First off - I love the huge light displays that people put a lot of effort (and money I'm sure) into around the holidays. Now, there's a fine line between artistic and tacky, but I find even the way-over-the-top displays are a lot of fun to check out. Not sure I'd want a row of bright LEDs outlining Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on my front lawn, but I get a kick out of seeing it on someone elses lawn.
On to egg nog. Big fan. I get a smile just walking past the dairy section of the supermarket and seeing the cartons of egg nog just waiting there. Here's the kicker to this story - I haven't purchased any egg nogg yet this season. Perhaps today will be the day.
Soooo.. over Thanksgiving I had my 25th high school class reunion. It was a lot of fun! It was genuinley nice to see people I haven't sen in.. ohh..25 years. One thing very cool was that I got the chance to hang out and talk with some of the folks who I didn't hang out with all that much in high school (typically those who actually worked on studious stuff instead of goofing off). I realized how many cool people there are in my class. Maybe if I had put my silly electric guitar down for a little while during high school, I would have found that out sooner.
Ciao for now
George
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Strange Day
Well, it's the Veteran's Day holiday (Vets day itself was yesterday), and it also is my Dad's birthday. My Dad passed away in 1990 and it's always kind of tough for me around his birthday, and especially this year because it's his 75th. I miss him tremendously. He was a really good guy, and I always think that if I have half the good qualities he had, I'm doing okay.
What was it about him? I guess the first thing that comes to mind is that he was just generally a kind person. I was thinking about this yesterday - how in his dealing with people, he treated them well. He made a point to never talk down to people - to never make people feel stupid. It made him happy to boost people up rather than cut them down. Seems like there are a lot of people in the world who would do well to follow his lead.
Dad wasn't perfect - he'd be the first to admit that - and I think now that he's not around, I probably put him up on a pedestal a bit, but he sure was a positive force to have around.
He was the type of father who felt it was very important that us kids knew we could take whatever path we wanted to in life - and that he would be proud of us no matter what.
It's funny how kids can sense what their parents are feeling. I was at the dinner table last night, feeling pretty bummed out and missing my Dad terribly, and without my letting on that I was feeling sad, my oldest - Joey (named after my Dad) - gave me a big bear hug that was exactly what I needed. Must be in the genes. My Dad could give a hug that could cure all that ails ya', and I like to believe I'm no slouch myself. It was just what I needed - like Joey was covering for Dad.
Alright - enough sad crap. My Dad would want us to get out and enjoy the day. Good plan.
-George
What was it about him? I guess the first thing that comes to mind is that he was just generally a kind person. I was thinking about this yesterday - how in his dealing with people, he treated them well. He made a point to never talk down to people - to never make people feel stupid. It made him happy to boost people up rather than cut them down. Seems like there are a lot of people in the world who would do well to follow his lead.
Dad wasn't perfect - he'd be the first to admit that - and I think now that he's not around, I probably put him up on a pedestal a bit, but he sure was a positive force to have around.
He was the type of father who felt it was very important that us kids knew we could take whatever path we wanted to in life - and that he would be proud of us no matter what.
It's funny how kids can sense what their parents are feeling. I was at the dinner table last night, feeling pretty bummed out and missing my Dad terribly, and without my letting on that I was feeling sad, my oldest - Joey (named after my Dad) - gave me a big bear hug that was exactly what I needed. Must be in the genes. My Dad could give a hug that could cure all that ails ya', and I like to believe I'm no slouch myself. It was just what I needed - like Joey was covering for Dad.
Alright - enough sad crap. My Dad would want us to get out and enjoy the day. Good plan.
-George
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Slow down, Skippy!
Well... it had been a while since I had recieved a speeding ticket, but my run is over.
Leaving the radio station Friday afternoon, I was driving on the Pike westbound around the BU bridge area. In retrospect, I wasn't keeping tabs on my speed as well as I should have, although it felt like I was pretty much staying with the flow of traffic.
