Monday, June 11, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
Rick rides again
The kickball competition was fierce last night as we played a team much better than their 1-3-1 record conveys. They had solid fielding and base-running, and some very spirited costumes, but they ultimately couldn't overcome the excellent offense of the "Rick is 21" crew (including a 3-run homer). I managed to go 2 for 3, ultimately driving in the game-winning RBI. I also managed to get into the direct path of a stellar 5th-inning line-drive made by one of my own teammates. The ball left his foot and zoomed straight toward me (I had stepped off of first base to head to second and then turned to watch the ball). Like a deer caught in the headlights, I took the ball directly in the arms, which I had put up to protect my chest.
Brilliant.
Some pics of the team:
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No plans this weekend other than baseball and packing/organizing for the move. We still don't know about the status of our current apartment, but we're crossing our fingers that it is rented by Monday.
Brilliant.
Some pics of the team:
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No plans this weekend other than baseball and packing/organizing for the move. We still don't know about the status of our current apartment, but we're crossing our fingers that it is rented by Monday.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Social Butterflies
Attended a work event Tuesday night – a lovely cocktail reception to celebrate the people who have given to the UW endowment – at which our brightest, bubbliest selves were required. This event also required that we dress up, so once the reception ended, Tall Guy and I high-tailed it to trivia wearing a suit and heels, respectively. People were impressed with our dedication. The fancy duds did little to help our scores; the questions were tough this week and we didn't fare too badly, but we didn't win. Final score 38 - the winners pulled in a 42.
The questions that got away:
*Who wrote "A Long Day's Journey Into Night"?
*According to Greek mythology, who founded Carthage?
*What is the gestational period of a horse?
*What is the country where couscous orginated?
*Which NFL team won the Super Bowl in 1981 as the Wild Card?
*In which country was Florence Nightingale born?
*In the game of Snooker, how much is the yellow ball worth?
*What is another name for the mountain lion?
*Which African animal kills the most humans per year? (no, the answer is not other humans)
A couple that we got, just to show that we're not blithering idiots:
*What is the second largest ethnic population in Iraq after Arabs?
*Which African country did the U.S. bomb in January 2007?
*An egg does not contain which of the following vitamins: A, C, or B?
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We are deep in the middle of a hunt for a new apartment. Our current place is nice, but we have never really gotten cell phone reception within the walls of the house (pretty chilly when you want to give someone a call in January) and our cable reception was shoddy, too, so much so that we cancelled it back in February and turned entirely to Netflix for our entertainment. We want a place where we can happily host all the people who come visit (hint hint), and where we can live for a few years until we decide where/when to buy a house. And, we have found a place that we love, but we are cutting out early on our lease and have to make sure that our current place is rented before we put down $$ on the new place. Ah, the joys of renting.
------------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
Eugene O'Neill
Queen Dido (I went with the patriarchal angle of Aeneus)
11 months
Libya
The Raiders (I erased this in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles who, in fact, have NEVER won a Super Bowl
Italy
2
Puma (pronounced by the Irish emcee as pume-ah, which for some reason was hilarious)
crocodiles
Kurds
Somalia
Vitamin C
The questions that got away:
*Who wrote "A Long Day's Journey Into Night"?
*According to Greek mythology, who founded Carthage?
*What is the gestational period of a horse?
*What is the country where couscous orginated?
*Which NFL team won the Super Bowl in 1981 as the Wild Card?
*In which country was Florence Nightingale born?
*In the game of Snooker, how much is the yellow ball worth?
*What is another name for the mountain lion?
*Which African animal kills the most humans per year? (no, the answer is not other humans)
A couple that we got, just to show that we're not blithering idiots:
*What is the second largest ethnic population in Iraq after Arabs?
*Which African country did the U.S. bomb in January 2007?
*An egg does not contain which of the following vitamins: A, C, or B?
