Happy Snowy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone is having a nice day. I have been stuck in my freezing cold cottage since about 2 working from home since the weather SUCKS right now. It's not even really snowing, it's more sleet/ice/wintry mix (whatever that is) so the accumulation is low and the possibility of having fun snowshoeing or XC skiing in this stuff is also low. I hope everyone who went inland or to the mountains is having actual snow.

Working from home is WAY worse than working at the office. There are so many things I would rather be doing and they are all within reach, but I can't do them because then I would have to take a vacation day. Besides, my hubby is working too and the TV would bother him too much. I think I might have to take control back though within the hour since it is already after leaving time.

Sorry this is such a complaint-ridden post, but I hope you can understand why.

Happy VD! (Ha ha - I just love saying that!)

I am not a crybaby

So, even though I am not as big of a crybaby as my friend Scott, I am practically bored to tears right now so I am going to post the five movies that I am pretty sure I cried during:

5. Remains of the Day - When Anthony Hopkins reaches out to touch Emma Thompson's hand, but then pulls back, making you realize that they will never be together, it's a kleenex moment.

4. Green Card - I know, how many people actually watched this lame movie? But for some reason when I watched this long ago, I cried like a fool when they let you know that Gerard Depardieu is getting deported after he tried so hard to study for the immigration test pretending to be married to Andy MacDowell.

3. Life is Beautiful - For many, many reasons, but for two main scenes: when they are lost and trying to hide and run into the wall of bodies, and when Roberto pretends to be a soldier, ever the strong father, and gets shot.

2. Philadelphia - mostly the hospital scene when Antonio Banderas is there with Tom Hanks

1. Where the Red Fern Grows - who decided to show this movie at camp?! The title says it all.

Honorable mentions: Four Weddings and A Funeral (same as Scott for the eulogy), The Family Stone (mostly because I thought it was going to a comedy but was NOT), Field of Dreams (when Kevin Costner's dad plays catch), For the Love of the Game (when Kevin Costner pitches a perfect game)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To my kid sister. I wish you the best year ahead!

Finally!

Sarah Louise Whitford, daughter of Barbara and Ned Whitford of Westerly and Sean Lewis Sweeney, son of Carole and Gerard Sweeney of Dover, MA were married Saturday, October 28, 2006 at three in the afternoon at Christ Church, Westerly, RI. Reverend Robert W. Anthony officiated. Ceremony music was performed by George E. Kent and the Christ Church Choir, trumpet by Richard Given, and bell ringing by Aimée E. Blanchette. Harvey M. Blanchette and Emily A. Sweeney read during the ceremony. The bride’s sister, Lucy E. Whitford was the maid of honor and the bridal attendants were Alisa Saunders, Heather Sanborn and Kara Fieldhouse. The best man was James Damon and the ushers were Ryan Saunders, Michael Freitas and Andrew Kruppa. Flowers at the church were arranged by Jane Barber and flowers for the reception were arranged by Julie Cronan, Susan Sweeney, Regina Murphy and Andrew Lidestri. The ceremony was followed by a reception at The Chester House in Westerly.

The bride, employed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, ME, graduated from the Graduate School of Oceanography at URI. The groom graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, ME. He is employed by Pierce Atwood, LLP in Portland, ME. They honeymooned at the Orchard Cottage in Queenstown, New Zealand. The couple resides in Maine.

The couple was surrounded by lots of loving friends and family!

What is Manamana?

Answer: The first sketch of the first episode of The Muppet Show.

As a splurge over Christmas, I bought myself the first season of The Muppet Show on DVD. I watched the first three episodes last night. It is such an awesome show. Anyone who has kids ages 3 and up should own this show. There aren't any scary parts and the muppets are hilareous and what the kids don't get, the parents will. I think Jim Henson was on some heavy drugs when he created this show, but he was a genius.

Where else will you see a left-handed conducting frog? (Who knows who else is a left-handed conductor?)

Let's go Pats

I have heard a lot of talk about how boring the game between the Patriots and the Colts is going to be. I don't understand. Do people think it is going to be a blowout? That is the only kind of game that is boring. Do people not know that these teams are rivals? It is always exciting when rivals play (i.e. Red Sox and Yankees) even when it is a blowout. Maybe people are disappointed because there won't be any severe weather to contend with. This is a valid point, but that just means the strategy will have to be that much better. I, for one, am pretty sure this game will be anything but boring.

