catching up: Alison's Wedding
some favorites from the wedding...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Grace in Small Things 221:365
1. taking some trash out to the dumpster & hearing the frogs peeping in the pond.
2. good songs on the iPod the whole drive home. i didn't need to skip to the next song even once.
3. jeans & a white t-shirt.
4. using a pad of pink Post-its means no one at work will steal it. boys refuse to use pink. heh.
5. an episode of The Big Bang Theory i hadn't seen before. conveniently, on a night when the Sox were off.
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power of suggestion? or wishful thinking?
for some inexplicable reason, i have the sudden overwhelming urge to watch It's a Wonderful Life.
i'm not sure if this is a product of the Winter-like climate this office is kept at or if i am just wishing it would be cooler. (outside, not inside. any cooler inside and even the herd of penguins living in the coffee room will migrate to more temperate regions.)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Grace in Small Things 220:365
1. flipping through a magazine, i found beautiful flowers i love. so many pretty colors.
2. Blue Velvet petunias
3. Citrus Blend lantana
4. Tigereye rudbeckia
5. Strawberry Seduction achillea
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Saturday, August 29, 2009
Grace in Small Things 219:365
1. “He’s a warrior, man. He’s intimidating when you see him walking out in his full gear and that’s exactly why." (Daniel Bard on Tek's kickass play at plate last night that saved the go-ahead run from scoring)
2. i got to start a new scent--cucumber melon--of Bath & Body Works shower gel.
3. cupcakes.
4. new music.
5. a dominant outing for Clay Buchholz. man, it's good to see him pitch with some confidence again!
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catching up: Fenway Tour
i have a ton of photos (some dating back to ::gulp:: early July) that i've been meaning to share. so i'm going to post my favorites in groups over the next few days to get caught up.
some favorites from my tour of Fenway Park & spending the day in Boston...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Grace in Small Things 218:365
1. catching myself showing little quirks that my Gram had. like the way i sometimes tuck my thumb between my first two fingers when i'm sitting still & not using my hands for anything.
2. making my friends laugh.
3. the Autumn issue of Kraft Food & Magazine finally arrived!
4. this blurb about the Nick Green relief appearance last night:
Green and Rocco Baldelli escaped to the batting cage in the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse. Green threw him three different fastballs, but Baldelli forbade curveballs. "I didn’t have a cup on," Baldelli said.
Green tried a cutter in the impromptu warm-up.
"It didn’t cut," Baldelli said. "I said, ‘Don’t do that.’"
5. turns out it was a good thing i didn't carry my iPod with me this week. i had a major case of butterfingers & dropped my phone four times. something i rarely do. my phone can take it; my iPod definitely cannot.
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Grace in Small Things 217:365
1. listening to the birds singing in the trees as i walked to my car to go to work.
2. cheddar cheese. yum.
3. lots of sweet new babies being born recently. babies make me happy.
4. discovering new songs since i decided to leave the iPod home & listen to the radio this week for that very purpose.
5. two scoreless innings of relief from Nick Green. which was both of the funniest & kinda coolest things i've seen in a while. how many infielders can come in & give up no hits & no runs (there were some walks but they didn't do any damage) *and* hit the low 90s on the radar gun?
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Grace in Small Things 216:365
1. that i am a listener. so few people really sit back & *listen* to others. it's one of my favorite things about myself.
2. all the clips they are playing of Ted Kennedy remind me how much i love the Boston accent. there's just something about it...a quality i can't seem to put into words.
3. anticipating the return of new tv! i'm starting to see previews of season premiers of favorite shows!
4. the return of Tim Wakefield to the Sox rotation. man, it felt good to see him back on the hill!
5. Big Papi. walkoff homer. nuff said.
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Give Me Five Monday: August 26, 2009
first of all, yes, i know it's not Monday. i'm rebelling. =P but the topic was appropriate, what with school just starting again in my neck of the woods, and me being ready for some Autumn weather. (wishful thinking but, hey, state of mind, right?)
Give Me Five back to school memories.
