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I am starting to restore my blog posts , selectively at the moment (there are 320something stretching back to July 16th of last year). Blogger is giving me serious shite this morning with images, I had to upload this one to my server and then html it in manually. Oh well, can't look a gift horse in the mouth (corny but true). Ugh I hate Monday's....
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S1 162
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Halloween 1999 (The Pub, Springfield, MA.) Ray and I, he had just met Jeff at that point, who had designed Ray's Monk costume. I was trying to be a soccer player (although nobody got it) We were drunk, can you tell?
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I know he won't read this (he has no idea I have a blog) but I wanted to upload and dedicate a song to him, one that he so loves (we are both rabid Tori Amos fans). It's a bside and the title is:
click below to play or right-click to save
(recorded live May 6, 1996 Montreal, The DDI Tour, my favorite)
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S1 161
One of my favorite photos of Gram, Watch Hill, Rhode Island 1950something..
I remember Gram coming across this picture of my grandparents the day they wed when I was in High School. She took one look at it, ripped it in two exclaiming "God I hated that woman", referring to Della, the lady standing behind her. I retrieved it from the trash when she wasn't looking and have had it ever since. She was just 18 in this photo.
Gram with my father and Aunt, Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
She always hated this shot, and said it made her hair look as red as Lucille Ball's. taken while on a Cruise we took to Nova Scotia when I was about 20. That stupid rabbit would not leave her alone.
Finally from 2 summers ago, with my Aunt. I think it is just so beautiful, since they rarely show any sort of affection to one another. Sad...
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So today is my Gram's 82nd birthday. My friend and I took her to dinner last night, and my family will celebrate properly on Sunday afternoon at my Aunt's who will host a barbecue pool party with my children and relatives. It should be fun, Gram loves to swim, and of course spending time with my sons.
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I have always been incredibly close to my Gram, primarily because I am her only grandchild, but secondly because my late father was her eldest (of two) children, her favorite who passed away at the age of 41. I was 15 when he died, and needless to say it was a very traumatic period of my life, as it was for her. She adored my father, and she has always said there was never a loss greater than the day he left us. She was my rock and I was hers.
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Gram began failing mentally about 8 years ago. It's been somewhat gradual, but she has very little short term memory now, although she can recant events of 20, 40, 60 years ago with amazing clarity. It's typical from what I understand, given her condition. I feel in so many ways that I have lost a friend, while we are still as close as possible, I can't confide in her any longer or reach out for her opinion, which I always have in the past. She becomes moody, arrogant and even rude on occasion, but once again, this is typical. Physically she is as healthy as a woman 20 years her junior, which is something to be thankful for in any case.
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Oh and you wan't to hear something really weird?
My biological Grandmother
was born the exact same day and year in the SAME City (Springfield, MA. July 28, 1924) as my Gram. It's just too weird. I never checked to see if it was the same hospital but that would be bizarre. In any case............
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CRANK CALL FRIDAY
today's call is of unknown origin, well what I mean to say I have no idea who made it or what it's from, but it's pretty funny (I think).
Poor elderly Bill has become confused and lost so he calls a shelter to get some help. Judy has the most difficult time convincing him not to walk across a busy street, cars honking. Hysterical!!
(click above to play, right click to save)
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S1 160
and from this past weekend....with my Mom
Where did all that time go?
with his great-grandfather and sister 1956
1968 Fort Dix
1974 (love the pants)
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I met my birthfather (and birthmother) when I was 20. In so many ways I was fortunate to find them at such a young age, the most important being that I knew three of my grandparents who all passed away by the time I was 25. I had a detailed account of the search and meeting on my old blog, which I still have and need to re-post here some day soon. In the beginning (and before I married and started having children) we were pretty close, in fact it was on a vacation with them in Florida that my older son was conceived. Things began to go down hill after that, and I haven't spoken to my birthfather in probably 6 years. My birthmother I do speak to a couple times a year but its very sporadic and I haven't seen her since the summer of 2003. What is even more odd is that a couple months ago she moved into the apartments right across the street from my condo, yet for some reason, neither of us make the call to see one another. It's a difficult situation.
