The War on 'Tara'

How much of a traitor I really am...

America is caught in a time of great crisis. Never before has she faced such a menacing threat to the freedoms she upholds. Terrorists swarm around her on all sides, threatening with their evil plans. And yet there are many, inside America as well as out, who are actually rooting for the terrorists to win.

Perhaps you are one of these terrorist sympathizers. Or maybe you are a true American patriot. There is only one way to find out for sure, and that is to take this quiz. Answer HONESTLY, no deceiving, and at the end you will find out how much of a traitor you are. Good luck.

Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 83%

You are a terrorist-loving scoundrel who hates our dear leader and the values he defends. There are few redeeming qualities about you. You most likely celebrated when the evil-doers hit us on 9/11, then opposed the Iraq war when we tried to pay them back. You hurt us at every step and cause troops to die in the field by questioning Bush's decisions. You are most likely a lost cause, doomed to be a brainwashed victim of free thought and liberalism forever. No dose of Ann Coulter's prose can save you now.

Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

You be the judge

It seems quite obvious where David gets his different faces.

From studying Mom & Dad of course!





The resemblance is uncanny.

And I Hear Him Every Night

On every street
The scales that do slither
Deliver me from....

I hear him every night. Him being my mysterious neighbor with the can't-be-good-cough.

He’s got fasting black lungs
Made of clove splintered shards
They’re the kind that will talk
Through a wheezing of coughs

I rarely, if ever, see this guy. Actually, I can't recall his face and I've been living here since the summer.

And I hear him every night
In every pore
And every time he just makes me

He's a quiet guy, and other than knowing where he lives, and that he has a helluva cough, I don't know much about him.

Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Must I hide
'Cause I’ll never never sleep alone

I barely hear him at all except some weird scurrying up and down his stairs, and during the occasional late night when I hear him hacking up a lung.

Look at how they flock to him
From an isle of open sores
He knows that the taste is such
Is such to die for

I imagine him to be a recovering smoker.

And I hear him every night
On every street
The scales that do slither
Deliver me from....

I feel as if one night I may have to call an ambulance or something; he gets so bad sometimes.

Oh lord
Said I’m, Said I’m, Said I’m
Said I’m bloodshot for sure

And then the hacking turns to silence.

Pale runs the ghost
Til I'm merely
Swollen on the shore
everynight
in every pore
The scales that do slither
Deliver me from…

I hope he gets better...

Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Let me die
'Cause I’ll never never sleep alone

Simba & Darla's Whisker Wishes

Simba & Darla may look lazy here, but they are getting smarter and smarter every day. Why just today Simba lowered the blinds down all on his own while Darla thought it helpful to trim the new hanging plant in the living room with her razorlike claws.

They have now learned how to use the computer and compiled this little Christmas list for their purring pleasure.

Hear You Me

My Friends

There's no one in town I know
You gave us someplace to go
I never said thank you for that
Thought I might get one more chance

You know how you get those emails about friendship and not taking people for granted and living life to the fullest? Well when I rec'd this message last Monday it struck me more than any of those fwds ever could.

A young woman passed away. I felt for her because of the unfairness, I felt for my friends who went to school with her and were in plays where she was the lead. She hadn't yet turned 30. She was living her life and then quite suddenly found out she was going to die soon. Way too soon. I was at work when I got this email, and was trying to finish some stuff before I went home early because my head hurt pretty badly. It had been like that last week too, and I had told my boss I was going to leave early since I didn't feel well. I ended up sticking through the day since it was pretty busy. Same thing happened the next day. Damn headache again, I thought, but when it recurred again the following Monday I grew weary of it. Then I got this email, finished a few tasks that I wanted to get done, and hightailed it out of there. When it comes to your health you really shouldn't mess around. This is probably nothing, but I felt better staying home about nothing and resting my aching head than staying the course at work in pain that o.d.ing on aspirin wasn't really helping.

I called my doctor who scheduled an MRI and slept the rest of the week until Thanksgiving. My head still hurts, but not as badly. I'll go take the MRI next week. The news (below) of this girl really made me think. If a doctor told you you had less than 2 weeks to live, how would you feel? What would you do? What regrets would weigh you down? Which friends would you want to spend time with during those precious last days? Why are those last days so precious; why not today? Why not everyday?