1. new school supplies. i used to get giddy (oh, who am i kidding? still do!) at the prospect of brand new pens, notebooks, binders, folders. i would scour the sale ads that would come in the Sunday paper. and then i would cruise the special "seasonal" aisles, in search of the perfect supplies for that year. (this was back in the day when you still had some choice in what supplies you would use, because your class list would tell you "blue pens, Number Two pencils, two 3-subject spiral notebooks, etc" but you could still choose the brands & styles you wanted. i've seen recent supply lists & holy specific!) once i had acquired them all, i would label them all carefully and assemble them in my (brand new, of course!) backpack. and then for the next month, i would peer in at them with glee & anticipation. kind of like i do now when a new office supply order is delivered. heh.
2. a new classroom. teachers do a lot of work to get their classrooms ready & decorated for their students. i think i appreciated it from a very young age. i used to be so excited to see the wall decorations and the learning centers, the calendar and the bulletin boards, the name tags on lockers and desks. there is just something about a freshly prepared classroom that i found exciting. and it wasn't just for "back to school"--i was excited to see the changes that would come with each new month. what would the new theme be? what new shape would my name tags take on? why yes, i was a geek. why do you ask? =P
3. third grade. i went to a small Lutheran school from nursery school through eighth grade. the school was two floors. the main floor had the gym, the main office, the nurse's office, the library, and the Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms. i remember the year i started third grade. it was the first year that i would be upstairs. this was a big deal to me, for some reason. the upstairs was a mystery to me. the Big Kids were up there. and teachers i only saw in the mornings when we would line up to go inside or at school assemblies. to be grown up enough to have your classroom on the second floor must mean you had arrived. i remember the first time i walked in line, up those dimly lit stairs, turning at the landing to climb the second half of the flight...and feeling so old. i was all of seven years old (my October birthday meant i was always one of the youngest in my class) & i thought i was so grown up. oh sweet little Dawn.
4. sixth grade. Mr Ryskowski. this was the first time i had a man for a teacher. if i thought i had arrived in the third grade, when i got to go upstairs, then this was *really* the big time. big kids got male teachers! female teachers were for babies! (here's a twist of irony for you: the classroom i climbed those stairs to in third grade? same classroom i had for sixth grade too. they had switched around the classroom layout when i was in fourth grade. so, two huge, in my mind, milestones revolved around that one classroom.) also the first time i would change classrooms during the day! keep in mind that this was a small school. we would only rotate between 3 classrooms with the seventh & eighth graders. Mr R taught English, Mrs Higgins taught history, and Mr Moll taught science. the other subjects were handled by our "home room" teachers. but still! a man for a teacher! changing classrooms! the trauma of having to change into gym clothes in the locker room! this was the big time!
5. starting high school. remember that small school i mentioned? well let's keep in mind i graduated eighth grade with about fifteen kids, most of whom i had gone to school with since i was 3. in a school that had ten classrooms. my high school? was public. three floors & about ten *million* classrooms. i had more kids in my homeroom than my entire graduating class the year before. and my two best friends when to different high schools. to say i was in absolute shock for the first couple of weeks years would not be an understatement. i walked around with eyes the size of saucers, mute, just trying to navigate an environment that was so unfamiliar i might as well have been in a foreign country. i knew all of a half dozen people in the whole building & if i caught a glimpse of one once a week, that was something. it was a LOT for a quiet, shy girl to take in. i'm pretty sure i said about a dozen words without actually be forced to speak because i was called upon. i would eventually meet some new people & make some new friends & talk enough to get Chele & myself some stern looks, but i remember that first day in that big building & my hands still get a little sweaty even after nineteen years.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Grace in Small Things 215:365
1. Gmail (finally!) coming out with the "Contact Chooser"--a feature i have been hoping for since i started using Gmail over three years ago!
2. the rain letting up just long enough for me to get from my car to my apartment without a replay of Sunday. ;-)
3. a nice juicy cheeseburger for dinner.
4. Remy & Don giggle-fits in the NESN booth.
5. two words: Victor. Martinez.
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Monday, August 24, 2009
Grace in Small Things 214:365
1. the preview for the new Jennifer Aniston movie Love Happens that comes out soon. which i really want to see. but it's a major chick flick. so now the question remains: who can i hold hostage bribe convince to go see it with me? =P
2. having some fun plans coming up over the next couple of months to look forward to!
3. feeling the seeds for some blog post ideas starting to grow.
