tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124883992024-03-07T12:08:48.215-08:00Everything's SFNENew England and why everything about it is so frakking . . . New England! And it's not just the fried clams.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.comBlogger394125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-74634512443712375382008-12-24T15:43:00.000-08:002008-12-24T15:58:30.644-08:00A Sign of the TimesI'm SO sorry I didn't grab a picture of the Burlington Mall marquee today. (It could because I was driving.) Anyway, the marquee--a very valuable space to mall tenants, because of the drive-by factor--reminded folks that there was still time to pick up (wait for it...) Chick-Fil-A gift cards!<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I like Chick-Fil-A low-cal lemonade and...well, that's about it. But my son likes them. Anyway, my point is that I've never forgotten something from a job running a retail-oriented print shop years ago in Virginia. We were in a small, but busy, shopping center. My boss explained to me that we only got the right to put up an ad on the shopping center marquee a couple of times a year (all his lease allowed without paying extra) and that we had to be very careful what we advertised. Good way to bring in new customers or remind old customers that we were still there for their letterhead/business card/copying needs.<br /><br />So. It's Xmas week. You have a mall with a Nordstrom, a Lord & Taylor, a Williams-Sonoma, an Abercrombie & Fitch, etc., etc. And what does the valuable marquee space advertise? Gift cards for fast-food chicken sandwiches. <br /><br />Which, sadly, probably fits a lot of budgets better now than Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Williams-Sonoma, or Abercrombie & Fitch.<br /><br />Happy holidays to all--may your power stay on so your day can be merry and bright!Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-81782899077889680132008-12-17T10:19:00.001-08:002008-12-17T10:39:48.129-08:00The Hot Spot on a Cold NightIt was freakin' cold last night. Not "stop-the-world" cold--more like "oh-my-it's-finally-winter-I-don't-think-I'm-dressed-properly" cold. So The Boy and I met my husband in Lexington town center (he had just biked in from Cambridge, studded snow tires and all). It seemed like a night for soup, so we hit <a href="http://lemongrassmenu.com/">Lemon Grass</a>. Then, despite the cold, we thought we'd round out the evening with a quick stop at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-Address&rlz=1I7GGLG_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=rancatore's+ice+cream+website+lexington+ma&fb=1&view=text&latlng=7635725632888302070">Rancatore's</a>, down the block. Because any time is the right time for ice cream.<br /><br />Apparently we weren't the only ones who thought that IC was the perfect accompaniment to the frigid night air--the place was <em>packed</em>. Tables were at a premium. Kids plopped themselves down at the counter while teens stood around, eating cones and sundaes. After we finished, instead of lingering, I gave up our table to a mom struggling with two kids (one in a stroller and one in the coolest winter coat EVER--like Hello Kitty, but much, much better).<br /><br />At first I was baffled. I mean, really--I will eat good ice cream anytime (emphasis on <em>good</em>). But Ranc's was overflowing, not just feeding the jones of a single family. In fact you wonder, if there had snow on the ground, like today, would the line have stretched down the block? Is the line stretching down the block as I type this? <br /><br />Then I realized something: Maybe matching the season with the food is a classic American (or at least New England) tradition. Ice cream in winter. Barbeque in summer. That must be it.<br /><br />(Or it could be that Starbucks and Peets had just closed, and people needed a place to hang. But I like my first explanation better.)Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-68838124463760187992008-12-15T20:13:00.000-08:002008-12-15T20:24:13.047-08:00Revenge of the Facebook PageSo, I was looking at the "friends you may know" list for my high school graduation year on Facebook. One of the listed was someone I've hated, I mean HATED, since junior high. I'm sure he doesn't remember me, but I sure remember him. (I don't hate many people, btw--this was a very memorable guy for me.) <br /><br />And guess what? He's lost that whole head of hair he used to have (granted, back when he was 14). Now I don't really care about that--in fact, I think a guy who rocks the bald look can be pretty attractive (yes, I'm talking about you, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004821/">Michael Chiklis </a>of Lowell and Andover, Mass!). But really, can't a girl have a few petty thoughts? What's a little "Ha!" between classmates, right?