A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
("Hey There Delilah," Plain White T's)
there is some frankly disturbing news of a threat made on Boston's black and Latin players in Tampa tonight. two names were spefically mentioned -- we don't know which ones -- but all the players have been notified.
i have some thoughts on this:
1. when they mention "security", how much do you want to bet that's a poorly veiled warning that Beckett & Timlin will be packing during tonight's game? keep an eye on those duffle bags over there by the bullpen... er bullbench area is all i'm saying.
2. i'm going straight to hell for this, but what are the odds they would target Lugo? (i swear on all that is important to me that i am *not* behind this thing!)
on a serious note, i wish nothing but health & safety for all the players, but most especially tonight for: Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Alex Cora, Mike Lowell, Julio Lugo, Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. i hope they catch whoever this nutcase is behind these threats.
and just remember, Josh Beckett & Mike Timlin are avid hunters. do not make their teammates marked men if you won't enjoy being looked at through their crosshairs.
When your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here, darling
From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me
("Have a Little Faith In Me," John Hiatt)
Cast me gently into morning
For the night has been unkind
("Answer," Sarah McLachlan)
oh if only i dared to publish the posts that get saved in the security of my draft folder. those raw & volatile thoughts that never see the light of day but spill out, tumbling word after word, in the dead of night when i cannot sleep.
i guess we all have secrets in our hearts that are not confided to a sinlge soul, out of fear. fear of rejection... misunderstanding... abandonment... and mostly fear of ourselves. because speaking them opens up a vulnerability so fragile we don't know if we'd survive it being crushed. the irony is that we silence them to keep from getting hurt, yet sometimes it seems leaving them unspoken is the greater enemy, the greater risk.
i would go to sleep... if i could quiet the thoughts in my mind and curl up in the warmth of a place safer than any other.
2am makes me even more cyptic than i usually am...
"For those who understand, no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t, none will do."
(unknown)
Kristine instructs:
June 27 - “Children are our Future” – show me that quote in a picture.
this photo was taken when i was up in Connecticut three weeks ago for Baby Girl's birthday. (i say Baby Girl, but just look at her on my lap! no more baby!) i look at this photo of us though, and i can't help but see that those kids are our future, our legacy. they are themselves and yet us, carried forward. pieces of us, both genetically and emotionally. those five beautiful children (plus the two not pictured -- Gosia's son Seamus and her upcoming December arrival) make the future look promising and bright. and maybe someday i will get the opportunity to contribute my own piece of it...
Machinery
1. What was the last thing you purchased from a vending machine?
i don't even remember the last time i used one, never mind what i purchased from it. i guess i just don't find myself in many situations where i am even around vending machines.
2. What was the last thing you made copies of on a photocopier?
i made copies of the open orders and invoicing reports yesterday afternoon.
3. When did you last use a pay telephone?
it was at least a couple of years ago as i've had a cell phone since then & wouldn't have a need to use a pay phone.
4. How often do you visit an automatic teller machine?
ummmm... last Sunday. i never go more than once a week and usually less than that.
5. Which of your daily tasks would you most like to see automated?
my commute. is that even possible? (and please do not suggest public transportation -- you'd have to see what it's like where i live. you wouldn't take it either.)
Friday Fill-in #78
1. Birthdays are just another day for me really; I've never made much of a big deal about them.
2. Aututmn in New England is my favorite season because the weather is perfect -- warm days, crisp mornings, cool evenings -- but unfortunately, i don't have Autumn here.
3. I feel my best when i get enough down time to recharge.
4. there is no way i could ever narrow down what is my favorite food!
5. First impressions are difficult to overcome.
6. The best piece of advice I ever received was from my Gram: Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow; today has enough of its own.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing & watching the Sox game, tomorrow my plans include a hair cut (finally!) and a whole pile of errands (Target, Kohl's, Bath & Body Works to stock up on shower gel, post office, bank) and Sunday, I want to have a nice relaxing day of nothing!
"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit."
(Aristotle)
after bemoaning the utter lack of offense since the beginning of this series (feels like forever though!), it was as if someone unclogged the water flow in the 8th inning Tuesday night. suddenly there were productive singles! bases clearing doubles to tie the game! clutch hits for the lead from superheroes sporting red Cs on their chests!
we had been treated to some outstanding pitchers' showcases during this homestand (minus certain hundred million dollar starters, but we won't name names) that we always seemed to come out on the wrong side of, but it was like the boys were stepping up to bat wielding overcooked spaghetti instead of actual baseball bats.
it all changed with a Julio Lugo single (yeah, i rubbed my eyes when i saw it too and don't even get me started on how this sort of thing from him is inconsistent at best) and suddenly we were staging a late-inning comeback like days of old. the wailing & gnashing of teeth became cheers of celebration.
i was concerned that it was a fluke which can often be problematic on Wakefield starts. no need to worry though, as Wake pitched a real gem. unlike the previous evening though, when all the expected names (and Lugo) produced the numbers on the wall, last night was sponsored by a 2-run sac fly from Moss and a 3-run moon shot from, of all people, Kevin Cash. it was like Son of Mirabelli, Stud Who Hits Bombs II, as that ball sailed over the Monstah & into the Boston night. (queue up the Giant Glass commercial!) [bit o' trivia for you: that was the first home run from Cash in three years, his last coming June 21, 2005 when he played for Tampa against none other than New York's... Randy Johnson. well, now we know at least one person quivers in fear when Cashy's at the plate! (i kid! i like Kevin Cash. anyone good enough for Wake is good enough for me. but really, what are the odds of that??)]
