there's the Matt Cassel we know & fear

to say nothing of the second coming of last year's "defense".

if the Sox weren't deep in the heat of a division pennant race with one week remaining in the regular season, i might be considerably more disappointed that *that* may have been one of the only Patriots games i may see this season.

then again, if they're going to look the way they did yesterday more often than not, perhaps that is a blessing in disguise.

(is it too early to start calling this The Lost Season? how about for calling on Jeff Garcia?)

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what you might need to know if you invite me for dinner

blatantly stolen from Jenny

1. How do you like your eggs?
scrambled. egg salad. devilled. omelettes with cheese, tomatoes & green peppers. and i like the whites from eggs done sunny-side-up or hard boiled, but *not* the yolks.

2. How do you take your coffee/tea?
the closest i get to coffee is ice cream or a rare Coolotta from Dunkin Donuts and i do not care for tea.

3. Favorite breakfast food:
waffles. probably because i don't have them very often, so they feel like a treat.

4. Peanut butter:
mmmm... i have yet to find peanut butter i won't eat.

5. What kind of dressing on your salad?
i like a robust Italian... or some Ranch... or some Honey Mustard... or a good Balsamic Vinaigrette.

6. Coke or Pepsi?
no thanks. except on the rare occasion i need a major caffeine boost. then it's Pepsi.

7. You’re feeling lazy. What do you make?
pasta with tomato sauce. or soup.

8. You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order?
tomato, mozzarella & basil.

9. You feel like cooking. What do you make?
all *sorts* of things: you can see some of them on my recipe blog.

10. Do any foods bring back good memories?
many. my Gram was an amazing cook. you know the days when you crave comfort food? it's hers that i wish i could have. i have so many wonderful memories associated with food... and i think it's why i enjoy cooking now. i learned by her side. and i have been lucky enough to make more good memories the last several holidays that are centered on incredible holiday meals as well.

11. Do any foods bring back bad memories?
chicken nuggets. hot dogs. frozen pizza. and criticism that shook my cooking confidence.

12. Do any foods remind you of someone?
bacon & lettuce salad reminds me of my Gramp. blackberry pie makes me think of my dad. i associate my mother with Shepherd's pie.

13. Is there a food you refuse to eat?
bananas. hot cereal. Spam. red cabbage. liver. veal. lamb. i'm not a picky eater at all. i will try almost anything (barring the very extreme) before i say i don't like it. sometimes it just takes me a while to work up the nerve to try something.

14. What was your favorite food as a child?
potatoes in almost any form. tomatoes. strawberries.

15. Is there a food that you hated as a child but now like?
spinach. brussel sprouts.

16. Is there a food that you liked as a child but now hate?
bananas.

17. Favorite fruit and vegetable:
fruit: any kind of berries, seedless green grapes, cantaloupe. vegetables: broccoli, peas, carrots, summer squash. i also love tomatoes but never know where to list them. i know they are a fruit but i feel funny listing them there. i really love quite a few veggies to be honest.

18. Favorite junk food:
chocolate chip cookies or chips. depends on if i want sweet or salty.

19. Favorite between meal snack:
depending on the day: chocolate or some fruit.

20. Do you have any weird food habits?
i don't think so...? but maybe someone else thinks my food habits are weird, i dunno.

21. You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on?
lots of fruits & veggies.

22. You’re off your diet. Now what would you like?
dessert!

23. How spicy do you order Indian/Thai?
whatever gives me enough kick to make my mouth a little warm but not so much that i am uncomfortable & cannot actually taste the food.

24. Can I get you a drink?
sure! a Gimlet would be nice... or... a fruity martini. i had a Pear Martini when i was in California & it was very yummy.

25. Red or White Wine?
it depends. am i eating? then i will have whatever my wine advisors tell me would work well with my meal. if i am just having a glass of wine, though, i tend to lean toward the whites.

26. Favorite dessert?
warm apple pie a la mode. warm chocolate chip cookies. ice cream. a brownie.

27. The perfect nightcap?
i'm not sure... not a big fan of the different kinds of port i've tried... what are my other options again?

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promised photos: part two of four

next up: Disneyland!

the favorites:














the complete album:

From Disneyland (September 2008)

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And I Quote: September 19, 2008

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."
(Raymond Hull)

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promised photos: part 1 of 4

we'll start off with some Disney's California Adventure. how about that?

here are some of my personal favorites...














and a link to the complete album...

View Album

Get your own

still to come: Disneyland. the Angels/Yankees game. the Sox/Rays game.

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coming attractions: for your veiwing pleasure

1. photos from vacation - including, but not limited to, Disneyland and an Angels game.

