Love

Where there is love, there is no question.

(the quote on my Yogi tea bag today)

Boston International

Last night I attended a Gala sponsored by Boston International, a non-profit organization that I'm involved in.

Boston International seeks to bring young professionals, grad students and diplomats social events based on world affairs. This was only my second time going to an event, so of course I brought my friends Sarah and Jenn to offset any awkwardness that would come my way (or come from me).

It was a nice night with free wine, champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Nothing too special though. Didn't meet that many interesting people (besides some strange man who was hitting on Sarah in front of his wife), but nevertheless had a good time.

Anyway, for those of you in the Boston/Cambridge area, check out bostoninternational.org for some upcoming events. Hope to see you there!

(Pictures from top to bottom: Sarah, me, Jenn; Jenn and her boyfriend, Zach; and Me and Sarah)

Forever 7 Years Old

Does anybody else feel this way?

Quote's from Margaret Atwood

Phrase of the Day

Three Sheets to the Wind

After using this phrase, much to the delight of my friends and embarrassment to me, I realized 2 things:

1.) Nobody uses that phrase anymore; and
2.) I don't actually know the meaning of the term.

THEREFORE, we have a phrase of the day.

Three Sheets to the Wind

Meaning

Very drunk.

Origin

Our colleagues at CANOE, the Committee to Ascribe a Nautical Origin to Everything, have been hard at work and, to their great pleasure, they can add this phrase to their list. 'Three sheets to the wind' is indeed a seafaring expression.

To understand this phrase we need to enter the arcane world of nautical terminology. Sailors' language is, unsurprisingly, all at sea and many supposed derivations have to go by the board. Don't be taken aback to hear that sheets aren't sails, as landlubbers might expect, but ropes (or occasionally, chains). These are fixed to the lower corners of sails, to hold them in place. If three sheets are loose and blowing about in the wind then the sails will flap and the boat will lurch about like a drunken sailor.

The phrase is these days more often given as 'three sheets to the wind', rather than the original 'three sheets in the wind'. The earliest printed citation that I can find is in Pierce Egan's Real Life in London, 1821:

"Old Wax and Bristles is about three sheets in the wind."

Sailors at that time had a sliding scale of drunkenness; three sheets was the falling over stage; tipsy was just 'one sheet in the wind', or 'a sheet in the wind's eye'.

There you have it folks!

Definition from phrases.org

My Last Obama Post of the Day

It's just me in some Barack gear! I stole John's t-shirt and wore it to work today under a blazer. Surprisingly, not many comments were made.

One Thing I Learned Today

Be free with your love, and don't hold back.

You'll feel a lot better for it.

I'm still not done posting my love for Obama!

Where can I find one of these pins? I might just have to make one.

And of course, a requisite picture of the Most Beautiful Couple In The World.