<br /><br />P.S. I did <em>not</em> send a friend invite.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-90753614799840981002008-12-05T14:03:00.000-08:002008-12-05T14:48:05.989-08:00Knowing That This Isn't the Place<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckhtorXQcIKWFSkWLKwB1-G12MIBOlmDbOGMPWC2cV1i-x58ShDdvxmqS3fTlDHdQpyFNBjp18eBB83v0aKlXbU8LPiOxdUYWx3jUHRPYQAe9QhoOKEurjyr3FHVriVrELIq/s1600-h/knowing-movie-poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckhtorXQcIKWFSkWLKwB1-G12MIBOlmDbOGMPWC2cV1i-x58ShDdvxmqS3fTlDHdQpyFNBjp18eBB83v0aKlXbU8LPiOxdUYWx3jUHRPYQAe9QhoOKEurjyr3FHVriVrELIq/s320/knowing-movie-poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276441308088453922" /></a>So, we were at the movies last week seeing, yes, <a href="http://www.twilightthemovie.com/"><em>Twilight</em> </a>(which didn't suck, really, and if I were still 14 I'd be all over it). We saw a trailer for an upcoming Nic Cage movie called <a href="http://knowing-themovie.com/"><em>Knowing</em></a>. Never heard of it. But it piqued my interest that it supposedly opens in Lexington (Mass.) in 1959. As a current resident, I know for a <em>fact</em> that Nic Cage didn't shoot a movie anywhere near my house in the last two years. <br /><br />Then, in the "now" part of the movie--which has something to do with a buried time capsule, a secret coded page that predicts future disasters, patterns underlying EVERYthing in the universe, yadda yadda--the action moves to "Logan Airport." And I know for a <em>fact</em> that Nic Cage didn't shoot a movie in Boston in the last two years, either. At least not this one.<br /><br />And based on the trailer (which my husband promptly dubbed "lame looking"--he's a mathematician, and it really bugs him when movies center on how EVERYthing has to do with patterns, no room for randomness), Lexington doesn't seem to have anything to do with it. Or Boston, really. So--where filmed? <a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22978553-2862,00.html">Melbourne, Australia</a>. <br /><br />Melbourne, Boston. Boston, Melbourne. Yup--I get those two mixed up all the time, don't you? For one thing, we all say "bee-yah" instead of "beer," right? <br /><br />(On the plus side, the director, Alex Proyas, made <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/">Dark City</a>, one of the best movies ever. <em>Knowing</em> still looks pretty lame, though.)Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-14763020343352102862008-12-04T11:10:00.000-08:002008-12-04T11:36:25.592-08:00The Mysterious Disappearance and Return of the Obama Sign<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHxeH1PaxaGIFO28ZNJgOBxMAsNfAs9i-HwQyzcy_QZzwoG4XXoiXqr8IRfdWOtiVYmn6_NLTh14cVijM9jXV-oAyVsJsXXs-8i-31H5pCKaXFApEN5-VNa6o_WEpfz7J3TLK/s1600-h/BHO.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHxeH1PaxaGIFO28ZNJgOBxMAsNfAs9i-HwQyzcy_QZzwoG4XXoiXqr8IRfdWOtiVYmn6_NLTh14cVijM9jXV-oAyVsJsXXs-8i-31H5pCKaXFApEN5-VNa6o_WEpfz7J3TLK/s320/BHO.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276019982566908818" /></a>Back before the primaries, my hubby and I put an Obama sign on our lawn. It stayed--proudly showing our hope for change to all and sundry driving down our street--for about 2 1/2 months. Then, one day toward the end of March, it just up and disappeared. Gone. At first we thought it got dragged down the road by an errant snowplow, but after searching, it was nowhere to be found. We were a little sad--we'd wanted the souvenir (we still have stuff from Clinton in '92, for god's sake), but life moved on. <br /><br />When we read all those <a href="http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/You_Stole_Our_Obama_Sign_PIC">stories</a> about lawn signs being stolen (from both parties), we figured that's what had happened to us. And in fact, given how in-the-tank my town was/is for Obama, it makes sense now that I saw very few Obama signs anywhere (only the large, too-hard-to-steal ones). I <em>did</em> see a good handful of McCain/Palin signs, even though I never met a supporter of theirs at the local PTA meeting or down at Peet's Coffee. Were we Obamaniacs all victims of rampant sign theft?<br /><br />Fast forward many months, after the election. Last week, out of the blue, what should turn up on our front steps but the sign? No question that it was ours (it was an early-edition sign, fairly straightforward, no Biden, etc.). No note. No "I'm sorry." Just back in all it's (slightly wrinkled) glory. My husband took it inside the house and put it in our curio cabinet, where we keep our one-of-a-kind precious memories. <br /><br />What brought you back, sign? A fit of remorse? A desire to change, along with the government? A realization that having a stack of your neighbors' political signs makes you out of step in these "can't we all just get along?" times? (Downright creepy, actually.)