Sunday, May 31, 2009

20 Questions: May 31, 2009

1. If you could have given any one piece of advice to yourself when you were a child, what would it be?
don't listen to the people who tell you that you aren't "good enough" just the way you are.

2. Who was the last person you flirted with?
Mike Lowell, on my tv ;-)

3. Top 5 things you would want to have--necessities are provided--if you were to be stranded alone for a year:
computer with internet connection. tv/dvd combo with my Friends/Grey's/S&TC DVDs. camera. reading material (books/magazines). my stash of Yankee Candles.

4. What are three things that comfort you?
hugs. snuggling up in my blankie. my faith.

5. Name something that you find completely overrated:
the tv show, LOST.

6. How often do you read your own blog archives?
i go back into my own archives fairly often, but actually read? every few months or so, i find myself going back reading some of the older posts.

7. If you had to, could you live the entire summer without running your home’s air conditioning?
not in Florida, i couldn't! i probably could back in Connecticut, considering i lived my whole childhood without it. in fact, i didn't live anywhere with air conditioning until i was in my early 20s!

8. Who was the last person that left you a comment?
Nichole did!

9. What is the temperature outside?
according to my iGoogle homepage, it is 77 degrees. all i know is it's much more comfortable than the almost 90 we had this afternoon.

10. Randomly click on a song from your playlist. What's the first line of that song?
"Well I won't make you tell me what I've come to understand..." ("Smoke Rings in the Dark," Gary Allan)

11. What do you plan on naming your baby girl?
hypothetically speaking? Emma Claire.

12. Your baby boy?
i love the name Jack.

13. What is the hardest secret you've ever had to keep?
if i told you, then it wouldn't be a secret anymore. *ahem*

14. How old were you when you started school?
i was about a month away from turning four when i started nursery school. i must have been "ready" because even though i was always one of the youngest in my class, i had to repeat a grade. i was 17 when i graduated from high school.

15. What is your favorite section of the supermarket?
i think that's a toss-up between the produce section and the ice cream freezer section.

16. What was your high school teams mascot and what were the school’s colors?
we were the rams and our colors were maroon & white.

17. Does the weather have a very large impact on your moods?
no, not really. i tend to find the benefit to the changes in weather. the exceptions would be that ice (if i need to drive in it) & hurricanes kind of stress me out, and humidity makes me feel run down & cranky if i need to spend an extended period of time in it without relief.

18. Would you break up with someone if you thought they were too arrogant?
nope. i wouldn't be in a relationship with an arrogant person in the first place. been there, done that, learned from my mistakes (eventually).

19. Is it better to be single or in a relationship?
it is better to be single than to be in a *bad* relationship. being in a *good* relationship, though, is a wonderful place to be.

20. What is your favorite word?
effervescent. it's so much fun to say! too bad it isn't easier to work into everyday conversation. ;-)

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Grace in Small Things 129:365

1. fresh local raspberries & blueberries were on sale this week. they are now in my refrigerator for snacking on. ::drool::

2. blogs that allow me to subscribe to follow-up comments via email.

3. Jon Lester pitched his best game of the season & the Sox did not get swept in Toronto after all!

4. how peaceful i feel when i get out of church.

5. my favorite blankie (the one that stays on my couch) got its first run through the wash & even though i feared it would never be the same, it is still nice & soft. whew!


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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Grace in Small Things 128:365

1. it wasn't quite as stiflingly hot today. i'm just not ready for Florida Summer yet i guess.

2. fresh corn on the cob.

3. a fun little Summer decor discovery at Target this evening. i have almost no decorations for Summer so this makes me *very* happy. i have a ton (seriously) of Autumn & Winter, and Spring holds its own. Summer needs some help though!

4. i had initially gone to Target to stock up on my favorite granola bars because i am almost out & they are the only place i can find them anymore. when i got there, i discovered they were on sale--ending today! and to think, i almost went tomorrow after church instead!

5. being told i am a good friend. this is the highest & most humbling praise i could possibly be given.


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Friday, May 29, 2009

Grace in Small Things 127:365

1. making it through the work week to the weekend.

2. birthday cake for a co-worker.

3. hitting all fifteen traffic lights on the way to work on green. that *never* happens!

4. super simple dinners that are still completely satisfying.

5. coming home after a long day & knowing that my home is truly my refuge.


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productivity

8am: when i walked into work this morning & looked at my desk, i wanted to run away. there were so many piles on it and it was in such a state of disarray, i didn't even know where to start. i was determined that it would be clean by the time i left for the day. even i thought it was a long shot, but it's good to have goals, right?


12noon: i worked my tail off & by lunchtime, there was some progress. the remaining piles were organized. and i could at least see the top of my desk. and look! there was a file cabinet under that pile closest to the window! maybe there is hope after all...


4:30pm: success!! i have earned my weekend!

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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Grace in Small Things 126:365

1. seeing a rainbow while i walked after dinner.

2. laughing at the ridiculous antics of the squirrels in my neighborhood.

3. the Red Sox splitting a four-game series in a dome instead of getting swept.

