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Friday, April 28, 2006
Debate Party!!
So we had our party - with a small showing... all the girls and only Josh. Not to discount him or anything, but yes, just Josh. Which is funny because normally the boys out number the girls. That's ok. We ate at Corvette's and had a grand time. We had a rude waitress - and not the kind of rude that you're supposed to get there. Blah - she was the epitome of the "cat lady" so I suppose she has some credence to be bitter. It was fun, cards were passed, a video was attempted to be run, a straw contest which I lost, some water was passed, a cup of whip cream was discarded, french fries anyone? Grand times! I'll miss them.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
To All my Nazbo Friends
To any of you who want to see Bob Brower throw west side signs... and hear a rap about the Nazarenes... I'm crying laughing right now. Nazbo Rap
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
It's been a while...
Hmm so it's been a long while since I last posted on this trusty livejournal of mine... so free style, I shall update.
Ready GO!
Jennifer moved back to ND, got a job, still in ND, still married to my brother, American Idol began, access to HdTV, it is amazing, Loving Husband and I signed the lease for our 4 bedroom house, I got sucked into Lost, watched season 1 in a weekend and took a few more weeks to watch the latest on my computer, my cousin up and died for no reason on February 26th, Spring Champs was infuriating, a week up in the NW in our new home, nothing there but a bed and computer, a weekend in Arkansas equally as infuriating as Champs, started watching Lost live with Shannon and Nikki, great times, Tuesday nights continue with Kelley watching Gilmore Girls and Idol, a trip to Vegas shortly after AK, I won $25 on Monopoly slots, grandma gambled, took my first taxi ride, much fun with my family, a few more days of work, debate is over, off to no where for one solid weekend, then off to Boston for a week with Becky, Jamie & Shelley, had the worst flight of my life on the way there, had a great trip minus a few frustrations, came home back to work, listen to persuasion speeches, taught a few more classes, found a replacement for DOF, decided to take the bar exam in the summer this year, started tracking down the mover people, Loving Husband came to visit, started gutting my home of useless crap, convinced my public speaking class not to take their final, only have papers to grade, now have possibly agreed to teach arg & debate online from WA for That College, still addicted to myspace, more detailed blogs there.
End
Ready GO!
Jennifer moved back to ND, got a job, still in ND, still married to my brother, American Idol began, access to HdTV, it is amazing, Loving Husband and I signed the lease for our 4 bedroom house, I got sucked into Lost, watched season 1 in a weekend and took a few more weeks to watch the latest on my computer, my cousin up and died for no reason on February 26th, Spring Champs was infuriating, a week up in the NW in our new home, nothing there but a bed and computer, a weekend in Arkansas equally as infuriating as Champs, started watching Lost live with Shannon and Nikki, great times, Tuesday nights continue with Kelley watching Gilmore Girls and Idol, a trip to Vegas shortly after AK, I won $25 on Monopoly slots, grandma gambled, took my first taxi ride, much fun with my family, a few more days of work, debate is over, off to no where for one solid weekend, then off to Boston for a week with Becky, Jamie & Shelley, had the worst flight of my life on the way there, had a great trip minus a few frustrations, came home back to work, listen to persuasion speeches, taught a few more classes, found a replacement for DOF, decided to take the bar exam in the summer this year, started tracking down the mover people, Loving Husband came to visit, started gutting my home of useless crap, convinced my public speaking class not to take their final, only have papers to grade, now have possibly agreed to teach arg & debate online from WA for That College, still addicted to myspace, more detailed blogs there.
End
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Boston!
Boston was amazing.
After the flight from hell, I am pretty sure that anything would have seemed like Heaven but it really was a great trip.
Arrival - Tuesday:
I arrived around 5:05pm, a bit later than expected, but only by a few minutes so nothing major. I collect my bag, which is one of the first ones out a perk on the gamble of transferring luggage from one flight to another. Then I set out to call Shelley, who was arriving in the terminal next to mine around the same time. I get a hold of her and establish that she is making the trek over to my terminal to meet me, so that we can catch the shuttle to our hotel. We catch the shuttle and arrive at the Roadside Inn. Were about 10 minutes from the airport and not terribly far from a subway stop to go inbound to Boston great place to be.
