Thursday, January 31, 2008

Little Bits of Happy: January 31, 2008


i got one of these Balsam & Cedar Car Gels for my car. now when i get in, it smells like a forest of Christmas trees. remember when i was so sad that Christmas ended? now it's like a little burst of Christmas just for me. like i have a secret Christmas tree that no one else knows is there. well, except for the four of you now.

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here she is

i've had a couple of people inquire about my new baby which brought you yesterday's blast-from-the-past photo -- and is sure to provide many more gems in the future.

it's the Dell 926 All-in-One -- full-color printing, scanning & copying. with photo printing capabilities. and comes complete with digital camera card reader built-in. unfortunately the $50 rebate deal is over, but there is still free shipping for the time being. i've only had it hooked up for less than 24 hours, but so far, i'm pleased with my purchase. it's worth the original $99 price -- but i'm still happy i got a great deal on it LOL!

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

90.

January 30, 1918.
my Gramp entered the world like all of us do.
a tiny little baby.
they named him Walter.
no middle name.
he would have been ninety years old today.

and because i managed to score myself a kickin' deal on a new printer/scanner -- one of those all-in-one jobs -- the very first thing you get treated to is a photo of me with my Gramp. especially since you all seemed to take such great joy in the last one i shared. ;-)

this time, there are no big glasses. sorry. =P
but you do get to see how cute i used to be.

this is me & Gramp, Christmas 1978. i was two years & two months old.
and now, my friends, you have seen one semi-cute toddler & one of the greatest men ever to walk this earth. most of you didn't know him, but take my word for it.

bonus tidbit: if you look on the end table behind my Gramp's head, you see a white sphere. that is a snowball candle. i still have that candle. unburned. it's sitting on top of my cabinet right now. to me, it is priceless.

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 30, 2007

Rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia, with a three-run home run and an infield hit, is 8 for his last 13. On May 1, he was batting .172. He's up to .254, which should quiet, at least temporarily, the critics who already had decided Pedroia was overmatched here.
"Power food," closer Jonathan Papelbon yelled out while Pedroia was surrounded by reporters.
"Ask him about the power food." Said Pedroia with a smile, "I'm drinking those shakes J.D. [Drew] drinks."
What about Papelbon's shakes? "I don't know what he drinks," Pedroia said, "and I don't want to know."

(Extra Bases)

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SportsCenter. by Dawn.



13 days til pitchers & catchers report. and for some reason we're all hung up on Johan Santana. let me say for the record, it would have been nice, but i think we've got a pretty sweet rotation: Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling, Wakefield, and Lester, and Buchholz waiting on deck. plus we got to keep all our young talent & see how they develop. and if he had to end up in New York, then i'm perfectly fine with it, since it's not in the Bronx. i am pretty content. i find it far bigger news that Tina Cervasio has sent it back to Remy & Don for the last time & waved goodbye to NESN. and then they tease me with pondering the potential of a grand return to Boston for Trot, which is probably the only thing that could trump the return of Dougie in 2006. so enough analysis of the Santana deal already. we have bigger fish to fry. and in less than two weeks Jason Varitek will be three hours south of me.



i am actually avoiding most of the media coverage of the pre-pre-pre Super Bowl events. they ram so much of it down our throats, that it starts to leave the football fan with that same overstuffed feeling you get after a huge holiday feast. only with less contentment. i did manage to pick up on four little tidbits that i found worthwhile:
1. no one has any clue what the real story is with Tom Brady & his ankle. he's wearing a boot. oh no, wait, he's out dancing in a New York City club. he's not at practice. he shows up in Arizona with a limp. he looks to be practicing with his ankle taped up. then he shows up for media access in Nikes & low-cut socks and there doesn't appear to be any swelling or bruising in any stage. he had full participation in today's practice. and there he is on the official injury report. but no mention of his ankle. just that pesky right shoulder. you know, the one that's been bothering him for three seasons now. every game. so... mission accoplished? i think so.
2. remember how i've gushed all over Wes Welker since the Patriots picked him up last off-season? well now i love him even more, after this quote:
[Monday], after at least the fifth time he'd been asked about how Tom Brady looked at practice, Welker quipped, "He looks the same. Same dimples." But [Tuesday], Welker had the line of the day. Asked what's the difference between his former home, Miami, and his current home in New England, the receiver said: "Weather. Women. Wins."
3. not to be outdone, Mike Vrabel offered up this little morsel:
Mike Vrabel was asked about Bill Belichick's now-iconic grey hooded sweatshirt today, and offered..."That is his little 'woobie.' That's his little security blanket. He has got that pouch and he keeps all his stuff in it. You would like to see what's inside that pouch, I bet."
4. and it was bound to happen. because apparently football players never learn. we have our guarantee from none other than Plaxico Burress, who i guess didn't notice how the last batch of guarantees turned out. he's predicting a GIants victory, 23-17. Tom's take on it was perfect:
"We're only going to score 17 points?" Brady said with a smile. "Does Plaxico play defense? I wish he said 45-42, or something like that."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
i say enough of all this talk!
give me some Super Bowl.
and then let's serve up some baseball.
let's just play ball already.

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Unconcious Mutterings: January 30, 2008



Week 260

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

Booze :: mixed drinks
Counter :: what i don't have enough of in my kitchen
Action :: equal & opposite reaction
Trial :: Daniel
Wheelchair :: hospital
1-800 :: 54-GIANT
Chop :: pork
Relatives :: family
Bed sheets :: flannel
Funnel :: cake

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

And I Quote: January 29, 2008

i use iGoogle as my homepage, and one of the "gadgets" i use is "quotes of the day". i have to say, i laughed when i saw this one -- several people come immediately to mind. ;-)

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
(Mae West)

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i am my own worst enemy

i? am an idiot. in case any of you were still wondering.

case in point: i had two forms i needed to make more copies of. rather than copy one, wait for it to finish, then copy the other, i decided to run them both through at the same time.

did i mention i was making fifty copies of each one?
how about that the forms are identical, save for the date written on them?

guess who forgot to turn off the "sort" feature on the copier.
(hint: photos can be seen in both the left and right sidebars of this blog.)

guess who then got to sift through the pile and sort them manually.
yeah. ::sigh::

so i was thinking.
when someone else in this office does something equally foolish, the undoing of the foolishness is unloaded upon Yours Truly.
on that note: can i get my own admin?
=P

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Sing Along: January 28, 2008

Just when it feels like I can't make it through
She said "It sure is nice to just be the woman with you"
("The Woman With You," Kenny Chesney)

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The Dawn Polls: January 28, 2008

i was doing my laundry last night and as i was pulling sheets & towels out of the dryer to fold them, i was thinking...

if you had to choose between having really good quality sheets or really good quality towels, which would you pick? there are definite benefits to both. or do you really just not care? i mean, you have to have both -- one would hope LOL! or perhaps you don't really give the quality of eitehr much thought at all...


so which would you prefer?
good quality sheets
good quality towels
whichever since i need to have both
i don't care about the quality of either
Free polls from Pollhost.com


wow... it's been a really long time since we had a poll here!