4. a Mike Lowell 3-run bomb over The Monstah & into the Boston night...
5. ...which i am convinced is a direct result of the most awesome surprise Lil Foot's Mommy sent me that arrived to brighten my Monday. i love it so much, i will even risk sharing the less-than-flattering post-home-run photo with the cheesy grin.
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20 Questions: August 24, 2009
1. Where were you last week at this time?
same spot. right here at my desk.
2. What’s your favorite way to eat tomatoes?
oh let me count the ways... i ♥ tomatoes. i like them by the handful (in the grape tomato size). i like them on a tomato sandwich with a little salt & some mayo. i like them in salads & as sauce. i love them as bruschetta. but i think my very favorite way? caprese bites.
3. Ok, let's be honest. How often do you use your turn signals when you drive? Do you follow the rules or do you only use it when you feel it's necessary?
OMG holy pet peeve. i *hate* when people use a turn signal like it was an option they couldn't justify paying extra for when purchasing their current vehicle. i use my turn signal every time i turn, every time i change lanes, every time i get off a highway exit--even if i am the only vehicle on the road. i do it from such force of habit that, sometimes, i even turn it on when pulling into my parking spot at home. this way? i can rail without being a hypocrite when people move into my lane RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME without so much as a single blink of their signal that they intend to cut me off & take over my lane as if they have more right to be there than i do.
4. This past week, were you more predator or prey?
i was pretty much going along, minding my own business all together, until someone preyed on my Sunday & pretty much shot it all to hell for me.
5. What is the first tv show quote to pop into your head right now?
"Did she get off the plane? Let her off the plane, Lady! LET HER OFF THE PLANE!!!" "I got off the plane."
6. Next time I go to church:
it will be a Communion Sunday.
7. What was your third grade teacher's name?
took me a minute or two to recall. that's right. Mrs Murphy. the first teacher to really scare me. we would get called on at random & have to recite a multiplication table from one all the way up to twelve (you know, 3x1=3, 3x2=6, 3x3=9, etc) and if you got more than two wrong, you had detention to practice. we've discussed, at length, that in Dawnsworld, numbers are the work of Satan, so you just imagine how that made little third-grade-Dawn feel. =P
8. When was the last time you went grocery shopping? Name 3 things you bought.
that would be yesterday. linguine. a tomato. crackers.
9. What would the title of your autobiography be?
"Are We There Yet?" (the title i have frequently considered changing the name of this blog to, except for the fact that for nearly five years now, it's been "thoughts from along the broken road" and there is something to be said for continuity.)
10. How many pieces of unopened mail are sitting wherever you put your unopened mail?
two. a credit card statement to be reviewed & filed and a credit card application to be shredded.
11. What 5 emotions do you feel most often?
gratitude. joy. loneliness for the special people i don't get to see often enough. frustration. contentment.
12. If you got a new pet right now, what would you name it?
it depends. boy pet? girl pet? before settling on Casey for my last pup, i toyed around with Baxter. i also think Maggie is a great pet-name for a girl pup (even though it's pretty common). i think i would have to meet the pet first.
13. Admit something. Anything.
i don't know what the hell i'm doing half the time.
14. Choose a free gift: a daily back massage, dinner at a restaurant once a week, or a brand new book each month.
dinner out. i am not a fan of letting a complete stranger get all up in my personal space (no matter how professional they are) and i am not sure i could come up with a book i want to actually own (i only own the ones i really love, otherwise i would be overrun with books). dinner out once a week is something i could live with though!
15. Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
corn. a big bag of tilapia. Blackberry Cobbler Blue Bell ice cream.
16. If given the chance and you could pick the person, would you want to switch lives with someone on earth for one whole day?
no way. i think my life is pretty amazing, truth be told, and i wouldn't want to blindsided with someone else's problems & have to deal with them.
17. How much cash do you usually carry with you?
each payday, i take out enough cash to replenish my supply to around $100 (give or take, as close as i can get it, since i can only withdraw in increments of $20). i buy almost everything--including groceries--with cash, because i think it makes me more conscious of where my money is going. it's a lot more difficult for me to hand over cold hard cash when i make a purchase, rather than mindlessly swiping my debit card & penciling some numbers into my check register, where money feels so ambiguous. the $100 has to last me the entire week (a self-imposed limit for groceries, incidentals, whatever; i do use my debit card for gas so i don't have to go inside and i do allow myself more when i am travelling, but that's budgeted separately)...and you know what? since implementing this plan, i have *never* run out. i always have money left in my wallet.
