Weekend Getaway

In spite of the physical fatigue Kim and I have been feeling, which might also help explain Kim’s lingering cough, the fact of the matter is that we don’t get a lot of rest on the weekends. We don’t necessarily do much, but we don’t make a point to get to bed early, or sleep late, or do our errands in a timely manner, etc. We just try to relax and move at our own pace. Therefore, the weekends usually end with a “fizzle” and then Monday arrives.
With that in mind, Kim and I decided to go see our great friends Adam and Rita this past weekend. Not only did we want to spend time with friends, but we also hoped their company, and our adventures therein, would lend some emotional respite that might yield greater relaxation than the typical physical rest we get in Brooklyn.
From the time of our arrival, just after 9pm on Friday, to that of our departure, we enjoyed boisterous laughter, flowing libation, delicious food, excessive cordiality, amicable adventures, and a thoroughly excellent time. Not only did we eat, drink, play cards, catch up on what’s going on in our lives, and let the dogs play together, but Adam and Rita also took us out on their 27’ boat, The Reet Runner.
We started the day down with breakfast sandwiches, getting chourico sandwiches for the cruise, and then heading down to the pier. Once The Reet was opened up, we cast off the lines and headed south through the harbor, looking for a quiet cove. We found one not too far out past the Mt. Hope Bridge, dropped anchor, turned on the radio, and made an afternoon of it. Not only did we have the aforementioned sandwiches and music, but the water was perfect for all our splashing, diving, swimming, and idle floating. The brilliant sun was out for the entirety of our trip and our spirits were just as bright. Rita and Kim promptly turned into mermaids, Adam did a little Tawney Kitaen dance of the White Snake videos, and I tried to put cylindrical holes in the ocean with my devastating “jack-knife.” Though none of us played these roles for very long, as we were home in time for dinner, we had persistent and infallible fun throughout the calm evening and into the later hours of the night.
The dogs, Orion and Arnie, also had their share of revelry. Although I admit I sometimes antagonized Arnie, largely because I could tell he was too good-natured to ever be upset, he and Orion were generally calm throughout their “playing” and, as evidence, slept soundly throughout the two nights Kim and I were there.
Breakfast at Gina’s Restaurant was the perfect start to our final day. Not only was it delicious and filling, but it was also cheap. Kim and I got on the road not long thereafter and arrived back in NYC around 6pm.
Now, Kim’s back to work while I’m trying to enjoy the last week before my grad school class starts. Thanks, Adam and Rita, for the great time. It was our pleasure. And for everyone else, enjoy the summer as much as you can.
Might I recommend a weekend with friends?

Ridiculous Products

I saw these products on tv and couldn't believe they exist. Keep in mind that both of these are actual products and, perhaps more importantly, someone's career is comprised of creating these products. Can you believe these were invented? Can you believe that, in all likely, these were ideas manufacturers decided to move forward with OVER other ideas? Tell me, how could you have worse ideas than these? How could your idea LOSE to an "Anti-Monkey Butt Powder" or an "Edible Arrangement?" Unbelievable.
For those who haven't researched these products (probably because you have better things to do with your time), "Monkey Butt" is apparently a "regional" expression used to describe the circumstance whereby you have so much sweat, irritation, and "rot" in your groin-area that you have to walk "bow-legged," or, like a monkey.
As for the "Edible Arrangements," these are, essentially, a fusion of flower arrangements and fruit baskets. Besides being a stupid idea, the other downside to this product is often quite pricey, with arrangements that go up to $209. I mean, honestly, who is supposed to buy these and who can you think of that you'd send one?
Well, that's enough for now. But remember, the next time you're thinking to yourself, "Oh my God, I'm so stupid," thinking of these products and re-assess your conclusion.

Miscellaneous Week

Kim and I are trying to get ourselves together and back to "normal" following all the events and travel of the past weeks. I'm not sure what's going on, but Kim's become sick and achey over the past two or three weeks, Orion (our dog) seems to be sick and has an appointment at the vet's today, while Bobby remains unaffected, perhaps because she stayed home for the countless miles on the road. No doubt, fatigue has played a part in all this; even though Kim and I finally got to spend a weekend at home, she had to work on Saturday and only had Sunday off before heading back to work for Monday. On Tuesday, we were given amazing tickets to Shea Stadium (Field Box tickets). Unfortunately, the Mets were destroyed, 10-0, by the Mariners, but we did get back just in time to watch the Red Sox earn a come-from-behind win over the Diamondbacks.