We meet up with Jamie, who had arrived earlier that afternoon and already checked into the hotel. We caught up, I hadnt seen her since, circa 2000. Then Shelley, Jamie, and myself ordered some room service and talked about what our top things were to do in Boston. We awaited Becs arrival, with wasnt until 10:30pm that night. It was much fun. Watched some Law and Order, SVU etc..
Day 1 - Wednesday:
Only in our best luck do we get the weather that we do. However, we were expecting it, so we bundled up caught our shuttled and headed to the Wonderland Station to buy our week long pass for the subway/bus system. And we headed inbound. (Inbound and Outbound would prove to be a bit confusing at times, but Jamie and I were able to master it for the most part.) We got off at Aquarium in order to buy our Old Town Trolley tickets. We catch the Trolley and as soon as we get on it, it starts to snow. Yep it didnt stick though just was that much colder. We head to do all the exciting things that the Trolley offers us. We first got off and headed into the North End and saw all of Paul Reveres stomping ground, North Church and FOOD found a little caf and had some much needed breakfast. This is when I START the search for a beanie, for my very cold head.
We then continue on the trolley towards USS Constitution and toured the museum. Next stop was the Old State House, where we found some excellent Salt Water Taffy we enjoyed the remainder of the trip and then found our way around near Quincy Market place (later we found out that we hadnt quite made it to there) Our final stop from our trolley tour was to where the Boston Tea Party was, but due to a lightening strike earlier this past year, the museum was not open. However, the place we wanted to eat was: The Barking Crab. It was tasty, Jamie ordered lobster Bec and Shelley were thoroughly disgusted. We then caught a bus to the subway to the Wonderland Station where we walked a couple of blocks to the local grocery store to pick up some snack food for the hotel and then caught our shuttle home.
Day 2 Thursday:
We awoke after a little bit of sleeping in and headed back to the Wonderland Station to start our journey to The Prudential Building its Bostons view similar to that of the Empire State building and there is a ton of shopping that can be done. So maybe we can find my beanie?! Still none anywhere to be found in Boston, and I still have a cold head and I am still counting how MANY of these things that I have back in So Cal. Sigh. So we enter the Prudential Building, eat some breakfast in the food court and then head to the top. We spend a fair amount of time up there and establish that our next stop is the Trinity Church.
We walk to that location and on that walk pass the South Church, the Boston Public Library and get an excellent view of the Church from all angles. The Trinity Church was built in 1877 and was quite pretty. We go inside after taking some exciting pictures with some inexplicably placed statutes of turtles and rabbits and look at the excellent structure of this church. Outside we marvel in the sight of the building next to the church, modern and built in the 70s all glass building, called the Hancock Tower which due to all the glass has a mirror image of Trinity Church on it. Lovely.
We then walk over towards Tom Cruises favorite place to be the Church of Scientology although somewhat crazy, the architecture was amazing and in their museum was something else. The Mapparium was super cool. Its a 3d Globe that you walk into. It was not only beautiful, but it was informative as well it was color coated to show who had control of what at a particular period in time. Besides the school tour we were with GRR more little annoying people. It was great.
We have now made a basic full circle back towards the Prudential Building and we eat at a restaurant and have some tasty Italian food. We walk towards the subway and FINALLY, there it is a store that has beanies!!! Finally, something to keep my poor little head warm. Im now content. We then head toward Boston Commons the original park, established in 1634. We walked around there for a while and see the New State House (or at least the current and used one) and get pictures of us around the area. The weather was pretty decent most of the day, but it was starting to cloud over again and so we decided to go and see a movie. We saw Ice Age 2. Becky fell asleep in the movie, she had already seen it once. Hehe. We then headed back to our hotel.
