My Gratifying Life

Hired!

2012-01-28T23:59:00.001-05:00

D and I moved back to Alabama almost six months ago. When we moved, we were in the application process for a new job. As of a week ago, we were officially offered the position that we applied for. Therefore, we will be moving again in July. This time, we are moving to Scotland!

The time here has been very special. Not only have D and I gotten to spend great quality time with our families, but we have had the privilege of letting E spend regular time and get to know both sets of grandparents (not to mention the rest of our extended families). Needless to say, we will be cherishing every moment with family and friends until we move.

We are so grateful to be stepping into this new job, even though it is a long way from those we love. We are looking forward to the adventure that is to come!

Yawn!

2012-01-18T11:34:00.004-05:00

Life sees to be flying by as we enjoy our time being parents to E. We were in the grocery store the other day when I noticed he was fast asleep. I stopped to take a photo and happened to capture this shot. I hope you will get as much of a kick out of it as we have.

Settled

2011-11-01T21:04:00.003-04:00

After a couple of months of living in Alabama I think our family is finally feeling settled. We've enjoyed being close to family and spending lots of time watching football, celebrating birthdays and eating lots of good food! We continue to enjoy our little E. These days he is quick to give you a smile.

Below is a short clip of E playing with me on the floor of our living room. He may look just like D, but it looks like he got his Dad's competitive nature. Here he is doing his best to out "squeal" me.

A Big Move

2011-09-06T22:25:00.006-04:00

For a long time D and I have been pondering our future. We have finally decided that the next step for our family is to move away from Boston. This was a very difficult and sad decision to make. We have such deep relationships with those we call family in Boston that the thought of leaving is painful to say the least. However, we feel that the timing is providentially right for us to leave. Therefore, in the short term, we have decided to move closer to our extended families in Alabama.

For the last few weeks we have been saying our goodbyes to all of our friends and family in Boston. Through this experience it has been extremely apparent just how blessed we have been with amazing friends. There were many tears shed as we both shared our news and said our goodbyes. The mutual love that our family has with all of our community in Boston is something that has taught us a lot about how we should love our natural families as we are in the process of moving. For now, if you're in Alabama (or the vicinity), we would love to see you.

Rolling Along

2011-08-15T13:49:00.004-04:00

Last Friday E was 3 weeks old. We're enjoying our little man a lot. He is full of personality as you will see in the following video. This is from last week (17 days old). We were having story time and a bit of tummy time when E decided he didn't want to be on his stomach anymore. Since then, he has continued to affirm that he would much rather lay on his back than his stomach. Instead of communicating that with us, he shows us his independent streak and rolls over by himself. We took this video right after he rolled over for the first time. Once we saw him do it once, we grabbed the camera. I could have swore that I saw a mischievous smirk when he did this the first time the other day.

E's First Photo Shoot

2011-07-31T13:59:00.006-04:00

Our little man is only 10 days old, and it seems like his life has been one constant photo shoot. D and I have had the privilege of having both sets of E's grandparents, as well as D's sister and brother-in-law visiting for the birth. It has been a joy to have all of them here to celebrate this very special occasion with us. Since so much of our family is here, it seems like almost every hour of the day someone has been taking photos of E. His life is already well documented. Along with all of us amateurs taking pictures of our little man, we do have one professional in the family. My brother-in-law is a professional photographer. (He has a photo blog here!). This weekend he took a few photos of the three of us. Here is one of my favorites of the weekend.

Baby E is Here!

2011-07-30T15:27:00.007-04:00

We have our baby boy! Baby E. was born July 22, 2011 at 3:28 pm. Both Mom and Baby Boy are doing great! We were so blessed to have our dear friend S. and D's sister as part of the team that helped with D.'s labor and delivery. She was a trooper and our little man was born a very healthy 6lbs 11oz. The doctor gave me the privilege of delivering E. and cutting the cord. That is something I will always cherish. Here are a few pictures of our new little man. as you can imagine, we think he's the cutest little guy ever.

Bracing for What's to Come

2011-06-23T12:01:00.004-04:00

D and I are getting ready! In just a few short weeks we will have our little one. All of the necessities have been acquired (it's pretty crazy how one person can instantly acquire so many possessions at the moment of birth!). All of the necessary classes have been taken. Travel plans for out of town family are in the works. D and I are now waiting for the day when we meet our son or daughter. Brace yourself. My Gratifying Life is up and running again!

Sunset

2009-11-17T10:19:00.005-05:00

Last week I went up to Portland, Maine for a couple of days for a conference. While I was there, a friend and I drove to Freeport, a village in Maine known for its outlet stores. Being the efficient shopper that I am, it took me all of about 30 minutes to hit the 6 stores' sale racks that peaked my interest. It was a beautiful, cool Maine night, so I decided to walk around the town for a bit. As I was walking, I noticed a couple of people had stopped and were starring at something. As I got over to where they were I immediately knew why they had stopped. One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen was on display and I had caught it at its most brilliant moment. It was as if the sunset's color had spilled over onto the entire sky. I quickly grabbed my camera. Here is one of the many pictures I snapped.

Fall Foliage pt 2

2009-10-29T12:32:00.010-04:00

Earlier this week, a couple of my friends from college were in town and I met them for lunch in Lexington, MA. Lexington is a beautiful little town just north of Boston. For all of you history buffs, it is the site of the first skirmish in the United States' War for Independence. Here are a few pictures I took while I was in Lexington. Even though the peak foliage season has come and gone and a lot of the leaves have already fallen off of the trees, it was still very beautiful. Click on the images to make them larger.

Fall Foliage

2009-10-15T01:04:00.006-04:00

D and I had the opportunity to take an afternoon to drive and observe all of the fall colors last week. Although it was a rainy day, we had a blast spending time together and looking at the beautiful, although wet, leaves.

I'm always amazed at the colors we see. Even the trees that are a bit faded stagger me. For some reason I never tire of this time of year. It makes me thankful that I have the opportunity to live where I live and see all there is here. Even more, it makes me extremely grateful that I have an amazing wife with which to experience it. Thanks for a great day!

Home

2009-10-07T15:46:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I got back from a two week trip filled partly with visiting family and friends and partly with business meetings. It was great to spend time with family and to meet my new niece. I also enjoyed catching up with some old friends whom I have not seen in a very long time. I love the friendships where even after many years, you can pick up where you left off as if you had stayed in touch the whole time.

Being in the south for two weeks allowed me to experience weather that was hot and humid. My southern family and friends will say they were having cool weather. But after living in Boston for 7 years, I have come to associate September and October weather with milder temperatures. It was a real wake-up call when I stepped off the plane and the 90 degree heat and 99% humidity slapped me in the face. Coming back to Boston, I greatly enjoyed the opposite greeting. Instead of 90 degrees, I basked in the 60 degrees and no humidity. I also love that I got back just in time for my favorite season of the year- Autumn. Sights like this one welcomed me home. Bring on the color of Autumn!

Unexpected Passenger

2009-08-24T23:38:00.003-04:00

Last week I was driving west of the city for a meeting. As I exited the Mass Pike, traffic slowed to a halt. The car that I stopped behind had a peculiar passenger. As you will see, his size almost makes the vehicle look like one of those clown cars. I couldn't resist snapping a quick picture. You can be the judge on why he doesn't seem amused. I am not sure if unhappiness is directed toward me taking his picture or his having to endure the drive. Either way, his expression is classic. At least he had a nice breeze on a hot day.

Safe!

2009-07-16T20:48:00.006-04:00

A while back I wrote a post about our softball team. We are almost to the end of the season and it has been a ton of fun. Before the season, I had forgotten how much I enjoy playing softball. I also had forgotten how competitive I can get (sometimes to a fault). It has been great to know several new people while playing a great sport. I have also enjoyed many victory celebrations with them (although, the victories were mostly in our hearts and not as a result of our efforts).

Last night we were in the midst of an intense game. I had gotten a single and was waiting on first for the batter behind me to hit. As he hit the ball, I took off (with every ounce of blazing speed I posses, which isn't much). I saw the center fielder bobble the ball so I made the decision to run for third base. As I approached third, I could tell from my third base coach and the third baseman that the throw was going to be close, so I followed my instincts....and I slid.

In my former days of playing baseball as a kid, I don't seem to recall a slide ever being painful. Unfortunately, that is not the case in this story.

As the moment passed between my momentum carrying me from a sprint and into the slide, I knew I had made a mistake. As I was sliding, I could not help but make the observation that I was sliding on mostly gravel. This is a moment with which I am sure you are familiar. In my experience, when an injury occurs, there is a span of time that ranges from 1 to about 5 seconds where a conversation happens inside my head. It usually goes something like this: "Oh no, this is really going to hurt!!! Oh wait, no pain yet, it may not hurt after all. [deep breath in relief]. [Suddenly, intense pain]. OUUUCH!" That was basically what happened yesterday as I slid.

However, I would like to point out that I was safe at third. And I was able to score on the next play. Here are some pictures of the resulting battle wounds:

Spring/Summer in Boston

2009-06-19T10:16:00.000-04:00

Late spring and early summer is an amazing time to enjoy Boston. Everything is green. People are happy because we no longer have to wear our winter gear and shovel snow. Although your schedule may be just as busy during the summer, for some reason the atmosphere of the city seems a little more laid back than the rest of the year. This could have a lot to do with the fact that most of the 300,000 college students who live here 9 months out of the year have taken a three month sabbatical. Personally, I think the the general mood of the city is tied to the Red Sox. People in Boston (and New England, for that matter) love their sports teams. They love them so much so that I am convinced that Red Sox Baseball is the largest religion in New England. Seriously.

The Red Sox are a common bond between people in the city. If you have nothing else to talk about in awkward silences with strangers, it seems that most people inevitably turn to them for conversation? "Did you see that Ortiz is finally breaking out of his slump?" "How about that Kevin Youkilis?" "Did you see Dustin Pedrioa's defense last night?" Almost every time I have witnessed something like this happen, inevitable the other person responds with an intelligent, knowledgeable comment in return.