4. waking up refreshed before it's time to actually get out of bed & being able to just lay in bed listening to the birds singing outside my window at the bird feeder.

5. tidying up my apartment in under 15 minutes.


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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Grace in Small Things 125:365

1. snacks for dinner because it was just too much effort to do anything else.

2. not walking all the way over to the laundry room only to find all the machines were in use--for once the whole thing was open!

3. dozing off on the couch & waking up just enough to get into bed so i don't wake up in the morning with a crick in my neck, but not waking up so much i can't fall right back to sleep.

4. catching the first half hour of the Today Show while i finish getting ready for work.

5. the fact that my home phone barely ever rings which was a relief after the phone at work drove me insane all day long.


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on screen

five favorite actresses
1. Sarah Jessica Parker
2. Jennifer Garner
3. Mariska Hargitay
4. Jennifer Aniston
5. Diane Lane

five favorite actors
1. John Cusack
2. James Tupper
3. Patrick Dempsey
4. Sean Connery
5. George Clooney

five favorite tv characters
1. Alan Shore, Boston Legal
2. Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy
3. Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory
4. Carrie Bradshaw, Sex & the City
5. Monica Geller, Friends

five favorite tv episodes
1. The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks, Friends -- this is, hands down, my favorite episode of tv ever. when Monica wears the turkey on her head & scares Joey, i laugh til i cry. even though i've seen this episode at least a dozen times.
2. No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance), Grey's Anatomy -- this is a very new addition to the list for me since it only aired about a month ago, but Ellen Pompeo's acting in this episode blew me away.
3. Mad Cows, Boston Legal -- OMG the paint ball episode. this one is still on my DVR so i can watch it at will. i haven't laughed this hard since the Thanksgiving flashback episode of Friends!
4. Bad Mood Rising, Everybody Loves Raymond -- the infamous PMS episode. when Debra has Ray backed up to the bookcase & he is screaming "A hug??! THIS is not HUGGABLE!!" slays me every time.
5. Three Valentines, Frasier -- i don't even remember the rest of the episode, but the scenes with Niles are hysterical.

five tv episodes that made me cry
1. The Last One, Friends -- it made me so sad when they all turned in their keys. i think this may be the hardest i ever took a series finale. i'm still not sure i'm over it.
2. What a Difference a Day Makes, Grey's Anatomy -- another recent one. the Izzie-Alex wedding episode. if you watch Grey's, i don't need to explain.
3. Hop, Skip and a Week, Sex & the City -- when Harry proposes to Charlotte, i totally lose it every time.
4. Yahrzeit, CSI:NY -- a very powerful & moving episode. i never expected to be so affected.
5. Let It Be, Grey's Anatomy -- this is the one with the elderly couple where the wife finds out she has terminal cancer & doesn't want them to tell her husband and the husband doesn't want them to tell the wife, neither of them knows that the other already knows, because they just want to go to Venice & ride in the gondolas & not have their beloved be anything less than happy.

five favorite movies
1. Sex & the City, The Movie
2. Fever Pitch
3. Ocean's Eleven
4. Serendipity
5. Major League

five movies that make me cry
1. The Notebook
2. Sex & the City
3. My Life
4. The Shawshank Redemption
5. We Were Soldiers

five favorite movie characters
1. George Banks (Steve Martin), Father of the Bride
2. Alex Hitchens (Will Smith), Hitch
3. Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr), Jerry Maguire
4. Jonathan Trager (John Cusack), Serendipity
5. Danny Ocean (George Clooney), Ocean's Eleven

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Grace in Small Things 124:265

1. toes freshly painted in Mocha Frost.

2. four-day work weeks.

3. the envelope sealer on our postage meter at work.

4. it stopped raining before i had to drive home from work.

5. Barnum's animal crackers.


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after i posted this, i had to check my feet to see if they're webbed yet.

upon looking in the mirror just now, my hair bears a striking resemblance to a duckling: mostly brown with some blonde parts. kind of spiky in the back, like a duck butt. and whoa-hello-there with the fluffy!

holy crap. the last two weeks of rain really *are* turning me into a duck.

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Grace in Small Things 123:365

1. my favorite pj pants.

2. Memorial Day. and remembering that some gave all.

3. the sound of a lawn mower & how it sends me right back to my childhood Summers.

4. stumbled upon this quote: "Our values develop our character and our character creates our destiny. When we're out of touch with our values, we are blown about like Autumn leaves, caught up in mindless routines... but when we affirm our guiding values, our lives are inspired by our deepest beliefs." (Diane Dreher, Ph.D.) i love quotes that make me think.

5. cheeseburger. potato salad. brownies.


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Slice of Life: May 25, 2009

the new bedding i got last month.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

20 Questions: May 24, 2009

1. Do you make plans around your TV?
not so much, now that i have a DVR. i do still try to catch most Sox games live if at all possible though. and it actually works out that way without much effort on my part. Summer in Florida is like reverse-Winter for me; i stay inside for most of it because the weather is just too yucky to be outside most days. so since i'm inside anyway, baseball it is!

