tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57682507756086378772024-03-13T12:44:51.794-04:00Smother of OneSmothering my one and only since 2007 and making other observations
since...foreverLibbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-61537265557137244292011-01-01T20:35:00.006-05:002011-01-01T20:53:47.970-05:00Futurer Than 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocNxOP8IgFJ7i_IKCz6PHwo7mFAib-QmiyC4JbifUU-wXHuqwQeFTcfp074ANJDsmsXaUYKkuAcfIo5ORNlaYfZyddQ7qzRM9qcwVhbr4Tp1qZniTXDV2C2qcgUsBgoexvfumrMMajh4/s1600/Happy-New-Year-2011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocNxOP8IgFJ7i_IKCz6PHwo7mFAib-QmiyC4JbifUU-wXHuqwQeFTcfp074ANJDsmsXaUYKkuAcfIo5ORNlaYfZyddQ7qzRM9qcwVhbr4Tp1qZniTXDV2C2qcgUsBgoexvfumrMMajh4/s400/Happy-New-Year-2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557398776584411010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's 1/1/11 which means my car is 10 years old, I've been living with Wally for 10 years minus one week (long story), and my cat Geoff is not only 18 years old, he's 18 and a HALF. Wally spent New Year's Eve rocking The Empire, but I spent countdown time going na-nights with my beloved Christmas Nano,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47rqSDw_I96X7Iz9xh6fQr-9bZ0NXSP4NE2SR_7R3pm8tK-bt5DAG8rS1eB6s60-5X3TVoJKEOabXHlWzZRD73dF2ftNgdIORsI01-VEAsJA9gtuNZROeQgRbjJ5eYea4H1RsvPQqBq0/s1600/nano.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47rqSDw_I96X7Iz9xh6fQr-9bZ0NXSP4NE2SR_7R3pm8tK-bt5DAG8rS1eB6s60-5X3TVoJKEOabXHlWzZRD73dF2ftNgdIORsI01-VEAsJA9gtuNZROeQgRbjJ5eYea4H1RsvPQqBq0/s400/nano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557399130515976098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pitter Pat</span><br /></div><br />...but so many of the songs I have on it are new-to-me and keeping me awake, I needed something mellow and something I knew inside-out. I needed The Wall. So I went two feet and got it off the internet and I was asleep 20 minutes later. Sometimes living in The Future is gooood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc70NPxfZGOPJXiUXVPN5zOQ2589QBcf8W6VCVfv_wKWMXFdiDMfbZTfpYFhHzSi7doShf3TvGrrAJ15fT1Q-16aXd1C8HbVcyDcmD7Syh3GTBFZi8CDAHkPPJfSQKoHbHUU6y34TBew/s1600/pink-floyd-the-wall.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc70NPxfZGOPJXiUXVPN5zOQ2589QBcf8W6VCVfv_wKWMXFdiDMfbZTfpYFhHzSi7doShf3TvGrrAJ15fT1Q-16aXd1C8HbVcyDcmD7Syh3GTBFZi8CDAHkPPJfSQKoHbHUU6y34TBew/s400/pink-floyd-the-wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557400102617697874" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!<br /></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-59051190656842012992010-12-30T20:33:00.005-05:002010-12-30T21:10:31.710-05:00Making GoodMy little fisherman and I made good on our <a href="http://www.the350project.net/home.html">3/50 project</a> today, we visited <a href="http://www.freerangefish.com/">Free Range Fish & Lobster</a> where I couldn't help but notice that the haddock was pricier than the lobster. Only in Maine! We bought not-so-free-range farm salmon, a product of <a href="http://www.esa.org/science_resources/issues/FileEnglish/issue8.pdf">an industry </a>that I'm told is scheduled to <a href="http://blogs.law.widener.edu/sealing/2010/08/25/terror-at-the-sushi-bar-the-ecological-disaster-on-the-tip-of-your-chopsticks/">blow up the planet</a>, but I can only coddle one righteous cause at a time. We spent just half of the $16.67 requirement, yet I feel justified since earlier this month we spent a tunzl at <a href="http://www.simplyscandinavianfoods.com/">Simply Scandinavian Foods </a>on a <a href="http://www.princesstorte.com/">Princess Torte </a>and other squeezable fish European tube products. That's 2/3 of the 3/50 pledge, but I'm sure I spent enough at the <a href="http://www.maineyellowpages.com/781854/Congress-St-Clipper-Mart-Portland-ME">Clipper Mart</a> to make up the difference...for the new year I make it a goal to be more mindful of where I spend our tiny billettes of finance--Enough with The Man sticking it to the little guy, harumph.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7eICKcjSWZE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7eICKcjSWZE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Little Fisherman Guy</span><br /></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-57818764494773064512010-12-29T20:46:00.000-05:002011-01-29T00:10:34.893-05:00Three Fitty, PleezOn the evening that my former <span style="font-weight: bold;">corporate </span>employer mailed me an end-of-year "fundraiser" letter stating that I was overpaid by $742 and that I needed to mail it back to them (I don't, it's been established that they were wrong and that they should go to hell) I come across this sad <a href="http://www.alternet.org/health/131910?page=entire">depressing article</a> on the state of once-local products, and instantly I've become recommitted to "buying local," something I wish I'd done more of this holiday season (as it turns out, the internet isn't as local as I thought it was.) So here's the <a href="http://www.the350project.net/home.html">3/50 Project</a>--$50/month at 3 local businesses, that's ***digging out calculator*** $16.666666666666666667 per business per month. Heck, that's...I don't know, I'm bad at math, but still. While it was brief, considering the panic I went through wondering where and how I might come up with this $742 and the ensuing battle I took on with the payroll department when the CEO down the street <a href="http://ow.ly/3vWLd">makes plenty </a>to cover <span style="font-style: italic;">their </span>goliathan error, I know I need to start rethinking things...even when my former corporate employer is local (just nevermind that part.)<br />
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<span class="body_links"><a href="http://www.the350project.net/" target="_blank"> <img border="0" src="http://www.the350project.net/supporter_graphics/member_icons/350_project_200x177.jpg" /> </a></span><br />
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Three Slash Fifty! Support Your Local Bands! Three Slash Fifty!</div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-7959591593315656942010-12-27T19:04:00.015-05:002010-12-28T10:48:26.148-05:00The Nook HookBecause 1000sf living doesn't always mean you have room for a dining table (other than the coffee table) Hubby got me this for Christmas:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHngIj2OD75m-oZ9BSjQo0Bta1Doc1AYUxFGgaq693myode7KqP-4bhnVvCXkeJN3jvHlNqnYX6FtlG-1nSj30fVMnC-X_QdFCgGFEkwlLEPxWpp_jDM5PZ3n3qdV4Y8lE57poQGrf-Js/s1600/nook.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHngIj2OD75m-oZ9BSjQo0Bta1Doc1AYUxFGgaq693myode7KqP-4bhnVvCXkeJN3jvHlNqnYX6FtlG-1nSj30fVMnC-X_QdFCgGFEkwlLEPxWpp_jDM5PZ3n3qdV4Y8lE57poQGrf-Js/s400/nook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555518098834270066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm so excited! It's not yet finished or polyurethaned or installed, but once it is I think it will be like adding a whole new room, I can't wait to eat meals and play Jenga and do homework here, I love it! I got extra spoi-yuled this year with a<span style="font-style: italic;"> full stocking</span> (last year it was empty, oops), a watch, earrings, my first very own iPod, a can of mace, dining cards, Stars on Ice tickets, the gifts just kept on coming, it was amazing!<br /><br />Jimmy's Christmas morning trainset earned multiple "Wow!"s before anyone else was even awake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG4t0iwAAKFLbxkaWQkO2ZFadfb41brVCvK99-BLABrXexjzusOuz0aeNodfqTxIX_7HhZsM4CObGlc8qgOipl5VRgqp51weEKOLwK-ePx8lIivyF2f-ptYrvEqFlQjEtmozqvqex-Po/s1600/DSCN6127.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG4t0iwAAKFLbxkaWQkO2ZFadfb41brVCvK99-BLABrXexjzusOuz0aeNodfqTxIX_7HhZsM4CObGlc8qgOipl5VRgqp51weEKOLwK-ePx8lIivyF2f-ptYrvEqFlQjEtmozqvqex-Po/s400/DSCN6127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555520011894200258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy_5nwrylBJJeNMCDwbdAn6CUDDbvj8g7yHVwFj1FBAbNxsOP8N9qqmVhVKzi46rMMhE7CIuGKjciOTZERG_lcEWWVuAPzkmJCujfN61iyXavDfwuBUJ3RiwDMhzfT2gncYjqxD_1i5E/s1600/DSCN6128.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy_5nwrylBJJeNMCDwbdAn6CUDDbvj8g7yHVwFj1FBAbNxsOP8N9qqmVhVKzi46rMMhE7CIuGKjciOTZERG_lcEWWVuAPzkmJCujfN61iyXavDfwuBUJ3RiwDMhzfT2gncYjqxD_1i5E/s400/DSCN6128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555520017782356354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I find that he always finds double-duty out of the gifts his grandfather makes for him. Last year he discovered that his new stepstool doubles as a mini dinette:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPEYp_QsVdbymd0cO86PVo8rnO75dg-Stvs41BctWdB8NBbCgwNoi0UskazKQswZRO4_k7ydjnQfpN9O8mgqWMKFW3TTRpnxQvxHhGDTYhPBXNFp2tD_2B7Kd4L1vAffqlHI9UtxspSUz/s400/DSCN2517.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPEYp_QsVdbymd0cO86PVo8rnO75dg-Stvs41BctWdB8NBbCgwNoi0UskazKQswZRO4_k7ydjnQfpN9O8mgqWMKFW3TTRpnxQvxHhGDTYhPBXNFp2tD_2B7Kd4L1vAffqlHI9UtxspSUz/s400/DSCN2517.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year his custom wheelbarrow is also useful as a seat for watching movies, or just plain hangin' out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9BBO0DURKrUFEGLi_MQCV7V30W2HK7oBheNBcoHXbsdZ1rzPFWBkgJnmFd7lfz3OY-cvwGCYdpVGXsZmhV6CSgwb2HA8abfpjIwOUsvbvi1qbPu8jclGE9w12k0VokB9vttLLdLGr6M/s1600/DSCN6157.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9BBO0DURKrUFEGLi_MQCV7V30W2HK7oBheNBcoHXbsdZ1rzPFWBkgJnmFd7lfz3OY-cvwGCYdpVGXsZmhV6CSgwb2HA8abfpjIwOUsvbvi1qbPu8jclGE9w12k0VokB9vttLLdLGr6M/s400/DSCN6157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555523940149647842" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus">Festivus</a> party went off so well that we're thinking of spending next Christmas at Disney.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32reblkOD56PyNe-4mumHpL7CEn2P9LWnuJYFbTz0RXJZeUvfz3K3aaDSMV_TCI2kVBUYyqXpIMLKk5JauVsEsFCopdTM98LDQFhJTo8ZgJmo6ukDD7mGTxELtxzjiKMSvPSrOTWSlxc/s1600/DSCN6131.