As I was approaching the tolls, I noticed the tell tale Massachusetts State Police Crown Victoria with the blacked out grille coming up behind me, and before I knew it, he had the lights on and was motioning for me to pull over to the left, just before the toll plaza.
I really didn't know what to expect - it didn't feel like I was driving super fast.
The Trooper was very professional, and in return I tried to be as polite and direct as I could be.
My father taught me that one of the more boneheaded things you can do in life is be a jerk to a police officer. Just watch any episode of COPS and you'll see proof of this.
So I answered his questions honestly; i.e. "no sir, I don't know how fast I was going (true)."
He said he clocked me at 70 something after the Pru tunnel, and 66 in the 40 mph zone before the tolls. I didn't deny any of it. I was pretty sure he knew better than I did how fast I was going. He just wrote me up for the latter.
It's funny, I know a lot of people try to give excuses to cops and try to weasel out of a ticket, but I didn't think that was the right route.
I thought afterwards that maybe I should have said something like "I have a good driving record - I just wasn't paying attention to my speed as well as I should have" (both true), or "I just got off work and am late for taking over for my mother-in-law watching the kids" (also true).
But in the end, the reality was - I was speeding. As the theme to Barretta said "don't do the crime if you can't do the time".
The "time" in this case happens to be a $260 ticket. Ouch.
Why is it that things like this happen when your finances are in a state where the last thing you need is to have to shell out that kind of money for not paying attention on the road?
I'll be driving 26 miles an hour to and from WBOS for the time being.
Keep smiling!
-George
Leaving the radio station Friday afternoon, I was driving on the Pike westbound around the BU bridge area. In retrospect, I wasn't keeping tabs on my speed as well as I should have, although it felt like I was pretty much staying with the flow of traffic.
As I was approaching the tolls, I noticed the tell tale Massachusetts State Police Crown Victoria with the blacked out grille coming up behind me, and before I knew it, he had the lights on and was motioning for me to pull over to the left, just before the toll plaza.
I really didn't know what to expect - it didn't feel like I was driving super fast.
The Trooper was very professional, and in return I tried to be as polite and direct as I could be.
My father taught me that one of the more boneheaded things you can do in life is be a jerk to a police officer. Just watch any episode of COPS and you'll see proof of this.
So I answered his questions honestly; i.e. "no sir, I don't know how fast I was going (true)."
He said he clocked me at 70 something after the Pru tunnel, and 66 in the 40 mph zone before the tolls. I didn't deny any of it. I was pretty sure he knew better than I did how fast I was going. He just wrote me up for the latter.
It's funny, I know a lot of people try to give excuses to cops and try to weasel out of a ticket, but I didn't think that was the right route.
I thought afterwards that maybe I should have said something like "I have a good driving record - I just wasn't paying attention to my speed as well as I should have" (both true), or "I just got off work and am late for taking over for my mother-in-law watching the kids" (also true).
But in the end, the reality was - I was speeding. As the theme to Barretta said "don't do the crime if you can't do the time".
The "time" in this case happens to be a $260 ticket. Ouch.
Why is it that things like this happen when your finances are in a state where the last thing you need is to have to shell out that kind of money for not paying attention on the road?
I'll be driving 26 miles an hour to and from WBOS for the time being.
Keep smiling!
-George
Monday, October 15, 2007
Meerkat Mania
Okay, I'll admit it, I get a big kick out of places like the zoo and the aquarium. Something about the different creatures.
So, here's the headline from creature world - meerkats at the Stone Zoo.
I love that show on Animal Planet, Meerkat Manor, and when I heard that the Stone Zoo had meerkats, I had to pay a visit. I love going to th ezoo anyway, and the two closets to home for me, the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are both awesome.
It was really cool seeing the meerkats in person!
they looked a lot like the ones on the show, although maybe a bit plumper. I'm guessing that's a factor of the captive meerkats not having as much room to run around as their brethren in the wild.