---------------------------------------------------------------
We are deep in the middle of a hunt for a new apartment. Our current place is nice, but we have never really gotten cell phone reception within the walls of the house (pretty chilly when you want to give someone a call in January) and our cable reception was shoddy, too, so much so that we cancelled it back in February and turned entirely to Netflix for our entertainment. We want a place where we can happily host all the people who come visit (hint hint), and where we can live for a few years until we decide where/when to buy a house. And, we have found a place that we love, but we are cutting out early on our lease and have to make sure that our current place is rented before we put down $$ on the new place. Ah, the joys of renting.
------------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
Eugene O'Neill
Queen Dido (I went with the patriarchal angle of Aeneus)
11 months
Libya
The Raiders (I erased this in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles who, in fact, have NEVER won a Super Bowl
Italy
2
Puma (pronounced by the Irish emcee as pume-ah, which for some reason was hilarious)
crocodiles
Kurds
Somalia
Vitamin C
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Vote for Ron
I got an email from my younger brother this morning with a plea for my vote. Since my brother is not the mass-email type, I was touched by his message: one of his greatest influences and personal heroes, Ron Burton, is up for induction into the New England Patriots' Hall of Fame. This year, fans get a say in whether or not this player gets in. So, I thought that I would also ask the 7 people who read my blog to throw your support Ron’s way.
Here is my bro’s message:
The New England Patriots have announced their three finalists for this years Patriots Hall of Fame, Ron Burton, Ben Coates and Stanley Morgan. While all three are worthy of your vote, only one can be selected, and while some of you may have no knowledge of any of these players, and possibly no affinity for football, only Ron Burton stands out for his work off the football field.
I was extremely fortunate to attend his summer camp for 5 years between the ages of 13 and 17, in Hubbardston, Mass; the Ron Burton Training Village. It is primarily a football camp, but we participated in all sports while also running 7 miles a day, partaking in an obstacle course, reading time twice daily, rotating kitchen responsibilities, attending weekly mass, and computer classes and SAT prep classes were also offered. Basically it taught us skills on and off the field.
Ron's message was simple; Humility, Patient, Peace and Love. It was spoken and practiced every day of the 5 week summer camp, and no one set a better example than Ron himself. He ran the camp with love and patience, along with his childhood friend, his wife, and their 5 children, and the campers were not allowed to fight, swear or tease each other.
Ron was the first player ever drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1959 American Football League Draft. He passed away on Sept. 13 from bone cancer. He was 67. The camp is still going, run primarily by his sons.
Below I have included a blurb from wikipedia as well, please visit The Patriots Web site and cast your vote for Ron, an amazing player and role model, and one of the most amazing and influential people I have ever met in my life.
Thank you all so much
From Wikipedia: Ronald E. "Ron" Burton (July 25, 1936 - September 13, 2003) became a college All-American running back at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Burton was the Boston Patriots' first-ever American Football League draft choice in 1960. He was the first Patriot to rush for over 100 yards: 127 against the Denver Broncos on 23 October 1960. His 91-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal in 1962 remains a Patriot record. He compiled 1,009 combined yards in rushing and receiving in 1962, and provided strong depth at running back for the Patriots from 1960 through 1965.
After leaving professional football, this former child of poverty became an eminently successful motivational speaker who then made a major financial and emotional gift to needy children. In Massachusetts, he donated land for and established the Ron Burton Training Village, which holds free summer camps for disadvantaged inner-city youths.
In 2003, Burton died from bone cancer
Here is my bro’s message:
The New England Patriots have announced their three finalists for this years Patriots Hall of Fame, Ron Burton, Ben Coates and Stanley Morgan. While all three are worthy of your vote, only one can be selected, and while some of you may have no knowledge of any of these players, and possibly no affinity for football, only Ron Burton stands out for his work off the football field.
I was extremely fortunate to attend his summer camp for 5 years between the ages of 13 and 17, in Hubbardston, Mass; the Ron Burton Training Village. It is primarily a football camp, but we participated in all sports while also running 7 miles a day, partaking in an obstacle course, reading time twice daily, rotating kitchen responsibilities, attending weekly mass, and computer classes and SAT prep classes were also offered. Basically it taught us skills on and off the field.
