The World Series is over. How do I fill my nights now?
Happy Halloween, by the way!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tap the Rockies!!!!!!!
The Red Sox did it....AGAIN!
Dice K finally looks happy. After a choppy season, he put in a fine performance in the World Series!
I love this photo of Hideki Okajima because while he is humble in the face of the fans, this Red Sox fan feels justified in doing a little in-your-face GLOATING!!!!! I've held off all this time and its been killing me! Red Sox Rule!!!! Woo-hoo!!
Ok, end of gloat fest. I fear that any overdoing it could lead to impending doom in future seasons. But come on, you gotta give me a little gloat time!
Here's my dude, Papi, having a little post-game celebration.
So, tomorrow, before you head out to the Red Sox parade (route shown below)......
make sure to gather up your cheering strength in a nice bowl of Josh Beckett Wheaties!!!
Dice K finally looks happy. After a choppy season, he put in a fine performance in the World Series!
I love this photo of Hideki Okajima because while he is humble in the face of the fans, this Red Sox fan feels justified in doing a little in-your-face GLOATING!!!!! I've held off all this time and its been killing me! Red Sox Rule!!!! Woo-hoo!!
Ok, end of gloat fest. I fear that any overdoing it could lead to impending doom in future seasons. But come on, you gotta give me a little gloat time!
Here's my dude, Papi, having a little post-game celebration.
So, tomorrow, before you head out to the Red Sox parade (route shown below)......
make sure to gather up your cheering strength in a nice bowl of Josh Beckett Wheaties!!!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Voila!
Finally, I am able to upload photos taken on my new Canon camera.
My subject, of course, is Fenway Park. This is where some magic happened last night. Let's hope Dice-K can bring it tonight.
My subject, of course, is Fenway Park. This is where some magic happened last night. Let's hope Dice-K can bring it tonight.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
PIcture's Worth a Thousand Words...When I Can Actually Post One, That Is!
Bummer. The picture-post function doesn't seem to work right now.
We went to Best Buy today to replace the Fujifilm camera we returned earlier this month. I think I wanted that camera to be great, but in the end, it just wasn't. And, if I allow myself to toot my own horn for just a moment here, I'm not such a bad photographer. I might as well have a decent camera to practice my "craft."
Anyway, last night, I saw a great little Canon at BestBuy online, marked down from 250 to 220. I figured I would just go to the store today, check it out, and pick it up if I liked it.
Funny thing was, at the store, they had the exact same camera, but instead of being black around the lens (which was a pretty cool accent look), the camera was entirely silver. I asked the guy about the sale price (not really caring whether the thing was silver or black), but the guy said the sale price was only for the back camera, which is only available online.
After toying around with the camera for a while, I decided it was the right one for me, but also determined that I would just order it online to save a few dollars. Before I left the store, I decided I would ask the dude whether the store protection plan and memory cards were also available online. Smelling a decent sale, the salesjerk told me to hang on a minute so that he could go ask his manger whether they could just offer me the online sale price on the model they had in the store.
Ten seconds later, he was back, telling me his manager approved the sale price.
I guess in the end, it was worth them to take the 30 dollars off in order to make a sale with all the attaches (memory card, protection plan, etc.)
And before you admonish me for taking the protection plan that you probably would never buy, just keep in mind that I'm a total klutz, and that I screwed my last Fujifilm camera (that I LOVED) by busting an entire bottle of Gatorade on it in my backpack. The Best Buy protection plan even covers water damage, which is pretty unusual for a store protection policy. I know at the Apple dump, we didn't cover water or otherwise "accidental damage."
Anyway, we took some pretty kickass pictures of Fenway Park after we bought the camera. (The Best Buy is right in the shadows of Fenway Park), which I would love to have posted. However, the blogger website has decided it shan't be.
Perhaps posting pictures would be akin to gloating, and so it might even be better to post nothing at all.
We went to Best Buy today to replace the Fujifilm camera we returned earlier this month. I think I wanted that camera to be great, but in the end, it just wasn't. And, if I allow myself to toot my own horn for just a moment here, I'm not such a bad photographer. I might as well have a decent camera to practice my "craft."
Anyway, last night, I saw a great little Canon at BestBuy online, marked down from 250 to 220. I figured I would just go to the store today, check it out, and pick it up if I liked it.
Funny thing was, at the store, they had the exact same camera, but instead of being black around the lens (which was a pretty cool accent look), the camera was entirely silver. I asked the guy about the sale price (not really caring whether the thing was silver or black), but the guy said the sale price was only for the back camera, which is only available online.
After toying around with the camera for a while, I decided it was the right one for me, but also determined that I would just order it online to save a few dollars. Before I left the store, I decided I would ask the dude whether the store protection plan and memory cards were also available online. Smelling a decent sale, the salesjerk told me to hang on a minute so that he could go ask his manger whether they could just offer me the online sale price on the model they had in the store.
Ten seconds later, he was back, telling me his manager approved the sale price.
I guess in the end, it was worth them to take the 30 dollars off in order to make a sale with all the attaches (memory card, protection plan, etc.)
And before you admonish me for taking the protection plan that you probably would never buy, just keep in mind that I'm a total klutz, and that I screwed my last Fujifilm camera (that I LOVED) by busting an entire bottle of Gatorade on it in my backpack. The Best Buy protection plan even covers water damage, which is pretty unusual for a store protection policy. I know at the Apple dump, we didn't cover water or otherwise "accidental damage."