2. What five things are you looking forward to most this Summer?
finding a few days when the weather is tolerable enough to get a Disney fix. watching the Red Sox. Alison's wedding. getting to meet Lil Foot's Mommy in July. breaking into my Summer-scented candles.

3. It's snacktime; you want:
hmmm... today? a handful of nice cold grapes. if you'd asked me a couple of days ago, i would have said i was torn between a bowl of ice cream and a cupcake.

4. What one thing would you provide to all senior citizens in the world?
someone to really listen to their stories.

5. When was the last time you got caught in the rain?
it rained a little when i was at Disney on Saturday. considering the amount of rain we've had lately though, that was just a quick shower. the big rain came when i was on my way home.

6. What are your Zodiac and Chinese signs?
zodiac: Libra--and i am a classic Libra, for sure. Chinese: i was born in a year of the Dragon. i don't believe in astrology, but i do find it entertaining to read about the character traits associated with the different signs.

7. 5 things about your hair:
short. highlighted. cowlicks. brown. healthy.

8. At what point do you fill up your gas tank?
i usually top it off once a week, typically on either Saturday or Sunday, although if i happen to do a lot of running around during the week, i will fill it when i get down to the quarter tank mark. i will also top it off if i happen to be in a different county because the taxes on it in my county are so high. there was actually a 15-cent difference between my local gas prices and those on Disney property this weekend!

9. What is your favorite thing to do alone?
relax with a book or magazine.

10. 5 browser tabs you have open right now:
Gmail. Google Reader. Blogger. Picasa. ESPN Fantasy Baseball. and i also have Twhirl open for Twitter but that isn't a browser tab. ;-)

11. Why do fools fall in love?
because love is illogical.

12. What is the last thing you paid for with cash?
my groceries.

13. I'm thirsty. What from your fridge could you offer me to drink?
cranberry juice. water. Pepsi. a Merlot i have on hand for cooking.

14. What item is exactly at arm's length away from you?
my glass of water on the end table.

15. What are three things that are on your desk that shouldn’t be?
my iPod charger. some pay stubs that need to be filed. a Yankee Candle catalog.

16. How many miles do you drive in an average week?
usually about 120.

17. Aisle or window?
i like looking out the window but i like getting off the plane as soon as possible more.

18. What are you so fed up with that you are going to throw it out the window?
the big printer at work. a new one has been ordered though!

19. What’s the last thing you grab before you run out of the door in the morning?
my sunglasses.

20. What does the hand-soap in your bathroom smell of?
it's "sweetwater" by Method. my very favorite scent of hand soap.

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Grace in Small Things 122:365

1. how forcing myself to be productive for "just 20 minutes" turns into an hour--and a clean apartment!

2. flipping through magazines.

3. the Red Sox finally beat the Mets on get-away day!

4. my friend Michelle's birthday is today. Michelle is the first "real" friend i made through my blog--and by "real," i mean in-person as opposed to online.

5. knowing that when i get up in the morning, i still have another day in my weekend! hooray for holidays!


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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Grace in Small Things 121:365

five favorite photos from Disney today:

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.



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Friday, May 22, 2009

Grace in Small Things 120:365

1. The Dress is done & it fits *perfectly*!

2. now that The Dress is done & collected, i do not have to make that trip to Orlando again any time soon! which is good because i am *so* over it.

3. June issue of Redbook in my mailbox! yay!

4. looking forward to a long weekend ahead.

5. on the trip back from picking up The Dress, the rain stopped & the sun lit up the clouds, turning them gold.


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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Grace in Small Things 119:365

1. i haven't had my a/c on since Monday. my electric bill will thank me later.

2. Sox sweep the AL-leading Blue Jays & are now a half game out of first!

3. i was convinced it was Friday when i woke up. imagine my displeasure to learn it was only Thursday. but at least it wasn't Monday.

4. Twitter. because seriously sometimes i don't know how else i would make it through the day with some shred of sanity still intact.

5. how humbling it is to see military personnel placing a small American flag exactly one foot in front of every head stone at Arlington National Cemetary for Memorial Day.


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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Grace in Small Things 118:365

1. taking the time to really listen to a friend & knowing that even though it doesn't feel like very much, it makes a difference.

2. Big Papi hitting his first home run of the season & listening to the crowd go wild for him. not to mention, a 2-homer game for Tek, a blast over The Monstah for JayBay and a solo shot for Mikey Lowell. good times!

3. a good long conversation with Alison.

4. going home, crawling on my couch & not getting off again until bedtime. (ok i got up a couple of times, but it was quick.)

5. i can't believe how GREEN everything is now when it was so dried & brown a week ago!


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in bloom.

just some photos i took recently. too pretty not to share.











and then there's this one which makes me laugh.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

sometimes i wish...

...i'd had the "typical" college experience, living on campus, making new friends & lots of memories--instead of living at home, working full time to put myself through school & cramming a very full course load into the remainder of my time, leaving me very little time in which to enjoy the last of my young-adulthood. however i treasure my education & the responsibility it taught because i own it completely.

