Saturday, March 31, 2007

one random thought on the last day of Spring Training

the Sox played their last two exhibition games in Philadelphia against the Phillies. after listening to the local Philly radio announcers, i have to say, they run a definite second in announcing a game to our very own Remy & Don. and if you know me, you know that's saying a *lot*. they were amusing & entertaining, having a good laugh throughout a large portion of both games. they were very well-matched and played well off each other. but most importantly, they did all of that while always announcing what was actually going on during the game, and though they obviously are rooting for their home team, they still made the game enjoyable for Red Sox fans to listen to as well. seems to me that many announcers are either too busy rambling about nothing that matters, almost to the exclusion of the game; are so dry in announcing the game, whether from being poorly matched as a team or just sounding like they are reading off cue cards & not enjoying a second of it; or they are so heavily biased toward their local boys, that trying to listen as an "away fan" becomes unbearable.

my point? never underestimate the value of a good sports announcing team.

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Friday, March 30, 2007

let's get this party started already!!


all photos from ESPN.com

OMG... could you imagine?? Matsuzaka adding *this* as an eighth pitch? rumor is this isn't likely, but even the thought gets me giddy.



and this one, just because there can never be enough love for Lucky Number 49.


and according to The Joy of Sox: Dustin Pedroia will change his uniform number from 64 to 15: "They say I'm going to hear about it [from Millar] because he thinks it should be retired." there's no way this will happen without commentary from Millar. this oughtta be good...

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Stuff Portrait Fridays: March 30, 2007



the assignment:
Behind

i had a great idea for this... and then i forgot to grab my camera this morning. but i've missed the last couple SPFs & i really want to get back in the habit of playing. so... i dug into my photos archives for this one, and in honor of baseball season officially getting under way on Sunday, i present you with the most well-known behind in Red Sox Nation:

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Friday's Feast: March 30, 2007



Feast One Hundred & Thirty Seven

Appetizer
What are you proud of?
how far i've come.

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?
i never win anything. ever. =/

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.
commute to & from work. =P it wastes lots & lots of time. forty minutes to go less than ten miles. arg!!

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?

i would say that i am in it. this current year of my life has brought the most change.

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?
(apologies for poor photo quality. i, like a doofus, had only my cell phone with me when i was here. the next time, i *will* have my actual camera.)
eta: this is the beach in Corona del Mar, CA where i first touched the Pacific Ocean. ::happy sigh::

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Friday Fill-in: March 30, 2007



1. I love my... new jeans!
2. Looking in the mirror, I see... i am in desperate need of tomorrow's cut & highlights!
3. The best thing that happened to me this week was... being able to catch up with Nichole again after a super intense few weeks for her.
4. (as if you need to ask!) going to Disney ...is one of my favorite things to do!
5. I always have a good time... carrying on all-day email conversations with my friends.
6. I'm looking for... something to do on Saturday ...this weekend. i may just end up doing nothing though.
7. "Oh, I'm bein' followed by an... aggravating little pain in the backside".

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Friday 5: March 30, 2007



Advice, Please!

What specific advice would you give to someone moving into your neighborhood?

watch out for my neighbor to my left (facing the building) because she tries to get people to do favors for her & then expects that you will keep doing them forever. don't try to do laundry before 8pm, unless you live right across from the laundry room, or you will find yourself trekking back & forth with a full laundry basket when all the machines are in use.

What specific advice would you give to someone beginning a job at your workplace (or attending school where you study, or, if you’re neither a student nor employed, doing whatever it is you do with your days)?
don't park in the office manager's spot. and please don't hang out at my desk.

What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to begin an online journal or blog?
be yourself. remember that not everyone shares your opinions, so try to respect others' when you comment, but keep in mind there are some people whose comments aren't worth the time they took to type, so don't let them affect you adversely. think before you type -- never forget that your words are powerful & someone may be taking them to heart in a way you never intended.

What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to take up a hobby you’re really into?
i'm no expert & i don't even play one on tv, but this is what i would say: play with your camera. learn how it works, not just "by the rules" or "by the manual," but your specific camera when combined with your specific skills & the outcome you desire. look carefully at the photos taken by others that you admire, figure out what it is that you like about them, and then take those qualities & try to give them your own unique translation. don't be afraid to experiment. zoom in. zoom out. try different angles. and take several shots. even the best photographers will tell you that for every shot you love, there are twenty that didn't catch what you were trying for.

What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to marry your closest, unmarried friend?
don't just be good, be *exceptional* because this person deserves no less. be aware of the fears & insecurities caused by others, and be gentle when faced with them. and please, please do not break this person's heart, because i will be there to pick up the pieces, but it will kill me...

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

curious

if you were going to describe me in one word, what would it be?

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raw thoughts from Boston's last home Spring Training game



**i am starting to think that Pedroia's problem on the field isn't inexperience or lack of talent. he's just too tiny to cover the Lugo-sized hole at short.

**this Clay Buccholz kid gave a heck of a first impression. they kept likening him to Anaheim's K-Rod, which if i am not mistaken, is just plain awesome. plus his name sounds like he belongs in Boston. just like i said about Hinkse last year. but back to this kid. look at this scouting report!

Scouting Report: Buchholz has a low-to-mid 90s four-seam fastball, a two-seam
fastball, a slider, a hard 12-to-6 curveball, and a change-up. In 2006, Buchholz
actually let loose towards the end of the season, when his fastball was sitting
around 96 mph. However, over the course of the season his fastball typically
sits around 93-94 and tops out at about 97 mph. His change-up is generally a
straight change that sits around 78-82 mph; he also throws a circle change. Good
demeanor on the mound. Pitches well under pressure, pitching coaches have said
he has ice water running through his veins. Needs to improve his consistency
slightly, but otherwise has ace makeup.

ice water in his veins?? that's *exactly* the kind of thing we need -- to put up with the constant swarm that results from playing for the Red Sox. i am intrigued. i hope he lives up to his stamp of "hot prospect" as he makes his way up through our farm system.

**why do they always say that the batter didn't like the called third strike? did we *expect* them to be happy about it? before someone starts explaining it to me, i know what they mean. the expression just bugs me.

**quote of the game: "what does Tampa Bay need to improve? about sixty million dollars." =P

**i never want to hear the words "Papelbon got spiked making the out at first" again. dear. God.

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tag, i was it three days ago!

way back on Monday, Jennifer tagged me. the idea is to share five things about yourself that you have not already revealed in your blog. this proved tougher than it would seem. i've been blogging for a while now & have shared quite a bit here. i was able to think of lots of things i *haven't* shared, but that i was unwilling to disclose to the internet at large, you know? so it took me a few days to play along. even then, i had to seek out a little assistance, because i had been staring at the screen for a really long time & had nothing for number five. (of course, as soon as i post this, i will think of fourteen more bits of Dawn-trivia i could have shared. maybe i ought to start a draft for when i think of these things so the next time, i will be prepared!) anyway, here we go:

1. my handwriting never looks the same twice. it has multiple personalities. if i am writing without thinking about it, i will often write in both print & cursive -- in the same word! -- but even words used more than once in a sentence look different from each other. i am not sure if that makes it easier to forge my writing or more difficult. if i concentrate on writing though, i have excellent penmanship & actually really like my handwriting.