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32reblkOD56PyNe-4mumHpL7CEn2P9LWnuJYFbTz0RXJZeUvfz3K3aaDSMV_TCI2kVBUYyqXpIMLKk5JauVsEsFCopdTM98LDQFhJTo8ZgJmo6ukDD7mGTxELtxzjiKMSvPSrOTWSlxc/s400/DSCN6131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522935034526242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeS3HqeuOhZu7j9481LpGxTmbrw8eWev6pn1Pji6ngmbm_1hImcfsbYxlNpr_MdzHacRsvjgxnl0a3kgDUAKp_NCTqkanU2hjtVHL5-x_EEDmbt8ck4nQZH8uZPY4tVIS2SK9xhMlEcE/s1600/DSCN6133.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeS3HqeuOhZu7j9481LpGxTmbrw8eWev6pn1Pji6ngmbm_1hImcfsbYxlNpr_MdzHacRsvjgxnl0a3kgDUAKp_NCTqkanU2hjtVHL5-x_EEDmbt8ck4nQZH8uZPY4tVIS2SK9xhMlEcE/s400/DSCN6133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522944041943586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-GHi12mQB-_2Ib_pU-rhu8io7dMVclDQW4_vHo4GDwxc5piD32HAcNaoyvN417W8S_AVKn0ydS8St96BAOa5R0szXIctJyatNc1tfYD_t4t2IOvwSSALdVfFTdp6dOGcvJ4UEEqctw/s1600/DSCN6145.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-GHi12mQB-_2Ib_pU-rhu8io7dMVclDQW4_vHo4GDwxc5piD32HAcNaoyvN417W8S_AVKn0ydS8St96BAOa5R0szXIctJyatNc1tfYD_t4t2IOvwSSALdVfFTdp6dOGcvJ4UEEqctw/s400/DSCN6145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522947901195234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z-b1QiDFwL0EkhTx2FPHT3liRGPLtQUUAbERK15hFYMlGL6IYH6PjgTl0qAyB5B0IMUpQbvcIFER9eEmldxGBP6OFJwmvJ0eI_MOk6XavzvEkD4lgy7dTY2tk2aISrJshFbeSner6i8/s1600/DSCN6137.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z-b1QiDFwL0EkhTx2FPHT3liRGPLtQUUAbERK15hFYMlGL6IYH6PjgTl0qAyB5B0IMUpQbvcIFER9eEmldxGBP6OFJwmvJ0eI_MOk6XavzvEkD4lgy7dTY2tk2aISrJshFbeSner6i8/s400/DSCN6137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522945120744594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_4qbo1dT2FUb9y67s55tquzY85Axq7MASseO69QKEXZssVFOB0v9Rl6AaTsW3Hc-COOqo60ROwdKqJmT_JwxYvbp8VP4xzKI37mVHp8KRsHIrWs1Z3jJyeRVmy4pmGseM58WDGgjWR0/s1600/DSCN6134.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_4qbo1dT2FUb9y67s55tquzY85Axq7MASseO69QKEXZssVFOB0v9Rl6AaTsW3Hc-COOqo60ROwdKqJmT_JwxYvbp8VP4xzKI37mVHp8KRsHIrWs1Z3jJyeRVmy4pmGseM58WDGgjWR0/s400/DSCN6134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555523167782088018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9h1cwI2bzp4_b8LT4tqAEdTvxgXVC84_RdTdqMkqdnsZEwgp17WJmXOW2mFzT9ezl7GweRNEOTvXItwbcIpvofzasOg4NiBtkSjBEqI8TSiwYv-3bhgyq1ffdS7v0eiB95XM7ahPo-E/s1600/DSCN6143.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9h1cwI2bzp4_b8LT4tqAEdTvxgXVC84_RdTdqMkqdnsZEwgp17WJmXOW2mFzT9ezl7GweRNEOTvXItwbcIpvofzasOg4NiBtkSjBEqI8TSiwYv-3bhgyq1ffdS7v0eiB95XM7ahPo-E/s400/DSCN6143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555522936569246418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); width: 550px; margin: 0pt auto 5px; padding: 4px;"><a href="http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/travelinv/disney_dec_05/1134921180/wdw1205_064.jpg/tpod.html"><img alt="r Wilderness Lodge, Lake Buena Vista, United States" src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/travelinv/disney_dec_05.1134921180.wdw1205_064.jpg" /></a></div></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For the restivus!</span><br /></div><br /></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-18739820379751870422010-12-24T20:11:00.011-05:002010-12-24T20:52:58.369-05:00FestivitiesThe past few days have been festive around the house. I made hubby's mother's prized banana bread,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXeeFQxFgeHs2H_Gejkj0ueWBvt68WpEcU8NqGmYn7Xrx1ZHc-kSIbVlx-9fUphPsIEIK__Mz8QwjhfN62PiKs9kQf4yoo1waLmZ0TXq2wDV_LstXIC9MyuHzoW1C9NCo3_hD0Wf5dlY/s1600/DSCN6090.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXeeFQxFgeHs2H_Gejkj0ueWBvt68WpEcU8NqGmYn7Xrx1ZHc-kSIbVlx-9fUphPsIEIK__Mz8QwjhfN62PiKs9kQf4yoo1waLmZ0TXq2wDV_LstXIC9MyuHzoW1C9NCo3_hD0Wf5dlY/s400/DSCN6090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554421668140512562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...and received a fun Tower of Gifts from my aunt,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhHxNbQu4xhVYkcyKLE67dQUbyI7RaMxPn3Q5VmG2ucSDcsRhnrJDfFYE0NNboT31PGCok4wufxk8p2o0bINdRMweQ_hU5I0dLF_zkBymPpQTCBbgZGfPLQJ8RzKg4LewDLYq5Tf009w/s1600/DSCN6082.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhHxNbQu4xhVYkcyKLE67dQUbyI7RaMxPn3Q5VmG2ucSDcsRhnrJDfFYE0NNboT31PGCok4wufxk8p2o0bINdRMweQ_hU5I0dLF_zkBymPpQTCBbgZGfPLQJ8RzKg4LewDLYq5Tf009w/s400/DSCN6082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554422117047656210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know with items such as this,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhopCSnesCeEf8I7tjYyO6q6Z46NPkifedWRmC9g9rHEU4B8W7kL9sv8tbePaq0gxDNY2fmpwRgE2jk0jDvMmftVRdB-ER-hYBcm6LYnT3w5ltPDZEiJGy0nJQJUJWvatpnYwDSg4SFM/s1600/DSCN6084.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhopCSnesCeEf8I7tjYyO6q6Z46NPkifedWRmC9g9rHEU4B8W7kL9sv8tbePaq0gxDNY2fmpwRgE2jk0jDvMmftVRdB-ER-hYBcm6LYnT3w5ltPDZEiJGy0nJQJUJWvatpnYwDSg4SFM/s400/DSCN6084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554422736819036226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...and this,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjpX5T_IomDKgMHc5qah7LRv5OP2UiLm-YqXl8ABmq4m6r8old8ih7bCc8eLtOSHwNJ_5ui-yMEkr_uYr_OiPorZ5XnmJaZ7A5UWTn3fCvZwgyCdpBrj56LneL8QiG464pJZd3SyqOMs/s1600/DSCN6085.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjpX5T_IomDKgMHc5qah7LRv5OP2UiLm-YqXl8ABmq4m6r8old8ih7bCc8eLtOSHwNJ_5ui-yMEkr_uYr_OiPorZ5XnmJaZ7A5UWTn3fCvZwgyCdpBrj56LneL8QiG464pJZd3SyqOMs/s400/DSCN6085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554422739103762818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...she's looking to get on my hubby's good side. I myself figure when pears come packaged like this,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WyAzizxK3T9s1yz7jvZXTZRNJLjYZbKhaZMMFXETiVfuvmQw5Ym0L3VF8QWHA_v3Bwb_r4eGFvAMrPJHXzX-RN25L4xGmcWkoxdgL-b0oyf-MDk65MZJt_FYePNU3dGtUFQdXzknQd8/s1600/DSCN6087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WyAzizxK3T9s1yz7jvZXTZRNJLjYZbKhaZMMFXETiVfuvmQw5Ym0L3VF8QWHA_v3Bwb_r4eGFvAMrPJHXzX-RN25L4xGmcWkoxdgL-b0oyf-MDk65MZJt_FYePNU3dGtUFQdXzknQd8/s400/DSCN6087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554422751413051410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...that you have to do something special with them, I'm looking into into poached flambé recipes. Biscuits on biscuits flambé. Can't wait!<br /><br />Jimmy quite by accident discovered that wrapping paper doesn't stop the singing, motorized tire noises, and flashing headlights of one of the presents under the tree---the box acts just the same way the battery operated vehicles he plays with in the toy aisles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIDXCySO-9cG5GD8BFNktDreRiyLUo4XF3XOFz7s148wQUaSGlKOOIJ5lUr0gxCInIKXsxPyiBlwqVuYVV6Zi0Bh79ytZPkSWAl5cMCvvhSl3O2VItgTCz5Yi8pZEOq1YUmLOg_3h8PE/s1600/DSCN6093.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIDXCySO-9cG5GD8BFNktDreRiyLUo4XF3XOFz7s148wQUaSGlKOOIJ5lUr0gxCInIKXsxPyiBlwqVuYVV6Zi0Bh79ytZPkSWAl5cMCvvhSl3O2VItgTCz5Yi8pZEOq1YUmLOg_3h8PE/s400/DSCN6093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554424768305161090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeXH5gNqI5wvgTlbUSpzNGH6ioRP5CzxIlpbeibAEzuHxv_PBYHsHpBY4cJM7fBzQejPj8e28SqcUidX-pLqOwEGLE01GmxvgFSgKtIamiSluqWRXQC8n6L8Mwb9xL1lqDTfxUaMIXA8/s1600/DSCN6094.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeXH5gNqI5wvgTlbUSpzNGH6ioRP5CzxIlpbeibAEzuHxv_PBYHsHpBY4cJM7fBzQejPj8e28SqcUidX-pLqOwEGLE01GmxvgFSgKtIamiSluqWRXQC8n6L8Mwb9xL1lqDTfxUaMIXA8/s400/DSCN6094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554424771112438738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Shake shake shake, sh</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ake shake shake, shake your booty,"</span> reeep reeep reeep, uuuuhhhhrrr, screeeeeeech, slam! <span style="font-style: italic;">"Shake shake shake, shake shake shake...." </span>aka <span style="font-weight: bold;">WHY did Santa authorize this?</span><br /><br />To be honest, Jimmy is a little traumatized by Santa. He certainly likes the idea of presents, but he's not so hot on some big omnipresent man coming here to deliver them. This will *not* stop him from accepting the gifts, but still...not into it. Even so, we put out milk and cookies,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6yj6yJmhfVI2y3GDs9MsluhxjrZvGsplf0uc8v_5lH9lFO7ZxYuQ_6EZ4zthh_BA-rknCC4uK10pH9g28wnret0J0tXkJKEehA-qrmIMe0BJRuOnbUNbrhIkfFP6pzqOo6HyigcR_w0/s1600/DSCN6101.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6yj6yJmhfVI2y3GDs9MsluhxjrZvGsplf0uc8v_5lH9lFO7ZxYuQ_6EZ4zthh_BA-rknCC4uK10pH9g28wnret0J0tXkJKEehA-qrmIMe0BJRuOnbUNbrhIkfFP6pzqOo6HyigcR_w0/s400/DSCN6101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554428325291166178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I hope Santa likes almond milk.</span><br /><br />...but Jimmy remained ever more interested in the Youtube trains.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaDvYRsmHk_p1WfmQX0EnSK6dbMfVvbyBzqtAb6rBo1iLKj6vWrVhEwUdbVO0p5SX3sWSQQpG5e3sCP1VwNkG_8SAIG4bpaWdhcQ17FsSrbb1o4puZLUvA0isPHJgRwOtNSct_kMw4L8/s1600/DSCN6099.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaDvYRsmHk_p1WfmQX0EnSK6dbMfVvbyBzqtAb6rBo1iLKj6vWrVhEwUdbVO0p5SX3sWSQQpG5e3sCP1VwNkG_8SAIG4bpaWdhcQ17FsSrbb1o4puZLUvA0isPHJgRwOtNSct_kMw4L8/s400/DSCN6099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554428330108331058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCi4P3ysR4C-Cje4oHG1T56y1MkubngiSzgR20Dc9UXzH2CWjfSUakRvywzcaFfbM80adCFL1Aoz31jw_tq4Kv8qSLmXEETsqX4sx6ir-i4YZzIkKWD1WfTkKVs6RugKQwOjEaLzDaXM/s1600/DSCN6098.