Tomorrow NaBloPoMo is starting and I have to save my one coherent thought for tomorrow's post.

Okay, never mind coherent since when did THAT become a priority?

Sweet, sweet Victory

Yes, it's two thirty a.m.and of course I'll be paying for this for the next few days but I'll have plenty of time to sleep, next week.

More tomorrow. G'nite.

Bleary, I mean Blurry

It was late the other night, during Game One and I stepped outside on the deck. I love the nighttime in the fall...bugless and cool. Plus I needed the cool air on my face to keep me awake. 13-1 is a great game and all but it's easy to close your eyes for a half inning...

I know the shot is totally blurry but there was a rainbow around the moon. It was there for only a minute or two, at the most, but I couldn't resist at least trying to take a picture.


P.S. I knitted something and can't remember how to bind off, so now it's stuck on my needles. Bah!

I'm one of those people who has to see it to believe it. I was a doubter in the whole higher power/god thing. For shame, for shame - I know, but it is what it is.

But lawd almighty.

I have seen the light, I tell you.

And his name is Josh Beckett.

And apparently, I'm not alone.

I have to say, Red Sox game aside, that I'm glad yesterday is finally over.

At one of my jobs, a guy came in about a permit. He's sort of a big guy, girth wise, and is one of those types that is just always so sure of himself - even when he's spouting bullshit - that you sort of think he knows what he's talking about - if you're the listener and you only know part of the story, that is. Plus the ponytail (recently cut off due to court appearances) and tattoos and general alpha maleness. I'm not usually intimidated by the contractors and builders that come in yelling or if I am, I'm a big proponent of the 'kill 'em with kindness or just be totally noncommital' theory. If you don't give them the ammunition it generally takes the wind out of their sails.

Anyway, this one guy gets to me. He's the very definition of sue crazy and he'll switch your words around to suit his purposes if at all possible. Which, with me is TOTALLY possible because I can't remember basically anything. So I make a conscious effort not to talk to him about anything of substance and I most definitely don't quote chapter and verse on anything policywise to him.

Yesterday, because I was the only one in the office he totally ripped into me about laws and depositions and some one who lied (which, she didn't - he was just seeing if I'd take his bait) and then he accused us of not liking Jewish people (??? which, I'll include the question marks here because as far as I know HE IS NOT EVEN JEWISH) and showing favoritism and said he'd sue us all. Which is totally his M.O. and he has a track record to prove it.

This morning I'm getting phone calls and requests to document the whole incident and given new security procedures so that witnesses can be in the office at a moment's notice.

My head is spinning a bit. Mostly, because this guy? Is engaged to a girl who used to be my best friend. I suppose I could wax poetic about our friendship but everything I've tried to type so far sounds all hokey and saccharine, so I won't.

We've sort of let our friendship fade away, she got divorced, a new job, I'd say she started dating but it's been more like a series of engagements, really. I got busier, with work and the kids and it just took a back burner. Even noticing that our friendship was hardly there wasn't a priority. I think it happened before either one of us realized it. We made a few attempts at getting together but everything fell flat and so it was easy for us to go back to hardly talking, outside of occasional emails.

And then she met this guy. And I have to say, I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. One look at him and I thought she'd gone off her rocker but she said he treats her well and she knew five minutes after she met him that she was going to marry him. (this was one of our 'try to see each other more' phases of the friendship) So, the benefit of the doubt is what he got. After all, who am I to judge? God? Not so sure. Love at first sight? Absolutely.

The last few times I've seen her it's all in relation to the function of my job. There's bad blood brewing in her neighborhood and it was consuming her. I suggested she take her kids away for a few weeks last summer and clear her mind. It's easy to stoop to some one else's level when you're living it every time you pull in your driveway. She was having none of it and so, in the past year, it's escalated to the civil courts. She sent me an email six months or so ago and asked if she had put me in an awkward position at work. I replied that she hadn't, but that I'd be lying to say it wasn't difficult with so much of the drama centering on her (then) boyfriend.

That was the last I heard from her. Until I saw her at the lacrosse field with a nice engagement ring on. We sat together and I congratulated her but she knew my heart wasn't in it. I'm still mourning the friendship, not much, but it hits me once in awhile - how much I really do miss her.

And now this. With her fiance. The worst part is that I want to call her. And now, I pretty much can't.

Is it 8 p.m. yet?