Anyway, we took some pretty kickass pictures of Fenway Park after we bought the camera. (The Best Buy is right in the shadows of Fenway Park), which I would love to have posted. However, the blogger website has decided it shan't be.
Perhaps posting pictures would be akin to gloating, and so it might even be better to post nothing at all.
Friday, October 19, 2007
I quit. I give up.
Ok, so before I get to the true thrust of this post, let me just say that Red Sox pitcher, Josh Beckett, can BRING IT!!!
Make no mistakes. This is not gloating. This is stating a clear and undisputable fact. The kid is impeccable. At this point, it almost seems as if the entire Red Sox team is resting on this kid's shoulder. But perhaps that's where they should be looking because, as I said, this kid is a sick pitcher!!!!!
OK, onto my real message.
I quit.
I give up.
I have been trying to continue my usual regimin of step aerobics classes in spite of my horrible, hideous, hateful, motherfucking plantar faciitis. However, the time has come for me to admit that I cannot continue any longer.
I have altered my schedule to replace some of my step classes. I've been limiting my step classes and trying to work in alternative workouts. However, this week I've learned that I can no longer even afford to get the occasional step workout.
Last night, I almost wept as I watched my usual Thursday step class get underway, as I walked into the neighboring studio for a spinning class.
I really dislike spinning. The techno music preferred by a majority of the instructors is not to my liking. My ass kills by the end of the hour. And the thought of sitting on a stationary bike and going nowhere drives me nuts. But the workout is good and I can't deny the fact that I sweat my ass of.
On Tuesdays, I've begun to abandon my step class for kickboxing. It is still somewhat taxing on my poor foot, but when the class is over, I still have some limited ability to walk from the studio.
Tonight, I decided to screw it and take a step class. I would not even mind,but it was just a 40 minute step/20 minutes weight class. I survived the step portion of the class, but had to take my leave during the forward lunges portion of the class. I was either placing all my weight in my left heel to lunge into it, or keeping it constant flexion to lunge into the right foot. Either way, I was screwed.
I am sleeping in the below pictured splint every night. I am wearing my Dansko clogs as perscribed. I've had the cortisone shots. All to no avail. My doc says surgery by February if all isn't well. Somehow, based upon what's going on, I doubt I'll be well by February.
I'm starting to be bummed out big time.
At least I have the Sox game tomorrow night.
Make no mistakes. This is not gloating. This is stating a clear and undisputable fact. The kid is impeccable. At this point, it almost seems as if the entire Red Sox team is resting on this kid's shoulder. But perhaps that's where they should be looking because, as I said, this kid is a sick pitcher!!!!!
OK, onto my real message.
I quit.
I give up.
I have been trying to continue my usual regimin of step aerobics classes in spite of my horrible, hideous, hateful, motherfucking plantar faciitis. However, the time has come for me to admit that I cannot continue any longer.
I have altered my schedule to replace some of my step classes. I've been limiting my step classes and trying to work in alternative workouts. However, this week I've learned that I can no longer even afford to get the occasional step workout.
Last night, I almost wept as I watched my usual Thursday step class get underway, as I walked into the neighboring studio for a spinning class.
I really dislike spinning. The techno music preferred by a majority of the instructors is not to my liking. My ass kills by the end of the hour. And the thought of sitting on a stationary bike and going nowhere drives me nuts. But the workout is good and I can't deny the fact that I sweat my ass of.
On Tuesdays, I've begun to abandon my step class for kickboxing. It is still somewhat taxing on my poor foot, but when the class is over, I still have some limited ability to walk from the studio.
Tonight, I decided to screw it and take a step class. I would not even mind,but it was just a 40 minute step/20 minutes weight class. I survived the step portion of the class, but had to take my leave during the forward lunges portion of the class. I was either placing all my weight in my left heel to lunge into it, or keeping it constant flexion to lunge into the right foot. Either way, I was screwed.
I am sleeping in the below pictured splint every night. I am wearing my Dansko clogs as perscribed. I've had the cortisone shots. All to no avail. My doc says surgery by February if all isn't well. Somehow, based upon what's going on, I doubt I'll be well by February.
I'm starting to be bummed out big time.
At least I have the Sox game tomorrow night.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Papi, Don't Fail Me Now!
Fingers crossed. The Sox absolutely HAVE TO do something in this game tonight. They have to. They just have to!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Good Morning.
Is it just wrong that when I wake up in the morning, it is so pitch black that I can't even find my way to the light switch?
Just asking.
Anyway, here's the camera I'm eyeing.
The only drawback is the fact that the thing takes regular batteries (as opposed to using a rechargable battery.) My experience with my last camera was that the thing ruled, but the bateries died every three seconds.
I guess I should keep my search open.
Anyway, did you see the Sox last night? Let's not talk about it.
Just asking.
Anyway, here's the camera I'm eyeing.
The only drawback is the fact that the thing takes regular batteries (as opposed to using a rechargable battery.) My experience with my last camera was that the thing ruled, but the bateries died every three seconds.
I guess I should keep my search open.
Anyway, did you see the Sox last night? Let's not talk about it.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Killing Time
It is 10:30 Sunday morning and I'm at the gym. I 've just finished my workout, but I need to go to TJ MAXX, which does not open until 11:00. I figured I'd use the gym computer to update my blog while I kill a few minutes. You see, the store is just a stone's throw from here, and if I leave the gym now, I'll get there way too early. You probably already figured that out, though. I think sometimes I overexplain thing. That's probably typical of teachers.
I digress...
Anyway, not much to report.