<br /><br />Whatever the reason, I'm glad you did. Thanks--but next time, get your own sign, please.<br /><br /><em>Note: I found this photo on the website, <a href="http://embraceadventure.com">Embrace Adventure</a>. I didn't have a chance to photograph my own sign in the spring, because I didn't know someone was going to STEAL IT.</em>Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-3246379789516300822008-11-26T08:56:00.000-08:002008-11-26T09:00:18.096-08:00Now That the Election Is OverNow that the election is over and the good guys won and the transition has started and I'm not all-consumed with polls and pols, I'm really going to try and blog some more. I have at least two (maybe three!) people who apparently want to keep reading me (now that the election is over and they have more time on <em>their</em> hands), so I'm going to give it a shot.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-21132863063045193072008-05-12T18:40:00.000-07:002008-05-12T18:40:01.372-07:00I'm Back, and Broker than Ever!Yes, I've been too busy to blog. I was going to say "so sue me," but someone might decide to take me up on the dare. Well, the joke's on you! Because tonight I'm picking up my 2002 Subaru Outback with its brand-new rear struts--an $1100 hit. And that's standard maintenance, folks! If you sue me, there won't be much to get. (I'm going on the assumption that retirement accounts are off limits. Right? Riii-ght?)<br /><br />On the other hand, the car will probably stop making that disturbing creaking sound as it scrapes the pavement, so I still think we made the right decision.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-24705044155491920692008-03-14T12:50:00.000-07:002008-11-13T12:36:11.177-08:00Come Home, John Adams, We Miss You!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs8zIZw5DNq1ojsws6GmL7BNijMSB57UxxOGe7i2TF28VfL_FLDbaroFQnZWEZkxbec796W64AA9_H8wNZZRheEiC1xA0R7GI6jS-4nOSARxpFzlDPVbfVKnNjocpgFasKkS2/s1600-h/abigail&john.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs8zIZw5DNq1ojsws6GmL7BNijMSB57UxxOGe7i2TF28VfL_FLDbaroFQnZWEZkxbec796W64AA9_H8wNZZRheEiC1xA0R7GI6jS-4nOSARxpFzlDPVbfVKnNjocpgFasKkS2/s320/abigail&john.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177660012119344898" /></a>I'm really looking forward to HBO's <a href="http://www.hbo.com/films/johnadams/"><em>John Adams</em></a>, which starts Sunday night. It's getting <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/reviewsNews/idUSN1333505020080314">rave reviews</a>, stars wonderful actors (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001473/">Laura Linney </a>as Abigail!), and shines a light on a man whose PR was never as good as Jefferson's. <br /><br />Too bad it was <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1286800/red_carpet_for_john_adams/index.html">shot in Virginia </a>(my home state, yes, but not my adopted home and certainly not Adams'). I've whined about this <a href="http://everythingsfne.blogspot.com/search?q=John+Adams">before</a>, but what with the premiere coming up, it seemed like a good idea to do it again. Fortunately, things are looking up for our commonwealth, what with all the movies now being shot in Massachusetts because of incentives like <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/sandwich/news/x2015303450">this </a>(and those plans for a <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/24/push_for_massachusetts_based_film_studio_heating_up/">film and television complex in Weymouth</a>). Maybe all this means we'll be the location for <em>Tall Tom Jefferson: Well, I Declare!</em> That would be fair, as in "turnabout's fair play."<br /><br />(Oh--and don't bother looking for that show on <a href="http://imdb.com/">IMDB.com</a>--I made it up. Just daydreamin'.)Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-20215569343875569132008-03-13T12:54:00.000-07:002008-03-13T11:01:49.062-07:00Why I Love Keith OlbermannBecause when he's mad, he's just better than any other commentator out there. Even if you're a Clinton supporter, this Ferraro situation has been maddening, and no one sums up the whole frustrating, wrongheaded <em>mishegoss </em>like Keith. <br /><br /><br /><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23601329#23601329" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Take 10 minutes to watch the whole thing, then appreciate his "good night and good luck" sign-off. Edward R. Murrow would be proud of you Keith. I know I am.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-999276069326489562008-02-05T07:51:00.001-08:002008-02-05T07:53:26.178-08:00And While You're Voting...it would be more than excellent if you voted for <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/">Barack Obama</a>.