18. How are you today?
pretty good for a Monday. i was borderline 'meh' but then i got a lil bit o' happy in my mail!
19. What's the scariest weather situation you've experienced?
the three hurricanes that came through my area in 2004. New Englanders don't really know what a *real* hurricane is actually like. trust me. i didn't til i experienced them firsthand.
20. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how attractive do you think you are?
ehh... 6? 7, maybe? i think i am pretty average, really. i don't think i am scary-ugly, but there are *tons* of prettier, cuter, more beautiful people out there.
i've come so far
All alone, I didn't like the feeling
All alone, I sat and cried
All alone, I had to find some meaning
In the center of the pain I felt inside
(from "Sand and Water," Beth Neilsen Chapman)
"I didn't notice because I'd drifted into a state of constant absence, many months, if not years, before, staying numb to avoid a creeping unhappiness just under the surface."
(author unknown, essay in Redbook, November 2006, "The Awakening")
---------------------------------
three years ago, i shook free of the numb and the unhappy and the emptiness.
i've never looked back.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Grace in Small Things 213:365
1. the color combinations that sunsets give us. this evening it was a sky the color of a juicy ripe peach's flesh as the backdrop for lavender clouds.
2. stocking up on some good snacks for my lunch bag. i like to have lots of choices while i'm working. you never know whether the need will be sweet, salty, crunchy or creamy.
3. the smell of Bounce dryer sheets. the classic scent please.
4. a new season of Top Chef has started! (i'm late, because I DVR'd it, but yay for new tv!)
5. my friend K's birthday. we're going to celebrate it in March, in person, with a yummy treat at WDW! ;-)
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Slice of Life: August 23, 2009
when i went into the grocery store, the sun was shining.
when i came out of the grocery store, it was considerably cloudy.
halfway to my car, the clouds opened up...the rain came down sideways...
and i? was drenched.
but only on the left side of my body.
hafta love Florida Summer.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Grace in Small Things 212:365
1. the breeze that kicks up as a storm is rolling in.
2. going to Disney on a whim.
3. playing with my camera.
4. hearing women quietly discuss "how cute" my hair is when they're standing behind me. because let's face it, everyone likes a compliment.
5. the Red Sox having an answer for the Yankees after the obliteration in the previous game.
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confirming what we already know
Your Soul Is Connected to the Fall |
 You are a somewhat sensitive soul with a tough exterior. You are street smart and wise about the world. You have the heart of a poet, but you're not too eager to let anyone else see it. You are very creative and deeply talented. You are still looking for the perfect outlet for your expression. You embrace change and think the cycles of life are beautiful. You don't shrink away from the darker elements of life. |
Read more...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Grace in Small Things 211:365
1. September Redbook in my mailbox.
2. Pollo Caprese at Macaroni Grill.
3. "A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless." (May Sarton) -- i am all about things that are comfy!
4. another week in the books. another badly-needed weekend ahead of me.
5. Jerry Remy back in the NESN booth!
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
Grace in Small Things 210:365
1. watching the blue sky reappear after a storm blows through.
2. getting a coupon in the mail for $5 off a $30 purchase at Publix.
3. a handful of M&Ms.
4. this comfy little pair of shoes from Payless. (ignore the vein-y feet i inherited from my Gram though ok?)
5. Red Sox sweep the Blue Jays.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Grace in Small Things 209:365
1. K...
2. ...and Brandi...
3. ...and Gidget...
4. ...and Valerie all wondering where i had disappeared to...
5. ...and being missed by my girlies on Twitter when i went MIA for a while to get some work done.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Grace in Small Things 208:265
1. another birthday for my dad. especially when we weren't sure, 9 years ago, that he would still be with us.
2. a well thought-out blog series. check out Joe's 50 Favorite TV Shows! he just wrapped it up & he really brought back a ton of memories, laughs and "oh yeah! i forgot about that!!" reactions.