Ron's message was simple; Humility, Patient, Peace and Love. It was spoken and practiced every day of the 5 week summer camp, and no one set a better example than Ron himself. He ran the camp with love and patience, along with his childhood friend, his wife, and their 5 children, and the campers were not allowed to fight, swear or tease each other.
Ron was the first player ever drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1959 American Football League Draft. He passed away on Sept. 13 from bone cancer. He was 67. The camp is still going, run primarily by his sons.
Below I have included a blurb from wikipedia as well, please visit The Patriots Web site and cast your vote for Ron, an amazing player and role model, and one of the most amazing and influential people I have ever met in my life.
Thank you all so much
From Wikipedia: Ronald E. "Ron" Burton (July 25, 1936 - September 13, 2003) became a college All-American running back at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Burton was the Boston Patriots' first-ever American Football League draft choice in 1960. He was the first Patriot to rush for over 100 yards: 127 against the Denver Broncos on 23 October 1960. His 91-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal in 1962 remains a Patriot record. He compiled 1,009 combined yards in rushing and receiving in 1962, and provided strong depth at running back for the Patriots from 1960 through 1965.
After leaving professional football, this former child of poverty became an eminently successful motivational speaker who then made a major financial and emotional gift to needy children. In Massachusetts, he donated land for and established the Ron Burton Training Village, which holds free summer camps for disadvantaged inner-city youths.
In 2003, Burton died from bone cancer
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Know what's kind of cool and a little disconcerting at the same time? Sitting at a table, under a tent, drinking a cold beer, completely surrounded by familiar faces and yet knowing almost no one. Tall Guy and I enjoyed the picnic at Holy Cross and, in spite of our glaring lack of 1+ babies, we mingled with a group of the people who made my college experience some of what it was. A reunion makes me realize how little I socialized during the last 2 years of college, but I do enjoy catching up with the people I actually did know. And, it really is a surreal experience to look around you and see so many people you remember from a class or a play or a party, and yet have no common history or reason to approach them and start a conversation.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Ouch!
Trivia was not kind to us this week. The Beards finished at an all-time low of 10 points behind the leaders. We added 4 people to our usual team and for the first few rounds, this seemed to help us, but then we fell apart and argued too many questions thereby causing us to erase many “gut reaction” answers, which often turned out to be right, and go with the loudest voice.
Not a great strategy.
I can’t say that I took any questions myself, except for one:
*Which movie had a husband, a perfect wife and a psychotic mistress?
Questions we should/could have gotten but either by erasure or erroneous consensus, we didn’t:
*What is the longest running comedy show on American television?
*What company invented paper towels?
*What is the most popular drink in Greece?
*What is the name of Susan Lucci’s character on whichever soap she’s on?
*What is the most popular board game in the world?
AND, though this is a tough question, I felt with my extensive knowledge of 80s music, I should have gotten it:
*In the 80s, Chubby Checker remixed “The Twist” with what other artist/group?
I’m gonna tell you the answer to this last question right here: The Fat Boys. I had a forehead-smacking moment when I heard this answer while everyone else at the table, all born circa 1980, looked puzzled and said, “Who?”
The Fat Boys, aka Buffy the Human Beat Box, Kool Rock-Ski, and Prince Markie Dee, were 3 large men who became famous in the mid-80s for hip-hop that relied on beatboxing. Basically, anytime you see a white guy trying to imitate scratching a record with his hand over his mouth, thank The Fat Boys (along with Doug E. Fresh). They also did a very nice SWATCH commercial and starred in the smash hit Disorderlies, which I watched over and over on channel 56 (WLVI). Should've gotten that.
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I joined the Maine Kickball League board this week. I get to help plan the end-of-the-season party for 200+ beer-drinking, fun-loving kickers. Woo-hoo.