Although I can think of a whole host of topics that carry a lot more significance to life than the Red Sox, having them as the common bond among Bostonians is a fun thing to witness. Here is the lesson for everyone not living in or visiting Boston: if you are going to spend some time in the city, make sure you at least catch the box score from the last game the Sox played.

My View in Class

2009-06-10T21:29:00.001-04:00

What I Miss

2009-06-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

D and I have lived in Boston for seven years now. We moved here from the deep south. At first, there were several things that I missed. Even though I loved my new culture and tried to embrace it fully, there were still things that I missed. Besides the relationships that we left behind, the tension of the culture shock we experienced left us missing certain cultural elements. One of those elements was familiar food.

After 7 years, there are very, very few things that I still miss (again, not including relationships). Even when I think about food, there is not a lot that I miss to the point of deep craving. However, there are a few exceptions. One of them is my grandmother's cooking (As long as I live, I will never be able to get enough of her cooking). Another exception is Krispy Kreme Donuts. D and I were very excited a few years ago when KK tried to break into the Boston area. As it turns out, they just could not make a go of it in the Boston area. It is too entrenched with Dunkin Donuts. Now, every time I am in a place where they have KK, I try to get at least a small sample.

This week I am in Louisville, KY for a class. As I was visiting with a friend, I inquired about KK Donuts. Sure enough, there is one here. Upon hearing the good news, I responded in kind. Tonight I treated myself to a couple of donuts and a few more to go. To all of my friends in Boston (and other places where KK is not available) who love KK Donuts, I am thinking about you as I eat my donuts.

Class

2009-06-07T22:47:00.002-04:00

This week I am in Kentucky to take a class. This is one of the few classes I have left before I am finished earning my Master's Degree. While on campus I will experience about 40 hours of lecture. This week is designed to cram a semester's worth of work and lecturing into the period of one single week. Thankfully, we are usually given a couple of weeks after the class is over to complete papers and reading. Even though it will be an extremely long (and potentially brutal) week, the good news about this is that I can take an entire class in just one week.

I am currently getting ready to go to sleep so I can get some rest before class starts tomorrow. I keep thinking of a quote from The Return of the King when Pippin and Gandolf are overlooking the battlefield. As they are waiting for the enemy to attack, Pippin asks Gandolf why it is so quiet. Gandolf simply responds, "It's the deep breath before the plunge." I will keep you posted on how things go.

My City pt. 3

2009-06-06T10:48:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned a few days ago, I spent a good bit of Monday afternoon leading a group around Boston. One of the places we visited was the Bunker Hill Monument. For some reason, this is one of my favorite places in Boston. There have been many times when I have gone there on a day off to sit on the lawn and think as I looked at the city across the harbor. I love the history associated with the monument and the story of the people who fought on that hill.

Since the group was here and most of them had never been to Bunker Hill before, I offered to go to the top of the monument with any who wanted to climb the 300 spiraling stairs. There were several who wanted to go, so I obliged. I understand that 300 stairs could seem like a relatively low number considering the height of some of the great monuments and statues in this world. However, the fact that my legs were starting to burn at step 75 told me that 300 was more than sufficient for me to get any remaining exercise that my body needed that day. This was not the first time I have climbed this monument. I have climbed it several times, but it had been a few years since I last made the trek. Enough time had passed from my last trip that I had forgotten how beautiful the view is from the top of the monument. Plus, the thought of having to walk down a spiral stair case of 300 steps is a great motivator for one to stop and take extra time to enjoy the view. I am glad we went on this particular day. It was gorgeous and clear. It only affirmed my love for this site. Here is a photo from the view at the top.

My City pt. 2

2009-06-04T10:46:00.000-04:00

My City

2009-06-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

Occasionally I will have people in town for work and part of my job will include showing them around Boston. This week I was showing some people around the city and giving them some of the history behind the places they were seeing. This is something I love to do. I love living here. I also love the fact that it is common for me to pass by sites that were built as much as 450 years ago. It interests me to think about the actual people who walked the same streets that I walk. Driving through this city or walking through its streets never gets old to me.

As I was showing the group around and telling them the history behind the major sites in the city, we walked over to Charlestown and the Bunker Hill Monument for the end of our tour. After making the 300 step climb up and then back down the monument, we decided not to walk all the way back to downtown for dinner. Instead, we took the water taxi back over Quincy Market. I love this ride because it provides one of the most beautiful views of the Boston skyline. We caught the taxi pretty late in the day, about an hour before sunset. That turned out to be the perfect time for the ride across the harbor. The water was a gorgeous blue-green which really highlighted the color of the sky. The sun brilliantly reflected off of the water in front of the skyline. The sailboats and other ferries traveling through the sun's reflection only added to the beauty. I quickly grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures. I took enough photos that I was able to get a few good shots. I hope you enjoy.

At What Point is it Taking Your Job Too Seriously?

2009-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I was driving up to Lowell, MA from our home in Boston. Just before arriving at my destination in downtown Lowell, I entered the last leg of my journey on the highway. This last stretch of highway is well-known for its status as a speed trap. Sure enough, there was a local police officer standing beside his cruiser on the opposite side of the road from me pointing his radar gun at passing cars. I think it is funny to see these guys with the radar guns. Their posture suggests they have an actual gun and they are aiming to shoot at oncoming traffic. For those of you thinking that you know where this is going...No. I was not his target. As I approached, I saw something I couldn't believe. The police officer stepped out into the middle lane of traffic. The issue with this is that there were three or four cars approaching (at 60 or so mph). I can only assume that he perceived himself to be invulnerable at that moment. Or maybe he had a momentary lapse in judgment. I'm not sure which is the case. As he paused from his stroll out into the middle of the road, he held up his hand signaling the rapidly approaching car to stop. Then he motioned for them to pull over to the side of the highway.

Obviously there are a couple of problems with this. First, as I said, there were a few cars approaching. All of them slammed on brakes as the policeman stepped in their path. Not only could the police officer have been hit by the car he stepped in front of, he also could have caused an accident among the other cars as he crossed into oncoming traffic.

The question I kept thinking was, "at what point does issuing a speeding ticket become so important that it is worth risking your life over?" I know the economy is bad, but is the city of Lowell in that dire of need of revenue? To quote my friend CJ, "at what point did he think that was a good idea?" So, to the police officer who boldly stepped out into traffic...please know that your zealousness in upholding the law bordered on the criminal today. From now on, I will not only drive slower in Lowell for my sake and the sake of the other drivers around me. I will also drive slower as not to endanger the local police officers.

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

This past Monday was Memorial Day. Over the weekend I discovered that all of my friends, including my lovely wife, had plans for the day. Being the extrovert that I am, I was pretty disappointed at the thought of spending the holiday alone. On Sunday evening I called my best friend and former college roommate who lives just north of Boston to see what his plans were for the day. (We have the privilege of still being very close friends and living close to one another.) Once I talked to CJ and found out that he had no plans as well, we decided to take a short road trip up to York, ME for the day to hang out.

This year's Memorial Day in New England was gorgeous. It was sunny and fairly warm. It was nice enough that we took our time driving up to Maine. It was a great day to roll down the windows and put the sunroof back. Once we made the hour or so drive, we found the perfect spot on the beach. As you'll see in the pictures below, the water was a beautiful green color. The water was also a warm 57° (warm by New England standards. That is still a bit cold to me). Surprisingly, the beach was not overly crowded. We had a blast standing ankle to knee deep in the water throwing the baseball around. We had a great time, enjoying the sun and relaxing. We also sat on the beach for a while submitting our own creative solutions which would solve all of the world's problems, as is our typical fashion. Later that afternoon, we drove over to Nubble Light, which is one of the most photographed lighthouses in America (pictured below). It was a great day to sit on a rock and ponder the vastness of the ocean, the beauty of creation of the smallness of man in relation to all that is around us. It was a good Memorial Day and a good time for CJ and I to hang out.

Softball

2009-05-27T14:23:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago some friends and I started playing softball in a local co-ed league. Softball is a sport I love playing. In years past, my favorite positions were left field or center field because I love to catch the deep fly balls on the run. Before the season started there were a couple of practices. Since I already had previous commitments, I was unable to go to both practices. When the first game rolled around, I was assigned to play short stop and second base. It has been a good 12 years since I have played any position in the infield (and that was baseball). Needless to say, without having any practice, I was worried. Very worried. I made it through the first game pretty much unscathed and was able to get to our practice the next week.

After that practice I was assigned 3rd base. Although I was hesitant at first, I have come to really enjoy playing this position. The constant action is quite the adrenaline rush. It has been a blast. It has been fun playing the game, but I have also enjoyed getting to know some new people. We have a pretty diverse team, which I think is extremely cool. Here is a picture of the team taken after our last game. Half of the team works in a lab at a local hospital. Therefore, we have been dubbed the "bio hazards." It's a very ominous, very cool name. Opponents be afraid.

The Cape Continued...

2009-05-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more picture from our day at the Cape. As you will see, along with having a lot of fun, walking a couple of beaches and looking at a couple of lighthouses, we also made fun of some of the funny warning signs that were posted.

The Cape

2009-05-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, we took a couple of friends down to Cape Cod for the day. D and I rarely go during summer because so many people make it their vacation destination. A place that is sparsely populated in fall and winter rapidly morphs into the place where you can find thousands upon thousands of people. Thankfully, it is early enough in the year that not many people were out. In fact, a lot of the restaurants, which are only open in summer, were not yet open for the season. The weather was great for most of the day, which made for a nice stroll on the beach. We had a lot of fun spending time with good friends and seeing the sights.

My Mom

2009-05-10T14:22:00.006-04:00

On this special day, I would like to wish a very happy Mother's Day to my Mom. The life I have today would not be if it were not for her life and influence. I have learned over the years that love is not about feelings which are fleeting. Real love is about demonstration and commitment. One of the reasons I have learned that is because I have seen it in the life of my Mom. I had the amazing blessing of growing up in a home where both of my parents stayed married and remained devoted to sacrificing for one another. I am extremely grateful for her example that taught me how to truly love your partner in marriage.