3. my little blog community. which, quite frankly, rocks.
4. despite the recent tropical activity, it appears the three named storms will be steering clear of my area, with the exception of some extra rain & humidity. much as i hate the humidity, it sure beats a tropical storm. or worse.
5. the Papelbum managed to not blow last night's game. which is good because if he did? my reaction wouldn't have been very "Grace-worthy."
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Grace in Small Things 207:365
1. this quote from JayBay, with just the right amount of reproachful sarcasm: "We should probably just pack up the season and call it a year, huh? Half game back, might as well fold the tent."
2. Febreeze in "Spring & Renewal" scent.
3. being home in my nice cool air-conditioned apartment after working most of the day in a decidedly UN-air-conditioned office.
4. basil.
5. how super easy it was to change something on my direct deposit.
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
20 Questions: August 16, 2009
1. When I was five:
i taught myself to read.
2. Were your parents married when you were born?
born, yes.
3. Pencil or pen?
depends. pencil in my checkbook or my budget--basically, anywhere i use numbers. because numbers? not my friend. pen, black ink, for pretty much anything else.
4. Do you believe in soul mates?
not in the trite cheesy sense. but i do believe that there are rare people who come into your life who feel like you've always known them, with whom you "click" immediately & the bond is strong. that is what i consider to be a soul mate.
5. Last week you felt:
unsettled.
6. What was the first funeral you attended?
i can't recall if it was my great-uncle Tate's (the husband of my Gramp's sister, Emma) or the mother of a set of twins that were in my class at school. i do remember that the inside of my Uncle Tate's casket was lined with khaki corduroy on the lid and there were autumn leaves on it. the things that stick with you...
7. Name something pink that you can see from where you are sitting.
the tank top i am wearing.
8. What is the last sporting event that you watched?
on tv: the frustrating Sox game on tv this afternoon. in person, the Sox game at Fenway in July.
9. Are you rich?
i was born & raised in New England. i don't talk about money. it's not polite. but i do have a wealth of friends & blessings in my life!
10. What is your favorite Disney movie?
Sleeping Beauty.
11. In what month do you have the most birthdays to celebrate?
hmmm...January, February, March & August all have three each.
12. What was your elementary school mascot?
it took a minute for me to recall, but it was a wolf. i think. at least that's what i vaguely remember being painted on the center of the gymnasium floor.
13. What do you need to get off your chest today?
i don't really have anything i've been holding back entirely.
14. Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas?
i love the pale yellow cotton pj pants i got on clearance from VS a couple of years back.
15. What day of the week flies by the quickest?
Sunday. mostly because i don't want it to.
16. What was the last thing you ate?
a bowl of Special K Red Berries.
17. What are you waiting for?
i could list a whole lot of things, some deeper than others, but i'll leave that all annoyingly cryptic, and simply go with: cooler weather.
18. How late did you stay up last night?
a little after midnight.
19. You come across a full box of donuts in the breakroom at work. It's really only polite to take just one. Which one do you choose?
the cinnamon apple-filled one. and if there isn't one of those, my second choice is chocolate-frosted.
20. Would you rather drive across the country in an RV or go by train?
i think i like the option of RV slightly more because it allows me to stop on a whim, to explore or take photos, or to alter the course or pace if i feel so compelled. i don't want to drive though.
Grace in Small Things 206:365
1. rain falling on my roof.
2. a bowl of cereal for dinner.
3. finding good-quality produce with very little effort at the grocery store.
4. 40 posts not yet marked read in my Google Reader--most of which have already been scanned & i just want to click through to read thoroughly & leave comments.
5. a full heart.
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
Grace in Small Things 205:365
1. the Genius feature on iTunes.
2. "Covered in Rain," by John Mayer. specifically, this part:
From fireworks to fireplaces
Summer stole what fall replaces
And now we're people watching
All the people,
People watching us right back
Standing by the missing signs
At the CVS, by the checkout line
She puts her quiet hand in mine,
Cause she's the brightest thing I've got
3. Epcot. so many reasons why this is my favorite park at WDW.
4. it took me six years to lose my sunglasses. i know you're wondering how this is a Grace, but when i consider how many pairs of sunglasses the average person replaced in that same span of time, i'm glad that i am so neurotic about where mine are. also? it was time for a new pair. the old ones had served their purpose.