I could start with the Red Sox, I guess. Last night's game was an exciting, close, into-overtime game. I fell asleep when the Red Sox were down just 5-4, and woke up at the top of the 11th inning. Just in time to witness the wheels come off of the Red Sox bullpen. Jesus. In game one, the Red Sox tore the wheels off the Indians in the 4th inning. But last night was awful. It would have been one thing to fall apart early in the game, but the fact that so much time and energy was invested to keep things close throughout the entire 9 innings, only makes the huge loss in the 11th all the more devastating. And believe me, the loss was a devastating one. Not just a one or two run defecit in the end, but rather a 7 run shortcoming.
But that's OK. The Sox are headed to Cleveland where, after a day's rest, they will try to reclaim some ownership of this series. Fingers crossed.
And remember....NO GLOATING.
In an entirely different rambling subject...
I feel like I must confess.
I was only partially responsible for the lovely pictures posted in my last "Fall in New England" entry. You see, I did in fact take the pictures, but then I treated them on iPhoto before publishing them. I did some color boosting, adjusting of exposure, temperature, contrast, shadows, etc. iPhoto has some fantastic tools for editing photos. But the problem was that the original pictures were rather flat and lacked all that vibrancy of photos taken with my previous camera. (You know, the one I drowned in a bottle of gatorade on my honeymoon.) Stephen bought me a new camera for my birthday. Like my last camera, this was a little Fujifilm. I was really excited to use it. One of the things I always loved about my last Fujifilm camera was the fact that the colors were always so freakin' brilliant, even before I tweaked little things on iPhoto. With this camera, however, I had to practically alter the entire photo to get it where I wanted it to be.
So, with a heavy heart, I decided to return the camera. It was purchased online, so I'm hoping the return goes smoothly.
I haven't given up on Fujifilm yet. I think I will try to get the camera I had before and see if that's any better.
Damn!
OK, I have to get going. We have a wedding today. Lots of stuff to iron, etc. And of course, there's that TJ MAXX pit stop to make before going home.
Peace out, fools!!
I digress...
Anyway, not much to report.
I could start with the Red Sox, I guess. Last night's game was an exciting, close, into-overtime game. I fell asleep when the Red Sox were down just 5-4, and woke up at the top of the 11th inning. Just in time to witness the wheels come off of the Red Sox bullpen. Jesus. In game one, the Red Sox tore the wheels off the Indians in the 4th inning. But last night was awful. It would have been one thing to fall apart early in the game, but the fact that so much time and energy was invested to keep things close throughout the entire 9 innings, only makes the huge loss in the 11th all the more devastating. And believe me, the loss was a devastating one. Not just a one or two run defecit in the end, but rather a 7 run shortcoming.
But that's OK. The Sox are headed to Cleveland where, after a day's rest, they will try to reclaim some ownership of this series. Fingers crossed.
And remember....NO GLOATING.
In an entirely different rambling subject...
I feel like I must confess.
I was only partially responsible for the lovely pictures posted in my last "Fall in New England" entry. You see, I did in fact take the pictures, but then I treated them on iPhoto before publishing them. I did some color boosting, adjusting of exposure, temperature, contrast, shadows, etc. iPhoto has some fantastic tools for editing photos. But the problem was that the original pictures were rather flat and lacked all that vibrancy of photos taken with my previous camera. (You know, the one I drowned in a bottle of gatorade on my honeymoon.) Stephen bought me a new camera for my birthday. Like my last camera, this was a little Fujifilm. I was really excited to use it. One of the things I always loved about my last Fujifilm camera was the fact that the colors were always so freakin' brilliant, even before I tweaked little things on iPhoto. With this camera, however, I had to practically alter the entire photo to get it where I wanted it to be.
So, with a heavy heart, I decided to return the camera. It was purchased online, so I'm hoping the return goes smoothly.
I haven't given up on Fujifilm yet. I think I will try to get the camera I had before and see if that's any better.
Damn!
OK, I have to get going. We have a wedding today. Lots of stuff to iron, etc. And of course, there's that TJ MAXX pit stop to make before going home.
Peace out, fools!!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Memo to Red Sox Nation
Date: 8 October, 2007
Time: 16:05:00
To: Red Sox Nation
From: Nants
Re: Gloat Free Zone
In 2003, encouraged by a promising performance by the Red Sox against the Yankees in early ALCS games, I jumped the gun and began gloating about the team's prowess and jumping to the conclusion that they would take the ALCS, and then move on to sure victory in the World Series. My most shameful gloat fest took place during a phone conversation with my friend Leslie, a Yankees fan. How can we be friends, you ask? That's a topic for another day.
We all know what happened in 2003. Leslie was quick to remind me of my premature gloating, and ascribed the demise of the Sox to it.
I promised her, myself, and anybody who would listen, that in the future, no matter how well the Sox are doing, I will not gloat.
I have not allowed myself a single word of premature gloating since.
I urge the members of Red Sox nation to join me now, in this pivotal hour, to refrain from premature gloating. Yes, the Sox swept the Angels in the ALDS, and this is wonderful, celetration-worthy news. But please, folks, limit your rejoicing to a celebration of the Sox good work and fortune. Do not let your revelry cross the line into gloating. I beg of you.
If you do gloat, please make sure that I don't hear a single word of it. I can't be party to premature gloating.
So, with that said, I will close in saying that I am celebrating the ALDS victory, and I'm looking forward with non-gloating optimism, for the upcoming ALCS.
I sign out in reminding my readers that this is a gloat free zone.