I appreciate her for always believing in me and pushing me to reach my potential. My Mom is without a doubt one of the most likable people that you will have ever meet. I appreciate her sense of humor, her laugh (which is always contagious in any setting) and her ability to trust the good in all people. Mom, thanks for being a great mother and for saturating my life with your goodness and love. I love you.

Photos from the Beach

2009-05-09T18:32:00.009-04:00

These are a bit late, but here are a few pictures from our time away last month. It was a great time to recharge and enjoy the beauty of creation.

Most of the time we were at the beach, there were dangerous marine life out. Here is a picture of one of the many Man o' War we saw washed up on shore.

This picture was taken on the last day we were at the beach. I think it is funny how much more rested we seem in this picture compared to the one at the top.

Using the Crosswalk is for the Birds

2009-05-01T10:53:00.009-04:00

This morning I was in my car on my way home from a meeting when I stopped at a traffic light. As I came to a stop I noticed something very odd. Along with the many people crossing the street on their way to work, school or wherever, there seemed to be 2 special pedestrians crossing the street. I could not believe what I was seeing. Two large turkeys were gingerly crossing the street with everyone else. Not only that, they were using the crosswalk to do it! They did not seem the least concerned about their welfare (after all, they were crossing at the crosswalk). It was almost as if they were trying to blend in with all of the people. Thinking back on it, I can imagine them saying, "Nothing to see here! Move along. Move along." I found myself laughing out loud, which is not something I normally do when I am alone. Usually, laughter happens in my head. Realizing that this was one of the few times that I did not have my camera with me, I quickly grabbed my phone and started taking pictures as quickly as I could. I was the third car back from the light, but I still got a couple of good shots. You have to click on the image for the first to photos to see the turkeys. The best shot is the one on the bottom. I snapped it as the light turned green and I passed the turkeys, who at that point, had decided to cross the other street...using the crosswalk. After all, the coast was clear and the light was green.

Beach Getaway

2009-04-11T17:44:00.002-04:00

After C.&T.'s wedding, D. and I had a few days to rest in Orange Beach, AL. It was amazing! It wasn't the weather that made it so great. It was the fact that we had the opportunity to truly get away for a few days for the first time in a very long time. The only sun we saw was on the first afternoon we arrived. Even so, we took time to walk on the beach. Even though the water was warmer in the Gulf than it will be all summer in the frigid Atlantic waters in New England, it was still a bit cool to take a swim. I was, however, able to break out my summer clothes for the first time this year. (I promptly put them back up after arriving back in Boston. It's still too cold for shorts.) I think the best part of the time away was the quiet that we experienced. We were not rushing around a busy city. We simply relaxed.

Stay tuned for pictures of our get-away.

Wedding Pictures

2009-04-09T12:59:00.011-04:00

These are a few of the pictures I took at C.&T.'s wedding...

I love this next picture. C. is between our Mom and Aunt R. on the dance floor. He definitely inherited the vast majority of the rhythm in the family.

I love the next three photos. In the first one, C. is counting to three before they make a run for it. I love his expression. Up to this point, T. had been wearing cowboy boots. She took them off for their get-away. I can't blame her, it was much easier to run bare footed than in boots. The crowd was throwing corn at them as they left the wedding. As you will see, T. got the brunt of it from her sister in the last photo. I heard that is was payback from what T. did at her sister's wedding.

Wedding

2009-04-06T02:16:00.009-04:00

Last weekend D. and I went to 2 weddings in AL. The second wedding was my brother's. It was a special evening for my family, to say the least. The evening was beautiful and the couple was extremely happy. What strikes me most about them is their deep sense of commitment towards one another. As I think about weddings I have been too (I've been to a lot of them in my time), I can't think of a couple who was happier to be married to one another than they were. Congratulations C. and my new sister T.!

Candlepin Bowling

2009-03-25T12:59:00.006-04:00

Last weekend D. and I went to a friend's birthday party. The party was held at a candlepin bowling alley. For those of you not familiar with candlepin bowling, it's a New England game that is similar to regular ten pin bowling. The differences are mainly in the size of the pins (which are skinnier) and the size of the balls (which are much smaller than regular bowling balls). Instead of getting 2 attempts at knocking the pins down, each player gets 3 turns per frame. Also, none of the pins are cleared between balls so the player can actually use the pins that have been previously knocked down to knock down those that are still standing. This sounds easier, I know. But as one who grew up going bowling a lot, I can tell you that it is actually harder. However, it is still a lot of fun, especially with a group of friends. And since the balls are lighter, flinging the balls as hard as you can down the lane never gets old (although your low score from doing this repeatedly may get old after a while). Below is a very short video of one of my frames. Unfortunately, the clip begins just as I finish bowling the best turn of the frame. I guess you'll have to take my word for it that it was a decent roll.

In Honor of Patrick

2009-03-19T20:12:00.003-04:00

This week we celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Being in Boston on St. Patrick's day is quite an experience. For some reason, everyone admits to being Irish on this day. Every Irish pub in Boston is teeming with people who celebrate their alleged Irish roots. I always enjoy this day because people are happy. I think one reason for this is that the weather is beginning to be warmer and nicer.

A friend of mine posted this video on his blog this week. I thought it was hilarious and a great little video about who Patrick was. In honor of Patrick (2 days late) I am re-posting this video.

Vermont Pictures

2009-03-08T10:26:00.007-04:00

On our way home from our recent trip to Vermont, D. and I came a cross an old covered bridge that crossed a snowy stream covered with ice and snow. It was beautiful. The bridge seemed to beckon back to a time when life was quieter and slower. We actually stopped for a couple of minutes to stare at its beauty and enjoy one last bit of quiet before returning to the city.

Vermont Winter Sports

2009-03-06T16:30:00.009-05:00

This past weekend D. and I went up to Vermont to visit some friends. Even though it got down to 6 below zero one night, we had a great time. I think the Green Mountains of Vermont are incredibly beautiful and D and I love to visit during winter just to see the sites. One of the highlights from the trip was an activity that came as a surprise. My friend has a snowmobile which he let us borrow. You have to understand that Vermont has more than 2,000 miles of trails that it maintains each year for all of the outdoor enthusiasts. Even more, D and I have been trying to do this in Vermont for several years. Our anniversary is in December and we have spent three or four of our anniversaries celebrating in Vermont. Each of those times we looked into snowmobiling, but it was always a week before the trails opened. So it was a treat for us to finally get to do this. We had a blast! We only spent a couple of hours one afternoon riding, but it was great fun. Here are some pictures from the afternoon.

We didn't quite get "the air " that the people on the sign got.

That time of year...

2009-02-21T17:22:00.003-05:00

Well...it is that time of year again. It is the time when we really look forward to the warmer months. Even more, the end of February and the beginning of March always seem to bring a sense of false hope. Out of the blue the weather changes a bit and lo and behold it is in the 40's or even the 50's for a day! The sun is shining and everything seems brilliant and amazing. Everyone is an optimist on those days...only to find that the temperature drops and it is cold again...Or even worse, it snows again. That being the case, all of the end of the winter blues only make the inevitable arrival of spring that much more glorious. It is weeks like this one where the bitter cold makes you really appreciate the warmth of spring.

So for now, I will keep reminding myself that winter will eventually end. Spring will come...won't it?

I'm Back!

2009-02-20T11:28:00.003-05:00

After a break from blogging, I'm back to continue chronicling our experiences! New posts to come in the next day or so.

Christmas Movie Marathon '08

2008-12-16T11:02:00.014-05:00

For the last four years, one of the ways we have gotten into the "Christmas spirit" is by having several friends over on a Saturday (usually around thanksgiving) for an all-day movie event. We pick several of the Christmas favorites and watch them all in one day. This is such a fun experience. It's great to spend a day with friends, eating lots of food and drinking lots of hot beverages.

This year's Christmas Movie Marathon was another successful day of movie watching and being with friends. In years past, many people have come and gone throughout the day due to prior commitments or work. But this year, almost everyone was able to stay for the entire day. We also had some games set up in case there were some who were not a fan of watching one of the movies on the schedule. And there was a contest to see who could come in the best pajamas. Thanks to all of you who came and partook in this fun day.

Oh, and the first person to guess what movie is playing in the top picture gets bonus points. (Click on the image to enlarge the photo.) D., your vote doesn't count.

J.R. taking a turn at holding Maddie who is rarely unhappy.

P. was our barista for the day. He made great Latte's, Coffee and whatever else we requested.
A.R. enjoying his beverage made by P.
The winner of the pajama contest is...K.J.!!! Good job.

Winter is officially here...

2008-12-11T13:40:00.005-05:00

We had our first snow on Sunday. This, in my mind, marks the official beginning of winter. There was no accumulation. In fact, it melted as it hit the ground. There wasn't even any that stuck to or collected on the car. But it was beautiful to watch as it fell quietly. I often say this, but there is something calming and serene about the quiet sound of falling snow. The feelings I have regarding winter are a bit weird. At first, I am optimistic about this long dreary season of life. In the beginning it seems to be nice, beautiful and even fun. When March comes around I always wonder, "what was I thinking?! Can winter be over already!"

I was driving to meet a friend just north of the city earlier this week. All along my route, the trees were barren and gray. As much as I delight in and love the fall colors, there is something beautiful about the color of the empty trees. I think I am attached to this because it reminds me of the little bit of hunting I did with my Dad as a teenager in South Alabama. I was never the master hunter (I'll not share the details so as to spare my animal loving friends who are gasping in horror), but I enjoyed sitting in the cold quiet of the woods. Seeing the barrenness all around as I was making the drive, reminded me of those feelings of contentment as I sat listening to the sounds of the woods. It made me think that those memories are probably a lot of the reason why I embrace winter so much.

So for now, winter is here and it is nice. The scenery is gorgeous. The snow is pretty. The wind however, I can do without. But another season of life is here nonetheless.

Thankfulness Part 3

2008-12-05T14:54:00.006-05:00

Here is one last post on our pie making extravaganza. Enjoy!

Thankfulness Part 2: The Process

2008-12-03T23:59:00.004-05:00

Thankfulness

2008-12-02T12:58:00.006-05:00

Last week our community of friends got together to bake pies. A local non-profit organization was giving away 20 turkeys and stuffing to families who would otherwise not afford to have such a feast at Thanksgiving. One of our friends had the fantastic idea that our group should spend an evening baking a pumpkin pie to go along with each dinner.