2. photos from Monday night's trip to see the Sox play in Tampa - i love Sox wins (super glad i went Monday & not Tuesday, tonight still remains to be seen). i love Sox homers. i love seats that are practically *on* the field. i do NOT love the lighting in that God-forsaken pit dome that drains me of all my life forces & makes it nearly impossible to get a nice clear photo of pretty much anything.

just need to do a bit more editing. bear with me. there are *many* photos...

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And I Quote: September 17, 2008

"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time."
(Anna Freud)

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Heart Attack Kid

the question of the day is:

will Dawn survive the mental trauma of seeing Matsuzaka pitch live tonight?! something that is scary enough on tv, never mind up close & personal...

stay tuned.

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Give Me Five Monday: September 15, 2008

Give Me Five Monday #34

Give Me Five of your favorite breakfast foods.

1. yogurt & a granola bar.
2. fresh fruit.
3. Special K Red Berries with just enough milk to moisten it but not enough to make it soggy. ;-)
4. waffles!
5. scrambled eggs & toast.

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craziness

recent weeks have held any combination of frustrating games, horrific officiating and those games that the Sox offense is a raging inferno leaving their opponent little more than a pile of ashes.

and that doesn't even touch the insanity that was Saturday's second game of a twin bill against the recently surging Jays.

take, for instance, the way the first two Sox runs score: Ellsbury walks. Pedroia doubles, moving Ellsbury to third. and somehow on a wild pitch, *both* of them manage to cross the plate.

and then there is the fact that Bartolo Colon's start was brought to you by the number 5: he had a meltdown that resulted in a FIVE-run second. then in the FIFTH inning, Rios hits a ball back at Colon, who has his back to home plate, the ball kicks up off his heel & pops right into his glove & he tosses it to first to end the FIVE-pitch inning.

the Sox spent all but the first inning, trailing Toronto. they slowly wittled away the gap but i just didn't believe they could climb all the way back. the last few weeks have made me rather cynical for some reason.

and then: Ellsbury chops one just to the first-base side out in front of home plate & the Jays pitcher falls on face trying to get to it, allowing the go-ahead run to score in eighth.

icing on the cake: Papelbon manages to come in and not only *not* blow the save but produce that elusive 123 ninth inning. (/sarcasm)

strange, strange turn of events in this game.

somehow Sox come behind from a 5-2 deficit to win 7-5 *and* though the Yankees almost mess up their late-game rally, coming from behind 4-1 to be up 6-4 going into their own closing situaton, giving up a ninth inning run, they manage to hold on for a 6-5 win.

so after picking up a soggy half game Friday & yesterday's pair of doubleheaders ending up a wash, the Sox are two back from first with Lester facing a 3-day-rested Halladay in 90 minutes--about the best possible way to face Halladay, in my opinion. Edwin Jackson & Carl Pavano square off in the Bronx, making it anybody's game. i'm rooting for whatever gives the Sunbeams a loss...

to say things just.got.interesting is a gross understatement.

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noteworthy

i ate my dinner with chopsticks last night.

for real.

which doesn't sound like a big deal until you factor in how utterly uncoordinated i am.

the fact that food made it into my mouth at all still amazes me completely.

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And I Quote: September 6, 2008

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."
(Heraclitus)

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Friday Fill-in: Sepetember 5, 2008

Friday Fill-in #88

1. If I was to walk into your life, would you be able to accept me for who i am without trying to change me into someone i'm not?

2. Catch a bright star and place it it in the palm of my hand.

3. And you can send me cool crisp Autumn days.

4. i have moved forward with my life & started to feel like myself finally but I'm dealing with a memory that never forgets.

5. I'm the innocent bystander / Somehow I got stuck with the blame for something i didn't do.

6. What's keeping us apart isn't selfishness, but fear of taking the risk.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to spending time with my friends, tomorrow my plans include whatever is on the itinerary provided by my wonderful host & hostess and Sunday, I want to enjoy whatever plans are in store for me!

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Food 4 Thought Friday: September 5, 2008

Breakfast
Do you use a day planner, calendar, notebook, computer program, PDA, lists on some random piece of paper, or just totally wing things to stay organized?
i have a planner inside which you will find a monthly calendar, a daily calendar & tons of lists. i also use the alert feature on my cell phone to remind me of important events.

Lunch
What is something that you have too much of?
paperwork that needs attention.

Dinner
What is one of the most important qualities you need in a friend?
someone who will allow me to be *me* and not who they think i should be.

Midnight Snack
Describe yourself using only three adjectives.
quiet. observant. loyal.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)
take a deep breath & relax.

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Cinn's Friday 5: September 5, 2008

hosted by Cinn's Friday 5

doing the lumberjack

[01] What is currently big news in your area?
tropical weather. to the point that it gets rather annoying.

[02] If there was a fire in your home, do you have a planned escape route?
seen as how i have only two windows & one door (which happen to be next to one of the windows), the options are limited. yes, i have a plan: go out the closest one.

