Ben Taylor and Other Vineyard Stuff

Ok (sigh)... I've already revealed my intense interest in Ben Taylor's music. I suppose I should seek professional help, but I am really too busy until September 16 when The Legend of Kung Folk comes out. Maybe in two or three months, after I have had time to memorize every lyric, I can see help.

But seriously, someone over at the Ben Taylor Forum posted this video (below). I love the song and had to share.

I hope you like it, too!

As I continued stumbling along, I ran across this great site, DocuTunes. It has a whole series of videos called The Vineyard Scene (alternately, they are all listed at http://www.docutunes.tv in blog format). If you are interested in the Vineyard and her inhabitants, the videos are well worth checking out.

Have a Happy Day!

What I'm Reading (August)

August has been a good month of reading. Here's what I've read, cover to cover.  Enjoy!

	Hide and Seek by Fern Michaels This is the first book of the next Sisterhood series, "Rules of the Game." The sisters and their loyal friends must fight to keep the sisters safe when the re-enter the US from Spain. It was a fun read. Book 2 in the series, Hokus Pokus, and Book 3, Fast Track are also out and available for purchase. Both are on my reading list.  Book 4, Collateral Damage, is available now in hardback (paperback due out Sept 30); Book 5, Final Justice is due out in hardback this Sept.
	Rusty Nail by JA Konrath This is the third book in the Jack Daniels series. It is as gruesome as its predecessors. It is a quick read, that is interesting if you can stomach the grisly details. I was even making happy tears by the end... The next book in the series, Dirty Martini, is on my wish list, along with book 5, Fuzzy Navel.
	Chasing Darkness (an Elvis Cole Novel) by Robert Crais As noted by the title, this is another installment in the Elvis Cole series (what is it with me and these series?).  Elvis and partner, Joe Pike, must fight to discover the truth behind the life and death of Lionel Byrd. This was a page turner that kept me guessing until the end. Oh, and it had Joe Pike in it. For some reason I find him oddly appealing...
	Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman Arlie Singer lost her father when she was only 17 years old. She is convinced that the next man that walks down her street is the man she is destined to be with. John Moody is "that guy," though he remains unconvinced through their years together. Arlie has two children, Sam and Blanca, who have to learn to live their lives without their mother when she dies at an early age. This story of self-discovery, growth, and heartbreak was very interesting.
	Deep Drive by Mike Lowell Deep Drive is the biography of Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox 3rd baseman. The book is a well-written journey of Lowell's life. The ups of being signed as a major league baseball player, and the downs of testicular cancer and bad seasons. I have liked Lowell since the Red Sox got him in a trade from the Marlins for the 2006 season. I think it is because he reminds me so much of my own Mike. I liked this book.
	The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian This is another enthralling book by Bohjalian. It starts out slowly, as Laura and Terry Sheldon are nearing the two year anniversary of losing their twin daughters to a flood. Page by page, this story sucked me in, as I followed Laura, Terry, and Alfred -- the boy they recently began fostering. The neighbors across the street, the Heberts, and another young woman also play significant roles in the book. This is a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and forgiveness. I liked it.
	The Jury Master by Robert Dugoni David Sloane is a high powered attorney who seems to have everything going for him. Then, suddenly, he becomes hunted and has to face memories he has supressed and people who are dark with evil. I liked it!
	The Golden Valkyrie by Iris Johansen Honey Winston is a PI. She's been hired to retrieve documents from royalty of a foreign family. One thing leads to another and she is protecting the royalty's life and falling in love. This was very light and cute. I liked it!
	Dead of Night by JD Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas This is a book of short stories. I only read the one by Robb. Eve Dallas has to trace a killer who seems to be -- is? -- a vampire.
	Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen Hannah Bryson is a submarine designer, hired to check the safety of a Russian sub that will be a museum exhibit. Everything spins out of control when her brother Connor is murdered in the sub and she searches for his killer. This was suspenseful and interesting. I liked it!
	8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber Book 8 in the Cedar Cove series features Pastor Dave Fleming and his wife Emily.  I have just started it, but it promises to be great!