Our game last night brought a big W for “Rick is 21”. We beat our opponent 9-7 in a twilight game filled with some great fielding, excellent base running and a cooler of beer. I ♥ kickball. I ♥ winning. I ♥ beer.
I ♥ drinking beer while winning a kickball game.
The down side of last night’s game? The “Tall Guy” slid into home and hit the back of his head on the ground. He was dizzy and a little disoriented afterwards. Today, the disorientation continued so he had to go for a head x-ray. A head injury from kickball. Only my husband…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This weekend brings us to Worcester for my 10-year college reunion. I can’t believe it’s been 10 damn years! It will be good to go and see how many babies I don’t have yet, and how many law degrees and medical practices I haven’t got. And, how few houses on the Cape or Long Island I've bought.
Seriously, the 5-year was fun and it really was good to catch up with some people; it will be good to catch up again five years later. And there will be a free-beer truck. See above to know how I feel about that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
“Fatal Attraction”
“The Simpsons” (we decided that Sat Night Live has been on longer, but it’s considered an “entertainment program” and not a “sitcom”)
Scott
Ouzo (we went with Coca-Cola ‘cause how many 6-year-olds are drinking Ouzo – apparently a lot)
Erica Kane (came up with this 2 minutes after we turned in our answer sheet)
Monopoly
Not a great strategy.
I can’t say that I took any questions myself, except for one:
*Which movie had a husband, a perfect wife and a psychotic mistress?
Questions we should/could have gotten but either by erasure or erroneous consensus, we didn’t:
*What is the longest running comedy show on American television?
*What company invented paper towels?
*What is the most popular drink in Greece?
*What is the name of Susan Lucci’s character on whichever soap she’s on?
*What is the most popular board game in the world?
AND, though this is a tough question, I felt with my extensive knowledge of 80s music, I should have gotten it:
*In the 80s, Chubby Checker remixed “The Twist” with what other artist/group?
I’m gonna tell you the answer to this last question right here: The Fat Boys. I had a forehead-smacking moment when I heard this answer while everyone else at the table, all born circa 1980, looked puzzled and said, “Who?”
The Fat Boys, aka Buffy the Human Beat Box, Kool Rock-Ski, and Prince Markie Dee, were 3 large men who became famous in the mid-80s for hip-hop that relied on beatboxing. Basically, anytime you see a white guy trying to imitate scratching a record with his hand over his mouth, thank The Fat Boys (along with Doug E. Fresh). They also did a very nice SWATCH commercial and starred in the smash hit Disorderlies, which I watched over and over on channel 56 (WLVI). Should've gotten that.
------------------------------------------------------------------
I joined the Maine Kickball League board this week. I get to help plan the end-of-the-season party for 200+ beer-drinking, fun-loving kickers. Woo-hoo.
Our game last night brought a big W for “Rick is 21”. We beat our opponent 9-7 in a twilight game filled with some great fielding, excellent base running and a cooler of beer. I ♥ kickball. I ♥ winning. I ♥ beer.
I ♥ drinking beer while winning a kickball game.
The down side of last night’s game? The “Tall Guy” slid into home and hit the back of his head on the ground. He was dizzy and a little disoriented afterwards. Today, the disorientation continued so he had to go for a head x-ray. A head injury from kickball. Only my husband…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This weekend brings us to Worcester for my 10-year college reunion. I can’t believe it’s been 10 damn years! It will be good to go and see how many babies I don’t have yet, and how many law degrees and medical practices I haven’t got. And, how few houses on the Cape or Long Island I've bought.
Seriously, the 5-year was fun and it really was good to catch up with some people; it will be good to catch up again five years later. And there will be a free-beer truck. See above to know how I feel about that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
“Fatal Attraction”
“The Simpsons” (we decided that Sat Night Live has been on longer, but it’s considered an “entertainment program” and not a “sitcom”)
Scott
Ouzo (we went with Coca-Cola ‘cause how many 6-year-olds are drinking Ouzo – apparently a lot)
Erica Kane (came up with this 2 minutes after we turned in our answer sheet)
Monopoly
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