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Ok now to something that really pisses me off. It's um 2006 right? Wouldn't you think that a company such as Mr. Coffee would make it a standard function on their machines to turn off after a reasonable period of time? Not with this piece of garbage....
Yesterday I forgot to turn it off as I was running out the door. I go in for 8AM. Sometime around 12 or so while sitting at my desk I remembered this and rushed home. The piece of crap was STILL on, the coffee boiled away and the pot about ready to shatter. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had waited until 4 when I got home.
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When I moved here my Gram gave me the most amazing Coffee Machine which had a very cool clock, timer, essentially every special feature you could imagine. Well a week ago I was making a pot and as I poured in the water, it emptied out the back and all over the counter. I unplugged it and then left it in the sink for a while. I tried again with the same result. I need coffee in the morning (and occasionally in the evening) and well I had little funds this past week (for a number of reasons, bill time, upcoming beach trip, etc) so I ran to Wallmart and picked up the beauty pictured above. It was like $18 and the cheapest model, which was fine for the moment.
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I just assumed it had the "power off after 2 hours" function every coffee maker I have ever owned had. Evidently not, I went online yesterday and it does not (which was further proven when I ran home yesterday). Wasn't there a problem with Mr.Coffee and self-combusting machines a few years ago? Evidently the law suits that occurred had no impact because the bastards still make a unit that will burn down your house/condo should you be in a rush and forget to turn it off. Now I'm paranoid and shut the damn thing off after it finishes brewing.
Ok end.of.rant.
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S1 157
the sea was very rough... off the deck
the beach was dead because of overcast skies and huge waves
then the tide started to come in..
and in ...
until there was almost no beach left..
so a lot of people took to the club called The Ocean Mist for drinks and dance (not me of course). This place is pretty popular in Rhode Island, even hosts to Sublime and The John Cafferty Band among others. I haven't been there in a couple years, even tho it is right down the shore from my mother's (I took this pic from her deck).
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We had a decent weekend, despite the crazy weather. The ocean was wild, insane in fact and the sun barely showed up twice (and not for long). Fortunately one of my 2nd cousins was down with his kids (who are the same age as mine pretty much) and they formed a brat pack keeping themselves pretty occupied while my parents visited neighbors and I watched TV, trying to ignore the waves hitting the window behind me. It was pretty relaxing, the kids had a blast and that is really all that matters.
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Yesterday I taught my son how to use the Video Camera and we headed down the hill to the public beach where he filmed a small clip of me getting soaked by a wave (which damaged my cell phone somehow..it's still not working very well). The night before the surf was so strong that it lifted a huge life guard chair up, carried it a considerable distance and planted it upside down beyond the shoreline. It's a short clip, but a large file. Click below to watch...
(click pic to play, or right click to save)Not only is this the last day before the weekend (and a long one since I have Monday off) but I am leaving from work today to take the kids to my mother's down on the Rhode Island shore. I grew up spending summers (for the most part) down there as my Great-Grandmother, Grandparents and now Parents always had a place in the Watch Hill, Charlestown, South Kingstown (Matunuck) area of Rhode Island which is roughly the stretch of coast between Misquamicut and Newport (for those of you who are familiar).
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I've downloaded and burned (thanks to a good friend who was way too sweet and gave me a gift account for my birthday @ AllofMp3 ) both a Damien Rice & David Garza CD for us to listen to (it's about a 2 Hour drive from here) given we are going to see them (and Fiona Apple) on Monday night. I'm not so sure about David Garza, he doesn't click with me yet, maybe after the show.