5. having someone who is willing to stop what they're doing to look up online which exit the outlet mall is off of so that i don't spend the remainder of my weekend trying to remember how to get there while i am driving.
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Grace in Small Things 204:365
1. being able to wear jeans & a Sox tee to work on Friday because we have a very casual office environment.
2. Alex Gonzalez is coming back to the Red Sox!! if you've been reading here for more than ten minutes, you should know by now that i am a sucker for flawless defense in baseball, more than any other aspect of the game. back in 2006, the Sox had Alex as their short stop. not much of a force to be reckoned with at the plate, but *man* could he field a ball. our infield that season (Youk, Mark Loretta, Alex & Mike Lowell) was about the most beautiful thing i'd ever witnessed. i guess you could call AGon the anti-Lugo. it's going to be good to have him back in the fold, to most likely platoon with Nick Green.
3. closing my eyes & having a memory so vivid that i feel like i'm actually *there*. so much so, that when i snap back to reality & realize i'm not, it's almost a shock.
4. singing along to "Her Eyes" (Pat Monahan) in the car on the way home.
5. a ninth-inning come-from-behind win for the Sox in Texas!! it's been so long since they pulled that off and damn it felt good!!
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Grace in Small Things 203:265
1. the September issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. this has been a good mail week!
2. Groom's Cake ice cream from Blue Bell.
3. impromptu post-work naps.
4. genuine communication. sometimes i think we forget *just* how important it is to have a place safe enough for open dialogue.
5. pajamas.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Grace in Small Things 202:265
1. having a memory kickstarted of how Gramp would give us rides in the wheelbarrow if we caught him in time, before he headed up to his gardens or back home from them to get something he needed. (i thought i had a photo to scan in here but if i do, it isn't being cooperative in the locating process.)
2. Good Housekeeping, September issue, arriving in my mailbox.
3. these lyrics:
Be it the rain or the wind
Or the moon up in the sky
The spin of the earth
Or the change of the tide
I don't know what brought us together
What strange forces of nature
Conspire to construct the present
From the past
But I'll go on loving you...
("I'll Go on Lovin' You," Alan Jackson)
4. unlimited text with other Verizon wireless customers.
5. three Sox wins in a row.
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Grace in Small Things 201:265
1. the sight of Youk tossing his batting helmet, charging the mound & tackling the pitcher after being hit by a pitch.
2. a graphic under Mike Lowell's name stating "pinch runner" (when he came in to take Youk's base afte rhe was ejected for aforementioned charging &tackling). my Baseball Boyfriend is many things, but a runner he is not.
3. a fuming Tito hucking his 18-piece wad of pink bubblegum onto the field so that he can *really* tell the umpires what he thinks, after being ejected from the game.
4. two home runs by Mike Lowell. off the bench.
5. everyone--Sox players *and* fans--needed a game like last night's. something to fire us up, re-energize us, make us laugh til our eyes stream, after last week's nightmare. i hope it effectively gives the Sox the push they need to get the ball rolling in the right direction again.
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Monday, August 10, 2009
Grace in Small Things 200:365
1. a badly needed Red Sox win.
2. September issue of Real Simple magazine!
3. the new Yankee Candle catalog arrived! with Halloween goodies inside to browse & consider!
4. the feeling of relief that comes with seeing the word September on the cover of a magazine & Halloween decorations in a catalog. Autumn is coming. even if we don't get it in the traditional sense down here in Florida.
5. flowers sitting on my counter, making my home cheerful.
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20 Questions: August 10, 2009
1. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
It was just before my junior year of high school & we flew to New Orleans for the LCMS National Youth Gathering.
2. What is your earliest memory?
running away from my mother, crying, because she was trying to clean my ears with a Q-tip. i couldn't have been more than two-and-a-half.
3. What was your second grade teacher's name?
Mrs Voisine.
4. What was the last thing you watched on tv?
the Today show while i got ready for work this morning.
5. My uncle once:
had a huge family gathering at his home one Summer. i remember being there all day & late into the evening. the kids dragged a bunch of lawn chairs together & made a fort. we laid beneath it, in the grass, and watching big people cha, fireflies flicker, and fireworks set off by older cousins, lighting up the sky.