Mamma Mia! Wrap Up

We had such a great time at the movie that I had to post right after getting home. The movie was great, the songs were fun, and it was awesome to watch it with my wonderful friends!!!

I highly recommend this movie for an uplifting night out with the girls!

Thanks Deb and Helen! Love you :)

Mamma Mia!

Deb, Helen, and I are meeting up to see Mamma Mia! tonight. It should be a fun way to spend the night! (trailer below)

I bought the soundtrack yesterday so I could remind myself about the songs... Good listening!

Have a Happy Day!

Blowing Hot Air

I was in the kitchen making my dinner last night when I heard a strange sound outside, a "Phhhhtttt." I wondered if the neighbor (who I explained last week has a company that uses heavy equipment) was going down the driveway. About a minute later, I heard the same sound again. I went outside to see what is was, and there was a hot air balloon over our barn!! I ran inside and grabbed the camera.

You can see the top of our barn in the lower left hand corner of the photo above. Of course the sound I heard was the gas blowing hot air into the balloon.

The balloon slowly made its way across our yard (the tree in this photo is the other side of the big spruce pictured in the first image).

It made its way to I-290. At first, the cars did not notice. Then I saw cars suddenly slow down and start tooting their horns.

During the whole episode, the balloon passengers were taking photos and looked like they were having a great time.

What a unexpected and cool site for me! I only wish that Mike was at home, not in Chicago, to have seen it, too!

Have a Happy Day!

Quickie

My hopes for a lovely post today have been dashed by a bout of unexpected things... All is well, I am just busy!

You might recall my discovery last Friday that the deer had decided to munch on our hyacinth. I have had them inside for the last week, and they are recovering superbly!

Red Last Week	Red This Week
Pink Last Week	This Week

Don't they look better?! I hope to put them back outside in another week or so.

Have a great weekend!

Morning Thoughts: Butterfly Chairs and Strange Coincidences

I was thinking about seating this morning. I think I want another comfy chair for the trailer. I like to have plently of seating when we have people over, and hate resorting to the dining room chairs. Mike and I discussed it, and he advocated for something that could be folded up and stored away. Good thinking. Later on in the morning I had an epiphany as I drove to work: what about a butterfly chair?!

Do you remember them, from the 70s, then again in the 90s? I had one that went from apartment to apartment with me in college. I found a nicer, updated version at Bed Bath and Beyond for $50.

And a less fancy version for $40.

 

Hmmm... Food for thought. Those 20% coupons sure will come in handy...

After I shook myself out of my reverie I glanced at the rear quarter panel of the vehicle in the next lane. I have to mention, the sun was directly in my eyes for most of the drive, so I was concentrating on driving (and having flashbacks, apparently). I instantly recognized it. I looked closer, this time at the driver's door, and sure enough, it was my neighbor. He and his wife own Apple D'OR Tree, Inc out of Southborough, MA. The company logo is pretty distinct.

They do a lot of work in Framingham and in the city of Boston. We see Santos truck several times a month during our commutes to and from work. I guess it wouldn't be so strange, except that we always see him 20 or 35 miles away from where we both live. It is a small world!

So, no big news or excitement here. The morning has been one of random thoughts.

Have a Happy Day!

Twitter

Mike was telling me an interesting story the other day about an American student traving in Egypt. He was documenting local riots -- that apparently the government publicized -- when the police came to arrest him. He used the social networking site Twitter (also called a microblog) to tweet his friends the message "Arrested." Tweeting, by the way, is sending the 140 character or less status updates shared on Twitter. There was a huge response from his friends and worldwide media that resulted in his rapid release from prison (though, unfortunately, his translator remained imprisoned for 3 months). I found the story interesting.

