::evil smile::
that's right, Bill. now bring whatever you learn back to us... ;-)
Monday, March 12, 2007
unexpected
all photos from the Boston Globe
look! Wally! =)
but this darn near made my head explode. Bill... of Belichick fame. talking to Timmy. and Timlin, clearly trying to pretend he's not listening in. i just hope that some of the Belichick genius has rubbed off on Terry's lumpy bald head. something along the lines of common sense. and forget about the Dairy Queen. seriously, Belichick in the Red Sox dugout. i may have died & glimpsed heaven...
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Unconscious Mutterings: March 11, 2007
Week 214
I say ... and you think ... ?
Contribution :: donation
Ryan :: Longwell - former kicker for the Green Bay Packers & one of the kickers on my Fantasy Football team last season
Minimal :: the very least
Cleansed :: purified
Centered :: in the middle
Arrow :: bow
Beyond :: yonder
Execute :: carry out a task
Intuition :: gut feeling
Apology :: accepted
what do you mean i still have three weeks left to wait?!
all photos from the Boston Globe
oh, no. do *not* mess with Tito. he's got a hot date with a Blizzard at Dairy Queen & you better not get in his way!
hey! look! it's Tek!
::claps hands with glee:: i cannot wait to see this in the regular season!
and see this? i *told* you Dougie stole second base!
and today, Matsuzaka get put in his place by the Orioles. ::repeats to self:: it's only Spring Training. it's only Spring Training. it's only...
Saturday, March 10, 2007
little bits of happy: March 10, 2007
...this Spring's first heavenly breath of orange blossoms
Read more...::sigh of content::
felt so good to be back at WDW today. perfect weather. surprisingly light crowds. and finally some photos i like.
and a few from last week at Animal Kingdom when my photography was still... eh.
this was such a cool moment. i went to the Flights of Wonder show & got a seat right up in front. this hawk literally flew right over my head!
just thought the shadow pattern was so cool.
and these were just my favorite part of that day. i love the white-cheeked gibbons. they fascinate me. and what's better than a cute little baby? =)
Friday, March 9, 2007
just some random Sox chatter...
it's cracking me up to read all the talk about Matsuzaka's rumored gyroball, now that he's had a start against an actual MLB team the other day. no one on the Sox seems willing to confirm its existence. "Farrell said the pitch was Matsuzaka's changeup, which has some screwball action. Dice-K told Japanese reporters it was his cutter that had them thinking gyro." (Extra Bases) whatever the case, the Marlins' batters claim that they saw it. i don't care if it exists or not. he's either blowing whatever he has by them or he's got them so freaked out watching for it, that it's helping him anyway.
-----------------------------------------
yesterday's games were split squad. i was listening to the Red Sox-Twins game, because it had the better lineup. found it supremely amusing that for some reason someone thought it would be a good idea to make Dougie our DH. i realize that we only had half our team present for this game, but are you telling me that Mirabelli was our best choice for DH? Dougie of .111 AVG?
i do love that every single game he plays, the announcers tell the story of his triumphant return to Boston last season. that's just a feel-good story. The Wakabelli Show. maytheyneverbeseparatedagain.
and just as i am typing this, Dougie chugs in to steal second base! unbelievable! LOL!
-----------------------------------------
listening to some of these announcers is hysterical during Spring Training. they are just as out of practice at the rest of us. they come out with some of the funniest stuff! listening to the Sox-Phillies game just now, the announcers were trying to call the play on the field, but there are so many minor leaguers playing in the games & non-roster invitees --basically, a bunch of guys no one has ever heard of -- that unless it's a well-known starter, we're all left looking around asking "who??" anyway, back to this game. one of these Phillies announcers just said "and that was... uhhh... i have no idea who that just was." ha!
thank God i don't have to listen to the home announcers for the Twins. that was painful yesterday. those guys were terrible. and at one point they almost killed me when they came out with: and Sox fans are really hoping that Matt Clement will make a comeback. no. oh no. no, we most certainly are not. i don't care if he's starting to throw in rehab again. no surgery short of a lobotomy is going to fix the real problem which is (understandably) in his *head*. they gave me chills when they said that. and *not* the good kind.
---------------------------------------------
this freaking rocks. i am pretty enamored with the potential of our starting rotation this year too. of course what they can do for us will go to waste, unless these guys can start pitching complete games, because to be honest, our bullpen is *not* getting this kind of glowing praise. =P
---------------------------------------------
oh. and i read something that finally cleared up some major confusion from last season. so many times, Francona would make some crazy decisions. i couldn't figure out what he was thinking, but now i know...
The bus ride back from Jupiter last night went better than the ride there, when the driver got lost. Francona took no chances. He went back by car with coaches John Farrell and Gary Tuck.