The snow leopards at the Stone Zoo are awesome, too. I love the big cats (jury is still out on how I feel about smaller cats - see "skunk" posting).
The gila monster is also really cool. If you're not hip to the Gila (pronounced HEE-la), it's a big lizard found in the southwest US and Mexic. It's unusual in that it is a venomous lizard.
I had a ribber gila monster when I was a kid. I forget its name.
Let's chat again soon
George
So, here's the headline from creature world - meerkats at the Stone Zoo.
I love that show on Animal Planet, Meerkat Manor, and when I heard that the Stone Zoo had meerkats, I had to pay a visit. I love going to th ezoo anyway, and the two closets to home for me, the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are both awesome.
It was really cool seeing the meerkats in person!
they looked a lot like the ones on the show, although maybe a bit plumper. I'm guessing that's a factor of the captive meerkats not having as much room to run around as their brethren in the wild.
The snow leopards at the Stone Zoo are awesome, too. I love the big cats (jury is still out on how I feel about smaller cats - see "skunk" posting).
The gila monster is also really cool. If you're not hip to the Gila (pronounced HEE-la), it's a big lizard found in the southwest US and Mexic. It's unusual in that it is a venomous lizard.
I had a ribber gila monster when I was a kid. I forget its name.
Let's chat again soon
George
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Two words: Stevie Wonder
Wow, what a show.
I certainly don't want to be the guy who rambles on, talking about how great something was that obviously not everybody experienced, but I do want to get across the point that STEVIE WONDER IS A MUSICAL GENIUS!
I caught him at the Bank Of America Pavillion on Thursday night, and it was just unreal. He basically played evey song I would have wanted him to play, and didn't play the ones I was hoping he wouldn't (can you say "I Just Called To Say I Love You")? His voice sounded great, his keyboard and harmonica playing were awe inspiring - it was simply amazing.
Now, I know that I'm not always a "deep" human being, but this show struck a serious nerve. I think because he was playing songs from the past 25 - 30 yers of my life, and I was thinking about all the stuff that Stevie has been through with me (though he may not know it). It was like doing a little time travelling, without ever having to set foot in your friend Marty's DeLorean.
Stevie said he may be coming back this way to make up for the cancelled second show. If he does - go see him. 'Nuff said.
peace out
George
I certainly don't want to be the guy who rambles on, talking about how great something was that obviously not everybody experienced, but I do want to get across the point that STEVIE WONDER IS A MUSICAL GENIUS!
I caught him at the Bank Of America Pavillion on Thursday night, and it was just unreal. He basically played evey song I would have wanted him to play, and didn't play the ones I was hoping he wouldn't (can you say "I Just Called To Say I Love You")? His voice sounded great, his keyboard and harmonica playing were awe inspiring - it was simply amazing.
Now, I know that I'm not always a "deep" human being, but this show struck a serious nerve. I think because he was playing songs from the past 25 - 30 yers of my life, and I was thinking about all the stuff that Stevie has been through with me (though he may not know it). It was like doing a little time travelling, without ever having to set foot in your friend Marty's DeLorean.
Stevie said he may be coming back this way to make up for the cancelled second show. If he does - go see him. 'Nuff said.
peace out
George
Monday, September 17, 2007
Post Weekend Posting
Back to reality - so I figured I'd check in.
What a night last night, with both Red Sox (they lost) and Patriots (they won) playing at the same time.
My intention was to get to bed early last night, but through a combination of the two older monsters being wide awake, and the games happening, I turned in about three hours later than I would have liked.
It was a nice weekend, but I didn't have a whole lot of downtime. Margaret had to work both days, and they both ended up being long days as well, so I was Mr. Mom for most of the weekend. I get reminded that it ain't alway seasy to keep three little ones busy on a rainy day. Luckily, my intellect is at about the same level as a three to five year old, so I have no problem getting down on the rug and playing with Legos and Hot Wheels.