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCi4P3ysR4C-Cje4oHG1T56y1MkubngiSzgR20Dc9UXzH2CWjfSUakRvywzcaFfbM80adCFL1Aoz31jw_tq4Kv8qSLmXEETsqX4sx6ir-i4YZzIkKWD1WfTkKVs6RugKQwOjEaLzDaXM/s400/DSCN6098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554428334958261970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was no problem with Santa and the dairy-free milk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFw7_2k1dtVax96rMsOTOZy_109RzNUiBEElmnTMKKcfmAxPDwKlAKf_XJPpEM_zL3mTyLBBTbg89g6K3KxNjx9HDwDEjS5PcS0e3o1Qm_eTFfuia6Ur8ZvmmMZbB-KF9fn1POQkEJGU/s1600/DSCN6102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFw7_2k1dtVax96rMsOTOZy_109RzNUiBEElmnTMKKcfmAxPDwKlAKf_XJPpEM_zL3mTyLBBTbg89g6K3KxNjx9HDwDEjS5PcS0e3o1Qm_eTFfuia6Ur8ZvmmMZbB-KF9fn1POQkEJGU/s400/DSCN6102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554429391780269826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many more hours of work to go, Merry Christmas Eve, all!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-33759274909990134362010-12-22T19:16:00.001-05:002010-12-22T19:18:56.439-05:00Ho Ho HoIt was Pajama Day at school today, and Jimmy <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> sat with Santa there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrzjztjpm30VPXJt4XjWJAxjMUt5KeTWNAHCKyJ4LKba6gRvBTnn7GDOuV779y34HgOy373iQGTfOTeympzXBl_TPAo8nIsLhIzDeQCN1z5q-J17jHnHvJV-1e-wLtAsVWWD6lN2tJZc/s1600/santa2010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrzjztjpm30VPXJt4XjWJAxjMUt5KeTWNAHCKyJ4LKba6gRvBTnn7GDOuV779y34HgOy373iQGTfOTeympzXBl_TPAo8nIsLhIzDeQCN1z5q-J17jHnHvJV-1e-wLtAsVWWD6lN2tJZc/s400/santa2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553665127802599058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look how happy he is! And how high his pants are!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-58496043744216695592010-12-19T20:05:00.002-05:002010-12-19T20:12:01.546-05:00Puppy LoveJimmy and I attended a Yankee Swap for ornaments today, when it was our turn Jimmy turned down opening a new one and opted to steal this one from my stepmother.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7ZsXplcvvMfEBgdQENI-Z097Waa6JhyphenhyphenbuDMzNL4Y375h_Gf6liXiiPp-Q8VS8xkQ5ACUMc5Dn-J0_pYPrmRoRaANJqyttS82ETnD-X64-kSNZ_ZI3fc5cDQIuj_KfeB0GUpVqBg1OVI/s1600/DSCN6074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7ZsXplcvvMfEBgdQENI-Z097Waa6JhyphenhyphenbuDMzNL4Y375h_Gf6liXiiPp-Q8VS8xkQ5ACUMc5Dn-J0_pYPrmRoRaANJqyttS82ETnD-X64-kSNZ_ZI3fc5cDQIuj_KfeB0GUpVqBg1OVI/s400/DSCN6074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552564641356009058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He may be saying that he wants a dog, I'm not sure, but this will be the only Golden hanging around our tiny house, that is for sure. Hee! All in all we had a nice time in a beautiful house, I love old Portland neighborhoods!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-91048501987490480002010-12-18T18:19:00.003-05:002010-12-18T18:23:36.200-05:00Lately, I just feel like I want to live in this...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy7cb68XJgklZZ9M6AXEh9ah8z6xryFZ8WsK2LQaVcJYfs2pCObpQMt94EDVvGMRpDdz-9xSxfqYCeyTr-TWlt4sABGh5DVJdXjrDOQhC3cabMsu0SLhgJry_V6AdX2Sj4OkH9vDJQik/s1600/dzn_Vostok-Cabin-by-Atelier-Van-Lieshout-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy7cb68XJgklZZ9M6AXEh9ah8z6xryFZ8WsK2LQaVcJYfs2pCObpQMt94EDVvGMRpDdz-9xSxfqYCeyTr-TWlt4sABGh5DVJdXjrDOQhC3cabMsu0SLhgJry_V6AdX2Sj4OkH9vDJQik/s400/dzn_Vostok-Cabin-by-Atelier-Van-Lieshout-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552166069212892258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Atelier Van Lieshout's Vostok Cabin is a kind of blobby, rusty survivalist dwelling made from steel plates salvaged from old boats: "The changing climate, growing poverty, wars and more are only expanding. This movable nomadic dwelling unit provides shelter from this disconcerting situation." <br /> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a href="http://www.dezeen.com/2010/12/17/vostok-cabin-by-atelier-van-lieshout/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Vostok Cabin by Atelier Van Lieshout"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Vostok Cabin by Atelier Van Lieshout</a></span><div class="clearfix"> </div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-64880882857615158932010-12-16T20:28:00.007-05:002010-12-16T22:03:47.832-05:00"Everybody shut up and look......forward," Wally dispatched to Jimmy, my nephew Alex, and me as I was crumpled up like a day-old newspaper ball that you'd use to rouse a woodfire, I was folded this way because Alex was in the passenger seat and Jimmy's carseat is on the center hump of the backseat of a VW Cabrio and a 2-door convertible is not designed to be a family car, or any multiple-personmover car. I had to crane my neck to see forward, and once I did I saw a <a href="http://www.google.com/images?q=wienermobile&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=578">Wienermobile</a>. There are only 7 in existence so I can understand interrupting a post-Cracker Barrel conversation to point it out, why it may've been the first time I've seen one, I'm not sure. I do know it was the first time we visited our new Cracker Barrel, the place where I got in a mraaaaow mix with the waitress over the semantics of flavorless carbonated beverages (she didn't serve me the club soda I requested she said because the restaurant only carries seltzer water on tap) and it was at the Cracker Barrel where we also first learned that Jimmy might be allergic to whitefish. He had a bite of my haddock sandwich, chewed, spit, and puffed up like cute, red, splotchy, runny Jimmyfish. The "spirit" check remained positive (continued smiles, laughs, cuteness) but jeez, who knew! It makes me wonder what the Market Pantry popcorn shrimp is made out of, it's an allergen-free experience each time he eats those. Fishhhy....<br /><br />Also, if you missed out on Wally's band's radio Christmas performance this morning, <span style="font-weight: bold;">do not worry</span>. You can listen to it <a href="http://wcyy.com/Article.asp?id=2058212&spid=22337">here</a>! Merry Krizmass!!!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-69538402009880363672010-12-15T20:03:00.009-05:002010-12-15T20:45:13.783-05:00Blogeria RandomiaMany thanks for the condolences on my MiL's passing, they are much appreciated and hubby is tremendously thankful as well. =]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weblogus Randomus</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Shipping News. </span>It used to be that the "Handling" part of "Shipping and Handling" was the only questionable part of mail order products, what is up with this new "Processing and Handling" charge? Really.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Grumpy Put-Out Guy in the Santa Hat.</span> I was driving down an industrial parkway and there was this grumpy truckdriver guy huffing away from his truck, angry, improperly dressed for the cold, and wearing a santa hat. How does that happen, and why does it happen in moderate regularity, these grouches in the spirited hats?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The North Pole. </span> Jimmy's aunt and uncle treated us to a ride on the <a href="http://www.mngrr.org/polar_express.html">Polar Express</a>, what a great opportunity matched by a great time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs0tdxm7KX2IzlnN6b6fa3MbvQ8lDlJYKovkGVR0N5BKjkfBg3-n4KUpPsfXTQmUitNT-eFMnIkVtEhzmrfc2VJpw3eyX2lW1NJXj90snXmN6eR2drz5Qa8RMhyzcikD_fP1izoH-_1c/s1600/DSCN6045.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs0tdxm7KX2IzlnN6b6fa3MbvQ8lDlJYKovkGVR0N5BKjkfBg3-n4KUpPsfXTQmUitNT-eFMnIkVtEhzmrfc2VJpw3eyX2lW1NJXj90snXmN6eR2drz5Qa8RMhyzcikD_fP1izoH-_1c/s400/DSCN6045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551072463142809938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Book of Mormon. </span> I grew up with their commercials and I knew it was them wearing the ties and bikes and traveling in twos, but not until I saw the PBS Special did I realize<span style="font-style: italic;"> who</span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/mormons/view/"> The Mormons</a> were, and I find them fascinating. So do the makers of South Park and their<a href="http://www.broadway.com/shows/book-mormon/buzz/150485/the-book-of-mormon-new-musical-from-south-park-team-headed-for-broadway/"> Broadway Musical </a>comes out in March...I cannot say I'm not intrigued.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Holiday Spirits.</span> Hubby's band will be playing live Christmas songs on the radio Thursday morning 8am EST, if you're so inclined you can listen live <a href="http://player.streamtheworld.com/_players/citadel/?sid=3007&nid=2920">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Le Sal-Jolais Nouveau est Arrivé. </span> It's Christmastime which means it's time for Wally's studio landlord to distribute his homemade wine. Its label references the stomping part, wimps need not apply, I can't wait to taste it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei3EQXh8R8HGkxflPo3wls1m6CFhwI7nqsbvQCqGCOJ-Ld6rBTdVJhziBXahLRfGe-3sip_nr-ua0akv4MeoNU28qhWDdf19lomGGgitMqVKgnjpsb1GTYAuXXZpwNAgMnp4sM12_aNw/s1600/DSCN6071.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei3EQXh8R8HGkxflPo3wls1m6CFhwI7nqsbvQCqGCOJ-Ld6rBTdVJhziBXahLRfGe-3sip_nr-ua0akv4MeoNU28qhWDdf19lomGGgitMqVKgnjpsb1GTYAuXXZpwNAgMnp4sM12_aNw/s400/DSCN6071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551072465497852770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I can't believe there's only 10 days minus 20 hours until Christmas!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-51098080794812796962010-12-11T19:28:00.003-05:002010-12-11T19:42:23.452-05:00Goodbye, Norma T.Wally's mother died last night in the home of his sister. He had paid her a birthday visit four days prior, he said that she had gone way way downhill from when we visited her in October. Grammy Norma was 66, an excellent gardener and kitchen expert and fiber artist and hard worker, had cancer all over her body but it started as Lymphoma, Wally is thankful that her pain is over.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk_1jsdnOPCVGNcbbvvbWDSFAc-2TIYXx-OBXOGR9WRiUhyqPp-AePdIwxdtK5utyo1DMu-brVccf5aqpAby0r19wdFK0jpS39w1UsfNzIBGBFKQNxkD7Q6AdQxUm9F3ocyg9683OupA/s1600/Lily.