and so it is we take a day of rest & then head to Houston to seal up Interleague play over the weekend, still safely in first place by a game. the Rays will attempt to sweep the Marlins this afternoon, which i am hoping does not happen, before heading to Pittsburgh for three. man, it sure would be nice to arrive at the Trop next week with a guaranteed lead on the division... the silver lining is that i will be at the series opener & not the last game this time.
anyone else think that MLB is dragging its feet on announcing the decision on Coco's appeal to ensure he spends the series in Tampa sitting safely on the bench?
uh... right. ;-)
what i really meant to say is if you're looking for me, i am over here, guest-posting for Nichole while she in Chicago.
i'll see ya over there.
what are you still doing here? go on, get over there!
first, let me start by saying that if Manny comes up all gimpy hamstring after this, i will personally hunt E6 down & put him out of my misery. does he seriously use his head for *anything*??
(photo from the Boston Herald)
now. that thing with Youk. what are the odds that a ball *does* that? a strange hop during warmup tosses? that just so happens to pop up & smack him right in the eye? on the very same day that The Mayor starts his 3-game suspension? while our other emergency first base alternate (Papi, for those of you not following along) is on the DL?
you have *no* idea how badly i wanted to blame this on JFL. i mean, it's just the kind of crap fest he would be responsible for. but it was Mike Lowell. and you *know* he didn't intentionally take Youk out of the game, because let's face it: for as long as Lugo plays in Boston, he knows we need the best of the best playing the rest of our infielf to make up for the many (16 but who's counting?) errors that happen at shortstop.
"I short-hopped him and it wasn't even a hard throw," said Lowell. "I thought I hit him in the side of the head, but he had a pretty big shiner pretty quick. I'm just glad that he got all the test results back, and that he's going to be fine. I feel really bad." (Yahoo! Sports)
anyway, i am chalking this up to a freak accident. kind of like the way that whole game went last night. because we all knew we were supposed to win a game when The Commander gives up only two runs at home. tonight it's going to all be ok again though. because we *have* to win on Jerry Remy Night, right??
from the "Ask Rachael" page of the Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine (March 2008)
Q: If you're from New York, how did you become a Boston Red Sox fan?
A: Six words: Carlton Fisk. Nomar Garciaparra. Curt Schilling.
...because this day already feels several eternities long and it's not even lunchtime.
::sigh::
swiped from Gail!
1. What is in the back of your car?
ummmmm... a couple of boxes i think? i should bring those in the house when i get home today. i kinda forgot they were back there til right this second.
2. What color is your toothbrush?
blue and white.
3. Name one person who made you smile today.
Nichole.
4. What were you doing at 8:00 AM?
logging into my computer at work.
5. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
setting up a new customer in our database.
6. What is your favorite candy?
See's chocolates. or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
7. What is the last thing your said aloud?
he is off-site with a customer. can i offer you his voicemail?
8. What is the best ice cream flavor?
you're kidding me, right? just one?? i like so many... mint chocolate chip is one.
9. What is the last thing you had to drink?
water.
10. What are you wearing right now?
jeans and this top (in Tree Moss Green, but no belt).
11. What is the last thing you ate?
Quaker Simple Harvest Dark Chocolate Chunk Chewy Granola Bar
12. Have you bought any new clothes this week?
i have not. and i don't plan to.
13. When was the last time you ran?
how about so long ago that i don't actually remember? it's *way* too hot & humid for anything even remotely resembling running right now. i would probably need to be on fire or see a giant spider.
14. What was the last sporting event you watched?
yesterday's Sox game, of course!
15. Ever go camping?
are you out of your ever-loving mind??
16. Do you have a tan?
i do not. i have SPF15 on my porcelain white skin because tanning is little more than a futile effort for me & really just an exercise in how to acquire skin cancer.
17. Do you take vitamins daily?
in my fruits & veggies. ;-)
18. Do you go to church?
i do most Sundays.
19. Do you like Chinese food more than pizza?
not even close. i like Chinese just fine, but i rarely crave it.
20. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
i honestly can't remember the last time i even drank a soda at all!
21. Are you someone's best friend?
i am! more than one someone even! i am so lucky.
22. What are you doing tomorrow?
working. watching the Sox. making meatloaf for dinner.
23. Where is your dad?
i am assuming he is at work although the possibility exists that he is on vacation. pretty likely odds of that actually since i plan to call him on Wednesday. =P
24. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
not as fast as i can say it forward!
25. Do you have a maid service clean your home?
i do not. and even if i could afford such luxuries, i am weirded out by the idea of some stranger cleaning my home.
26. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
i don't have that many shoes to begin with that i wear regularly. sneakers, brown sandals, black sandals, brown boots, black boots. i like them all pretty equally.
27. What color is your car?
silver.
28. How do you like your popcorn?
a little bit of butter (just enough for the flavor, not enough to make it greasy) and i don't mind a tiny bit of salt but i don't need to have it.
29. How did you get your worst scar?
from when i had chicken pox. i am pretty lucky. i don't have many scars.
30. Look to your left. What do you see?
the copy machine. the urethane production manager's office. the door to the urethane shop. a monitor that shows the images from our security cameras.
