Blogrilla

Its been a busy week and I am looking forward to some liesure time.

One of Chloe’s art projects from art class was chosen to be in a city-wide art show at the high school. There’s a reception for the show this evening so we will go and show Chloe some support. I think she will really bask in the attention.

I was telling my mother that Chloe really savors the anticipation of birthdays and events. She gets excited about these things as early as possible and enjoys the excitement of the upcoming event. For instance, she turned seven years old today and by 6am she had opened a couple of present we had set aside for her.

She’s a cutie.

Ben was going to sign up for the Webelos portion of cub scouts on Monday, but everyone was recovering from the 100-year flood that was happening at the time. I called the director and he’s sending over the registration papers.

It looks like Ben and Gabe’s soccer season is about shot. The flood did a number on their field and the city has to lime the fields before they will allow anyone to play on them. Is that being done as some kind of disinfecting measure? I don’t think so — I thought the email meant that they had to put down new lines on the field.

Last night I bought this year’s fishing license. I think I only went out once or twice last year and didn’t catch anything. I know that Horn Pond in Woburn is stocked with trout and with salmon. I’d sure love to catch some of them. But Horn Pond isn’t all that nice a place. I took the boys there last year and they were very disappointed in not catching anything. I often see people fishing at Ell Pond in Melrose and Spot Pond in Stoneham.

Maybe we’ll go there. That is, maybe I’ll go there. I don’t know if anyone else is interested.

I also think I will get to the gym this weekend and maybe take a good bike ride. Maybe I’ll put grace on the back and take her for a ride.

Oh and I’m going to grill the daylights out of something! I’ve got some Northwoods ‘Fire’ Seasoning from Penzy’s that would be good rubbed on something like chicken… or fish!

Ben’s and Chloe’s and Grace’s dance recital is coming up next week, I think.

That’s it for now.

May the wind always be at your back and the road rise up to meet you

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ABC News: Hayden Insists NSA Surveillance Is Legal

I haven’t even read the article yet, but this is the photo that accompanies it. It really makes him look infantile and stupid. I don’t have any personal feelings about the man, but I think its kind of transparent to put a picture like that up.

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ABC News: Cancer Vaccine Deemed Safe, But Who Should Get It?

s sexually transmitted,” said Linda Klepacki, spokeswoman

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Someone recently suggested I take a short political quiz to show where I am on the political scale of things. Me? I’m pretty comfortable with where I’m at, but thought I would show you gross generalization of my views.

You can take the quiz here, if you’re so inclined.

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The flooding is supposed to be at its worst today — well, if you live near a river, creek, pond or body of water.

Otherwise the rain has been letting up and peoples’ basements are receiving less water than before. We still have house guests. I suspect they will probably return home tonight.

Liz did a good job looking after six kids yesterday with no help. The guests’ mother had to be at work. Today she can stay home (that is, over at our house) so I hope it will be better for Liz.

So, no damage to the homestead and all is well.

I can’t believe Dubya thinks the situation on the border is such an emergency that we have to send troops there instead of hiring border patrol. I mean WTF?! Its not like anything has changed there in the last fifty years. Its just as much a problem today as it was 20 years ago. Its not like there are illegal immigrants massing on the border readying for a massive invasion, is it?

Its a stunt.

I think he’s trying to distract people from what a disaster his administration has been in preparation for this fall’s midterm elections.

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Well, we’re a little soggy but none the worse for the wear. And really, we’re not even that soggy. For about 24 hours half the backyard was under water. The swingset stood in about six inches of water and the whole back half of the yard was submerged.

But that’s it. We had a little water come through the front wall of the foundation, but that was just normal seepage. It always drains through the floor in the dungeon. Otherwise, we’re dry.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, so at 9am me and Chloe braved the elements to get to the florist to retrieve the bouquet I had gotten for Liz. We got drenched moving the 15ft from the car to the front door. On the way back we saw water fountaining up out of manholes and the manhole covers just bobbed on top of all this water flowing out. We saw lots of houses with garden hoses and fire hoses draining water that was being pumped from peoples’ basements.

Shortly after getting back we went to a mother’s day brunch at a local hotel. The food was wonderful and the crowds were greatly reduced due to all of the awful weather. So the older kids were able to help themselves to the buffets of delicious fare. They had everything you could want and I thought it was great.

When we got back I got to use my new sander to prepare two walls of my bedroom for painting. Afterwards Liz and I did the painting and that worked out well. Its a good color gives the room a warmth it was certainly lacking.

We got a call from a friend of ours that she was dealing with flooding issues at her house and asked if she and her kids could stay with us for the night. They have a standing invitation to crash at our place if they ever need it. The road she lives on was completely closed due to the new lake in her front yard. She had about three inches of water in the basement, but had pumped that out already. I made a couple of trips over there to help out and bring the kids back. Each time I had to actually get out of the car and move some barriers that are in place to keep people (like me) from proceeding to the flooded areas.

I know - I’m a rebel.

This morning my commute was better than I expected, except that I had to do it twice. The roads were wet, but not flooded like yesterday. I got to the office and realized I had left my office keycards at home! And I had to drive the 30 minutes home to fetch the keys. Normally I get to the office early so I don’t hit rush hour traffic, but today I hit it head-on.

In any case, I was still here any hour or two before most other people.

All is well. The rain is supposed to stop sometime over the next day or two and then its supposed ot be sunny and warm for several days. That will be good.

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I got this as part of some junkmail today. I think it looks delicious!!

But i have to find some some sesame oil and chilli oil.

Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. water
6 Tbsp. soy sauce
4 Tbsp. vinegar
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. chili oil
1 lb. spaghetti
Sesame seeds

Mix first 6 ingredients. Cook spaghetti; drain. Mix in sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. You may want to add scallions or cucumber chunks. Enjoy!
Submitted by Kate, age 10, Colchester, VT

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Just a note to say that all is well. We have a lot of rain coming this weekend and I foresee a lot of indoor activities.

I have some chores I should tend to: some shelves need to be installed and some painting. Nothing interesting, I think.

But for the most part everyone is happy and healthy.

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I went to my favorite coffee shop this morning for a bagel and their coffee smelled so good.

And you know what?

It tasted fantastic!

I had a small cup of wonderful coffee this morning. Eh, I’ll make ammends to myself by drinking lots of water, which I should be doing anyway.

Also, I need to find a way to loose weight without taking time away from work. That means either before work or after. I like riding my bike early in the morning, but
1. Its hard to get up at 5:30am
2. For much of the year its dark then

Maybe I can just do it for the summer and see how that works out. Oh, and I want to change my diet around so at least half of every meal is green. Not like rancid meat, but vegetables.

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There’s quite a bit to like on Chili Peppers’ double disc - The Boston Globe

By Jonathan Perry, Globe Correspondent | May 9, 2006

How many rock bands have the creative spark, staying power, or raw nerve to release a 28-track double CD more than 20 years into their career? About as many as have a bass player named Flea. While creating a simultaneously genre-defining and genre-defying catalog, checkered with boisterous highs and banal lows, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have managed various combinations of spark, stamina, and cheeky spirit. But rarely have the attributes all come together as often as they do on ”Stadium Arcadium,” the Peppers’ ninth studio album, out today.
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