; 3) we are on home ice; 4) we have the game 7 experience; and 5) the best player on our team, dbag or not, is itching to get back out there.

http://lodgelocks.com/eagle.html

So, let's get it going! Let's play tonight's game like it's Game 7 in Vancouver last year. I think all of the B's fans and hockey fans don't want to spend the summer watching the Panthers, Senators, Predators, and Blues battle it out. I can't wait to hear the Garden rocking tonight and sit back to enjoy, stress out, and yell at the TV as the B's continue their quest for the Cup.

Not to look ahead ... but the road after tonight is looking prettttty clear.

LET'S GO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4fAG4qrPE4

'Tis The Season

Happy hump day!


I apologize for missing last week blog friends, family, and rando followers, but things were a little hectic and I really didn't have too much to say.


However, this week, how can we not talk about the Big Guy's holiday? Santa is coming?! Here?? I know him!!


During this time of year, our lives are over taken by family parties, work parties, buying presents, spending money, decorating xmas trees, wrapping, etc. on top of the normal rigor of everyday life (i.e. work) and planning for New Years. It's hard to juggle all of these things, but I mean it's worth it right? You can't beat this time of year ... everyone's in good spirits (kinda), work shuts down for at least a few days (some people a few weeks), schools out, people are around you may not see enough. Overall, good times. 

With those good times comes a little bit of stress. It's not always an easy time of year, for a lot of the reasons I mentioned above, and it's important to keep things in perspective. The big picture and what really matters. We are about to start a new year and can make that whatever we choose to make it. For me, as you know from my lofty 30 before 30 list, I'm planning for it to be the best yet. Keep that in mind when you starting to get a little stressed out over the next week ... or just go bowling and play photo hunt for a few hours. 


Ok, so the Marshy Blog question I have for you is: 


What is your favorite Christmas movie? You know it's going to happen. Curled up on the couch, bottle of wine/Jack, Christmas tree shining, fire burning, woman/man in your arms ... what's on the tube?


Here are a few classics (in no particular order):


Elf
The Polar Express
Christmas Vacation
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Home Alone
It's A Wonderful Life
The Holiday
A Christmas Carol/Story
Miracle on 34th St
Love Actually
Wizard of Oz
Four Christmases 
Bad Santa (ok, that was a joke ...)

Nat, you have such a pretty face, you should be on a Christmas card.
Oh, you just made my day!



Enjoy the holidays all. I know I will. It's been a blast so far and I'm very much looking forward to the next couple of weeks with Nat and our families. 


Seasons Greetings and tidings of comfort ... and joy,
Marshy

Friday Night Fights ... in the NHL

Since Seguin is apparently a "good kid" and just "over slept" on Tuesday, I guess it is time to move on. What I wanted to write about today is a lot more important and significant anyway. Fighting in hockey.

Have you read the New York Times series on Derek Boogaard this week?

If not, when you have an hour or so free, do it (links below), then come back and tell me how you feel. You do not need to be a hockey fan or violent individual to appreciate these articles. Learning about the craziness of a man's life and how he used fighting and rage to complete his life long dream of playing in the NHL is pretty spectacular stuff. This also led him to addiction and brain damage making a remarkable story turn devastating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-blood-on-the-ice.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-boy-learns-to-brawl.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-brain-going-bad.html?pagewanted=all

For those readers who do not know the basics around hockey fights, there are a few basic rules and reasons for why and when they happen:

1) If someone asks you to go, you go.
2) Every team has at least one guy who's sole purpose and why they make a pay check is to fight. Everyone knows who these guys are.
3) If you lay out a superstar (Crosby, Datsuyk, etc.), expect to be fought.
4) If your team has no life and is getting beat around the rink, you need to go out there and fight for a spark.
5) Once the refs jump in or a guy hits the ice, the fights over.

Before I dig into the Boogaard stuff, I want to talk about point #3 for a second because it's getting a little out of control. It seems like in today's NHL, every time a guy makes a big hit, he has to drop his gloves. Like he has no choice. Whether it's a clean body check or you accidently run into someone, within seconds, someone's skating at you full speed with their gloves already off. I am all about eliminating the head shots (i.e. Marc Savard), because it's obviously having an impact on player's careers, but if a big dman or an aggressive forechecker drops a guy and it's clean, take his number for the next shift. Don't get me wrong, I love the fights, but guys should not have to fight every time they decide to throw their weight around on someone with their head down.

Anywho, back to the point at hand. There has been a lot of talk on sports radio and the NHL network around this article and the possibility of eliminating fighting from the game. I say this ABSOLUTELY can not happen.

First and foremost, the NHL would lose millions of dollars and fans. Not that people solely go to games or watch the B's on NESN to see a fight, but it's a huge part of the entertainment factor for the regular fan. Secondly, the strategy and impact of a hockey fight is something that makes hockey truly unique. In no other sport, are you allowed (minus a 5 minute penalty) to take matters into your own hands and call out a rival or goon/ass/dbag who's been sticking guys all night and actually fight him. Basketball? Football? Think about how sick it would be if these guys could square off and have a go.

"Marshy, hockey players wear pads, they don't even feel it."

HA, not only do I say I'd love to see you get in a hockey fight and tell me how fun it is, but take a look at Shaun T's face (see right). That's not WWE blood.

Fighting makes the dirty players, namely Sean Avery, think twice and if he wants to play dirty, he knows he will have to stand up for himself and be accountable for his actions. Hate Avery as much as the next guy, but the guy fights when he needs to and draws penalties when he doesn't.

I follow NHL fights pretty closely and check ESPN box scores daily to see who scrapped the night before and this is usually followed by a quick trip to YouTube to see the tilt. It's such an important and GREAT part of the game that I would be devastated to see it go. The fact that guys brains are turning to mush or these guys in their mid twenties have to sit up at night crying because they know they will have to fight Donald Brashear or Colton Orr the next tight is terrible, but in the case of Boogaaard and a few others (Rick Rypien, Wade Belak) there were other elements to their downfall, including addiction to painkillers, alcohol, etc.

Fact. Getting punch repeatedly in the face leads to brain problems or dementia. Obviously. I don't need to cut Boogaard's brain in half to tell you that.

These are grown men who are making the decision to fight on the ice and none of that blame can be put on the sport or the NHL. Why is the MMA even in existence if fighting is the reason these guys are dying? It would be a shame to lose that element which has been around since its existence to an already great game.

My Top 10 Favorite Hockey Fighters of all time:
10. Darcy Hordichuk
9. Jared Boll
8. Shaun Thornton
7. Donald Brashear
6. Joey Kocur
5. Lyndon Byers
4. Cam Neely
3. Tie Domi
2. PJ Stock
1. Bob Probert

Notables: Wendall Clark (AHL), Kevin Kaminiski (AHL), Jay Miller, Milan Lucic, Chris Nilan, Dan Carcillo, Terry O'Reilly, Georges Laraque (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxFS2JAyleo&noredirect=1)

Who'd I miss? Who are your favorites?

Have a good weekend!
Marshy