31. What color is your watch?
it's mostly silver with a little gold accent. but i haven't worn it in six months because it needs a new battery & i never remember to take it with me when i am somewhere near a licensed jeweler.
32. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
koala bears. kangaroos. platypusses. (platypi?)
33. Do you use chap stick?
not specifically. i use vanilla flavored softlips.
34. Do you have a dog?
sort of... he stayed behind (almost) two years ago though...
35. Last person you talked to on the phone?
some telemarketer that had the personality of a rotting tree stump.
36. Have you met anyone famous?
nope!
37. Any plans today?
i plan to watch the Sox game tonight. and that's about it.
38. How many states have you lived in?
two: Connecticut and Florida.
39. Do you dye your hair?
i've gotten varying degrees of highlights but i've never done all-over color.
40. Do you like cats?
sure!
Day is done
1. Last party you went to?
that would be Baby Girl's fourth birthday party two weeks ago.
2. Do you pee in the shower?
ummm. no. i have never had an emergency that required me to do that because i couldn't wait the five minutes it would take me to finish showering.
3. Have you ever fired a gun?
i sure have! about 18 months ago. and i think i did pretty well. i've probably forgotten most of what i was taught but it would most likely come back quickly with a refresher. here ya go, proof:
4. Where do you call home?
the place i live is home. and New England is "back home". and California is my "home away from home".
5. What's your favorite board game?
i loved board games. Scattergories is one. Monopoly. Clue. Life. and Cranium is tons of fun in a group (as long as i don't have to hum!)
Feast One Hundred & Ninety Four
Appetizer
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?
i would have to say Europe. there are plenty of countries there to explore & not too many of them are, shall we say, disgruntled. but i have to ask who i can bring with me, because if i'm going alone, all bets are off.
Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?
you're going to roll your eyes, but Internet Explorer. i know, i know. there are better options out there, but it works for me.
Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?
ummm... probably an 8. i am sure it was higher at some point (like when i was still in school & the facts were fresh) but i still know a good deal of it & my memory is easily jogged. i was always fascinated with US history. so much that it bugged me that we spent so much time on world history. in college, i purposely took a US history course that covered WWI to present because we would always start with the birth of our country in school & the year would run out at WWI.
Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is…
...a precious gift that truly defies any words that could do it justice.
Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado?
yes! back in, oh, 1997 or 1998, i was in Syracuse visiting friends. we went to the NY State Fair & headed back for where we were staying when the weather got stormy. we were hanging out that evening, when the power went out. we hung out by windows watching the wind, rain & lightning. it never came back on so we headed for bed. the following morning it was still off so we decided to head out in search of breakfast. imagine our shock to see entire trees uprooted & houses missing roofs literally around the corner. a tornado had ripped up the adjacent block during the night, almost literally while we were stupidly standing in the windows, and we had no idea!
seriously. thirteen freaking hours innings. it's a good thing we (finally!) won or i might have ended up with a self-inflicted concussion from banging my head on the coffee table.
you know, i would love to tell you more about the game, but much like Remy, who wasn't sure he even remembered enough of the escapades in the earlier innings to actually give a game recap, i don't think i can recall enough details to compose a meaningful post.
i know that Jeemer loaded the bases in the top of the 11th & Hansen (hooray for remembering how to pitch by the way!) came in with two outs & bailed him out in three pitches. and then Isringhausen repaid the favor, getting out of his own bases loaded jam in the home half of the inning.
and i know that Papelbon came in for the 9th and blew his fourth save of the season. (don't think i have forgotten all that self-praise & running of the mouth during Spring Training, young man.)
but mostly i know that Youk gave a ball a ride into the last row of the Monstah seats for a two-run walk-off home run blast.
and i will also divulge that i called that home run in a most unconventional way. i will *not* however share what that way was. let's just say you all wish you could perform this talent. i would tell you & all but you know how superstitious Sox fans are prone to being & i can't be jinxing my magic. ;-)
so. we avoided being swept at home (barely -- and no, i do not wish to further elaborate on those first two games, and yes, i did see E6 commit *two* errors in one inning on Friday). tomorrow, Arizona arrives for three before the Sox head out on the road yet again. is it me or have we played a ridiculous amount of road games this year? sure feels that way.
ps. when exactly did Jon Lester turn into the guy i am most relieved to see starting a game...? am confused...
(photo from Yahoo! Sports)
great, now i have that Matchbox 20 song stuck in my head.
i know i haven't blogged about the Sox in... well, so long that i cannot actually recall unless i were to go & physically look it up. the thing is, i had lots to say, but every time i would consider blogging about them, the Sox would lose! which would make me not want to talk about the bullpen woes & the utter lack of anything even remotely close to offense & the immense frustration of losing games that we had been leading. and then they would win. and i would think about blogging. enter vicious cycle. you get the idea.
this is getting silly though. i can't just not talk about them! so i will dive back in with some random thoughts & see if we can't just get back on track here. work for you? (if the answer is 'no'... well, we've discussed this before. just remember who's in charge here.)
1. i feel the need to lead of with: yes, i know that the Celtics won last night. and no, i don't really care. i am happy for them & the city of Boston. but i still don't give a flying flip about basketball. we all enjoy different things & that is one sport that just holds no appeal to me whatsoever. so if you're a basketball fan & more specifically a Celtics fan: hooray! you must be so excited. and i am proud to say i still can't be called a bandwagon fan of any sort.