Autumn in New England
Stephen and I went to the cabin this weekend. It was a typical cabin outing. Bad food. Too much beer. Stupid movies. Well, I say "stupid movies" although I don't think I have ever seen a full movie through to the end at the cabin. I usually fall asleep long before the end. Usually I fall asleep through the opening credits.
Anyway, I digress.
I usually can be herd complaining loud and hard and at length about the absolute torture of a New England winter. Here, however, are a series of photographs I took of the glorious New England Autumn.
The pictures were taken with the great new Fujifilm digital camera Stephen bought me for my birthday.
Anyway, I digress.
I usually can be herd complaining loud and hard and at length about the absolute torture of a New England winter. Here, however, are a series of photographs I took of the glorious New England Autumn.
The pictures were taken with the great new Fujifilm digital camera Stephen bought me for my birthday.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
My god...
My school year has been crazy so far. Two students arrested already. It is early October.
Whatever.
I turn 34 tomorrow. Woo-hoo.
Celebration
Whatever.
I turn 34 tomorrow. Woo-hoo.
Celebration
Monday, September 17, 2007
Awesome Stuff
So, I don't have much to write about at this point. I'm at my friend's place, catsitting, and you know how it is when you're not in your own place. You don't really feel totally comfortable to go off and do your own thing, and your own stuff isn't there, so you just kind of kill time doing stupid stuff like watching TV and reading.
How was that last sentence? Yes...I am an English teacher!!
Whatever.
Anyway, I thought I'd take to the laptop to write about some pretty cool freakin' things I've run into or encountered recently.
First of all, I'm sitting here having a nice glass of cold Chilean sauvignon blanc. I thought I had discovered my true wine love with sauv. blancs from Australia/New Zealand, but then I stumbled (probably literally)upon one from Chile. I was and am hooked. The Chilean sauvignon blancs are possessed of almost an exaggerated degree ofo the qualities that I like about the wine. First of all, sauv blancs are generally quite dry. The Chilean ones are extremely dry. In general, the sauv. blancs have a nice, crisp, acidic-citrus finish. The Chilean ones I've tried are almost a bit harsh in their crispness and citrus flavor. I LOVE it! If you're a savu. blank fan, try one from Chile. You won't be disappointed. If you're not a sauv. blanc fan, I'd suggest you try it anyway to broaden your horizones. Hey, you never know when an unexpected hooch will strike your fancy and make you forever a believer.
Another awesome thing I've welcomed into my life of late is the freakin' "Smartboard" I have in my classroom at school. Have you people seen these things??? My god, it is incredible. It bears an initial physical resemblence to a white board. But, my friends, the physical resemblence is where the similarity ends. The smartboard is a totally interactive educational tool. I can't even get into everything it does, but all I have to say is that it has revolutinized my teaching entirely. I can't imagine ever going to a white/chalkboard ever again.
I'm also chuffed to no end that there are weekly housecleaners that come to the place I'm staying in. Granted, I've been tidying up after myself, but last night, after dinner, when I didn't feel like putting away the dishes I had washed, I knew that I would come home today to find them all snugly nestled in their appropriate cabinets. Wonderful.
I am really happy to be teaching English instead of social studies because I actually have books and curriculum materials for the first time in years! I feel bad for the social studies teacher, but screw that crap. I love having stuff to actually give the kids to learn! This is like a luxury.
I am really pleased about a lot of the kids I have. Sure, I have the convicted armed robber, but still...there are a lot of great kids, including a 7th grader whose idea of pure pleasure of avidly reading anything that is tossed her way. She has already torn through half of my classroom library (because she already tore through her 7th grade homeroom teacher's library) even after only 7 full days of school.
I love having an 8th grade homeroom. Even though the kids are by in large the same ones that I had as a 7th grade homeroom teacher, they are so much more mature and homeroom time is less of an exercise in crowd control and more of a pleasant, clam experience.
I love that I was able to pick up some GREAT books for my abovementioned classroom library at the Curious George store in Harvard Square. Everybody thinks they have stuff just for the little guys, but they have a fantastic young adult reader section downstairs, and the staff are most helpful and knowledgeable about the material.
I had a great time cruising around Old Navy, taking advantage of some pretty serious sales this weekend. And, praise the lord, even though they did away with their mid-rise boot cut jeans, they unleashed the new style "sweetheart" which is essentially the same fit. And I am even more enamored of the fact that they were on sale this weekend for 20 dollars! Hells yeah!!
I'm psyched that I'm two credits away from a payraise in school and that I was asked to join the school council, which is a totally brainless activity, and will give me the last two credits! For Free!!
For now, that's all the good news I can think of.
If there are any more delightful moments, I'll letcha know.
Hey, while we're on the subject, what's good in your life?
How was that last sentence? Yes...I am an English teacher!!
Whatever.
Anyway, I thought I'd take to the laptop to write about some pretty cool freakin' things I've run into or encountered recently.
First of all, I'm sitting here having a nice glass of cold Chilean sauvignon blanc. I thought I had discovered my true wine love with sauv. blancs from Australia/New Zealand, but then I stumbled (probably literally)upon one from Chile. I was and am hooked. The Chilean sauvignon blancs are possessed of almost an exaggerated degree ofo the qualities that I like about the wine. First of all, sauv blancs are generally quite dry. The Chilean ones are extremely dry. In general, the sauv. blancs have a nice, crisp, acidic-citrus finish. The Chilean ones I've tried are almost a bit harsh in their crispness and citrus flavor. I LOVE it! If you're a savu. blank fan, try one from Chile. You won't be disappointed. If you're not a sauv. blanc fan, I'd suggest you try it anyway to broaden your horizones. Hey, you never know when an unexpected hooch will strike your fancy and make you forever a believer.