2. i absolutely positively cannot stand the feeling of peach fuzz or raw potatoes.

3. no matter when or where i see it, the color yellow *always* makes me think of my Gram.

4. the first baseball player i ever remember admiring was not a member of the Red Sox. it was Cal Ripken Jr., career Baltimore Oriole.

5. as many times as i have said i can navigate the parks at Walt Disney World with my eyes closed, put me in *Disneyland* & i cannot figure out where i am. i am totally disoriented. nothing is where it belongs. good thing i have personal tour guides! ;-)

now that i have shared my five previously-unblogged pieces of me, i am supposed to tag five more people. as much as i love getting tagged & playing along, i never know who might not *want* to get tagged or who has already been tagged, so i am going to cop out with: if you haven't been tagged yet, you are now, so hop to it & then let me know you played. and if you've been tagged before, played along & want to play again, go for it. =)

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Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Twenty-Nine: Play ball!



Thirteen Things I Am Eagerly Awaiting Now That Baseball Season Is Only Three Days Away


1) Remy & Don. and coming back from a commercial break to hear them laughing so hard they can't speak to even tell us what's so funny. so the camera man pans over to the shot that started the whole thing & the gales of laughter grow.

2) we do not hear the word "wicked" used nearly enough outside the northeast area of the USA. as in "that slide-ah was wicked low."

3) Big Papi's first "shift this" walk-off homer of the season, that sails over the Green Monster & out into the night.

4) the mysterious absence of Rs in some words that turn up in other words. example: "the tiny battah at the plate is Dustin Pedroi-er." (for those of you who for some reason don't know the starting line up for Boston this year, and aren't fluent in Bostonian, his name is Dustin Pedroia.)

5) line drive to Mike Lowell, turns it to Kevin Youkilis, DOUBLE PLAY! poetry. looks effortless. baseball ballet.

6) the standing ovation that's coming for Trot Nixon.

7) the Papelbon "i sat 'em down & shut 'em up!" fist pump.

8) the awesome potential that is the Red Sox starting rotation. Schill, the ace, no more need be said. the Matsuzaka mystique. the fire that is Josh Beckett. reliable Wakey, who is going to pitch until he's 85. and even Julian Tavarez, if he can be the Julian of the complete game from the end of 2006, and not the Julian we saw coming out of the bullpen. and waiting in the wings, up-and-comers like the amazing i-can-beat-*anything* Jon Lester & Kason Gabbard, who put on a fine performance this Spring, even though no two people ever say his name alike. the possibilities seem endless.

9) the beauty that is watching Tek catch his pitchers. and hopefully regain his bat.

10) the latest Kevin Millar quotes.

11) sharing Red Sox baseball with RSN-West (aka Nichole & Daniel).

12) the way Youk plays ball. all heart & soul & expecting nothing short of perfection out of himself. the way he sacrifices body to make the play. the dirty uniform. that goofy stance at the plate. seeing the way he is totally invested in the game, in a way that is visible to the naked eye of the fan. it's guys who play like this that make the game so worth watching.

13) i've said it before, and i will say it again: fascinated, utterly entranced by the knuckleball. i can't help it. that pitch is just plain crazy.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

wealth

sometimes i post quotes. like in the post directly below this one. some of the quotes i just like. some of them i post as springboards for thought. this is one i wanted to think about.

"There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich." (Marlene Dietrich)

let me clarify. this isn't something i interpret as "money is the root of all evil," because i am firsthand witness to the fact that very good things can be accomplished with some money in the bank. i think i see it more as money isn't a guarantee to bring you wealth. you can have money and be happy, as easily as you can have it and be miserable.

money is nice. it sure does make things more comfortable. money is also necessary. we need it to survive. it is important to have a job, pay your bills, plan for the future. and there is nothing wrong with having some cushion for the finer things. but none of that is a guarantee. it makes no promise that we will be healthy, happy, well-adjusted or loved. it is entirely possible that you *can* have money & be all of those things, but it does not ensure them.

i look behind me, at where i have been. there was a time when there was money to provide all sorts of nice things. but that brought with it more subtle unhappiness to my world than most people that know me will ever realize. the money was there, but i was depleted in many of the ways that matter. all the nice things in the world couldn't buy me what i really needed. all the money there was couldn't have attained the one thing that was missing.

i have less now... and yet more. it's lucky for me that i am as low maintenance as i am. i appreciate the nicer things, but i can live without them too. my needs are met. i am warm, safe, dry & fed. i have enough to supply creature comforts. there isn't anything that i want for, beyond the limits i set upon myself. i don't think we should ever have *everything* we want. it keeps reality in perspective, and reminds us to be grateful for what we do have.

but for all that i have "given up," i am far richer.

i have peace of mind. i am well-loved. i am protected. i have friends that amaze me with their understanding & generosity. i have faith. i have the ability to trust -- granted, still hesitantly at times, but i am re-learning. i have room to be myself, to not be criticized for who i am, squashed down, belittled, made inferior. i no longer feel inadequate. i have room to breathe.

i look at that quote & i don't see that money sets us on a path to an empty shell we think will be happiness. i see, instead, that you can have money in varying quantities, but it won't be the determining factor in how rich we may be. that true wealth lies not in the size of our bank accounts, be they large or small, but in the life we live. finding enjoyment in the experiences we have, the opportunities we take, the people we love, the blessings we are afforded & the attitude we choose.

i could wake up in a beautiful home on the beach in Southern California tomorrow morning or in a grass hut in northern Idaho, and in neither situation am i guaranteed either happiness or despair. that isn't up to the money. that is up to me. my wealth will always ultimately lie in the fact that i have riches that money can neither give nor take away.

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And I Quote: March 28, 2007

"There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich." (Marlene Dietrich)

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i love it when people smarter than i am say what i can't

we had some varying opinions on the Theismann announcement yesterday. i offer you Chad Finn's thoughts from Touching All the Bases, because he lists three reasons i totally subscribe to, but lack the brain power to articulate:

6. Anyone who's wondering why ESPN would dump Joe Theismann and replace him with Ron Jaworski on "Monday Night Football" is forgetting three important facts. 1) Jaws was nothing short of terrific in Week 1 last season when he and Dick Vermeil were the analysts for the second MNF game of the season-opening doubleheader. 2) He has terrific chemistry with Tony Kornheiser during his guest spots on "PTI," and it's a reasonable gamble to assume that will transfer to the broadcast booth. 3) Theismann was humorless, never shut the **** up, rarely made an insightful point, and contradicted himself constantly. But other than that, he was great.

right. exactly what he said. ;-)

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

yippee!!

the football gods have been gracious. no more Joe Theismann on Monday Night Football! one less fool to be subjected to.