2. Bartolo Colon should never be allowed to so much as *look* at a baseball bat again, let alone actually hold one. that was one of the most painful visuals -- figuratively, and also apparently *literally* -- i have seen in a good long while (not counting the mere existence of Julio Freaking Lugo). convenient though, as i hear Matsuzaka is about ready to return. on the topic of our pitchers at the plate though, Lestah seemed to look pretty darn at ease there. working full counts & at least making contact is ok with me. and a far sight better than we get from Lugo most days too! =P
3. speaking of E6. the reports said Lugo didn't play on Saturday due to a stomach ailment. i am thinking the ailment was Tito's. and it was that his ulcer needed a rest from Lugo's presence (as much as a black hole has presence) in the lineup & on the field. seriously. we could stand a cardboard cutout between second & third and it would be more productive. i mean, based solely on the laws of probability, it would occasionally block a hit. and it certainly wouldn't be well on its way toward a 40-error season.
4. also on the sick front, was The Cap'n. that's twice this season now! first the flu & then strep throat. ::shaking my head:: i haven't ever suffered from it, but i know people who have. they say it's a lot like swallowing molten knives. and Tek caught 8 innings, and smacked out a home run feeling like that?? leaves me no doubt that Fisk speaks the truth when he says Tek has a good four or five years left. all i know is he better retire with the Boston B on his cap and the red C over his heart. i'm looking at you, Epstein.
5. that game with the Orioles on June 12? when Hernandez & Mora chased that ball up the third base side? and then it dropped between them? i'm sorry but that's some funny stuff. makes me feel like i'm watching an old Abbott & Costello skit. that rundown with Youk was pretty entertaining as well.
6. also on the 12th: when Baltimore opted to give Manny an intentional free trip to first to load 'em up & take their chances with Lowell, as Mikey stepped up, i said "now would be a *great* time to launch one, Lowell." and then i had to pick myself up off the floor when he did. after i admired it, Manny-style, from my carpet-level view.
7. we have just been all about the home run lately. and that's with Manny playing what amounts to every other day & *no* Papi. we're getting them from all sorts of unlikely places. Pedroia's recently sleepy bat. a few rare treats from Ellsbury & Coco. Youk going deep in his hometown. but really, it's been the JD Drew Show. i am thinking he likes that 3-hole. i wonder what we'll do when Ortiz is ready to come back...
8. on the subject of Coco: does anyone else think that his asking price has just shot through the roof? i am wondering if some teams had him in their radar, thinking "trade deadline fire sale!" uh, not so much now.
9. which gives me a great segue to another speedy centerfielder. am i wrong or does it just never get old watching Runs Like Hell get away with grand theft all around the base paths?
10. Lugo batted leadoff last night. at first, i was none too pleased. i wanted to know who in their right mind would approve such an atrocity. and then i realized that was the one way to guarantee he couldn't possibly hit into a double play at least once in the game. =P
11. a standing ovation for The Mayor in Cincinnati made me happy. i love when we recognize old friends.
12. Jon Lester: strong candidate for the 2009 Julian Tavarez Second Chance Award. nuff said.
i am glad we go into this afternoon's rubber game split. i have to admit, i was terrified coming into this series. and not just because the Phillies whomped the Cardinals 20-2 over the weekend. they have some strong pitching. a lights-out relief crew (i vaguely recall what that's like...). and they can hit pretty much everything. i've had quite enough of Rollins making highlight reel stops at short (yes, probably a little... ok a lot of SS envy). and i am over Howard at the plate with his multiple home run games & his triples. i'd really like to get the heck out of Dodge & flee back to the friendly confines of Fenway. so here's to some hefty Sox offense as wee Justin Masterson battles the 6-2 Kyle Kendrick, who hasn't lost a game since mid-April (that's 5 wins & 5 no-decisions since his April 16 loss, and the Phillies haven't lost a single one of his last ten starts). the good news is that no matter what happens today, the Sox will retain first place in the AL East -- worst case scenario, a Sox loss & Rays win today *and* a Rays win tomorrow would still give us a half-game lead.
::clicking my heels::
there's no place like home... there's no place like home...
Feast One Hundred & Ninety Three
Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
very much an optimist. if i get down, i don't usually get down for very long. i am a firm believer that we are responsible for our attitude. if we choose to have a gloomy & negative outlook, then we will be bitter. if we choose to be positive & cheerful, then we will find the silver lining without much trouble at all. there are always two ways to look at every situation, and whether we can control the circumstances or not, we can *always* control the way we react.
Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write with?
black ink please! for one very silly reason: when ever i write with blue ink, the pen seems to explode or leak.
Salad
How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?
i used to get a manicure once every two weeks, back when i lived in Connecticut. i had really nice long nails back then. but down here, i just can't afford the upkeep. i've never had a professional pedicure -- not crazy about anyone touching my feet because i am so ticklish -- but i do keep my toes sandal-ready!
Main Course
Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?
sure have! two Fandango tickets and $750 from
Dessert
In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?
as if i have so many options. ha! it's in the corner of my living room.
That's where we meet
1. What's your weather?
hot. humid. a little hazy. 77 degrees. feels like 81 (at 9:30am). 78% humidity. absolutely no breeze at all. supposed to get up to 92 today with a 60% chance for thunderstorms all day.
2. Where are you on your way to?
crazy. wanna come?
