A Look Back on 2009

I hope this holiday season is treating you well and you received all the goodies you asked for this year, be it for Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa.

I had originally planned on writing on a totally different topic for this post, but since it will be my last post of 2009, I thought it would more appropriate to look back on the year and those things I am most thankful for.

To start, this has been a pretty eventful year for me in general.

Last winter I began my final semester at Syracuse, seemingly counting down the minutes as my friends and I squeezed every last drop of enjoyment and fun out of our time in Cuse. We went to all of the Big East basketball games at the Carrier Dome, even camping out several hours for a few of them just to ensure we would have good seats. We played beer pong almost religiously, used Halo as the best way to procrastinate from doing work or studying, and played Rock Band to get ourselves ready for a night out. We were second semester seniors, living the dream, and we made sure to do it all.

Syracuse had an outstanding season, earning a high seed in the NCAA tournament and convincingly made their way into the Sweet 16. They were set to play in Memphis against Oklahoma, and it was sure to be a good game. When the Orange beat Arizona State, the talk began about taking a road trip to Memphis to watch the boys play. It started with about 10 of us, and within a week and a half had dwindled to 3: Linz, Susan, and I. But 3 was enough so we made plans and set our course. It was my first true road trip and that was just as exciting as going to see Syracuse play in the NCAA tourney. While the game was forgettable, the experience was awesome, and the three of us really became close over those three days and had a great time together, though it’s tough not to get close when you spend close to 100 hours together.

In March my two best friends and I, who all attend different universities, happened to have the same spring break and spent a week in Key West, Fla. It was a great time. We fooled around like we usually do, shared many laughs, and of course did stupid things as we always do when we’re together. We spent our last night of spring break glued to the television as Syracuse and UConn battled in what can only be described as the most epic college basketball game of the year, if not the decade. By the time the game ended it was so late, we didn’t even attempt to go out. Instead we celebrated with a handle of Jack and 2 liters of Coke.

The spring of senior year came and went and life was good then. I had my friends, my girlfriend, and the one place I never wanted to leave. I got to walk across the stage and hear my name called in front of my family who had come up to Cuse, and listen to Vice President Joe Biden give a passionate key note speech at Commencement in the Carrier Dome. I sat with my friends inside the Carrier Dome, and finally got to take part in graduation traditions such as writing on an orange ribbon and tying it around a tree in the Orange Grove.

I was fortunate to find an internship in NYC for the summer, rebuilding my bank account a little bit in time for my big adventure and gaining valuable experience to help me land my first full time job. I became close friends with the people I worked with over those two months and still keep in touch with some of them.

After much anticipation, the calendar finally turned to August and you know what that means, my cross country road trip with Lucille (my car) to San Diego, Cali. and back. I won’t go into detail about the trip since I’m guessing if you’re reading this you know about everything on my trip. I’ll just say it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and something I will absolutely never forget. I got the chance to see places and things in this country I might never see again and that some people dream of going to; a Redwood Forest, driving up the California Coast, hiking both sides of the Grand Canyon, and I could go on. I got to experience a little piece of Americana, as my dad would say, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my awesome parents and amazing girlfriend.

In October I awoke one morning to a phone call from someone claiming they were in HR with Porter Novelli and asked me if I was interested in coming in for an interview. Three weeks later I received a formal offer to join the company and had a start date to began my first full time job. I am now almost two months in and enjoying working with my team, meeting new people, and growing professionally. I am working in the field I studied at Syracuse and in the industry focus I have wanted to work in for a while now. I couldn’t have asked for anything more in a first job and know how lucky I am I even got the opportunity.

At the end of October I got to fly out to Arizona for what has become the annual Father-Son baseball tournament with my dad. It’s a blast getting to play alongside him on the field with the rest of fathers and sons on the team. I try to cherish each time we are there together because not only do other fathers and sons not get the chance to have the same experience, you never know what next year will bring and it we’ll be able to go again. Between trips like there and traveling cross country with him in four days, and the following note, this year has been a big year for my dad and I to spend time together.

In November, the Yankees advanced to the World Series and by sheer luck, my father and I had tickets to Game 6 and watched the Yankees celebrate in their new stadium in the Bronx. I had begun work a mere two days beforehand and didn’t get to bed that night until about 1:30, waking up to my alarm clock a very short 4 hours later, but it did not matter. I was wide awake the following day, running on adrenaline and trying to relive a moment that I will probably never get to be part of again.

In mid-November I celebrated my one year anniversary with Susan, an impressive milestone considering we are no longer in college and able to see each other as easily. Granted we are still only about an hour away, but now life has begun, and between looking for jobs, hanging with friends, and being with family, it is tough to juggle everything. Thankfully we have made it work and have a great thing going. We meet in the city frequently, and try to make special plans around things we both enjoy (usually food).