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-71155596614534758012008-02-05T07:26:00.000-08:002008-02-05T07:22:57.355-08:00This Is It, People--Make Your Vote Count!Let's face it--Massachusetts will certainly vote Democratic in the general election. We may never see a candidate in these parts again until 2012. But today you can really be heard--<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/05/an_antidote_arrives_today/">we're in play</a>, and it feels so good! (Especially after Sunday night.)<br /><br />So go vote--or keep your complaints to yourself.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-88744836106081215962008-01-22T12:12:00.000-08:002008-01-22T09:26:20.576-08:00So Much Going On--So Little Time to WriteOnce again, so busy. And so much stuff going on to write about! For instance, before the New Hampshire primaries, we went up to see the candidates speak: <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/index.php">Obama</a>, <a href="http://hillaryclinton.com/">Clinton</a>, and <a href="http://richardsonforpresident.com/index.html">Richardson</a>. Democracy in action, yo! Hope you all took the opportunity to hear one of our future leaders (well, not Richardson, we all know that now) speak in person. <br /><br />We were even there in Nashua when Bill O'Reilly (AKA <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14840571/">The Worst Person in the WORLD</a>) tried to sandbag Obama but got turned back by security. Hope you were there too.<br /><br /><strong>AND</strong> I met <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/story?id=128165">Diane Sawyer </a>at the <a href="http://www.redarrowdiner.com/right.htm">Red Arrow Diner </a>(perhaps America's finest 24/7 diner, but I haven't surveyed them all personally). What a gracious, gracious woman. For those of you who are her fans--your allegiance is well-placed indeed. <br /><br />And since then--more political news: Attempted voter suppression in Nevada! Sniping at the debates! Mitt the Mutt actually wins several delegates!<br /><br />And <a href="http://www.patspeak.com/winter_fun.php">skiing!</a> And the <a href="http://www.patriots.com/">Pats</a>--oh, yes, the Pats. Sports excellence at its best, yo!Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-82359308957001131012007-11-07T07:52:00.000-08:002007-11-07T05:58:48.023-08:00Kudos to My Home State!Way to go, Virginia! In the last two years, Dems took back the governorship and George ("Macaca") Allen's Senate seat. Now, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110700553.html">the State Senate</a>. Still to come: John Warner's Senate seat (certain to go to Democratic former governor, Mark Warner--no relation to John) and the state House of Reps. <br /><br />Now my mom doesn't have to get into (as many) arguments with snippy clerks at the Virginia Beach Barnes & Noble about us sinful Blue Staters. It's clear the good folks of my former home are getting sick and tired of the state GOP and its intolerant ways. Thanks for hanging in there, Mom!Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-70385055763683027862007-11-04T19:31:00.000-08:002007-11-04T16:44:51.638-08:00In the End, an Unsurprising WinSure, there was some real suspense in <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/">today's Pats-Colts game</a>. Mini-Superbowl and all that. Exciting to the end, especially when it seemed our penalties would do us in. Not either team's finest moment, really, but in the end Brady and the guys pulled it off. The last 10 minutes were <em>tops. </em><br /><br />But really--we know the real reason the Pats won. Besides the fact that we have the BEST quarterback and wide receiver (Randy Moss is AMAZING). It's because if the Colts lose, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Dungy">their coach </a>gives them a lecture, then sends them home. If we lose, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Belichick">Bill B.</a> gives the guys a lecture, then sends them out for a severe beating. <br /><br />I don't know about you, but fear works just about every time.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-36725338280754947592007-10-31T07:28:00.000-07:002008-11-13T12:36:11.842-08:00The View from Above<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOedBKwftiJQt1WraS1WN3ykAdVGOdO8Dhmm28kePYzqV6IAwKDnZq8YxPImNhYQ08OvZooAjTvcolxzBk5IiFqCjlp5MxfWuCxJ7HCP9THU2Y7qJyCJ4TdE2vuL7eIsmqptW/s1600-h/1030071344.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127493976032199538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOedBKwftiJQt1WraS1WN3ykAdVGOdO8Dhmm28kePYzqV6IAwKDnZq8YxPImNhYQ08OvZooAjTvcolxzBk5IiFqCjlp5MxfWuCxJ7HCP9THU2Y7qJyCJ4TdE2vuL7eIsmqptW/s320/1030071344.jpg" border="0" /></a>While <a href="http://everythingsfne.blogspot.com/2007/10/rolling-rally-rolls-right-over-my-plans.html">waiting to see one of my docs </a>at Charles River Plaza yesterday, who should come by but the Rolling Redsox Rally! Here are a few views from the 9th floor:<br />Not much detail, but you can sense some of the scope. Pretty cool.