3. Are you good with directions?
yes, if they provide landmarks. if you tell go north for 6.8 miles, i'm never going to get there. but if you tell me to go through two traffic lights & turn left on Main Street just past the Publix, i'm great.
4. Do you know your neighbors?
well... does "the old lady who tries to get people to run errands for her," "the idiot that used to play Guitar Hero on maximum volume after 11pm," and "the guy that must walk all day long because every time i leave or return from somewhere i see him walking" count as knowing my neighbors?
5. What do you smell?
just my own vanilla-scented lotion. which in this place? thank God. ;-)
i saw a Monarch buttefly float by my car on a Summer breeze while i waited at a traffic light on my way home from work. i thought to myself that it had been a long time since i'd seen a butterfly.
::ponder::
is it that there are suddenly fewer butterflies? or have i just not taken the time to notice them?
*when i first learned to talk, one of my first words was "flutterfly", which translates to "butterfly", of course.
yes, late. ::hangs head in shame:: i was away. and busy. but i want to fill this out retroactive to this past weekend and this is the first chance i've had...
Friday Fill-in #75
1. Idle hands are available to be blogging so get to it!
2. I love just standing in the warm water pounding on my back when i'm in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when the rest of the world is fast asleep, whether it's early morning or late at night.
4. The last tea I drank was in California because Daniel asked me to try some, to humor him, as i said i didn't care for tea & he thought perhaps i might like a different kind of tea -- i tried some & i still don't care for tea.
5. I like to hibernate in the Summer.
6. My mother grandmother always said "It does no good to borrow trouble from tomorrow".
7. And as for the this past weekend, tonight I’m looking Friday night I looked forward to an uneventful flight to Connecticut, tomorrow Saturday my plans included getting to hang out with all my girlies and Sunday, I wanted to enjoy as much of Baby Girl's birthday party as i could before heading back to the airport!
yes, i know i am late. but when you see the assignment, you'll see why i couldn't actually "take" the photos until Saturday. (that doesn't really provide an excuse for why i took til today to actually post them, but... ::shrugs::)
the instructions:
June 6: Through the eyes of a child.
If you have a child; Allow the child to take your camera and find something they like to take a picture of. Do not prompt them on what to take, leave them to themselves to pick it.
If you do NOT have a child…you lucky bastards; Get down on your stomach or knees, about the height of child or baby and see what you see from there point of view.
now i do not have a child but i did have the opportunity this past weekend to borrow a child! plus, Baby Girl loved participating. =) that's right. i placed my camera into the hands of a not-quite-four-year-old (well, sort of. i did keep it cupped in my hand for stability but she looked through the viewfinder & pushed all the buttons!). there are some privileges to being the god child, you know. plus i love that i instilled the seeds of the photography bug! she asked several more times to take photos over the course of the weekend! (of course her mom might kill me if she helps herself to the family camera now... hopefully its tucked away somewhere safe!)
without further ado, i present to you:
Photos by Catherine
the first one was a little... experimental. ;-) it's tough to explain all the steps to taking a photo to a preschooler! LOL! this was an attempt to photograph Daddy. as you can see, there is no Daddy in this photo. actually... maybe you *can't* really see.
ok. here's some progress. we're in focus. and there is *some* Daddy. at least we're looking in the right direction now! preschoolers can't close one eye & just look through the viewfinder so it's challenging to explain that you need to see Daddy in "the little window" when you can still see him with your other eye.
almost there... "can we try again, Auntie Dawn?" she asked. of course! we do not argue with the photography muse. she knew what she wanted & that wasn't it!
success!! a photo of Daddy! and a very excited little photographer. =)
by the way? when almost-four-year-olds take "artistic photography" and see the results in the review window? they find it *hysterical*.
...the weather forecast on the radio is "hey! it's only going to be 90 degrees today!"
yeah. only. *only*.
and that's not sarcasm. welcome to June in the Sunshine State.
ack.
1. Name something you have in common with all of your siblings?
ummm... our last name. our father. our blue eyes.
2. Do you fold your underwear?
well, as well as it can be anyway.
3. Do you like to drink the juice out of freeze pops?
i did when i was a kid, which was the last time i had a freeze pop.
4. Who is the last person you wrote a letter to on paper?
does writing in a card count? assuming it does, i wrote one just this week but i don't think it's arrived at its destination yet. so... in the interest of letting "happy mail" be a surprise, i'm not saying who!
5. What was your first real job?
i would say the steady babysitting job i had. i know you're rolling your eyes at "babysitting" but i sat for the same family almost every single weekend (they had a band that played parties & weddings & such). pretty nice being paid cash, under the table & all! if that doesn't count, then the first job requiring me to file taxes was working at a sandwich shop. cured me of ever wanting to work food service again.
6. Aside from Driver's Ed, who really taught you how to drive?
the guy i was dating at the time.
7. Wanna taste?
not if you don't tell me what it is first! i'm no dummy.
8. What's the one thing you love/miss about your Grandma's cooking?
everything! there was nothing in the world like Gram's cooking. (well except for Spam & red cabbage. ::shudder::)
9. What color is your favorite hoodie?
white with yellow stripes on the sleeves. (stop laughing at me, Nichole!)
10. Who was like your second Mom or second Dad?
for a long time, Michael's family felt like *my* family. now, i barely have my actual set of parents, let alone anyone else.