And now I’ve celebrated the holidays with loved ones and am about to go to the Poconos to celebrate New Year's Eve with my group of friends and hopefully break in my new skis on a mountain out there. Not a bad way to cap off an incredible and memorable year, if I do say so myself.

After writing all this down, I realize this has really been a great year for me. I’m not sure how to compare it to years past, but I’m confident it contains the most adventures and plenty of things I will remember for many years to come. I’d say it was better than the past few years I can recall, and I am optimistic it will only get better from here.

I only hope 2010 brings as many new challenges and adventures.

Merry Christmas Everyone

No real post this week as per the holidays. Haven't had much time to sit down and write things down. I'll be back next week with what I hope will be another clever post for your enjoyment.

Have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!

-Jesse

Syracuse Anonymous

I’ve heard people get the shakes. Others who have done it warned me not to go cold turkey; they said the body can’t handle withdrawal from something it knew for years. They warned me I wouldn’t make it a week without falling off the wagon.

One of my friends recommended me to a meeting he knew. They are every Wednesday night at the local Knights of Columbus.

Hello, my name is Jesse Caputo, and I am an Orange addict…

I guess I’ve been an addicted now for about three years. My freshman year at Syracuse I was happy to be there, but I didn’t “love” it. I didn’t need to be there or miss it whenever I went without it for a couple days. When people asked me if I loved it, I danced around the question with BS answers like “I don’t know if I love it, but can you love it? It’s just a school and none of my friends are here blah blah blah…” I was in a long-distance relationship and hadn’t had a complete freshman experience.

Sophomore year everything changed. Second semester I changed majors, was single again, and found a great group of friends to paint my face with every week at basketball games and party with afterwards. We would get to games a minimum of three hours early, and we practically had a reserved spot in one of the front rows which we claimed for most of the big games. We celebrated after wins and commiserated after loses together. I didn’t have a care in the world and for the first time was truly relaxed and comfortable at school. I think the moment that really got me on board was Valentines Day. We had two feet of snow and classes were cancelled for the first time in 13 years. My friends and I played in the snow all afternoon and then ate chocolate and watched movies all evening. It didn’t get much better. I became an addict.

Junior year things got hot and heavy. I couldn’t stand to go a couple days without a hit of ‘Cuse, or else I’d get uneven, a chance of the shakes, and irritable. I was close to my friends, had my own room in my on campus apartment, and was rooming with my best friend. Things were great. I was skiing on nights during the weekend, at basketball games at The Dome (which had become a given at this point), enjoying life, and making lasting connections with friends. My roommate and I sophomore year had our ups and downs, sometimes getting along and sometimes hating each other. But now, junior year, we were becoming the best of friends. Second semester we were going out together every weekend, having a blast, and dare I say it, becoming best friends? I was addicted to Syracuse, and everything that went along with it.

Senior year was just amazing. My best friends and I all lived in the same building and things couldn’t have been better. Halo, Rock Band, Gears Of War 2, and beer pong were mainstays. Friday and Saturday nights usually went something like this…. Basketball, beer pong, and then Chucks for a night of mayhem and stupidity. It was crazy and the greatest of things at all times. Walking in to Chucks and seeing your friends, hanging out together, sharing stories, and laughing are things I got so used to, I guess you can say I became addicted to them. I had to have my fix of crazy nights at least once a week. Basketball games were classic. Face paint was still a mainstay. We showed up for the Georgetown game 5 hours early and had a regular crew of friends who were down for being up at 8 am for 12 pm games. I met an amazing girl who I’m still dating, and became really close friends with her roommates. I experienced my first true road trip in a whirlwind weekend trip to Memphis and back for the Sweet 16 to watch Syracuse get stomped by Blake Griffin and Oklahoma. The game was terrible, but the trip was something I’ll never forget. I gave weekly tours of campus to prospective students, giving them a taste of my four amazing years on campus and what the future could hold for them. I was an addict, refusing to give up my friends, my life style, and everything I had come to know the last four years.

This past summer was still college-like, with lots of fooling around and serious working was only for a short time. But now I’m working full time, and can only watch Syracuse basketball when it’s being carried by SNY or on ESPN. I was at a bar last week watched ‘Cuse beat Florida in a thriller in a bar filled with orange-clad alum filling the bar with “Lets Go Orange!” cheers. It was great…for what it was. An alumni event. Sitting at the bar, listening to the cheers, I was happy and sad at the same time.

I missed Syracuse so much at that moment. I missed being there, jumping up and down in the stands, losing my voice yelling like a maniac, celebrating after games, and spending days after class in front of the TV playing video games and laughing with my friends. Now we are dispersed around the country all trying to begin the next phase of our lives. Luckily I still get to see the Orange run the court live every once in a while when they come to their second home, Madison Square Garden, and treat thousands of Syracuse alum and fans to a treat. I watched them romp Cal and UNC a few weeks ago, and there was nothing better. Thankfully I made my dad a Syracuse fan so he has no problem going to games. We even have tickets for the Villanova game back in Syracuse.