<br />Some of you who were there might even know which of the Sox were on this second one, but I only got the big picture, so to speak. So I call this photo "The Orange One."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt4_A550yQSo-tJSXosd2-QO522G2ygkDQ8nWl7teBR7bdZTo2mliDJX4aWoVWrGnurf-PiPgOU5AT9ZRQjjiD_y9fNyX9hMMP9mNUzeEdKyRyTA5ZAgjPqrcnus8Dt7pDMmp/s1600-h/1030071342.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127494315334615938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt4_A550yQSo-tJSXosd2-QO522G2ygkDQ8nWl7teBR7bdZTo2mliDJX4aWoVWrGnurf-PiPgOU5AT9ZRQjjiD_y9fNyX9hMMP9mNUzeEdKyRyTA5ZAgjPqrcnus8Dt7pDMmp/s320/1030071342.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />BTW, riding my bike to the T at Alewife was definitely the way to go. The T garage was overfull, many roads were blocked off--even the T itself was so jammed that they let us on the trains for free because of the massive pileup at the Charlie Ticket machines. Nice gesture or just expediency? Does it even matter?<br /><br />All around, a beautiful day for a parade.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-58085174306748695722007-10-30T07:27:00.000-07:002007-10-31T07:02:43.402-07:00A Lot of Love for the GloveIn today's local paper, there's an <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/10/30/sneers_loathing_greet_a_boston_fan_in_nyc/?page=1">amusing article </a>about how Yankees' fans (i.e., New Yorkers) have no love for the Sox or Boston. Read it--you'll chuckle.<br /><br />But what made me chuckle the most was the byline:<br /><br /><strong>By Matt Viser, Glove Staff | October 30, 2007</strong><br /><br />So now it's the <em>Boston Glove</em>? Coooool! It's time someone recognized that fielding can be just as important as batting and pitching.<br /><br />(Check it out before someone corrects it--you can fix your mistakes fast on the Web. Thank God.)<br /><br />UPDATED: As suspected, they changed "Glove" to "Globe." Too bad in a way.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-42180880077907742522007-10-29T12:34:00.000-07:002008-11-13T12:36:12.230-08:00Rolling Rally Rolls Right Over My Plans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIZtHLVgM23iM8w8_z9CYcdXGtlOqqk8Dd4oK9IzTSvpzYIKku6zz5YlQfsiXuFC0ggN7l2p7rXWBgG_gA9TXuTi3_c8vDsxnaTlxHqUru1Km8oP3klC_l5JdXOo-NNGK1MRJ/s1600-h/parade.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIZtHLVgM23iM8w8_z9CYcdXGtlOqqk8Dd4oK9IzTSvpzYIKku6zz5YlQfsiXuFC0ggN7l2p7rXWBgG_gA9TXuTi3_c8vDsxnaTlxHqUru1Km8oP3klC_l5JdXOo-NNGK1MRJ/s320/parade.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126824313321341762" /></a><br />So...I lined up two doctors' appointments back-to-back tomorrow at Mass General. Since I have to hike in from the 'burbs (time off work, traffic, etc), I try to be efficient. And then the mayor goes and announces that the <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/10/red_sox_rolling.html">Red Sox rolling rally </a>will be tomorrow, exactly when I'm supposed to be on Cambridge St. <br /><br />The mind mulls: Postpone the appointments? (It's not that easy to line up the schedule of two different offices.) Drive in and risk being barred from entering the streets I need to use? (Though they can't shut down the road in front of a big hospital, can they? Huh, huh?) Take the T down? (But by the time I need to leave for the T, parking will probably be long gone.)<br /><br />I'm leaning toward biking to the T, like my hubby. You can always find a chainable location (unlike a car parking spot) and mash yourself onto a T car. It will take longer to ride to Alewife than drive, but will probably be better than trying to fight the traffic in the city itself. And if I get sweaty, I can bring an extra shirt to change into before my appointments. <br /><br />Maybe I'll even get to see part of the rally between appointments (there's a little break in the middle). After all, it's Sox! In Duck Boats! What more could you want!<br /><br />Hmmm...ride or cancel? I'm thinking those are my two best options right now. They posted <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/10/29/paraderoutepage/">the route </a>on Boston.com, and it doesn't look promising for my usual drive in to MGH.<br /><br />What to do, what to do?<br /><br /><em>Map courtesy of Boston.com</em>Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-72924147935770551232007-10-29T07:47:00.000-07:002008-11-13T12:36:12.564-08:00Can I Get a Woo? Can I Get a Hoo? Can I Get a Nap?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1oT7AvZ_pP1pVydP7HM6BjodrJrFSK-ZHA81hMVIe4z9Vbbwj1QCDQF1gJMB02DbR2tyiLv_Rbg47dpmQ6MGzgXLWIEna05VMxDae5vCWUwWMf0_yzGGvgM9CQtUHB-HMCEE/s1600-h/worldseries.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1oT7AvZ_pP1pVydP7HM6BjodrJrFSK-ZHA81hMVIe4z9Vbbwj1QCDQF1gJMB02DbR2tyiLv_Rbg47dpmQ6MGzgXLWIEna05VMxDae5vCWUwWMf0_yzGGvgM9CQtUHB-HMCEE/s320/worldseries.