Overall, things are going (tenuously) well. We'll have to see what the coming weeks bring, but we're certainly looking forward to improved health, restfulness, and wellness. Please enjoy the following pics/vids from our recent trip to Shea Stadium and Stephen Colbert's campaign to "Make McCain Exciting."

What's New?...Alot!

Happy Summer, everyone. It's officially that time of year as the days continue to fly by. As for Kim and me, things are going very well. We're busy, of course, and Kim's back to work, but we were finally able to spend a week(end) in Brooklyn without heading out of town on Friday to race up to Maine. Well, I guess that isn't completely true; while Kim and I did spend this past weekend in Brooklyn, we didn't spend the entire week here.

Tuesday afternoon, Kim and I drove down to see Kris and Kirstin AND take in the Red Sox game that night. The Sox won, rebounding from the previous night's embarassing loss, and we made it home in time to watch the Celtics win their first World Championship in twenty-two years. The fact that they beat Kobe and won the clinching game by a Finals-record 39 pts. only added to their glory.

Kim and I also went to the Wednesday, 1pm game, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, again. Although Citizens Bank Park is a nice one, we enjoyed Wednesday more because we had seats for that game, whereas Tuesday’s tickets were standing room only. Although we enjoyed wandering around the park, going to Harry the K’s, and hanging out with drunk Philly’s fans on Tuesday night, it was nice to be able to take the “Crab Fries” back to our seats on Wednesday.
Kim was back to work on Thursday morning, while I waited for our new furniture to be delivered. We are now the proud owners of an enormous and comfortable sectional that features a 36” by 86” chaise and a queen-sized sleeper sofa. Though it might seem insignificant to some, we’re happy we don’t have to ask our friends and family to sleep on the floor when they come to visit.
Speaking of visits, I went out to Eric and Jenn’s new house today which he’s excited to have for a lot of reasons, including that it will allow for family to visit for holidays or at other times of the year. The house was INCREDIBLE! Not only is it easy to get to, it’s also aesthetically pleasing, spacious, clean, and accommodating. Oh, and it comes with an in-ground pool, small basketball court, and ample yard. As for the inside, it has a fire place, four bedrooms (though three other rooms could easily serve as additional bedrooms), four and a half bathrooms, and some interesting stylistic choices from the previous owners.
Although I want to be very clear about the fact that this is an impressive home in many ways (beautiful landscaping, serene, large deck area out back, enormous kitchen, outdoor speakers, heated pool, etc.), I cannot resist giving you, the reader, two examples of the aforementioned curious “stylistic choices from the previous owners.” With that said, please consult the pictures that follow. You’ll note the last two stand out as really something else. The penultimate photo is of one of the downstairs bathrooms. I would not have known it was there because it was built into a wall of mirrors (with all the mirrors in this home, narcissistic does not begin to describe the former owners). However, one of the mirrors has a handle along its edge and, if you pull the handle, you can discover the mirror is actually a door which leads to a bathroom. This isn’t just any bathroom, however. This is a special bathroom. This is a most revealing…and honest…bathroom. This bathroom…is wall…to wall…to wall…to wall…TO CEILING…MIRRORS!!! Wow. I get chills just thinking about it.
But I won’t tell you what I get when I think of the artwork in the Master Bedroom’s bathroom. You’ll note in the final picture a stone relief from the wall near Eric and Jenn’s Jacuzzi tub. Now, we’ve all seen a stone relief before: at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on TV, in magazine stories on ancient Greece. But this relief is a little different. In this “relief,” there are two women holding onto a gentleman’s…how should I say this? Well, let’s just say the ladies don’t need to “get a grip” because they already have something in the hands. You think I’m making this up? See for yourself.
As for the upcoming week, I have a couple meetings at Poly tomorrow, one at grad school in the afternoon, another couple meetings on Tuesday, and I really need to get to work on what I hope will become my article on “the aesthetic experience” for a particular classroom exercise I already wrote a paper about. Meanwhile, Kim’s trying to get over a cough she’s had for about three weeks and make it through the week at work. She had to work this past Saturday, but we’re hoping that a trip to see Adam and Rita this weekend will do everything to help forget about that.
In the meantime, I hope everyone’s well and look forward to hearing from you as possible.