...i had a real mother-daughter relationship. although i wouldn't trade the closeness i shared with my Gram for *anything* in the world.

...i wasn't the last one of my friends unmarried & childfree. but i certainly don't regret *not* proceeding to those levels in the past.

...all of my friends could be local. even though i wouldn't have the fun of going to visit them & see new places.

...i had asked more questions of my grandparents, taken more photos, recorded more memories. i'm making a point to do that now.

...i hadn't taken the path i did to get where i am. but i *like* the person i have become as a result.

...i lived somewhere with four seasons. of course then i would miss Disney World and orange blossoms.

sometimes i wish.

but mostly i am just grateful for all that i have been blessed with. because what i *do* have is so very very good.

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Grace in Small Things 117:365

1. laying in the dark, save for the flicker of a candle, listening to the rain.

2. having a great hair day despite the damp weather.

3. Don Orsillo: "Even if his pants were on fire, I don't think JD Drew would get excited."

4. conquering my Google Reader!

5. Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette salad dressing.


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Monday, May 18, 2009

Grace in Small Things 116:365

1. an uncharacteristically grey all-day rainy day.

2. Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel.

3. the Summer issue of Kraft Food & Family.

4. pink grapefruit method dish soap.

5. that first really good stretch of the morning.


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20 Questions: May 18, 2009

1. What are the names of the kids you used to babysit?
wow...there were: Ryan, Kaitlin & Aaron. Ali, Lauren & Jack. Amanda. Jason & Kara. Tommy & Tori. Christina & Karen. Hailey & Hunter. and i am not sure if i'm forgetting any others (it's been more than 7 years since the most recent kids--Hailey & Hunter--and over 15 years for most of them!) and then there are the 60 or so babies that came through my care in my five years doing daycare, whose names i won't even attempt!

2. Do you prefer hot sandwiches or cold sandwiches?
it depends on the sandwich. i like an equal number of both with no obvious preference in either direction, overall. some just need to be served hot or cold (as the case may be) without exception!

3. What was the highlight of your week?
ha. my week is just starting. the highlight halfway through Monday? ummm...maybe that mini Kitkat i had just a minute ago?

4. What color shirt are you wearing?
kind of a deep garnet red i guess.

5. What was your favorite subject in school?
anything related to English or History. that stuff actually interested me. unlike math or science.

6. What do you like about Mondays?
i like when they're holidays. oh, that's not what you meant? well... i like when Mondays bring new episodes of The Big Bang Theory. is that better?

7. What are three of the most beautiful things you have ever seen?
a brand new baby. the Red Sox celebrating on the field after winning the World Series in 2004. my Gram.

8. What are three things you do not like?
Spam--neither email variety nor the food. being spoken to in a condescending manner. when i can't do anything to help someone i care about.

9. 5 things you take with you when you leave the house.
my cell phone. my planner. my iPod. my wallet. my keys.

10. What's the next important date on your calendar?
Michelle's birthday! May 24!

11. Are you moody in the morning?
no, i tend to wake up happy. or at least content. i'm quiet though. i do not like to be loud or rushed first thing in the morning. i need time to ease into being awake & starting my day.

12. When was the last time you were at a baseball game? And how many major league ball parks have you been in?
May 1 & 2! i got to see the Sox play two games at the Trop. i have been in... let's see. four MLB parks: Fenway (Boston Red Sox). The Trop (Tampa Bay Rays). Angel Stadium (Anaheim Angels). Yankee Stadium (the original one - New York Yankees).

13. Fireworks: take them or leave them?
i *love* them--if they are done well. in fact, sometimes i will trek over to Disney just for the sole purpose of seeing the fireworks. when i do NOT like them? when my moron neighbors light them off. at 11pm. in March. which is deep in the heart of our super dry season. because apparently they found a couple left over from last July 4 or New Years Eve. they are such rocket scientists.

14. What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?
does it *have* to be Monday? really? how about let's pretend it's *next* Monday & i get the day off...

15. Last thing you purchased?
groceries. ooooo. specifically: tomatoes (one regular, two plum and a package of grape tomatoes). cantaloupe. a cucumber. a bag of potatoes. three zucchini. a pint of 2% milk. some sour cream. some shredded mozzarella.

16. What is irritating you now?
the temperature. it's 67 degrees in this office right now. i wish i were exaggerating.

17. What is the last magazine you read?
Good Housekeeping. was looking for a new recipe.

18. What is the latest you've stayed up in the past week?
well, i tried to stay awake to watch the Sox play on the West Coast. the games started at 10pm though. i was pretty much done for the night halfway through the fourth innings of the games. so, 11pm-ish i think?

19. Which TV shows have you seen pretty much every episode of?
Friends. Sex & the City. Grey's Anatomy. Private Practice (this one is only two seasons old though). Fringe (i feel like i'm cheating by including this once since the first season just ended!). Mad About You. Everybody Loves Raymond. Dexter.