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126759695538373410" /></a><br />Let's face it--you almost felt sorry for the Rockies, didn't you? But not sorry enough to dampen the joy of the series season. Victory is even sweeter the second time around.<br /><br />A few last thoughts:<br /><br /><li>Someone get <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=bos&coachorstaffid=62210418315">Francona</a> on a long-term, fair-compensation contract, please! In fact, announcing it this week would be sweet.<br /><br /><li>Ditto, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=136780">Mike Lowell</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5WuglqKbyTbGcmS4ZQ7yFQrpyGQVU5yYIMoz9DDnNaLky02ZdJOZlLxfw8djveb8v8Pihxasgpn5y2VuCwQcxDOdqt0dMi-AgK-g0u2m8FaMfbTVGL4Vl2yOasZY6DCApJje/s1600-h/ellsbury_jacoby.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5WuglqKbyTbGcmS4ZQ7yFQrpyGQVU5yYIMoz9DDnNaLky02ZdJOZlLxfw8djveb8v8Pihxasgpn5y2VuCwQcxDOdqt0dMi-AgK-g0u2m8FaMfbTVGL4Vl2yOasZY6DCApJje/s320/ellsbury_jacoby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126760623251309362" /></a><li>How about my secret boyfriend, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453056">Jacoby Ellsbury</a>, huh? What a player!<br /><br /><li>Who thought it was a good idea to build <a href="http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/ballpark/seating_pricing.jsp">Coors Field </a>like that, anyway?<br /><br /><li>How <em>dare</em> that Fox idiot Tim McCarver (sorry--no link for you!!) compare <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456030">Dustin Pedroia's </a>confidence and natural ebullience to Terrell Owens, a world-class jerk?<br /><br /><li>Speaking of which--I noticed that when it was clear that the Sox were going to win in the 8th inning, McCarver's co-announcer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Buck">Joe Buck </a>did all the talking (saying nice things about Boston and the Sox) while McCarver remained noticeably silent. But even McCarver couldn't spoil this for me.<br /><br /><li>A nap does sound nice about now, but work beckons.</li> <br /><br />Shall we meet next year, same time? Sounds like fun to me.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-3420870946173004412007-10-25T12:09:00.001-07:002008-11-13T12:36:12.657-08:00Since You Asked...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WaVnhNgPeOi0mSjlV7jXgtpeGnWNEvk6XpWcdvNyxYJPHyOIBXBMUiLqNsOC7UqD452loJdX1r36DJ3U4PE8oklX2DkRQa371KXX4sJQr2A2E_vLDeCOoFdFwuAPeXvbitSD/s1600-h/hokie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WaVnhNgPeOi0mSjlV7jXgtpeGnWNEvk6XpWcdvNyxYJPHyOIBXBMUiLqNsOC7UqD452loJdX1r36DJ3U4PE8oklX2DkRQa371KXX4sJQr2A2E_vLDeCOoFdFwuAPeXvbitSD/s320/hokie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125355427018893938" /></a><br />I've had at least two people ask me, "So, will you be rooting for <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2007/10/25/turning_turnovers_into_tds/">BC or Virginia Tech</a> in tonight's game?" <br /><br />This one is a no-brainer for me: I may love my life as a new-ish New Englander (6 years now) and I may love the Sox and the Pats, but people, it's simple. You never, <em>never</em> diss the beloved <a href="http://www.vt.edu/">alma mater</a>. <br /><br />On the other hand, wouldn't a game between <em>actual</em> eagles and gobblers be cool? The feathers would fly!!<br /><br />Hokie, Hokie, Hokie Hi!!<br /><br />Oh...and GO SOX!!Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-62291471436336416482007-10-23T07:42:00.000-07:002007-10-23T10:52:01.078-07:00Too Freakin' Busy to BlogBetween work (my boss quit!), school volunteering (more than I probably should have said yes to), home (will the clutter never cease?), trying to make some time for exercise (biking while the iron is hot!), and the Sox, the Sox, the Sox, it's just been too much. I haven't even been reading other people's blogs, much less writing my own.<br /><br />But I'll be back--at least if you want me. :-)Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-31684051994869617012007-09-14T18:50:00.000-07:002007-09-14T14:12:10.899-07:00Darwinian Test on the Bike PathWednesday night, after a delicious meal with friends at <a href="http://www.unclepetes.com/">Uncle Pete's</a>--he has real Texas-style burnt ends now!!--our friend dropped my husband off in Arlington Heights. Jim had ridden his newer bike home earlier in the day after picking it up from <a href="http://www.quadcycles.com/">Quad Cycles </a>(broken spoke repair), so he'd left Frankenbike chained to a post. (Frankenbike is composed of many parts from two different bikes, hence the name.) It was about 9:30, and I expected him home in about 20 minutes.