I thought about it, let it fester for a few days. I don't really have any regrets. Real regrets that is. Sure, there are small things I would probably do differently if given the chance, but I'm ok with myself, my choices. I would only lament the things I looked forward to doing. I lament this girl's unfinished life. It's such a cliche saying but so true, that life's too short. Too short for the bullshit that goes on everyday. Too short for the wasted feelings, wasted time. I felt better knowing that I'm happy with whatever I have, whatever I don't have, whatever I've done; I'm happy at this very moment.

Are you?

what would you think of me now?
so lucky
so strong
so proud
never said thank you for that
now I'll never have a chance

-----Original Message-----
From: Woodworth
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 7:39 AM
To: public
Subject: Lisa Richardson

For any staff member who may have known Lisa Richardson, (Timberlane, Class of 1995) or who was fortunate enough to see her perform as a member of the Timberlane Players in the days prior to the PAC, we regret to inform you that Lisa passed away on Sunday morning. She was a uniquely gifted performer, and a fun-loving, witty and caring young woman. The following details of her illness and the arrangements for her wake and funeral were given to me this morning.

For anyone who was not aware, Lisa was admitted to the
hospital about a week and a half ago with a severe
headache, which turned out to be a large inoperable
and cancerous brain tumor. She spent the last 9 days
in a coma and then she passed this morning November
19th 2006 at 9:30 am.

Keep her family in your thoughts now during what must
be the most unbearable moments of their lives.

Wake: Tuesday, 11/21/06. 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00
PM. Brookside Funeral Home.

Funeral: Wednesday, 11/22/06. 11:00 AM Mass at Holy
Angels Church, Plaistow, NH.

Directions and further information is available at the
following website; www.brooksidechapelfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the
Lisa Richardson Fund c/o K. of C. 6617, P.O. Box 589
Plaistow, NH 03865. This fund is being set up to
provide an annual scholarship to the most promising
actor or actress at T.R.H.S. in Plaistow, NH. This is
the program that allowed Lisa to begin her love affair
in theater.

*************************************************************

If you were with me tonight
I'd sing to you just one more time
A song for a heart so big God couldn't let it live

May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in

Happy Thanksgiving!

I guess the wild neighborhood turkey is smarter than I thought. I haven't seen him around for a while, actually since August or September. Good move since some people will do anything for a free Thanksgiving turkey. Shaw's has this special: spend an exorbitant amount of money from October something to November whatever and receive a free turkey and some fixings! I got sucked into their promotional game last time when you spend a lot and get 20% off your next bill. I was friggin' 2 measly points away from that one and it sucked spending over $100 on the next shopping trip knowing I was so darn close to saving a good amount of money.

So this time I didn't play into their free turkey tricks--mainly because I haven't needed to shop for groceries that much lately, and I'm going to families' houses for the holiday so I don't need to buy the bird. Here is a crappy picture of the wild turkey after he ran over my lawn and crossed the street to the neighbor's house. Oh, how the cats loved it!

In the meantime don't eat like a pig tomorrow, yet don't be wasteful, as your parents always told you, "think of the starving kids who would love to have those leftovers." Bono does and so should you.
That concert BTW was the best I've ever gone to. U2 rocks. Thanks again Jen for that awesome present!!

Rest Of U2 Perfectly Fine With Africans Starving

From Boston to Tahiti

I've always wanted to go to Tahiti and since Theo hasn't yet taken me, I decided to go without him. Transportation was graciously provided by The Wicks, so we all went together and even took the little guy. It was a great time complete with a live fire show. The locals do it up right.

Before we went to Tahiti we all went to downtown Boston to do some shopping and eating at Fanueil Hall.


We searched high and low for a new (first) winter hat for David (shown here) since it's started to get a bit chilly (~50 degrees). Friday it was in the sixties here; unusually warm for New England this time of year, but I love it.

Princess Sophia & I found an awesome new store called Funusual and barely made it through the first aisle before we needed to get going (the boys waited outside and the littlest one started to fuss). They had such great and unique stuff that it was hard to leave.

Even though it's not yet Thanksgiving they had a bunch of Christmas stuff, and a group of people playing the bells out in front of the Hall stairs. It sounded very good. There were also breakdancers and the old Native American performers (regulars to Quincy Market).