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 28, 2007

For some reason, I sympathize with Crisp in his current offensive struggles a lot more than I do with Lugo, perhaps because Crisp is actually doing something to help the team (Gold Glove defense in center) and seems anguished by his inability to buy a hit these days.
(Touching All the Bases)

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View From Along the Broken Road: January 28, 2008

the weather was *perfect* for Animal Kingdom: cool enough that the animals were active & the crowds were light, but not so cold that i was uncomfortable (i am choosing to ignore the few instances when the wind kicked up & it was a little more chilly than i would prefer).

here are some of my favorite photos from yesterday, for those of you who have been waiting...

don't they look like they're telling secrets?


i love all the building details in this park.


hmmm... that rock has eyes! ;-)


i'm watching you...


this one isn't very clear, but it makes me laugh. it looks like the parrot on the right is dancing. or maybe he's Italian & he tells stories with his "hands". ;-)


just playing around -- this one is from the poster for Finding Nemo: The Musical.


my favorite spot in the whole park: watching the family of White-cheeked Crested Gibbons. their younger daughter is a year old now & has turned from blonde to black. she's getting much more independent. she'll venture away from her mother long enough to climb a little or harass her older sister. she doesn't stay away long though.


this one is kind of difficult to pick out, but the Siamang Gibbons have had their first baby! it's a little girl & she is approximately three months old. she is cradled in the mother's lap -- you can see her shiny nose almost in the dead center of the photo -- but she blends in very well for protection. this is a big deal, since they introduced the female to the male a little less than a year ago, and they weren't sure if it would be a successful match. looks like it was!


i love this view of the elephants on Kilimanjaro Safari with the reflection in the water.


while this is not a particularly spectacular shot, it certainly is a rare one: you almost *never* see the lion standing up!


this little building detail made me laugh. i had to take a pathway i don't normally go down to circumvent the parade in progress, so i've never noticed the alligator with the frog hanging out of his teeth before!

...or you can see all of my Animal Kingdom photos here

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

i'm thinking...

...the cool temperature & the (now) virtually rain-free forecast means that today would be a good day for a little of this:



see you back here later with some good photos (hopefully)!

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Saturday, January 26, 2008

Sing Along: January 26, 2008

My old friend, I recall
The times we had hanging on my wall
I wouldn't trade them for gold
Cause they laugh and they cry me
Somehow sanctify me
They're woven in the stories I have told
And tell again

My old friend, I apologize
For the years that have passed
Since the last time you and I
Dusted off those memories
But the running and the races
The people and the places
There's always somewhere else I had to be
Time gets slim, my old friend

("My Old Friend," Tim McGraw)

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 26, 2007

Gordon Edes asked Sexy Lips why Manny Ramirez was rubbing his head on Sunday. Partial quote:
He did that to try to make me go to sleep. I was mad at him because he was fooling around. Day off. He wasn't watching the game.
Francona: "We have a close team but there are times when it's best to turn your head."

(The Joy of Sox)

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Friday's Feast: January 26, 2008



Feast One Hundred & Seventy Seven

Appetizer
How many times per day do you usually laugh?

i laugh a lot. my friends crack me up a lot. i read a bunch of blogs that make me laugh out loud. and let's not even talk about the number of times a day i make *myself* laugh. a day without laughter is long & lonely.

Soup
What do your sunglasses look like?
they aren't anything special, just these cheap, spring-loaded sunglasses that fit right onto my regular glasses. i got them at the outlets in Orlando for $15 and i've had them for like three or four years. if i had spent $100 on them i would have lost or broken them within six months, no doubt. these cheap little sunglasses were a great investment. how about a visual demonstration:


Salad
You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go?

i think i would travel to somewhere on the west coast, because it would be cool to see so much of the country go by outside my window. interesting sidenote: "Train Wreck" by Sarah McLachlan just came on my playlist.

Main Course
Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city.

being mid way between Tampa & Orlando, i have lots of cool places to visit pretty darn close by.

Dessert
If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best?

i am partial to it being blue, but if it had to be something else, i would pick those rich fiery reds & oranges we get at sunset. i love sunsets.

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Friday Fill-in: January 26, 2008



Friday Fill-in #56

1.
being loved makes me happy.
2. I would like
some chocolate chip cookies, please.
3.
apple pie ice cream tastes SO good!
4.
Saturday morning is my favorite day of the week because i still have the whole weekend ahead of me, i don't have to work, and i can spend the day any way i wish.
5. i think my eyes are my best feature.
6. We could learn so much from
children, if we took the time to listen.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to snuggling into my cozy flannel sheets once i get sleepy, tomorrow my plans include some shopping and Sunday, I want to go to WDW for a while, so i hope it's not too chilly!

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Friday Fiver: January 26, 2008



I'll show you what I'm made of

1. What are you missing?

Red Sox. my friends. being cuddled up. my sanity. =P

2. How do you feel?
lucky. content. loved. ready.

3. What have you let go?
toxic people from my past.

4. Who have you hurt?
i am sure i have hurt many people over the course of my life. i am also sure that most of the time it was unintentional. i hope that i have mended much of it. i know that i hurt one person who loved me tremendously, because i was too stupid to see what i had. that's not a mistake i will ever make again.

5. What do you deserve?
to be loved completely. to be happy. to feel safe.

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Friday 5: January 25, 2008



Conditions Critical

1. Under what conditions can you have the perfect nap?

all it really takes is a comfy couch and my nap-size version of my fuzzy blankie. it doesn't hurt to have a cozy spot to rest my head against too.

2. Under what conditions can you let most of your guard down?
these days, i have to be with someone that i know accepts me as i am, for who i am. someone who won't try to change me or expect me to be someone i'm not. and someone i don't have to worry will disappear the second i start to really trust them.

3. Under what conditions can you do your best writing?
ha. when i don't have access to a pen & paper or a computer. by the time i get my hands on some method of putting it down into written words, the magic of it is lost & i'm left with something mediocre at best.

4. Under what conditions would you give away everything you own?
i practically have already. i am down to being able to fit everything i own into one car load, not including my actual furniture. what i have left is pretty special to me. i am not sure that i would part with it without a fight.

5. Under what conditions would you kiss a stranger?
i don't kiss strangers. i am saving all my kisses & i don't give them away on a whim.

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Sing Along: January 25, 2008

You think you're lost without any place left to go
Like you need, one of those kisses, long and slow
First glance is not what it seems
But there's some things that I just know

("Back of Your Hand," Dwight Yoakam)

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: November 25, 2007

two years ago, Julian was my "Lugo" and if you had told me i would grow to like him, i would have given you The Stink Eye. i never would have predicted that as 2006 wound down, i would start to like him, just a tiny bit. and that by Spring Training 2007, i would outright admit to liking the guy. rest assured, though, that there is room for only one player to make that kind of complete metamorphosis. there will be no such change of heart for JFL.

