I tried

I tried posting some pics here, but they haven't shown up. Will try again.

But meanwhile.

While watching the Patriots/Bears game on Sunday I saw something that has turned me off football entirely. That was one player punching another player in the head. The punchee was down on the field at the end of the play. And the puncher, as he was getting up, took a cheap shot at him. (Yes, I know. They are wearing helmets. Still.) Even saw it in the background of the replay. Commentators didn't comment. But that's it for me. Too much unnecessary violence. I don't mind fighting during hockey or roller derby. That's part of the game. This, however, is making me rethink football. This whole mentality of if I can do without the ref seeing me, I will kick, stomp, punch an opposing player.

Personal issue. What can I say?

thanksgiving weekend

We left bright and early on Friday morning for the VA Beach area, just stopping for a wonderful breakfast at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House (we need to go back and try the honey dipped chicken). They were squeezing fresh orange juice and grinding fresh coffee right by the front door. Good place to eat. Arrived in VA Beach and did the first thing which was walk down to the water. The storm that had blown through here on Tues/Wed had knocked down some of the Christmas light displays and deposited sand where it usually isn't. I now I will confess that we had been having a pinball craving and where better to satisfy that than an arcade at the beach? At a place called Flipper McCoy's. Had some lunch, wandered into some of the tacky touristy beach stores. Decided to go check out our home for the night on Ft Story. The Cape Henry Inn is a relatively new place - has a hotel, separate cabins, even two log cabins. We had a 2 bedroom, living room and kitchen with an ocean view. The boys wanted to smoke cigars on the beach. And rather than ignore the notices to not walk on the dunes, we got in the car to ride back to the lighthouses, but we never made it. Because we spotted friends driving the other way. White Volvo with Vermont plates - which we were used to seeing back at West Point. We turned around and followed them and we all had a great laugh. We had just been at their house in Maryland for a party at the beginning of November, but neither family knew the other family's plans. Went out for dinner at Bubba's Seafood with them. And Tom came and slept at our cabin.

The teenage boys were planning to get up and go for a run on the beach at 6:00 a.m. But they had talked long into the night. I tried waking them up at 6:20 before I left for a walk, but apparently they didn't get up and run till 7:30. I walked all alone on the beach for about 1 1/2 hours. Enjoyed that immensely. After showers and good-byes to our friends, we left to get breakfast at the Jewish Mother in VA Beach. The boys had pastrami and swiss cheese omelets. And we shared some of Mama Rachel's Potatoe Latkes which were excellent.

We crossed the Bay Bridge over to Virginia's eastern shore and headed north to Chincoteague and Assateague. We did see some ponies in the distance, but none close enough for me to get a picture. What was amazing was the snow geese which you can see here:

http://www.chincoteaguechamber.com/map-ft-sg1.html

Demise of Tower Records

The closing of the Tower Records stores has me bummed. When I was a teen, we'd trek into Boston from New Hampshire just for the opportunity to shop there. It was a mecca of music. It was a place to see and be seen. DH and I have enjoyed passing on the joy of shopping at Tower to our children. It's sad to see them go. We just racked up our last over $100 shopping spree on Saturday. Treated our son to Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick." Bought someone a present (for pretty girls?) Bought several classical music DVDs. One more Oscar Peterson album. I guess I should go check out Pandora.com because there is no real life store where I'll be able to browse through so many different styles of music again.

Thanksgiving Plans

My original thought was to get out of Dodge for Thanksgiving that way I wouldn't focus on who wasn't here for the holiday. But. After some serious planning yesterday and a study of the long range weather forecast, we decided to stay at home for Thanksgiving Day. And to head to Virginia Beach on Friday. We've got a room (actually several rooms) at the Cape Henry Inn on Ft. Story. Those DoD ID cards occasionally come in handy.

I wanted to go to the mountains, but DH wanted to go to the beach. Beach is good. And will be warmer, too. And I will finally, after all these years, get to Chincoteague Island.

rain, rain, went away

DH bought a tuxedo last weekend. Didn't really think about maybe he'd need a new tux shirt (he had one with his Army Dress Mess uniform.) This due to body adjustment from no longer doing PT 5-6 days a week.

Wednesday evening he informs me that he needs a new shirt and he wants to wear this Friday night to the holiday party.

So out I went in the hellacious rain yesterday. I went to the mall first where all I found were wingtip collars which he didn't want. I heard the rain start while inside the mall. That's when I knew I should have moved faster. I felt bad for the women standing at the doors with baby strollers.

Several stops later - and by now I'm soaking wet - I finally located the shirt. But of course they don't have any red bow ties (which he needs for the Chorale performance.)

That means today I'm searching for a red bow tie because he decided last night that a new black tie might be nice. Oh. *smacking forehead*

Mini

We were at a stop light and in the next lane ahead of us was a Mini-Cooper with the license plate
ANTIH2.

Of course, my first thought was half of water, but then I figured it out. Great plate on a small car.

what a coincidence

On my Google home page are the directions for how to save a wet cell phone.

It's basically everything my DS intuitively did. And his freakin' phone works just fine, except for the volume down button, but you can turn the volume down on the screen. So comparing his phone with his sister's phone leads to the conclusion that dropping the phone is more damaging than washing the silly thing.

Imagine that.

Now I'm off to shop for my sister's birthday! It's one of those years where her birthday and Thanksgiving coincide. (Pay attention, DD!)

Which Leads Me To Do This

If you are someone easily offended don't read the post following this one. No apologies, just a slight warning.

This Post Brought to You

by Jenn of My Needleful Things (http://www.needleful-things.com/xsblog/) and the Letter F:

Comment to this message and I will assign you a letter of the alphabet. Then go to your journal and post a list of 10 words that begin with this letter and what they mean to you.

!) Frederick - (Dady-Fred)- my favorite boy's middle name - and his father's middle name - and his grandfather's first name - Originally this name brought me to Little Women and Professor Frederick, Jo's beau. Though maybe it was spelled Frederich. I don't remember. But now it's a family name from the family I married.

@) Friend - bestest friends are my hubby and my sister - and where would we be without friends? Miserable, that's where.

#) Faith - I've got none. I'm a UU who identifies as an agnostic. I see no evidence for the existence of god. I see no evidence for the non-existence of god. I'm happy here on my fence, thank you very much.

$) French - I didn't ask for the French last name - I married it. But there is no denying I've got a French Canadian heritage, too. Just not as strong as some people's.

%) Fie - Fie on goodness, fie. Fie. Fie. Fie. Or fee, fie, fo, fum. What a terrific little three letter word. I'm gonna go put it in my Nanowrimo.

^) Feet - as in happy feet. As in if you're feet ain't happy, you are miserable. No more foot surgery for me. Once was enough. Unless some drops an anvil on me.

&) Fantabulous - fantastic and fabulous in one word. Isn't language fun? Look, there's a bonus word: FUN. Also Fanta. Not the stuff sold in the U.S. of A. but the wonderful Fanta we used to get in Germany. Big orange drink heaven.

*) Fried - so bad for you, tastes so good -fried food! Look, another one crept in - Food!

() Fancy - as in flight of, as in fantasy. Way too many F words which brings us to:

)) Fuck - best F word ever. Fucking, fucker, fucked.
"Roses are red, violets are blue, turkeys are for Thanksgiving, let's fuck!"
You don't really need an extended soliloquy. Just make up your own. And now you're fucked.

Bye-bye!

*)

Milestone

Hey, I got to 600 posts yesterday. Huzzah for me. That took slightly over 3 years.