Another awesome thing I've welcomed into my life of late is the freakin' "Smartboard" I have in my classroom at school. Have you people seen these things??? My god, it is incredible. It bears an initial physical resemblence to a white board. But, my friends, the physical resemblence is where the similarity ends. The smartboard is a totally interactive educational tool. I can't even get into everything it does, but all I have to say is that it has revolutinized my teaching entirely. I can't imagine ever going to a white/chalkboard ever again.
I'm also chuffed to no end that there are weekly housecleaners that come to the place I'm staying in. Granted, I've been tidying up after myself, but last night, after dinner, when I didn't feel like putting away the dishes I had washed, I knew that I would come home today to find them all snugly nestled in their appropriate cabinets. Wonderful.
I am really happy to be teaching English instead of social studies because I actually have books and curriculum materials for the first time in years! I feel bad for the social studies teacher, but screw that crap. I love having stuff to actually give the kids to learn! This is like a luxury.
I am really pleased about a lot of the kids I have. Sure, I have the convicted armed robber, but still...there are a lot of great kids, including a 7th grader whose idea of pure pleasure of avidly reading anything that is tossed her way. She has already torn through half of my classroom library (because she already tore through her 7th grade homeroom teacher's library) even after only 7 full days of school.
I love having an 8th grade homeroom. Even though the kids are by in large the same ones that I had as a 7th grade homeroom teacher, they are so much more mature and homeroom time is less of an exercise in crowd control and more of a pleasant, clam experience.
I love that I was able to pick up some GREAT books for my abovementioned classroom library at the Curious George store in Harvard Square. Everybody thinks they have stuff just for the little guys, but they have a fantastic young adult reader section downstairs, and the staff are most helpful and knowledgeable about the material.
I had a great time cruising around Old Navy, taking advantage of some pretty serious sales this weekend. And, praise the lord, even though they did away with their mid-rise boot cut jeans, they unleashed the new style "sweetheart" which is essentially the same fit. And I am even more enamored of the fact that they were on sale this weekend for 20 dollars! Hells yeah!!
I'm psyched that I'm two credits away from a payraise in school and that I was asked to join the school council, which is a totally brainless activity, and will give me the last two credits! For Free!!
For now, that's all the good news I can think of.
If there are any more delightful moments, I'll letcha know.
Hey, while we're on the subject, what's good in your life?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Those Damn Yankees!
My paternal grandfather, who passed long before I was born, apparently coined the phrase (or at least was very fond of using the phrase), "Never underestimate those pinstripes."
Those "pinstripes" are, of course, the New York Yankees.
Last night, the Boston Red Sox lost their 5th straight game to the New York Yankees. This wouldn't be so bad in and of itself, but the fact of the matter is that the Sox had, at one point in the game, a 5 run lead over the Yankees. The Yankees' bats were essentially dead for the first 7 innings, but in the 8th, they hussled a big-time rally and bounced back to claim an 8-7 victory over the Sox.
I'm not being a Sox hater. I love the Red Sox. I love everything they stand for. (Although, I do think they should speak to Manny about the "Little Orphan Manny" red braids and droopy drawers). It just breaks my heart to see them blow such a comfortable lead to those damn Yankees.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, the supposed pitching prodigy, has been a disaster in his 5 most recent starts. He begain last night by loading the bases in the first inning, havingn WALKED A-Rod after lobbing a fastball right into the guy's thigh. Jesus. I could not believe the fact that he managed to pitch his way out of that trainwreck without even giving up a single run. From there, things started looking up for the Sox. Their bats were hot, and the Yankees were fumbling around in the field.
I didn't watch the entire game. The place where I'm catsitting does not have cable TV. I watched some of it in a bar, but it got too crowded. So, I came home and did it the old fashioned way...I listened on the radio. This was apparently another of my paternal grandfather's favorite things to do. His passion for the Sox predated the advent of television, you see.
I digress....
I fell asleep at some point with the Red Sox enjoying a comfortable cushion runs up. I awoke this morning to the newscaster reading, "The Red Sox squandered a five run lead to lose to the Yankees 8-7 last night at Fenway."
I think I might have groaned in disappointment out loud.
Last night could have been the night the Red Sox won and increased their Eastern Division lead to a more comfortable margin of 5 games. Instead, through their loss, they are now down to a 4 game lead.
Yes, it is likely that they will take the division, but guess who they'll have to play in the elimination championships? Yep....those Damn Yankees.
But here's my thing....
Red Nation holds its collective breath when sluggers like A-Rod and Jeter comem to the plate. They pray that whomever is pitching will be able to put those guys to bed. I agree with my fellow Red Sox Nation dwellers, but my real apprehension kicks in when Hideki Matsui comes to the plate. Jesus, that guy's dangerous. He might not be leading the league in homeruns or anything, but that bastard can hit the ball. I don't think I've ever seen him get up to bat and NOT get a hit. Singles, doubles, triples, the guy does it all. He drives in runs like nobody's business. Every time I see that guy up there, I get all nervous, and rightfully so.
This is nail-biting time in Red Sox Nation.
I am so psyched for the Red Sox that they've had such a stellar season. I hope that their final series agains the Yankees does not result in a total Yankee Sweep, the way their last series did. I hope we can at least pull off a couple of wins here. God knows that just for morale, the Red Sox need it. They cannot enter into playoffs with the painful recent memory of devastating losses to those pinstripes.