"Tuck had a bunch of shortcuts and we arrived five minutes after the bus,'' Francona said, "but we stopped at Dairy Queen and they didn't. It's amazing what a Heath Bar Blizzard can do for your frame of mind.'' (Extra Bases)
omg. that explains all the boneheaded pitching changes last season. the man is just trying to get through the game so he can make it to Dairy Queen before it closes.
Friday Fill-in: March 9, 2007
i have totally dropped the ball at keeping up with my Friday Fill-in. i missed the last *two* weeks. so... i am catching up today. =P
Friday Fill-in #10
1. Fridays are... paydays.
2. It was a dark and stormy night; ... i snuggled up in my blanket & watched tv.
3. i wasn't paying attention while i was walking ...and then I hit a parked car, causing the alarm to go off! (lol! i had no idea what to put there! i've only been the passenger when a car i was in hit a parked car!)
4. If wishes were... really able to come true, then I'd... be the happiest girl in the world.
5. Do you get... why anyone would sign Barry Bonds to another contract??
6. Where in the world is... my other bunch of cookbooks?
7. This weekend, I hope to... visit one of the Disney parks or maybe Sea World!
Friday Fill-in #9
1. Once, when I... was coerced, i rode Splash Mountain at Disney World & just about had heart failure before the big drop at the end.
2. Lately, it seems that... i can't find my photography groove.
3. The Hot Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks ...is so damn good!
4. Here's something you never knew about me; I... have only needed to change the prescription for my glasses three times since i got my first pair when i was seven.
5. I am so ready for... the weekend.
6. If you put together... cream cheese, honey & dijon mustard, ...you'd have... the really yummy sauce i make for my honey mustard chicken!
7. My plans for the weekend include... watching the Nextel Cup Race on Sunday.
Friday Fill-in #8
1. I love going to... California.
2. Do you think it hurts when an... apple is picked off the tree?
3. The glass pinecones that would have been a Christmas gift for my Gram if she hadn't passed away ...is one of my favorite decorations.
4. My collection of... photos ...is important to me.
5. How many... days ...does it take til... baseball season starts already?!
6. Up, up and away in my beautiful... magic carpet! (what?? i practically live at Disney World!)
7. I am SO looking forward to... Saturday morning ...this weekend!
Five on Friday: March 9, 2007
brought to you by Five on Friday
Think Spring!
1. How do you celebrate the arrival of Spring?
i don't know that i really celebrate the arrival of Spring. at least, not anymore. when i lived where we actually *had* Winter, i know that we were always happy when Spring finally arrived & we "celebrated" by doing more things outdoors.
2. What other holidays and events do you celebrate or mark in the spring?
it never really feels like Spring to me until we celebrate Easter. and baseball starts.
3. Do you have an interesting traditions that take place during this time of year?
i don't know that it qualifies as an "interesting tradition" but every spring Epcot does its Flower & Garden Festival. i've gone every year since i moved to Florida, camera in hand, to enjoy the beauty of the flowers & plants.
4. What colors and imagery do you associate with spring?
i think of pastels a little i guess, when i think of Easter, but even more than that, i think of shades of green with all the new plant life... vibrant blue skies... all shades of reds, yellows, pinks & purples when the flowers bloom... sunny yellow... and the rich brown of the earth.
5. What are you most looking forward to about spring?
right now? i know that in May, Nichole & Daniel will be at Disney World. i am *really* excited about that. =)
Cake Walk
1. At your next birthday celebration you can have any flavor, shape, size, and style of cake you want. What do you choose? (bonus: post a photo or link to a photo of your ideal birthday cake)
hmmmm... i always like a good ice cream cake, but i think that a chocolate cake with something raspberry... or maybe mocha... would be awfully yummy.
2. For friends and loved ones: do you buy a birthday cake or bake one for them?
i can't remember the last birthday i really celebrated. usually we end up out to dinner if anything. i guess i would buy it. i know that the last couple of cakes i had in celebration of a birthday were store bought, but not by me.
3. Do you prefer sumptuous flavor or incredible decorations?
sumptuous flavor
4. What interesting cake, frosting, and filling combination would you most love to try?
can i have a list to pick from or something? you know, like the build-your-own-pasta-dish menus. i don't know what my options are & i am still stuck on the cake i mentioned in the first question. chocolate cake, raspberry filling & a white frosting, i think. that's not really all that interesting though...
5. Tell us about a school subject or hobby that is a "cake walk" for you.
i always did well in the subjects that weren't number-oriented. i rocked in English & Vocab & Spelling & Creative Writing. always got good grades in those classes with pretty minimal effort required. it just came naturally for me.
Friday's Feast: March 9, 2007
Feast One Hundred & Thirty Four
Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?
usually between 11:30pm & 12:30am. i actually like my bedtime. i am most awake in the early morning & late at night, and i like to be up when the rest of the world is quiet & peaceful.
Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?
i don't really weigh more in one direction or the other on this one. i don't tend to solicit advice. i'm much more "the internalizer" & tend to reflect silent upon situations. those who know me the best will often pick up on the fact that "something is going on," but even with my most trusted friends, i don't often ask for advice. i don't give much either. advice can be a tricky thing. i may offer suggestions or several points of view, but not really advice. i am most likely to offer a shoulder, the opportunity to vent, a few encouraging words, and most of all, someone who will listen. sometimes being "the quiet one" is a *good* thing.
Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had.
the first one that comes to mind is this past Thanksgiving that i was lucky enough to celebrate with Nichole & Daniel. the tales of Daniel's culinary skill are practically legendary & that was my first chance to experience them, first hand. *so* amazing. and i have been lucky enough to be present for more since then. =)
Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.
i'm sure there have been some, but i have to admit that i can't recall a single one right at the moment! i *hate* when that happens. maybe one will rise to the surface later, when i stop trying to think so much about it...
Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice?
until very recently, i would have told you that the only fruit juice i drink is 100% Unsweetened Cranberry Juice. that's it. but a few weeks ago, i discovered Plum Smart which is really yummy too!
Friday 5: March 9, 2007
Condiments
1. What do you like on a hot dog?
usually just ketchup, but if there is sauerkraut available, i'll throw some of that on too. i will eat a hot dog with mustard, but it's not my favorite thing. i like mustard on other stuff more than on hot dogs.
2. What do you like on a hamburger?
cheese. lettuce. tomato. ketchup.
3. What do you like on a baked potato?
a little bit of butter & some sour cream. yum!
4. What do you like on a slice of toast?
a little butter (but not so much that the toast starts getting soggy -- i'm a crunchy toast girl!) & some grape jelly or raspberry preserves.
5. What do you like in a cup of coffee or tea?
i don't drink coffee or tea. if i am going to have a cup of coffee (which happens almost never), i take it with just milk or cream or half-and-half or some sort of liquid dairy. no sugar. and none of that powdered creamer nonsense.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
And I Quote: March 8, 2007
rerun of Grey's but it was from before i started sharing my favorite quotes, so i thought i would share them now...
Meredith: From now on, I want to be bright & shiny.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meredith: Sometimes our blind spots keep our lives bright & shiny.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meredith: Today is the day, people! Today is the day when dark & twisty Meredith disappears forever, and bright & shiny Meredith takes her place. You're probably not going to want to be friends with me anymore because the sheer intensity of my happiness is going to make your teeth hurt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
this one just made me giggle:
Dr. Bailey (to Izzie): No touching patients. No talking to patients. No rolling your eyes at the patients. Or your superiors.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
another giggle:
Addison: You're smiling.
Derek: It's called happiness. I understand why you wouldn't recognize it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
McSteamy (to Alex, seeing that Izzie is shadowing him): Is it "Bring a Hot Blonde to Work" Day? No one told me.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
George (to Cristina): Why are you being modest? Modest looks weird on you.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Addison: I'm worried about Richard. He seems down to me.
Derek: Well... he separated from his wife. That usually doesn't make a person giddy. Except in my case.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Izzie: So you got fake pecs because you're jealous of a guy with a fake name?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Izzie: Last week Izzie was digging through crap. This week she's fondling man boobs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
this episode killed me the first time i saw it too. when Alex & Izzie were referring to themselves in the third person because their patient was doing it. sooo funny. even the second time.
Izzie: Izzie & Alex don't believe you.
Izzie: Izzie thinks the whole bright & shiny thing is getting old.
Alex: Alex agrees.
yep. still funny. =P
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meredith: Us with the boobs? We make a lot of bad decisions.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
George (to Cristina): Right now, I need you to try just for a minute. I need you to try to be a human being.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meredith: When it comes to our blind spots, maybe our brains aren't compensating. Maybe they're protecting us.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meredith: I may not be cut out for bright & shiny.
Derek: I'm not either. We can be dull & lifeless together.
little bits of happy: March 8, 2007
i know it's been a while since the last one but... this is a big one & makes up for all the days i *didn't* list one!
...see that new addition over there in the right side bar? in the countdowns? Nichole & Daniel are officially coming back to WDW for vacation in May! i am practically turning inside out with excitement. happy one year anniversary of our first in-person meeting!
happy. so happy.
and excited.
score one for the girls
when i get home from work, i almost always turn on ESPN & listen to Around the Horn and PTI. i cannot stand sports analyst, Jay Mariotti. he's an arrogant little toad. today, they were talking about basketball & Lebron James or something. i don't know exactly what since i could give a flip about basketball. apparently, Mariotti said something that was a direct contradiction to an opinion he voiced last week. Jackie MacMullan, one of the very few well-versed women sports analysts on ESPN, called him on it. she told him he couldn't have his cake & eat it too. he said that he could. i about busted a gut when she informed him "that's why i have eleven points & you have two."