20. Do you feel guilty easily?
yes, and usually it's not even my fault. but i still feel guilty. i think it's a by-product of hating to disappoint people i care about.

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Slice of Life: May 18, 2009

my church.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Grace in Small Things 115:365

1. being able to turn off the a/c & open my windows for a while tonight.

2. my laptop. sitting on my couch relaxing & catching up on my Google Reader is much more comfy than sitting in the other chair using the big computer. plus it's easier to see the tv.

3. an overcast day. sometimes i need a break from all the sunshine. what can i say?

4. the Sox are done on the West Coast for 2009. which means no more going a week without seeing a whole game because i can't keep my eyes open past the third inning. i miss my boys!

5. coming to the realization that i really & truly have put the past the behind me. i am no longer aware of the fading scars. i don't waste any precious minutes rehashing or reliving past transgressions. they have been bandaged & tended & healed. i am at peace. i can look at their factual existence with clear eyes & say "so what? i have risen above. i am just fine." my life in the here & now is *so* *good* that i no longer glance in the rearview mirror at the shadows.


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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Grace in Small Things 114:365

1. napping on the couch in the afternoon with some baseball on the tv.

2. hot dogs on the grill & macaroni salad for dinner. perfect hot weather food!

3. freshly trimmed hair.

4. surprisingly comfortable weather for my evening walk.

5. waking up to cardinals singing at my bird feeder.


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Friday, May 15, 2009

Grace in Small Things 113:365

1. finally sleeping through the night without that relentless dry-feeling tickle in my throat waking me up coughing.

2. the way something so simple as making my bed makes my bedroom look a thousand times neater. that's not to say my bedroom is messy because it isn't but the improvement on the appearance of the room by completing this one easy task never ceases to surprise me.

3. mailing my response card back to Alison today for the wedding. i can't believe it's getting so close! i could not possibly be happier for my friend.

4. a piece of chocolate to celebrate Friday.

5. the various photos & cards on my refrigerator door, reminding me that i am loved.


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Friday Fill-in: May 15, 2009



Friday Fill-in #124

1. If we had no winter...oh wait! we don't! heh. ;-)

2. no matter how many times i bear witness to it, the absolute cruelty & venom with which i see people treat one another remains a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over i would take more photos & pay closer attention to my gut feelings.

4. there never seem to be enough minutes inside of four and twenty hours.

5. If you've never been thrilled perhaps it's time to lower your expectations & learn to find amazement in the little things.

6. To be interested in the changing seasons sometimes i think you need to have had them & maybe not appreciated them quite enough...then move to somewhere that the changing seasons only take place on your calendar.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being a big lazy bum, tomorrow my plans include getting rid of the shaggy dog look by getting my regularly scheduled 6-week trim and Sunday, I want to enjoy a Sox game that i don't have to prop my eyelids open for just to make it through three innings!

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i have to say...

1. ...first & foremost, for all the criticism i unleash on Lugo, i would be remiss if i did not give proper acknowledgement of the way he has been hitting lately. i am not willing to lower my guard with him, because a) he still scares the crap out of me when he puts on his glove* and b) every time i think maybe he's finally coming around, he makes me eat any praise i have given by performing in ways too horrific for me to even imagine. but i have, on several recent occasions, stunned myself by musing about the possibility of him DH-ing. (i *know*!!) so. he isn't my favorite player by any means, but he wears our uniform which means his success is important to the team. and i need to give praise where praise is due. good job with the bat, Julio!

2. ...it really upsets me the way Sox fans turn on Tim Wakefield after one rough outing. not only has he been the most consistent & reliable starter in the rotation, but he has more wins & a better ERA--even *after* Wednesday's debacle--than any other starting pitcher on the team. he has four wins in seven starts. he got a no-decision in another which the Sox went on to win. and his only other loss was a game he was only losing 3-1 when he left it--by no means a poor showing from a pitcher at the mercy of such a fickle pitch. not to mention, he bailed us out of our season-opening slump with that no-hit bid in Oakland that seemed to right the ship. we all have bad days. give the guy a break. it's not his fault the rest of the rotation is struggling so much!

3. ...the few times Tito loses his cool & gets tossed after getting up in the face of an umpire & really speaking his mind both amuse me (because we so rarely see him that way) and terrify me (knowing he has health issues, i immediately worry that we are about to watch him collapse on live tv).

4. ...i feel really really bad for Papi. as frustrating as it is, as a fan, to watch him come up to the plate these days, it has to be a hundred times worse to feel the frustration he is living with. so many people are crying for his head. or at least a ticket to Pawtucket. somehow i can't help thinking maybe the answer is to temporarily drop him in the order where there is less pressure & expectation, until he can get his legs back under him. if Youk can resume his ridiculous offense when he returns from the DL, i have to think a three-four of Youk & JayBay would more than sufficiently carry the team until Papi can figure things out. i just so hate to bail on him & give up hope when he carried the weight of this team on his back for so long.

5. ...it would be really great if Jon Lester started pitching like the Jon Lester we know & love. like *tonight*.