If you want to talk boring, let me tell you about this Microsoft Access class I took......

Sting Like A Bee

Muhammad Ali turned 65 this week. Most of you who know me know that I am not a boxing fan. I just never saw the point of watching grown men beat each other up. Maybe there is some sort of strategy or something, but I don't get it.

However, I am a fan of good people. This is not to say he was always a good person, but he did become a good person and mended the errors of his ways. He has given millions of dollars to charities and persevered despite his severe illness.

So, happy birthday to the greatest, keep on dancing.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I would like to take a moment to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Days like today are necessary to make us remember that there were people who had great hope for our country and world. We need more people like that to get others fired up about equality no matter what they look like, what language they speak or what religion they practice.

XII Night

The people in my hometown put on a play every year called XII Night. It is not Shakespeare's XII Night, but an original play about showing out the old year and welcoming in the new and the omnipresent fight of good and evil. There plot changes from year to year but there are some constants: Good wins, a battle, a cool monster, a dancer, an (annoying) clarinetist, great music, jesters, cake, and fun and merriment. For the past 32 years is was written by the same woman. Unfortunately, she passed away this past October so there was a huge void. Who was going to step in and write XII Night? How will the show go on?

My friend, H to the rescue! He is an amazing writer and artist. He has been involved in XII Night since he was 2. It is in his blood. It only seemed natural for him to have a chance to showcase his talent and step in to help out. As it happens, as much as he might deny it, when someone is in trouble, you can count on him to help out. His big heart is a huge part of his personality and his talent is just a bonus.

The play was fantastic. The plot was easy to follow. The poetry used (original and otherwise) fit in beautifully. The dancing was well done. The acting was exceptional (the dark god played by my friend, A, was my fav!). The monster was scary with it's booming footsteps. And the music fit in very well. Although, I might say the tap dancing twins stole the show!


Congrats H. I know I already said this - but I am very proud of you.


Well done.

Pats Win!

After a very messy, but exciting game, the Pats pulled it out to beat the San Diego Chargers to advance to the AFC Championships where they will play the Indianapolis Colts in Indy. They won by a field goal. This is not an unusual way for the Patriots win, but it is unusal that the kicker was NOT Adam Vinatieri, but a much younger rookie named Stephen Gostkowski who pulled it off with grace. I have a feeling in a few years people in New England will be saying "Adam who? Oh you mean the traitor who when to Indy so he could keep his stats by kicking in a dome?" It is also good that the Pats will be playing in Indy as their home record wasn't so great this year. It will be an interesting game next week. Go Pats!

The New Year

I feel like blogging is like going to the gym. Everyone's resolution is to keep up with their blogs (or maybe that's just me). Well, I am going to try to blog at least once a month (I try to keep expectations low).

I know a LOT has happened since I last blogged. Hey - I got married! We had a great wedding. It POURED all morning (I know - it's good luck) and there are some pretty hilareous pictures of me getting into the church all covered in raincoats and bonnets. But we probably had the best sunset EVER when we went down to the beach afterwards. My church is awesome and is made even awesomer (I know it's not a work but it's my blog) by the choir that sings there. We were very lucky to surrounded by people who loved us and wanted to be there to support us. Our photographers were great. Especially when we were being rushed out of the church where we were taking our pictures because of the rain because the 5:00 service was starting. We had a great reception. Our friend Drew and various aunts made the place look fantastic. The DJ was great. The food exceeded our expectations and everyone had FUN which is exactly what we were going for. All in all, it was a great day.

We then went for a honeymoon in New Zealand. That's right - New Zealand. It was fantastic. It was just nice to be on vacation, go for a hike if we wanted, go for a boat ride, or just hang out.

After our nice vacation it was back to reality: work and holidays. Thanksgiving was great and Christmas wasn't but what are you going to do?

Now it is the New Year and I just listened to one of my new CDs (Paul McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum) which also exceeded expectations and was pretty good. I am sick, but my hubby should be home soon (since he said he would be home 1/2 an hour ago) to cook me some dinner.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Smokers

My friend Scott just wrote a great post about how smoking makes otherwise fantastic, smart, caring, loving people stupid, careless, mean, and selfish. Smoking destroys people's health, and I don't think destroys is a strong enough word. I started to write a response but then decided to post it instead.