A few days later, my friend John shared his plans for traveling across Central Asia. We emailed that we hoped to stay in touch during his travels. This brought me back to thinking of Twitter. I wondered, "Could this work for John?" I suggested it to him, then hopped over to check out the service.

Here's what it is all about:

There is also a newbies guide at: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9697867-2.html?hhTest=1

I have been tweeting away since yesterday. My tweets are incorporated into this blog on in the sidebar under "My Tweets." They are also posted to my Facebook page. I think this is pretty fun!

Have a Great Day!

New Blog Design

You may have noticed that we switched to a new blog design today. I loved the old one, but was really jonesing for something new. This one is by Suck My Lolly, a cute site with lots of free designs.

I hope you like it!

High on Leadership

Mike was in at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA from Aug 3-8. The institute conducted a leadership training that focussed on leadership and team building skills. They did a variety of really cool things, but one of the more interesting was an outward bound kind of day.

After finishing the activity, he told me "I climbed this 47 foot pole, about the size of a telephone pole and stood at the top on this little tiny square!" I replied, "Wow, that is cool! How did you get up?" He said, "Oh, there were these little staples spaced irregularly on the pole, but I had to pull myself up for a lot of it."

Ok, if you don't know this about me, I am terrified of heights. I am fine in a plane or on a ski lift, but ladders are a different matter (though I have been trying). The thought of climbing a pole that high is daunting to me. There were safety measures (thank God) for him: he had a helmet and a harness. His team members on the ground were holding the line for his harness. After completing his climb he jumped off the pole and grabbed a rope on the way down (part of the assignment).

Someone with him had a camera and captured him at the top:

 

A zoomed view of Mike at the top:

  

 He had so much fun! I was really excited when he brought the pictures home last night... He just never ceases to amaze me!

Have a Happy Day!

Hard Work, Yard Work...

What a beautiful weekend we had! The weather was perfect...  Do you hear me sighing with happiness?!

We got a good bit of work done on our yard. We were embarassed to discover thousands of weeds all about, and have started to pull them. We turned our backs for a few minutes, and there they were!

Actually, the reality is that one of the trade-offs of going to camp is that our house suffers. We do our best to keep up, but this year, our best hasn't cut it. At least we are trying to make it right now!

The plan is to pull weeds a few nights a week and get things looking marvelous again. We CAN do it!

Have a happy day!

Oh, Deer!

I am home today, enjoying another day off. Well, I guess the enjoying part is questionable, since I just spent an hour cutting our grass. We have to do another pass Sunday (it is really long!).

The deer have been actively eating our plants this summer. The hosta flowers are gone before we see them, as well as hosta leaves and just about anything they can get their mouths around. The latest in their food fest are my beautiful hyacinth. This one is -- was -- the red one

and this one the pink one.

The deer had quite a food orgy with my prettys. They still have green, so I still have hope. I am moving them inside for safe keeping and recovery.

We are off to camp for the weekend. What are your plans?

Have fun!

Last Day in Puerto Rico and Wrap Up

I spent Tuesday at the beach on the Condado, but was back to the hotel before Mike and ready to have a nice evening. We went out shopping before dinner and he bought me a beautiful Coach bag (you'll see it in the photos below). We had a little wine & cheese at the manager's reception, then went out to dinner at Dragonfly. It is a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant that serves tapas. It was yummy!

We had a couple of hours before our flight yesterday. We started our free time with a quick run through El Morro, a Spanish fort constructed in 1539. It was an impressive site that deserved much more time than we were able to afford it. The fort has 6 levels, all with amazing views and history. Next we stopped at El Galpón so I could buy a hat I found on Tuesday. It is very pretty and suits me better than the typical baseball hat.

Here are some photos of Tuesday and Wednesday:

Finally, it was time to leave our trip behind and head home. The flight and drive home were uneventful.

Wrap Up

We had a lot of fun on our trip to Old San Juan and Culebra. Here's a wrap up in case you find yourself on the island in the future.