Fingers crossed. Really, in the grand scheme of things, the Red Sox deserve victory over the Yankees. The Red Sox are a kinder, gentler, more beloved team. Sure, you can say that New Yorkers love their Yankees, too, but there is almost somewhat of a bully factor there. You see, it is easy to love a winner. And the Yankees are so frequently winners. Where's the challenge in loving the team that seems to so easily go out there and rough other teams up? Look at the almost poetic relationship that the Red Sox have with their fans. For season after season....hell, decade after decade, the Sox would come up dead in the water. But, through thick and thing, through crappy season after crappy season, the Red Sox have sold out every home game and, (and I have this on authority), they sell more logo merchandise than any other team in Major League Baseball. We love our Red Sox in good times and bad. The Red Sox are more deserving of victory any day, any sesason, any year.
All they have to do is get by those Damn Yankees!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Riddle Me This
Why are all the major television networks and other media paying such rapt attention to the first birthday of Anna Nicole Smith's kid?
Aren't there other things going on in the world?
Didn't Brit just completely embarrass herself on the MTV video music awards?
I want to hear more about that.
Notice I'm not even trying to get all high and might and saying that I want to hear more about the Presidential campaign or the war in Iraq.
Aren't there other things going on in the world?
Didn't Brit just completely embarrass herself on the MTV video music awards?
I want to hear more about that.
Notice I'm not even trying to get all high and might and saying that I want to hear more about the Presidential campaign or the war in Iraq.
Monday, September 10, 2007
All that's new
So, the school year is officially underway.
I cannot believe how insanely beautiful my new school is. It was very telling when, on the first day of school, the kids all looked in awe and wonder at the windows. "Wow..look! Windows!" said they. Isn't it a state statement about the state of the schools in my district that kids in the 8th grade, who have presumably gone through the requisite nine years of school leading up to 8th grade are blown away by the fact that there are actually windows that open in the place.
I have an 8th grade homeroom this year. For the past few years, although I've taught both the 7th and 8th grades, I've always had a 7th grade homeroom. Funny how a summer makes a vast difference in the maturity level of the kids. Last year i felt like I was babysitting a roomful of wackos in my 7th grade homeroom. This year, even though most of the kids are the same, I feel like I'm sitting there in the company of a roomful of adults. Well...that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I am just trying to illustrate my point that the kids are so much more mature now.
Because our new facility is massive, and in order to justify its construction, we had to augment our student population. To that end, we've absorbed the population of a neighboring school that was in equally appaling condition to our own. The new kids add a bit of change, of course. Some of the changes are positive, and some will take some getting used to.
I can't believe the stuff that the kids are getting into these days. One of my students spent the summer on house arrest for armed robbery. Another came to me on the first day to report that he had been jumped by some other kids from another school and was taken from the scene in an ambulance with a broken eye socket and nose.
Still other kids were rearing to act completely wild on the first day of school, yelling and screaming and swearing on the way into the class.
It is shocking because you think that they might at least try to make a good impression (or pretend to) on the very first day of school.
I point these things out not to be critical of the kids. On the contrary...I point them out because these things make me genuinely worried about the kids. Kids are so busy getting caught up on way-over-their-heads crap today. I wish they could just spend a little more time being kids.
Although maybe the very definition of the word "kids" has changed since we were kids. Maybe in our day, being "kids" meant hanging out with friends at the mall and goofing off in school, whereas today maybe the accepted definition of "kids" means stealing shit at the mall and cutting school to go smoke and have sex.
Am I getting too philosophical/contemplative here? I guess my mind is just wandering through these questions as I see some of my kids and become aware of the things they've seen and done.
Christ, I think many of them have been around the block way more times than yours truly.
Anyway....onto other subjects.
What else is there?
Oh, yeah, I'm cat and dog sitting for the next three weeks. I just arrived at my guest house yesterday. It has more space than I know what to do with. I can take or leave the cats, but I love the god. Sadly, he will only be here for a few days until he is shuttled off to his auntie's house. The cats will be with me for the duration. Don't get me wrong, they are nice enough cats, but I just don't find cats to be very fun or affectionate. They just kind of sit there. The dog, on the other hand, is playful and affectionate. He has not left my side at all since I've arrived. I really like this dog. If I didn't live in a city apartment, I think I'd be a big time dog owner.
Also, just something silly to point out...
It seems that lately, no matter where I am, or no matter where I need to go, I get stuck behind the absolute slowest people and am left feeling entirely frustrated.
I get stuck behind the slowest person in the supermarket who decides to block the entire aisle with their massively overflowing cart.
I get stuck behind some asshole who decides to board the bus and pay their fare in pennies.
I get stuck trying to cross the street as some idiot drives toward me too fast for me to cross in front of him, but slow enough so that the traffic is building up behind him as to prevent my ever getting across the street.
I have to run to the bathroom before my class at the gym, or sometimes even during the middle of the class, and, not wanting to miss any of the activity, I try to hussle over there, only to find some old bat doing quadriceps stretches in the frame of the bathroom doorway.
Jesus!
Oh, and speaking of activity, I'm somewhat limited in what I can do these days because of this annoying-ass plantar faciitis.
That's it for now!
Just thought I'd keep folks posted.
Nants
I cannot believe how insanely beautiful my new school is. It was very telling when, on the first day of school, the kids all looked in awe and wonder at the windows. "Wow..look! Windows!" said they. Isn't it a state statement about the state of the schools in my district that kids in the 8th grade, who have presumably gone through the requisite nine years of school leading up to 8th grade are blown away by the fact that there are actually windows that open in the place.