It was a blast, and easy too! (To be fair, the extent of my baking was putting the finished pie mix into the pie crusts.) The non-profit was gracious enough to let us use their facilities, which were extremely nice. We had a great time hanging out together and baking pies. Sometimes I take for granted how easy it is for me to give something that others do not have the luxury of having. I understand that it is just a pie, but I think it is representative of so many greater things in life. Needless to say, it was a great lesson
on serving others for me. (I think I detect a theme in my life right now.) I definitely hope that this will become a tradition for us and our friends.

Before:

After:

More pictures to come...

Giving Thanks

2008-12-01T14:28:00.004-05:00

D and I had a fantastic day Thursday. There is nothing like enjoying Thanksgiving with friends and family. Although we weren't able to be with our immediate family down South, we had a great time with family here in Boston. As always, D did an outstanding job cooking an amazing turkey. The combined efforts of D and CR made for a fantastic meal. I was very proud of myself. I worked hard not to engage in gluttony. Although I did eat a lot, I think I was successful in attaining my goal.

Since we have been doing Thanksgiving on our own the last six years, D and I have a started tradition. After the meal when everyone is still sitting around the table talking to one another, we have everyone share a bit about what they are thankful for since the last Thanksgiving. It is always interesting, encouraging and heart-warming to hear the things people mention. I was encouraged that the thing most mentioned around the table was a valued relationship of some kind or another. In our culture of extreme materialism, it is refreshing to be around people who value people above material things. We have good friends.

Land of the Living

2008-11-23T11:08:00.005-05:00

I am back in the land of the living. All of last week I was very sick with something resembling the Flu. It is in moments like this that I look back on the last several days and see how amazing D is. My beautiful wife is a servant like no other. We have had many opportunities to give advice to friends who are either preparing for marriage or are struggling through marriage. One of the things we have always said is that marriage is a lot more about serving your spouse than it is having your own needs met. We convey that real, true love is not about emotions which waver, but about commitment and action. I truly believe that a marriage functions best when both spouses have this mindset. It is when this outlook on marriage is present that both spouses are happiest.

Last week D once again lived out that advice we have given so often. For most of the week I didn't have the strength to do much more than lay on our couch. Throughout each day, she checked on me innumerable times as I lay there. She waited on me and took amazingly good care of me. I was already very grateful for the wife that I have, but this week has multiplied that gratitude.

D has always been an example to me of how to serve others and put others first. Through her actions (and demonstration of love) last week, she continued to show me the definition of servanthood. Thanks D. I love you.

Good-bye Fall

2008-11-17T17:33:00.007-05:00

My favorite season of the year, has come and gone. I love fall. I love the beauty of the changing colors (of which I have grown even fonder of while living in Boston). I love college football and the way you can almost smell football season in the fall air. Unfortunately, my favorite time of year has all but passed. Although winter doesn't officially begin for some time, the temperatures tell us differently. For the last few weeks, those of us living in New England have enjoyed unseasonably warm weather. We have been having highs in the 50's and 60's. We have yet to have a series of nights below freezing. All that is changing this week.

Due to the incoming cold weather and possible snow fall, it's now time to embrace all of the things that come with winter. Snow. Ice. Layering. Hot beverages. Snow is a beautiful thing. I have noticed that I love snow the first time we get it. It is gorgeous as it sits on the trees. There is a serenity to the sound of the snow quietly falling. However, my love for snow quickly diminishes when the task of shoveling comes around. As far as ice goes, I don't think I have ever enjoyed ice. It only takes one time of unknowingly stepping on a sheet of ice and having your feet go out from under you to understand what I am talking about. I do like the genius of layering. And how can you not love a hot beverage on a cold day?

In honor of the passing of Fall 2008, here is a picture of what is probably to come. So for now...I say good-bye to my dear friend Autumn.

Spare Change

2008-11-12T09:47:00.002-05:00

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while (all 3 of you) have probably noticed the advertisements on the left column. I put those there about 6 months ago. Through Google AdSense you can insert advertisements like these on your blog or website. The good news about that is I get a little bit of money just for people clicking on the Ad. My request is that you click an Ad or two every once in a while. And for any of you who have Ads on your site, I don't mind returning the favor. Thanks!

What Just Happened Here?

2008-11-09T10:01:00.005-05:00

This past week I went to the doctor. I hate going to the doctor. I think I hate going to the doctor because growing up I was extremely healthy. I was rarely sick. I have never broken any bones, never contracted any serious illnesses nor had anything else that would require staying in the hospital. In fact, I was 22 the first time I ever went to a doctor for anything that was beyond a checkup or a minor cold, sinus infection, etc. Even since then, I have made only one trip to the doctor...until this week.

Several years ago I hurt my knee playing basketball. At the time, I didn't know I hurt my knee. I thought I had simply injured my ankle. Over the next few years I began to notice a growing soreness in my knee at certain times (like during a rapid climate change, during high percentages of humidity, in an increase of precipitation, etc.). When D and I moved to Boston, it began to worsen. To make a very long story short, it seems that I have a knee injury that requires minor surgery. That in itself has freaked me out and kept me from going to the doctor the last couple of years.

Finally, due to increased pain and the encouragement of my wife and close friends, I am going to have something done about my knee. That leads me to my doctor's visit this week. Before I can have any procedures done, I have to have a referral to the appropriate surgeon. So D made an appointment for me a couple of weeks ago so that I can get a referral. Because I am never sick, I do not have a primary care physician. And...because I do not have a regular doctor, I chose to visit a local clinic. But something strange happened at this clinic. Because it was my first time to visit this clinic and they are now going to be my "primary physicians," not once was I asked why I was there. They assumed that I was there for a check-up and a physical. I actually had to ask them to take a minute and look at my knee.

Keep in mind, I went to this place to get a simple piece of paper- a referral to a surgeon for my knee. By the time I walked out of the doctor's office, I had gotten a flu shot, a tetanus shot, an appointment to see an eye doctor, an appointment to see a dentist and an appointment to have X-rays done on my knee. I later found out that this clinic also has a dentist office and an optometrist on site. How convenient! (I hope you can hear the large quantities of sarcasm in the tone of my last sentence.) All I could think as I walked to my car was, "What just happened here?!" I almost felt like I was the butt of a joke or silly hidden camera show. There was nothing I could do but laugh to myself about it all. Needless to say, I am now going to be all set with any medical, dental, visual issue that comes my way in the future all because I wanted a simply referral. Thanks local clinic!

Fort Revere

2008-11-07T15:15:00.008-05:00

Last week while we are the conference I mentioned in the last post, we had a lot of time on Saturday to wander around the peninsula where we were staying. One of the places we went was to the remnants of Fort Revere (a fort from the Revolutionary War). The fort stood high on a hill overlooking one of the entrances into Boston's ports. You can still see where the canons were placed to get the maximum amount of range. What mostly remains are a series of rooms, corridors and tunnels dug into the side of the hill.

After exploring the area and taking pictures of the gorgeous view and the two lighthouses, what is there for a group of friends to do at a place like this? Play sardines! And it was a lot of fun. For those of you not familiar with this game, it is basically yher opposite of hide and seek. One person hides and everyone else tries to find them. The person who loses is the one who is the last to find the one who hid (Want to play at home? click here for more info). For almost two hours we played, running and hiding in the dark rooms and corridors, hoping no one would find you. The best hiding spot was W.'s. He simply crouched along a wall in the darkest room in the fort. Several of us walked within two or three feet of him as we passed by without seeing him. It was great fun. If we go back to the same place next year, I want a re-match!

Picturesque

2008-11-05T11:45:00.004-05:00

This weekend D and I were at a conference with several of our friends on the south shore of Boston. It was a great weekend to spend time with friends, but it was also a good time to be away. Even though we were less than hour away from home, the town we stayed in gave us the atmosphere of being far away from home. On Saturday we had a large chunk of free time so we drove around the peninsula where we were staying. There were a couple of places to view the skyline of Boston and to view the Boston Headlight. On the way back from our adventure we had a phenomenal view of the sunset over one of the small coves near our hotel. Growing up on the Gulf Coast afforded me the opportunity to see many gorgeous sunsets in my time. However, this sunset was spectacular. The colors were so brilliant that I had no choice but to pull over and grab my camera. I thought I would share.

Where you lead, I will follow...

2008-11-03T14:14:00.008-05:00

While our visitors have been in town we took a day to look at the fall colors. Peak leaf season had already passed through Massachusetts so we had to drive south a bit. D and her sister are fans of the show Gilmore Girls. The show is no longer airing new episodes, but the girls love the re-runs nonetheless. Since I knew we were going down to CT, I decided to do a little research on the places where the show was set. The results of the research led to an afternoon filled with fun looking at Yale University and Washington Depot, CT (the town that the writers got their inspiration from).

Although we didn't have a long time, we picnicked at Yale in one of the many beautiful courtyards. After eating our PB&J's and feeding the birds with our bread crusts, we walked the campus for a bit. Yale's campus is beautiful. The architecture mixed with the fall colors made for a picturesque afternoon. And the weather was great. It was quite warm, which made exploring even nicer. After walking around and stopping by the school's bookstore to peruse their selection of books, magazines and memorabilia, we got back in the car and drove up to Washington Depot.

Washington Depot is a small town in the middle of CT. It was located out in the countryside. As we drove in, the fall colors were accentuated by the rolling hills and streams that run along the roadside. The feel of this village is very "New Englandy" and it is easy to see why the creators of the show were so inspired by this town (not to mention that the people we talked to were extremely nice). Since we were there, we walked around a bit and got some pictures of the girls in front of the town hall. We ended the afternoon with some coffee and snacks at the local coffee shop (if you have seen the show, you know that this was a fitting end).

All in all, it was a lot of fun. We saw lots of beautiful colors and had a great time being together on the road trip.

Visitors

2008-10-23T23:19:00.001-04:00

This week we have D.'s sister and brother-in-law in town for a visit. We've had a great time catching up with them and spending time together. I'll be posting some pictures in the next few days...