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk_1jsdnOPCVGNcbbvvbWDSFAc-2TIYXx-OBXOGR9WRiUhyqPp-AePdIwxdtK5utyo1DMu-brVccf5aqpAby0r19wdFK0jpS39w1UsfNzIBGBFKQNxkD7Q6AdQxUm9F3ocyg9683OupA/s400/Lily.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549588137895409058" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-54239034228965066012010-12-10T20:53:00.019-05:002010-12-11T00:35:11.440-05:00Magic of Christmas Fund RaisersTonight Jimmy's school had a babysitting-sorta fundraiser, for $20 they'd take him from 4:30 to 7:30 and let him play and show him movies and feed him pizza so that Wally and I could take advantage of a <a href="http://www.streetandcompany.net/">Street & Co. </a>gift certificate given to us last Christmas by Jimmy's aunt and uncle.<br /><br />Jimmy was more than happy to bounce into the school after dark, and I felt like the local yokel bouncing into such a restaurant, we hadn't been out to eat as a couple since before Jimmy was born. And Street & Co. is definitely much nicer than Chuck E. Cheese's, I wasn't even sure how to act. We were earlybirds (oops) so we started with a vino/club soda at the lounge and I felt like we were in a cozy wintry Quebecois bistro rather than at a restaurant in our very own town. There was no camera there, and Wally thanked me for that, but the atmosphere was so amiable and warm I knew it could only go up.<br /><br />I'd researched the menu earlier this week and I felt it was...sparse...which left me optimistic considering Street & Co.'s reputation and longevity, kinda like when Kramer explained to Jerry that thinner deli meats were better because the taste has nowhere to hide. No salmon on this menu, we tossed around the Lobster Diavolo for Two as an option but both off us ordered off the specials menu, which after 10 years I call "A First." Wally ordered the Fisherman's Stew which had all kinds of seafood and chorizo, and I was extra special and ordered something completely new for me, it was a whole Branzino fish stuffed with olives and on top of fennel. The "stuffed with olives" part is what got me, Wally assured that he'd guide me on how to eat a whole fish (a challengey afterthought after the whole stuffed-with-olives part.)<br /><br />After ordering we were surprised with "tastes" from the Kitchen, our mutual friend sent us DATES WITH ORANGE, MINT AND LABNEH and ABRIGO WITH FIG CAKE AND MEMBRILL (I copied those from the online menu, apologies for the YELLY CAPS) which were so unexpected and so amazing and so tasty. Thank you, Riley!<br /><br />Soon after our tastes our meals came in pans, I found myself staring at a whole dead baked fish...and it was delightful. Moments later I did take our server's offer to fillet the fish, and the whole experience seems sort of life-changing. Sure, there were moments of hesitation à la Howard Hughes in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338751/">The Aviator</a>, but for the most part I felt pretty bold in my attack. How could I not it was delicious. It sorta looked like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://foodalogue.com/2010/03/branzino-stuffed-and-baked.html"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFei3gkNh78lMsuIKDKrRFSggbqzoArmtkrJGlnswjmDnTKngG2egEETaqhmIomszQI08Ut9A0UeMULC23mP1ZNXppX5jAZZcuJWybZuiqgWLcD0xj1UWD4vwnCvydSxCdZ36f5J1Cc9U/s400/branzino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549246524159752370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...without the lemons and with half the stuffing and in a pan of carmmmmmelized fennel. A new dawn for this adult, after eating this I feel like I could climb Mt. Everest. But with all mortality aside, the olives perfectly complemented the light mild whitefish, it leaves me with no wonder why this restaurant thrives year after year. And Jimmy had an excellent evening at the school, a complete holiday success, thanks Mark and M!<br /><p> </p>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-68442177069938772822010-12-09T19:19:00.006-05:002010-12-12T08:18:22.086-05:00Festival of Mirror-Based CoruscationTonight <a href="http://matisyahuworld.com/home">Matisyahu</a>, the Hasidic reggae guy who sings <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChV5BZ8SmS0">this song</a>, shares his annual <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;">Festival of Light</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span>celebration with Portland, a holiday show that I'm told had previously been reserved for NYC audiences. In the past few weeks I heard little bits and pieces about the four-foot dreidel he uses for this set, then today I learned that it is a four-foot<span style="font-style: italic;"> disco ball</span> dreidel which left me wondering what it must look like. ?. I could have just looked at <a href="http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/12/22/super-disco-dreidelin/">various places</a> on the <a href="http://ifthelampshadefits.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-disco-ball-dreidel.html">internet</a> but I just hadn't gotten around to it. Consequently without any effort at all I was able to see what it looks like at our very own <a href="http://www.facebook.com/statetheatreportland#%21/statetheatreportland">State Theatre.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4FUSdrcoxXZrfz-Q4Vvjs92FAz-pNxaTF-Ca_-c8AY7qPyHdOjIZYUpx54sGc_wIutEKjIMaG5YQEWmGzX89RECKjT6Cp6NnOMnjs7RsSTJhC4tjT5PHAJgxXj1W3V39F3ztp29rils/s1600/dreidel1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4FUSdrcoxXZrfz-Q4Vvjs92FAz-pNxaTF-Ca_-c8AY7qPyHdOjIZYUpx54sGc_wIutEKjIMaG5YQEWmGzX89RECKjT6Cp6NnOMnjs7RsSTJhC4tjT5PHAJgxXj1W3V39F3ztp29rils/s400/dreidel1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548837633795540530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORfpYmuxdpC7xZEI3DVu_0f_0t9yTgsWe-rBR03wIR2nkPxT6eOv0NNQ8T3cGmMZPbkimz6XbRq932cA4bXFJ9vOFvMlwMD-p6Go7VguVg7bVbVRKjmXicN8ytAqUGDPh4SLWGUsqMrU/s1600/dreidel2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORfpYmuxdpC7xZEI3DVu_0f_0t9yTgsWe-rBR03wIR2nkPxT6eOv0NNQ8T3cGmMZPbkimz6XbRq932cA4bXFJ9vOFvMlwMD-p6Go7VguVg7bVbVRKjmXicN8ytAqUGDPh4SLWGUsqMrU/s400/dreidel2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548837638879062418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I love it! <em>Ziggy</em>-<em>yiggy</em>-<em>yo viggy-yiggy-yo!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Photos courtesy of the State Theatre.</span><br /></em>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-89105508998792320522010-12-08T17:33:00.004-05:002010-12-09T14:08:55.236-05:00Blaze PraiseI wouldn't normally put a candle on the tree, but I'm in love with Jimmy's craft project of the day, it sure puts the pretty in "toilet paper tube."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBVodzAv939QxW9ywHIL47jweultJvkRoJcd8gSgJUt6RYAx7mWvUzQ_1jCRfTnMIqJBBk5IoDfN3Wi-PHnF3p2mc-lVvm6GotnPBvsBbScv4dIXdhrySNKgcdSI6zieQ1MRLbF-M3vE/s1600/DSCN5959.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBVodzAv939QxW9ywHIL47jweultJvkRoJcd8gSgJUt6RYAx7mWvUzQ_1jCRfTnMIqJBBk5IoDfN3Wi-PHnF3p2mc-lVvm6GotnPBvsBbScv4dIXdhrySNKgcdSI6zieQ1MRLbF-M3vE/s400/DSCN5959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548443440311062530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He's been under the weather for a week, but thank hoozit I think my muffin is finally starting to emerge from the exhausting wrath of Dr. <span style="font-style: italic;">NO!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPK1v1l_vkgVH1fIyTuyI292zfwhxC4invVt3v-DAYrOva5F0d-W7vJCJSr-IDk1Kf-r-Bu5SQ_E07NxYEdG1utag9kvgxtEV1SNezWZLnt7hoI2uPJcMy1IEe0Vgiw_5wVruAFo4wfU/s1600/DSCN6009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPK1v1l_vkgVH1fIyTuyI292zfwhxC4invVt3v-DAYrOva5F0d-W7vJCJSr-IDk1Kf-r-Bu5SQ_E07NxYEdG1utag9kvgxtEV1SNezWZLnt7hoI2uPJcMy1IEe0Vgiw_5wVruAFo4wfU/s400/DSCN6009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548461665634518034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKZYCkDi4ke3ibH6hACpHtQzVcmE4NnSbNzlVaxTeeYYGLXnCaMsIVRwJw2qrMMdonphPOsyAdh8M1kCih0W0ijn9S0uC6CQQVey2nq4ioPGcmhyKJdvOHvESPKOvQ_YOeNO22rgOI7A/s1600/DSCN6008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKZYCkDi4ke3ibH6hACpHtQzVcmE4NnSbNzlVaxTeeYYGLXnCaMsIVRwJw2qrMMdonphPOsyAdh8M1kCih0W0ijn9S0uC6CQQVey2nq4ioPGcmhyKJdvOHvESPKOvQ_YOeNO22rgOI7A/s400/DSCN6008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548461659146896434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-91410911580311339492010-12-07T20:53:00.004-05:002010-12-07T21:02:18.053-05:00Messy Diet of the All Too QuietYou know something's up when you've been able to write a 20 minute email uninterrupted. This happened today, things were too quiet so I got up to investigate, and found Jimmy sitting in this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvaB00Bpu1D3xC06MsKPbLARfHZM4OwsVQMNQLID4k_UTwq9IFris_rvoimtaYzQQx1Iz2ffYTylgduJ6VmfTJZwsVEOrhXmqU3WNTvVcrvn__IwiqyWQELvWjZRHV12zf8SEcGt-Sh4/s1600/DSCN5950.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvaB00Bpu1D3xC06MsKPbLARfHZM4OwsVQMNQLID4k_UTwq9IFris_rvoimtaYzQQx1Iz2ffYTylgduJ6VmfTJZwsVEOrhXmqU3WNTvVcrvn__IwiqyWQELvWjZRHV12zf8SEcGt-Sh4/s400/DSCN5950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548124293397026434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apolo-cheese for the fuzzy image, but this is sorta how Jimmy was looking covered in Parmesan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp-V4JhZC9oNMHByb0zWvAbpmM7g9ze4zl6rJJHF9KbvKaCXz1hTQMkNykCsfKvXj9vAfkO9n-hGogi6qZhCydtUi_FLxzVyjsX_6uxCZVFRiXlc19T3ZobcfBptUuY4yxOevRbKHmBU/s1600/DSCN5951.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp-V4JhZC9oNMHByb0zWvAbpmM7g9ze4zl6rJJHF9KbvKaCXz1hTQMkNykCsfKvXj9vAfkO9n-hGogi6qZhCydtUi_FLxzVyjsX_6uxCZVFRiXlc19T3ZobcfBptUuY4yxOevRbKHmBU/s400/DSCN5951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548124299965449730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was just happy his paws weren't in the evertempting bear bottle of honey.Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-54691856864370677802010-12-04T17:51:00.013-05:002010-12-04T21:24:49.984-05:00Christmas with the AlpacasEarlier this week I was at RSVP on Forest Avenue and my eyes caught a flyer for <a href="http://exploringmaine.mainetoday.com/events/event.html?event_id=130738">Christmas with Alpacas</a> at Estabrook's, a greenhouse 3 towns up. I was reminded of an Alpaca Fair I attended several years back at the Portland Expo, there I met a lot of cool people and it was fun.<br /><br />When I picked Jimmy up at school on Friday I couldn't help but notice that his hands were freezing. It was time for mittens, <span style="font-style: italic;">you bad mommy</span>!<br /><br />Jimmy's been cranky all week. This morning I thought of the Alpaca Show and how he might enjoy a pair of soft fiber mittens. Fully expecting a screechy, high-toned "<span style="font-style: italic;">NO!!!!</span>" I was caught by surprise with an enthusiastic nod when I suggested<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Christmas with Alpacas</span>. We were on our way.<br /><br />Estabrook's must have done some heavy advertising, there were parking issues and guys directing traffic. It was a lot of fanfare for, just a handful of alpacas. Oh well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90OV9UMbtbuVsOysk3VFVqAnAwziA8D4zqhT4Hig64ItEIJNaQq_zhf3gzc4QOhar87euLr3vuoHumtDREqfkdiYXQN68kQI1Y067CY-zCgWtt4sXq8mserH11w18icxtIyeSd98PkPA/s1600/DSCN5923.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90OV9UMbtbuVsOysk3VFVqAnAwziA8D4zqhT4Hig64ItEIJNaQq_zhf3gzc4QOhar87euLr3vuoHumtDREqfkdiYXQN68kQI1Y067CY-zCgWtt4sXq8mserH11w18icxtIyeSd98PkPA/s400/DSCN5923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964184305448098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaxLRMpbVSXapYU66sJJKsNgv51Wm9PlVjdOJPKJP7zKmt7E7z_AIbuSYBd2rEApPdrjKtAi1KE_7hLSCjU8XotIx9-l5A9GuBfzHzD-o6zR3Kv3-cWlXamesCYy6BeyHuFd7H99JyD0/s1600/DSCN5924.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaxLRMpbVSXapYU66sJJKsNgv51Wm9PlVjdOJPKJP7zKmt7E7z_AIbuSYBd2rEApPdrjKtAi1KE_7hLSCjU8XotIx9-l5A9GuBfzHzD-o6zR3Kv3-cWlXamesCYy6BeyHuFd7H99JyD0/s400/DSCN5924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964185580475410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjekkI_A6rxdPDeROJrjf5FIkk93buYveHHG_TWHed-iUJ3jdI6mo4r3P7WgKGVXJYPD4zzmkIX7qMRCb39k9KcxRJcbH9YVm_HEifbt8c34YWXpixfTYA6Ap_pumrtR10PKULU-XNy4/s1600/DSCN5927.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjekkI_A6rxdPDeROJrjf5FIkk93buYveHHG_TWHed-iUJ3jdI6mo4r3P7WgKGVXJYPD4zzmkIX7qMRCb39k9KcxRJcbH9YVm_HEifbt8c34YWXpixfTYA6Ap_pumrtR10PKULU-XNy4/s400/DSCN5927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546971970746515394" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Inside one of the greenhouses was a craft fair, hurrah! Alpaca mittens, here we come.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX-CoPQW1UPX-Alnu5jkGj_jB_OOu8OL930i8ptIaYlYCz-5vKEO85MK_BqIRPzdZ-ZcjZ1T7tTggZ8_AjF096QnHTMQ3lhaNeQx7twINEfOu2LJBgItv0LfA1staG2vGr0DTZLiGIGI/s1600/DSCN5931.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX-CoPQW1UPX-Alnu5jkGj_jB_OOu8OL930i8ptIaYlYCz-5vKEO85MK_BqIRPzdZ-ZcjZ1T7tTggZ8_AjF096QnHTMQ3lhaNeQx7twINEfOu2LJBgItv0LfA1staG2vGr0DTZLiGIGI/s400/DSCN5931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964188910994530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The items were beautiful, and always pricey. I was reduced to peering distantly for small mittens, the vendors were very aggressive (but not as aggressive as the roaming Santa outside. <span style="font-style: italic;"> No Santa! He does not want to hold your pinky! Back off!!!</span>)<br /><br />At one end we found a table of free cookies, hot cider, cocoa, and a man scraping a steaming white substance from a chaffing dish into another bucket, griping about how he thought he was going to be ladling chili and oatmeal for guests, and not doing <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> (whatever that was.) Jimmy chose an M&M cookie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozV__uQb-bctdlrCAyTaUuC8_swHOnenw3AZTuCx60rhaMaa3TzXYn6ID8ySUXg5TZZ5AHdpAdPn224TJJKeGR0pTWDWH-dLBEXGHyBa-LvCTod8QxoHavZ_wAz8xSICWUE9Y7s6_3wQ/s1600/DSCN5932.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozV__uQb-bctdlrCAyTaUuC8_swHOnenw3AZTuCx60rhaMaa3TzXYn6ID8ySUXg5TZZ5AHdpAdPn224TJJKeGR0pTWDWH-dLBEXGHyBa-LvCTod8QxoHavZ_wAz8xSICWUE9Y7s6_3wQ/s400/DSCN5932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964198146017458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">M&M Alpaca Crackah</span><br /><br />At the other end was a really nice craft table for kids, Jimmy sat down at once but it took some cajoling to get him to <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>the crafts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBgJRR8VdOCroiJJsvAIJlVRrh9CaneCaMg6calUrdoRMUDpuOnLRos_RU85w80gEozZ5bxGmCBvYba8ErgNHDlNKI2ngLv4HwCBHSAy2aRqjTFGW0uT2jhYYvHGaD5cMaCIzeMspNN4/s1600/DSCN5934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBgJRR8VdOCroiJJsvAIJlVRrh9CaneCaMg6calUrdoRMUDpuOnLRos_RU85w80gEozZ5bxGmCBvYba8ErgNHDlNKI2ngLv4HwCBHSAy2aRqjTFGW0uT2jhYYvHGaD5cMaCIzeMspNN4/s400/DSCN5934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964205782499682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I tried a few different seats and stations, but ultimately he was most interested in the cookie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEKeTkdeWkfF3Uxb20K42LAqEVUc7E0AGB7aaAlC9ILswU1g45udleBnJ-64JPicrBcoiRhF_fUvnlOcANG4gLkgBCDiTneD92QJmF_gka4XSZZlYmtRgKuOQ1rQm8BZ6L1MjFrXt4nc/s1600/DSCN5938.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEKeTkdeWkfF3Uxb20K42LAqEVUc7E0AGB7aaAlC9ILswU1g45udleBnJ-64JPicrBcoiRhF_fUvnlOcANG4gLkgBCDiTneD92QJmF_gka4XSZZlYmtRgKuOQ1rQm8BZ6L1MjFrXt4nc/s400/DSCN5938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964691360883762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Alpaca Slackah</span><br /><br />Behind us there were women spinning alpaca yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQc_lnKD1OjW8ju46tRHt6T2Ita-XK_5dtycPQhCEABOff79xH3YKPENthlumUADAC9VinuJu93EZ6Gc_NHlgACjNpb7GF_WVKbslDluhEmgHqLgqGdDB3vuIbvh5bxj8ENXLpgkwLD5U/s1600/DSCN5937.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQc_lnKD1OjW8ju46tRHt6T2Ita-XK_5dtycPQhCEABOff79xH3YKPENthlumUADAC9VinuJu93EZ6Gc_NHlgACjNpb7GF_WVKbslDluhEmgHqLgqGdDB3vuIbvh5bxj8ENXLpgkwLD5U/s400/DSCN5937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546975615289954722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And a baby alpaca pen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aPRJbRXdxQyMQcq3vaySpL4G1Tl6ekOiyiD5dSsmaLSldFJsQJeXECGMWUFgsuKcAA84cofnnk6zy1-GSVOL3TokpmKNSv4TkUfMrClAqlJPyBYv-yBmCoOA46mn9dDPH43OHJPqkU0/s1600/DSCN5939.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aPRJbRXdxQyMQcq3vaySpL4G1Tl6ekOiyiD5dSsmaLSldFJsQJeXECGMWUFgsuKcAA84cofnnk6zy1-GSVOL3TokpmKNSv4TkUfMrClAqlJPyBYv-yBmCoOA46mn9dDPH43OHJPqkU0/s400/DSCN5939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546975617486822386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I never distantly peered a set of children's alpaca mittens, not that I would have been able to afford them. Oh well!<br /><br />Inside the main building were some great Christmas trees!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jqRECCyIgLSCLdEEdZBUkWeY8RgN40GFwdxyQ12XWxRVgGLz7W5-FnY1BW57ZqWuYXQXIDRbxcfnRjaaDC3V5TH99i47hKr8JdM42um9mWjH4rvE-8UxLErDNurAHyTX0s4zzVIJhqY/s1600/DSCN5940.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jqRECCyIgLSCLdEEdZBUkWeY8RgN40GFwdxyQ12XWxRVgGLz7W5-FnY1BW57ZqWuYXQXIDRbxcfnRjaaDC3V5TH99i47hKr8JdM42um9mWjH4rvE-8UxLErDNurAHyTX0s4zzVIJhqY/s400/DSCN5940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964694989460402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaJbYIDc_5Tfwj7VPNPPDSsaP0CgiKByl5JdOBX5FHxVjHY4gt0vCh96SepILYyHaa2KfsCnOFFmMO-gwkfHaYXNtoOzEzWD1bm8oKq7RXUYLSIRCzFTaaw4Wm-8vGXKXV-kSu1JD2DI/s1600/DSCN5941.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaJbYIDc_5Tfwj7VPNPPDSsaP0CgiKByl5JdOBX5FHxVjHY4gt0vCh96SepILYyHaa2KfsCnOFFmMO-gwkfHaYXNtoOzEzWD1bm8oKq7RXUYLSIRCzFTaaw4Wm-8vGXKXV-kSu1JD2DI/s400/DSCN5941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964701447309442" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTRFwiqMuPDhF6GCC1dnGeBOrnuxBmjrZDzgpYPLOnbSNmFyO1CEv0lotsBnckmAlKp7GJm77teXJZtjGAbTFfjSA0600oDI63j7MbBwsJBDUFmmtSqmmQtIWcRnbiLS6wrewlExX1u0/s1600/DSCN5943.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTRFwiqMuPDhF6GCC1dnGeBOrnuxBmjrZDzgpYPLOnbSNmFyO1CEv0lotsBnckmAlKp7GJm77teXJZtjGAbTFfjSA0600oDI63j7MbBwsJBDUFmmtSqmmQtIWcRnbiLS6wrewlExX1u0/s400/DSCN5943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964702308959170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />And on the way out we caught one last glimpse of the alpacas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kb9cnNkyZKlIgy2D820OpRQ4oT4EnK13yZql8z3ogES5VV7s6Y1OZ_Y-fFdcRhlM_tepuOQBs288HkwOc5b3PFLBS__Vwhd22KvSwG4bQNZqdSpyW7gkQB5BcsqiUeCF7JaHS6YQgCo/s1600/DSCN5948.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kb9cnNkyZKlIgy2D820OpRQ4oT4EnK13yZql8z3ogES5VV7s6Y1OZ_Y-fFdcRhlM_tepuOQBs288HkwOc5b3PFLBS__Vwhd22KvSwG4bQNZqdSpyW7gkQB5BcsqiUeCF7JaHS6YQgCo/s400/DSCN5948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546964708966114114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All in all, it was....moderate! Malpaca Christmas!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-30274329833311725012010-12-03T18:01:00.003-05:002010-12-03T18:08:13.296-05:00Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOawyzcO-xg_vnmqFxvPqDJt8In4ykpqzjMHXGKdmWWKcPkue-gbqdiMeFLGb8wMQHvLoWmqD42uCD9A-cWnSORg4eDgjGeErIWm31yNJnB-36S5YrX5ETu7RIN712NnCtVl1QYsb-3E/s1600/2010fb.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOawyzcO-xg_vnmqFxvPqDJt8In4ykpqzjMHXGKdmWWKcPkue-gbqdiMeFLGb8wMQHvLoWmqD42uCD9A-cWnSORg4eDgjGeErIWm31yNJnB-36S5YrX5ETu7RIN712NnCtVl1QYsb-3E/s400/2010fb.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546595192107603826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A year of Facebook stati, you can get yours <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/my-year-in-status/?from=feed_desc">here</a>.