Pink Running Shorts - Michael O'Brien

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Birthday!

Dad,

Happy Birthday! Thanks for all of your love, support, advice and guidance over my life - it is great to be here to celebrate with you and spend time together.

Oh, and thanks for the run this morning - please note, if there was ever any doubt, you wore the pink running shorts this morning... maybe that's what keeps your time so low! ;)

I love you,
JP

Nostradamus Prediction Comes to Pass

New York Times: For immediate release, 5PM EST, 11/21/2007

Nostradamus Prediction Comes to Pass

Michael O’Brien of New Canaan, CT, has just entered his 66th year on planet Earth and has thus fulfilled one of the major predictions of Nostradamus in 1507 (age four). In one of his many lyrical writings the famous prognosticator predicted that 500 hundred years later a prominent man with surname O’Brien would complete 65 years on Earth.

What is so startling about this prediction is that the life expectancy in 1507 was only 38 years for men. So, this prediction really foretold unheard of increases in life expectancy over the intervening 500 years. Furthermore, the surname O’Brien was non-existent when he made this prediction. Those who have studied Nostradamus came to think of this prediction as ‘The O’Brien Gambit’ and as recently as 1784 placed it in the least possible category (probability of occurrence less than 0.005%). By then there were roughly 1.5 million individuals using the surname of O’Brien but life expectancy had only increased to 39 years for men.

Here is the original prediction:

"The O’Brien Gambit"
With a great deal of strife
He will reach 65 years of life
It will take 500 years to occur
But his age will be only a blur
The man will master many a deed
And O’Brien will be the name of the breed.

Submitted by Dominic Cardace

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Memories of an Outlaw: Chapter 1 Meet the Parents

I. First visit to Braeburn drive – First impressions are everything when you lose the wheel off clean off the axle of your ’82 Saab pulling up the driveway. Michael, thanks for calling the tow truck!
II. First dinner at Braeburn drive – The Squeeky Chair – Oh Joy! Light dinner conversation on topics including the Middle East, the Catholic Church and US economic policy (wish I had taken debate in high school) ...and "O'Brien pours!"
III. Michael’s first visit to my apartment in Stamford - I peered out the window wondering why Michael was pacing back and forth by the car downstairs and why it took 20 minutes for Joan to convince him to come in (it must have been something about the Sicilian Gentlemen’s club downstairs).
IV. Michael’s first Dinner at my apartment in Stamford – I prepared a four-course Vegan meal (Alyssa was militant back then) centered on the theme of “Wild Mushrooms”. Your glass was emptied (repeatedly) but your plate remained untouched – only later did I learn that mushrooms were your favorite.

Seriously though, many visits and many dinners later, it is always great to be in your company. I couldn’t have asked for a better Father in-Law.

Happy 65th!!!

Cheers,
Laird

Speaking of Feet (who's got the picture?)

Mike O’Brien vs. the Tahoe Deck

The deck was four stories up, overlooking the sunset that just finished on Lake Tahoe. As the sun sets and it gets dark, how could anyone resist doing a little dance? Michael couldn’t. It was a cute little dance that Michael accompanied with a cute little song. Unfortunately the exact words are lost in the pines. But it went something like this:

When you’re in Tahoe
And you feel the beat,
You do a little dance,
Even better with bare feet.

If you start to hop around,
And think you’re dancing really good,
It’s not just bad grammer,
Your foot is full of wood!

Mike O’Brien 0, Deck 1

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Mike O’Brien vs. the Emergency Foot Repair Team

Anne got the tweezers from her trusty Swiss Army Knife. JP went to look for a bullet for Michel to bite. Will ran to the fully stocked, with San Francisco liquor, bar. Alyssa and Jen got Michael to lie on the kitchen floor. Nana and Lisa and the grandkids kept sleeping. Will came back with a drink. Hans and Chris looked with amazement at the 18 foot splinter sunk 12 meters into Michael’s foot. Everyone tried to stop laughing and take it seriously. Will offered the drink to disinfect the foot or calm Michael, which ever was needed more.

The splinter came out (who has the picture?) but apparently there was a follow-up visit to the doctor because it got infected.

Mike O’Brien 0, Emergency Foot Repair Team 0, Deck 2

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Addendum:

But there is more about feet. There was also a running episode where a piece of glass was stuck in his foot. The doc tried to see it with ultrasound, but couldn’t. In the end it came out.

And see Jen’s post for the wedding story...

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The lesson, after 65 years, is watch your feet!