In the past hour I have been threatened, on behalf of the town I work for, with two lawsuits and as a bonus have also been accused of being an anti-Semite.

Happy Wednesday!




On a lighter note: I've already started doing laundry so there'll be plenty to fold tonight and - and should I even admit this?? - I actually saved that popsicle stick from the other night. When Papelbon got his first six out save? I hid it in a drawer so it wouldn't get thrown away (like someone besides me would actually even clean the drawer) by accident. I. Am. Ill.

World Series Bound Baybee

Well, we've got two days to dirty up some more clothes.

I told my husband that I was partly responsible for the win, which in my mind I TOTALLY AM. And y'know what? He had no idea, he didn't even notice that I would jump up out of my chair during every commercial break and head downstairs to fold laundry, that there was some kind of freaked out pattern to my previously non-existent laundry obsession.

Sheesh.

And then there's the popsicle stick I was holding during the Papelbon's first pitch in the eighth. Which I then held for the Indian's entire at bats for the eighth and ninth because how could I put it down?

In other news...

Oh, come on --- AS IF THERE'S OTHER NEWS?!?!?!?

Very Superstitious, writing's on the wall

In case you're curious...

I did laundry during every commerical for the first four innings and managed to time my return so that I missed the first pitch or two after the commercial.

I got to talking with the boy and after the fourth inning I sort of forgot to leave.

All in all, I think it worked well. Don't you?


And don't worry - I've saved plenty for tonight.

Okay, so yesterday's bowling party with wild animals, um, escaped mental patients, I mean eight 4-7 year olds went pretty well.

Just so you know, they can only handle about forty five minutes of bowling-tops-before they need a cake break.

Two of the boys have those cochlear implants and y'know I thought they could hear, my daughter tells me they totally CAN hear and they're on her soccer team and I know they hear their dad and the coach. So, I guess they were just ignoring me?

_____________________________________________________________________


I've been posting pictures to our hockey team's website. Not many, maybe four or five a week. Just enough for the kids to see themselves and I think the parents are enjoying it just as much as the kids. The problem? Because it's me...you know there's gotta be a problem...I'm getting pictures emailed to me from one dad. He's sending them to me "just in case" I want to put them up. He's already edited out the kid's jerseys so you know he's hoping to see them. But. They're AWFUL. They're so blurry you can't even tell who the picture is of (except for the goalie). I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet and throw them up there but I just wanted to whine to all of you about it first.

____________________________________________________________________

Hey, now....the sun is finally shining! I'm off.

And it's not just because I'm a Red Sox fan

Am-I-Dumb.com - Intelligence Test




That was some game last night. It's nice having these nights off in between games...I can stay up until two a.m. one night, go to bed at eight the next...all in preparation for staying up until two a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Way to start the work week.

I must make sure I do plenty of laundry because apparently I was watching too much of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th games. Last night I would go and fold clothes during the commercials and come upstairs midway through the first batter. So, if you need some laundry done...

Not that I'm superstitious or anything.

Lucky Number Seven

Sunday we celebrated my girl's seventh birthday.

Selfishly, I wish I could say it was only her fourth birthday, that we had a few more years until we hit seven. I really loved four, five and six. And yes, I'm sure seven through forever will be fine too, but she is frighteningly independent and I'm already missing her a wee bit.

She requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and a big spaghetti dinner. My son, convinced she was being ripped off, tried to convince her that she can choose anything for dinner - especially his favorite (roast chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed carrots) but she wasn't having it.

We made our annual pilgramage to Build A Bear, ensuring that she has yet another bear, or rabbit or dog as the case may be, that shares her birthday. It's completely expensive and almost foolish (skechers for the bunny? a must. A pink red sox hat for the dog? goes without saying) but she is practically jumping up and down by the time we get to the store and she plays and sleeps with these crazy animals every single day.

She was also showered with the standard 'drive your mother insane' fare from our lovely family. A singing Hannah Montana doll and the new Hannah/Miley cd? Thanks Grammy.

I was tucking my girl into bed Sunday night she said to me "I waited so long and it went by so fast". My thoughts, exactly.