Day 3 Friday:
This was Jamie and my day! We headed out to the JFK Library and toured that in the morning. Eating breakfast in the museum caf. Enjoyed all the exhibits and the area surrounding the library and then headed out to Harvard. It was very much enjoyable. Decent weather and although chilly still great for pictures of the beautiful campus. We all spent our fair share of dough in the Harvard Store and then headed on back toward Boston. We went back to Boston Commons where we took pictures and viewed the Shaw Memorial and then went onto Quincy Market Place. More shopping, of course, and delicious hot dogs for lunch. We then made a plan to walk to the Haymarket, but went in the total opposite direction and found a few of the old bookstores that Jamie and I had been looking for. We ended our day with another movie, Inside Man and then grabbed some McDs before heading back to the hotel for yet another evening and episode of Dr. Phil.
Day 4 Saturday:
Were headed to Witch Hysteria Land! AKA Salem. This took a bit of travel, but it was still worth it. It was something that Bec really wanted to see. We took a taxi, that the hotel people suggested would cost about $10 it cost $20. We then had to wait at the Commuter Rail Lynn Station for 48 minutes, because on Saturday the trains dont run as frequently. It was another bitterly cold day. Yikes!!! We jumped around on the platform to stay warm had crazy people come up to us occasionally and then we finally got on the train for about 10 minute up to Salem. Not nearly enough time to thaw. So, we head out and walk down the streets of Salem and come to this quaint little diner where we show our pout-frozen faces and ask if we can still have breakfast. They are happy to oblige. We enjoy breakfast and then head onto the hokey witch museum, where (Gilmore Girl reference coming up) they have a scene set up with speakers overhead telling the story of the Witch Hysteria. They had manikins (like those in Taylors museum he put together in the old Twickham house!!) and they told the story. It was random, but why not. We then walked to the Witch Dungeon, which was a replica, because apparently in 1954 PacBell bought the land over the original dungeons and tore it up and we saw a reenactment of one of the trial and then walked through the dungeon. Great fun. We then caught the commuter rail again and headed back to Boston Commons (the center part this time) walked around there for a while and then onto find more food this time good old CPK. After lunch we took some obligatory ;-) Map photos and then headed back toward Government Center for a walk through Haymarket, more Quincy Market and a walk around the area one last time. We enjoyed some sitting time in a Starbucks in the evening and then headed back to our hotel to enjoy a mound of fruit that Bec had picked up for a mere $6. Excellent.
It was an excellent trip. And if youve read this all Im impressed. J
Lessons Learned? Always take a beanie with you, you never know when it might be needed. Yes, even to Hawaii!
Fun Fact About Boston? There are 183 Dunkin Donuts in Boston compared to 155 Starbucks. and in one DD they also serve sushi!
After the flight from hell, I am pretty sure that anything would have seemed like Heaven but it really was a great trip.
Arrival - Tuesday:
I arrived around 5:05pm, a bit later than expected, but only by a few minutes so nothing major. I collect my bag, which is one of the first ones out a perk on the gamble of transferring luggage from one flight to another. Then I set out to call Shelley, who was arriving in the terminal next to mine around the same time. I get a hold of her and establish that she is making the trek over to my terminal to meet me, so that we can catch the shuttle to our hotel. We catch the shuttle and arrive at the Roadside Inn. Were about 10 minutes from the airport and not terribly far from a subway stop to go inbound to Boston great place to be.
We meet up with Jamie, who had arrived earlier that afternoon and already checked into the hotel. We caught up, I hadnt seen her since, circa 2000. Then Shelley, Jamie, and myself ordered some room service and talked about what our top things were to do in Boston. We awaited Becs arrival, with wasnt until 10:30pm that night. It was much fun. Watched some Law and Order, SVU etc..
Day 1 - Wednesday:
Only in our best luck do we get the weather that we do. However, we were expecting it, so we bundled up caught our shuttled and headed to the Wonderland Station to buy our week long pass for the subway/bus system. And we headed inbound. (Inbound and Outbound would prove to be a bit confusing at times, but Jamie and I were able to master it for the most part.) We got off at Aquarium in order to buy our Old Town Trolley tickets. We catch the Trolley and as soon as we get on it, it starts to snow. Yep it didnt stick though just was that much colder. We head to do all the exciting things that the Trolley offers us. We first got off and headed into the North End and saw all of Paul Reveres stomping ground, North Church and FOOD found a little caf and had some much needed breakfast. This is when I START the search for a beanie, for my very cold head.