11. Name a sound that disturbs you?
anyone or anything throwing up.
12. What's your typical ice cream order at Dairy Queen?
i haven't been to a DQ in probably ten years. at least. but *i* can get Dole Whips (pineapple & vanilla swirl please!) at Disney World, so there!
13. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
sauerkraut!
14. What did you do today?
get up. shower. get dressed & ready for the day. made my lunch. ran the dishwasher. took out the trash. packed the things i used this morning that i will need (toothbrush, face cream, etc). drove to work. ate breakfast. checked email. blogged. answered the phone at work. laminated some things. typed a letter to a customer. printed some delivery tickets.
15. Are you emotional?
not at the moment. but i am a girl, so i am more than capable. ;-)
16. Have you ever had the same dream more than once?
yes & i was *just* thinking about this! i used to have a recurring nightmare when i was a kid. it involved the school i went to & savage Native Americans trying to kill me & a wise old man under the stage in the gymnasium who told me how to escape but in order to do so i had to run across the parking lot that was filled with human skulls. i probably had that dream every couple of months. and i always knew what would happen next, even while i was dreaming, but it still scared the bejeezus outta me. what made me think of that dream was that i recently had another dream i had as a child, also in the halls of my old school up above all the lockers were glass boxes containing angry animals (cheetah, lion, bear, bobcat, etc) trying to break free & attack me. yeah, i don't know either.
17. Name a song that makes you happy?
"Old Blue Chair" by Kenny Chesney
18. Do you use chap stick?
no, but i do use SoftLips which is sort of the same thing. tastes good, does exactly what it advertises & has SPF in it.
19. If you were in an emergency situation and you had to deliver a baby, could you?
i probably could. i'm not sure i'd *want* to, but i think i could do it if i had to. it's not like i would be the one doing the hard work. oh dear God... i hope i wouldn't have to deliver my own!!
20. What was the most recent thing you bought?
a couple of new sleeveless shirts. i had to retire a couple but i couldn't afford to have fewer, especially this time of year!
21. What is on your refrigerator door?
a photo of Baby Girl & Baby Brother from Christmas. a photo of Alison's kids from Christmas. Krystyn's son's birth announcement. a card from Nichole. and the first card posted here from Lisa which is so pretty that it makes me smile every single time i see it. =)
22. Name something you have to do tomorrow?
hang out with Heather! yay!
23. What was the last movie you watched?
88 Minutes.
24. Do any of your friends have children?
actually many of them do! i am going to see a bunch of them tomorrow!
25. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk?
if you are going to make me drink it, it better be chocolate but i would rather just pass on it all together, thanks.
26. When was the last time you had Starbucks?
December 2006. i wanted to try the Caramel Apple Cider.
27. Can you whistle?
a little.
28. Do you have a trampoline at your house?
i do not. i also do not have a house, for that matter. =P
29. What movie do you know every line to?
Major League. Ocean's Eleven. Father of Bride & Father of the Bride II (with Steve Martin).
30. Would you ever want to swim with the sharks?
i don't even want to swim *without* the sharks.
31. Do you know how to do a cart-wheel?
nope. i've never been able to do one. coordination is not my friend!
32. Do you maintain any friendships originating from elementary school?
yes!! Heather & i have been friends since we were three!! i've also gotten back in touch with a couple of other elementary school friends via Facebook but other than high school when Heather & i briefly lost touch, we've always been friends!
33. What're you wearing?
light khaki cargo capris. a white tank top with a palm tree on it made of tiny sequins. a hooded sleeveless hoodie that is the same color as the capris. socks & sneakers.
34. What was the last thing you ate?
an oatmeal raisin granola bar.
35. When was the last time you did the dishes?
this morning! no dirty dishes allowed to sit in my sink while i am away! it was just my juice glass from this morning & the pot i cooked my pasta in when i made my lunch.
36. Do you own any band t-shirts?
nope. i have Sox t-shirts. and Patriots t-shirts. and WDW t-shirts.
37. Last song you sang out loud?
"Fallen," by Sarah McLachlan.
38. When was the last time you slept on the floor?
1994?
40. Would you chew gum that's already been chewed?
no but i know someone who would! LOL! (depending on who already chewed it of course)
41. Who have you talked to today?
Debbie. Dale. Bobby. Troy. Jean. Randy. Dane. Phil. Mike. John. and a bunch of people who have called here.
42. What comes to your mind when I say pumpkins?
Halloween!
43. How old are you?
i turned 31 on my last birthday.
44. What is your background on your computer?
which one?
45. Do you wish on 11:11 PM
can't say that i ever have.
46. Good advice if you ever go camping?
yeah: don't. =P seriously, camping is so not my thing. bugs & sleeping on the ground & not having my own private bathroom. so not for me.
47. Besides your mouth, where is your favorite spot to get kissed?
that information is on a "need to know" basis & i'm thinking the odds are pretty high that you don't need to know.
48. Were you happy when you woke up today?
eh. i wasn't in a bad mood or anything but i didn't really want to get up. too comfy.
49. How about now?
i'm ok. kinda hungry. if you were paying attention yesterday, you know what that means. ;-)
50. Would you rather have chicken or steak?
right now? chicken.
51. How many of your friends have seen you naked?
how about none?!
52. What were you doing at 10 am?
working on this survey between phone calls & work tasks. and discussing last night's Sox-Rays brawl with Bart via Twitter direct message.