<br /></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-38348057727066935702010-12-02T15:27:00.005-05:002010-12-02T16:09:29.708-05:00Putting the Activity in Nactivity SetThis<span style="font-style: italic;"> is </span>the cutest nativity scene ever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyso21uk-lxFNUUGfX0Nnsra3Uy_sM_3pe3EJopgn1dm4A5ESteYvQduV-9vqS_T7GzZGYrpCg4mzMz9ox8nHa3eIqtMgS6p5-LmfbcdwILsqz1q8ybIK6BXkVlYyGs82c0BY-S0T-DA/s1600/DSCN5908.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyso21uk-lxFNUUGfX0Nnsra3Uy_sM_3pe3EJopgn1dm4A5ESteYvQduV-9vqS_T7GzZGYrpCg4mzMz9ox8nHa3eIqtMgS6p5-LmfbcdwILsqz1q8ybIK6BXkVlYyGs82c0BY-S0T-DA/s400/DSCN5908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546186283718599938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPElPy5NJByIjaEr_ZDgoxaaRskQ7B4DIz4e-N18mfIb6I7keKtfhe1rqeBw-oTbJG8n0KH9jtCwhCEfLgSeYw-GDDyPsgZSI7vtNqax3g6qGPpI_6leAZdPD2jDDtEkKs8qAi8CQGCZ4/s1600/DSCN5809.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPElPy5NJByIjaEr_ZDgoxaaRskQ7B4DIz4e-N18mfIb6I7keKtfhe1rqeBw-oTbJG8n0KH9jtCwhCEfLgSeYw-GDDyPsgZSI7vtNqax3g6qGPpI_6leAZdPD2jDDtEkKs8qAi8CQGCZ4/s400/DSCN5809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546187292092952770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG33V3yOJtvT51HvNwPK5EVk2A-rA3DXvx1_FAvzr_icR4OLDwM2yh97KWfGkoD3rNgDwRCoQfgi7G4t_veWdEW7qs5myieMyg-3PwNCNj6u31h5GTA-4E8zwtT4nLpxEIWjIsFe72yI/s1600/DSCN5810.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG33V3yOJtvT51HvNwPK5EVk2A-rA3DXvx1_FAvzr_icR4OLDwM2yh97KWfGkoD3rNgDwRCoQfgi7G4t_veWdEW7qs5myieMyg-3PwNCNj6u31h5GTA-4E8zwtT4nLpxEIWjIsFe72yI/s400/DSCN5810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546186334413050082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxx_qemAGskEE4-FG5ojabFWTn96BNxelCZJwge2Ge_qwCukAp8uUqzbofm1dBhmJUZx-qsfWjIoXoE0-OHU65lx0H6boIvvEOXdKWVtcib-B9URBGruqPct54b7dvn6PXMu45-qq75E/s1600/DSCN5858.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxx_qemAGskEE4-FG5ojabFWTn96BNxelCZJwge2Ge_qwCukAp8uUqzbofm1dBhmJUZx-qsfWjIoXoE0-OHU65lx0H6boIvvEOXdKWVtcib-B9URBGruqPct54b7dvn6PXMu45-qq75E/s400/DSCN5858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546193296947613650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The angel flies like an airplane, sounds like an airplane, and then buzzes away with the 3rd king on the back of his Little People motorcycle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir5Ku0CdGoEHChs12h1bGXqnB_hh0Bk7hYnNLzig1vtkTxvI6VU3voZEhxgdiB-4Be-rDb3frXFgBeIb8LdV3laHJqGuGxf7uFcJGvJU_zBnU5wg-Mmzs1d1eMu887nt3ftQT6RJilhI/s1600/DSCN5845.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir5Ku0CdGoEHChs12h1bGXqnB_hh0Bk7hYnNLzig1vtkTxvI6VU3voZEhxgdiB-4Be-rDb3frXFgBeIb8LdV3laHJqGuGxf7uFcJGvJU_zBnU5wg-Mmzs1d1eMu887nt3ftQT6RJilhI/s400/DSCN5845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546186333980407890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">BBBLLLVVVVVRrrrrooooommmmmm....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImCRRcNwblP0AMoGTCqhDDS4wXtkEO5nq6nWk3EyJ5Z9oc1fV00523SsFqdJyuJO1z6PuHxhfxY3MkhBuI4Tn4RmJH1i5Ks7wsWD0CX8WNsfRnqd8CeIKMxPImvOds0BHMWOj3u7ywyk/s1600/DSCN5826.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImCRRcNwblP0AMoGTCqhDDS4wXtkEO5nq6nWk3EyJ5Z9oc1fV00523SsFqdJyuJO1z6PuHxhfxY3MkhBuI4Tn4RmJH1i5Ks7wsWD0CX8WNsfRnqd8CeIKMxPImvOds0BHMWOj3u7ywyk/s400/DSCN5826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546193301096907266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEXdyw4lgidKYUVzYKiaa20sNDvuh47lm-DzRC6a7I5ZYMxBEy22UrMXMpxhC0Od3A7Qy-jHRUyOwEdVyuqku8xi4YK-55XbaRCqSf5k5dozBY943JgQP_Fb0eQ2xPFFZE4LAVNnqacI/s1600/DSCN5919.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEXdyw4lgidKYUVzYKiaa20sNDvuh47lm-DzRC6a7I5ZYMxBEy22UrMXMpxhC0Od3A7Qy-jHRUyOwEdVyuqku8xi4YK-55XbaRCqSf5k5dozBY943JgQP_Fb0eQ2xPFFZE4LAVNnqacI/s400/DSCN5919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546194984416089714" border="0" /></a><br />Back on the shelf.<br /><br />A hit! Can't wait to dig this set out year after year.Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-80123297884429024952010-12-01T17:00:00.011-05:002010-12-02T00:18:52.657-05:00People, Places, and Things<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">People</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Places</span>, and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Things</span> (and <a href="http://smotherofone.blogspot.com/">Links</a>)<br /></div><br />It's <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">December</span>! My favorite month! Self-admitted <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">holiday nerd</span> </span>here, I love Christmas culture and the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Christmas Version </span>of anything, of music, of movies, of decorations, of commercialism, of dishware, of parties, of menus, of socks, of names, of saran wrap, of scarves, of pasta, of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">everything</span>!!! I was recently spotted spending a teeny weeny non-fortune on festive eBay <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">sweaters and vests</span> for<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;"> Jimmy</span>, I started fearing there were not enough days left to wear them all so I stopped. And shifted to the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">lobster embroidered pants</span>. I'm also perusing<a href="http://exploringmaine.mainetoday.com/events/"> this list</a> of <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Fairs and Festivals</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Ice</span>. It's where some people and<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;"> princesses</span> skate, we are already planning on attending <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/princessclassics/index.html">Disney Princesses on Ice</a> and I just learned that<a href="http://www.starsonice.com/"> Smuckers Stars on Ice</a> is also coming to the<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;"> Cumberland County Civic Center</span>, this time with <span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing with the Stars </span>(and that Olympics-thing)'s <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;">Evan Lysacek</span>. I'm seriously considering tickets, after a season of the <em></em> über-nerdsome <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://abc.go.com/shows/skating-with-the-stars">Skating with the Stars</a> I might be jonesing for something out of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Johnny Weir</span>(d)'s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nsNiwxr-W4">closet</a>. (Truth be told, I'd be thrilled if <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jimmy</span> pursued the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">sequined arts</span>, but at the mo [<--ugh, shoot me] it's looking more like the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">train, tractor, trailer, and truck arts</span>.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Banana bread, cookies, and fudge</span>. Holiday treats from <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Minnesota</span>, thanks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Sandy</span>!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Greenlight Studios</span>. Indoor<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> playground</span> where <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jimmy</span> and I spent the morning after an unexpected day off school, also where I realized that we're definitely out of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Toddlerhood </span>and firmly into the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Preschool phase</span> (the joint is for 0-6 year olds, Jimmy wasn't the oldest one there but I think morning hours mostly draw the <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;">youngie youngsters</span>.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">First Impressions.</span> They can be deceiving, like when I mistakenly hated the movie <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Polar Express</span>. </span> The first time watching this film definitely stressed me out, but now that I know how everything ends I know that it is fantastic. The story and the animation are great, and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">the details, the details, the details</span>! I've never heard <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Tom Hanks</span> do such strong character acting (and this coming from someone who was Hank'd out not too long ago, as seen in the March 27, 2006 post of an old myspace page, entitled "Hank'd Out":<br /><br /><blockquote>Dear Tom Hanks,<br /><br />Please stop trying to tack on more "ranges" to your resume and bring back Turner and Hooch.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br />Your Boston Accent Sucks </blockquote><br />I guess I was watching a little <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Leonardo</span>, er, <span style="font-style: italic;">Catch Me If You Can</span> at the time.) But in the Polar Express, when <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">the elves</span> sing for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Santa</span>'s entrance, my word. Bravo <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Robert Zemeckis</span> for a succinct, thrilling, creepy, touching, and unexpectedly moving <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Christmas movie</span>. I hesitate to provide <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiSJnF3Omno">this link</a> because the quality isn't so hot, but on our dvd it's spectacular. I suppose <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Chris Van Allsburg</span> </span>deserves some credit for writing <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the book</span>, not that I've read it, a predicament I hope to remedy this season, and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">every holiday season</span> (I <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> read that you can get the CD where <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Liam Neeson</span> reads the book FOR you on Christmas Eve, or...whenever...and I have <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;">Sarah</span> to thank for that bit of inspiring tradition-making info.) And finally, hello, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">TRAINS</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jimmy</span> likes this movie even more than he did last year, we've watched it 5-6 times already this season, I know there was some talk with his <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">aunt and uncle</span> about attending the <a href="http://www.mngrr.org/polar_express.html">Polar Express event</a> at the <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad</span>, I'm hoping it comes about!