6. How long was your longest relationship?
six years. twice. i am starting to think i expire after six years now...
7. What do you want to be?
healthy. kind. generous. gentle. gracious. lovable. oh & let's throw cute in there, just for good measure.
8. What was the last thing you received in the mail?
that wasn't junk? my bank statement.
9. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
that we would stop feeling the need to tell everyone how to live their lives, what to think and feel and believe, and then act all wounded & offended when someone doesn't agree with us.
10. Would you prefer 10 inches of snow or 100 degree weather?
you know? it really doesn't matter, because either way, i am inside a climate-controlled environment. the snow is prettier to look at, but i don't have to shovel 100-degrees. i guess i'll go with the snow, since now it's a novelty.
11. What is your homepage set to?
it's my iGoogle page. *love*.
12. Last 5 websites you visited:
i'm going to not count Blogger, since, well... DUH, i'm on it. so: Gmail. Google Reader. ESPN Fantasy Baseball. Yankee Candle. my bank.
13. Were you a planned baby?
ummm... not so much. ;-)
14. What do you believe is the meaning of life?
"it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go."
15. What bill do you hate paying the most?
car insurance. not even a close second contender there. it's absolute highway robbery down here, and then there's the fact so many people don't bother to carry it. just...ARG.
16. How many schools did you attend through grade twelve?
just two.
17. The Cosby Show or The Simpsons?
The Cosby Show.
18. Three signs Summer is here:
tank tops. daily afternoon thunderstorms. humidity so thick, you can scoop up a handful of it & hurl it at someone like a snowball.
19. The last time you had your feelings hurt:
apparently long enough that i can no longer recall who, when or why.
20. Who was your first best friend?
i actually had two. in nursery school. Heather and also another girl named Heather. still have the first one! lucky me! =)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Grace in Small Things 199:365
1. ice cream sandwiches.
2. a sense of accomplishment after completing a few home projects i've been putting off.
3. the smell of clean sheets.
4. a happy color on my toes.
5. muting Joe Morgan ESPN & listening to WRKO via internet. if i have to listen to the Sox lose, i would rather hear it from a friendly voice.
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Saturday, August 8, 2009
Grace in Small Things 198:265
1. well... Clay Buchholz pitched a much better game today than i could have possibly anticipated. (silver linings...)
2. my hair is nice & short again!
3. the laptop is finally all set up & organized just the way i want it.
4. watermelon.
5. my shoulder *finally* feels better again.
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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: July 2009
photo of me
1) current candle scents:
Midnight Cove. Sunflower.
2) what i am currently reading:
Faithful (Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King). Mixed Blessings (Danielle Steel).
3) newest music i added my playlist:
"Ain't No Sunshine" by Kris Allen. "Summer Breeze" by Jason Mraz. "Then" by Brad Paisley.
4) movies i saw:
didn't watch a single one in July.
5) something yummy i made this month:
Farmers Market Squash Saute.
6) the last place i ate out:
ummm...Ling's...i think...
7) something that made me cry:
seeing Alison walk down the aisle...hearing Alison & Keith say their vows...watching them exchange their rings...the first introduction of them as husband & wife...
8) something that made me laugh:
"that's some mustache." (and yes, you had to be there.) also: police officers on loud-speakers inquiring about pottying toddlers--and the expressions on the faces of those involved.
9) something i looked forward to this month:
celebrating my dear friend Alison's marriage with her. and a trip to Fenway with Nichole & Daniel!
10) something i am thankful for:
having the chance to sit & unwind after a busy five weeks.
11) something i want to remember about this month:
reading this quote from Judy Garland: "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
12) a photo i took this month:
Friday, August 7, 2009
Grace in Small Things 197:365
1. my work computer seems to finally be communicating with the new server so i can keep up with my work again.
2. Twitter is working again!
3. Michelle making me laugh. topic must remain undisclosed, though, for fear she will not share such entertaining tidbits in the future.
4. the Friday commute home, knowing i get the next two days to relax & recharge.
5. a shiny, freshly scrubbed kitchen sink.
