A good day weather-wise for all the little ghosts and goblins.
High of almost 70! We’ve had snow some years.
We’ve stocked up on candy – only the types I’ll eat – and look forward to the little ones tonight. I mean really, what mean person buys cheap candy of a type they themselves would not eat? There are circumstances when I understand the need to egg someone’s car or mailbox.
Trick or Treat!
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Folks at work went on a team building adventure yesterday afternoon to TOMB on
I think it is targeted for middle school kids – or adults with that skill level. The premise is that we are scientists who uncover an ancient Egyptian Tomb in
At the start of the expedition, we are told of the grave dangers, of others who have lost their lives in this quest, etc. We’re given several flashlights for the group and then have to find the way in. Guess the flashing blue button hidden behind a shrub would not have been a dead giveaway if one was 15.
Once inside the tomb, we are tested and have to pass several tests in each room – 3 or 4 rooms in total. The idea being you have to work as a team to solve the puzzles. One thing that did get my heart pounding was a test of our courage as “vipers” attacked. Those who know of my snake sagas, know that it was touch and go for a moment. Turns out that the vipers were really short puffs of air – even I was not moved.
In the end, we solved the puzzles, found the pharaohs body – so he can now rest in peace, and booked it over to the nearest bar for a stiff drink where the team building really began.
I am delighted to say that as long as you know what to order off the menu, the food is quite delicious. I prefer the items on their menu as opposed to the weekend buffet – not enough variety (the only meat is the safe one – Chicken). And I am partial to Lamb.
It’s always an adventure when you order wine in an Indian Restaurant. The first time we ordered a bottle of red at Café Goa, we watched in amusement as every man that worked there came out to offer their advice on how to uncork the bottle. Just as one of us was going to walk over to the bar and offer to help, one of the guys succeeded in getting the cork out.
Am delighted to report that since our last visit, someone took the time to train our waiter on wine etiquette. Last night, he brought the bottle to our table. Showed it to us. Uncorked it and had me taste. Proceeded to fill the glasses in the correct order. Left the cork on the table. Halleluiah! His mother could not have been more proud.
Thought since Halloween is approaching you may need to brush up on your Halloween Safety Tips.
1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.
2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even just for kicks.
3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.
4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.
5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go alone
6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.
7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well.
8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HELL OUT!
9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits, just get out.
10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead.
11. If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look round.
12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing.
13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.
14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them off them immediately. You'll thank yourself later.
15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville,
16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange you ran out of gas because you thought you had most of a tank, shoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway and most likely be eaten.
17. Beware of strangers bearing strange tools. For example: chainsaws, nail guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws or any devices made from deceased companions.
18. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. (It's a toss-up. We know.) This also applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad, committed suicide, died in some horrible fashion, OR had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house.
19. (And perhaps the most important..) Always get out as soon as the scary music starts playing.
....Thanks Philip for passing this along....
ome to visit, we read. (Click on pics to enlarge)
Rafiki loves to bring me presents. Usually it is still alive when he lays it at my feet.
This morning, my present was a little field mouse. Do I know the difference between a field and house mouse? I do not. But since it was brown, assumed that meant it was a field mouse.
The little guy was in a state of shock. Rafiki drops it near my yoga mat while I’m in the boat pose. Well, got out of the boat in a flash. Must have startled the mouse who made a quick get-a-away dash. Yelled at Rafiki to “get him” and he obediently brought the mouse back. Frantically looked for a rag/towel/shirt to pick it up in, and then let him go outside. The little mouse fled down the stairs into the early morning darkness.
So here is my dilemma. Can one really scold a cat for showing love in the way he is programmed to show it? And to add to the confusion, I did tell him to catch it when it was trying to escape. At least this gift was living. Other gifts have not been so lucky, and then the entire saga takes on a dark tinge. The most exciting gifts are the ones that get away and hide under furniture. Ever tried to catch a chipmunk? They are darn fast.