53. Are you different now than you were six months ago?
OMG *yes*! =)
54. What was the last beverage you spilled on yourself?
most likely water since that's almost the only thing i drink.
55. Who was the last person to text you?
Daniel
56. Who was the last person to call you?
Heather
57. What month is your birthday in?
October
58. Can you live a day without tv?
sure i could. i can watch the Sox play online. ;-)
59. When was the last time you saw your dad?
April
60. How many houses have you lived in?
11, i think...
61. How many city/towns have you lived in?
seven
62. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
that depends? am i inside? outside? is it warm or cold? too many variables to pick just one.
63. What is your favorite color?
a nice warm rich red and navy blue.
64. What are you doing for your next birthday?
beats the heck out of me. it's not for another four months.
65. What are you thinking about right now?
going upstairs & heating up my lunch!
66. Any plans for the weekend?
flying to CT, seeing my girlies, meeting baby Gracie & celebrating Baby Girl's fourth birthday!
67. What were you doing at 12 last night?
sleeping soundly.
68. Do you smile a lot?
yes, i do. unless i am hungry or someone ticks me off.
69. Have you ever had a life-threatening injury?
thankfully, i have not.
70. Do you like flying or driving?
flying doesn't bother me & in some cases it's far more time-efficient. i don't mind travelling by car but i would prefer to be the passenger.
71. Do you know how to drive a stick shift?
i tried to learn but was not very successful.
72. Do you wear any jewelry daily?
i usually wear a necklace & i used to always wear a watch until the battery died & i've been too lazy to drive all the way to the other side of town to have a new one put in.
73. What is your ringtone?
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond! happy!
74. Skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk?
whole, if i must. it's usually just for cooking, baking or in cereal though. i can handle 2% as well. anything less than that just looks like cloudy water & that kinda grosses me out.
75. What time did you go to sleep last night?
around 10:30. i was tired. that Sox game was exhausting.
i have several things to say about the Sox-Rays brawl last night:
1. Coco probably should have just taken what he got & gone to first because there's no doubt it was coming. but he didn't. was the fact that Pedroia got hit as well part of why Coco lost it? i don't know. part of me thinks he should have just sucked it up & part of me thinks he did what he had to do. i would have had a bigger issue if Pedroia had charged the mound, i think.
2. there is never any reason for five grown men to be punching one man who is pinned down, barring unspeakable acts. i think the Rays had every right to tackle Coco. but five of them pounding away on him once he was on the ground? no way. ok, maybe Iwamora, but Crawford? Gomes? Navarro? inexcusable. and yes, i would feel the same way if it were reversed. five on one is pure cheap shot (unless the one is Chuck Norris -- heh!).
3. i think Coco needs a suspension. he needs some time to cool off. and he needs to take the punishment he gets & shut up now. but i also think there are several Rays that need a suspension as well for the way they conducted themselves during the fight. additionally, i do think DeMarlo Hale also needs a suspension for taking Shields down & he probably *should* have been ejected last night.
4. Joe Maddon is a hypocrite. if this situation was reversed, he would be making all kinds of excuses. and as i recall, he was perfectly fine with his players sliding in "hard" during Spring Training -- and when the Yankees catcher suffered a broken bone, he was pretty flippant with "oh well, these things happen" attitude.
5. thank your lucky stars if you were not subjected to the torture that was the Rays tv announcers last night. they were insufferable. they totally condoned the Rays actions last night, couldn't understand why any of their players would get ejected, and took great pleasure in replaying the clip of Coco being beaten down by an entire gang, over & over. later on, when Manny & Youk got into a little dugout scuffle (too much adrenaline in everyone last night, i think), they had the audacity to say "even his own teammates want to hit Youkilis" and then when Youk was hit by a pitch went as far as to say "Manny worked that out with Reyes to hit Youk as a message". i would be willing to bet there are several members of the Rays who would like to lay Carl Crawford out cold. probably Maddon too. and Jonny Gomes, purely on principle, because seriously? Jonny?? that's as bad as Jhonny Peralta. it's not like it's that difficult to spell 'Johnny' correctly. =P these are the same morons who claimed, Tuesday night, that the Pesky Pole is named that because it's pesky -- as in annoying & difficult. and also called Don Orsillo 'Danny Orsillilio' and 'Don Orsillio'.
6. kinda concerned about the health of the team here. Papi already sidelined. Ellsbury with a strained wrist. Manny with a bad hamstring. stop the madness!
7. for the record, i have now gone more than two weeks without a Remy & Don fix. i got stuck with Rays coverage for the last three games. i will be away this weekend so i won't see the games. that leaves me three games in three weeks of the RemDawg & Don-O before the Sox are back on the road. this is inhumane, folks! oh & the clip of Remy & Don fighting in their booth last night? cracked.me.up.
8. i am thinking that the "wild pitch" that got away from Lestah & hit Crawford? probably not so much a mistake. ;-)
9. most bizarre moment of the game: Sean Casey in the middle of that fight.