Hotels

• El Convento: In the heart of Old San Juan, this hotel is charming and unique. The rooms are relatively small. The views outside the hotel and in its courtyard are amazing. It is a gem, and worth staying there at least once. The downside: customer service on check-in was unacceptable. Do not expect rooms to be ready by 3 pm checkin.
• La Concha: The "sister" hotel of El Convento where I went to the beach. Mike has stayed in this hotel on previous trips. It is sexy New York chic. If you want a beautiful hotel with modern, luxurious rooms and beach access, this is the place to be. The Condado has some high end shops to enjoy. The downside: You may get bored with the offerings on the Condado. Old San Juan is a taxi or bus ride away. The taxi is ~$25 each way. The bus runs about twice and hour and is easy to use (route B21 to Old San Juan, then 10 minute walk to shops; bus C53 from bus station to come back -- no fare through December 31, 2008).
  

Restaurants

• Aquaviva: Located on Calle de Fortaleza, this restaurant specializes in Latin/Seafood. We at there Saturday night and were very impressed. See here for photos or here for the Frommer's review.
• Patio del Sam: Located on Calle San Sebastian, food is basic and priced well. We ate there Sunday night and had a fine meal.
• Dragonfly: Located next to Aquaviva on Calle de Fortaleza, has excellent tapas in Latin-Asian fusion style. An upbeat atmosphere and great food. See here for photos or here fro the Frommer's review.

Shopping
Since Old San Juan is a popular port, there are many outlet (and regular) stores in the area. You'll find Coach Outlet, Ralph Lauren Outlet, Harry Winston, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, and more.

Culebra

• Getting there: We flew Air Flamenco ($105/pp/rt). The flight is about 25 minutes long. The plane accomodates 8 passengers.
• Getting around: We rented a Jeep through Carlos Jeeps ($65/day). It was a great way to see the island on a day trip.
• Beaches: We went to: Playa Zoni (see video here -- not ours), a beautiful quiet beach on the east side of the island; definitely my favorite. Playa Tamarindo Grande, good for surfing and solitude; we ended up there when searching for Playa Carlos Rosario. Playa Flamenco is the most popular beach on the island.
  

I guess now we are back to the real world of working, etc... Have a happy day!

Save a Gato

Mike and I picked up several maps when we arrived in Old San Juan. One included an interesting piece about the cats on the promenade (next to the city wall I mentioned previously). It said (source page 16, San Juan Shopping & Restaurant Guide 2008):

The colonial cats of Old San Juan have been added to the worldwide list of protected animal sanctuaries, joining the prestigious ranks of the cat sanctuaries at Romes famed Coliseum and Hemingway House in Key West. When our beloved historical cats that live among the rocks of the San Juan Gate were in danger of being exterminated, thousands of citizens worldwide signed petitions and sent letters of support. Members of local cat rescue groups joined forces to implement the proven method of T/N/R (trap/neuter/release) to save these innocent creatures. The animals are humanely trapped, sterilized and released back to their habitat, controlling their population, improving their health and preserving the age old ecological balance of rodent control. They are living proof that humanity can find "humane" solutions to co-exist with and preserve our fellow creatures for future generations. Endlessly photographed, they enhance an already popular tourist attraction as your walk along our picturesque promenade surrounding our 500-year-old ancient city. Visit www.saveagato.com for their inspirational story.

When we did our initial night time walk around the promenade a gate closed off the area by the rocks. We didn't see any cats that night. We took another walk last night and the gate was open. We walked between 1/2 and 3/4 mile and saw at least 40 cats. That wouldn't have been so bad, but (me being me) I felt the need to stop and say, "Hi, kitty!" to each and every one. Near the point where we turned around, one approached us that looking strikingly similar to Mattie. He was just a little lighter in color.

I decided to head back to the promenade at 7:30 this morning as Mike left for work. I want to see if I could get pictures of some of the local creatures. Many were still out walking around. I was thrilled to see that volunteers leave kibble out at night (we did not notice it last night). Mike and I had been concerned about where the cats were getting their fresh water from, too. This morning I noticed a variety of containers (old bleach bottles cleaned with the tops cut off, large ocean spray bottles with the tops cut off) tucked into the rocks with water.