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Thursday, August 6, 2009
Grace in Small Things 196:365
1. gut-check reminders of just how terrible it would be to lose someone you love. because sometimes we need to stop & realize just how much people mean to us & how precious the gift of their presence in our life is.
2. driving home along the edge of a storm. the way the defined edge of the black storm clouds butt against the blue sky. seeing the fuzzy smudge of rain falling less than a mile away, as a slight mist flecks the side of your car facing the storm. and being amazed at the way nature works.
3. beating the storm home in the nick of time.
4. being able to commiserate on the bloodbath that was the Sox-Yankees game. because if you have to endure it, at least you don't have to endure it alone.
5. grilled chese & tomato sandwiches.
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bait & switch.
if you're on Gmail with me, you know that it's commonplace for me to carry on complete conversations (sometimes with several different people, on multiple topics, simultaneously--but that is neither here nor there. /tangent) within the confines of my Gmail status. there are valid reasons for this, but...i direct you to the paretheses before i digress yet again.
this morning, upon my arrival at work, i plugged in:
ya know, Thursday, Monday gets all the bad press, but you sit quietly leering, doing everything you can to pass yourself off as Friday. at least Monday owns its evil nature; you are straight-up dishonest. i just want you to know that i'm onto you.
to which my good friend Michelle responded:
Oh, I like Thursday...Thursday is like being next, or in Dawn's world, Thursday is like being on deck.
which prompted the following reply:
that would be all well & good, but Thursday is always a poser--*feels* like it's Friday just long enough to get my hopes up. it's like Mike Lowell being on deck, then at the last minute, Julio Lugo gets the at-bat.
what *is* it about this day that always has me convinced it is the long-awaited & highly-anticipated Friday, only to realize i have once again been suckered by Thursday's sick sense of humor, as it lays on the ground, uproarious, clutching its stomach in the sweet agony of uncontrollable laughter, delighted that its prank has again proved successful?
Thursday? you suck.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ten on Tuesday: August 5, 2009
10 Favorite Characters from Television
1. Alan Shore (James Spader), Boston Legal.
2. Monica Geller-Bing (Courteney Cox), Friends.
3. Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis), Sex & the City.
4. Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas), Wonderfalls.
5. Dexter Morgan (Michael C Hall), Dexter.
6. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Grey's Anatomy.
7. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Grey's Anatomy.
8. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory.
9. Dr Walter Bishop (John Noble), Fringe.
10. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), Frasier.
and because i had such a hard time eliminating all the way down to ten, a bonus:
Marin Frist (Anne Heche), Men in Trees.
Grace in Small Things 195:365
1. peppermint-scented beauty products.
2. those rare people with whom you have a very strong connection.
3. dinners that dirty very few dishes.
4. this quote:
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
(Lao Tzu)
5. this series in Tampa was only two games. not that i am looking forward to the Bronx but we have *got* to get out of the Juice Box of Doom.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Grace in Small Things 194:365
1. my shoulder finally feels about 95%. i can finally turn my head most of the way in both directions again without jumping in pain.
2. yellow Summer squash.
3. learning of the safe arrival of brand new babies. (as opposed to old babies.) (i know, i know.)
4. remembering to do all my errands on the way home yesterday--without even needing to set a reminder on my cell phone! (odds that ever happens again??)
5. the cute little harbor seal on my work calendar for the month of August.
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Monday, August 3, 2009
Grace in Small Things 193:365
1. getting caught up.
2. Summer re-runs of shows when i missed the episodes the first time around.
3. that someone dreamt up the deliciousness that is pesto.
4. "What About Now," by Daughtry.
5. being able to finally lay in bed for the night without having it hurt.
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Sunday, August 2, 2009
Grace in Small Things 192:365
1. getting it out.
2. a Red Sox offensive flood. FINALLY.
3. a Sox sweep (sorry O's fans) going into a brutal week of Rays, then Yankees, both on the road.
4. a heating pad.
5. a long overdue win for the Fantasy Baseball team that i co-manage with one of my friends. we finally managed to not play another team on a week they couldn't be beaten. =P
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Saturday, August 1, 2009
Grace in Small Things 191:365
1. patience.
2. the powerful elixir we call ice cream.
3. Red Sox on my tv.
4. candlelight.
5. Advil PM.
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