[03] Is there something part of your routine that you do daily without fail?
not counting the obvious hygeine-related ones, i check my email every single day, internet-allowing.

[04] When did you last jump rope? Hula-hoop? Hop-scotched?
jumped rope: probably 15 years ago. hula-hooped: assuming you mean successfully, that'd be never because i am just not that coordinated. hop-scotched: also probably about 15 years ago, in the elementary school playground behind my house.

[05] Did you watch any of the DNC or RNC?
a little of each.

and catching up on last week's...

you said the brains I had went to my head

[01] What to you is significant of September?
something i don't much like to talk about. September has been known to be a tough month for me, although the last few have been better.

[02] What did you look forward to when starting a new school year?
new school supplies!

[03] If given a choice between the two, would you rather teach math or science?
i would have to pick science since there is at least a *chance* that i could teach something. math would be a lost cause & education should *help* children, not make them less competent.

[04] If you were given a full scholarship to return to college this fall, what would you choose to study?
i have absolutely *no* idea. something related to photography? history? a foreign language?

[05] What teacher did you have a crush on?
if you saw the teachers i had, you would understand why that just made me laugh right out loud.

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Friday 5: September 5, 2008

Orange

1. What’s your favorite orange-colored food?
carrots.

2. What’s the best way to drink orange juice?
cold, without pulp.

3. Which candy’s orange-colored pieces taste best?
M&Ms. =P don't care much for orange flavored anything.

4. What are your feelings about orange soda?
loved it as a kid. too sweet now. about the only soda i drink is ginger ale for an upset stomach or Pepsi if i desparately need a caffeine boost.

5. When did you last wear an orange item of clothing?
hmmm... long enough that i cannot remember it! i don't own much orange lately, which is odd because some shades of orange look good with my hair/skin tone.

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Ten on Tuesday: September 5, 2008

yes, i'm a bit late with this one. i'm on vacation. that's my excuse for everything this week. =P

Ten Things You Didn't Like About School

1. homework.
2. taking the bus.
3. required reading -- it's funny, books i was supposed to read in school but skimmed at best, i read later of my own free will and *loved*. i hate to be told i *have* to read something.
4. anything related to math.
5. or science.
6. the drama associated with being in high school.
7. gym class. blech.
8. peer pressure -- either you got sucked in by it & ended up in trouble, but it meant you were one of the cool kids...or you didn't & you were labelled a dork. (bet i don't have to tell you which category i fell under.)
9. the fact that no one was truly themselves (as if we had any clue who we were anway).
10. public speaking/oral presentations.

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And I Quote: September 3, 2008

The most important thing in life is family. There are days you love them, and others you don't, but in the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into... and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself.
(Carrie Bradshaw on Sex & the City)

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Snapshot From Along the Broken Road: August 2008

photo of me: sadly i still do not exist. perhaps i am only a figment of your imagination...?

1) current candle scents: Island Spa and Honeydew Melon.

2) what i am currently reading: "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin.

3) newest music i added my playlist: nothing new this month. i was busy organizing what i have already, removing duplicates (ripped from CDs) & songs i can't figure out why i liked in the first place.

4) movies i saw: "No Reservations" -- predictable but good chick flick. "First Knight" -- an old favorite. free HBO & Showtime for a year is a nice little perk for my recent Bright House inconvenience!

5) something yummy i made this month: i made a really yummy pasta dish with spinach & sausage.

6) the last place i ate out: ummm... Macaroni Grill, i believe.

7) something that made me cry: no crying! i win!

8) something that made me laugh: Nick Markakis standing in the Fenway outfield eating sunflower seeds while the Orioles intentionally walked Big Papi.

9) something i looked forward to this month: weekends. i've been very burned out at work & i have literally been living to get to the next weekend.

10) something i am thankful for: the opportunity to help & encourage my friends the way they have done for me. not that i wish trying circumstances on them by any means, but since that cannot be stopped, i am thankful that i can offer them in return the kind of support they have always given me.

11) something i want to remember about this month: how Jason Bay, in his Sox debut, came in after all the drama & was the anti-Manny (in all the right ways: a humble professional to undo the tension), getting on base in four of six at bats--2 walks, hit by a pitch and a 12th inning two-out triple that would lead to crossing the plate as the winning run on a Jed Lowrie infield hit. welcome to Boston, Jason Bay. we're happy to meet you.

12) a photo i took this month:

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And I Quote: September 1, 2008

That night, I started to think about belief. Maybe it's not even advisable to be an optimist after the age of thirty. Maybe pessimism is something we have to start applying daily like moisturizer. Otherwise, how do you bounce back when reality batters your belief system and love does not, as promised, conquer all? Is hope a drug we need to go off of? Or is it keeping us alive? What's the harm in believing?
(Carrie Bradshw on Sex & the City, "Unoriginal Sin")

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