Fall Fun

2008-10-12T13:58:00.013-04:00

I love Fall in New England. I think I mentioned that in my last post. Fall is extremely festive. There is something about enjoying the beautiful creation around us while apple picking, not to mention the apple pies, apple crisp and other apple dishes. I enjoy watching college football (which is not necessarily indigenous to New England). I have always enjoyed football in the fall, but being in a place where there are four distinct seasons makes football season more exciting to me. I love it when the weather changes to become cool and you have to start wearing light long sleeves.

I love all of this...but then there is my absolute favorite part about fall. I love the changing color of the leaves. There is nothing like driving through New England's hilly landscapes beholding the extravagant colors all around. It is as if this time of year is the one time that the trees get to show off. This week D. and I took what we thought was going to be an afternoon to ride up to NH and part of Vermont to look at the leaves. According to a popular weather site, that particular day was supposed to be one of a couple days where the color was at its peak. So we packed the car with a sandwiches, snacks and a few maps. We charged the iPod and loaded a few new genius play-lists and then made our way towards NH. As we got into Northern Massachusetts, there was very, very little color. I was very disappointed. I'm a little ashamed to say that we both began making fun of the site for its inaccurate information. As we crossed the Massachusetts New Hampshire state line, I sarcastically joked, "okay, we're in NH...where are all of the colors?!" Ironically, not even an entire second later, it was if a switch had been thrown. The leaves on the trees went from green and dull colors to bright, fantastically, brilliant color. We were both in awe.

The exclamations of "wow!", "whoa!" and other similar outbursts were incessantly coming out of our mouths for the next couple of hours. It was an amazing day. We have been making similar trips to this for the last seven years and I have only seen the color of the leaves that bright one other time. And that was six years ago.

In true T. and D. form, we had a rough estimate of where we were going. There really was no true destination (it's more adventurous that way). We drove through rural NH and into VT. We even made a surprise pit stop at a friend's house in VT. We had no idea we would go that far into Vermont at the beginning of the day. It wasn't until we were a few miles from his house before we realized that we were close. At that point, I knew we had to stop and say hello.

All in all, it was a fantastic day. Even though what was supposed to be a short, 3 or 4 hour road trip ended up taking eleven hours, it was great fun. We both got a little carried away and just kept driving and driving and driving. I am very thankful for days like that. They are the days that stand out in my mind as I think about the joys of living life in New England. They are also the days that make the long, almost unbearable, winters days bearable. I have posted a few more pictures below. I hope you enjoy. Maybe it will give our friends and family some incentive to come visit next fall!

We loved the sign! Click on the picture so you can see the larger version. Break for the moose! It could save your life!

This one was taken along the interstate in Southern NH. I couldn't resist pulling over and getting a few shots of this spot. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do anything close to capturing the brilliance of the colors.

This next one is for my Dad. It was taken on the border of rural Vermont and New Hampshire.

This was one of my favorite trees from the day. I took several shots of it. I think this picture best captures the level of color we were seeing all day.

Fall Tradition

2008-10-08T13:03:00.007-04:00

We recently went Apple Picking with friends. It's one of our joys in the fall. this is something that has become one of our annual traditions. This year was another great year. We enjoyed sampling many varieties of apples, choosing which kinds of apples would be good for baking, and eating our fill of Apple Cider Donuts. I love New England in the Fall!

Concerts

2008-08-27T18:21:00.007-04:00

The last month or so D and I have been busy. There is a reason why I haven't posted in just over a month. D and I travel once a year or so to do small tours where we play living room concerts of the songs I write. We just got back from one of these month-long tours. They are always great fun but they are really exhausting. I am positive that I am not cut out for "life on the road." By us taking three or four weeks each summer to do this, I get the feel of touring while being able to have a stable environment where I spend most of the year.

Playing living room concerts are always fun to me. I enjoy playing my music for people and meeting lots of new folks. Also, the venue of the living room provides a smaller, laid back atmosphere. And if you know me, you know I like laid back environments. Also, people are able to converse and hang around to talk after the concert is over. There is usually food involved, so the people who come not only get to hang out and catch up with friends, but they also get to eat lots of great food while listening to me play music. A few pictures from our tour...

This was a great night. There were almost 40 people at this concert, which is a larger audience for us.

Here D is telling a story while I re-tune.

This was my first real experience playing in a coffee shop. This was a fun place. It had a Caribbean theme.

Finale

2008-07-13T16:24:00.000-04:00

To conclude my series on our 4th of July, here are a few pictures of the city at sunset as well as a couple of videos. One of them is of the F15 flyover before the Boston Pops concert. The other is a small clip of the fireworks.

Notice the smiley faces and the 3D shapes

The Wait

2008-07-12T19:28:00.010-04:00

Each 4th of July that D. and I have lived in Boston we have made it a practice to watch the fireworks. For the last five years we have invited friends to watch them with us. The fireworks don't start until 10:30 pm, but we get to our spot around 6 pm to ensure that we have a good view.

This year as we set out to fulfill our tradition we brought along the friends who have adopted the tradition as their own, as well as a few new friends and my family. It was a good time of playing games, eating snacks, good conversation and taking in the view of a beautiful city ornamented by the many boats on the Charles and the reflections of the setting sun on the water and the buildings. Here are some of the pictures from the wait.

After a long few days of walking, waiting for the fireworks provided Mom and Dad with a relaxing opportunity to take in the view and atmosphere of Boston on the 4th of July.

Pics from the 4th (part 2)

2008-07-06T21:39:00.000-04:00

Pics from the 4th

2008-07-05T00:09:00.002-04:00

Today was a fantastic day. It was a packed day filled with family, good friends, good food, and some of our favorite traditions. I'll let a few pictures tell the story of the day. This first part tells how we began with a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Old State House.

Early Morning Commute.

This Gentleman has sung "God Bless America" at this ceremony for the last 34 years. Here he is mentally preparing to sing (or praying for strength to sing).

Craig Ferguson (New U.S. Citizen and Late Night Show host) leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Reading of the Declaration.

Conducting the Band during the Parade.

The Boston Pops Spectacular Celebrtion

2008-07-04T14:28:00.001-04:00

Each year, D. and I try and make it down to the Boston Pops' dress rehearsal for the 4th of July concert. This year, we were able to take the family along with us. It was a lot of fun being there and listening to the Pops. We also got to hear Racal Flatts perform three songs and a few jokes from Craig Ferguson of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It's such a great atmosphere. It's one that celebrates our nation's birth as well as focusing on being a family-friendly environment. In spite of a little rain, it was a fantastic night.

Aunt R. "taking in the music."

Family Visit

2008-07-03T23:37:00.000-04:00

This week my family has been in town visiting D and me. My Mom, Dad, Aunt R. and Cousin C. made the trip up to celebrate Independence Day Week with us. It has been great to have them here and to be able to act like tourists again. D. and I always enjoy seeing the historic sites in our area, even though we have seen them a ton of times. For some reason I always find myself taking just as many pictures as if I had never seen the sites or never would see them again.

We made the trip down to Plymouth Thursday, seeing Plymouth Rock and the replica of the Mayflower. Of course we checked out several of the gift shops, grabbing a couple of memento's. Plymouth is a quaint little New England town, but this time of year, tourists flood the streets. It has been fun to experience all of this with family and it has made this year's 4th of July special for us.

Above: Mom, D., T. and Dad posing by the Plymouth Rock Monument.

Cousin C. posing.

My Aunt R. and I.

The girls!

Old North Church Behind the Scenes

2008-07-01T09:08:00.008-04:00

A few days ago, D. and I., along with a group of our friends, took the "Behind the Scenes Tour" at Old North Church. Old North Church is a place I have been many times. Any time we have guests in town, we take them along the Freedom Trail (the historical walking tour of Boston) and into Old North Church. I really couldn't count the number of times I have heard the "talk" from the Tour Guides. I actually think I could do a decent job at giving the talk. But the Behind the Scenes Tour was something new for us. The tour guide took us around a couple of the streets adjacent to the church and spoke on the history that has taken place around the church. We then proceeded up to the Bell Tower, where the bells are still rung today. Unfortunately we didn't get to ring the bells. Apparently you must have training in this.

I must confess, I was a bit disappointed. I assumed we would go up to where the lanterns were hung near the Steeple. This did not happen. Honestly, I don't think everyone taking the tour could make the climb (several flights of stairs and up a couple of ladders and through two hatches).

After the Bell Tower, we were led down to the crypt. The Crypt redeemed the rest of the tour! Parts of it have been updated, but much of it has the original brick and flooring from when it was first built by the Anglicans. There were several interesting grave markers still in the walls. After leaving the Crypt the tour ended at a garden that we had no idea even existed. Overall, the tour was a lot of fun. It was nice to experience with friends who really appreciate all of the rich history surrounding the building (two of which studied History in their graduate work). I'll be posting some pictures from the Old North Church over the next few days.

This is what they call the "Third Lantern." It's a replica of the lanterns hung on the night the riders raised the alarm of the British invasion.

Six Flags

2008-06-30T19:05:00.005-04:00

Last week D. and I went to Six Flags New England with some friends. I had been one other time, but it was our first time to go together. I love going to theme parks. I love the atmosphere of being in an entirely different world. I think life would be a but less serious if cartoon characters walked around the streets posing for pictures with people.

It was a great day to be there. The weather was nice. It was really humid, but cool. It was also a bit overcast, so not as many people showed up at the park that day. I had a great time rediscovering my love for roller coasters. D. waited patiently for me an took a lot of pictures. It was a fun place to experience with a group of friends.

Birthday Celebration

2008-06-25T00:27:00.007-04:00

Last Friday was D.'s birthday. To celebrate the special occasion, I threw her a party. The theme of the night was a Luau. Several of our friends came over for a great time of food, games and celebrating D. We even had a limbo contest! It was a fun night for all.

