Caring through Craigslist

If ever there was a compelling story about the plight of the average American these days this would be it. . . . Cici and Jared are renovating the first floor apartment, replacing kitchen cabinets, dishwasher, etc. We were motivated to start "pruning" our possessions, with our empty nest not so empty with various unwanted / unneeded items. Although Cici and I made a valiant effort to rid ourselves of "stuff" with a yard sale, it was only partially successful. So, I posted a bunch of items for free (cabinets, sink, dishwasher, radiator cover, queen bed frame) on Craigslist late Monday night.

By Tuesday morning, I had over 200 responses - and some of the emails were so sad. I was sorry not to have more to offer.

Circumventing the Kangamungus Crowds for Columbus Day: Keeping it local

The leaves are turning, and while the scenery in the White Mountains is undeniably stunning (and peaking this past weekend) the crowds and miles of gas consumption proved quite a deterrent. So we made do with some local color at Harvard Divinity School, the Cambridge Cemetery, Habitat, and the new park near Neville Manor.

(and Bonnie made do with some grass/sand/pine needle swimming....)

Stopping at our local butchers and gourmet shop Savenors, we scored some lovely veal bones and fancy mushrooms for stock, and on the way out, discovered a beautiful monarch butterfly (unfortunately deceased.)

It reminded me of a trip to the Hamden fair in Connecticut when I was six - the family had made the trip in my father's old Citroen. I swallowed a bee in my cotton candy (naturally it was NOT happy and stung me.) My parents led me and Alex back to the car and my wails were silenced by the discovery of a car full of monarch butterflies! I've never forgotten it.

The "other" Hamptons

Sunday I met Alex in rainy Revere (pronounced Reveah here in Boston) and we each drove up north to Hampton Beach in New Hampshire for a brief rest cure (Alex having received an invitation from a work colleague and friend to use her beach house.) The house was literally across the street from the beach - you could hear the waves roaring in (courtesy of Hurricane Kyle passing by.) Although the weather was somewhat inclement, I still managed a trek on the beach, which was beautiful. Many hardy souls were out with surfboards and wet suits (but not me!)

Monday I played hooky and accompanied Alex to Wentworth-by-the-Sea for some spa services, first stopping by at the Golden Egg for a delicious breakfast. While at Wentworth-by-the-Sea, I found another subject for my lamppost photograph collection.

Finally, the sun came out! We travelled over the bridge to Maine to indulge in some retail therapy in the Kittery outlets.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Alas, last Saturday dawned awash with the effects of Hurricane Kyle, so plans to attend the "What the Fluff" festival in Central Square were stymied. The enthusiasm for plans to go apple picking were also dampened somewhat, but we did not let that stop us! We trekked out to our favorite orchard and winery, Nashoba Valley, reasoning that if it was horribly rainy when we got there we could at least taste wine!

Providentially, the pelting rain slowed by the time we arrived, although the orchard was, shall we say, somewhat swamp-like. Thankfully, we were suitably shod for the adventure. It turned out the orchard had had a hail storm recently which damaged many of the apples. The orchard could use the damaged apples, though, for cider and wine-making. We took advantage of the pick-a-bag-of-damaged-apples-get-a-half-price-bag-of-good-apples offer, depositing the damaged apples in large white bins. And, we took advantage of the wine, beer and spirit tasting as well!

Now, we just have to finish using all them apples!

Let's go to the Top of the Mountain

http://www.myamericanprayer.com/video.html

I could not possibly say it better than this.

Twuth an' Justice

Monday I had jury duty. Massachusetts has a one day/one trial rule - serving exempts you from jury duty for the next three years. Alas, they moved the courthouse from the tremendously convenient building in EC (East Cambridge) to Woburn. So, I trundled out to Woburn (directions provided by Her Royal Highness TomTomasina, thank goodness, because I would never have found it on my own) and lined up at an obscenely early hour with the rest of the unwashed shivering in the cool, gloomy weather.

Finally it was my turn to go through security, where they impounded my blogger's friend, the digital camera, so I could line up again to receive a little randomly assigned juror number card. Once all 200 or so of us had been seated, we were treated to a little video presentation on jury duty. Although it was well done and somewhat interesting, the narrator of the first part (a Supreme Court Judge) was either not a native English speaker or was struggling mightly to control a severe lisp (in which case I apologize for my snarky sense of humor!) It ended up sounding like something from the Princess Bride. "Twuth an' Justice...."

The Impressive Clergyman: Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...
[cut to Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik]
The Impressive Clergyman: And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...
[cut to the trio again]
The Impressive Clergyman: So tweasure your wuv.
Prince Humperdinck: Skip to the end.
The Impressive Clergyman: Have you the wing?
[cut to the trio once more]
The Impressive Clergyman: ...and do you,Pwincess Buwwercup...
Prince Humperdinck: Man and wife. Say man and wife.
The Impressive Clergyman: Man an' wife.

Anyway, my "service" (which I spent sitting in a corner reading and jotting down ideas for a SAS paper) was terminated early when the trial I was destined for had a SDP (sexually dangerous predator) opt for a decision by the judge rather than a jury. Safe for another 3 years!

Fantasy Realized by a Hockey Mama for Obama

Forwarded to me from several people today.

Dear Friends:

We may have thought we wanted a woman on a national political ticket, but the joke has really been on us, hasn't it? Are you as sick as I am at the thought of Sarah Palin as Vice President of the United States?

Since Palin gave her speech accepting the Republican nomination for the Vice Presidency, Barack Obama's campaign has raised over $10 million dollars. Some of you may already be supporting the Obama campaign financially; others of you may still be recovering from the primaries. None of you, however, can be happy with Palin's selection, especially on her positions on women's issues. So, if you'd like to make your opinion known, may I suggest the following fiendishly brilliant idea?

Make a $5 minimum donation to Planned Parenthood. In Sarah Palin's name. A Planned Parenthood donation is tax deductible.

And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.


You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the 'in Sarah Palin's honor' card. Use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters:

McCain for President/Sarah Palin
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22202

Feel free to send this along to all your women friends as well as your men friends and urge them to do the same.

Thanks!