My sister warned me about withdrawal from college. She said she knew people from Syracuse and heard it took months for them to get over graduation. I brushed off what she said, thinking that wouldn’t be me. I was stronger than that. I loved ‘Cuse, but I was going to be fine. When this summer came and went and I was still fine, I thought,”pft, that was a breeze.” But no! It wasn’t over. Now that I’m back in the real world, and not the Wild West it has hit me like a ton of bricks. I miss everything at once and have moments when I’m so lost in memory I almost become depressed, but then I bring myself out of it when I think of the fun times, and I’m glad I got to experience them.

There are people who go to school and want nothing more than to be done with it and go on with their lives. They count down the days from freshman orientation to graduation and just try to make it there. They don’t keep in touch with friends, and they certainly don’t show school pride. While I miss school like anything, I feel fortunate I got to experience it at all and am part of such a passionate, knowledgeable and school-loving alumni group.

I still wear Syracuse gear at least once a week, but now I don’t wear it with the knowledge that I’m going back tomorrow, the next day, or next week to Paradise. I’ve traded in the daily school garb for business casual and 9 to 5. Instead, I now pull on my eye-blinding, spot-you-anywhere-in-a-crowd orange to remind myself of all the fun I had with all my friends and memories of time past.

You Lied To Us, Jesse!

Yes, I did. I’m sorry and regret those transgressions. (Thanks, Tiger)

First of all, I hope you all had a happy and delicious Thanksgiving.

Now, onto the news!

So since the last time I posted a lot has happened to say the least. First and foremost, the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games. (Sorry, Rollins) Because of sheer luck, I just happened to be at the clinching game of the World Series, something very few have gotten to ever experience. It was the second day of my new job, but that wasn’t as important as being sure I made it to the Bronx in plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere (Yes, I’ll come back to the job mention later). It was incredible to say the least. What an opportunity. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to buy tickets, and because no one could go to Game 1 or 2, we bought two tickets for Game 6 and hoped for the best. Well, luckily the best happened and I got the chance to be at the game of a lifetime.

Before going to the World Series, I was in Phoenix, AZ for a week hanging out and playing baseball for a week. I was only played baseball for a guaranteed two days, but since I didn’t have much else going on so I figured “Why not?” I was down there for a Father-Son baseball tournament and shared a week of fun and laughs with my pops. We got a lot of playing time, and I even got the chance to pitch a little bit. My limited time on the hill didn’t go as well as I imagined it in my head, but all that means is I have to work harder for next year. The trip to AZ with my dad to play is something I look forward to every year.

But before I went off to sunny Arizona, I was awoken one morning after spending the night in Jersey with Susan by a HR woman from Porter Novelli, a PR agency in New York City which I interviewed with earlier for a summer internship. I was skeptical when she asked me if I was available to come in for an interview since they didn’t offer me the internship. Anyway, I went in, interviewed, and then flew off to Arizona. After warming up before our first Father-Son game, I got a call from the woman again offering me the job. I accepted of course, and started off my tournament in pretty good style.

So I came back from AZ and started almost immediately. I had two days to learn everything from the woman whose place I was taking, and then pretty much thrown into the deep end. The next two weeks were chaotic. There was a major medical conference our client was at and a study that generated a lot of press. I worked Saturday and Sunday that weekend, as well as non-stop all week. It was the craziest two weeks I’m pretty sure anyone has ever had at a new job. I’m finally finding my groove and place within my team, getting into a daily routine and understand what’s expected from me on a daily basis.

Starting a job is exciting. I’m embarking on the next stage of my life. Getting a paycheck every two weeks for more than a two month period is sweet. It’s not to have money of my own and be able to spend it if I wish, though now that I understand what’s required to earn that money, I’m not so willing to spend it. In addition, while making money is nice, I’m not so sure I understand what’s wrong with spending the parents money. It’s just as fun…In fact, I’d contend that spending money I didn’t have to work for is MORE fun!

Luckily I have been staying in the city during the week thanks to my grandmother, because I had to be up at 5:30 every day when commuting from home because I have to be in the office by about 7:30 every morning. I will admit, as the train sped into the city and I sat around other people stuck in the daily grind, watching the sunrise out the window, I couldn’t help but reflect on this past summer and the amazing time I had in SoCal and the adventure home. Some times I couldn’t help but think how it felt so long ago, and how much I want to go back. I just hope I get to experience something like that again, and get to spend some more time out West. It turned out to be perfect timing actually, a perfect transition into the next stage of my life, and that’s not such a bad thing to keep.

Also since my last post, Susan and I have broken the one-year mark for our relationship (you thought I was going to say broken up, didn’t you). Pretty cool right? We still liked each other after traveling cross country and spending almost 400 hours straight together, which I think impressed everyone haha. We still spends as much time together as we can, and always have fun.

Well that’s a lot to take in. I already have my next post ready, I promise! So stay tuned.