Dangerously close to being Johnny Damon

Which Red Sox Player Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Manny Ramirez You are Manny Ramirez! You can be a little strange, but in a good way. You also still act like a kid at times, but this makes you a very fun person to be around. You excel with your talents and are among the elite in your field. Yea Manny!! Manny Ramirez 63% Kevin Millar 57% Johnny Damon 57% Curt Schilling 50% Mark Bellhorn 40% David Ortiz 40% Jason Varitek 40% Theo Epstein 37%

Thursday is the new Friday

Okay, so I FORGOT all about the invitation until my boy mentioned to me yesterday that it was safe to R.S.V.P. because apparently P. told his mom what he had done. Now, if I could just find the invitation...

Supposed to have book group tomorrow evening. And I know that the hostess had no way of knowing that it would be Game One of the ALCS when she picked the date. As much as I had no way of knowing that it would be Game One of th ALCS when I told her I'd be there. I might, MIGHT go for a half hour, but with Beckett vs. Sabbathia - I'm doubting it.

I'm totally hooked on Kid Nation. Last week was kind of meh but last night? So, so totally great. There are some parents raising some pretty awesome kids out there. It was all about religion and worship and the kids just got it. They did. It was all bickery and cliquish (Christians Rock! and things like that) until one girl went around and just invited everyone to say a quick prayer of their choice at an impromptu service. A simple Jewish hymn/prayer sung by the fire and I was crying.

And tonight? Scheming and conniving and warrior suits (?!?!). And a visit to Philly because Dee is dating a retarded rapper and that can't be missed.

Do any of you watch Damages? I think someone does, Cat maybe? I've only seen three episodes and am struggling to keep track of it all...but the struggle is well worth it. Excellent tv. They don't seem to be rebroadcasting on the FX site so you're out of luck if you haven't caught it before now (only two episodes left) but if you see it in repeats - you must watch.

In case you can't tell - this working four days a week, at least one night and plus a few nights and weekends of hockey/soccer/archery/whatever are leaving me with ZERO motiviation to get things done after the kiddos are tucked away for the evening.

I've done a few embroidery things, but not much, not enough. I'll post some pictures tomorrow maybe. Ideas are swirling around my head off and on all day but by the time eight thirty rolls around they all run and hide behind thoughts of the next day's lunches and schedule.

I think I've posted three days IN. A. ROW. I'm getting in gear for the NaBloPoMo. I think I lasted less than a week last year. Not good, not good at all. I've got big aspirations for this November...I'll be laying my life out there so if you're having trouble sleeping or want to pretend to be working when you're not but have run out of clever bloggers to surf...This is the place for you.

Stolen from PeaSoup, among a few others...

These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing’s users. Here's how I shape up against them.

The books I've read are in bold,
the ones I started but couldn't/didn’t finish are in italics,
what I couldn’t stand has a strike through,
those I've read more than once have an asterisk*,
and those maroon are on my To Be Read list.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and punishment
Catch-22
One hundred years of solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi
Don Quixote
Sense & Sensibility
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Name of the Rose
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
A Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies
War and Peace
Emma
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveller’s Wife
The Iliad* (in three different translations no less)
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Great Expectations
American Gods
Mrs. Dalloway
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius
Atlas shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books
Memoirs of a Geisha
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West
The Canterbury tales
The Historian : a novel
A portrait of the artist as a young man
Love in the time of cholera
Brave New World
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A clockwork orange
Anansi boys
The once and future king
The grapes of wrath
The Poisonwood Bible*
1984
Angels & demons
The inferno
The picture of Dorian Gray
Sense & Sensibility
Satanic Verses
Mansfield Park
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
To the lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s travels
Les misérables
The corrections
The amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
Dune
The prince
The sound and the fury
Angela’s ashes
The god of small things
A people’s history of the United States : 1492-present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A Short History of Nearly Everything
A confederacy of dunces
Dubliners
Beloved
The unbearable lightness of being
Slaughterhouse-five
The Scarlet Letter
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The Mists of Avalon
Oryx & Crake
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Persuasion
Lolita
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye*
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics : a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance*
The Aeneid
Watership Down*
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit*
In cold blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
White Teeth
The Three Musketeers

I don't come off as particularly literate...

For instance, if they're in my 'to be read' pile, must I own them? Or just want to read them?

My son came home from school with a birthday party invitation. The kicker? The boy who was doing the inviting crossed off the name and address of a different boy and gave the invite to my son during school. I was a leeetle bit hesitant to call the mom "hi, um, my son got an invite to your boy's party - even though he wasn't supposed to and um, I think you might want to know that it was J's name that was crossed off, in case you're like, um, good friends with his mom or something..."