2. All right, I'll admit it. My pre-Boston perception of Julian Tavarez couldn't have been more wrong. I thought he was a hothead, a lunatic, a selfish clubhouse cancer and unpopular teammate who didn't particularly care about winning. Oh, he's still a hothead and a lunatic, but it's become apparent that he's an endearing and extremely well-liked hothead/lunatic, one whose tantrums usually are the direct result of his frustration with letting his teammates down. It's funny, but he has many of the same characteristics, both positive and self-destructive, as Oil Can Boyd had back in the day. From his comical one-sided dugout chats with Dice-K to his part-time gig as Manny's unofficial spokesman to his willingness to pitch in any role and situation that the team requests of him, it's clear that Tavarez and the Red Sox are a good fit. Who knew? Surely not me.
(Touching All the Bases)

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

as only a Red Sox fan could understand

i am sitting here, playing around online.
(yes, instead of blogging. sorry to disappoint. but i'm blogging now, see.)
i have my playlist -- the much larger version of the little one at the top of ye olde blog here -- on shuffle in the background.

Sweet Caroline just came on.
i got the hugest grin ever on my face.

three weeks til pitchers & catchers.

so good.
so good.
so good.

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well that's a downer

for some reason i was thinking i was 30 for a few minutes.
and then i remembered that, no, i am in fact 31.

boo.

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 24, 2007

and to appease those non-football sports fans... remember back when we still had Kason Gabbard, and we were actually a little worried about facing Eric Gagne?

Now is when we get to have lovely debates amongst ourselves, like, when Jon Lester comes back after beating cancer last year, where do we slot in Kason? Do we want two lefties in the starting rotation? Is there such a thing as too many lefties? Oh my God, I think I'm finally officially overdosing on the Red Sox. The awesome is just too pure.
(Cursed to First)

by the way, eighteen days til pitchers & catchers report.

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overheard

D just asked P "are you telling me J is the only one who swims in the nude?"

keep in mind that i know these people.
and that all of these aforementioned people are related.
and also men.

i wonder if anyone has ever died of stifled laughter...

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Sing Along: January 24, 2008

ok, i can take a hint already.
when i got out of my car yesterday, this song was on the radio.
when i got back in this morning, this song was on the radio.
almost in the exact spot it was at when i turned my car off.
and no, it was not a CD.
so like i said: hint taken.

You don't have to find your own way out
You've got a voice let it be heard
Just when it feels you're on a dead-end road
There's always somewhere left to turn
So dont give up now
You're so close to a brand new day
And if you just can't bear to be alone
Then I'll stay

'Cause everybody needs somebody sometimes
("Everybody," Keith Urban)

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

way back when

a little over a week ago, April tagged me. with over 2300 posts to sort through, let's just say this was a bigger challenge than i anticipated! i'm not going to specifically tag anyone but if you decide to play along, make sure you let me know so i can check it out. it's kind of fun to share archived posts, especially as new readers join in the fun, and really only a very few of you have been here since the *very* beginning. i tried to make sure i picked posts from early on, so step into the time machine with me & we'll venture back into the dusty old Broken Road archives...

Archive Meme Instructions: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose

Family: Remembering Gramp
this may well be the only time i have ever truly captured what i wanted to say about someone important to me.

Friends: what can i say?
these photos from Alison's trip to Florida back in 2005 *still* make me laugh.

Myself: Thirteen Things I Miss About New England
while i love living where it's warm, i will always be a New England girl at heart. (i wish i had one of those 100 things about me posts that it seems everyone has done! that would have been perfect for this one.)

Something I Love: Thirteen Things I Love About Baseball
it's not a surprise to anyone how i feel about baseball, is it?

My Choice: Thirteen Favorite Photos I Took in 2006
a photographic peek into my life from 2006. i really wish i had done a post like this for 2007 too.

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 23, 2007

This is why they don't play baseball in the rain: Last night a foul screamer wreaked havoc in the Red Sox dugout, glancing off a bat Jason Varitek happened to be holding and off the forehead of Wily Mo Pena, directly into the choppers of poor Devern Hansack, who would later be pegged by a liner back to the mound in the throwing hand and lifted from the game.
(Cursed to First)

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Sing Along: January 22, 2008

She doesn't know the word 'impossible'
Don't care where I've been and doesn't care where we're goin' to.
She takes me as I am, and that ain't easy.
She's beautiful. So beautiful.

And sometimes I think she's truly crazy.
And I love it.

Her eyes, that's where hope lies.
That's where blue skies
Always meet the sunrise.
Her eyes, that's where I go
When I go home.

("Her Eyes," Pat Monahan)

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i think this is one of those "which came first: the chicken or the egg?" questions

i can't decide if i find it ironic or coincidental that so many of my friends who teach do not want to have children.

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Random Thoughts - the Red Sox and Patriots edition: January 22, 2008

** my sadness about Green Bay not winning is rapidly becoming anger directed at one Elisha Nelson Manning (seriously, try to say that with a straight face). i hope that he becomes sandwiched between Rodney Harrison & Junior Seau so many times, he flinches when he sees them on tv a year from now. i hope he cries before halftime. i hope he sits on the bench on February 3, while his defense is on the field, wishing he had never won on January 20. and i hope they have to carry him out of the locker room for the second half, kicking and screaming and clutching onto lockers & doorways, so badly does he not want to be on the business end of another New England rushing defense.

** i have a new theory about my Perfect Super Bowl now too: i was not meant to see my teams play one another. so the Patriots will have to be the 2007 Team of Destiny, what with their undeafeatedness & all. and *next* season will have to be Favre's Team of Destiny, and he'll just have to be back, because they have built an amazing young team around him -- the youngest average age in the NFL even with guys like Favre & Driver factored in!! -- and he led them so close. next year will be his year. the Year of Favre. right? right.

** (if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the linked page) apparently Mike Lowell has been converted into a Patriots fan. like i needed another reason to love him.

** i really wish that the New England fans hadn't booed when Belichick congratulated the Chargers on a good game during the trophy presentation. it's embarrassing to see such poor conduct. let this show for the record that not *all* Patriots fans are insufferable. some of us do actually show some class & can win graciously without gloating.

** looks like Eric Hinkse won't be back in 2008. i'm going to miss his happy self. and the way he covered right field in a way that would have made Trot proud.

** i also really wish Belichick would get one quarter the acknowledgement for shaking Norv Turner's hand & exchanging conversation for a few moments at mid field after the game, that he gets negatively when he has nothing to say to Mangini. unfortunately, the media thrives on negative attention.

** back to Mike Lowell for a minute: "I think it's a three-year motivating test," he said, "for me to prove that despite everyone thinking it's just for three years, it's the beginning of something that is going to last more than three years." be still my beating heart.

** "But seriously, they're more worried than we are… I promise you…because, ah, they know what's up." (Igor Olshansky, San Diego Chargers) so Igor... what's up? >=]

** coming soon...

...but not soon enough & OMG i cannot wait!

** when first i read about/saw this, i felt like i'd swallowed my own tongue.

(photo from ESPN.com)
then i thought to myself: is this the same Tom Brady who has been on the injury report for like three years now? did we not see Tom Terrific pull off some Oscar-worthy performaces against the Jaguars, in the form of that Statue of Liberty play & then that over-the-top look-the-passer-got-roughed bit that he did? and do we not have a coach in New England who delights in shenanigans, like that Doug Flutie drop-kick point after? so... yes, denial is an acceptable coping strategy here at The Broken Road.

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Monday, January 21, 2008

try not to get too excited...

1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?
i would say he was crazy. i am 100% certain that i am not pregnant.