For a Good Cause

2008-06-14T17:07:00.010-04:00

Since 1948, The Jimmy Fund has held many events in order to raise money for cancer research. For the last 26 years, one of those events has been the annual Scooper Bowl at City Hall Plaza in Boston. For $8, you pay to get into this event only to eat yourself into an ice cream stupor. D and I, along with some other friends, did our part for the cause of cancer this year. There were several local and major brands of ice cream, all giving one scoop samples of four different flavors. For only $8, you could eat as many flavors, as many times as you wanted. I confess, I tried about 20 flavors of ice cream. For the record, I didn't eat the ENTIRE scoop of all 20 flavors. In spite of this, it has still taken me a few days to have the desire to eat ice cream again. Here are some pictures from the Day.

Here is our friend E., who worked the event.

Good to the last bite!

D. and our friend Cr. enjoying a couple of flavors from Ben and Jerry's.

Family of Four

2008-06-11T15:41:00.002-04:00

Last week I had to make an unexpected trip back to where I grew up. There was a death in my family, so I flew home to be with my family. Although it was a sad occasion in some respects, I had the opportunity to see my family and was able to have a few happy moments.

Boston Pictures Continued (Part 4)

2008-06-09T23:44:00.000-04:00

Here are a few more shots of this section of the city. I came across this boat at the Long Wharf.

This shot was taken from the water taxi that runs from the Long Wharf to Charlestown. Very cool views of both sides of the harbor.

And in honor of their two home victories in the NBA finals...the TD Banknorth Garden.

Boston Pictures continued (part 3)...

2008-05-30T10:00:00.007-04:00

As a follow-up from yesterday's post, I wanted to post some pictures of the downtown area of Boston. It is appropriate that the picture above be the next picture to follow Bunker Hill. This is close to the view Paul Revere would have had as he looked across the mouth of the Charles River on the night before the first conflicts of the Revolutionary War. The British imposed a curfew in Boston, so Revere sat on Bunker Hill overlooking the city. He was to receive either a one or two lantern signal from the the steeple of the Old North Church that informed him of the manner of the coming British invasion.

The Colonials discovered that the British troops were preparing to march on the stockpiles of weapons and ammunition at Lexington and Concord, MA. The one thing the Colonials didn't know was the direction of their approach. Would they come from the Atlantic side? Or would they march up the roads from Boston?

The Sexton of the church, Robert Newman, hung two lanterns, letting Revere know that they would be attacking from the water. From there, Revere set out to inform the many volunteers waiting for the alert. In spite of what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, there were many other riders accompanying Revere that night.

This is one of the reasons I love the spot of Bunker hill so much. It was a pivotal place in the fight for freedom that led to the birth of the United States.

Here is a shot of the Financial District of Boston. This was taken in Charlestown, across the Harbor from Boston .

The place where the Celtics and Bruins play.

Boston Pictures continued...

2008-05-29T11:09:00.004-04:00

Colonel William Prescott was one of the offices that commanded the defense in the British siege to take Bunker Hill. The battle actually took place one hill over on Breed's Hill. This was a strategic hill because it was the best vantage point to to see all of Boston and a great spot to defend the docks at Charelstown. Prescott is attributed with the quote, "do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" Because of a lack of ammunition, the result of this first major battle in the Revolutionary War was a loss for the Colonials. However, the Colonials inflicted 1,054 casualties among the British (about half of their numbers) while only receiving 450 casualties. Even though he was in command, Prescott was one of the last to retreat from the battle, fighting until his men were safely away. This is why his statue stands outside of the monument erected to memorialize this battle.

Boston Pictures

2008-05-28T14:29:00.004-04:00

Recently, I spent an afternoon at one of my favorite spots in the city, the Bunker Hill Monument. I took some time to get some pictures and a little video of all that was around me. I'll be sharing some of the pictures over the next few days.

My Memorial Day

2008-05-27T21:24:00.008-04:00

D and I had a great Memorial Day this year. We went to Wingaersheek Beach for the day with some friends. I grew up on the Gulf Coast where white sandy beaches surrounded by sand dunes and beautiful clear water was the norm. New England Beaches are far different. Rocky shores, freezing COLD water (compared to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico) and grayish sand usually comprise a good New England Beach. But I must say, Wingaersheek Beach was gorgeous. The water is beautiful, the sand isn't terribly bad and the scenery was amazing. It was a great day to spend with good friends. We had so much fun that we have decided to take a few trips this summer to various places around New England.

In honor of D and W!

Gorgeous scenery looking out from the sand bar.

A. being a goof ball.

Chees-ing for the camera!

The Recording Continues

2008-05-20T15:01:00.005-04:00

This past Friday I took another day to continue working on the new album. It was a good day, but it was very draining. I always forget how taxing it can be to remain extremely focused on one single thing for so long. There are a lot of things that you have to remain aware of and stay attentive to as you record. It is very easy to get distracted. It's at the moment you get distracted that you make a mistake. And making a single mistake costs extra time. I don't know exactly how many times I played through all of the songs. But I am sure of one thing. If the arrangements of the songs weren't memorized before I started playing that day, they are seared into brain now. Actually, they were memorized. It was nice just to play and not have to think about every chord that was coming up next.

The picture above was taken in my friend P.'s living room. We converted it into a makeshift recording studio for the day. There is nothing like critiquing yourself over and over as you listen to a recording of you playing an instrument or singing. I was able to lay down some of the guitar tracks as well as some of the vocals. I'm eager to hear the finished result, although it will be a while before it's done. The next day of recording is this Sunday. It should be a lot of fun.

Patriots Day

2008-04-23T21:38:00.004-04:00

Monday was Patriots Day, a holiday I never knew existed until I moved to Boston. Patriots Day is the celebration of the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. For those of you who aren't history buffs, these two battles were the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Patriots day, celebrated on the third Monday in April, is a state holiday in Massachusetts. There are always activities in which one can partake and Bar-B-Q's to be enjoyed.

This Patriots Day weekend was a bit special and Boston was THE place to be. The city was teeming with people. Monday night was game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins were in the playoffs for the first time in forever (They were beaten, unfortunately). The Celtics are in the playoffs with great chances of winning the championship. And the Red Sox rocked the Texas Rangers in four straight games. On top of all of this was the Boston Marathon...

The Marathon happens every Patriots Day. It is always an amazing site to behold. I have rarely seen such a display of encouragement and determination. The marathon is an event that more than 28,000 runners enter and thousands upon thousands stand along the route to cheer on the participants. This year D. and I stood just a little less than a half mile from the finish line. It was a great place to cheer people on, especially as the look of relief covered their face from finally glimpsing the finish line. For some, it seemed that they weren't even breaking a sweat or had only run a couple of miles. For others, it seemed that they were battling with absolutely everything in them to take another step toward the finish line.

The thing about the marathon is that a significant amount of people run it for charity. One of the highlights for me is seeing some of these "charity runners," like a few fire fighters, in their full gear running the marathon. Here is a picture of a soldier running in fatigues with a full ruck sack. I can't imagine the strain and fatigue that more than 26 miles with all of that gear will put on a person. Absolutely inspiring. It was awesome to cheer him on as he willed his way to the finish line.

Recording

2008-04-16T10:35:00.008-04:00

If you've read my profile, then you know that I'm a musician. Even more, you know that I'm somewhat of a songwriter. As a musician, I am blessed to have friends who are also musicians. I am also blessed to have a friend who has a recording studio. These friends have agreed to help me record several of my songs. Not only that, they have agreed to bring the studio to me. So, Monday we recorded the drum tracks for my new album (that sounds a little weird to say). It was a fantastic day. I started at about 8:15 that morning getting ready for them to come over. At 10 we started setting up all of the equipment. We finished recording at 8:30 that night. What a day! It was a ton of fun, but it was exhausting. I didn't realize how exhausting of an experience it would be. The draining part is having to be extremely focused for long periods of time.

As you can see in the pictures, we set up the actual "studio" in my basement, which was empty until Monday. My friend, N., played his kit in the basement while I played along on guitar and sang from upstairs in my kitchen. The plan is to go back and record my guitar parts and vocals later (along with a couple of other instrumentalists who have agreed to help me out.).

So far this has been a blast. I can't wait to finally hear the finished product, but there are many miles to go before we are at that point. My goal is to have this finished by August. We'll see if we meet the deadline.

Red Sox Reconciliation

2008-04-12T14:12:00.004-04:00

As I've written about in the last couple of posts, D and I were at Fenway's opening Day this year. Before the game started, I saw one of the greatest acts of reconciliation that I have witnessed since I have been living in Boston. The first pitch was scheduled to be thrown out by a surprise guest. As we waited for the game, my friends and I had been trying to predict who it would be. We thought about several celebrities and political figures. For some reason we never thought about former Red Sox players. When it was time for the first pitch, it was no random celebrity that walked on the field, nor was it just another former player of old. To everyone's surprise, Bill Buckner walked out onto the field. I remember the announcer's voice growing with intensity as he gave the introduction. As Buckner's name was finally announced, the stadium erupted in applause. I was really shocked and delighted by this.

I didn't grow up in Boston, but I lived here before the Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. Living here before the '04 season was a bit different than it is now. The devotion to the Red Sox was still unreal, even in the face of losing year after year (even under sometimes bizarre circumstances). One of those circumstances occurred in the 1986 World Series. In extra innings, the game had been tied on a wild pitch. All the Red Sox needed was to get out of the inning and hang on for a win and they would once again be the World Champions. Of course, that's not at all what happened. Buckner completely missed a routine ground ball at first. To add injury to insult, it was a slow rolling ground ball that, to the dismay of everyone, went through his legs and bounced off the bag. The winning run scored for the Mets and the game was over. The Mets came back in game 7 and won the series.

Poor Buckner has been known for that one missed grounder ever since. Sadly, he had been a fantastic player all the way up to this. A lot of credit was given to him for the Sox winning the American League Championship Series. But the guy was demonized for making one mistake that led to a devastating loss. There were even death threats. Even 15 years later, people were talking about that one play as if it had happened the day before. I explain all of this to put what happened on Opening Day into perspective.