Thank you for writing that, but, unfortunately, even if the people in your family who smoke read this (I know at least one of them), they might think about it for a minute, but then forget it. I know this because of years of trying the same thing with my dad. I hate to be such a pessimist, but that is what happens after years of telling someone you love that they are hurting themselves, wasting money and frustrating you to no end. This is not to say that those people won't respect your wishes of not smoking around you or your family, they will, and by doing this they feel they are justified in their disgusting habit. What they don't realize is that they are really eating into the time you have to spend with them and choosing the cigarette over you. This may be harsh, but it's true.

It really has to be up to the smoker to quit. My mom is a great example of this. She finally decided it was right for her to quit. And she hasn't smoked in 3.5 years and I am extremely proud of her for this. That the smoker won't decide to quit based on medical evidence and the pleas of family and friends may be very selfish on the part of the smoker, but there must've been something subliminal in the advertisements in the 60s and 70s for smoking telling people the smoking was as harmless as a fly. It is something I will never understand.

I usually think about the Different Strokes episode when Gary Coleman's character's uncle/some sort of relative has to go have a lung removed because he smoked for years, and the last shot of him is walking out the door to the hospital, lighting up a cigarette. It is just such a foreign concept to me, I can't even begin to comprehend.

That's my boy

I still love Nomar.

Seadogs win!!!!

The Portland Seadogs have just won their first Eastern League Championship Series! It is like the World Series of the Minor Leagues in this division, so I guess it is more like the ALCS, but without the World Series existing. I am very happy for the Seadogs - I just wish I had been there today, a beautiful, somewhat hot, fall day. But, we had a good weekend in Rangeley, so I guess I wouldn't change it.

PS - sorry I haven't posted in forever, but things are getting quite busy with the wedding coming up so soon, and I feel bad posting at work, when I am supposed to be, you know, working, even though I have nothing to do.

YEAH SEADOGS!!!!!

Big Disaster

I feel the need to post about this since my friend Scott is on hiatus for a few weeks. As those of you from New England know, there was this HUGE tunnel project in Boston officially named the Central Artery/Tunnel project, affectionately known as The Big Dig. It has been leaking since before it was finished. It has leaked dirt and water which have caused minor damage to cars. It's lastest problem - tons of concrete falling from the ceiling of the tunnel - took a life. The tunnel has caused more problems than the billions - that's right - Billions of dollars it cost and Years of time it took. Traffic is not much better, it is still a nightmare to drive through the city and it's unsafe. Now that this happened, even less people will use the broken tunnels and will cause even MORE traffic in the city. Who knows what will happen next?

An Inconvenient Truth

GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

If you care about yourself, the future, your children, your friends, your friend children, you will see this movie.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT! Most of you know that I am an environemtal nut. I am very proud of my sister who bought a hybrid car last year. My next car will be a hybrid. I buy energy saving appliances and lightbulbs. I would ride my bike to work if it didn't cripple me from pain. We keep the temperature in our apt. very cold in the winter (fortunately, this allows us to save money too!)

This movie (and the book that Gore wrote) is about the "Climate crisis" as he puts it (aka Global Warming). It is about how if Antarctica and Greenland keep melting MILLIONS of people will be underwater. Then, we will experience an ice age, and MILLIONS of people will be under frozen water.

Seeing this movie is important, but taking action is even more important. Here are a few SIMPLE ways you can reduce your energy bill and reduce the amount of energy you use and therefore decrease the amount of fossil fuels you use:

- buy flourescent lightbulbs (they are a bit more than regular light bulbs, but they last at least twice as long and dramatically decrease your energy usage)

- if you need a new appliance, look for one that has an EnergyStar label on it

- make sure your hot water heater has a blanket to retain all that heat is producing (readily available at Home Depot)

- if you are not watching the TV - turn it off!

- if you live close enough, walk or bike to work/school (if it won't cripple you)

- if you live near people you work/school with, carpool (saves money and gas!)

- write to your representatives/senators/governors and tell them to sign the Kyoto Protocol and support other greenhouse gas reduction measures.

Ok, I think that is enough preaching for one post. Thanks for your patience.


Have a safe and fun trip Ry!

Ode to Mystery

With fur as soft as silk
and a gentle purr when you wanted some milk,
You always brought cheer
to everyone you were near.
A comforting cuddle,
or playing in a puddle,
you always brought a smile
and were never vile.
Sometimes you got sick,
but we cleaned it up quick,
and although you didn't have a strong brain,
we loved you just the same.
You will certainly be missed,
you brought us such bliss.
Now you will be with Sunset
and others you have never met,
to play with your friends in the sky
as we say bye-bye.