*let it also be said that Lugo made a couple of beautiful defensive plays yesterday that left me slack-jawed. i think that is why i come down on him so hard: he *can* make plays like that so why are they the exception & not the rule?

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Grace in Small Things 112:365

1. how quickly everythings "greens up" here after just a couple of days with rain.

2. a truly awesome season finale of Grey's Anatomy. even if it is going to leave me feeling ambivalent about some parts & holding my breath til September!

3. texts that make me smile.

4. catching my own mistakes & being able to correct them before they "go public" & get discovered by someone else.

5. standing my ground and knowing that i have been firm but fair.


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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Grace in Small Things 111:365

1. how renewed & refreshed everything feels in the morning when the sunshine filters through the rain-washed world.

2. the June/July issue of Everday With Rachael Ray!

3. a basket full of fresh clean laundry.

4. working with someone who is actually willing to listen & try to understand reason when i explain why something is done the way that it is.

5. the roll of distant thunder.


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funny thing, perspective.

back in Connecticut, i would have defined drizzle as a soft misty gentle pseudo-rain, so light that it was truly no more than a mere half-step above walking through fog: slightly more precipitation with improved visibility. you might get slightly damp but it was more like moisture-laden air than actual rain.

here in Florida, i define drizzle as any rain that does not hurt when it hits you.

oh & that former "Connecticut definition" of drizzle? that's what we call 'humidity' in these parts.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Grace in Small Things 110:365

1. sly filled with clouds so dark, they look navy blue.

2. thunder, sometimes in sharp cracks, sometimes in long low rumbles.

3. the flash of purple lightning bolts.

4. my a/c off & windows open to catch the good strong breeze.

5. finally getting some terribly needed rain!


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Monday, May 11, 2009

Grace in Small Things 109:365

1. June issue of Real Simple was in my mailbox.

2. three years ago today, i met Nichole & Daniel for the first time. it still seems strange to me that i haven't just known them forever.

3. my blog: for the all the amazing people it's allowed me to get to know--and most especially those who have become real friends.

4. it may be an off-day for the Sox but that means i get to catch up on some really funny shows from my DVR. like The Big Bang Theory. when Sheldon knocked on Penny's door like he always does (::knock knock knock:: Penny?) and she did the same thing back to him (::knock knock knock:: Sheldon?), i very nearly peed my pants laughing.

5. my voice is finally coming back!!


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i feel pretty, oh so pretty!

a few people expressed an interest in seeing the bridesmaid dress upon which i shower such praise. i had posted it a while back but here it is again, in all it's glory! just because it deserves to be admired.

and while i don't look like that model one little bit (ha!), i have to say, i'm pretty darn thrilled with the way the dress works on my frame & with my coloring! i'm telling you: world's.best.bridesmaid dress.

Michelle told me that if i am asked to be in any other weddings in the future, i should agree with the stipulation that i come already with a dress.

seriously though. you know how all the brides always *say* "and you'll be able to wear it again for other occasions later too!" and you think "like what? Halloween?!" i might just make up excuses to wear this one after the wedding. *that* is how much i love this dress.

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things by which i am not impressed

  • the Papelbum's insistence on giving us The Matsuzaka Experience™ during the ninth inning. i have to tell you, one pitcher who needs to "keep things interesting" is plenty, thanks. just stick to sitting 'em down in order.
  • Joe Morgan's Managerial Skills. for real, Joe? you would *choose* to put Crawford on base & give Longoria a chance with bases loaded?? guess we see now why you aren't wearing a uniform & carrying a lineup card in some team's dugout.
  • Pedey joining Youk in the band of Non-DL Walking Wounded.
  • the lack of signing JayBay. for God's sake, Theo! at the pace he's going, you really think he's going to get *cheaper* if you wait??
  • dear dudes who make up the baseball schedule: what is the deal with sending the Sox on The West Coast Tour every time they finish playing the Rays at Fenway?
  • Matt Garza. and no, not because he seems to have our number (regardless of the outcome of the game last night). all that glove-wagging and nasty spitting make him one of my top most irritating pitchers to watch.
  • the way half the Rays promote a "Tobacco Free Florida" through commercials on my tv while the rest of them (i'm looking at you, BJ Upton and Evan Longoria!) look as though they couldn't cram so much as another speck of crap in their mouths. what about all the little kids i see wearing Longoria t-shirts & hanging on his every move? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?? (ahem. heh.)

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Grace in Small Things 108:365

1. i got startled when something landed on my arm yesterday & just as i was about to freak out that "ack! bug! on my arm! getitoff!!" i saw that it was just a ladybug. and then i smiled. i remembered a little saying my Gram used to repeat when she would find a ladybug in her house. she would go outside on the porch with it & release it saying "Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home! Your house is on fire, your children will burn!" which, wow, *morbid*. but still such a sweet memory. (don't judge me!)

2. the Sox won a series against the Rays! FINALLY.

3. we sang one of my very favorite hymns in church. well, technically i just mouthed the words. i can barely talk. singing is not even an option.