I have an 8th grade homeroom this year. For the past few years, although I've taught both the 7th and 8th grades, I've always had a 7th grade homeroom. Funny how a summer makes a vast difference in the maturity level of the kids. Last year i felt like I was babysitting a roomful of wackos in my 7th grade homeroom. This year, even though most of the kids are the same, I feel like I'm sitting there in the company of a roomful of adults. Well...that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I am just trying to illustrate my point that the kids are so much more mature now.
Because our new facility is massive, and in order to justify its construction, we had to augment our student population. To that end, we've absorbed the population of a neighboring school that was in equally appaling condition to our own. The new kids add a bit of change, of course. Some of the changes are positive, and some will take some getting used to.
I can't believe the stuff that the kids are getting into these days. One of my students spent the summer on house arrest for armed robbery. Another came to me on the first day to report that he had been jumped by some other kids from another school and was taken from the scene in an ambulance with a broken eye socket and nose.
Still other kids were rearing to act completely wild on the first day of school, yelling and screaming and swearing on the way into the class.
It is shocking because you think that they might at least try to make a good impression (or pretend to) on the very first day of school.
I point these things out not to be critical of the kids. On the contrary...I point them out because these things make me genuinely worried about the kids. Kids are so busy getting caught up on way-over-their-heads crap today. I wish they could just spend a little more time being kids.
Although maybe the very definition of the word "kids" has changed since we were kids. Maybe in our day, being "kids" meant hanging out with friends at the mall and goofing off in school, whereas today maybe the accepted definition of "kids" means stealing shit at the mall and cutting school to go smoke and have sex.
Am I getting too philosophical/contemplative here? I guess my mind is just wandering through these questions as I see some of my kids and become aware of the things they've seen and done.
Christ, I think many of them have been around the block way more times than yours truly.
Anyway....onto other subjects.
What else is there?
Oh, yeah, I'm cat and dog sitting for the next three weeks. I just arrived at my guest house yesterday. It has more space than I know what to do with. I can take or leave the cats, but I love the god. Sadly, he will only be here for a few days until he is shuttled off to his auntie's house. The cats will be with me for the duration. Don't get me wrong, they are nice enough cats, but I just don't find cats to be very fun or affectionate. They just kind of sit there. The dog, on the other hand, is playful and affectionate. He has not left my side at all since I've arrived. I really like this dog. If I didn't live in a city apartment, I think I'd be a big time dog owner.
Also, just something silly to point out...
It seems that lately, no matter where I am, or no matter where I need to go, I get stuck behind the absolute slowest people and am left feeling entirely frustrated.
I get stuck behind the slowest person in the supermarket who decides to block the entire aisle with their massively overflowing cart.
I get stuck behind some asshole who decides to board the bus and pay their fare in pennies.
I get stuck trying to cross the street as some idiot drives toward me too fast for me to cross in front of him, but slow enough so that the traffic is building up behind him as to prevent my ever getting across the street.
I have to run to the bathroom before my class at the gym, or sometimes even during the middle of the class, and, not wanting to miss any of the activity, I try to hussle over there, only to find some old bat doing quadriceps stretches in the frame of the bathroom doorway.
Jesus!
Oh, and speaking of activity, I'm somewhat limited in what I can do these days because of this annoying-ass plantar faciitis.
That's it for now!
Just thought I'd keep folks posted.
Nants
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
God help me
One of my homeroom students just finished his summer-long stint on house arrest. The charge was armed robbery. This is going to be a crazy year.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
There are times when I honestly find myself speechless in the face of the sheer rudeness of people. Now, keep in mind, I am rarely speechless, so this is quite a powerful statement. But it is true.
Today I boarded an already crowded bus, and managed to find a seat next to a woman who was reading the newspaper. She apologized several times for the newspaper crossing over into my personal space. Dude, its a newspaper. No worries. Actually, I found myself enjoying reading the pages that did come my way as I had forgotten my book.
Anyway, a few stops later, the newspaper lady got off the bus, and a passanger who had been standing in the aisle took her place. The woman was, like me, not petite, so we were crowded in the two seats-astride seating configuration. This is par for the course on public transportation. What bothered me, however, was that, realizing that she was unable to hold her massive iced coffee, talk on her cell phone, and read her National Equierer at the same time, she leaned over at an obscene angle to facilitate cradling her phone between her ear and her shoulder (and I think I am rather qualified at this point to say that hair hygiene seems not to be a priority for this woman) and was all up in my grill. The paper was all over my lap, and she ended up trying to wedge the iced coffee between her leg and mine. When I suggested that she might like to place the coffee elsewhere as it was rather cold (not to mention DISGUSTING) on me leg, she shot me a filthy look and just got up. Big martyr.
I was just pretty much astounded that this moron would find it acceptable to place her iced coffee cup next to my leg.
Anyway...onto the gym.
It is so typical at my gym for women to walk in 15 or 20 minutes late to an hour-long class and just expect those folks who bothered to show up on time to move all their equipment around. Today, in my double step class, one woman showed up 15 minutes late, caused such an interruption as to cause the instructor to lose focus therefore throw off the entire class. She proceed to set up her equipment at the front of the class, even while she left her purse on the floor in the back of the room. Five minutes later, when some other bitch showed up for class, she caused a huge investigation into whose purse was on the last available inch of space in which she planned to set up her equipment.