<br /><br />Instead, he showed up almost a full hour later. I hadn't been too worried, since I knew he had his phone, but I was beginning to wonder. He finally came in at 10:30, so I asked where he'd been.<br /><br />"I was leading some bikers down the <a href="http://minutemanbikeway.org/">Minuteman</a>," he said.<br /><br />"What?" I said, in my uniquely eloquent way.<br /><br />"I was riding on the trail and nearly ran into two idiots who were stumbling around on the path with their bikes and no lights. They literally couldn't see the trail. So I offered to ride in front of them--slowly--so they could follow me to Lexington."<br /><br />(If you've ever been on the Minuteman Trail, you might remember that it has no street--trail?--lamps and a lot of dense foliage surrounds it, which blocks out any ambient light as well.)<br /><br />"But it was past 9:30--it's not like it JUST got dark--they had to know it would be too dark to ride without lights," I said.<br /><br />"Whatever," he shrugged. "I guess I could have left them out there in the dark, but it wasn't safe. And going out on Mass Ave. without lights would probably be worse for them. As a driver, I don't like being on the road with bikers who don't know what they're doing."<br /><br />That's what we call a "Darwinian Test" in our family--as in, these people should think twice before spawning.<br /><br />Ah, what the hell--we all screw up sometimes. And at least I can say my nice-guy husband led two strangers to Lexington Town Center where they could safely walk their bikes the rest of the way. One day, he might need some help, too. I'm not sure if that gains you Darwinian points, but I think it raises your Karma score.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-84299774916292990992007-09-11T20:37:00.000-07:002008-11-13T12:36:12.883-08:00Goodbye to the Smartest Birdbrain in the World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtlmthHAq_QcU-hgSb6y2B4q_x6ry_EtYBj4ksDwwOgGch4aQsmRv2IqmuMb-7otckIlNik9Ke60bBqEIP15RIZJTBVWF5HBabKgFeCa22vba7dRT2FXXfZVBLmwxyOsWgSiN/s1600-h/Alex%2520obit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtlmthHAq_QcU-hgSb6y2B4q_x6ry_EtYBj4ksDwwOgGch4aQsmRv2IqmuMb-7otckIlNik9Ke60bBqEIP15RIZJTBVWF5HBabKgFeCa22vba7dRT2FXXfZVBLmwxyOsWgSiN/s320/Alex%2520obit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109115513995235826" /></a><br />Those of us who love birds--especially parrots--can't help but mourn the passing of Alex, the amazing African Grey, who <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/09/11/death_of_gifted_parrot_stuns_scientists/?p1=MEWell_Pos1">died last week at the age of 31</a>. His death was unexpected--so much so that the news wasn't released until yesterday, because the staff at the <a href="http://www.alexfoundation.org/">Brandeis University research lab </a>where Alex lived were too upset to report his death immediately. <br /><br />Irene Pepperberg, the scientist who owned Alex--purchased at a pet store, his name was an acronym for Avian Learning Experiment--worked with the parrot for three decades. According to the Alex Foundation's press release, <blockquote><strong>Dr. Pepperberg’s pioneering research resulted in Alex learning elements of English speech to identify 50 different objects, 7 colors, 5 shapes, quantities up to and including 6 and a zero-like concept. He used phrases such as “I want X” and “Wanna go Y”, where X and Y were appropriate object and location labels. He acquired concepts of categories, bigger and smaller, same-different, and absence. Alex combined his labels to identify, request, refuse, and categorize more than 100 different items demonstrating a level and scope of cognitive abilities never expected in an avian species. Pepperberg says that Alex showed the emotional equivalent of a 2 year-old child and intellectual equivalent of a 5 year-old. Her research with Alex shattered the generally held notion that parrots are only capable of mindless vocal mimicry.</strong> <br /></blockquote>My husband and I have owned many parrots over the last 20 years, and each one possessed an individual personality (though many of them <em>did</em> seem like typical "bird brains"). Our current pet, a miniature macaw, doesn't talk like Alex did, but he's taken the art of laughing to a new level. (Really--parrots will laugh along with you, though I'm not sure they actually get the joke.)<br /><br />A necropsy (animal autopsy) showed no immediate cause of Alex's death, and he'd appeared healthy at a check-up days before. In true parrot fashion, he probably had been sick for a while, but hid his weakness before just keeling over. (Showing weakness in the wild is an open invitation for parrot predators to attack.) So in the end there was probably nothing that the people who worked with--and loved--him could have done. <br /><br />Alex spent his life at a variety of universities with Dr. Pepperberg; Brandeis was his last home. As a New Englander, I'm proud that he lived among us for the last several years. And although he was only 31--some African Greys live to be 50--Alex had a good run, taught us a lot, and gained the admiration and affection of plenty of us who never had the good fortune to offer him a treat. <br /><br />Farewell, Alex--the bird (and human) world will miss you.