4. lounging around & not feeling guilty about it since all my housework was done on Saturday.

5. fresh clean towels that smell like Bounce dryer sheets.


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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Grace in Small Things 107:365

1. air conditioning. i have *no* idea how people ever lived in Florida before it was invented.

2. catching up on awesome episodes of Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice. i had two episodes of Private Practice (including the season finale! OMG i am dying of suspense already!) and three of Grey's living on my DVR, and they were *so* worth the wait!

3. good conversation.

4. ridiculously addictive solitaire with which to occupy my attention during a pummeling of the Red Sox.

5. feeling much better even if i still remain mosytly voiceless.


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Friday, May 8, 2009

exercising cautious optimism

here's the thing about Julio Lugo: yes, he's had two solid games in a row. when it comes to him, i *want* him to do well (he's in one of our uniforms after all) but i just don't expect it to happen. ever. so yeah, two productive games. my reaction: at this point, i am still just waiting for him to pull the rug out from under us with a classic E6 performance. so while i am pleasantly shocked, two good outings amidst two-plus seasons of horrifyingly painful ones does not my trust gain.

on the other hand, the Sox sure do seem to like the sixth inning lately huh? an AL record-tying twelve runs scored before an out was recorded during yesterday's sixth inning against the Tribe. then, tonight, the JayBay Special--a game-tying three run jack (i've clearly been listening to Eck too long!*)--followed two batters later by JD going yard with Lowell on second, and suddenly the Sox go from being on the wrong side of things to all lit up on fire!

game one against the Sunbeams is in the books and the Sox notch a 7-3 win. of course we won the first game of Tampa's last visit to Fenway too, so like the Lugo Situation, i'll not be foolish enough to count my chickens before they hatch. but that doesn't mean i didn't enjoy the outcome!

*can you just imagine all the Eck-inspired lingo Don is going to sneak into the games on Remy when he returns?? i can't wait to hear the sweet sounds of RemDawg's uproarious laughter the first time Don says something about Beckett's "cheese."

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Grace in Small Things 106:365

1. being in the bridal party of the World's Best Bride. not only does she have great taste when it comes to selecting the bridesmaid dress style and color, but the dress actually looks awesome *and* is super comfortable! when i went for my fitting yesterday, everyone kept commenting on how good the style & color looked on me...and wishing they were wearing that instead of what they got. i may be the first truly happy bridesmaid ever about the dress she "has to wear" for a wedding!

2. casual Friday at the already super-casual place i work means yoga pants & a Sox tee. which is good because i needed comfy clothes today.

3. chocolate Hostess cupcakes. yum.

4. being told i can leave half an hour early because i sound like poo. i don't actually feel bad other than my stomach muscles being a little sore from coughing but i have *zero* voice & being mute makes it a little tough to answer the phone.

5. Sox come from behind to beat the Rays. i like knowing the possibility of us getting swept has been eliminated right off the bat.


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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Grace in Small Things 105:365

1. my bridesmaid dress fit *perfectly*. only a couple of minor alterations!

2. having a Garmin available for me to borrow. makes navigating the crazy traffic & streets near the bridal store (that i am not very familiar with) at rush hour *so* much easier!

3. being able to collapse on the couch after a very ling day & not have to move again for the rest of the evening.

4. *huge* -- record-tying huge! -- Sox runs last night! the Sox scored 12 runs in the sixth inning before a single out was recorded! it was like a clog in the RBI pipe came loose & the runs just kept flooding out!

5. having leftovers in the refrigerator so that when i got home later than usual after my fitting, there was no a no-effort, super-quick dinner ready to eat.


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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Grace in Small Things 104:365

1. Eck calling a pitch "cheese with hair" -- i don't even know what that means, but i have to say, he sure is making Remy's absence entertaining.

2. Halls Breezers in Cool Berry.

3. Afrin (used sparingly) so that i don't have to breathe through my mouth all night.

4. having an immune system strong enough to fight off most of a cold so that even though i have some symptoms, i don't actually feel all that bad. more annoyed than anything else.

5. Thin Mints cookies from the refrigerator. something about eating them cool!


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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Grace in Small Things 103:365

1. walking in a light(ish) rain. not only do we desperately need rain here in Florida, but it made my walk so much cooler than it would have been otherwise!

2. the Sox have now swept the Yankees twice this season!

3. my immune system is doing its just by keeping a cold at bay (for the most part). i don't sound so great but i actually feel fine. with the exception of being annoyed by needing to blow my nose every so often.

4. Puffs Ultra: soft, strong and NOT greasy.

5. June issue of Good Housekeeping in my mailbox!


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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: April 2009

photo of me
none taken this month. =(

1) current candle scents:
Willow Breeze. Midnight Jasmine.

2) what i am currently reading:
America Alone (Mark Steyn). Faithful (Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King). yes, still. i've been watching baseball these days, not reading. what can i say!

3) newest music i added my playlist:
nothing new this month. my "top 5 most played" this month though are: "The Fear You Won't Fall," by Joshua Radin. "Sweet Caroline," by Neil Diamond. "First Time," by Lifehouse. "Love Song," by Sara Bareilles. "I Just Love You," by Five For Fighting.

