Ok, it’s Thanksgiving weekend and we’re barely a few days removed from a 60+ degree day and I have to ask - was this really autumn? This past October tied the mark set in 1947 for the warmest October since they started observing weather in Central Park. Was it a sign of global warming or just nature’s gift for those who were unable to part with summer? Whatever it was, it worked out pretty well for me as it meant less time spent shivering in November than in years past.
Meteorological observations aside, autumn was a busy season for me. Right off the top, I’ll address the lowest point of the season - the Mets’ historic collapse in September. It’s been talked about to death in the media and among my friends so I won’t rehash the vitriol and recriminations, choosing instead to say that it was awful but I’m over it. I know I said I was done with the Mets but, like any other shocking moment, you can’t take what’s said in the immediate aftermath at face value. It happened, it sucked, and I’ve moved on.
Even throughout the awful collapse that took place over the course of September, there were some things that kept me in good spirits.
- We had a stag weekend for Justin a few weeks before his wedding. We drank a lot - no surprise there.
- I went with Susan to a beer festival at South Street Seaport - it kinda sucked.
- Rachael had another one of her awesome awards show parties for the Emmys.
- One of my best friends got married to the perfect woman for him - congrats to Dori and Justin.
- Dave turned 28 and we had a few drinks to celebrate. Too bad that was the night the Phillies caught the Mets in the division.
So when you really think about it, by the time September was over, I was too tired to care about the Mets’ collapse. Oh, does it sound like I’m still trying to convince myself that it didn’t hurt?
October was noteworthy for something I didn’t do - I decided not to make a return foray into the madness of the CMJ Music Marathon. There were some shows worth checking out but, ultimately, I just didn’t want to get sucked back into it the way I was last year.
- The Binghamton crew knocked another place off the Beer Advocate list.
- I visited Ki up in Bristol. We went bowling, toured ESPN, and made dinner together. Good times.
- Belgian Beer Fest’s Night of the Funk - need I say more?
- I made what will very likely be my last visit to the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village. I still remember when there was less people and it was a lot more fun. Now there’s a large police presence and it’s a bit too controlled - a lot less of the unrestrained fun that made it what it was.
November was quiet though that could have been a byproduct of it being the shortest amount of time possible between Halloween and Thanksgiving. There were, however, some highlights to be found.
- I had dinner at Perilla and I got to meet owner/chef and Top Chef Season 1 winner, Harold.
- I attended a Scrubs farewell event where I got to see the cast and meet the awesome TV Guide columnist, Michael Ausiello.
- I had way too many drinks and dinner with some Binghamton folks I don’t see too often. Beer plus shot is bad!
- A friend’s daughter had her first birthday party - as I told the father, only 17 years to go!
- I saw the balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade get inflated - the little kid in me squeed; the adult in me groaned from the massive crowds.
- Thanksgiving at the ‘rents - no turkey this year, only hot pot. I was very sad.
- Dinner at Cee’s the next night where I think I finished off a bottle of wine all on my own.
So that was my autumn - winter tends to be a slow season for me but we’ll see how it turns out when I write the recap in March.
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