BAHAHAHAHA!
women so rarely get credit for being knowledgeable sports fans. Jackie shows that women can, in fact, hold their own in what is predominantly a man's world. maybe i shouldn't be surprised that she can speak with authority. she *is* out of Boston after all, where we -- men & women alike -- take our sports seriously.
regardless, i still love to see someone put that troll, Mariotti, in his place. bonus that it was Jackie. =P
Spring Training is for getting back into baseball mode, right?
for the guys, it means getting back into baseball shape, stretching muscles & flexing skills that haven't been worked the way they are when you play everyday. yesterday's exhibition game against the Mets is giving me that same opportunity to get warmed up -- in my case, in commentary on what i saw, or rather heard.
i've been listening to all the Sox preseason game radio broadcasts online. as i tuned into WRKO (sister station of EEI that used to carry all the Sox games), i heard the familiar voice of Joe Castiglione & his new co-announcer, David O'Brien, discussing how long they can go without using the bathroom. i have no idea how they got on the subject -- almost afraid to ask! --but i can say that their six hour record doesn't really impress me all that much. =P
Wakefield & Papelbon split the first six scoreless innings, each taking three. Wake had a solid performance, giving up four hits & walking one, but striking out three. his knuckler sounded like it was on. i can't wait to actually *see* it again. when that pitch is working for him, it is *crazy* to watch. after his three innings were up, he revealed in his post-game interview that he is also working on developing a curveball so that he has something to fall back on when the fickle knuckleball isn't working. even better than that, though, was hearing him say that he would like to go another five years if his body holds up. all i know is he *better* not go out in anything but a Boston uniform. got that, Theo??
scooting off on a side note while we're talking about players that should retire as Red Sox. someone please tell me what is going on with Trot. i think not playing RF in Fenway may have officially pushed him over the edge...
and i'm sorry, but seeing this Dirt Dog in Cleveland duds is just... wrong. at least we know that the resounding ovation he'll hear when he returns to Fenway will be deafening. i have goosebumps just thinking about it.
but back to yesterday's game. because we can't not talk about Papelbon. he came out throwing lightning. one hit, one walk & four Ks for the kid who should still be our lights-out closer. i can't feel good about his move to the rotation when i see guys like Donnelly & Pineiro auditioning for that slot. i'm just not sold that this is the best move... i am almost certain he will be great as a starter, but we have starters. extra starters even. (is there such a thing extra starters, after last year??) but we have *no* closer. nope, just not convinced that this was the move to make.
the relievers were awfully reminiscent of last year's bullpen though. not comfortable with that. i wanted the reassurance of a better pen & i'm not getting it. they gave up the five-run lead they were given to protect & if not for the landslide of Boston bats in the bottom of the ninth, i was having serious doubts that the Sox were going to come away with a win at all.
thank God for defense, hitting & smart base-running. Cora & Lugo (yuck. still don't like him.) ran well early in the game. every starter but Dougie got either a hit or an RBI. there were no errors committed for a change. (looking at you, Julio Lugo, because you already have two in just five games, which is a third of what A-Gon had during the entire 2006 season. i think you need to watch the glove work of Alex Cora, who was a shining example of what RSN got accustomed to with last year's infield.)
but even more than the starters, i am starting to like some of what i am seeing from some names i barely recognize. like Bobby Scales, who came in for Manny as the game moved along. he made a great sliding catch to stop a double & an RBI, and then later, he made an over-the-shoulder catch while running to prevent extra bases. not used to seeing that kind of effort being made in left field! he is on my list of guys i would like to see playing in Fenway, along with Jacoby Ellsbury who is faster than the wind.
huge moment when another unrecognizable name -- Eddie Rogers -- won the game with a walk-off grand slam. i bet he'll be talking about that for a long, *long* time.
one of my favorite moments has to be hearing the announcers talk about Mike Lowell being happy when the deal with the Rockies fell apart. because The King of Doubles is happy playing in Boston. i hope the front office gets the message. contract offers for our third baseman need to start being discussed. stat. ::snaps fingers:: Theo! that's you! wake up!
::sighs::
it feels good to flex my "Sox game thoughts" again. have i mentioned that i can't wait for baseball season to actually start?? it's probably a good thing it's only Spring Training still though -- both because the Sox are *not* ready to be playing for real yet & i still have a lot of offseason rust to shake off my commentary skills. =P
Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Twenty-Six: Down Memory Lane, Part One
1) popcorn: my Gramp *loved* popcorn. he would make it in an old-fashioned stovetop popper, drown it in melted butter and sprinkle on a little salt. then he would grab a couple of apples, a paring knife & his bowl of popcorn, and sit down in front of the tv in the evening to watch his favorite tv programs.