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ick.

my yogurt came with an extra helping of seeds again today. i have decided this ranks right up there with pulpy orange juice on the ick scale. good thing i brought a granola bar too...

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Monday, March 26, 2007

Monday Madness: March 26, 2007



1. What kind of automobile do you drive?
silver 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
2. What kind of automobile do you WISH you drove?
i really like the Nissan Altima. or the Ford Fusion. right now, a brand new car that i did not have to pay for sounds about perfect. =P i want the warranty, but not the payments.
3. When is the last time you bought a vehicle (new or used)?
i got my car in January 2002. it was so new, it only had seven miles on it -- accumulated from driving it off the truck, into the service area & to the gas station to fill it before i took it home. i got it from the dealership i worked for at the time so there were lots of little perks.
4. What is your color of choice as far as vehicles go?
knowing what i know now, silver hides *everything*. well, except for tree pollen. =P but there is nothing that i think looks as good as a black car when it is shiny clean. i really like a deep red on cars lately, but i wonder if that color has the same issues as black paint. meaning that unless it's freshly washed, it just looks eh.
5. Do you regularly have your oil changed?
yes, i do. when i got my Galant, our Mitsubishi service manager told me that the one thing he recommends for Mitsubishis is to stay on top of the oil changes. i took his word for it. so far, so good. ::knocks on wood:: it was a tough transition to take care of this though. i had an Altima before the Galant & i had my own personal mechanic out in our Nissan shop (the dealership was Nissan-Buick-Mitsubishi) who would walk into the office, take the keys off my desk & just do whatever maintenance he felt needed to be done. what a shock to discover that these things don't just take care of themselves! =P
6. How long do you generally keep a vehicle before thinking about buying a new one?
this is only my second car. i leased the first one for 48 months. this one just turned five years old, but it's paid off... and i like not having a payment. anyway, suffice to say that i don't really have a timetable for this sort of thing, since i *had* to turn in my last one at a certain time. my plan is to hang onto this one until a) i *have* to replace it ::lowers voice to a whisper:: because things start going wrong with it ::resumes regular speaking volume:: or i decide that i would rather have a new car with a payment than an old one that i own outright.
7. What kind of automobile will you buy next?
i have absolutely no idea. i will have to see what's out there & what my automobile needs are at that time.

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less than a week to go...


all photos from ESPN.com

just a couple of different photos i happened across...

ladies & gentlemen of RSN. i present to you, your new (old) closer. he takes his role very seriously. ;-)


and no matter where he plays, this guy is always a Red Sock at heart. you can't not love him. miss having our Cowboy! at least we get a few Millar fixes since he plays for a division rival.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

One-Word Sarcomical Sunday: March 25, 2007

as found on Sarcomical

One-Word Sarcomical Sunday #7

Another Sunday, another list. You love it, I love it. Let's all go for ice cream.

Remember, after you read mine, copy and paste these into your comment and replace my answers with yours. You only get ONE WORD to express your brilliance in answering. Choose wisely, you pretty little thing, you.


Your Weekend: happy
Smelling: blossoms
Annoyed By: dust
Your Face: washed
Your Pants: pajamas
Something You Want To Create: joy
A Favorite Old Movie Star: Stewart
Not Looking Forward To: emptiness
Hearing: crickets
You Wish You Could: sing
Last Thing You Cooked: alfredo
Your Breakfast: yogurt
Your Driving Record: perfect
Last Illness: tummy
Want To Be: snuggled
Mind Keeps Wandering To: May
You Despise: inconsiderate
Unprepared For: future
Favorite Part Of Spring: weather
Your Toenails: naked!
Proud Of Your: optimism
Not Proud Of Your: territorial-ism
How You Decompress: magazine
Your Kitchen Table: nonexistent
Something You Want to Accomplish Today: de-clutter

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Unconscious Mutterings: March 25, 2007



Week 216

I say ... and you think ... ?

Groovy :: far out
Jealousy :: Does she talk the way I do/ Is her voice reminding you/ Of the promises/ The little white lies too/ Sometimes, tell me while shes touching you/ Just by mistake/Accidentally do you say my name? -- last part of the song "Jealousy" by Natalie Merchant
Watching :: baseball!
Kenny :: Rogers -- the singer, not the ball player
Games :: sports
Bread :: bruschetta
City :: Boston
Stems :: bouquet of flowers
Birds :: singing
Listener :: me

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a perfect day

i know this will come as a shock to some, but i didn't take a ton of photos yesterday. the crowds were actually moderate to light, so i spent time enjoying the attractions & less time with camera in hand. i decided to suck it up & wait for Soarin'. then wandered over to Magic Kingdom & rode the train around the park, went in the Haunted Mansion, and, on a whim, jumped on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. by then my Fast Pass for Buzz Lightyear was ready. when i walked out of there, i noticed that the new Monsters Inc show was open, so i checked it out. can't speak for anyone else, but it made *me* giggle. when i got out of there, it was almost dark & the SpectroMagic parade was starting so i took advantage of almost no line to ride the Astro Orbiter. i love being up there at night. the park is so pretty all lit up (heights don't bother me) & i love the wind in my face as the rocket spins around. the first photo below was my view while i waited for the ride to start. and then i found a spot to watch the fireworks. and the best part is that the weather was perfect for being in jeans & a t-shirt all day, into the evening. that's right -- *i* didn't even wear a light jacket!! now that's what i call a perfect day. =)



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Friday, March 23, 2007

all better

nothing like a chat with an awesome friend to undo feeling "off."
=)

it's amazing how ridiculous & silly & childish you can feel about something, until someone who is important to you says they have felt the exact same way.

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the sweet. the fascinating. and the "what the...??"


all photos from ESPN.com

three-run blast by Youk.


seriously my favorite pitch to watch.


and i don't even know what to say about this...

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yuck.

for a girl who visualizes things that are said to her, this is one of my least favorite expressions:

keep your eyes peeled.

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Friday Fill-in: March 23, 2007



1. Don't you hate it when... every single road you take into work is under construction! arg!!
2. The best compliment I ever got was... being told i was someone's favorite person.
3. Why am I... yawning ...at... 10:45am!
4. Tim Wakefield's knuckleball ...fascinates me.
5. This weekend I plan to... get out of the house & enjoy the perfect March weather, but i am not sure exactly what i will do yet.
6. apologizing for things that are not my fault ...is one of my worst habits.
7. "From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows... will glow".