Note that the following pictures include the new furniture Kim and I got this week and Eric and Jenn's new house (outside, backyard, fire place, master bedroom, bathroom, artwork).

The Day the Music Died: 6/9/08

Filomena, "Mamie," and "Nan" were all the same person, though many also knew her as a friend, mother, grandmother, Catholic, Italian, quilter, card-player, kind person, or some combination of these and other terms. On June 9th, 2008, those memories were made imperviable and stoic as there would be no new memories to solicit or obfuscate those we already carried; Nan passed away, quietly, at 4:40am, at 86 years old.

As the family, which had gathered by her solemn bedside and diligently fought off fatigue with undying devotion, retreated from the hospital room, we could not help but notice the brilliant sun which rose to conquer the dark and bring a new day. As Kim and I drove to her mom's house, it occurred to us what a fitting tribute this apparition was to Nan; one to start her day at about this time, it seemed ironic that she might end her last day at the time she'd normally begin anew. Similarly, this body, orb, solstitial star of empyrean, seemed an exact manifestation of Nan; just as she had been the center of our universe, so was the sun the center of everyone's, and in spite of its apparent right to dictate, dominate, and command, this sun (like Nan) was more noted for the way it complimented the world around us and brought out the best in everything. This was Nan's way...to appreciate the best in each of us and love us unconditionally for that reason.
It was a beautiful day and the beginning of moving past Nan's end and towards "Our" future. The family was together throughout it all: services, social events, meals, mournings, and the formation of new memories, now sadly devoid of the love we all knew as Filomena, "Mamie," "Nan,"...
Here's a link to her online memorial and some pics to remember her by: http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=2482244

Nan had her favorite flowers at her funeral.
Nan had visited her late husband, Rene, on Memorial Day weekend. Two weeks later, Nan was in the hospital and surrounded by her loved ones...who loved her right back.

At the end, it was time to remember and, then, "begin the world all over again."

Manny's 500th (I Was There)!

Kim, Kirsten, Rita, Amanda, Chad, Kris, Adam, and I were all in Baltimore this weekend, hoping to see Manny hit his 500th homerun. We were not alone. Baltimore has slowly turned into a "home away from home" for the Red Sox who now draw the majority of fans to Orioles Park at Camden Yard.
Kim and I started the trip on Friday when we went down to Philadelphia to stay with Kris and Kirsten and watch the Celtics clinch a spot in the NBA Finals. Saturday, we got to Baltimore around noontime, along with an accompaniment of foul weather. But a hearty lunch and vast libations did much to cure our worries...and the weather.
By 7:05pm, we were ready for the game and the Sox did not disappoint! Not only did they play a lot of "longball," but the atmosphere was uncanny. Manny's quest only added to the fortuidous tension and when he connected, in the top of the 7th, the adrenaline rush was unbelievable. I don't know how else anyone could feel such intense ebullience in a 5 second period. There aren't words to describe the sensation, but it was awe-inspiring. For the rest of the night, Sox fans shared an even closer bond, readily greeted each other, and shared the good company of Orioles fans who could not deny their appreciation for witnessing baseball history first hand.
Following the game, it was back to the hotel for some late night eats, water to rehydrate, and sound sleep so that we could all recuperate before Sunday's afternoon game. In any event, let's get on with the photos. Please enjoy them.
The first photo shows us at an Irish bar overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The drinks were cold, the company was warm, and the view was beautiful. The second photo is a view from our seats while the third and fourth photos are of the emblematic Mark Hathaway. As you might have seen from the video, he exemplified the fervor all Sox fans felt. Originally from Newburyport, MA, and now living in Virginia Beach, VA, he's been a "Die Ha'ad" Sox fan for 28 years and came into town just to see the Sox. He left immortalized: a person you'll see on every video you'll ever watch of Manny hitting his 500th homerun. Don't believe me, see for yourself not only in my video, but on this one, offered by RedSox.com: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200805312811215.
The last two pictures were from the Sunday game. Please excuse any inaccuracies of the last pic; I'm working on a "splicing" technique and it's always better from a tripod. Anyways, best regards. Thanks for the memories, family, friends new and old. Can't wait to do it all again!