2) bacon: in the summer, when my Gramp's garden was in full production, on hot summer days, Gram would make a huge bowl of bacon & lettuce for my Gramp. that may have been his favorite meal ever. lots of bacon & lettuce salad, and a tomato sandwich.
3) robins: i remember how Gramp used to watch so eagerly for the first robins to appear in the Spring. he would be itching to get outside, after being trapped indoors all winter, away from his gardens & orchard. the arrival of the first robins meant that Spring was approaching & soon he would be back with his hands in the soil.
4) Chicago Cubs baseball caps: Gramp was surely a Red Sox fan, but he also liked the Cubs. for the longest time, i remember him working outside with this well-worn, broken in, dirty Cubs cap.
5) washing potatoes: yes, you read that correctly. washing potatoes reminds me of my Gramp. you see, he brought his fresh Connecticut Grown fruits & veggies to farmers' markets. but he always wanted his produce to look its best. he took such pride in what he grew. so before he would fill up his containers, he would clean & inspect every single piece. most of the time that just meant wiping down squashes or apples or what have with a clean soft cloth or maybe running carrots under the faucet to rinse away the soil. but the potatoes were a real project. Gramp would spread out burlap sacks on the grass, fill two buckets with water (one to wash, one to rinse), and then take a seat on an overturned joint compound pail to wash every single potato by hand, laying them on the burlap sacks to dry in the sun.
6) Dodge pickup trucks: my Gramp got a red Dodge the July before i was born. he had that truck for the rest of his life. they had a car too that got replaced pretty often, but he never traded in that truck for a new one.
7) this Christmas carol, which my Gramp used to sing:
O Come Little Children
(Ihr Kinderlein Kommet)
Oh come, little children, Oh come, one and all!
Oh come to the cradle in Bethlehem’s stall!
Come, see what has happened this holiest night;
Come, gaze on the gift from the Father of Might.
How sweetly He lies in His bed made of straw,
As Mary and Joseph behold Him in awe!
The shepherds are kneeling before His poor bed,
While caroling angels are heard overhead.
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, O kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehem’s Stall.
Und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
Der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht.
8) The Old Farmers Almanac, which he loved. i got the new edition for him every year for Christmas.
9) whistling: my Gramp used to whistle little tunes all the time, while he worked or waited.
10) pie crust: when Gram would bake an apple pie, she would always take the leftover pie crust dough, sprinkle it with sugar & cinnamon, cut it into little bite-size pieces, and bake it along with the pie. my Gramp called them "tarvies" & loved them.
11) seed catalogs: Gramp had a stack of catalogs that he started collecting in the late Fall, once the harvest was done. he would go through each of them carefully, looking at the different varieties & comparing them, before finally deciding which he was going to plant the next Spring.
12) Marty Robbins: he's a *really* old school country singer. Gramp had a bunch of his cassette tapes that he would listen to in the car. i don't often hear any of those songs, but every so often...
13) the tv show, "Dallas": this actually reminds me of both my grandparents, but i would sleep over their house all the time & on Friday nights, i would squeeze between them on the couch to watch Dallas. like everyone else, Gramp loved Bobby Ewing & loved to hate JR Ewing, but what i remember most was the way he used to laugh at Cliff Barnes...
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Wednesday, March 7, 2007
the only thing that feels better than baseball season inching closer & closer...
all photos from the Boston Globe
...is this. (this being a *healthy* Jon Lester.)
alphabet soup
archived this one a *long* time ago when Michelle did it. i'm caught up on my work & a little bored, but don't have much to chatter about. so... you get this.
Accent -- i don't hear it but i'm told i say some words with a Massachuesetts accent & others with a New York (yuck) influence. i guess that comes from being a Connecticut native, stuck smack between the two.
Book I like -- it's a super light read, but "Couplehood" by Paul Reiser always makes me giggle.
Chore I don't care for -- that's probably a tie between mopping & cleaning the shower.
Dog or cat -- i like both. i've had a dog, but not a cat since i was old enough to remember.
Essential electronics -- you can't have just one! i need my computer. and my cell phone. and my digital camera. and my DVR.
Favorite movie -- oh wow... ummmm... i have a bunch: Ocean's Eleven. As Good As It Gets. Serendipity. The Wedding Date. Sweet Home Alabama. Fever Pitch.
Gold or silver -- i like gold ok, but i like silver tones better.
Handbag I carry most often -- hahaha. i don't carry a handbag. sometimes i carry a brown leather purse, but more often than not i just grab my wallet or i tuck what i need into my camera case.
Insomnia -- i don't know what you would consider insomnia. sometimes i have something on my mind that makes it difficult for me to get to sleep. or i can't get my pillows in just the right configuration. but i usually doze off pretty easily. the thing is that i usually require no more than six hours of sleep. once i reach my six hours, i wake right up. so if i am not careful & go to bed too early, i will be up when it's still dark as night outside. it's not unheard of for me to wake up feel refreshed after even less than six hours. lately, i've been waking up after four to five hours & not falling asleep again.