10. i am really glad JD Drew kind of kept to the perimeter of the brawl. with all the injuries & the fact that he's finally hitting again, not mention seems to have figured out the tricky Fenway right field, the last thing he needs to is get hurt. Lord knows he doesn't need any help there. ;-)
so the Sox sweep & sit back on top of the AL East. and hopefully they will have chilled out our attitudes for this next series because it would be nice to do the same to Seattle (sweep that is, not brawl) after we humiliated ourselves on that West Coast trip. i'll be curious to see what suspensions & fines are levied, not to mention who has enough working body parts left to play. and while i am presently unwilling to write off Coco as a bad guy just yet, based on the fact that he's not been a problem to this point, ask me again if this bologna keeps up.
a few weeks ago, A Daily Trinity of Thanks tagged me to share "10 weird, random, facts, habits or goals about yourself."
1. a confession: i get very irritable & impatient when i am hungry. snappy even. i know, you're shocked, but it's the not-so-pretty truth. when i get hungry, i need to eat quickly. the longer i wait, the grouchier i get, and it's like a snowball rolling downhill with ever-increasing speed. however, once that first bite of food hits my mouth, i am immediately restored to my normal self.
2. recurring thought: i believe i have mentioned before that i have considered changing the title to my blog. the title reflects where i was, mentally & emotionally, at the time i started blogging. i've since moved forward, evolved... and i'm just not in the same place anymore. a couple of titles i have contemplated are "waiting for my real life to begin" and "are we there yet?" i just can't seem to make the switch. i feel like people (all six of you) know me as "the broken road" now...
3. pet peeve: when a turn lane opens up, and you plan to turn, i think you should get into as soon as possible. that should prevent you from cutting me off when i am already in it & you swerve in at the very last second -- without using your signal, i might add -- and nearly clipping me. additionally, do not shoot me a dirty look in your rear view mirror when you do this & find that i am practically in your backseat. *i* was already in the lane!
4. random: i have had that stupid Subway slogan stuck in my head for two days now. "five dollar foot looooooooong." ARG!
5. aversion: some people get freaked out by the number 13. it doesn't bother me. but i *will* avoid the number comprised of three sixes (see? i won't even type it here in reference to it!) at all costs! it totally creeps me out.
6. on my mind: i am really missing my Gram lately. i keep having random memory flashes of my childhood & Summer vacations spent playing at her house. i wish i could just sit in her kitchen one more time, watching her buzz about. enjoy just one more of her meals. sit & talk with her for a while. hear her voice calling me her "sweet bug"...
7. fun fact: i am a list-maker. i can usually be found to have a minimum of a half dozen various lists in my possession at any time.
8. vulnerability: i recently came to a realization about myself. a past living situation -- and lots of negative commentary & hurtful criticism -- has really done a number on my confidence when it comes to sharing my cooking with anyone. i almost always enjoy what i make (the random new recipe attempted & rejected aside) but the thought of cooking for someone terrifies me because i no longer trust my abilities.
9. pet peeve, round two: i am not a very easily offended person. but something that really rubs me the wrong way are churches that camp out at intersections with buckets, walking up & down between the cars stopped at the light, looking for contributions. correct me if i'm wrong but isn't that why you take up offering on Sunday morning? and furthermore, how do i even know you are part of a legitimate church?? how hard is it to slap a label on a white bucket, claiming to be a church? i give my offering to my own church and i can safely say we've never sent members out to intersections to hit up the public for cash.
10. quirk: if i have several food items on my plate for a meal, i usually save a bite of my favorite thing to eat last for one last moment of enjoyment. i've done this for as long as i can remember.
i know you're supposed to tag more people to participate but i never do. if you feel compelled to play along, consider yourself tagged!
"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
(Anonymous)
photo of me: sorry, none taken in the whole entire month of May. ::sniff::
1) current candle scents: Clean Cotton. Sweet Violet.
2) what i am currently reading: Real Simple magazine.
3) newest music i added my playlist: not a single new song this month. i have a list though.
4) movies i saw: 88 Minutes.
5) something yummy i made this month: nice big soft chocolate chip cookies. mmmmm....
6) the last place i ate out: Arby's.
7) something that made me cry: no tears! Little Miss Sunshine! =)
8) something that made me laugh: remembering favorite moments & episodes from Friends.
9) something i looked forward to this month: Memorial Day. that's a really long time between New Year & Memorial Day.
10) something i am thankful for: fresh fruits & veggies.
11) something i want to remember about this month: how lucky i am to have a job in this economy, not to mention one where i can blog & play online without fear of "being caught" -- even if they *do* make me crazy from time to time.
12) a photo i took this month:
Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
("Uninvited," Alanis Morissette)
i am hiding.
ok, that's not true. actually, i lack motivation. completely & totally lack. my ambition level is to sit some place dark & cool. and do NOTHING.
do not talk to me about going outside & getting fresh air. the air is hot & stale & dripping with 93% humidity. and did i mention hot? you people, with your snow & slush & ice (which i do not miss), hibernate all Winter. *i* hibernate now.
and, yes, i suppose that with all the hibernating, i should have lots of time to blog & reply to email & keep up with your blogs.
but it's hot. and i have no motivation.
(have i mentioned that yet?)
and now i have (seriously) 233 emails in my inbox. i haven't blogged in like a week. (and yes, i know, the last several almost can't be counted as blogging even.) and i swear all of you are blogging faster than i can read, because that number in my Google Reader continues getting *bigger* even though i keep checking off posts as read.
so yeah... if anyone needs me, i am either drowning in my inbox. or working my way through a week's worth of blog posts in my Google Reader (while you all keep blogging! at warp speed! why can't you do this much blogging when i'm caught up & bored?!). or ummm... hiding.
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