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So I packed both my Video & Digital Cameras for this trip and plan on taking a ton of pics which I will post Sunday night. I love my Digital Camera, which has an automatic zoom and something like 4.5 Mega Pixel resolution. I haven't used it since last years London/Dublin trip except for self pics on occasion, I plan on getting some decent shots. Plus I'd love to get some new pics of the kids, they grow up way too quickly.
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my love life (or lack therof)
well, since this last episode (which appears to be over.. no calls or emails since the other day) and after almost 2 months of casual dating I have come to the realization that I just might be ready to deal with the single thing long term. I mean for 3 years now I've been pretty much single, and in the back of my mind I was thinking how much I needed someone significant in my life.
Things change as we get older, recently dating became more of an inconvenience than fun. It's like I had things to do, plans, etc and going out to eat/movies/clubs/hanging out became a bit of a bother. Maybe it's me settling into old age hehe , I dunno. It might possibly also be that I had little interest in my most recent "friend" unless I had been drinking, which is always a bad sign. But I really think it's more of the former, that I have little time (or motivation) to cultivate something. I am just sick and tired of the energy/time involved in "getting to know" someone.
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I remember back in 2000 when I met my most recent Ex (we lived together 3 years), I was so much more into it. The whole goosebumps/anticipation/constant calls etc was exiting and getting to know each other an emotional rush. How come it's not anymore? I've dated people the last couple years, I don't ever feel that way anymore, not even close.
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What I feel like is that ok, time to screw around with my life and routine to work on something I don't even know if I want. Am I becoming selfish? Anti-Social? Who knows, but the next time I start feeling lonely and sad, I will re-read this post and maybe take a walk instead of hitting Chat or a Club. The grass is greener etc, it always seems like dating would be fun and gratifying until the time arrives and I'm like... I want to go running tonight, I don't have time to meet "so and so" for dinner at 7. Isn't that crazy?
I wonder if my life wasn't so full if this would be different, or maybe I have become a jaded man.
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Crank Call Friday
enough depressing talk, I bet all my friends missed my Crank Call Friday clips right? (ok just say yes and humor me). Well last night I made a comedy CD for this kid I work with and was laughing my butt off over some of the clips on my PC I haven't heard in a while...ESPECIALLY this one.
Rosie O'Donnell is having a birthday...her publicist Terrance is looking to arrange something special. You just have to hear this, I love it. It's work safe too!
(click above to play - right click to save)
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I hope everyone has a kool weekend, be back Sunday night.
S1 155
Yesterday I got an email from The Mohegan Sun offering me two Comp. tickets to Monday's Fiona Apple Damien Rice show. I first heard of Damien when he joined Tori Amos on a track off her latest (The Beekeeper ) called The Power of Orange Knickers. Then very recently my elder son (whom I was until very recently estranged from) asked me to watch a Jude Law/Julia Roberts film called Closer, which he loves. Damien performs the opening song.. which is so incredibly beautiful it gives me goose bumps... (click above to play)
or watch...
Video from the official site
And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...
And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...
Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new
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I am so exited that we get to see an artist we both love (which is a first as his interests have been primarily Big Band, Musicals, Opera and the whole Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra era)..
i.can't.wait
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Blogger kept freezing on me this morning, I would type a letter, it would freeze, then let me type another, then freeze. I rebooted and the same thing. 45 minutes later, and 20 minutes LATE for work I had to give up. I am posting this from work and well really can't concentrate with everything going on around me...ugh.
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Well I did have time to take an HNT pic while the PC was rebooting, wearing the sweet Bobby Fletcher shirt I snagged a while back off Ebay. So here it is :)
S4 154
You should have seen where his hand was a moment before ...
With my Godmother...who is no longer with us, be kind to the "dress"
and as a bonus...
10th Grade Geek stage, with braces... yikes
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My Aunt gave me these pics just last week, and since my scanner is broken, I had to use my digital camera, with strange results. I have to work on that, it's getting frustrating.