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Thermometer</span>, Jimmy's latest obsession, thankfully he's feeling rather chipper while dealing with axillary temps of 99+<b>°</b>, perhaps it was the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">OJ & Chicken Stock smoothie</span> concocted after he refused Daddy's homemade chicken soup. He didn't know it was a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">poultry smoothie</span>, he thought it was just orange juice. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sneaky</span>, yes. <span style="font-style: italic;">Disgusting</span>, outrageously, but these are two life elements one must deal with once becoming a parent. We know most people would have chosen the soup, but we're not talking about most people, this is (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">warning</span>: <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">bias ahead</span>) the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">most precious creature <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">on the planet</span> </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">his Mumma</span> gets a little uneasy about dealing with illnesses. I've worked hard at giving and maintaining his healthy body, he's rarely sick, but thankfully my uneasiness soon turned into <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">fascination</span>, how the fever is evidence that his healthy body IS working, and how proud I feel for allowing the fever to do its job and relying on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">natural treatments</span> rather than interfering with Tylenol or Motrin. All the research I did, even the more mainstream sites advised that these meds are largely unnecessary, but there are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">a couple sites</span> </span>I'd like to thank. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2008-10-05-your-health_N.htm">This USA Today</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">article</span>, particularly its two final lines which reference the input of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Dr. Ian Paul</span>,<br /><blockquote>Sleeping children, he says, already are comfortable. Children with temperatures of 104 degrees almost always feel miserable, he says, but there's no "magic temperature" at which drugs are urgent. </blockquote>...a phrase that met my eyes just moments after <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jimmy</span> had crawled into my lap and fallen asleep, a rare midday occurrence. And I'd like to tip my hat to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">SouleMama</span>, last June I read<a href="http://ow.ly/3ixXI"> her entry</a> about "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Feel Better Pops</span>" and mmyeah, at the time my eyeballs did roll a bit because I was like "this is a tremendously popular <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">blogger</span> who maintains a monstrous following, can't she come up with a snappier title for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">medicinal popsicles</span> than '<span style="font-weight: bold;">Feel </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Better</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Pops</span>?' Lame!" Then I spent about 3-4 minutes trying to come up with something catchier and guess what. Nuthin'. Truth is, the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">name</span> she gave the pops exactly fits her style, and the rest of the post was loaded with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">sense and simplicity</span> and it was memorable enough for me to check back in with it today, to see how my fellow<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;"> Portlandah</span> dealt with childhood illnesses. Her answer is:<br /><blockquote>We don't really <em>do</em> a lot...when someone isn't feeling well, our focus is on Time, Water, and Love. Oftentimes, that's really all I think is needed. That, and the knowledge about and belief in our bodies. Understanding what a fever is, for example, and how the human body works can make it so much less scary for little ones when it's happening...</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Time, Water, and Love</span>. With the exception of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Chicken OJ</span>, that's all we've needed too.Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-80547546710893016672010-11-26T20:39:00.006-05:002010-11-26T20:55:53.082-05:00Late November HappiesNovember 25 is Happy Thanksgiving!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCZrjF2f4I0r1qzNWk6Xa-y24-1aT776sWZkElDDwnyC7r1BohknLJkSihrBW84Rr8zMOGBM6CHA7NO-Ox_088LEu8QzNFTvyZh70UR65AhCRDD4y-I_sklcogeG7H5aT9I8A2ORyXsM/s1600/DSCN5782.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCZrjF2f4I0r1qzNWk6Xa-y24-1aT776sWZkElDDwnyC7r1BohknLJkSihrBW84Rr8zMOGBM6CHA7NO-Ox_088LEu8QzNFTvyZh70UR65AhCRDD4y-I_sklcogeG7H5aT9I8A2ORyXsM/s400/DSCN5782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544039074360314610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVwlTmVzbWFVG1_PJYUM9rzmclv_Yz7U7W9ovqe7FsSsNg2IaovFGFfCZ7dvr_WmrTrFlPbEY4L9BFKoIk1cR5kU41rf0EwAPKNoufovAUB4mVLdTbwN5PPVOa1eYXLCR2NB0CDG_nTg/s1600/DSCN5788.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVwlTmVzbWFVG1_PJYUM9rzmclv_Yz7U7W9ovqe7FsSsNg2IaovFGFfCZ7dvr_WmrTrFlPbEY4L9BFKoIk1cR5kU41rf0EwAPKNoufovAUB4mVLdTbwN5PPVOa1eYXLCR2NB0CDG_nTg/s400/DSCN5788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544039085691047874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />November 27 is Happy Birthday Hunny Bunny!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jizLKJ6rE-TNv1R9VnzwvPdu_vLrZEVzNnRwCeV32CGhESGExcuWnzOQg643ovQqu5r6lf33voBssfNunP9pL71B2CvKd_yA1KBTrdHyGQUBcDYwbcoxXqyMpJVA4yWAsP8_hNaD9Gc/s1600/DSCN5808.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jizLKJ6rE-TNv1R9VnzwvPdu_vLrZEVzNnRwCeV32CGhESGExcuWnzOQg643ovQqu5r6lf33voBssfNunP9pL71B2CvKd_yA1KBTrdHyGQUBcDYwbcoxXqyMpJVA4yWAsP8_hNaD9Gc/s400/DSCN5808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544039075879185922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Tonight, relaxin' o sole mio with Channel 8 is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366548/">Happy Feet</a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EL2BRZ00Lp36QbKVcal06Q4i9UimmBnZzvATWNdMm4ffbDYjlK__MfKEEuQtOBVuZ5G0wbUAdh4_llxPqC_pS8QUwb1Fvldde-i7hbnyPx_05Yi9v29Ej6n6HV6r2Xv-6Unt2kjUwuc/s1600/happy_feet.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EL2BRZ00Lp36QbKVcal06Q4i9UimmBnZzvATWNdMm4ffbDYjlK__MfKEEuQtOBVuZ5G0wbUAdh4_llxPqC_pS8QUwb1Fvldde-i7hbnyPx_05Yi9v29Ej6n6HV6r2Xv-6Unt2kjUwuc/s400/happy_feet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544039810606679218" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-48201507442400956852010-11-24T19:23:00.002-05:002010-11-24T19:27:11.054-05:00Pajama DayToday was Pajama Day at school, they all brought in snacks and watched Toy Story 3 and talked about being thankful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimanqNS-WuO4rAo6JZvkSpjFeIzUqXCIcy0NF9YeROTi_xhjggieoSD-24nfVpwuPW2Ry351HSDvCjFvRijOnbc_aNT9SEsQZIsz6xJOArWVTjCpardLelehp8wEYr0bQqLfM875eXNQQ/s1600/DSCN5769.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimanqNS-WuO4rAo6JZvkSpjFeIzUqXCIcy0NF9YeROTi_xhjggieoSD-24nfVpwuPW2Ry351HSDvCjFvRijOnbc_aNT9SEsQZIsz6xJOArWVTjCpardLelehp8wEYr0bQqLfM875eXNQQ/s400/DSCN5769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543276711870859970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy Almost Thanksgiving!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoWS-ehAzrcUt1PDbJGkThyOlYLS8F4n48rjTxjdobUdlhJTQ19p20KWPjivH_86gkVqnr-HBYWldX18wElPRq93wMNQAfJNa2N9Jeazu31XbxCSW3iuNQSwSXCkyTTLijrPcvl7nzHI/s1600/DSCN5761.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoWS-ehAzrcUt1PDbJGkThyOlYLS8F4n48rjTxjdobUdlhJTQ19p20KWPjivH_86gkVqnr-HBYWldX18wElPRq93wMNQAfJNa2N9Jeazu31XbxCSW3iuNQSwSXCkyTTLijrPcvl7nzHI/s400/DSCN5761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543277210988108914" border="0" /></a>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-89506238064112075182010-11-21T19:54:00.002-05:002010-11-21T20:10:49.313-05:00How He Rolls...Really now, why throw out a broken toaster oven when you can just as easily gut out its electrical parts and plop it on top of the woodstove, good as new.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0L7i8OrvOYuiP7gveZhzVADzI7EPEkJw6ZJI2mAMWe70rEM_xxDsbt6b8xJGkrKI8JhywNiQuKE_hREMWD-pKub-81ymrD9lIeFqb16cKxUoUum2eXzTO7otkXt6VXtm1NESLC-pFA/s1600/DSCN5732.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0L7i8OrvOYuiP7gveZhzVADzI7EPEkJw6ZJI2mAMWe70rEM_xxDsbt6b8xJGkrKI8JhywNiQuKE_hREMWD-pKub-81ymrD9lIeFqb16cKxUoUum2eXzTO7otkXt6VXtm1NESLC-pFA/s400/DSCN5732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542171983188946930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is how my Hunny cooked his dinner tonight, he got it up to 450<b>°</b>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dFkkObXRORzwztj9TO6wTJlG1f0aFjKn18Jyjiyq6ggA4hYZmkhQiL43GhiwKy1JCV8JpRZ7S28SmKHlVXzKLSWtAO15jR65JxlcSRK1j3OEGI-hp6CAOHPqGE3G0LE0FQz8bxG7KR0/s1600/DSCN5735.