2. When was the last time you flew in a plane?
December 26

3. What did the last text message you sent say?
LOL! i'm not saying. it was to Nichole though.

4. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?
kindness. a great smile. the desire to be cuddly. honesty.

5. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?
to file my taxes. i am waiting on my W-2 & my form from my student loan lender regarding the interest i have paid.

6. Shoe size?
7.5 or 8, depending on the shoe.

7. Been to Mexico?
does the Mexico pavilion at Epcot count?

8. When is the last time you had a massage?
like by a professional? that would be never. i don't like people i don't know touching me. a good neck & shoulders rub does wonders for me when i have a tension headache though. i carry all my stress in my neck & shoulders.

9. What was the last TV show you watched?
Three Two and a Half Men

10. What are your plans for the weekend?
::sigh:: i wish it were the weekend already. Saturday i plan to go shopping with some gift cards i got for Christmas, and also stock up on my Spring candle scents. Sunday i think i will go to Disney as long as it isn't raining or freezing cold (and yes that would be freezing by my wimpy Florida standards).

11. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say?
i think i would be completely speechless for about 150 different reasons if i were asked that question.

12. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
one of those visor things that keeps the sun out of your car when it's parked (dorky but you get over it when you live in Florida, trust me), some CDs, and an insulated bag for heat-sensitive foods (i make a couple of stops when i grocery shop).

13. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
ummm... just getting to work.

14. If you could marry any celebrity today who would it be?
i'm not interested in marrying any celebrity. i have no problem looking but that's about it for me, thanks.

15. Have you ever been to a strip club?
not so much.

16. What is the best ice cream flavor?
mint chocolate chip. or apple pie. or coffee. or Tagalong cookie. or moose tracks. or black raspberry. or...

17. What is the last sporting event you watched?
=( can we not talk about that?

18. Ever go camping?
girl likes indoor private plumbing. and a soft bed. and a minimum of bugs. what do you think?? my "male tendancies" begin & end with being a sports spectator.

19. Last phone call?
that would be Heather earlier this evening. i wonder if her new computer is hooked up yet. i miss her...

20. Are you allergic to anything?
sulfa drugs. dust. kitty fur if i rub my eyes. and something that blooms in Autumn down here.

21. What is one thing you have learned about life recently?
don't ignore your gut feelings.

22. What do you do at work?
that list is so long, you'd get bored & stop reading it before you finished it.

23. What is your mom's name?
Mary

24. Ever cried for no reason?
oh there's always a reason. i just might not share what it is.

25. Can you do the Crank Dat dance?
while i have *no* clue what this even is, if it involves dancing that is not slow & very close, i assure you that i cannot do it.

26. What is your favorite color to wear?
reds & browns. the deeper & richer the better.

27. What is the longest plane ride you have ever been on?
five & half hours to California.

28. What is the longest road trip you have ever taken?
eighteen hours from Connecticut to Florida. drove it straight through. well *i* didn't drive it. i slept for a large majority of it.

29. What are your turn-offs?
people who are full of themselves. people who do not practice basic hygiene. people who are intentionally cruel to others. people who lie to me. anyone with the last name Manning.

30. What was your last alcoholic beverage?
i think it was a glass of wine. i *know* it was in California.

31. What are you craving right now?
nice warm soft chocolate chip cookies. and a hug.

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Sing Along: January 21, 2008

'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
("Far Away," Nickelback)

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blech

it smells like Spam in the office, thanks to someone's lunch.
gross.
Spam is one of the few smells that i just cannot tolerate & actually turns my stomach.
that & bananas.
::shudder::

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The Bucket List


no spoilers.
saw it on Saturday.
good movie.
had some really funny parts.
still kind of sad.
really liked the ending.
Morgan Freeman & Jack Nicholson were fantastic. no surprise there.
bet it makes you want to hold the hand of the person you love.

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because i know he'll appreciate it

for Ted

(For Better or For Worse)

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the long & short of it.

while this game made me very happy...


(photos from Yahoo! Sports)

...this game did not. this game made me very sad...

...because i am not ready to see no more photos like this.
i am very afraid he will blame himself too much for the NFC title game & forget all that he did to get them that far, and if he thinks too much... =(

so anyway. 1) i guess i'm glad the Patriots got their poorly played game out of the way yesterday, because i will not be able to stomach the Lesser Doofus Spawn celebrating again in two weeks and 2) i officially hate Eli as much as i do Peyton. (before yesterday's game, Eli just annoyed me because he was a whiny little brat.) oh & is anyone else buying that Peyton didn't attend the NFC Championship game because he didn't want to jinx his younger brother? yeah, me neither.


oh yeah. one more thing. if someone asks you which underdog you think has a better chance of winning -- San Diego or New York -- and you say New York, does it make any sense when they ask you who you're picking to win the games to reply San Diego & Green Bay? someone might want to point that out to "Coach" Ditka. just sayin'.

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 21, 2008

New year, new teams, new face-mammals: Edgar Renteria's first move after reaching first base safely in yesterday's first game? Reaching out to pat the small animal Youkilis has nesting on his chin. I'm sorry, that is just plain awesome.
(Cursed to First)

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Friday, January 18, 2008

Friday Fill-in: Januay 18, 2008



Friday Fill-in #55

1. The last compliment I got was from a crazy person; he/she said something i find completely insane. =P
2. I'm reading blogs & magazines because i can't seem to concentrate on actual books lately.
3. I woke up today and thought how in the world is it not the weekend yet?! *yesterday* felt like Friday.
4. Why does the clock only say 1:40? i'm pretty sure this day isn't ever going to end.
5. The last thing I ate was a Reese's Peanut Butter tree.
6. January... is flying by -- its already the 18th!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to curling up on my couch, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the movies to see The Bucket List and Sunday, I want to cheer the Patriots & Packers on their way to the Perfect Super Bowl!

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Friday's Feast: January 18, 2008



Feast One Hundred & Seventy Six

Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?

water. big fan of the water.

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.

how about work, since that's where i am: the office supply catalog. a Patriots logo. a Chinese fortune that reads: You have an usually magnetic personality.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?

probably about an 8.5-9. i am a terrible liar, even though my job forces me to lie all the time (no, i'm sorry so-and-so isn't in right now...). plus, i *hate* being lied to, so i do my best to treat others the way i would like to be treated. i can't say i'm higher than a 9 though, because, like i said 1) my job forces me to lie and 2) we all aren't 100% truthful all the time. sometimes we tell half-truths.

Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?

i am drawing an absolute blank right now. i can't think of a single one.

Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?

the Troll stresses me out. i can relax when i am finally curled up on my couch being snuggly though.

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Friday Fiver: January 18, 2008



You just have to wait

1. What do you need?
a nap. a nap would be perfect right now.

2. What won't you share?
other people's secrets.

3. What do you hurry through?
commercials. DVR is a marvelous invention.

4. Who is worth waiting for?
the right person.

5. Friday fill-in:
I can't bear to ______.
...see the Patriots or the Sox or Brett Favre lose. so i really hope they don't.