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Friday's Feast: March 23, 2007



Feast One Hundred & Thirty Six

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

i can't really say as though i have a favorite reporter or anchor. i don't tend to watch much news. i might turn it on & listen, but more often than not, i read the news so i can control just how much negativity & horror my mind is subjected to.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

pork chops. mint chocolate chip ice cream. frozen peas.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

it would have to be in California, specifically in Orange County, right along the Pacific, and have orange trees planted there somehow -- even if that meant they had to be in large planters -- just so i could smell the blossoms. and then i would call it Heavenly.

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?

i only have a few pages left in "The Fellowship of the Ring," so i imagine i will move on to the next section of "The Lord of the Rings," which would be "The Two Towers."

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?

i think face -- eyes, expression -- followed immediately by voice. i think a person's face tells you a lot about who they are. their smile, their ability to hold eye contact, the level of their interest -- all that can really be found in their face. and voice is just... a Dawn thing.

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Thursday, March 22, 2007

beneath the surface

i hate when, out of nowhere, i feel... fragile.
=/

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And I Quote: March 22, 2007

just keep in mind that you don't want to read this if you haven't seen the most recent Grey's & you plan to...


the one that's so true:

Meredith: Even with the best plans, complications can arise, things can go wrong...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

the ones that made me laugh:

Cristina: You're going to need to take off your shoe.
Patient: No no no no no. I've been down this route before. Just slip me some pain killers and I'll be on my way.
Cristina: Sir, uh... Did you go to medical school? I did. Take off your shoe.
-----------
McSteamy: Correction. I *was* a man-whore.
-----------
Addison: What am I? The go-to person for adultery?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

and now for the quotes that really hit me...

Izzie: You need to fix it because it seems like you guys have a pretty good thing and pretty good things are rare and hard to come by, unlike really screwed up, complicated things which seem to be freaking everywhere.
-----------
Izzie: Messing up... It's what makes a person. It's how we learn. Where we find joy in the things you didn't plan for... things you never see coming...
-----------
Meredith: The thing about plans is they don't take into account the unexpected. Sometimes we're thrown a curve ball -- whether it's in the OR or in life -- we have to improvise. Of course, some of us are better at it than others. Some of us just have to move on to Plan B and make teh best of it. And sometimes what we want is exactly what we need, but sometimes... Sometimes what we need isn't a plan.

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and there was much happiness & rejoicing in the land!



he's back! here's to another season of shutting 'em down, Papelbon! and hopefully, many many more.

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swear to me it's true



i am listening to the Red Sox play the Phillies. they just got done saying that the rumor is, after today's game, the announcement will come. Papelbon out of the starting rotation & into the bullpen as our named closer.

pleaseohpleaseohplease.

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i remembered i keep forgetting

i was browsing through my usual blogs, and some incredible photography that Amber Nichole shared reminded me of something i keep meaning to mention. but i'm always in the car when i am reminded of this. by the time i get home, after battling 5pm traffic, i've forgotten. again.

anyway. before i get off on a tangent & forget yet again.

i drive by two cemeteries on my way home from work. but they make me sad. not for the reason you would think though. i don't understand something about the cemeteries in Florida -- or in the area of it where i live, at least.

back in Connecticut, the cemeteries -- even the really old ones -- are so peaceful. they are surrounded by stone walls or wrought iron fences. there are little paved pathways. and towering trees. even if it is located on a busy street, once you're inside, you are isolated from the noise & frantic pace of the world outside. everything is so... tranquil. serene. beautiful, in a quiet way. truly a place where loved ones are laid to rest.

here in Florida, though, the cemeteries are little more than empty lots with occasional headstones. there are no trees. the grass is straggly with big empty patches where the grass no longer grows. not a single walkway or even a wall. nothing to separate the grieving or the visitor from the cars flying by. there is no sense of rest. no quiet. no solitude. it's exposed. and ugly. it seems careless. forlorn. lonely.

every time i drive by, it makes me feel sad. almost like these plots of land were an afterthought, nothing more than a half-hearted obligation. just one more thing i can't get used to, even after five years. seeing Amber Nichole's photos reminded me of how a place of final rest should look & i wonder why that seems to be unimportant here.

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ok. so maybe i do have weird little idiosyncrasies.

i just can't ever think of them when asked what my quirks are. =P

i recalled one this morning though. see... i'm not sure why this is, but i have this strange need for my shoes -- when they are made of nice smooth leather -- to be shiny. like when i bought them. this can be attained, of course, by polishing them, but let's be honest. most of the time, there's no time for a proper shoe-polishing if you only notice that your shoes need polishing when you're on your way out the door.

enter what may be one of my favorite little inventions ever:

and now i never have to leave the house with dull, dingy shoes again.
(and yes, i know that i'm a dork.)

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the one in which she has no real opinions to share but it was worth it



all i can tell you about yesterday's game is that Matsuzaka seems to struggle a little bit with his first trip through the batting order, and then... POW. supposedly has seven pitches to choose from. the one that looks the coolest, especially from a camera angle that faces home plate, is the screwball.

oh yeah. i can also tell you that the Sox won.

other than that? useless with my commentary on the game. my eyes glazed over when then interviewed Mike Lowell. before i could recover, they followed that with some Tek time. i could have been beaned with a runaway Wakefield knuckler at that point & wouldn't have cared.
::happy sigh::

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Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Twenty Eight: Spring has sprung!



Thirteen Thoughts About Spring

1) orange blossoms. orange blossoms. orange blossoms. you have not lived until you have breathed in the wonder that is this scent.

2) i am deliriously happy that it's finally baseball season again!

3) Easter. joyous. triumphant. hope. new life.

4) the weather here in Florida is reminds me of a New England Autumn. crisp mornings. blue skies. warm afternoons. brisk evenings. feels good to have the windows open. even better to be outside. the only difference is that the color comes from flowers & not the leaves on the trees.

5) Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival. it amazes me what they can create with flowers & plants. plus it's kind of fun to freak some people out in the butterfly tent. or just with photos from the butterfly tent. >=]

6) Easter lilies. they are such a happy flower! they look like they're singing. =)

7) is there anything more cheerful than rows of brightly colored tulips & daffodils? and those cute little crocus.

8) speaking of cute. what about all the little baby bunnies & the ducklings that start popping up around Disney property? back when i lived in Connecticut, it was the new lambs & calves that began appearing in the pastures near my grandparents' house.