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dFkkObXRORzwztj9TO6wTJlG1f0aFjKn18Jyjiyq6ggA4hYZmkhQiL43GhiwKy1JCV8JpRZ7S28SmKHlVXzKLSWtAO15jR65JxlcSRK1j3OEGI-hp6CAOHPqGE3G0LE0FQz8bxG7KR0/s400/DSCN5735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542171984001947266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As the hotwings went from frozen to sizzlin', the weather dept (also Wally) was predicting a hard frost which meant it was time to harvest the beets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9Hyb-kYvL-x_o-CwX92xdrCCNKl7HLm1lwcottrBUGwVl84uf9v3JeYqvOGnxsQlJ3Yu4-Uz2TT1unMXbGs398zf4Kr1X77pZzJcojdFo6aKZs8nadCRJ614MiZDa2V3txPXu22ULO0/s1600/DSCN5738.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9Hyb-kYvL-x_o-CwX92xdrCCNKl7HLm1lwcottrBUGwVl84uf9v3JeYqvOGnxsQlJ3Yu4-Uz2TT1unMXbGs398zf4Kr1X77pZzJcojdFo6aKZs8nadCRJ614MiZDa2V3txPXu22ULO0/s400/DSCN5738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542172004123331826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8qoF1neW0ReJwFqQwUnt7EUzf5v2uiq2r7mCnZPRLj6SkFjElvbjUMzHp8CeYn0f3ZSO0vMUerikSVywyflG3YQtqfXTshjq163ZE83TeH-gNqYsNaHQtHvGS5Au-mWSdKN6Dwb8FYA/s1600/DSCN5748.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8qoF1neW0ReJwFqQwUnt7EUzf5v2uiq2r7mCnZPRLj6SkFjElvbjUMzHp8CeYn0f3ZSO0vMUerikSVywyflG3YQtqfXTshjq163ZE83TeH-gNqYsNaHQtHvGS5Au-mWSdKN6Dwb8FYA/s400/DSCN5748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542171993833611490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prize Beet!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o2mDu7Qa-uTVB72hjDYdNpBMkez_j93jtpfB6zT9-6kNU0JSp6J0XJ76wmOSdYiRAiBIGwWsDagyKG-SgzxH0HqOlrE2UQkCu6Xkcyxs5WdaNISDY1OJ1v1AFW8H13-NSfHKiO_Edsc/s1600/DSCN5750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o2mDu7Qa-uTVB72hjDYdNpBMkez_j93jtpfB6zT9-6kNU0JSp6J0XJ76wmOSdYiRAiBIGwWsDagyKG-SgzxH0HqOlrE2UQkCu6Xkcyxs5WdaNISDY1OJ1v1AFW8H13-NSfHKiO_Edsc/s400/DSCN5750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542171998430237522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Preparin' for Picklin'</span><br /><br />This all took place in the 40 minutes he was home between work and work. Just another evening in Wally's Kitchen!Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-72671194260905905212010-11-20T18:37:00.007-05:002010-11-20T19:02:54.374-05:00Look Out Happy Wheels.......Portland's got a new <a href="http://www.happywheelsskatecenter.com/skate/">concrete place</a> to break your knees, for no charge! And it's outdoors, in Libbytown, and in my back yard. <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/new-skatepark-welcome-addition-to-portland-scene_2010-11-20.html">Today they cut the ribbon at Portland Skatepark</a> so Jimmy and I took a windy stroll to check it out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwRc5jQILLsNb3-EwvvAvBE0IdFbYD1kFUe_mibc8IH9Fls3SbusMI67MEFd9LqUnqv5hhbYgzsoHOgKqPcMd9trWJ951iryu43t8avyqJ048IzElUZCXdqXHQT_WCDlrjHrQGl_ObYA/s1600/DSCN5721.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwRc5jQILLsNb3-EwvvAvBE0IdFbYD1kFUe_mibc8IH9Fls3SbusMI67MEFd9LqUnqv5hhbYgzsoHOgKqPcMd9trWJ951iryu43t8avyqJ048IzElUZCXdqXHQT_WCDlrjHrQGl_ObYA/s400/DSCN5721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541781896660591138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPW9BC68nN1hOeqL5t5coPFL-XoepEXRrH-znfJY7EocngdAIzNKrNGJQjBxPXhX7pLg48gRCgNaWP9dUm8H4rPmhd2bvapD93RPHAt8UJuezQEhVL6NqC1T7i7AAsI9PXOfv7yP_68U/s1600/DSCN5722.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPW9BC68nN1hOeqL5t5coPFL-XoepEXRrH-znfJY7EocngdAIzNKrNGJQjBxPXhX7pLg48gRCgNaWP9dUm8H4rPmhd2bvapD93RPHAt8UJuezQEhVL6NqC1T7i7AAsI9PXOfv7yP_68U/s400/DSCN5722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541781833157004610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1ZmARd_fe_e-lS4aDXhKw1zLyw4nmMcVuPoUEXAoND_-E9b1KRMA8knUZfG0w89Kv_SRAPfSgUXLaZDw8qg86zuqyJ-msYHZbL82ttFGG64nAkWUOO55FgudL5mBhLmi7CHpkgxpbcE/s1600/DSCN5723.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1ZmARd_fe_e-lS4aDXhKw1zLyw4nmMcVuPoUEXAoND_-E9b1KRMA8knUZfG0w89Kv_SRAPfSgUXLaZDw8qg86zuqyJ-msYHZbL82ttFGG64nAkWUOO55FgudL5mBhLmi7CHpkgxpbcE/s400/DSCN5723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541781824909995410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPON-ksyfUkxRr9ulGZlBMHWdmeipK6mvWfyvSa27xe0oAU4oT95MboZ9HvV2lcJtqFtvGLM3lea4fGRvZ-9oRHq3UtU-mmK4TIjyfih0NyCOQdcDROltFBFMIZkTpg3vouejsOXPOJ-8/s1600/DSCN5726.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPON-ksyfUkxRr9ulGZlBMHWdmeipK6mvWfyvSa27xe0oAU4oT95MboZ9HvV2lcJtqFtvGLM3lea4fGRvZ-9oRHq3UtU-mmK4TIjyfih0NyCOQdcDROltFBFMIZkTpg3vouejsOXPOJ-8/s400/DSCN5726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541781816148925810" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuJM8O1AJkSYuoCuyRKm4b1GIkMFs-QQoSNa3h7123nWaPQSf8sz5fNrrmub_8s1ZcvSRu9LxGp8RC8ytWSrouVRUY10zEk0avuRftqguFupt3C1j0gr85wGovv8n0qOOw8ZVDComCP8/s1600/DSCN5728.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuJM8O1AJkSYuoCuyRKm4b1GIkMFs-QQoSNa3h7123nWaPQSf8sz5fNrrmub_8s1ZcvSRu9LxGp8RC8ytWSrouVRUY10zEk0avuRftqguFupt3C1j0gr85wGovv8n0qOOw8ZVDComCP8/s400/DSCN5728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541781766263691314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I must say, the vibe was very cool. The 14 year olds seemed pleased with the new option and their moms seemed cozy enough in their minivans lined up St. James Street. One of the park's promoters even gave Jimmy one of those BIG ROUND BALLOONS but my camera's batteries wore out by then so no photos and the balloon never made it home. Last I saw it, it was over Cash Corner in South Portland (or so I presume) but Jimmy was too cold to watch it disappear into Scarborough. We wish the best for the new skate park, only time will tell how many more graffiti tags our fence will earn in its honor.Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-64816033587696766132010-11-19T19:44:00.005-05:002010-11-19T19:55:24.968-05:00You can pick your friends....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERubqmrrx_Yo1qO86wmyifqtMTzd86IpTxzmiSL3kRz3l_awptWtDWbIn7TfTNhWsmxourtr3rP2seZsof7gzlilXGysEtrbJnxhVSSzurLvuwi-_0iKo6d0Fe21JQ0RapULUgoqRoDA/s1600/DSCN5691.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERubqmrrx_Yo1qO86wmyifqtMTzd86IpTxzmiSL3kRz3l_awptWtDWbIn7TfTNhWsmxourtr3rP2seZsof7gzlilXGysEtrbJnxhVSSzurLvuwi-_0iKo6d0Fe21JQ0RapULUgoqRoDA/s400/DSCN5691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541426477767470274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Imagine my surprise when I uploaded this photo from the camera to the computer, I had no idea he was doing that with his finger. Happy Friday!<br /></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768250775608637877.post-80191111861697417472010-11-18T19:39:00.018-05:002010-11-19T20:00:08.383-05:00¿Esso si que es? And Sandals!At school today Jimmy apparently defiled himself all the way down to his shoes and since I'd only packed an extra shirt/pants the school had to make do with what they had, and as a result they dressed him in the most culturally fatal combination alive---they dressed him in<a href="http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=kYF&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1024&bih=578&q=%22sandals+and+socks%22+hippies&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=578&q=socks+and+sandals&aq=f&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=4af82180c88c7c93"> SOCKS and SANDALS</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/home.htm"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms-2tthi5D_KLuBMcHxDJ5nNNZYAe0w3c242_eD6rDyDUZ6L7Ve8GxtyWf3Ul86wwsoHHtAEWqUFdVH8cMBdZflamm9UAp2FUEpz0bh4c9sTie5fLYZx6SofKF_DWRf38KAj1uMgde7o/s400/william-Shatner-ps05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541055292302887986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hold on, wrong photo. Here he is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAOeXvPOeejnYQQvloxsRzfOB_n1gj7JMkODiq6kl1Dr7z89Ut7tLKgSlgxanKDUZeTKs7agK-rh2-Vw0jcKUxJpAwD2y0CQ80tEV7ahMTtkbDLVR65aXts_Xtm_FkgSetPZFOYr-lNk/s1600/DSCN5715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAOeXvPOeejnYQQvloxsRzfOB_n1gj7JMkODiq6kl1Dr7z89Ut7tLKgSlgxanKDUZeTKs7agK-rh2-Vw0jcKUxJpAwD2y0CQ80tEV7ahMTtkbDLVR65aXts_Xtm_FkgSetPZFOYr-lNk/s400/DSCN5715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541055619356237602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of the socks was lavender and had a feather marabou rim, so yes the socks didn't match each other <span style="font-style: italic;">or</span> his gender. However, the school is completely off the hook because this is where I admit that....<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm ducking here</span>....that I don't really mind this offense to fashion, the whole socks and sandals thing. I'll even go as far to say that I think that it looks cozy, and cute! I wish it were more socially acceptable, the world can be so unkind to those of us who are sensorially opposed to being barefoot. I just didn't expect Jimmy had the same sense of style, if you ask me I think those feet look darn good! Right, Steve?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk/home.htm"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zeFT-1CBkkM0T5BweCoyHuuO0cEfNCSFe15-yz6Tk7Lo6KckdNnUByMRg9dUy5MPMvq21L6UmFbV4Adc2nnVzPftSylBzp5zn3WmhMxD7NdvLDx0QMPe7C9BLVFYUEcGjD8ud265TWI/s400/steven-tyler+aerosmith.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541059953803651602" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQDDzDnNiHc"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Don't Stop</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rockin' Your Socks ON</span></a><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Steven agrees.<br /></div></div></div></div>Libbytownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17716101729597493665noreply@blogger.com1