Normally, the instructor gets us through six coreography combos in this class, but today she was barely able to get us through five combos.
The thing is that the teachers should throw these jerks out, and I know they'd like to, but they worry about having the members complain.
There are a plethora of other examples of rude and inconsiderate behavior that I could illustrate in detail here, but is it really necessary? I know you all see it on a daily basis.
I know I'm not perfect, but at least I try. I know I don't always do the right thing, but at least when I put other people out I apologize.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
at last.....
Hi guys,
I finally have my computer back, and I finally have my wedding pictures, but now I can't seem to upload photos to blogger at this point! What's up with that?
Anyway, most of the regular readers of this blog have received an email with a link to my wedding photo album. Juanita and Laurita, if you're reading and you'd like to see a few pictures, shoot me an email so that I can send you the link.
Nants
I finally have my computer back, and I finally have my wedding pictures, but now I can't seem to upload photos to blogger at this point! What's up with that?
Anyway, most of the regular readers of this blog have received an email with a link to my wedding photo album. Juanita and Laurita, if you're reading and you'd like to see a few pictures, shoot me an email so that I can send you the link.
Nants
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Very Taxing Tax-Free Weekend
It was tax-free weekend in Massachusetts. Any single item with a price tag of less than 2,500 dollars could be purchased without tax.
The Apple Store closed down Friday at 9:30 PM, and then re-opened at midnight and stayed open until midnight on Saturday. All employees were required to put in a 12 hour shift sometime during that 24 hour period. We were all also required to put in 10 hour shift on Sunday.
On Saturday, I worked 11-11 and today, Sunday, I worked from 12 (noon)- 10 PM.
I have to tell you that I am exhuasted. My feet are killing me. My eyes are glazed over. I am dreaming about computers, student rebates, tax-free register overrides, and rebated printers.
It is amazing what people will do to save 5%. There were swarms of people all day and night in the store. The managers, however, had a few great procedures in place to eliminate chaos. For the most part, it worked out great.
I sailed through my Saturday 12 hour shift without incident. Today's 10 hour shift was pretty easy, too, until around 8PM. All of a sudden, I just "hit the wall." I heard myself talking to customers about RAM, hard drives, applications, etc., but it was like listening to somebody else talking. I felt like I was outside of my body. For real. My voice almost seemed to be taking on an echo-like quality. I couldn't believe that I was spouting all of these numbers, prices, and technical specs without even batting an eyelash, or referring to the spec sheets. I must have learned through osmosis and not even realized that it was happening.
Anyway, all I'm saying is that I became so completely exhausted that I was beginning to practically slur my words and completely overlooking the most obvious of crap in my transactions.
I even had a dream last night about the Mac Book Pro.
I feel like I did nothing but work at Apple this weekend. Honestly.
But, on the bright side, all of us were given the new iLife 08 suite (retail value of 80 dollars) and the new iWork 08 suite (retail value of 100 dollars) for FREE!!!
Yeah!
The Apple Store closed down Friday at 9:30 PM, and then re-opened at midnight and stayed open until midnight on Saturday. All employees were required to put in a 12 hour shift sometime during that 24 hour period. We were all also required to put in 10 hour shift on Sunday.
On Saturday, I worked 11-11 and today, Sunday, I worked from 12 (noon)- 10 PM.
I have to tell you that I am exhuasted. My feet are killing me. My eyes are glazed over. I am dreaming about computers, student rebates, tax-free register overrides, and rebated printers.
It is amazing what people will do to save 5%. There were swarms of people all day and night in the store. The managers, however, had a few great procedures in place to eliminate chaos. For the most part, it worked out great.
I sailed through my Saturday 12 hour shift without incident. Today's 10 hour shift was pretty easy, too, until around 8PM. All of a sudden, I just "hit the wall." I heard myself talking to customers about RAM, hard drives, applications, etc., but it was like listening to somebody else talking. I felt like I was outside of my body. For real. My voice almost seemed to be taking on an echo-like quality. I couldn't believe that I was spouting all of these numbers, prices, and technical specs without even batting an eyelash, or referring to the spec sheets. I must have learned through osmosis and not even realized that it was happening.
Anyway, all I'm saying is that I became so completely exhausted that I was beginning to practically slur my words and completely overlooking the most obvious of crap in my transactions.
I even had a dream last night about the Mac Book Pro.
I feel like I did nothing but work at Apple this weekend. Honestly.
But, on the bright side, all of us were given the new iLife 08 suite (retail value of 80 dollars) and the new iWork 08 suite (retail value of 100 dollars) for FREE!!!
Yeah!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Exhausting
I've worked quite a few retail jobs over the years. Most of them have been in branches of large corporate outfits. This summer's job, like all the others I've worked, has this corporate culture that seems to ooze its way into the pores of all who work there.
The thing I've noticed about many of my co-workers at "The Fruit Stand" is the extreme use of the cheerleader/valley girl cadence. They add several extra syllables to each and every word, and they tend to inflect every second sentence to pitch out like a question, even if it isn't a question at all. Strange.
The saddest part of all this is that I work with mostly men. I mean, at any given time, I might be one of 20 employees on the floor. And more frequently than not, I'm the only girl working in the dump.
Tonight, I was taking the T home with this guy from work. He has an extreme case of valley-girl-itis. He even goes so far as to crane his neck into impossible positions when he is articulating some (in his opinion) meaningful thought. At the end of our conversation, I was completely exhausted just listening to him.
How the hell can he NOT be exhausted exerting that much effort just to speak?
I'm baffled.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)