I tried to go to http://www.saveagato.com yesterday but the site was down. I believe that http://www.saveagato.org is a sister site. I was alarmed to see that these cats are in danger of being removed. The Puerto Rico Board of Health has determined the stray cats are a public health danger. They seem to be demanding that the National Park Service nullify and agreements with Save-A-Gato and that the city of San Juan should hire a contractor to remove the animals.

It appears that the movement by the Health Department has not gained ground. They wanted the new regulations to be adopted by August 7, and thankfully, the cats are still around. I was speaking with a San Juan resident (who grew up in New York city before moving here), and he told me about the atrocities that occurred in Barceloneta last year. The city privately contracted for stray dogs and cats to be collected and sent to shelters. Instead, several animal control authorities took it upon themselves to drug the cats and dogs and then throw them to their deaths from a 50 foot bridge. Only half a dozen of the 80 animals tossed over survived.

I plan to purchase a Save A Gato shirt after my beach time this morning. I know the money will go for a good cause.

Have a happy day!

Catching Up: Photos from Puerto Rico

Mike is off to work today, and I am taking a few minutes to share our weekend fun.

We are staying in Old San Juan, at Hotel El Convento.

View Larger Map

El Convento was constructed in 1646, through a petition made by King Philip IV of Spain. The convent was closed by the Archbishop of San Juan in 1903. It reopened as a hotel in 1963, and has undergone many restorations since that time. It is unique because you walk into the core of the hotel to a large open-air courtyard. The rooms on each floor surround the courtyard with huge walkways. There is a small table in the walkway for each room. The view of the courtyard is beautiful. There are numerous sitting areas, both facing the courtyard and facing Old San Juan. The nightly manager's reception (with complimentary wine, alcoholic beverages, and nice selction of cheese) takes place on the 3rd floor terrace. The pool and hot tub on the 5th floor overlook the city and harbor. Last night the Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) left port at 9:15 pm. It was quite a site to see it leave. It was also funny to see all the passengers' flashes go off as they took pictures of the city.

We explored some of Old San Juan on Saturday when we arrived. The city is surrounded by the "city wall", a fortification that remains from Colonial days. There are many beautiful plazas as well as some very nice outlet stores (I will be revisting the Coach store over the next few days). A few of the photos we took are below. You should be able to click on any of them to go directly to Photobucket for a full description.

We took a trip to Culebra yesterday so that we could enjoy some of the commonwealth's most beautiful beaches.

View Larger Map

We had two options for reaching the island, located off the east coast of the main island. We could drive a little over 90 minutes to Fajardo, then take a ferry to the island. That would have required renting a car for the day, so that it could sit in a parking lot. Or, we could fly from San Juan to Culebra; that would take 25 minutes. We opted to fly so that we could enjoy more of our day.

We arrived an hour before our 8:30 am flight. Two large cruise ships were in port yesterday morning: Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas, and Princess Cruise Lines Caribbean Princess. Their size was daunting, especially compared to the 8 passenger plane we would take to the island. The ride was trouble-free and very fun.

We rented a Jeep Wrangler for our day on the island so that we could explore as many places as possible. We got a neat one that was hard top with removable panels. It was very nice and fun to drive around. We started out by driving into the only town on the island, Dewey. We stopped in at Pandeli bakery and had a couple of Cubanos (a pressed sandwich with turkey, pork, pastrami, pickles, and mustard) to give us energy. Then we headed out to Zoni Beach. Zoni is a nesting area for a variety of sea turtles. We saw several areas staked off where turtles laid their eggs and covered them with sand. The beach was beautiful and remote. The water as warm as bath water -- so lovely. We spent a long time in the water there, to attempt to escape the 98 degree heat. We left after about 2 hours in search for Playa del Carlos Rosario. We parked in the lot for Flamenco beach (the most famous in Culebra and world-renowned) and took the 20 minute hike over the mountain. We must have over-shot it, because we ended up at Tamarindo Grande Beach instead. We enjoyed the shade of a palm tree and more swimming for another couple of hours. Finally, we ended our beach exporation with an hour at Flamenco beach. It was the prettiest of the three, though the most crowded. We would definitely return to Zoni again, and would like to find Carlos Rosario.