Job title -- "just" the receptionist but you would be surprised what some of my responsibilities include.
Kids -- love 'em. don't have any though.
Living arrangements -- just me. all by herself in an apartment just the right size for one smallish girl.
Most memorable moment/time -- that depends on what you want me to remember.
Naughtiest childhood behavior -- i was a model child. seriously. i never got into trouble for *anything*. i hated disappointing anyone. still do. i think the worst of my behavior was picking on my brother. and maybe some occasional back-talk.
Overnight hospital stay -- only the night i was waiting for my baby brother to be born. other than that, not since *I* was born. ::knocks on wood::
Phobias -- i have my share of fears & strong dislikes, but i don't know that i am actually *phobic* about anything. giant spiders do not thrill me. neither do bats.
Quote -- "We choose pur joys and sorrows long before me experience them." (Kahlil Gibran)
Religion -- Lutheran, Missouri Synod
Siblings -- two brothers. Josh who will be 28 the end of this month. Zach who will be 9 in June.
Time I wake up -- usually between 5:30 and 6am as long as i don't go to bed til midnight.
Unusual talent -- ummm... i can usually think of a song to fit just about any emotional situation? i don't know. i'm just not that interesting! =P
Vegetable I refuse to eat -- not crazy about any that are overcooked. or winter squash of any variety.
Worst habit -- i've been told it's not seeing my own worth...
Xrays -- just teeth. i've had an ultrasound too but that's not an xray.
Yummy stuff I cook (or make) -- stuffed shells. honey mustard chicken. the fish & angel hair i made the other night. ginger pork stir fry.
Zoo animals I like most -- i like the giraffes. and the tigers. and the penguins. but i am really fascinated by gibbons. i watch the family of white-cheeked gibbons at Animal Kingdom sometimes for a half hour!
Wednesday Mind Hump: March 7, 2007
brought to you by Blogdrive Insanity
March 7
1. Favorite type of cheerios - honey nut, frosted, or good ol' plain?
ever since a four year stint working in daycare, i haven't been able to eat Cheerios. there are few things more icky than to reach for what appears to be an innocent Cheerio lying on the floor. you close it between your index finger & thumb in a pincer grasp, only to discover that it is mushy with cold baby drool. ::shiver:: there is also nothing like that unmistakable POP! that a Cheerio makes when you accidentally step on one & it explodes into dust, making the little Cheerio corpse virtually impossible to clean up without a vacuum cleaner's assistance. what i want to know is why do you only pick up the ones that are gross but when you step one it's never been pre-soaked in drool??
2. Do you still dig for the prize in the box?
none of the cereals i eat come with a prize in the box.
3. Do you actually eat the non-marshmallow pieces in Lucky Charms?
on the rare occasion that i eat Lucky Charms, yes i do. this question makes me laugh though, because it reminds me of Heather's twin nieces, who for the longest time would eat only the marshmallows out of the box & would call what was left "Yucky Charms" -- LOL!
4. Do you go cuckoo for cocoa puffs?
i have never ever had even a mouthful of Cocoa Puffs.
5. What is your favorite brand/kind of cereal?
i really like Special K Red Berries. yum.
and one i didn't get to a couple of weeks ago...
1. What is your favorite place for delivered pizza?
i don't really have one here in Florida. pretty much everything is Pizza Hut or Domino's or Papa John's. i was actually just thinking about pizza the other day & how i miss the actual pizza parlors back in Connecticut. the place i lived last, just before i relocated, had this little pizza place about a 45-second walk from my apartment. i don't know if they delivered since it wasn't necessary for me, being so close, but that was some of the best pizza. can't remember the name of the place... there was also this place where we used to get pizza when i was a kid. it was called -- oh so creatively -- The Pizza Place. they had such good pizza there. i don't think they are even in business anymore. i think they moved to a different location & then eventually closed for good.
2. How often do you have pizza delivered at your house?
maybe once every couple of months or so. not too often. i like pizza & all, but by the time they deliver & everything, the stupid thing costs $18. just not worth it unless i *really* don't want to cook or i have a craving that won't go away.
3. What toppings do you want on that pizza?
i am mostly just a cheese girl from any of the chain pizza places. i do really like fresh tomato slices & basil, but i can't find *anywhere* down here that makes it. they all look at me like i am crazy.
4. Thick crust or thin?
it doesn't really matter to me. i rarely eat the crust either way.
Monday, March 5, 2007
just as i was getting ready to start *really* having A Monday...