I'll always be true

1. Tell us something you love:

the last part of Test Track when you fly around the track outside

2. Tell us something you know to be true:
i am loved far more than i will ever comprehend

3. Tell us about someone new in your life:
there's no anyone new in my life

4. Who can you never please?
that list of people could also be called Those Toxic People Who Are No Longer Part of My Life

5. Friday fill-in:
You know I ___.

...really wish it were time to go home *now*

The only nasty thing I like

1. What's the last movie you saw?

i think i watched My Best Friend's Wedding on tv.

2. Are you gentle?
very much so.

3. Do you sleep with your bedroom door shut?
nope. i live by myself. what does closing the door accomplish?

4. What's your middle name?
Lynn

5. Friday fill-in:
I could learn to like ___.
...JD Drew, but not Julio Lugo

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 17, 2007

So once again, Julio Lugo continues to be Someone Whom I No Longer Want Employed By My Baseball Team. Although, the way we go through shortstops around here, there's a chance that his four year contract was just a ruse, but knowing my luck, I'll be stuck with him for eternity. Rest assured, I will continue blaming everything from infield errors to the concession stands running out of Fenway Franks on Lugo.
(basegirl)

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yumminess

i was just taking inventory on my candles. back when i lived in Connecticut, now would be the time Dad & i would make our seasonal trek to the flagship store in Deerfield to stock up on candles for the coming season. i have my typical Spring Yankee Candle scents:
Clean Cotton.
Lilac Blossoms.
and (sadly) my last remaining votives of the now discontinued Lavender Fields and Spring Showers.
seems all my favorite Spring scents have slowly disappeared. Storm Watch. Mountain Lake. Morning Mist. all tucked into the archives. =(

i have a hard time finding scents i like for Spring. i like clean fresh scents and of course vanilla (that's a year round staple here in the land of Dawn and the fruity scents get their turn in Summer.) but i don't like anything too flowery. really powerful floral scents give me a headache. since i am down to exactly seven votives for Spring, which is not enough for a full season, i guess it's time to hit up my local store to go candle smelling -- it's been a while since i needed new Spring scents & there are only a few i am really familiar with enough that i would buy without sniffing first. so i popped over to the website to see what's there & now i've got my eye on the following "standard scents" (translation: those that are available all the time):
Spring Bouquet (which is boasts orange blossoms -- *love* orange blossoms! -- among other flowers but i am thinking this one may be a bit *too* floral for my nose.)
Midnight Cove.
Shortbread Cookie.
Lemon Lavender.
Cottage Breeze.
Country Linen.

they also just happened to have their special limited edition Spring scents up on the site & i do believe i will need to check out:
Water Garden

and Berry Jam (though if this one makes the cut, it will be tucked aside for Summer, but it sounds way too yummy to pass up)


i may not get four distinct seasons, living in Florida, but at least i can make the seasons change inside my home. =)

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Sing Along: January 16, 2008

Look at what I've done to her
Look at how I made her feel
She's found somebody new
And look who took the time to heal
And look at what it's done to me
God I know it tears me up
To have walked away from the love we made
And just leave it in a cloud of dust
And now it's got me thinkin' maybe I was wrong
After all the things I've done to her
Now she's strong

("Look at What I've Done," Chris Cagle)

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i have a new hero.

i can't recall if i've ever wondered this here, but if you've ever watched a Patriots game with me, you know that not a single home game passes that i don't ask, bewildered:

what *are* those things on the edges of the field?!

and then i speculate, aloud:
is it some kind of welding torch?
a wrench throwing sparks?
a musket of some sort that isn't working properly?
two cities at war?

some might think this just provides a little extra fun that never ends, to spend time trying to determine what those little images are supposed to be & how they pertain to the New England Patriots.

i assure you, it is not.
it's completely maddening.
it. makes. me. crazy.

today, while reading her blog, Ali has answered this fiercely burning question for me, because she is a genius, to whom i am forever grateful that i can finally stop being tortured by those stupid logos.

in her own brilliant words:
what is it, actually, is a TERRIBLE rendition of the lighthouse and bridge at the stadium…

(and yes, i shamelessly stole the photos she used on her blog, because this story makes no sense without visual aids.)

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all night long

what does all night long mean to you?

i bet it's *not* getting woken up because the wind & rain are combining to sound like some Irish jig troupe in clogs is holding rehearsel on your roof.

::sigh::

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Random Thoughts: January 16, 2008

** Alison's little peanut may have been exposed to RSV. poor baby isn't eating, has a fever, is coughing her wee self silly. and she has a date with the pediatrician this afternoon. please keep Gracie in your thoughts, prayers, whatever you've got. it's bad enough to be sick. it's so much worse when it's a bitty baby.

** 26 days til pitchers & catchers report, people! that is less than a month. do you have *any* idea how excited i am?!

** apparently, being thankful has even more benefits than simply being gracious. people who actually write down the things they are grateful for are more optimistic about the upcoming week, exercise more often and get sick less frequently than those who spent time writing about hassles & mundane events. and it doesn't even have to be something big. even being thankful for a funny email or a fresh pot of coffee counts! i have to say that i am a big believer in venting to get out the negative stuff that builds up, but i think that -- for me, anyway -- it helps to fill up that freed space with something positive, even if it seems trivial to everyone else. there are days that this is a bigger chore than maybe it should be, but it does seem to help. kind of like a mental deep cleansing breath: out with the bad, in with the good.

** speaking of out with the bad, i was reading an article in a magazine just the other day that was really interesting to me. i don't know about the guys, but i think every one of the girls i am friends with will identify with the need for a good cry every so often. and it's amazing how relieved it can make you feel, and this article gives an explanation that makes a lot of sense to me: "Humans evolved the ability to cry in order to remove in their tears chemicals that build up during stress, so they are literally crying it out. Research has shown that emotional tears have a different chemical composition from those generated by an irritant stimulus. ... Many people will try to stanch those tears, but that's not good because our bodies will internalize that grief, which can lead to all sorts of problems, such a hypertension, gastrointestinal distress and anxiety. So go ahead and let yourself cry."

** i have been suffering from a mysterious craving for about three days now. i cannot, for the life of me, figure out *what* it is. i have looked through my well-stocked pantry about 837 times now, and it's not in there.

** i am really over this writers strike. i understand (to a point) and agree that they have a legitimate beef. but doesn't Hollywood understand what i have been forced to resort to watch on tv as a result?! have mercy on me! at least Boston Legal is still turning out new episodes. and there is at least one more coming, since they showed previews for next week!

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my evil plan is falling into place

i would like to thank Igor Olshansky for being the Chargers' spokesman leading into Sunday's AFC Championship game:

“Who? New England? Seriously, they’re more worried than we are.”

now i feel like i can really start looking forward to think game. between frigid temperatures & a decently gusty wind predicted for Sunday afternoon, i am hoping that Rivers, Tomlinson & Gates (if they play at all) are feeling creaky in all their aching & injured body parts. i find it interesting to note that their last five games were all played either in Southern California or in the climate-controlled environment of the RCA Dome. welcome to New England in January boys. bring those heated pants! about the only place that would be colder to play in right now would be Green Bay -- and Eli himself has declared that he just doesn't play well in the cold weather. (hmmm... maybe should have thought about that before you whined about not wanting to play in San Diego huh?)

oh & Igor? the Patriots take every team seriously. i'm glad you're not worried though. i can see why you wouldn't be. i mean, playing a 17-0 team is a piece of cake, right?

and now for a couple bits of the blogosphere that have entertained me immensely.