When we were done perusing the carts and stores we grabbed some good eats inside FH Marketplace, stopped at one more store and then walked back through the Commons to go home and get ready to depart for our trip to Tahiti.



The sunset heading west was soft and sweet.






And downtown looked nice as always. It took a while to get to Tahiti, but it was well worth it. I would suggest everyone go at least once in their life, and if you want some company, I'm game.

Going on a Treasure Hunt!

X marks the spot.
3 lines down
And a question mark.
Spider going up,
Blood dripping down.
Cool breeze, pfh, pfh,
Tight squeeze.

This Saturday I'm going to be traversing all over Boston as a chosen participant in the "Great Diamond Hunt"!

I'm so excited because
1. It'll be a ton of fun
2. Only 200 people were chosen to take part in this and
3. The Grand Prize is a $25,000 diamond ring.
4. The 10 other prizes are $200 gift certificates to E.B. Horn, New England's last family-owned jewelry store of its size.

I love treasure hunts--I made one up for my friend, Mia, freshman year that led her all around our dorm to find her birthday present. That was pretty fun as I imed her clues when she got stuck, and hid in Jesse & Josh's room when she came looking for me (a bit perturbed if I remember correctly, though jokingly so).

Jesse helped out when she asked where I was by telling her I was in the best looking guy on the floors room...much to his offense she did not go directly to his room, and by the time she did I was hiding (trying not to giggle) in his closet. Tee hee hee!

Anywho, this hunt should be fun as well. It starts in Boston Common with a map and some clues and should lead each 2 person team to different romantic and historic sites all over the city in the search for little boxes with a diamond ring in them (fake I imagine). If we are the lucky 10 to find said treasure we get the real loot at a dinner later that night. During the day they will text message more clues via cell phone.

I am bursting with anticipation for this event. I don't need another diamond ring, but I have someone in mind who I would give it to, and the gift certificate would be cool too.

There's even a cute legend about a lost diamond engagement ring and the proposal that never was due to the untimely death of James Ernest Fitzgerald.

I better go brush up on my Boston history!

Rock the Vote!

No matter what your beliefs, who you favor, or what wacky party allegiances you have--go out and vote on Tuesday, November, 7th!!!!!

Still undecided?

Visit vote-smart.org and the candidates' web sites for more information:

MASS CURRENT CANDIDATES
U.S. Senate Candidates
Mr. Kenneth G. Chase - (Republican)
Senator Edward M. 'Ted' Kennedy - (Democrat)

U.S. House Candidates (Boston)
Representative Stephen F. Lynch District 9 - (Democrat)
Mr. Jack E. Robinson District 9 - (Republican)

U.S. House Candidates (Springfield)
Representative Richard E. Neal District 2 - (Democrat)

United States First Circuit Court of Appeals
Court Information
First Circuit Judges

Massachusetts Senate Candidates
Mr. Douglas E. Obey District Suffolk and Norfolk - (Republican)
Senator Marian Walsh District Suffolk and Norfolk - (Democrat)

Massachusetts Senate Candidates
Representative Gale D. Candaras District Hampden and Hampshire 01st - (Democrat)
Enrico John Villamaino District Hampden and Hampshire 01st - (Republican)

Massachusetts House of Representatives Candidates
Representative Robert K. Coughlin District Norfolk 11th - (Democrat)

Massachusetts House of Representatives Candidates
Megan Anzalotti District Hampden 09th - (Unenrolled)
Representative Sean Curran District Hampden 09th - (Democrat)
Robert J. Underwood District Hampden 09th - (Libertarian)

Governor Candidates
Lt. Governor Kerry M. Healey - (Republican)
Mr. Christy Mihos - (Independent)
Mr. Deval L. Patrick - (Democrat)
Ms. Grace Ross - (Green-Rainbow)

You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog!

This Halloween was pretty fun. We didn't get as many kids as we thought we would, so I started handing out double and triple amounts to the ones that did ring our doorbell. The most creative custume of the night was a young teenage girl who was a UPS person, and her candy "bag" was a UPS package with a slit on the top. Props for being unique. Of course we have lots of leftover candy and all the people at work brought in all their extras too; I'll be gaining a few pounds this week...
The cats were spared custumes this year, though Simba had to try on the retired Johnny Damon wig from Halloweens of old.