I'd like to say that I wouldn't have so many ums and likes in there but, sadly, I so totally would.

Well, my husband came home and trumped me on the hotness of Saturday. He spent the day stripping the roof off his parent's garage and re-roofing it. Hewinshewinshewins.

I'm tempted not to blog on something near and dear to me, in a worry that I might jinx it.

But here goes anyway....

ACLS


5-0


3-0-1.

The Sox. How can you NOT love them? I guess there are a few people out there who don't love them or even worse, especially if you live in New England, don't care. And those people probably have a lot more spare time than I do, starting Friday. Whatevah, it is so sweet to be a loyal follower of this team. I didn't know it was possible but I think I love Jonathan Papelbon even more now.


(I know this is a week or so old but I love the man hug at the end)

And if you're a yankee fan? Hahahhahahahahaha.


Moving on.

There's another team over here in my neck of the woods that's not doing so badly either...
Tom Brady's quarterback rating is wicked high right now and Randy Moss? Randy Moss is the answer to my prayers. And probably Tom Brady's prayers too but this isn't his blog. And in fantasy football - apparently when you take Donte Stallworth and Ben Watson off your active roster that will virtually guarantee that they will have stellar performances. S'okay with me. Next week is the matchup of my two all time favorite teams....Patriots vs. Cowboys. My girlie's birthday is Sunday too. We're supposed to host some family for cake and ice cream....ergh.

And last but certainly not least - some youth hockey news. The husband's/son's team is undefeated. It's fairly early in a long season but wins = happy parents. So, for now, things are good. But the kids are skating well and seem to be enjoying themselves. Well, as much as you can enjoy mountain drills and such.. but wins = happy kids too. The coach is STILL not sleeping the night before a game, which makes for a long day when the game is at 5:00 p.m. Oh well, wins = happy coach.

Dudes.

It is 4000 degrees on the soccer field today.

The end.

There is some major DeLurk mojo going around the internet today

So, for all one of you lurking on this here site...it's time to De. As in DE-Lurk.


Last night was the daughter's open house. Our sixth consecutive year at this elementary school. The only thing we haven't seen, or rather, my husband hasn't seen is her classroom. It's even the same gym teacher that my husband had in Middle School. My son just likes going in hopes that he'll see his friends and then he gets to check out his mural and his plaque. Which is all good until you go to look for the plaque and find out that they've taken it down so that they can bring it to a meeting tomorrow night. Did I mention that because there is virtually no parking at the school that we have to be bussed in? Great fun, that.

And Thursday we do it all again for the boy. Different school though, this one is my husband's old middle school and I'm betting there's at least one teacher there from his formative years.

Tonight I get to sit at a school committee meeting where, if I speak up, I will be in an otherwise silent minority. They're looking to get an override so they can move the kindergarten up to full-day and move the third graders over to an intermediate school. And then they tack on the 'we don't have enough money for copy paper and books' line. So, basically, if you approve one you approve both...the 'in for a dime in for a dollar mentality'. I don't buy in to all of this foolishness, the school department has been less than forthcoming with their accounting and since they've already taken a half million dollars from town to cover this year's operating costs...well, I'm not giving them (willingly anyway) another dime.

Boring enough for you? You poor de-lurkers, I'm sorry. You come here and all I give you is town politics and stuff about open houses. No wonder you lurk.

Annie get your gun

Ever throw a tomahawk?

We have. Or rather, the kids have.

I took the kids to the Massachusetts Outdoor Expo yesterday so they could try their hand at shooting, archery, fly fishing and such. I shot a gun for the first time, a .22 rifle. I hit the bullseye five out of five shots and am officially in the market for a gun. Seriously. Not anytime soon because I've got to get an FID card and really, disposable income for a gun? Not likely. Could I borrow one after I get my card? Hopefully.

But it was so totally relaxing...finding the target in the scope, aiming, shooting and then the almost instantaneous PING of the bullet hitting the target. I have no urge to hunt, none. But I could easily spend an hour a week at a rifle range pinging bullets off metal turkeys.

And the kids loved it too:




We shied away from the shotguns because they were WAY loud and the line was wicked long, but the kids did get to shoot some arrows...


And the girlie climbed a big fake rock


It was quite a drive and we arrived home exhausted. The first thing my son did? Grab his Cabela's catalog to try and find his momma a gun.