PAPEL-BLOG takes a brief pause in Red Sox talking to bring us:

Bummed about that loss? Wish you were going to the AFC Championship Game next week? Look, I'm gonna be honest. Last year appears to have been the exception that proves the rule. You choke in big games. If I were you, I'd start figuring out some kind of hobby that'll keep you busy every February.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
and an excerpt from the ever-brilliant Kristen at Basegirl:
Colts fans seem to be salivating over the possibility of a rematch, apparently unconcerned with the ways of karma and counting their chickens. Plus they're already blabbering on about the Colts being "classier" than the Patriots or something because I guess they've appointed themselves the moral arbiters of the NFL. I must have missed that memo. Also? Spare me. And so, despite the fact that I am no big fan of Phillip Rivers and Shawn Merriman, I hope they run all over the Colts today and send them packing. It seems unlikely but in what Amy has dubbed "The Bitch Bowl" for the frequent bitch-faces so often employed by Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers alike, I suppose anything is possible.

For now, I'm going to be thankful that I can continue watching football for at least another week, and I'll spend the downtime creating elaborate scenarios wherein Bill Parcells becomes puppetmaster coach of the Dolphins by mid-season next year "Dance for me, Cleo Lemon, dance!" and what it was, exactly, that Bill Belichick said to Josh McDaniels to get him to refuse all offers of interviews by other teams interested in him as a head-coaching prospect.

Amy: Probably he just wordlessly handed him a picture of Eric Mangini.

oh & just in case *that* didn't prove her utter brilliance to you, the fact that she coined this little bit is the icing on the cake:
of the season it's been Wes Welker who has, in my opinion, allowed Randy Moss to be as deadly as he's been. (And who also looks amusingly like Mr. Incredible at times).


good times, my friends. good times. i'm nervous about the upcoming games. i'm nervous that the Chargers are the best at getting teams to cough up the ball a lot (at a disturbing rate averaging *three* per game!) -- and we all know that the team who wins the turnover differential is often the victor. i realize that Tom Terrific had about as close to a perfect game as one can have, but... we all know how quickly the tides can turn. i also cannot stomach Favre losing to a Manning. but it all stands to reason. if my two teams can pull off wins this week, the ulcers end here. this could possibly be the last week i need to worry about who is the last man standing...

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they say jump. i ask "how high?"

i don't have to be told more than once. even though essentially, i have been. first Mega and then Holly. i better get to it before that list grows.

How old are you? 31. still can't figure out that happened.
Where do you live? Central Florida. midway between Tampa & Orlando. hop, skip & a jump from Disney World.
Last time you listened to Billy Idol? not any time recently.
Ever met Billy Idol? if i had, Mega would be jealous.
How do you like your taters? any way you have them: mashed. baked. roasted. boiled (with a little butter, salt & parsley). fries. hashbrowns. chips. potatoes are major comfort food for me.
Ever beaten someone up? me?! i am a lover, not a fighter. i use my words, not my hands.
Ever gotten beat up? no! i would cry.
Do you consider yourself to be hot? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! whew. oops. not done yet. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ok now i'm done.
Any tattoos? i don't like needles. i am *not* interested in paying someone to stick one in me voluntarily. no thanks.
Piercings? one in each ear. which reminds me. i better put some earrings in soon or they will close up. i don't wear them often because when you answer the phone as much as i do, it's murder on your ears.
Kids? none of my own. i love on my friends' kids. i would have one or two, but... i kind of need to be in the right situation for that, ya know? (tick... tick... tick...)
How about grandparents? Any of those? had two of the very best. i miss them. =(
Do you shave your legs? yeah. it grosses me out not to.
Employed or bum? employed. though you wouldn't know it by how much i blog. ;-)
Ever killed someone? thank *God* no.
Ever wear stone wash jeans? not anymore. =P
Worst pain you ever felt? thirteen months of back-to-back bladder infections.
What did you last eat? some cinnamon raisin bread.
Cats and dogs...pets, or food? cats & dogs are friends, not food.
What about fish? mmmmm...
What about rabbits? they are for being cute in the wild. i know someone with two huge rabbits that run loose in the house. they are *mean*.
Use the word "jabroni" in a sentence: i think i may be some kind of jabroni magnet.
Use one word to sum up yourself in a nutshell: quiet.
Idea you had on a date that you thought was fun but they were bored? i can't remember the last bad date i was on. take that as you will.
Ever make a complete fool out of yourself? i would deny it but there are too many people who read this thing that would call me out. i will say, though, that i have to really know you & like you before i will lower my guard enough to act like a fool.
Ever think that "they" are out to get you? if the people in my past haven't gotten me, i don't think "they" have a chance.

ok, play along if you wish. let me know if you do.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

And I Quote: January 15, 2008

"Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it."
(Oliver Herford)

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Sing Along: January 15, 2008

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
And the way you look tonight.

("The Way You Look Tonight," Frank Sinatra)

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One-Word Sarcomincal Sunday: January 15, 2008

you've been such good little readers, being so patient today. it's late & it's not Sunday, but how about a little meme to hold you over a while longer. ok? (no? too bad. this is all i have right this very moment. heh.) without further delay, this wee bit of entertainment is broght to you by none other than Sarcomical.

One-Word Sarcomical Sunday #15:
I'mb Stupffy...Take Pity Ond By Dnose

If you were able to decipher that title and read it in YOUR head the way it sounds in MY stuffy head, then I congratulate you heartily. Now, please excuse me while I blow my nose and then rub some evil instant sanitizer lotion on my hands that will one day create a Monster Virus immune to mankind's medicinal capabilities. (I'm sorry, my hands are getting all crack-y from the constant OCD-like washing.)

Here are the ground rules for the newbies:

After reading my answers, copy and paste the list into your comment
(on
her blog please!).

Change my one-word responses with yours (ONE WORD, even if it kills you).

Submit your comment.

Feel free to post your finished list on your blog, too. (Look at that, a post idea, FREE. You're welcome.)