I think he looked more like Elvis.








Then the cats tried to ambush our Pumpkin Ale. Darla made friends with the Halloween stuffed animals...











And Simba's true identity was revealed.

There's No Place Like...

So the Hub and I have joined the world of homeowners!

It's very exciting, and feels good to own our own place. We're having lots of fun decorating it and making it feel more like home. I would have to say that the most exciting home furnishing we purchased was our washer & dryer. One of our guy friends who bought a townhouse last year tried to say that it gets old quick when you realize it's still annoying having to do laundry, but I disagree. Laundry has gone from a chore to a treat. Will I some day share the view of said guy friend? Perhaps someday when there is more than 2 peoples' clothes to clean, but for now, I really don't mind it; it's leagues better than going to a public laundramat or, more often, lugging it 90 miles west.

The 2nd best new thing in the house is our king size BeautyRest. Oh baby, this is like heaven! I look at our old full size bed and wonder how we've survived so many years together. That thing looks so tiny now.

The latest addition to the place was a brand new sectional for the living room. After buying a new couch I am starting to really feel grown-up. Not that you need to buy things to feel like an adult, but it's weird like that. I love, love, love the sectional, and it has dual recliners--as if you didn't have enough room. It is sweet. The cats love it too and join us as we watch TV at night, everyone on their own cushion. We had to make sure to only look at certain colors so every piece of cat hair wouldn't show up as soon as they jumped on it. These kitties shed a lot, more than any other short-haired cats I've known.

The cats' acclimation to the new place is a story all its own, and for another day. Let's just say they hate all motor vehicles, actually anything with a motor really, especially vacuums.
Even though I miss the convenience of the city, it's hard to complain, really, since the Boston line is right down the street, and I still pass Comm. Ave every day to work, and see the T going by. That thing is so cute when you don't actually have to be stuck on it everyday for work.

One of the nicer benefits of our new home is that it is only a 15 minute drive to work. It took me longer to commute when I lived in Boston only a couple of miles away. It's funny how that works.

Right now, I am most excited about finally having kids come to trick or treat. Apartment complexes in Boston don't really get any Halloween visitors; they would tend to go to neighboring Brookline or Newton. Now we are in a cute little neighborhood with plenty of children, and even some wild animals. So far I've seen a wild turkey strutting across my lawn, a baby deer, and a little rabbit, as well as numerous types of birds and woodland creatures. Our neighbor's multiple birdhouses really drive the cats crazy! Who, by the way, are doing a great job losing that weight they had packed on from being cooped up in a small apartment. They love chasing each other up and down the stairs, and sliding across the hard wood floors. They're funny to watch!
My new neighbor, Dina, has a cute little dog who looks just like Toto.

All in all, I think everyone's happy here =)

You're out of the woods
You're out of the dark
You're out of the night
Step into the sun
Step into the light
Keep straight ahead for
The most glor ...
... ious place
On the face
Of the earth or the sky

Hold onto your breath
Hold onto your heart
Hold onto your hope
March up to the gate
And bid it open--

Fright Fest

So last Friday the 13th I wanted to see a scary movie. On Demand had only a couple worth buying, so I went with The Hills Have Eyes, and whew wee it sure was scary.

If you're looking for a scary one to view for Halloween check this out, just make sure not to watch it alone, and you might want to put something like a bat or a gun next to the couch...just in case.

You're it!

Seriously? This is pretty stupid.

Not it! Mass. elementary school bans tag

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Tag, you're out! Officials at an elementary school south of Boston have banned kids from playing tag, touch football and any other unsupervised chase game during recess for fear they'll get hurt and hold the school liable.

Recess is "a time when accidents can happen," said Willett Elementary School Principal Gaylene Heppe, who approved the ban.

While there is no districtwide ban on contact sports during recess, local rules have been cropping up. Several school administrators around Attleboro, a city of about 45,000 residents, took aim at dodgeball a few years ago, saying it was exclusionary and dangerous.

Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Spokane, Wash., also recently banned tag during recess. A suburban Charleston, S.C., school outlawed all unsupervised contact sports.