We then continue on the trolley towards USS Constitution and toured the museum. Next stop was the Old State House, where we found some excellent Salt Water Taffy we enjoyed the remainder of the trip and then found our way around near Quincy Market place (later we found out that we hadnt quite made it to there) Our final stop from our trolley tour was to where the Boston Tea Party was, but due to a lightening strike earlier this past year, the museum was not open. However, the place we wanted to eat was: The Barking Crab. It was tasty, Jamie ordered lobster Bec and Shelley were thoroughly disgusted. We then caught a bus to the subway to the Wonderland Station where we walked a couple of blocks to the local grocery store to pick up some snack food for the hotel and then caught our shuttle home.
Day 2 Thursday:
We awoke after a little bit of sleeping in and headed back to the Wonderland Station to start our journey to The Prudential Building its Bostons view similar to that of the Empire State building and there is a ton of shopping that can be done. So maybe we can find my beanie?! Still none anywhere to be found in Boston, and I still have a cold head and I am still counting how MANY of these things that I have back in So Cal. Sigh. So we enter the Prudential Building, eat some breakfast in the food court and then head to the top. We spend a fair amount of time up there and establish that our next stop is the Trinity Church.
We walk to that location and on that walk pass the South Church, the Boston Public Library and get an excellent view of the Church from all angles. The Trinity Church was built in 1877 and was quite pretty. We go inside after taking some exciting pictures with some inexplicably placed statutes of turtles and rabbits and look at the excellent structure of this church. Outside we marvel in the sight of the building next to the church, modern and built in the 70s all glass building, called the Hancock Tower which due to all the glass has a mirror image of Trinity Church on it. Lovely.
We then walk over towards Tom Cruises favorite place to be the Church of Scientology although somewhat crazy, the architecture was amazing and in their museum was something else. The Mapparium was super cool. Its a 3d Globe that you walk into. It was not only beautiful, but it was informative as well it was color coated to show who had control of what at a particular period in time. Besides the school tour we were with GRR more little annoying people. It was great.
We have now made a basic full circle back towards the Prudential Building and we eat at a restaurant and have some tasty Italian food. We walk towards the subway and FINALLY, there it is a store that has beanies!!! Finally, something to keep my poor little head warm. Im now content. We then head toward Boston Commons the original park, established in 1634. We walked around there for a while and see the New State House (or at least the current and used one) and get pictures of us around the area. The weather was pretty decent most of the day, but it was starting to cloud over again and so we decided to go and see a movie. We saw Ice Age 2. Becky fell asleep in the movie, she had already seen it once. Hehe. We then headed back to our hotel.
Day 3 Friday:
This was Jamie and my day! We headed out to the JFK Library and toured that in the morning. Eating breakfast in the museum caf. Enjoyed all the exhibits and the area surrounding the library and then headed out to Harvard. It was very much enjoyable. Decent weather and although chilly still great for pictures of the beautiful campus. We all spent our fair share of dough in the Harvard Store and then headed on back toward Boston. We went back to Boston Commons where we took pictures and viewed the Shaw Memorial and then went onto Quincy Market Place. More shopping, of course, and delicious hot dogs for lunch. We then made a plan to walk to the Haymarket, but went in the total opposite direction and found a few of the old bookstores that Jamie and I had been looking for. We ended our day with another movie, Inside Man and then grabbed some McDs before heading back to the hotel for yet another evening and episode of Dr. Phil.
