Donuts and Deval

The mission: To check out the 54th Regiment Monument and the Hall of Flags in the State House

The assignment: Family Exploration of Boston: A Third Grade Social Studies Project for School. For real.

After the T, and some dilly-dallying with cameras, monuments, and donuts.......





we wend our way to the inner sanctum of the State House.....

only to find a closed-off ceremony taking place in the exact room we were hoping to enter.

but! the ceremony ends.....

and! we spot the Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick.


and he's shaking hands and the crowds thinning.....and before you know it, the Governor is wiping donut crumbs off the chin of a certain Brookline 3rd grader and a photo is taken.


Crumbs free.

January 20, 2009

President Barack Obama

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled--Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

Just in case you wanna watch again.....

My Worst Nightmare

Getting my fix

I spend probably a little too much time checking what's the what with a variety of news sources, given that in just three weeks someone other than George W. Bush will be chosen to live in the White House.

My first go-to is usually Huffington Post. Reading HuffPo is a lot like eating huge handfuls of potato chips....tasty, salty, and a very indulgent. Then I'll go to the NY Times for all the news that's fit to print. Maybe a trip over to CNN for a more measured opinion, and then a last quick look at Boston dot com for whatever. Local news, I guess. It's a pretty disappointing site but I'm loyal, nonetheless.

And I go through this routine maybe 8 or 10 times every day.

However, I have now found one addition to my ever-growing list of webernet distractions. Fivethirtyeight.com. 538 references the total number of electors in the electoral college. Nate Silver is the architect. Read more about Nate and his numbers *here*.

I am now officially a nerd. The comparisons...the graphs....all those pretty numbers. It's glorious.

(for now..... Let us hope it remains glorious through November 4)

How to Wink in Seven Steps

How to Wink

Introduction

Winking doesn't come naturally to everyone. Some of us need to practice to be able to do it, or at least to do it without looking like we're having a spasm of some kind. If you don't know how to wink, or you can not seem to get the hang of winking, the following steps may help you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need

*Two eyeballs

Steps

Step One

Look at yourself in the mirror with both eyes open to practice.

Step Two

Close one eye quickly. If you can't do one side, try the other. Do which ever side feels more comfortable.

Step Three

Practice getting one eye as close to closing as possible if you can't get it shut all the way. Don't get frustrated if you can't get it there; it may just take you a while.

Step Four

Close one eye and hold it with your hand if you still can't wink. Practice this until you can keep your eye closed even after you've released it from your hand.

Step Five

Try winking the other eye once you get one eye down. With enough practice you'll be able to wink one eye at a time quickly one after the other.

Step Six

Make sure, by checking yourself out in the mirror, that you aren't squinting or making a weird face when you wink. Practice winking until you look normal and natural doing it.

Step Seven

Try out your new wink on a friend. You'll be able to see by the expression on his face whether you've done it correctly, or if you still need more work.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your new skill in a variety of ways; for flirting, teasing or giving someone a signal. Kids also love to wink and be winked at.
• Don't go overboard with winking. People interpret winking in different ways. Some might think a chronic winker is up to no good.

Don't Vote

Country--+--First

I knew something was a little off with the missing article like, THE Country or OUR Country. It was meant to be taken literally.....now I get it.

(forgive the somewhat adultish content)

I didn't see him officer, even though he was "splayed across" my windshield

Columnist issued citation after hitting pedestrian

July 23, 2008

WASHINGTON --Syndicated columnist Robert Novak says he has been issued a $50 citation after hitting a pedestrian while driving in downtown Washington.

Witnesses say the collision occurred about 10 a.m. Wednesday as the 77-year-old Novak was traveling near K Street in his black Chevrolet Corvette.

D.C. fire department spokesman Alan Etter said the victim was taken to George Washington University hospital with minor injuries.

Novak tells WJLA-TV he was cited for failing to yield the right of way. He says he didn't realize what happened and continued driving until a bicyclist stopped him.

David Bono, the bicyclist who witnessed the incident, told The Associated Press that the pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk and was splayed across Novak's windshield.

Hmm, do the words warm, cuddly, snuggle-bear, fluffy-cherub come to mind by any chance?

Ok'd "Harsh Interrogations."

Big Surprise.

"Yes We Can Obama Song" by will.i.am

I know this has been going around for a couple of days...but in a word, for me, this represents

i n s p i r a t i o n

VOTE!!! 'cuz it's supah tuesday....

In case you want to laugh about our last presidential race...

Yes. I am a soccer mom.

We own just one car. It's a minivan. We even have a nice, liberal bumper sticker on the rear bumper (01-20-09 Bush's Last Day).

And it's a Honda Odyssey. It's silver. It's as prosaic and pedestrian as possible. And the car takes us to a variety of Brookline soccer games-among other places.

(but my disclaimer is that when I'm in it alone I blast as much loud, kick-ass, rock'n roll as possible just to rid myself of the very square, middle-aged mom I've come to be. I might even dance while I'm driving.)

And both of my kids play soccer. And I go to their games and their practices. Really to chat and hang with my friends more than anything, to be perfectly honest. And since cheering or yelling isn't really cool here, this (insert air quotes here) soccer works for everyone.

And this year Scott is coaching Colby's soccer team (the Volcanoes if you must know) just as he coached Maia's team (the Asteroids) last year. Scott, former high school soccer star, takes a very low-key approach to coaching, which is very appropriate. I, however, when not analyzing childhood drama with another parent on the sidelines, want nothing more than to take a high-key approach to kids soccer. I'm all about yelling and cheering and acting like the real Midwestern sports fan that I've closeted for so long. But I don't. Instead, I hunt down another parent with whom I can chat.

But the other day at Colby's soccer practice I couldn't help myself. After I 'casually' asked Scott in the middle of an awkward soccer drill for 6 year olds if he were 'tired because he seemed so quiet' and after I 'casually' asked Scott if he wanted a coffee to 'wake up and get involved in the boys practice' I had just one. more. thing. to. say.

Colby's a lefty. Left-handed and left-footed. And Scott was showing Colby, by grabbing his foot-his right foot-how to properly kick and dribble the ball.


And so I yelled (shrill, loud) from across the field,

"SCOTT!
YOUR SON IS A LEFTY!"










First I got a look of squinty-eyed-pursed-lipped-rage from Scott. Now I think I'm banned from soccer practices.