4) movies i saw:
i watched King of Kings on Easter but other than that it's been pretty much all baseball all the time for me and catching up on my shows in between games. no time for movies, at least until my shows go into repeat!

5) something yummy i made this month:
i made my Meatloaf Patties which seriously is the best meatloaf i have ever had. and i do say so myself!

6) the last place i ate out:
Mimi's Cafe with the girls from work.

7) something that made me cry:
this Tweet: "Torii Hunter just said Nick Adenhart's dad has been sitting at his son's locker since this morning. The poor man." Nick Adenhart was a promising rookie pitcher for the Angels that was killed in a hit-and-run accident on April 9, on his way home from pitching six shutout innings of baseball. a drunk driver ran a red light, striking the vehicle Adenhart was driving, killing three, and then fled the scene. i wish i could understand why the responsible parties always seem to walk away without a scratch and the innocent are the ones that suffer. i wish i could take away this family's pain as someone they loved, so young & full of promise, had his light extinguished. i wish i could prevent any parent from ever needing to grieve like this.

8) something that made me laugh:
Jacoby Ellsbury straight-up stealing home on Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada on April 26. i don't think a single person watching or playing or coaching in that game saw that coming!

9) something i looked forward to this month:
the start of real, meaningful baseball after a long long (long) Winter.

10) something i am thankful for:
when i watch the news or read blogs or hear people talk, it truly humbles me, because i am so blessed. i am grateful for the life that i have.

11) something i want to remember about this month:
life's too short to spend it worrying about things you can't change.

12) a photo i took this month:

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Grace in Small Things 102:365

1. Monday is as good as over.

2. Monday is nearly over.

3. Monday is winding down.

4. tomorrow is not Monday.

5. the potential to wake up on the *right* side of the bed in the morning.

and that's all i have to say about that.


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Sunday, May 3, 2009

Grace in Small Things 101:365

1. having an easy low-key relaxing Sunday.

2. catching up on some shows from the DVR.

3. a Boars Head sub from the Publix deli.

4. getting sleepy with a good book in bed.

5. standing in the shower & just letting the water pound on my back.


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Saturday, May 2, 2009

Grace in Small Things 100:365

1. seeing the Sox finally win at the Trop!

2. watching the game from some sweet seats!!

3. peanut M&Ms.

4. taking a nice long afternoon nap.

5. getting some great photos.


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Friday, May 1, 2009

Grace in Small Things 99:365

1. going to a Sox game!

2. it's finally Friday.

3. payday!

4. a hot dog with sauerkraut at a ball game.

5. getting to start my weekend an hour early.


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wanna get away?

yeah. so that happened. kinda glad i wasn't there for that one-hit Sox game last night. it kind of reaches a point during a trouncing of that nature when all you can do is find the humor. because if you don't laugh, you might punch something--which means you either end up damaging some of your possessions or, if you're me, yourself. i choose laughter.

at any rate, it couldn't possibly be worse to be anyone else on the Red Sox right now than Javier Lopez, i'm thinking. talk about a bad week. first you blow a game by making a dumb error. then two days later, you're pitching so poorly that the manager comes to the mound, holds his hand out for the ball & then essentially says "wait just a minute, son." at which point he explains to you that the bullpen has been taxed lately and with this set to be a potentially grueling four-game series in The Pit of Despair where the Sox can't seem to come up on the right side of things more than once every dozen or so games, he just doesn't feel like burning through another valuable arm in the eighth inning of a 12-0 implosion.

so... sorry, Javi, but you don't get to hide in a corner of the dugout in shame. or retreat silently to the showers. nope. Tito points Lopez out to right field where he will be swapping places with one Jonathan Van Every, newly nominated pseudo-reliever. at one point, Lopez laughed when Tito was talking to him. then he stopped. probably when he understood that this wasn't a joke.

imagine, if you will, what it must be like to be Lopez standing out there. he had to have been praying for the concrete floor & plastic grass to open up & swallow him whole. promising anything he could think of to prevent a hit of any sort from coming his direction. which, inevitably, it did...allowing the Rays to score lucky run number 13. and watching while the outfielder does your job, pitching the final two outs of the inning. now i have had some awful days at work, but i am positive none of them have been *that* bad.

also? i am so relieved that Ellsbury broke up Matt Garza's potential no-hitter/perfect game because i could not bear living down here & hearing about that for the rest of all time, 328 times during every subsequent Sox-Rays matchup.

tonight i take it live. instead of yelling at my tv, i'll be trapped in the Juice Box with the clanging of 600-million cowbells cheering my boys on in person. (and sending anyone with the initials J.L. "sit your ass down" looks every time i see so much as a muscle twitch.) i really hope my Harbinger of Defeat curse has worn off after witnessing the only victory in the previous 11 outings last September. cross your fingers, fellow Sox fans.

and just remember: no matter how bad your day is going, at least you aren't Javier Lopez.

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