As Buckner's name was announced, Fenway roared not with jeers and insults, but applause. Not just a cordial applause...a several minute standing ovation. The announcer had to come on and move things along to quieten the crowd so that Bill could throw out the first pitch (which was a strike). I have been thinking back to Bill's walk from left field to the infield to thundering applause. I saw the tears began to stream down his face. It was very moving. I have never seen this kind of reconciliation and acceptance among Red Sox fans. Usually, once you're out, you're out. All it takes to prove this point is for the formerly beloved Johnny Damon, now Yankee player, to come up in conversation. There are no kind words there. Just when you thought the applause would end, another round would stir the stadium. This continued even after the pitch. It only took 22 years and, as a friend pointed out, TWO World Series victories (not just one). Even though I did not grow up following the heart-braking losses of the Red Sox year after year as a kid, I have been a fan long enough to know that I will not forget what I saw that day.

Sweet Caroline...

2008-04-09T00:17:00.004-04:00

If you've been to Fenway Park for a RedSox game then you know that there are a few things that are tradition. Of course, there is the singing of the National Anthem at the beginning of the game after the lineup is announced. There are the traditional chants and cheers of RedSox Nation throughout the game. This would include random jeering of the Yankees, even if they aren't the team being played on that particular day. There is the singing of God Bless America and Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the Seventh Inning Stretch. BUT, one of my favorite moments in the game (besides the action of the actual game itself) is when all of Fenway joins in singing Sweet Caroline in the middle of the Eighth Inning. Men, women, boys and girls all sing together no matter how well they can sing or how beautiful the sound. It's a fun moment in the game, especially if it's been a slow game. Below is a short video I captured during this experience on Opening Day 2008. This particular day Neil Diamond led the stadium via video. It was cool. Enjoy.

Opening Day

2008-04-08T23:36:00.010-04:00

Opening Day at Fenway Park has come around again this year! D and I were excited that we were able to be there today to start the 2008 baseball season. The day started with me in line at Fenway at 7:40 this morning (for a 2:30 game). D and I met four of our friends whom we were excited to experience the game. This is definitely an event that I find a lot of fun experiencing with a group of people. Although it was quite warm outside as we waited in line, inside the park was a bit chilly, especially in the standing room only section (which happens to be our section). I ended up wearing four or five layers in order to stay warm and yet clearly display my Red Sox spirit. The above picture is several of us in front of the Ted Williams Statue.

Today was a special day at Fenway Park. The celebration from the Sox winning the World Series last fall continued with the official Ring Ceremony, where each member of the 2007 Red Sox received their World Series Ring. Here are a couple of my favorite moments...
Here is me finishing off my delicious "Fenway Frank!"

It was a tremendous day today!

Hanging with a friend...

2008-04-03T14:37:00.002-04:00

Pictures from my week...

2008-03-07T13:12:00.005-05:00

Cabin Fever

2008-02-09T16:19:00.000-05:00

I have spent the last few days on the couch with a stomach bug. On Sunday night I wasn't feeling well, but I simply brushed it off as being related to the horrific loss in the Super Bowl and eating too many buffalo wings at the Super Bowl Party. Not learning my lesson, a friend and I chowed down on the abundance of leftover wings on Monday afternoon. It was Tuesday before I realized that it wasn't just wings that were making me sick.

There is something about me that I absolutely have to be doing something. It is hard for me to do nothing. It is even harder for me to do nothing with no one around. I am very much a people person (99% of the time). There is really only so much TV and movies that a person can watch in a three day period. By Thursday I was dying to get out. On Friday I was absolutely going nuts. And today is the day that I feel good enough to get out (which really means that my body needs another day or I'll get sick again...at least, that's what usually happens).

So I am greatly anticipating tomorrow being here. tomorrow morning I be rejoicing as I will be able to get out and about as well as hang out with my friends at our weekly time of being together. For now...cabin fever.

Goodnight Boston

2008-02-06T16:23:00.000-05:00

Last week D and I had the opportunity to go to the SkyWalk at the top of the Prudential. I love going up there. I've been dozens of times. Being up there, overlooking the city with all of its goings on never gets old to me. I have been in every season now, so I have seen everything green and blooming. I've also seen everything looking drab and the Charles completely frozen over. I can't really decide which is my favorite. Both are beautiful in their own way. Every time we have guests in town, we usually take them to the Top of the Pru so hat they can see how the city is laid out.

Last week was a bit different as it was the first time I've been up there at night. Of course, it was beautiful. The lights of the city shone so brightly. The two pictures were taken that night. The one taken at sunset of the Hancock Tower and the surrounding area was taken by D. I took the one below, which is overlooking Kenmore Square after dark.

Back in a routine...

2008-01-19T18:03:00.000-05:00

I must confess that for the last couple of months I have not been running. It seems like I haven't been able to do much more than focus on finishing the fall semester and getting ready for the class I took during the first week of January. Between the holidays and all of the schoolwork I haven't had a chance to run. It's not like I'm never reminded that I should run. As I am out and about in any part of the city, all I have to do is look around and I see tons of people running. Actually, on the snowiest day we've seen so far, I saw a couple of people running. Crazy. In hopes of rectifying my lack of running, I went for a run today (yes, in the cold. The high here was 35). I plan on making this a regular practice throughout the rest of the winter and spring. Hopefully the end result will be that I generally feel better and have more energy. They say that it takes 21 days to make something a habit. A few months ago it was habit. Somehow I broke it. Well, 1 down, 20 more to go until it's a habit once more.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T17:38:00.000-05:00

D and I wish you all a very special celebration of Christmas. I hope that you have the opportunity to be with friends and family.

For Those Not Experiencing a White Christmas

2007-12-14T00:31:00.000-05:00

I know many of you reading this will not have a White Christmas. Actually, some of you will be wearing shorts on Christmas Day. But let me share with you the joy and the not so joyous experience getting snow like this can be. Merry Christmas!

Good ole trusty snow plows. I have a love-hate relationship with these guys. I love that they are there to plow the roads and keep them clean so that I can get out and do what I need to do. I hate that they pile layer after layer against my car while it's parked. What can you do?
Just as it is about to slack off, here is what the view out the front door looks like...

After the snow has all but ended, let's take stock of how much we got...

It was officially 8 inches.

After it was all said and done (and a couple hours of shoveling later), the car is all dug out and clean. Finally laying eyes on this sight is a good feeling.

Snow Storm

2007-12-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

It's been snowing really hard here for the last couple of hours. I just went out and got a few pictures. I'll share more when it stops snowing.

Our front porch.

Right now outside...

One dedicated neighbor. He's started shoveling before the thick stuff has slacked off.

Cold Patriotism

2007-12-12T00:02:00.000-05:00

On Monday I went with a friend on a quick trip up to Maine. He had to run a couple of errands, and since I was taking the day off, I decided to go with him. It was nasty in the city as I was leaving. All of the cars had a thick sheet of ice covering them (not to mention the sidewalks, but that's another post). As we got closer to Maine, it turned out to be a beautiful winter day. It was even lightly snowing.

Once we got there, the place we were shopping announced that there was a parade passing by. Although it seemed like an odd event for a Monday, I thought maybe it was a Christmas parade for the town we were in. It was far from it. As I walked outside, there was a line of state police, county sheriffs, local police and other first responders standing in a line in the parking lot. They were saluting a caravan of vehicles that ended with a large truck. The truck was from a non-profit corporation carrying thousands of wreaths (about 10,000 I think) to Arlington, VA. Once there, they are going to be laid on the resting places of fallen soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. Standing back observing all of this were several spectators waving small flags.

As I stood there watching all of the people waving flags and remembering those who have lost their lives for the cause of our freedom, I couldn't helped but be moved. It was a display of patriotism that one rarely sees outside of Independence Day or Memorial Day. In that moment, I was very thankful for where I live and the many thousands of men and women who are serving their country.

More pictures...

After...

2007-12-11T23:17:00.001-05:00

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

2007-12-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday D and I took part in an activity that I have always been intrigued by. It is tradition for us to buy a live Christmas tree (well, semi-live) each Christmas. This year, instead of going to a local lot to pick out our tree, we went to a Christmas tree farm with some friends. It took us some time to pick out the perfect tree. you would think it would be easier to pick out a tree among many options, but in reality it made it more difficult to narrow it down. Once we chose the perfect tree, we cut it down, had it wrapped up in netting and loaded it on top of our car. It was funny to see our car with both our tree and our friends' tree on top. Even funnier were the looks we got from people passing us on the way home. If I wasn't already feeling like it, Sunday definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.

Leftover Thanksgiving Bird for Lunch

2007-12-03T23:47:00.000-05:00

This past Friday I had the opportunity to have lunch with a friend of mine. The plan was to meet him near his office in the city where we would then go to a nearby food court to eat. Since it was that time of day on a Friday, I anticipated either driving around forever to fight for a close parking spot, or walking anywhere from a half mile to mile to where we were to meet. I chose the latter. I needed the exercise and it was a beautiful, chilly day. As I got relatively close to where we were going to meet, I casually noticed a pigeon walking on the edge of the street near the curb. As I continued to walk, I saw something out the of the corner of my eye streak by. I looked over to see a huge bird standing on top of the pigeon. Its talons were digging in to the pigeon while the poor prey struggled. The predator stood casually waiting for the inevitable end of the meal preparation (death of the pigeon). At this point, I was completely amazed by the scene in front of me (as were 5 or 6 other people). At first, I assumed that this was a hawk. But after just a couple of seconds I realized that it couldn't be a hawk. It was waaaaaaaaay too big and majestic. That's right. It was an eagle. I was completely blown away, not that I was witnessing an eagle catch its prey (even though that was awesome!), but by the fact that there was an eagle hunting pigeons in the middle of Cambridge, MA.

After a minute or so of standing around watching the bystanders observe his hunt and meal prep, the eagle flew away with the pigeon still clutched in his talons. As I walked down a little closer to where I was meeting my friend, I saw him again. This time he was drawing a crowd. It was at this point that I began to kick myself as I thought about the decision I made a few minutes earlier not to bring my camera with me. I stood, watching again for another few minutes until it was time to meet for lunch. When I met my friend, we greeted each other and then I asked, you were an Eagle Scout...would you recognize an eagle if you saw one? Puzzled, he answered with a slow, "yeah?" "Then follow me," I said. We went back over to where the eagle was. My friend's reaction was, "Yep. That's an eagle. Huh." By this time, the eagle was enjoying his lunch as he was digging in.