9) i remember this one year. my brother, Josh, was being a particularly fresh kid just before Easter. our dad used to threaten us with coal in our stockings at Christmas when we were naughty. coming up to Easter, though, it was black jelly beans. this lacks power when the kid *likes* licorice though. so anyway, as i was saying. Josh was being kinda bratty. i don't remember now exactly what it was he was doing, but he was. the promises of black jelly beans just made him laugh. a light bulb went on over Dad's head. the Easter Bunny remembered how Josh *hates* raisins. so it was a big pile of rabbit poop (aka Raisinettes -- LOL!) left in the center of his Easter basket. now *that* was funny. there were some goodies in the other room of course, but the point was made. don't underestimate The Rabbit. ;-)

10) i used to get a new dress every Easter. my Gram would buy it for me. the one that sticks out most in my mind, i was maybe seven year old. the dress was white with tiny white polka dots. sewed around the bottom, just above the hem, and tied around the waist as a sash, were three ribbons: bright pink, purple & green. i loved that dress. but those ribbons around the waist drove me crazy. my Dad is a perfectionist. it took him *forever* to get the bow tied out of those three ribbons to meet his approval. and i had to stand there until it did. tying. untying. retying. i guess i can't fault him though. he was a single dad & he still made an effort to make sure i was girly. i should be grateful i was the girl. Josh had to wear a little clip-on bow tie! =P

11) i find it disturbing how many colors Peeps come in now. they really should only be yellow & white. have *you* ever seen a purple or blue chick?? i remember being a little freaked out when they first came out with pink ones & i was still a kid then. now you can get them in practically every color of the rainbow.

12) it's sandal weather in Florida!

13) fresh peas & asparagus. those were the first yummy veggies that came out of Gramp's garden every year. because we import these seasonal vegetables in from all over the world now, you can get them almost anytime you want to, at the grocery store. but i always associate them with being fresh in the Spring.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

::holding hands over ears::

if you've been a regular here for a while (or if not, but you've been archive diving), you may have learned that i have "a thing" for voices.

in light of that, you know how certain sounds can give you chills & make the hair on the back of your neck stand up? and i don't mean in a good way.

that's how i feel about Dick Vitale's voice.
::shudder::

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And I Quote: March 21, 2007

just one quote from last night. it was a pretty good episode, don't get me wrong. i was just feeling a little "off" & there wasn't much that struck me as quote-worthy. sometimes i wish i could capture some of the scenes they show of Boston though. such a beautiful city...

anyway. the quote. it shouldn't be a shocker that it's Alan. i think he's my favorite character. the dry sarcasm. it's too bad you can't see the expressions on his face when he says this stuff...

Alan Shore: Request bail.
District Attorney: Bail?! Are you kidding?
Alan: This is my kidding face. This is my "mean it" face. Watch again. Request bail.

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this is the longest Spring Training *ever*. i am sure of it.


all photos from ESPN.com

this looked *great* last night. i know of a couple people who have Joshy on their fantasy teams this year. if he looks like he did last night, you've got some points coming there.


this? not so great. i could live with never seeing *this* again. The Big Man needs to trot the bases. i'm ok with that. nothing overly exterting. nothing to risk his health. or mine, when i watch scenes like this play out.


and this? the only way i could love Mike Lowell more is if he would show his socks properly. some ball players were meant to play in Boston. he is most certainly one of them.


this was from the other day, but Tek going yard needs to be on my blog. so here it is. happy days are here again!


this is something that concerns me a little though. it appears The Glass Center Fielder is sidelined again...

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now that NFL free agency is winding down...



i'm not going to pretend to know the first thing about a single one of these kids that will be part of the NFL Draft at the end of April. i don't pay attention to college football. i couldn't name even one "hot prospect." but i will say that i am pleased with the efforts made by the front office this off season. provided everything works out to its potential & all parties involved stay healthy, of course, but those are risks every team makes with every professional athlete. outside of the unknowns, the acquisitions of some *real* receivers -- i like Wes Welker. Stallworth could be the target Tom lacked all last season, as long as he doesn't turn into a problem child with the mouth. Washington appears to have possibility, though i will admit knowing very little about him. -- certainly is an improvement over last season's on-again-off-again "receiving corps" & can only get better if the likes of Troy Brown will be back again as well. they lost Daniel Graham to free agency, but managed to pick up a comparable TE in Kyle Brady. the loss of Banta-Cain seems to have been upgraded with a well-hyped Adalius Thomas for linebacker. Corey Dillon is gone, but Sammy Morris is in, so at least we aren't resting everything on Maroney. and Eddie Jackson was picked up to add possible depth at cornerback, provided he can get healthy. some familiar names have be re-signed: Bam Childress, Heath Evans, Larry Izzo. the only two question marks hover over a couple of NFL veterans; i am curious if Troy Brown will be back once more & if Junior Seau will return to New England, where he was a good fit until his arm got broken. best news of all? Tedy Bruschi was nothing more than extremely disappointed & emotional when he spoke of retiring after the AFC Championship game. whew... and it looks like New England is all about showing it means business in 2007!

something else i found interesting: three noticeable names gone from Indy -- Brandon Stokely, Nick Harper & Dominic Rhodes. hmmm...

i'm all about ready to play ball right at the moment, but i have one eye on Foxboro, because it will be time to kick off again before we know it!

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

in the home stretch of Spring Training now!


some random observations on tonight's Sox-Twins game:

**if Julio Lugo doesn't start producing at the plate (since we've seen what he isn't capable of on the field), i may have to glue his butt to the bench.

**considering using what's left of that glue on the mouths of the Twins tv announcers.

**Youk with a bat is a lot of fun to watch this Spring Training. the beard though? can't get used to it.

**i am loathe to say this, considering my fierce loyalty to Trot Nixon, but JD/DJ is making it very difficult not to like him. the true test will be if he can continue to prove likable (and by that i mean, *produce* & *stay healthy*) once the actual season gets under way.

**i might have imagined it, but i think i saw Manny actually legging one out, trying to make it to the bag before the throw. Manny has hustle?

**four words that make every Sox game a great one in my book: Home. Run. Mike. Lowell.

**eight Ks for Joshy in five innings! nine straight batters retired, before he gave up a single. i could get used to this...

**heard something about a new field for the Twins in 2010. (you know, while we should have been announcing the game & not having chitchat time.) dare we hope it's not another home-run-eating dome? ::crosses fingers::

**the starting Sox brought bats. i am happy. (i was getting a little concerned, truth be told.)

**i do not find it amusing when Big Papi tries to chug out extra bases & then caps that little display off with a slide into third. *especially* in a meaningless Spring Training game. my heart can't take that kind of stress. and after last year, i worry about his too, in addition to broken bones or other such injuries our DH need not suffer.

**i miss the days with Loretta & A-Gon, when balls hit up the middle were gobbled up. now we have a big, gaping hole for a middle infield. i won't mention any names. yet. but only because it's still Spring Training. i will always reminisce about The Year of the Perfect Infield, though...

**sometimes the best parts of the game are the "behind the scenes commentaries" that take place in email & chat: purgatory. platypus (platypi??). and sonofaSteinbrenner.

**nothing like taking a 6-0 lead & turning it into a nailbiter. at least they still won. i am starting to suspect my boys get some kind of sick pleasure out of torturing their faithful fans like this. =P

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explain this one for me

out of nowhere. absolutely nowhere. a craving for fish tacos.

great. nothing else is going to sound good for dinner now.
::sigh::

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i feel like i've said this before...