...i happen upon Basegirl's Top Ten, guaranteed to crack up any Red Sox fan. little bit of everything essential -- from Tek to Wakefield.
i needed a cheer-me-up, especially after reading: Lugo made two horrible, Manny-like baserunning blunders yesterday and let a routine grounder go under his glove for his second error of the spring. Can I hear the "it's only spring training" mantra, please. (Surviving Grady) can i just remind everyone that i am *not* happy he's in Boston? i miss my MLB-best infield...
just because it's been a few days & i missed them
all photos from the Boston Globe
the action shots are starting to come in. they are starting to really play, now that the limbs are loosening up againm and i love that. tags out at the plate...
...and leaping double plays (even though i am still not yet sold the Pedroia was the right move for 2B. still think we should have had one more year of Loretta over there & adjusted to our new SS ::rolls eyes:: before we went & messed up half our perfect infield).
but for the love of RSN sanity. why does Javier Lopez have to be back?!
and speaking of the new SS -- i know he's on my team now & all, but i still don't really like him much (i'm going to be a hard sell on this one), so it amuses me that they have a photo of him looking so goofy. =P if you had told me this time last year that i would be missing A-Gon, i would have said you were nuts. case number 2,638 of me eating my words.
Monday Madness: March 5, 2007
This week's questions come from some of our participants. Thanks to all who offered suggestions.Thank you all for playing!
1. From beth:
What's the most unusual hobby you have? How did you get started with it?
i don't really think i have any unusual hobbies! i mostly just play with my camera. i don't think there's anything all that unusual about photography. except perhaps some of the photos that i get. =P i'm just not all that unusual a girl, i guess.
2. From briar:
How many different kinds of music do you listen to? Name a few favorites, if you please.
i listen to all sorts of music. i am more a fan of songs than of particular artists or genres of music. i try to keep myself open. you can see my play list up above for an sampling of some music that i like.
3. From iris:
Do you take advantage of the outdoor areas where you live? What's your favorite thing to do outside? What's your favorite local bird?
i sure do! i make *good* use of my Resident Annual Passes for Disney World, Sea World & (to a lesser degree) Busch Gardens. my favorite thing to do outside is to just be at WDW. i don't care how many times i go, it always makes me happy. i don't know that i have a favorite local bird. i know that i don't like the turkey vultures we have all over the place down here. those things are *ugly*. and the size of pterodactyls!
4. From kristy:
Children: Do you have any?
nope, no kiddos. not even of the furry variety right now.
5. From amy:
What is your favorite part of spring?
i just talked about this in the post below! srping in Florida = almost perfect weather & the orange blossoms bloom. Spring is the best time of year down here.
Manic Monday: March 5, 2007
16 days until spring and counting!
What is your favorite part of spring? Your least favorite?
favorite part is March in Florida. the weather is as close to perfect as you can get. perfect being an October day in New England, of course. i digress. March in Florida is warm & sunny, no humidity. good breeze. blue skies. and orange blossoms. my least favorite part of Spring is something i don't have to worry about anymore: mud & slush as winter melts away. nasty.
It's Severe Weather Preparedness Week this week. What's the most severe weather event you've experienced?
that would have to be Hurricanes Charley, Frances & Jeanne back in 2004.
Daylight Savings Time begins next Sunday, three weeks earlier than in previous years. How do you feel about DST? Love it, hate it, couldn't care less?
it matters to me less down here in Florida for some reason. i was always happy up in Connecticut though because it felt like we were finally able to get back outside again.
Unconscious Mutterings: March 5, 2007
Week 213
I say ... and you think ... ?
Nude :: skin
Support :: system
Rachel :: Green! (from Friends of course!)
Crane :: Frasier & Niles!
Candy bar :: Snickers
Material :: cloth
Mind games :: cruel
Eviction :: notice
Produce :: farm fresh fruits & veggies
Joke :: laugh
Week 212
I say ... and you think ... ?
Soldier :: veteran
Lipton :: tea
Reason :: "just because"
Terms :: credit
Positive :: pregnancy test (wth?? -- and *no* i did not have one!)
Example :: for instance
Legacy :: i kept saying "legacy" in an attempt to see what came to mind. it stopped sounding like a word & i still don't have an association. =P
Solo :: sing
Instrument :: flute
Later :: not right now
Sunday, March 4, 2007
reacclimation
it's been a long time since i really cooked. over the last few months, i've been feeling my abilities awaken & stretch. thought i would share my really yummy dinner from tonight.
Tilapia With Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce
4 teaspoons of flour, divided
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
5-6 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
1 lemon
1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup white wine
**a little note here: one of the best pieces of advice i ever got for cooking with wine is to cook with a wine you would drink. the flavor will be even stronger once you cook with it, so it makes sense, really. why would you want a stronger flavor of something you aren't that crazy about? i've used a chardonnay in the past & liked it enough. tonight i decided to gamble on using riesling. yum!