We arrived back at El Convento at 6:30 pm sunburned to the gills, but happy and relaxed. We had a great adventure! Some photos from our day are below. Again, you should be able to click on any one for a more detailed description.

Today I am off to a beach in the Condado area. I will take the public bus for $0.75 and spend a few hours. Then I will be back to explore more of Old San Juan.

Smiles!

A Long 24 Hours

We've had a long, and interesting, 24 hours. Mike was able to get an earlier flight back from Virginia yesterday, and arrived in Boston at 8:18 pm -- 2 1/2 hours before he was orginally due. We had to wait for his luggage, but made it home a bit before 10 pm. He did laundry and last minute packing, then we were to bed around 11:30 pm.

This morning we were up by 5 am to get ready for the day. We were running early, and ended up at Logan more than 2 hours before the flight. At least we were not rushed :) We had seats assigned in different parts of the plane (the flight was full) but were boarding together when a gate attendant came up to us -- out of a line of people -- and asked if we were together. We said yes, and she took our tickets (we thought she was scanning us to board) and went to the gate desk. We heard her say 2E and 2F to someone next to her.  Woo hoo!!! We got upgraded to First Class as a random act!

The flight was great. We'd fly first class all the time if we could afford to. We were to our hotel, El Convento, by 2:40 pm. Things did not go so smoothly then. After many delays, unplausible excuses, and finally an ultimatum (by us), we were checked in to our room at 7 pm. It was exasperating, but turned out the way we wanted. We have a lovely room in the heart of Old San Juan.  All's well that ends well.

Tomorrow we are off to Culebra for the day. I'll get some photos posted soon -- just too tired tonight.

Smiles!

I am Blessed

We are all blessed in many ways, but I would like to take the time to reflect on how blessed I am to have people in my life that love me. My circle of friends and family is so very important to my every day life. I cherish and love these special people, but more importantly (to me), they cherish and love me.

There are a few truths in life. One is that we don't get to pick our family. I am blessed with two truly wonderful parents that I respect, and who treat me as the adult that I am. I talk with each of my parents several times a week and we share what is going on in our lives; even if it is nothing much. My mother always has funny stories and observations that brighten my day. I enjoy the few minutes we share and hope they help us stay closer. My father and I share interesting tidbits about whatever crosses our minds. Our conversations are fun and relaxing, and he continues to impress me with all he is doing in his retirement. I am fortunate to be so proud of the two people who helped shape me into me.

The rest of my family, Mike's family, is my family, too. Pat and I chat frequently about random things -- Top Chef, or something in town -- even if only for a few minutes. Deirdre, Connor, and Fiona always brings smiles to our faces. Family times together are always very special.

Another of those truths in life is that we do get to pick our friends. Some friends are short-term friends that last through a class, a club, a party. Others are friends for a lifetime. It's a funny thing; you don't know, when you first make a friend, which type a person will be. I think we are all optimistic and think our friends will be with us for always. I guess that isn't always the case. I am blessed to have a good number of friends who I hold very close to my heart. People that are not related to me by blood, but whose ties are as strong or stronger than blood could be. I will be forever grateful that Melissa and I became friends as little girls. We have been through a lot together, and I respect and admire her more than I could adequately express. Other friends have been a part of our lives for many years, too. Deb, Helen, Steve have seen both smiles and storms around me, and have stuck by me through and through. I am not an easy person to be around, so I cherish those poor souls that stick by me.