Your last meal: manicotti
Something on your desk/work area: timecards
Your New Year's Eve plans: couch
The smallest gift you received this year: necklace
The largest gift you received this year: airfare
Something you wish you hadn't eaten so much of during the holidays: impossible
On your feet: boots
Your hair: fluffy
How many other countries you've traveled to: Canada
One country you dream of visiting: mine
A hobby you'd like to take up/revisit this year: cardmaking
A hobby of yours that died (aww, buh-bye) this past year: scrapbooking
A publication you subscribe to (print): Simple
The most embarrassing subscription in your feed reader (if you have one): CBB
One of your favorite stores to window shop dreamily in: Williams-Sonoma
One of your favorite online stores to window shop dreamily on: redsox.com
A color you love to wear: red
Your bed pillow: flannel-covered
The color of your kitchen counter: cream
What you plan to do when you get up from the computer: leave

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Monday, January 14, 2008

so how exactly does one go about buying points with the football gods?



i can't even possibly tell you how scared i was about that game against Jacksonville. the way the defense played on in the first half, the fact that the Jaguars really matched the Patriots in the first half, i didn't really feel confident. and there was that cool reverse. and the even cooler fake direct snap play that turned into Tom tossing a touchdown. that was some impressive acting, but not the *only* acting by Thomas -- that roughing the passer call late in the game was... ummm... well *I* was a little embarrassed. i was thrilled to see Welker being given the favored receiver treatment. and then there's the fact that Tom went 26-for-28, with no interceptions. it all boils down to the Patriots standing at 17-0. this season still feels like some kind of dream.

before the Patriots took the field, though, i got treated to the Pack. after an early scare, with two Ryan Grant fumbles resulting in two Seattle touchdowns. followed six straight Green Bay possessions ended in 42 points for yellow & gold. three by the timeless Favre, and Grant redeemed himself with three of his own. it really was the perfect playoff game in the Frozen Tundra, with snow falling heavily & a joyful Favre tossing snowballs.

there's no way i believed it was going to continue into Sunday.

the early game was a stunner. there's no way i thought San Diego would manage to one-up the "defending Super Bowl champs." but to be honest, i am also a little taken aback by what the Chargers showed in that game, so now i'm hoping all the Chargers injuries from abuse of game in Indy will take the edge off their game coming into New England. favorite part of the game: the phantom holding call negating the runback for a TD, but still getting the joy of a Peyton interception & then watching him be flicked to the ground like a piece of lint when he tried to throw a block. and just like that, the Colts go home. ::hands Poor Peyton a tissue::

and here i must admit that i actually rooted for Eli. although to clarify it was really that i was rooting for the Packers to not have to play in Dallas. i feel bad for Romo ending on an interception. but that's where it stops. my allegience is with Favre & whatever it takes to launch him into the Super Bowl. i do feel kind of dirty having actually wanted a Manning to win a game though...

so there you have it. i couldn't have constructed it better in my own dreams.

i just had the perfect football weekend. i hope i didn't use up all my good graces with the football gods. i hope the Chargers talk smack about their limping team paying New England back for last season's playoff game in San Diego. i hope Favre brings that same level of enthusiasm to the Championship game & that the mounting Giants injuries combined with Eli's few playoff games against Favre's years of experience lead to GB victory. all i know is that i am one step closer to my Perfect Super Bowl being a reality.

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 14, 2007

Bostonians and New Englanders can deal with many things. Heartbreaking losses. Infuriating losses. Insane traffic patterns. Disastrous infrastructure. February. Bitching and moaning, we've got down pat. Pessimism as a defense mechanism is available in spades. But it's been getting a little Twilight-Zone around here with this recent spate of undeniable, at times unbelievable, good fortune.

Even now, I'm afraid I've said too much.

(Cursed to First)

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Sing Along: January 14, 2008

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds, I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is

("I Want to Know What Love Is," Foreigner)

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the name game

so for whatever reason, my mind started wandering during the sermon yesterday. not to anything bad. i just started trying to recall my great-grandparents' names (on my dad's side, i don't know hardly anything about my mom's side). i remembered that my Gram's parents were Francis & Helen. and Gramp's mother was Amelia. for the life of me, i can't recall his father's name though. i am hoping my brother remembers or this is going to drive me insane. i know that i know it but it just won't surface, and that's not something i want to lose.

i also remembered that my Gram was one of six kids, and Gramp was one of nine. so this morning, while i was getting ready for work, i was trying to remember all of *their* names.

Gram's family was Mildred (that was my Gram), Elsie, Paul, Arthur, Frederick and Ernest.
Gramp's family was Walter (that's Gramp), William, Margaret, Emma, Esther, Wanda, Martha, Olga and Bertha.

how are those for some good old German names? ;-) i realize no one really cares about any of this but i wanted it written down somewhere so... there ya go.

so anyway this morning, Stacy had this little quiz posted on her blog with the "hidden meaning" of her name, so i decided to play along.




What Dawn Means



You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.

People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very charming... dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts.
You know what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it.
You have the power to rule the world. Let's hope you're a benevolent dictator!

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.



interesting. that first part is right. i am definitely organized & orderly. and i do like my ducks in a row. i don't know about powerful, but i do like to think that i am competent.

i suppose that i could be considered stubborn & headstrong at times. dominant personality though? not so much. at least not from my perspective.

that next section is way off, in my opinion. i'm certainly not the best at much of anything, and i am neither authoritative nor aggressive. and i am *not* a Type A; i think my personality is far more the patient, relaxed, easy-going Type B. i waver in confidence. about the only thing i do agree with there is that i try to strive for perfection, even if i don't actually reach it.

that next section? about being charming? breaking hearts? knowing what i want & how to get it? being a dictator? *that* was worth a good laugh. =P

the last part, though, is so me. the good & the bad. i definitely think too much sometimes. my past has the power to make me a little paranoid or jealous if i listen to my thoughts for too long. but i know that i am very intuitive, which i think is a by-product of being quiet & observant.

hmmmm... benevolent dictator, huh? ::gleam in her eye::

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Friday, January 11, 2008

why did the Steelers have to lose that game last week?



the blog revamp aside, it's been nothing if not silent over here regarding the Patriots for almost two weeks now. that isn't a show of apathy. or assumption of win. it's absolute fear.

of all the AFC teams coming into the playoffs, Jacksonville is the one i was least looking forward to facing. why? they bring that damned running game. against our aging, rather slow-moving defense. which has proven spotty at best during this shiny undefeated season. if the Jaguars exploit those weaknesses, and Jones-Drew & Taylor can break free of New England's defense, we'll never catch them -- both literally and on the scoreboard.

what i am hoping for is vintage Patriots playoff football. if the defense can step up & do what it's done at least a few times this season, and somehow make the Jaguar running game slam into a brick wall, then they can force Garrard to throw the ball a little more, hopefully causing a few more of those interceptions we saw last weekend in Pittsburgh, and use those turnovers to their advantage.

i'm less worried about the Patriots being able to put up points, even though Jacksonville brings a mean defense. it's mostly just the fear that the jaguars will come out on the top side of a shoot out.

i just can't think about it anymore, because the do-or-die mentality of the playoffs combined with facing what, i feel, is one of the most impressive teams in the AFC this post season -- well, it's just too much pressure for me. so i started thinking about meaningless topics, like wondering which officiating crew we'll get.

to get me hyped up for Saturday night's Patriot game, i have a little Brett Favre (who it appears will be back in 2009 ::happy dance::) & company at 4pm. also known as all my hopes for the Perfect Super Bowl (Green Bay/New England) on the line one right after the other. i wonder if my mental psyche is up for this...

and did i hear correctly that the Seahawks kicker is wearing electric pants for the game to keep warm? SERIOUSLY?! if i were doing that, i would never tell a soul. i thought football was supposed to be a tough sport...

::shakes head::

ok moment of comic relief has passed. if anyone needs me, i will be over there in the corner, doing my best Tito impression.

