a toy story nfl morning, 10.1.23

nfl is doing this thing for the falcons vs jags game where they have the game playing in real-time in toy story world with toy story animation. i don’t know how they are doing this, but it’s incredible. the game is in london so it started at 9:30am est, which is a plus because i love starting my mornings off with football. disney+ has the stream and the animations are amazing. they have the slinky dog as the first down marker along with side animations of different characters from toy story. i love it.

this might be up there with the nickelodeon nfl game, which they need to do more than once a year.

-ratha, 10:45am, 10.1.23

wrentham outlets, 9.30.23

it was forecasted to rain today, but it’s looking more like an overcast, so we decided to go to the wrentham outlets. i was excited for the all saints and the diesel store. diesel didn’t have any skinny black jeans, and all saints didn’t have any good flannels nor did they have any good graphic tees, smh. it was still a good time though because we got to walk and enjoy some fine autumn weather. we pulled up to five guys afterwards but decided to eat at the chipotle next door. the worker there accidentally gave me some veggies on my bowl, but it ended up adding a nice texture and flavor so i didn’t mind it at all.

we recently got back home, and i can’t wait to walk bagel, then enjoy some primetime college football over a cup of nestle hot chocolate.

-ratha, 6:43pm, 9.30.23

calm friday nights, 9.29.23

it’s a friday night, i just got done eating, bagel is sleeping, and nc state is currently in a low-scoring affair with louisville in an acc match up.

life is feeling good.

-ratha, 10:03pm, 9.29.23

2 years, 9.28.23

it’s been two years. i don’t know where i thought i’d be two years from when things happened, but here we are. i love you and still miss and think about you every day. dbaze will randomly say he misses you in the group chat to me and money. life just isn’t the same without you. i keep thinking about our last text conversation and how we were supposed to catch up on the phone, but i was in minnesota at a temple, then i said i’d hit you that sunday when i landed, and i was too tired so i didn’t, then the next day you video chatted the group chat with money, dbaze, and i, and we didn’t pick up, then the next day everything happened, then the day after that i found out from your dad while i was working out on the first floor at the work gym.

it still hurts so bad.

-ratha, 10:23pm, 9.28.23

sura on a wednesday, 9.27.23

we went to sura today after work and it was well worth the wait. i haven’t been here in months, and every time it’s going to hit. all my sura experiences have been fantastic if we’re talking about the food, but i’ve always gone during the weekends so it’s been hectic/busy. tonight, was much different. we were there for 2-3 hours, and maybe 1/3 of the restaurant was filled. it was quiet night, one where they didn’t enforce the 1.5-hour time limit policy. it felt good to relax and just hang out and not have to speak over a crowded dining room. i should’ve taken pictures of the food, but it was the usual for me: galbi and marinated thin beef, though the spicy pork is slowly becoming one of my favorites.

i just left, but already am thinking about going back this weekend.

-ratha, 10:32pm, 9.27.23

the delayed annual, 9.26.23

i went for my physical today. i was worried about my a1c, but they said my a1c was only flagged because it was lower than normal. the reason i was concerned is because of my sweet tooth and my inability to stay away from indulging. my doctor said i should get it tested every other year as it looked good last year. i hate needles/blood, so i agreed. i still got a full sti panel after my appointment. as i went down to get my blood drawn, i was more nervous than ever. the last time they did it last year, i got so clammy and almost passed out. the nurse had to bring me crackers and orange juice. i told the nurse this year i was afraid of needles, and she said it wouldn’t be that bad, maybe one-minute tops. as she was putting alcohol on my arm, i told her i was nervous again. she was so kind, that she recommended me going to the next booth to sit on the recliner where i can rest a little more. i did, got my blood taken, and was out of there in less than 5 minutes. she told me she didn’t like blood/needles, too, but got used to it after her cat developed diabetes and she had to inject her every day. then she ended up here, where taking blood is a part of her job responsibility. as far as my sinus infection goes, i woke up feeling better, so i’m thinking i’ve turned the corner and just have to wait things out.

because i was getting blood drawn, i didn’t eat anything all day. it’s 3:08pm, and i think i’m about to starve to death if i wait any longer.

-ratha, 3:10pm, 9.26.23

fall 23’ sinus infection, 9.25.23

i suspect i have a sinus infection, one that began developing sometime mid-last week. i took today off work to get some rest. i could’ve went in, but then what are sick days for? instead, i chose to go to lahey to set up an annual appointment. i had one scheduled for april, but my doctor left the hospital, so it never got rescheduled. i’ve been meaning to pull up and get this sorted out, along with my new insurance, but haven’t had the time to until today. when i asked about an annual, i was told there wasn’t one until february/march. i told the worker my circumstances and he was kind enough to fit me in tomorrow. so tomorrow, i will be having an annual and hoping to get something to remedy these sinuses.

the cool, fall weather doesn’t come without a price.

as they say, there’s no such thing as free lunch in this life.

-ratha, 3:12pm, 9.25.23

midnight murder mystery, 9.24.23

after college football, i let the tv run while i took a shower. i came out and noticed they were talking about boone on television. i had turned the volume up to hear them mentioning the weather in boone. i thought it was strange, but i still kept an ear out while i lotioned up and put my clothes on. minutes later, the show segues into a 1972 murder in boone in the snow. 40 mph winds during an evening snowstorm. a mother, a father, and their son were found dead, head down in a tub filled with water. i usually listen/watch true crime during the day, but the fact this is on at 1am is giving me a different feeling. and it’s local??

you know i had no option but to tune in.

-ratha, 1:29am, 9.24.23

1st day of fall run down, 9.23.23

i didn’t do much today. i stayed up late last night recording in the studio until 3am. i didn’t wake up until 11am. it was a rainy, gloomy day here in the north shore. i put on some football, clemson vs fsu. fsu ended up beating them in ot 31-24. i missed it because i dozed off. when i got up, i walked bagel, then put on colorado vs oregon. ever since coach prime came to colorado, they’ve been undefeated and their whole culture has changed. i definitely love the turnaround, even though colorado is our rival. i ended up falling asleep during the game again. i walked bagel, then came home and ate a late lunch. i needed to get more steps in, but the rain began picking up, so i decided to hit burlington mall. still hungry, i ate some tikka and then a large fry from chick-fil-a. i ended up checking out a few fragrances, then went to target to pick up some vitamins. i just got back from an evening walk with bagel, where i saw one of my neighbor’s teenagers’ partying. i’m so far removed from those times in my life that i can’t even imagine missing it, but i do hope they’re having the time of their lives.

i’m about to shower, then write, then hopefully get my sleep schedule back on track before the week begins.

-ratha, 11:23pm, 9.23.23

right on time, 9.22.23

it is a beautiful sunny day with highs hovering around 69 degrees in boston, today. the air is crisp and the official start to fall is tomorrow. i thought this past year that summer was my favorite season, but i think i came to that conclusion based off how much i dislike winter. truth is, my favorite time of the year is fall. always has been, always will be. i don’t know how i will spend the last day of summer. i’ll probably head out of work a little early, read a little, hit the park with bagel, write some, just the usual. i also have tikka from maya in the fridge in the garage, so i’m definitely looking forward to that. i always feel so nostalgic during this time of the year, i can’t explain it. it’s like i’m reliving old emotions for the first time again. it’s a comfortable, yet refreshing feeling.

until next year summer, i hope life is much different (in a good way) when we meet again.

-ratha, 11:43am, 9.22.23