This post is not entirely random. I received two lovely cards last night that inspired me to write this. One was from my mother. She received a little something in the mail from me and wanted to let me know she liked it.

The other card was from Melissa. It was an unexpected, very wonderful surprise. She wanted to say hi during my week of Mike being away, and wish us a good trip to Puerto Rico.

As I said, I am truly blessed to have so many people that I care for so deeply, and who care back.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Flashback

I was listening to Mix 98.5 while I was driving into work this morning. I rarely listen to Mix anymore and don't really know what the current music is (sign #1 that I am "getting old"). Anyway, they started talking about Brett Michaels and Poison playing tonight at the BoA Pavilion. What?! Brett Michaels? Poison? I momentarily checked to see that I was indeed awake and hearing things correctly (you know cold medicine can alter the time/space continuum). Yup, today is August 7, 2008.

Here's where the flashback happened. I was all about Poison when I was in junior high and high school (sign #2 that I am "getting old"). Posters like these

lined my bedroom walls. I know, no accounting for taste. I mean, I had lots of these posters. I'd listen to my Poison casette tapes over and over on my white stereo really really loud -- until my parents came home.

And the videos! I'd watch them on MTV at every opportunity.

I ended up with so many posters that my parents made a deal with me; I could re-do my bedroom (translated: take down the hideous wallpaper I was attempting to cover with posters) in exchange for no more posters. I loved Poison, but getting rid of the wallpaper and decor in that room was worth it. I took the deal.

Years later, Brett Michaels came up in conversation with Mike and I. Turns out he has Type I diabetes and actually had at least one bad situation on the road when he was touring with Poison. He didn't take good care of himself back then. He has been on dLife talking about his diabetes (click here to read more about him) and is very interesting.

The band has grown up. I haven't heard their music, since I immediately went into "Remember When" mode this morning. But, I might be up for a redux on the sound of Poison. I guess some things are better as memories...

Have a happy day!

Quiet Day

It is rainy here (yuck). I was up coughing all night last night (extra yuck). So, home today resting and working a bit...

Gisele Jaquenod (whose template I am using for this blog) is having a fun giveaway. You should do it, to! Just go to http://www.giselejaquenod.com.ar/blog/2008/08/05/second-giveaway-win-a-birdie-says-mug/ for details. Her stuff is really cute and good for yourself or a gift for a friend. Anyway, she wants everyone to pick their favorite mug. Here's mine:





Isn't it cute! I love Birdie :)

Have a happy day!

New Song

Ok, this song is probably only new to me. I almost never listen to the radio. I have been for the past couple of days, and this song keeps coming on. Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl". I just love the beat of it. I just saw the video for the first time, and it does pretty much illustrate a highly sexualized song (I'm telling you I love this beat)...






I wonder if I am the only one who likes it. Maybe, maybe not!

Smiles!

p.s. I've previewed the rest of her album and don't like it at all. I guess one isn't bad!

Smiles

I am suffering through a bit of a cold and not really up for much today. But I thought you'd all like this...

Looks like Mattie from the back!

Have a great day :)

Some Days I Feel Lucky...

...that Tracy doesn't dress me this way.

This poor little fella.

~Mattie

Bye, Bye, Manny

Well, this has been "old news" since 4:35 pm yesterday, but I'll comment nonetheless. Manny is now part of the LA Dodgers, thanks to his repeated requests [over the past several years] to be traded and his inexcusably bad behavior in the past few weeks (including but not limited to: publicly insulting owner John Henry, contracting injuries that were unverifiable, barely playing the sport, and speaking badly about the Red Sox -- "They don't deserve me."). He was fun and we put up with his antics for a long time. He was a great hitter and enjoyed his 500th home run at Fenway Park this summer. He'll be missed, but, not really.

One more note, Manny's agent is Scott Boras, a take-no-prisoners kind of guy (see The New Yorker's Article, The Extortionist, for more). He undoubtedly had his hand in this mess.

On to better things, like the upcoming weekend. I can't wait! Have fun :)