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Overslept today, and am rushing a post together (better than nothing I guess). It's just so damn hot outside (95) that I had to get up to turn down and up the AC all night to get comfortable. I'd be freezing and then roasting .. bleh window units suck.
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I am noticing many of my blogger friends from before have either deleted, cut back or taken an extended break, what's up with that? I guess blogging runs in cycles, at least that has been my experience, people get burned out. But I guess for every person who steps down, 10 more start.
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I'm so late... and need a shower :)
S3 153
Back about 5 years ago a good friend suggested that my ex and I rent a movie called Billy Elliot. Initially when I saw the box I didn't think it would be something I could sit through, I mean I am hardly into Ballet, nevermind that the storyline seemed a bit boring. I had no idea. There are few films that I can watch more than once which have the same effect on me each time, and this one brings me to tears (seriously I don't cry so much). They aren't tears of sadness, but rather the sort that come out when something moves you (in a positive way) to the point where your emotions take over no matter how much you might not like them to. This film, it's message of unconditional love and sacrifice, is one of the most incredibly moving works I have ever seen, if you haven't rented it, make a point to, ignore your initial reaction when reading the box and give it a chance, you will not regret it (unless you are en empty shell with no feeling, and in that case, you're hopeless! I'm kidding!) My friend loved it of course, and I saw him tear up at least once (this guy NEVER gets emotional in public, if that tells you anything)
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The Hush Sound
Maybe some of you remember back in May I snagged tickets to a Panic! at the Disco show in Boston (July 2nd). It was phenomenal, but something happened I never expected, one of the openers completely amazed me, to the point where I listen to them twice as often as Panic! now and immediately ordered their CD. The group is called The Hush Sound (I had to link their myspace page because apparently the main site here has had so many hits, it's exceeded some sort of monthly limit) In any case check out their video for Wine Red. Or if you are video challenged, here is my favorite track of late: (I can't plug these guys enough!)
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(click above to play)
Rain falls, quickly wetting my hair and clothes
My cries fall upon her deaf ears more tears
Let me in, please it's cold I'm freezing out here, I miss you my dear
You're all his and I'm all yours, like it or not, I'm all you've got
Everyone will make mistakes
Without the sour the sweet just ain't as
Sweet tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave
Light cuts through the clouds and haunts me, like bad dreams
Outside lookin' in I'm feeling lost and cold as sin
A shred of hope a little bit of sweetness - anything please, except for defeat
If I could I'd lock you up and toss out the key, it's just you and me
Everyone will make mistakes (and I know I have)
Without the sour the sweet just ain't as
Sweet tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave (yeah, yeah)
Sweet melody, you'll be singing in your sleep
But this time you're not listening to a word I say
Crept through the curtains, as quick as the cold wind
Slowly exploring the room where you sleep
The stare of your portrait, the passing of your scent
Left me no choice but to stay
I will dissolve into the dark beneath your bed
My hands will wait for a taste of your skin
Sweet tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave (yeah, yeah)
Sweet melody, you'll be singing in your sleep
But this time you're not listening to a word I say
I word I say
Pick up or buy the MP3's for their latest CD... Like Vines
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S2 154
Woke up feeling a bit tired and hungover, had chinese last night which (because of the sodium) doesn't do so well with a night of drinking. Why is it I never remember this until the next day? I mean Chinese takeout from one of those places that runs around sticking their menu on car windshields is gross. It's all about delivery I guess, I should have just made something myself (and possibly burned down the condo complex). It's only 7:22 I have 3 hours before I need to leave, my coffee maker died so I am drinking this instant shite (Folgers Coffee bags) which surprisingly aren't so bad. I think I will pick up a new unit today.
My life has been pretty eventful of late, I've been seeing someone for about a month now on and off, working like crazy, Grammy is getting tons worse and to make it all better I've been (as I mentioned before) turning to mr Vodka in the evenings with a friend. I don't think the dating thing will last, I'm not feeling it, and by now I so should.
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