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-31526425587306693652007-08-17T17:31:00.000-07:002007-08-17T11:48:35.360-07:00%^&*#$@^ Yankees!Okay, okay, I promised I'd write something about my vacation, but first <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/fucking_yankees_reports_nation">this from <em>The Onion</em> </a>(PROFANITY WARNING!)<br /> <blockquote><em><strong>BOSTON</strong>—Moments after the New York Yankees continued a month-long stretch that has seen them climb from the bottom of the AL East to pull within a once unfathomable four games of the first-place Red Sox by defeating the Baltimore Orioles Monday night, stunned and enraged baseball fans across America took a moment to shake their heads in disbelief and curse dejectedly at the relentless inevitability of Yankee glory.<br /><br />"Fucking Yankees," said Marshfield, MA resident and longtime Red Sox fan Lawrence Broberg, echoing the sentiments of thousands of men and woman across the nation. "Every year. Every goddamn year."</em></blockquote>You must read the whole thing to get the full effect.<br /><br />Let's just hope that for once, <em>The Onion </em>is wrong. But those guys are usually right. (Let's not forget the famous <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43189">Voice of God Revealed to Be Cheney on Intercom</a>--they were so on the mark with that one....)<br /><br />Many thanks to <a href="http://hatchet-man1028.livejournal.com/">Russ</a> for the link.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-65328303098596538832007-08-08T07:39:00.000-07:002007-08-08T04:48:26.435-07:00Back and Two Pounds Lighter!I've been away for two weeks in Canada, but we're back. No time this a.m. for the full report, but I'm proud to say that after spending an entire week biking (no car!) on Quebec's <a href="http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/index_ang.cfm">Iles de la Madeleines</a>, then trailer-camping on <a href="http://www.peionline.com/">Prince Edward Island</a> (where we left the van and camper near the island ferry), I came back tanned and lighter. <br /><br />Okay, two pounds may not be much to you, but it's an achievement in a land (specifically, P.E.I), where EVERY MEAL COMES WITH FRENCH FRIES. They're really into potatoes on P.E.I.<br /><br />Anyway, the trip was lovely--more soon, I promise.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12488399.post-2950905034011919902007-07-14T19:06:00.000-07:002007-07-14T17:23:41.917-07:00Brief Yet Disturbing Moment of BigotryI was eating a late lunch with my husband and the Boy at my local Chili's today. As I went to the restroom to try to rinse out a stain (some <a href="http://www.chilis.com/menu/default.asp?catID=4&tierID=65&Unit_ID=408%2E002%2E0809&menuType=Dine+In">Skillet Queso</a>--yum), which had most inconveniently landed on the only white section of my otherwise black blouse, I heard someone in a stall speaking in a foreign language (Portuguese, I'd guess). Presumably on a cell phone (otherwise there are other issues going on here too deep to contemplate).<br /><br />After an only partly fruitful attempt at destaining my shirt, I decided to avail myself of the faciities, too. I went into another stall, then heard a third person enter. A moment later, I heard someone mutter the word, "English." Meanwhile, the first person continued her phone conversation.<br /><br />Huh, I thought to myself. (I'm especially eloquent within my mind at such moments.)<br /><br />Then, I heard the mutterer flush, leave her stall, and say, loudly and clearly, "Speak English, damn it! You're in America! SPEAK ENGLISH!" She then left, because by the time I was finished, she was gone. The cell phone talker also finished and left\ without replying. <br /><br />When I got out to the sinks, I was alone. And I was sorry, because I wanted to confront the Mutterer-turned-Complainer. "What is the problem?" I wanted to say. "She wasn't talking to you--she was having a private conversation. For all you know, she was a tourist. And besides, even immigrants have the right to speak their own language to themselves, for God's sake! Did YOUR family give up all [insert language here] when they were newcomers? WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!"<br /><br />But I couldn't, so I didn't. And maybe I'd have looked M-turned-C in the eyes and backed away, scared. Because her voice--so pointlessly rude and mean--didn't carry the sound of reason.Alison Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616978786997309940noreply@blogger.com1