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Random Thoughts: January 10, 2008

** I-4, where all that mayhem was in my neck of the woods on Wednesday morning, remains shut down indefinitely. they need to repair the road in the places where the fire *melted* it. there are stories coming out now. like emergency crew members that were terrified while trying to help people because they didn't know if *they* would get run over. these people have a ton of courage. think about it: there was just a wall of smoke & fog. you're driving down the highway at 70mph (or more, in most cases) and without warning, it's like someone threw a blanket over your car. that was what caused the chain reaction pile-up of over *seventy* vehicles. the visibility was so bad that someone had to walk in front of each ambulance at a snail's pace, trying to light the way with a flashlight. that is just crazy.

** i was trying to not doze off at work yesterday -- after December's crazy rush comes slow slow January -- so i was meandering around online. i learned that Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. whoa.

** did you know that the color red (including pink) has the ability to boost metabolism and raise respiration rates? that yellow & orange encourage healthy eating habits & an optimistic outlook? and purples boost our brain power & your ability to think? on that note: find some ways to add reds to your living area (and anywhere you might exercise!), yellows & oranges to your kitchen & dining room, and purple to your home office area. apparently colors don't just brighten the place up!

** i am just full of trivia lately huh?

** how about another one? apparently if you stand baked potatoes on end in a muffin pan, they'll bake faster. hmmmm...

** it won't come as a shock to some of you that child development still fascinates me, even though i don't do daycare anymore & don't have any kids of my own. anyway, i tend to keep up on this stuff anyway. you may or may not know, that for quite a while, pediatricians have recommended not giving kids certain foods that are common allergens until they are about three years old. i recently read this, which may be of interest to some of you: According to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, there’s no reason to hold off feeding your child peanut butter, nuts, eggs, or fish in order to reduce his risk of developing a food allergy. In the past, pediatricians recommended that children with a family history of allergies shouldn't eat eggs until age 2, and shouldn't eat peanuts, tree nuts, or fish until age 3. But the latest studies haven’t shown that this practice actually prevents allergies—to the contrary, food allergies are on the rise—and some studies suggest that introducing these allergenic foods early may even be protective. The new guidelines say that you can feed your child any foods after 4 to 6 months (except foods that are choking hazards, of course, which include large spoonfuls of peanut butter).

** ok i think this Kaboost thing is pretty darn cool. obviously it's not meant for a child who still needs to be belted into a highchair, but in place of those booster seats you try to strap on your chair? this is awesome!

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 10, 2008

a whole year later, i still miss The Dirt Dog in right...

For us...maybe we grew up in the Carlos Quintana Era, but we're also old enough to remember when the Trot Era ended, and they were officially all gone, another fistful of names: Nomar. Pedro. D-Lowe. How long before it's...allright, let's just stop right there.

Brr. Suddenly it feels chilly in here.

The real bitch of it, too, is that in the end, we left him. I know baseball teams are businesses and not charity organizations, and that this was a necessary move, but the guy's never worn any other uniform. Let's not pretend that on an emotional level this doesn't just suck, right out loud.
(Cursed to First)

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it's Band-O-Matic

or otherwise known as Things Dawn Will Steal From Other Blogs to Avoid the Paperwork On Her Desk. in this case, i have thieved from Bart.

here are the rules:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.
2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.(you might have to click new random quotes at the bottom)
3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

You then take the pic and add your band nameand the album title to it, then post your pic.

Ok so... the latest release from Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador is "Have Found a Truth."


ok, i really should start working on this pile before it grows. by the way? i just learned that i *hate* MS Paint. thank God for Michelle who so kindly makes all of my headers for Ye Humble Blog.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sing Along: January 9, 2008

Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

("Collide," Howie Day)

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speaking in tongues

do you ever feel like you must be asking a question in a different language because the person you are asking keeps giving you the same answer but it doesn't actually answer the question?

::bangs head on desk::

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today's random Red Sox off-season coping strategy quote: January 9, 2007

oh WMP. i had almost forgotten about you... and you left before we even got to see this happen.

3. Enough will the foolish suggestion that he could handle center field for any length of time should Coco Crisp suffer another injury. Wily Mo Pena is absolutely the worst outfielder I have ever seen at catching - make that attempting to catch - fly balls. And if he's charging a ball that's still in the air, forget it - just hope stays in front of him after clanging off his glove, or chest, or forehead. Mark my words: He's going to Canseco one off his coconut and into the stands before his time in Boston is done.
(Touching All the Bases)

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Random Thoughts: January 9, 2008

** the old route i used to take to work when i lived in Davenport a couple of years ago is a mess this morning. a combination of smoke & fog caused zero-visibility on I-4 in Polk County. there is now a 14-mile stretch of the highway that is shut down due to the visibility issues causing a pile-up of between forty and seventy vehicles (can't be sure yet because emergency officials can't see well enough to count them), at least three fatalities, multiple injuries, many vehicles burned or still burning, people trapped inside cars, and two Medivac helicopters that could not land because they could not see the ground.
(photo from The Ledger)
what i don't understand is why on earth anyone thought that "controlled burning" was a good plan during the driest months in Central Florida. but more than that, i am thankful that i no longer need to travel this route to and from work every day.

** i am all about the learning of random information the last few days. these lessons brought to you by the Hollywood Writers Strike. =P

** while watching Dirty Jobs last night, did you know that when male llamas fight over mating rights, they ummm... try to bite off each other's ::ahem:: piece of the anatomy no man wants to be kicked in?! that's one way to prevent someone from stealing your intended mate: castrate him. with your teeth.

** good Lord... i don't even want to know the searches that will result in hits on my blog for *that* little tidbit.

** Dirty Jobs also taught me that life pretty much sucks if you're born a tilapia.

** while doing some reading, i also learned that "the Balinese believe that babies come to the earth as gods and do not become human until they reach the age of six months, at which time they honor them with a formal ceremony that includes touching their feet to the earth for the first time." while it's not something *i* believe, i find it very very interesting that they hold their infants in such high regard.

** i also learned something that made me a little annoyed with my playlist. apparently some of the songs only come through as 30-second clips when i embed it in my blog. the thing is, you can't tell which songs will do this. when you're logged into the site (the account is free), all of the songs on my playlist work fine. there are some songs that are still only available in 30-second clips, at the artist's or label's request, but those are clearly marked as such. you get *no* warning that a song is only available in full-length if you are logged into your imeem account until you embed it & then try to listen. grrrr...

** i have discovered a few new blogs that i'm really enjoying. i think it may be time to give the ol' Blogroll in the left sidebar an update!

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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

it only *looks* like i haven't blogged yet today

in actuality, after giving my blog its "Go Patriots!" makeover for the duration of their appearance in the playoffs, i started doing a little housekeeping.

i changed up my wish list (though i am still not sure i like it's present location, so we shall see... it doesn't really fit anywhere else as a slideshow though...)

i reinstalled my playlist now that imeem got itself back in order. some of you missed it. and for those of you that didn't, you will be happy to know that it is not on autoplay. anyone who wants to listen will just have to push the little play button. ;-)

and now over there in the right sidebar, for those of you who just can't live without knowing what i might be doing at any given moment, i present to you: Twitter.

keep a lookout. you never know what else might appear before i'm done...

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Monday, January 7, 2008

And I Quote: January 7, 2008

"I think I'd miss you even if we'd never met."
(Dermot Mulroney as Nick Mercer in "The Wedding Date")

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