...but as someone whose job revolves around answering the phone all day long, if you don't speak up & speak clearly, prompting me to ask you to repeat yourself, don't get all snippy with *me*. my ears work perfectly well. it's not my fault you can't enunciate. =P

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you know what feels weird?

walking on your foot when it's asleep.

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on the benefits of eating yogurt for breakfast

i know it's good for you. calcium & fruit & all that. but when you're me -- and when you're having one of those mornings when everything you touch turns into some sort of disaster -- the biggest benefit to yogurt is that when you knock the almost completely full container over on your desk, yogurt doesn't spill. it stays in the cup. now if i can just make it through the day without injuring myself...

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the problem with Daylight Savings Time

it's not so much with the losing an hour of sleep or the getting up when it's still dark outside. it's that the sun has risen to the perfect height to render me blind while i attempt to drive into work. =P

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Monday, March 19, 2007

hmmm...

i hate when i'm restless & i can't put my finger on why...
=/

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Monday Madness: March 19, 2007



1. How many times do you wake up during the night?
rarely, if at all. i occasionally wake up after a bad dream, but that seems to happen closer to when it's time for me to wake up for the day anyway so i just stay awake more often that not.
2. On an average, how many hours of sleep do you try to get?
i try to get six. sometimes my body has other ideas & it's only four or five. six has pretty much been my lifelong average though, unless i'm not feeling well.
3. What day of the week do you do your "major" housecleaning?
i usually get the bulk of it done on Sunday while i watch something on tv. i try to spread it out through the week though, a little bit every day, so that i can enjoy my weekends. i'm not a terribly messy person anyway so there really isn't that much that needs to get done.
4. How often do you move your furniture to clean behind it?
ummm... lol... when i move? which for me has averaged out to about every three months over the last year & a half. =P
5. Do you do your dishes by hand or do you own a dishwasher?
some of both. pots, pans, anything fragile, or anything that's barely dirty gets washed by hand. the rest gets rinsed & put in the dishwasher, which i run when it gets full or when i run out of something.

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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Unconscious Mutterings: March 18, 2007



Week 215

I say ... and you think ... ?

San Francisco :: the Golden Gate Bridge which brings two other things to mind immediately -- i think of the portion of Soarin', when they fly you over the Golden Gate Bridge, and i also think of one of the photos i have of myself with Nichole & Daniel that was taken at the entrance to Disney's California Adventure with the "Golden Gate Bridge" in the background.
Sadness :: missing someone
Spirits :: ghosts & goblins & happy haunts
Harriet :: Beecher Stowe
State :: of mind
John :: several relatives of mine -- specifically a second cousin, a first cousin & my mother's husband
Offense :: the opposite of defense
Timeless :: classic
Account :: savings
Refuse :: turn down

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Saturday, March 17, 2007

shake your head if you will...

...but i just never get tired of this place. =) too many photos to upload directly to the ol' blog, so you'll have to click the photo link below to get to the online album. i captioned some of the photos -- to read them, just hover over the photos that have some writing beneath them, or you can view the photos individually, and then the captions just appear beneath. a few in there just for Nichole & Daniel ;-) but anyone can peek!

Disney World March 17, 2007

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something to keep you busy while i'm not around today

001. What is the best way to get over someone?
well... some people you have to get away from before you can see that being with them was toxic & you feel so much better without them weighing you down. if it's someone you *really* love though, i don't think you "get over" them so much as learn to carry on without having them.

002. What makeup do you wear on a daily basis?
a little foundation. some mascara. softlips.

003. Is your AIM away message on?
it is but i am also invisible. and i always have a status up on Gmail Chat although it doesn't mean i am away from it so much as carrying on conversations using it. =P

004. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
the food at Biergarten in the Germany Pavilion at Epcot.

005. What curse word do you use the most?
i rarely curse. in fact, when i do it either freaks people out or makes them laugh.

006. Do you own an ipod?
nope. no ipod for me. sheesh. i only just got a cell phone in September.

007. Who on your Myspace Top 8 do you talk to the most?
i don't MySpace. just my little blog is good for me.

008. What time is your alarm clock set for?
which one? my alarm clock is set for 6am. but that plus seems to work loose from the wall sometimes, so i set the alarm clock on my cell phone for 6:10, just in case. most often though, i use my internal alarm clock, which wakes me up after six hours of sleep. or when my body is done sleeping, which has been after about five hours recently.

009. Have you ever bid for something on ebay?
sure have! i'm not one of the people who lives on ebay though. i have to be looking for something very specific.

010. Do you wear flip-flops even when its cold outside?
i don't own a single pair of flip-flops.

011. Where do you buy your groceries from?
i split between Walmart & Publix. there are some items or flavors that Walmart doesn't carry, and there are other items i just won't buy from Walmart.

012. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
99% of the time i *am* the one taking the picture, but i have no problem being in one.

013. What was the last movie you watched?
i watched all three Lord of the Rings movies when i was in California for Christmas. that's what comes immediately to mind. i also watched some chick flick around Valentines Day but i seem to have blocked that from my memory because i can't even remember what it was now...

014. Do any of your friends have children?
yes they do! and two of them are having new babies this fall! one in September & one in October, roughly two weeks apart.

015. If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would buy?
i wouldn't. i would call Daniel & ask him what to do with it. i know he would send me in the right direction.

016. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
not recently. sometimes i call myself lazy. but i haven't really been called lazy since i was in high school.

017. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster?
only if what's keeping me awake is pain. then i will take some Advil & hope that when it kicks in, i will be able to get comfortable & doze off. i really try not to medicate unless it's necessary.

018. What CD is currently in your CD player?
i think it might be Evanesence but i'm not sure... i mostly listen to the radio.

019. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk?
milk only belongs in my cereal. no drinking it for me. ::shudder::

020. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
this week? i don't think so...

021. When was the last time someone hit on you?
BAHAHAHAHAHA. right.

022. What did you have for dinner?
just a small bowl of ziti with tomato sauce. i didn't feel like cooking & i wasn't that hungry but i needed Advil & i can't take it on an empty stomach.

023. What is your biggest fear?
hurting someone i love

024. What color is your car?
silver

025. Can you whistle?
yes. not with my fingers or loud enough to get anyone's attention, but i can whistle a little tune. my Gramp used to be able to whistle really loudly through his teeth. i have no idea how he did that. it sounded like when people use their fingers to whistle loudly, but he didn't use his fingers...

026. What is your favorite Christmas/winter movie?
does Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer count? you know, the kid's Christmas special?

027. Do you make your own jewelry?
no. i barely wear any jewelry. usually just a necklace & my watch. sometimes a little more if i'm getting dressed up.

028. Have you ever participated in a protest?
not like a march against anything. i did send a letter to MLB protesting their decision to not offer Extra Innings to cable subscribers anymore. but Daniel wrote that letter. i was just adding to the volume, so to speak.