1. Place 3 teaspoons of flour & the seasoned salt into a large zip-top plastic bag; shake to mix & set aside. Chop parsley coarsely, leaves only. Slice the lemon in half & set both halves aside.
2. Check fish for bones by pressing on the fillets with fingertips & remove. Add fish to zip-top bag; seal tightly & shake to coat. Preheat a large saute pan on medium-high heat 2-3 minutes.
3. Place 1 tablespoon butter in pan & swirl to coat. Add fish & cook 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter to center of pan. Turn fillets, using spatula, distributing butter under each fillet. Cook 3 more minutes until fish is golden & flakes easily. Place fish on serving plates.
4. Place remaining 1 tablespoon butter & 1 teaspoon flour, the wine & squeeze the juice from the lemons into the saute pan. Heat 1-2 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir parsley into sauce & serve over fish.
Angel Hair with Broccoli
8 ounces angel hair pasta
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup sun-dried tomato pesto
1. Fill large sauce pan 1/2 full of water. Cover & bring to a boil on high heat.
2. Stir pasta into boiling water & boil 1 minute. Stir in broccoli & boil 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Drain. Add butter to saucepan, using residual heat to melt butter. Return pasta & broccoli to pan. Stir in tomato pesto. Mix & serve.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Friday's Feast: March 2, 2007
Feast One Hundred & Thirty Three
Appetizer
What does the color pink make you think of?
thanks to Grey's Anatomy, the first thing i thought of was the way they talk about the field of obstetrics. =P
Soup
Name something you thought you had lost, but later found.
my ability to trust. and when i do trust now, it's stronger than even *i* knew.
Salad
In 3 words, describe this past week.
tentative. friend. renew.
Main Course
What are you obsessed with?
right now? baseball. how is it possibly not opening day yet??
Dessert
What kind of perfume or cologne do you like to wear?
i don't wear perfume hardly ever. i almost always smell like Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel.
it's the hap-happiest time of the year
just like i was always ready for the change of seasons when i lived in New England, i am always ready for the newest sports season. the thrill of a new baseball season or football season approaching makes me deliriously happy. in light of that, we are back to baseball comments that make me laugh.
some of my very favorite remarks are made by Chad of TATB. he does not disappoint as the 2007 season in getting pre-heated:
5. I'd be a lot more concerned about the Sox's wait-and-see approach to Curt Schilling's request for an extension if he didn't look like he was hiding the other four members of the starting rotation under his shirt.
i aspire to be this witty. if you visit here with any regularity, you know i usually fall short. or for you Red Sox fans: it's like WMP -- i step up to the plate & swing huge, which means once every fifty at-bats, i send one out into orbit, but the other forty-nine, i swing at everything for strikes.
=P
happy almost baseball season!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Twenty-Five: Comfort
1) the snap of a ball into a catcher's mitt
2) a familiar voice
3) catching a glimpse of he who keeps insisting i am crazy
4) good morning email
5) my soft fuzzy tan blanket
6) the magical elixir otherwise known as See's chocolate
7) scrolling through my photos
8) Disney World
9) ...or Disneyland =)
10) the buzz of a text coming through on my cell phone
11) the perfect hug
12) silliness with one of my girlies even when i am feeling far from silly
13) someone taking care of me even when i put up a fight
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
not laughing. not laughing. not laughing.
last year, i couldn't resist laughing at a few things. like JD coming up lame during Spring Training. and Jorge with his giant broken nose.
i think the laughing brought bad karma, because mid-season, all hell rained down on the Sox. and trust me when i say i wasn't laughing then.
that being said...
Bobby Abreu strained his right oblique during batting practice yesterday and will be out for about three weeks. The Yankees hope he'll be ready for Opening Day on April 2. (The Joy of Sox)
please take note:
not. laughing.
distracted by nothing
crap. i just realized i poured myself a glass of juice this morning, started getting ready for work, got distracted by the process & never took a sip. no wonder i'm thirsty.
::slaps forehead::
you know how a dog acts when he sees you reaching for the box of treats?
all photos from the Boston Globe
that's how this photo makes me feel.
this one? not so much. this one scares me. Tito "deep in thought" was a frightening proposition last season. he's got that look again...
so. we meet again.
round three with the spider web.
this time as i was heading to my car to leave for work. at least my hands weren't full this time, but for crying out loud. enough already! build your web somewhere else, little arachnid! i'm bigger than you are & have shoes capable of squishing! i'd talk a little trash about showing yourself so we can end this, once & for all, but i saw Lord of the Rings. i still have nightmares about that big-ass spider thing.
(oh, who am i kidding? it could be a spider the size of a grain of rice & i wouldn't be exacting any squishing. i'd pull out the vacuum cleaner, like i always do, and suck it up from as far away as the attachments will let me get. i'm such a girl.)
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