My 4 things.....

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Boatyard chick
2. GAP employee
3. Camp slave
4. Research Scientist

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Armageddon
2. Notting Hill
3. Bull Durham
4. The Little Mermaid


Four places I have lived:
1. Westerly, RI
2. South Boston, MA
3. Tacoma, WA
4. Portland, ME


Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Friends
2. Scrubs
3. The OC
4. Behind the Music: Aerosmith


Four places I have been on vacation:
1. England
2. Italy
3. Montreal, Canada
4. Rangeley, ME

Four websites I visit daily:
1. My YAHOO!
2. Redsox.com
3. fourthrow.blogspot.com
4. projo.com

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Lobster
2. pizza
3. ice cream
4. pizza


Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Rangeley
2. Ogontz
3. On the couch
4. At an Aerosmith concert

In another category of obvious.....

There was an actual study done on this.

Rock of Geezers

This week VH1 hosted a show called Rock Honors. It was the first of such shows and they decided to honor Queen, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, and KISS. Now, I don't know what kind of "rock" they were honoring but it was interesting that a classic (in every sense of the word) rock band in Queen, a father of metal band in Judas Preist, a pop rock band in Def Leppard and a performance/merchanidising band in KISS can all be classified as rock.

Now, most of you who know me, know that I am a die-hard for anything rock and roll. I was pretty excited to watch this show and watch these great bands perform and have tribute paid to them by some of the great artists of today. In my opinion, Priest stole the show, although, the mega-band that was put together to pay tribute to KISS was a close second. I will admit right now that I never owned a Priest tape or really listened to them much, but they were still full of piss and vingear on that stage and you could tell they really were enjoying themselves (and they didn't sound half-bad either). They are a great band because they have great riffs behind their songs and bad-ass lyrics. They also showed that they were the ones who started the move where all standing members of the band get together and move as one back and forth (NOT KISS). I thoroughly enjoyed their performance and was glad they were honored since they are not and probably won't get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since Sabbath is already there. Plus, anyone who drives a motorcycle on stage rules.

The mega-band put together for the KISS tribute was as follows:

Tommy Lee - drums
Slash - guitar
Scott Ian - bass guitar
Gilby Clarke - guitar
Rob Zombie - vocals
Ace Frehley - guitar

It was really cool that Ace played with them since he was an original member of KISS. They performed "God of Thunder" which is a pretty good song, and Rob sang it really well. I actually love Rob Zombie and if I wasn't scared, I would go to one of his shows. Part of the time he looked just like a marionette dancing all over the stage - his jacket had a skeleton bones on it and his pants were cut just so they looked like his legs weren't really attached to his body. The rest of the time he looked like he was dancing an Irish jig, but sounded like a monster the whole time.

I was not impressed with Def Leppard at all.

KISS was as good as they usually are and I'm sure it was much better if you were actually there. Pyrotechnics are much better in person than on TV.

The major complaint I had about the show was Jamie Pressly, the host. Who the hell is she and why did she get the gig? I wouldn've much rather had one of the VH1 VJ's or someone who actually knew something about the bands (bsides just loving them) up there to introduce them. OR ME! ;)

A few other things:
Did Rick Savage get an entire new face? Come on, he's not that old! Rock stars who get plastic surgery are just weird.

Paul Rodgers is NOT a good fill-in for Freddy Mercury - unfortunately, no one is. :(

Brian May is still amazing, I'm sure he is wicked nice too, he looks so kind and gentle.

If Gene Simmons wants to make out with his fake Ace, go for it - I don't think anyone would be surprised.

It was really awesome at the beginning of "We Will Rock You" when Roger Taylor, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins were all playing the drums. Still one of my favorite songs of all time and associated with one of my few happy memories from high school when it was playing on the radio when were were pulling up to the field where we beat Wheeler in lacrosse for the championship. Go Fighting Quakers!

They had an air guitar champion - this is an actual thing - there is a national championship for this. Really? Wow.

My last question is how did they decide who would get these rock honors? Apparently they all got rings like the World Series rings (not as expensive I'm sure, but it looked like just as big made of silver and black onyx). However they decide, next year's should be just as interesting.