It's officially the last week of summer - go crazy - take a day off from work and head to Crane's beach.
Don't forget to call me when you get there.
-George
What a night last night, with both Red Sox (they lost) and Patriots (they won) playing at the same time.
My intention was to get to bed early last night, but through a combination of the two older monsters being wide awake, and the games happening, I turned in about three hours later than I would have liked.
It was a nice weekend, but I didn't have a whole lot of downtime. Margaret had to work both days, and they both ended up being long days as well, so I was Mr. Mom for most of the weekend. I get reminded that it ain't alway seasy to keep three little ones busy on a rainy day. Luckily, my intellect is at about the same level as a three to five year old, so I have no problem getting down on the rug and playing with Legos and Hot Wheels.
It's officially the last week of summer - go crazy - take a day off from work and head to Crane's beach.
Don't forget to call me when you get there.
-George
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Oooh that smell
It's skunk!
This actually happened week before last when I was filling in for John in the afternoons, but due to the level of trauma I'm just getting around to writing about it now.
Got off the air at 7pm and had some other work to do in the production studio. Got my work done and called Margaret from the road. She gave me advance warning that I would be coming home to some serious stink, and that this time it wasn't diaper related.
Bianca, one of two cats living at our house, had suffered a direct hit from a skunk. And by direct hit, I mean she got sprayed right in the face. And it happened right in front of our house.
Bianca and I have a love/hate relationship in that many times I would love for her to run off and join another family. We got her from the pound when she was about a year old (they weren't sure). And it's likely she was abused and had been on the street for a while. She seems to have some "issues". She can be cuddly and affectionate one moment, and then act like beelzekitty the next moment
In this case I felt bad for her. Her eyes were all red and she could barely open them, and she was clearly in distress. Called the vet and he said to flush her eyes out with saline. What about the stink? For that, he said to use a combination of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Didn't people use to use tomato juice for this?
He said the stink wouldn't go away completely, but the solution would make it slightly more tolerable.
He was right about the stink not going away. The whole house reeked, particularly the basement where we were making her stay for the time being. Margaret did the cleansing of the cat, and skillfully managed not to get the sh#@ scratched out of her (cats are not fans of baths).
If there's an upside to this, it's that Bianca looked great after her bath (she's all-white, hence the name).
She still has traces of the stink, however.
Who says my life ain't glamorous?
See you soon.
George
This actually happened week before last when I was filling in for John in the afternoons, but due to the level of trauma I'm just getting around to writing about it now.
Got off the air at 7pm and had some other work to do in the production studio. Got my work done and called Margaret from the road. She gave me advance warning that I would be coming home to some serious stink, and that this time it wasn't diaper related.
Bianca, one of two cats living at our house, had suffered a direct hit from a skunk. And by direct hit, I mean she got sprayed right in the face. And it happened right in front of our house.
Bianca and I have a love/hate relationship in that many times I would love for her to run off and join another family. We got her from the pound when she was about a year old (they weren't sure). And it's likely she was abused and had been on the street for a while. She seems to have some "issues". She can be cuddly and affectionate one moment, and then act like beelzekitty the next moment
In this case I felt bad for her. Her eyes were all red and she could barely open them, and she was clearly in distress. Called the vet and he said to flush her eyes out with saline. What about the stink? For that, he said to use a combination of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Didn't people use to use tomato juice for this?
He said the stink wouldn't go away completely, but the solution would make it slightly more tolerable.
He was right about the stink not going away. The whole house reeked, particularly the basement where we were making her stay for the time being. Margaret did the cleansing of the cat, and skillfully managed not to get the sh#@ scratched out of her (cats are not fans of baths).
If there's an upside to this, it's that Bianca looked great after her bath (she's all-white, hence the name).
She still has traces of the stink, however.
Who says my life ain't glamorous?
See you soon.
George
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