029. Who was the last person to call you?
someone at work, asking for directions. and yes, he asked specifically for me. someone gave him my name if he needed assistance.

030. What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?
i think it's the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. the one at *Disneyland* though. it makes the one in Disney World look so lame.

031. What is something you must do everyday?
other than those that pertain to survival or hygiene, since those are a given, i will go with "drink a glass of cranberry juice."

032. Have you ever dated one of your best friends?
no, i haven't. and it would be a little weird if i decided to do so.

033. Did you watch cartoons as a child?
yes, when cartoons were still good. like Bugs Bunny.

034. First three things you think of when you hear the word "dream":
Disney World. sleep. nighmare.

035. How big is your local mall?
my local mall scares me. i'm... a little too... never mind. i prefer to shop over at the new shopping center about 15 minutes away, which is more like an open air mall than an indoor one. it has the stores i need though. and it's still young. tough to say how many it will grow to.

036. What is your job title?
"just" the receptionist. =P

037. What do you miss most?
real Autumn

038. Would you ever sky dive?
are you out of your flipping mind?? i will fly in an airplane, but i am *not* jumping out of one that works perfectyl well. no thank you.

039. What are you allergic to?
dust. sulfa-based drugs. something that blooms in the Spring. something else that blooms in the Fall.

040. What is your biggest regret?
trying too hard where i shouldn't have been trying at all.

041. Have you ever had Jamba Juice?
uhhhhh, no...

042. When was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt?
i can't remember exactly, but i am sure that it involved Nichole -- i just can't remember what it was or when. i remember it happening though...

043. What movies do you know every line to?
not that many. used to know just about every line to Major League. i was never a movie-line memorizer, so to speak, though i recall them & use them without warning once in a while.

044. Do you own any band t-shirts?
no. but i own some baseball ones. and a few from Disney.

045. What is your favorite candle scent?
something vanilla. or apple-cinnamon. or honeydew melon. or Autumn scents. and a pine scent in the winter.

046. How many aunts and uncles do you have?
one aunt on my father's side. two aunts & an uncle on my mother's. not sure how many great-aunts & uncles are left at this point...

047. When was your last plane ride?
February. went to California to watch the Super Bowl with Nichole & Daniel.

048. Do you crack your knuckles?
sometimes. and various other joints as well. sometimes on purpose, other times it just happens.

049. How many chairs are at your dining room table?
i don't have a dining room. or a table. i have an island thing-y that acts as a table but i've never eaten at it. =P

050. What is your favorite salad dressing?
zesty Italian. roasted red pepper Italian with parmesan. ranch. balsamic vinaigrette.

051. Do you read for fun?
i sure do!

052. Can you speak any languages other than English?
no. i understand some German though. and i took four years of French, of which i retained very little.

053. Where is your cell phone?
on my bed, still plugged into the wall (although i think it's done charging now). i have to have it close by when i sleep so that the alarm will wake me up if i need it to.

054. Do you do your own dishes?
well... sort of.

055. What color is your bedroom painted?
the creamy off white that all apartments are painted.

056. Are your parents divorced?
yes, both from each other & from one other person each. they are both on their third marriages, which appear to be the ones that will last.

057. Have you ever cried in public?
yes, i have. most recently at LAX.

058. What is something you used to do, and don't any longer, but wish you did?
i used to go to Cooperstown, NY every single year around the time of my birthday, when the weather in the northeast is perfect & the trees up in that area are at their peak color for the Autumn. i miss that.

059. Which do you make: Love or War?
i'm not much of a fighter, personally. i'm more the quiet, peaceful type.

060. Are you always trying to learn new things?
i'm open to it all the time. people & places have a lot to teach us if you just keep yourself open to the possibility.

061. What messenger programs do you have?
we talked about this, i thought. back at the beginning.

062. Do you shower on a daily basis?
at least a shower. every day. sometimes twice if necessary.

063. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
i have a piercing in each ear. that's more than enough for me.

064. Do you believe that the guy should pay on the first date?
if it's an actual date, yes, i'm a little old-fashioned like that. if it's just a casual "let's grab lunch" sort of thing, then i think you pay for yourself.

065. Can you skip rocks?
i've never tried, but i bet i can't. =P

066. What was your first car?
black 98 Nissan Altima. leased it all by myself. i loved that car.

067. Have you ever been to Jamaica?
can't say that i have.

068. What do you snack on in the movies?
i usually don't. sometimes i will get sucked into the popcorn smell though. or need some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. mostly though, i just watch. eating makes me thirsty & i hate to miss part of the movie for a bathroom break.

069. Who was your favorite teacher?
i really liked my junior year high school English teacher, Ms Norton. i had her for homeroom for three years too. she cracked me up.

070. Have you ever dated someone out of your race?
just once.

071. What is the weather like?
perfect. right now it's 50* & sunny. supposed to get up to the low 70s. when i'm done here, i am heading outside to enjoy the most perfect weather month of the year in Florida. March in Florida is what makes the summer/hurricane season worth it.

072. Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos?
i can't say as though i find that attractive.

073. Do you have an online journal?
does my blog count?

074. Did you ever play Capture the Flag in school?
no. apparently, i lived a sheltered childhood.

075. What was your favorite class in high school?
English. Advanced Vocab. Creative Writing. History. Band.

076. Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back?
where ever i get comfortable & finally fall asleep. not usually on my stomach though.

077. What personality trait is a must have in the preferred member of the opposite sex?
genuine. sense of humor. has a sweet side. can handle me being cuddly. and can tolerate the fact that i watch football & baseball.

078. Have you ever been attracted to someone physically unattractive?
well... i would guess that if i were attracted to someone, i wouldn't say they were unattractive. that's a weird question...

079. When was the last time you slept on the floor?
not anytime recently that i can recall!

080. What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
a glass of wine. tried a couple of martinis that were good when i was last in California -- thanks to my alcoholic-beverage mentor. ;-) i like pineapple juice with Malibu too, but that's mostly because it doesn't take like anything but juice.

081. If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been?
Zeke or Zach. at least if my Dad had his way. of course, if he had his way, i would be Megan so... who knows.

082. Do you like your living arrangement?
sometimes. living by yourself has its perks as much as its downfalls. some days i wish i had a furball. and on a broader scale, Florida can be a strange place to live sometimes...

083. Has anyone ever called you spoiled?
me? no.

084. What is [sic] your mother and father's hometowns?
we were all born & raised in Bristol, CT.

085. Did you ever go to the same school as your parents?
my dad went to the same school i went to through 8th grade -- Immanuel Lutheran. not sure where my mother went, but i know it wasn't there. when my dad was in high school, there was only one high school in town. i think it split to two his senior year, so yes, he went to Bristol Central, but it was when Central was still in the (now) Memorial Boulevard school building. my mother went to Bristol Central for high school as well. but not with my dad. she's fifteen years younger than he is.

086. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
to function, at least a couple. to function pretty well, four. of course, i usually max out at six hours, as i've said bazillion times now.

087. How much is gas where you live right now?
$2.57/gallon on my way home yesterday. i'll fill up on Disney property later though. it's usually 10 cents or so cheaper per gallon.

088. What was the last thing to scare you?
Troy, at work yesterday, when i opened a door & he was on the other side of it. i was spaced out & not expecting anyone to be standing there when i opened the door. i jumped a mile. he was nice enough to laugh at me. =P

089. Do you own a PlayStation?
no. not any other game console either.

090. How many times have you brushed your teeth today?
just once. sheesh. it's only 8:30am.

091. First three things you think of when you hear the word "ocean":
Pacific. walk on the beach. waves.

092. What album did you buy last?
it's been forever since i last bought any full albums. i usually just buy songs & then burn to cd.

093. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
seven, i think...

094. Are your days full and fast-paced?
occasionally.

095. Did you ever get in trouble for talking in class?
yes, and it usually involved Heather in elementary/middle school, or Chele in high school.

096. Is there carpet, wood or tile in the room you’re currently in?
carpet.

097. Were you a "planned" child?
not so much. my parents were engaged but i was about four months along when they got married. oops.

098. What is your mom's name?
Mary

099. What is your dad's name?
Steven

100. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
31. and i don't know what the big deal was supposed to be about turning 30. ::shrugs::

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observation

the Other Sox put My Sox to shame with the number of players that wear their socks properly. =/

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little bits of happy: March 17, 2007

...i didn't see a preview after this week's episode, but according to the Grey's Anatomy page at the ABC website, there is a new episode again next week!

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Friday, March 16, 2007

And I Quote: March 16, 2007

just keep in mind that you don't want to read this if you haven't seen the most recent Grey's & you plan to...

Meredith: People have scars in all sorts of unexpected places. Like secret road maps of their personal histories, diagrams of all their old wounds. Most of our old wounds heal, leaving nothing behind but a scar.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Izzie: People are what matters... You don't like people! Is this about your mother?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meredith: People are what matters. Paint with all the colors of the wind.
Izzie: Oh... Ok. You're crazy now.
Meredith: I'm alive!
Izzie: Ohhh-kay.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meredith: Some wounds we carry with us everywhere. And though the cut is long gone, the pain still lingers.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meredith: We're lurking in a way that was subtle when it was two of us, but isn't now that it's twelve.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Derek: Because you have to have a family whether you like them or not.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Izzie: Was it good? Was he good? Did he make you a bettah lovah?
Cristina: Do you remember all the other times I talked to you about my sex life?
Izzie: No.
Cristina: Exactly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Derek: Collin Marlow.
Preston: The one & only.
Derek: He...
Preston: Yes.
Derek: With...
Preston: Yes.
Derek: Wow.
Preston: Indeed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alex: Izzie... You didn't want me.
Izzie: Yeah... but that didn't mean I want you to want anyone else.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Derek: She's tough. She tries to hide it. She's difficult, but if you make an effort, she's worth it... She's worth the effort.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Helen (Derek's friend & patient, speaking to him): Ok, but in this moment, you're the ass who gave me my life back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

George: I'm always apologizing. No. I can't be wrong all the time. Is that really possible?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meredith: What's worse -- new wounds which are so horribly painful? Or old wounds that should have healed years ago, but didn't? Maybe our old wounds teach us something. They remind us where we've been & what we've overcome. They teach us lessons about what to avoid in the future. That's what *we* like to think. But that's not the way it is, is it? Some things we just have to learn over & over & over again.

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hello!


it's been a while since i was last vain enough to post a self-portrait.
here i am. =) have to love that tripod.

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Friday Fill-in: March 16, 2007



1. This week has been... a little trying at times; I'm glad it's... finally Friday!
2. No more... March Madness! it's forcing all my shows to be repeats, because they don't want to compete with the basketball games.
3. I am SO ready for... baseball season to start!
4. I'm sure after... several weeks of repeat episodes, anyone who is a fan of Grey's was happy to see... a new episode last night.
5. Courtesy of Michelle: I think I really stink at... making small decisions, like where i want to go to dinner.
6. i will probably end up on Disney property at some point over the weekend ..., of course!
7. Be... bright, be... shiny, have a... sparkly weekend!

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Friday's Feast: March 16, 2007



Feast One Hundred & Thirty Five

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

1. listening to the Sox games. win or lose, it makes me happy. of course, i am happier when they win, but it's Spring Training right now, so there's no pressure. it just feels good to hear Sox again.
2. chatting with Nichole about her & Daniel's upcoming vacation in May.

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?

you get blamed for things that aren't your fault, because somehow you are accountable for other people's mistakes when your mind-reading skills are not up to par

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

i get up & surf the internet or play solitaire in the dark til my eyes get tired. or sometimes i will read. i try not to stay in bed though, because i don't want my mind to associate being awake with laying in bed.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

how do poker tournaments end up on ESPN? i mean... i thought ESPN was about sports. last time i checked, poker was a game, but not a sport.

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

ummm... probably bowties with fresh diced tomatoes, basil & a tiny bit of garlic.

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i sure have been full of complaints the last two days, huh?



my thoughts on yesterday's game are going to be complaints. and not because the Sox lost to the Mets. my complaints are actually kind of... insignificant.

preface: those two announcers for the Mets are... yikes.

1. they used the word "fanny." i kid you not. i don't know what they can get away with using instead, but there has to be *something*.

2. they picked on David Murphy's socks. my beef with this is that Murphy is one of the few players left in baseball that actually wears his socks properly. nice & high so you can see them. he doesn't come out on the field like a slob, looking like he's wearing his pajamas, like say... 95% of MLB. plus, he plays for the RED SOX. what's wrong with seeing his red socks?? and to make them hypocrites, their pitcher was wearing his socks the right way as well, but they didn't poke fun at him.

3. they made fun of Dougie. i can't even remember what it was that they said now, but that's just not cool. leave Dougie alone.

4. i am not disputing that the Mets pitching staff looked pretty impressive in that game. their starter left after five innings with nine Ks under his belt. they felt the need to emphasize this the rest of the game, but that bugged me a little bit. see, Boston pitching is under direct restriction from hitting. Tito isn't risking his pitchers getting injured, batting in games that don't matter. so, two of those Ks came from Josh Beckett standing at the plate, bat resting on his shoulder, watching pitches zoom by, so two of those strike outs were gimmes. i fully acknowledge that if you take those two away, the Mets starter still had a very respectable five innings. sevens Ks is a nice outing. especially when four of them were against Papi & Manny. just sayin'...

that being said, i would still rather listen to those clowns than to Joe Buck or the two fools that announce for the Rays on the Sun Network.

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Stuff Portrait Fridays: March 16, 2007



the assignment:
Your Letters


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