Is anyone else a little squirmy about Diane Sawyer’s dispatches from
I think she is a very accomplished journalist, and maybe that’s the problem. Granted this is Good Morning America (GMA) – I catch about 10 mins before I run out the door in the morning.
Stories like “We’ll see what they eat for breakfast” can hardly be considered news from a country that is planning a second nuclear test. I know that she’ll probably have her visa revoked if she said anything controversial, and maybe we’ll hear the real scoop once she’s back in the
Do we really need another wealthy American asking the “natives” why they hate
I for one want some real news – like what exactly is the problem with Madonna adopting a child from
Over the Columbus Day Holidays, S and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary.
I couldn’t quite believe it and actually had to do the math several times! 15 years! How did that happen?
It’s been a ride with ups, downs, thrills and spills. It’s wonderful to know that we can make things work when we’re both really busy and stressed out, and when we are both taking extended periods of time off. We’ve learned how to be together and when to take needed time apart. We continue to change, challenge each other and most importantly find each other immensely amusing.
For the blessing that we still talk for hours daily, that we often have great ideas to solve the world’s problems, that we still surprise each other, that we are still best friends, warts and all – I am incredibly grateful.
"Health is so necessary to all the duties,
as well as pleasures of life,
that the crime of squandering it is equal to folly."
--Samuel Johnson
I have gripped for ages about the "old school" Boston T system. Granted it is an old system, but let's catch up with the rest of the century already.
Why can I not buy a card that allows me to swipe my way through? A card that allows me to carry a balance and skip all that wasted time trying to find tokens I bought on previous trips to “save me time” later.
Well, the MBTA gods have answered my prayers.
Enter the Charlie. Now those of you, like me, who were not aware of the cultural significance of “The Wizard of Oz”, might be wondering at the name.
Charlie? Who is Charlie? Turns out the name comes from an old song about a guy who did not have a nickel to get off the trains (payment was required at exit not entry), so rode about forever – while his wife handed him sandwiches for sustenance. Why not simply hand him a nickel? All I can say is that I do not claim to understand everything of cultural significance.
Those of you (and you know who you are) who relish Big Dig sagas, know that there is a catch. And it’s a big one. Only a handful of T stops can handle the Charlie. For most of the stops you still need tokens. So now, I’ve doubled what I have to look for on every trip – tokens and that card. (much shaking of head).
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a huge baseball fan.
Sure, I'll watch a game if it's on in front of me, but go out of my way to catch a game? Hardly.
I have watched quite a few games in the past week or so however. How could I not when Susan has dug up the old Tigers pendant and baseball hat? The win on Saturday was super sweet for all those
If only to make my partner happy - I say:
Go Tigers!
I spent the first week at work trying a different route to and from work each day. Found that time on the highways made me tense and I’d arrive at work with my shoulders tight. Decided to try back roads, and have found the perfect one. It takes me past farms, a river and ponds. It is windy and offers much to look at. The places where traffic back up are not too bad.
I listen to audio books on my drive. Discovered the joy of audio books several years ago, and find them perfect for books that I am not hot to actually read myself, but am interested in.
Not all books make good audio books. They must be written well. Be read by someone whose voice and reading style does not put your teeth on edge. Not require too much concentration – at least for me.
I’ve listened to both fiction and non-fiction audio books. Last week I laughed my way to and from work listening to a Jimmy Tingle CD. The guy is really funny. Am currently listening to “The Hungry Tide” by Amitav Ghosh. So far so good.
When I started working in tech again, I decided that this time around, I was going to be diligent about having more balance in my life. Make the time to play, read, do things that fill my batteries. One of the commitments I made to myself was that I would take a daily walk. And I am quite proud of myself. I have only missed one day since I started work 4 weeks ago.
I usually go out first thing in the morning – cannot wake up enough to have a conversation with myself – as I talk myself out of it (too cold, too tired, etc). I’m on my walk around 5:30am, and it has quickly become one of the favorite parts of my day. Something I do just for me.
This has become a daily ritual that sustains me.