"I think that it's unfortunate that kids' lives are micromanaged and there are social skills they'll never develop on their own," said Debbie Laferriere, who has two children at Willett, about 40 miles south of Boston. "Playing tag is just part of being a kid."


Another Willett parent, Celeste D'Elia, said her son feels safer because of the rule. "I've witnessed enough near collisions," she said.


What's next? A ban on hopscotch? The swings? Slides? God forbid Junior get a cut or a bruise--not my baby! Pretty soon we'll have a complete ban on fun itself. That's OK since adulthood is much more fun anyway. Right then. Wild and fun. Everyday. Yeah.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

There's a land that's fair and bright,

I found it funny that my colleagues in other states didn't get Columbus Day off, but we did...suckas! They're all crying about it on the phone when they're like, but I emailed you on Monday, and I'm all, well we had the holiday off, so Tuesday was pretty busy for us. Then they pretend to feel sorry that Tuesday was so busy since they had to work on Monday--and I'm like hey, if you live in New England then Columbus Day is a required holiday off! It's beautiful here this time of year. And besides they can laugh at us when we're freezing our booties off in a nor'easter in January and they're wearing shorts & flip flops in Florida. Yeah.

I'm bound to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

So last holiday weekend I went to The White Mountains, home of my great-grandparents and the grandfather I never really knew. My great-grandmother lived to be an active 94- years old. She attributed this to the clean mountain air and the fact that she kept active throughout her life, both physically and mentally. One time I went to visit her in college with my boyfriend and I stopped at a flower shop in town to pick up a potted plant for her since she loved to garden. I sort of remembered how to get to her house, but had never actually been the driver during family visits so wasn't entirely sure. The lady at the flower shop started talking to me and it came out that I was visiting my greatgrammie. Since everyone knows everyone in small towns she asked her name and I said Doris Cawley and she, of course, not only knew her, but knew where she lived and gave good directions to her house. Small towns are cute.

As we set out for the 28 mile drive along the Kangamangus Highway for some hiking amongst the fall foliage followed by outlet store shopping we passed the hotel my family always used to stay at when we trekked up north. It looked the same, but was under new ownership. I looked around to see if I could recognize the flower shop I had stopped at about 5 years ago, but I think it was more off of the main road. I like to think it's still there, and that the lady still remembers my greatgrammie, who at 92 years of age would get down and dirty in her garden behind her little white house. The house where I saw my first hummingbird visit the feeder by her window, and watched the babbling brook running by out back. The place where I listened intently to many stories about my grandpa and greatgrandfather, and the work that they did to help build the little town of North Woodstock, NH.








That was the first time I drove there myself, and the last time I ever saw her.






I'll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

The Cow Jumped Over the Moon

Tonight's full Moon will be almost 12 percent bigger than some of the full Moons this year, according to NASA. For me, this explains a lot.

My week has been unusually weird; Monday was normal, but ever since Tuesday I have faced a number of oddities that I shan't get into on this blog, not only for the sake of sparing my hands from typing a novel, but also for your boredom's sake. I asked one of my co-workers on Tuesday if it was a full moon that night, and saw from my calander that it wasn't. Perhaps weird things happen leading up to a full moon, or perhaps I just have (probably all in this order) crappy/strange/awesome luck lately. I dunno.

Anywho, here is something you may not know about tonight's bigger-than-normal full moon...

The reason: The Moon is near perigee, the point on its slightly out-of-round orbit that is closest to Earth.

This Moon is called the Harvest Moon, owing to its timing of being nearest the autumnal equinox. Farmers in the past relied on it to harvest all night. The Harvest Moon is not always closer and bigger than normal.

The Moon will rise around 6 p.m. local time (compute exact time for your location). It will be officially "full" at 11:13 p.m. ET, though the Moon is never really full.

Some other strange Moon facts:

The Moon is not bigger when on the horizon.
The Moon is moving away as you read this. Far away.
There is no proof the Moon makes people crazy.

Late Monday night and into Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, the Moon will pass in front of the Pleiades star cluster, creating an interesting skywatching opportunity for skywatchers with telescopes.

There you have it folks--there is no evidence that full moons either make people, or machines, crazy, but this has still been a crazy week. If anyone has any explanation, I'm all ears!