We stood there for another couple of minutes watching him feast away on the poor pigeon. A lot of people were now starting to gather around him. Some were taking pictures with camera phones. Others were talking on their phone as they described the sight. One guy, feeling a bit adventurous, got a little too close while trying to get the perfect shot. The eagle looked up at him and spread out his wings as if to say, "back off! He's mine!" the guy quickly backed away.

This has to be one of the most bizarre experiences since living in the Boston area. It will be something I remember every time I am in that section of town from now on. I know that I'll be looking up and around for Mr. E. the next time I'm over there. And, it's a great story to tell people. One other cool tidbit is that my two favorite college football teams' mascots are golden eagles...exactly like this one. Pretty cool.

Day After Thanksgiving Tradition

2007-11-27T23:49:00.000-05:00

We have a tradition that we started the year we moved to Boston. Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, we go to the Macy's Christmas Tree Lighting event (it used to be the Filene's Christmas Tree Lighting). It' a great Boston experience. There are brief performances from various singing groups and excerpts form plays or the ballet showing in town. This year was another great year. We got to share the night with several friends. The Christmas tree that was lit was over 50 ft tall. It had over 2 miles of wires on it that connected more than 10,000 lights. It was very cool. The weather wasn't bad either (in past years we have experienced everything from snow to heat waves to rain). It was a bit chilly but not too bad with all of the people packed into one place. We did, however, go for dinner and hot chocolate afterwards at Quincy Market. I love that area this time of year. All of the trees are lit up with Christmas tree lights. For me, the Christmas Season has finally begun.

Concert

2007-11-13T23:54:00.000-05:00

Last week I had the opportunity to perform a concert of my songs at a local university's campus ministry. There were about 50 students there in the audience. It was so much fun. I enjoyed sharing some of the stories behind the songs. I even went out on a limb and performed two songs that I finished earlier that afternoon. Brave, I know (or maybe I should say stupid). The night went very well and I was pleased with my performance for the most part. There was really only one rough spot.

I have only been in this position of performing a few times. Usually if I'm playing in front of people, I'm leading a congregation in worship. But this feels more exposed. For one thing, I'm sharing pieces of my journal as I share these songs. It is more than that though. There is no one else playing or singing. There are no screens or hymnals for people to focus on, nor is there a subject of their worship (God) drawing their attention. There's just me...me and my guitar...all alone up there. Each time I do a concert it is a bit nerve wrecking. (There are certain times when I am a perfectionist and performing is one of them.) But after it's over, I always feel as though I've really enjoyed myself. It's a draining but fun experience.

I have another concert this weekend. Let's hope it goes as well.

Supersize ME!

2007-11-05T12:49:00.000-05:00

This weekend D and I were in VT for a conference. On the drive back, we made a quick stop at McDonald's to grab a late lunch. I ordered my usual quarter-pounder meal. When they finished our order, I got our tray and carried it to our table like any other McD's experience. I took the fist bite of my burger and realized that I forgot to hold the onions. So I proceeded to pick them out. As I opened my burger I noticed a rather large, oddly shaped chunk of onion. I very quickly realized that this was no onion. It was a clear cap to an ink pen that had evidently fallen out of someone's shirt pocket onto my sandwich when they were preparing my food. Without saying a word, I simply got up from my seat and walked up to the counter with the burger carton (which contained my fries and my burger with the nice little souvenir in it).

The poor girl working behind the counter had already mixed up my order one time, but I didn't make an issue out of it. I simply politely corrected her while laughing it off. When she saw me coming she jokingly asked what else they had done to mess up my order. Again, without saying a word, I simply looked at my sandwich and held it out for her to see. She was completely horrified. She didn't say a word to me, but took the burger out of my hands and went immediately to her manager. I watched with curiosity to see what would happen next. To my surprise, the manager loudly asked, "what? did he drop it or something?" Mimicking me, the girl said nothing but just looked at the sandwich and held it out for him to see. He went from being frustrated at a customer to a disciplinary manager who loudly scolded his cooks and staff.

Needless to say, I got a free meal (along with a new, perfect burger and more fries which were about 4 times larger than that I ordered). Actually, I got 4 free meals. The manager came back with vouchers for 4 combo meals. It was only on our way out of the McDonald's that we noticed that they were only good for the McD.'s in VT or some in Western Mass. But, at least it has provided a funny story to tell and another story to blog about.

Moral of the story: Always check your burger for pen caps.

A Dentist's Favorite Day

2007-11-01T14:57:00.001-04:00

Last night D and I had a great time and all it required was being at home and having our front porch light on. Our doorbell rang about 25 times with groups of princesses, baseball players (Red Sox of course), Nascar drivers, robots, all kinds of superheroes, ghosts, goblins and witches. Yep, trick or treaters. It was hilarious to see the little kids dressed up in their costumes. It was just as funny to me to see the teenagers still trying to pass as kids as they came to the door. Last night was a great way for us to interact with some of our neighbors. Unfortunately, we ended up running out of candy by a little after 8pm. I had no idea we would get so many visitors and groups of visitors. We'll be prepared next year.

I Love Fall Weather

2007-10-03T09:42:00.001-04:00

I was out and about last Monday and took these pictures...

Apple Picking

2007-10-02T11:55:00.000-04:00

Each year that D and I have lived here, we have taken part in a New England fall tradition- Apple Picking. This weekend we had our traditional apple picking adventure. It is always a lot of fun, and to me, it is as much about the experience as it is about picking apples and eating great apple desserts. This year we went with a group of our friends. We had a great time searching out the perfect apples to pick, not to mention the great samples. We ended up picking some really good apples and D has already made a great apple dish. Can't wait for more! Here are a few pictures from the day.

Summer Comes to an End

2007-09-21T09:59:00.001-04:00

Today is the beginning of what some people call "madness" in my life. Today is the day that I go back to school. I've been working on my Masters Degree for over a year and a half. Even though I technically already started my semester back in August with an online class, I begin taking classes at the school this weekend.

I remember the annual "first day of school" growing up. It was always filled with a bitter sweetness that brought a return to being around my friends, but a return to the life of homework, papers and projects. I remember that my brother and I would have to stand at our back door with our backpacks and the annual "first day of school outfit." Our parents would take a few pictures to commemorate the occasion. All of the students seemed eager to be back around their friends. There was always a lot to catch up on as friends told each other of how they spent their summers. There was something about the fall that always made life seem to be fresh as you started school.

My life has changed a lot. I'm not having my picture taken as I walk out the door now (although I think my Mom and Dad would love it if I still carried on this tradition). I find myself being a lot more eager to learn than I was growing up. I guess being in a place where you feel like you're doing an impossible job will make you feel that way. Now I'm having to balance family, job and school. I am in a program that offers classes on Friday nights and Saturdays. This allows me to do what I do full time and still go to school full time. The schedule can be quite rigorous in the beginning, but I know I usually adapt quickly. If nothing else, it makes me cut down on my TV watching and do A LOT of reading.

Even though a lot of has changed, there are still a couple of things that are the same.
The returning students still greet one another and tell stories of the adventures from the summer. And...To me, the fall still brings a freshness to life. I love fall in New England. It should be a great drive to class.

Weddings

2007-08-31T14:45:00.000-04:00

This weekend I'm in Kentucky for a wedding. As I see everyone running around rushing to get everything done, it makes me think back to the day I got married to D. What an amazing time in my life. It has taken me years to reconstruct that day in my thoughts. It went by like a blur. Even though I tried to take everything in, it seemed to blow by me. I've known both the bride and groom for a couple of years now. They've become very good friends of mine.

Watching them go through this process has reminded me of my journey in marriage. Now, almost seven years later, I am extremely grateful for the woman I was blessed to marry. Life has a way of taking the marriage relationship and putting you in circumstances that will either make you or break you. Thankfully, our relationship has grown ever stronger over these last seven years. It has been a joy.

Ruined Day

2007-08-09T17:11:00.000-04:00

I was in Dunkin Donuts this week getting an iced coffee and a Bagel for breakfast. I sat down just after I received my order only to hear a loud commotion just behind me in the line. There was a lady going ballistic on the workers behind the counter. She was yelling "I didn't order iced tea! I don't even like iced tea, why would I order it?! You know what I ordered, now get me my iced coffee!" I was completely shocked that this lady reacted this way. A friend of mine who was standing by the lady sat down and we exchanged looks of disbelief. My friend leaned over the table and said, "I heard her tell the lady she wanted an iced tea." Unbelievable.

As luck would have it, the lady sat down at the table next to us. She ranted and complained for about 10 minutes over the "mistake" to her friend. She made such a big deal over it that we had to get up and leave just to enjoy our breakfast. I was amazed that something so completely insignificant could utterly ruin this woman's day.

This is an extreme example, but we let small stuff get under our skin all the time. From someone cutting you off in traffic, to running late to get somewhere, to the person at the local donut shop not getting your order straight, we get so bent out of shape. My encouragement of the day for you and me: Lighten up. You'll be happier and so will the people around you.

The Gravity of Reality

2007-08-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

D and I have been back for just over a week now. We have left the dream-like state of vacation and are completely back in reality. At first glance, that sentence sounds like a sad one. But it's not necessarily a bad thing. I loved every minute of being away and not having any responsibility or concern, not having a to-do list and not having access to my phone or e-mail. Quiet, stillness, rest and time to regain perspective of my life...Simply amazing. It was these things that refreshed me and put me in a place where I am ready to go into this fall strong and focused.

Some pictures of me being quiet and still, resting and regaining perspective...

Back

2007-07-22T18:48:00.001-04:00

D and I are back in I-land from our week in the land of the former great empire. This last week was the big celebration of the year of 30. Both D and I will 30 this year. To properly celebrate this occasion, we went away with four good friends who are also celebrating this milestone. It was truly amazing. We had such a good time being with D and W as well as R and B. What a great way to celebrate the year of 30. We get back to B-town Wednesday evening. I'll be posting several pictures over the next few days, as well as some funny stories.