Day 4 Saturday:
Were headed to Witch Hysteria Land! AKA Salem. This took a bit of travel, but it was still worth it. It was something that Bec really wanted to see. We took a taxi, that the hotel people suggested would cost about $10 it cost $20. We then had to wait at the Commuter Rail Lynn Station for 48 minutes, because on Saturday the trains dont run as frequently. It was another bitterly cold day. Yikes!!! We jumped around on the platform to stay warm had crazy people come up to us occasionally and then we finally got on the train for about 10 minute up to Salem. Not nearly enough time to thaw. So, we head out and walk down the streets of Salem and come to this quaint little diner where we show our pout-frozen faces and ask if we can still have breakfast. They are happy to oblige. We enjoy breakfast and then head onto the hokey witch museum, where (Gilmore Girl reference coming up) they have a scene set up with speakers overhead telling the story of the Witch Hysteria. They had manikins (like those in Taylors museum he put together in the old Twickham house!!) and they told the story. It was random, but why not. We then walked to the Witch Dungeon, which was a replica, because apparently in 1954 PacBell bought the land over the original dungeons and tore it up and we saw a reenactment of one of the trial and then walked through the dungeon. Great fun. We then caught the commuter rail again and headed back to Boston Commons (the center part this time) walked around there for a while and then onto find more food this time good old CPK. After lunch we took some obligatory ;-) Map photos and then headed back toward Government Center for a walk through Haymarket, more Quincy Market and a walk around the area one last time. We enjoyed some sitting time in a Starbucks in the evening and then headed back to our hotel to enjoy a mound of fruit that Bec had picked up for a mere $6. Excellent.
It was an excellent trip. And if youve read this all Im impressed. J
Lessons Learned? Always take a beanie with you, you never know when it might be needed. Yes, even to Hawaii!
Fun Fact About Boston? There are 183 Dunkin Donuts in Boston compared to 155 Starbucks. and in one DD they also serve sushi!
WORST FLIGHT EVER
No Seriously. Im not kidding.
Let me begin. Shannon and I wake up at good ol 4:45am so that I can get ready and catch my 6:30am flight. The morning is all good and glorious, I am off to Boston for a week and I have no work! I love it what could be wrong with this. I check my luggage at curb side, YES! No weighing of the bag. I get some McDs breakfast, eat that and then stroll onto the plane in plenty of time, but not a lot of lag time. A perfect trip to the airport and boarding of the plane.
I take my seat in 8F, the window, my claustrophobic safe haven. Excellent. 8E comes and sits down, a fairly normal guy, but he had a cold YUCK. I hate flying on a plane with people with illness, so this is going to be the worst of it, yah? Nope. God was laughing at me, and saying, just you wait. Next comes Row 9D-F onto the plane. Careless Guardian in 9D, two mini-soccer players in 9E and 9F, ages 3 and 5. Soccer players, you ask? Yes, because they spent the entire boarding of and flight of the plane running two by two between Careless Guardian and the window much to the chagrin and beyond rage-insightful me and 8E.
So, you think thats the worse of my hell? Sick neighbor and soccer playing terrors? Nope. Were still boarding, remember? So, they are about to close the doors and 8D is remaining empty, we think that maybe we might just get lucky and have that seat open and thus extra room! Nope in walks the Smell of Death. This man had never showered, I am pretty sure. Yet, he wore a business suit and looked mostly just like a hangover had taken hold of him but man the smell was putrid. I instantly get weak in the stomach. What am I supposed to do now?! Not only is it recycled air through the whole plane, so at least I can take comfort that I wont be the only one in olfactory senses hell, but hes 2 seats away from me and the only one in a worse position (8E) cant smell anything anyway?! So, I quickly jump to action and pull out some lotion that I have in my back. (Arbonne Awaken Lotion, THANK GOD for Aromatherapy!) I quickly rub that on my hands and immediately rub my hands all over my nose hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.
The plane takes off and I render myself unconscious somehow when I awaken, for the most part, my smelling abilities have mostly been killed and the flight is decent. Note, we are flying to Washington, D.C. this is NOT a short flight and mini-Mia Hamm and mini-David Beckham, behind me, are still at it. So, I watch some tv in front of me (I love to fly JetBlue if for nothing more than my own personal tv in the back of the seat in front of me.)
We begin our decent into Dulles Airport its a bit turbulent, but nothing that bothers me- I kinda like it. J However, 8E decided he couldnt handle it. :: If you are eating right now, Id stop:: I am looking out the window when it happens. I hear 8E cough and then I smell something (the in-flight snack of cheese and crackers) and I look, to look to him, but my head stops when I look at my tv screen which is now covered in his vomit! What does he do? NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL! He just sits there with his arms crossed as if it was ME or if it wasnt even there. Between Smells Like Death in 8D, Mini-Hamm & Beckham behind me, and NOW Vomit Man in 8E with VOMIT on my tv screen - I would have jumped out of the plane if this was option.
So the plane lands and I RAN off the plane and screamed. Out loud. I didnt care I really did feel at that point I too was going to vomit. Sick Sick Sick! So, yah that was my flight to the East Coast. My flight TO Boston was far less eventful, and THANK GOD!
Lesson learned? Dont scoff at people that have colds on a plane. God will enlighten you, that you know what? That THAT is the least of your problems.
Let me begin. Shannon and I wake up at good ol 4:45am so that I can get ready and catch my 6:30am flight. The morning is all good and glorious, I am off to Boston for a week and I have no work! I love it what could be wrong with this. I check my luggage at curb side, YES! No weighing of the bag. I get some McDs breakfast, eat that and then stroll onto the plane in plenty of time, but not a lot of lag time. A perfect trip to the airport and boarding of the plane.
I take my seat in 8F, the window, my claustrophobic safe haven. Excellent. 8E comes and sits down, a fairly normal guy, but he had a cold YUCK. I hate flying on a plane with people with illness, so this is going to be the worst of it, yah? Nope. God was laughing at me, and saying, just you wait. Next comes Row 9D-F onto the plane. Careless Guardian in 9D, two mini-soccer players in 9E and 9F, ages 3 and 5. Soccer players, you ask? Yes, because they spent the entire boarding of and flight of the plane running two by two between Careless Guardian and the window much to the chagrin and beyond rage-insightful me and 8E.
So, you think thats the worse of my hell? Sick neighbor and soccer playing terrors? Nope. Were still boarding, remember? So, they are about to close the doors and 8D is remaining empty, we think that maybe we might just get lucky and have that seat open and thus extra room! Nope in walks the Smell of Death. This man had never showered, I am pretty sure. Yet, he wore a business suit and looked mostly just like a hangover had taken hold of him but man the smell was putrid. I instantly get weak in the stomach. What am I supposed to do now?! Not only is it recycled air through the whole plane, so at least I can take comfort that I wont be the only one in olfactory senses hell, but hes 2 seats away from me and the only one in a worse position (8E) cant smell anything anyway?! So, I quickly jump to action and pull out some lotion that I have in my back. (Arbonne Awaken Lotion, THANK GOD for Aromatherapy!) I quickly rub that on my hands and immediately rub my hands all over my nose hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.
The plane takes off and I render myself unconscious somehow when I awaken, for the most part, my smelling abilities have mostly been killed and the flight is decent. Note, we are flying to Washington, D.C. this is NOT a short flight and mini-Mia Hamm and mini-David Beckham, behind me, are still at it. So, I watch some tv in front of me (I love to fly JetBlue if for nothing more than my own personal tv in the back of the seat in front of me.)
We begin our decent into Dulles Airport its a bit turbulent, but nothing that bothers me- I kinda like it. J However, 8E decided he couldnt handle it. :: If you are eating right now, Id stop:: I am looking out the window when it happens. I hear 8E cough and then I smell something (the in-flight snack of cheese and crackers) and I look, to look to him, but my head stops when I look at my tv screen which is now covered in his vomit! What does he do? NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL! He just sits there with his arms crossed as if it was ME or if it wasnt even there. Between Smells Like Death in 8D, Mini-Hamm & Beckham behind me, and NOW Vomit Man in 8E with VOMIT on my tv screen - I would have jumped out of the plane if this was option.
So the plane lands and I RAN off the plane and screamed. Out loud. I didnt care I really did feel at that point I too was going to vomit. Sick Sick Sick! So, yah that was my flight to the East Coast. My flight TO Boston was far less eventful, and THANK GOD!
Lesson learned? Dont scoff at people that have colds on a plane. God will enlighten you, that you know what? That THAT is the least of your problems.
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