Been So Long...

Been so long - don't know where to start.

How about with Adler?

Playin' with my new Crane...

...

...

~~ Der Vater

Without Further Adieu...Adler!

Saturday's Ballers

"The Field"

~~

"Josh, Von, Brent, Mike, Luis, Geo, Matt, Hunter, Chops"

~~

"Josh, Von, Brent, Mike, CJ, Geo, Matt, Hunter, Chops"

~~

Another great week of Football! The conditions were just right: not too cold, not too wet, and not too hard on the ground. Planning again for New Year's Day - come if you can.

~~ Chops

<>

Merry Christmas?

I wish everyone's Christmas could be like the one here in this picture - filled with tons of presents and decorations; with a warm fire burning and probably a great meal being prepared. Our Christmas, though not so elaborate, was still great as we spent the day with my family, enjoyed a delicious meal, opened some presents, and remembered the true meaning. Though it is impossible for everyone to have the same experience, my prayer is that they at least felt some joy on this holy of holy days and that they know that there is a God who loves them. Amen.

~~ Thankful for all my blessings

***

A Little Snow Aint Gonna Stop Us

Woburn City Hall

~~

Mini Snow Plow Truck

~~

Our SUV Buried In

~~

Jenn and Adler

~~

"The Field"

~~

"The Guys"

~~

Over this past weekend and yesterday it snowed - a lot. But, that didn't stop a few of us (Axel, Josh, Geo, Luis, and me) from playing football Saturday morning. Actually, there were 6 of us because some random kid named Franky walked up to us asking for a smoke, and we instead invited him to play. So, we had 3 on 3, and it was just right and it was a blast!

I love playing Football in the snow. There's just something about it. Maybe it’s because you can get tackled and it won’t hurt as much. Maybe it’s because your face freezes and you can’t feel your cheeks. Who knows???

When I was younger we used to have some great games down at the Rosey. When I was a little older we had some great games on the field across from the old DT.

Now we play at Library Field. I took a picture of the field before we started, but I forgot to get the after one, so I will have to wait until after tomorrow morning when we have the Christmas Eve Snow Bowl. I know that it's gonna be cold, but it's gonna be worth it!

~~ Crazy Ice Chops

<>

First a Heisman, Then a National Championship!

Awesome; Sam won the Heisman! This whole OU story just gets better and better. Looks like things are looking up for the Crimson and Cream, and they deserve all of it, that I know! (Though, here’s what I don’t know: when he's also a National Champion, will Bradford get a ring that he can display next to his Heisman?)

Anyway, tough break for Colt who isn't even going to get to play for a National Title, and too bad too for Tim who isn't even going to win one of those either. Better luck next year!!

~~ A Sooner Fan in Boston

P.S. Hey Florida, you better watch out for this...

Meet Adler

This is Adler. At least, this is what he would look like at 28 weeks, which is how old he is right now. On Thursday he will be 29 weeks old. (They grow up just so fast, don't they?) The due date is Feb 12th, but we think that he is going to arrive a bit early. Either way, I can't believe that he is almost here!

Below is a real picture of Adler at 18 weeks (I think he is sucking his thumb.)

So far at each ultrasound I have asked the Docs for extra images. This is the fourth one - the first three were at 6 wks, 8 wks, and 13 wks. Since it took so long for Jenn to get pregnant and we had to go through Boston IVF, we were fortunate enough to get the early ultrasound. Then we had another extra one for the Down Syndrome test, so I guess we had more than usual.

Jennifer is feeling great and she is doing a great job at carrying around our eagle (Adler means Eagle in German.) He appears to be healthy, he kicks, and he already has his own personality. I can easily say that we already love him.

Anyway, usually I reserve Tuesdays as a day off from blogging, but I hadn't posted anything in a while, so that would have been redundant. Plus I haven't posted anything at all about the little guy, so I decided to sneak in this one. (I should have done something sooner, sorry.)

~~ Anxiously Expecting

!!!

Fire in the Sky

I'll just take a moment and ponder the awesomeness of what this image captured. Wish you could have seen it live.

~~ Awe Strucks

*

These Tiles Must Smell

I thought about cleaning this up, but instead I took a picture.

~~ Pickled Tink

P.S. Then I told a Manager.

P.S.S. By the way, I'm not the one who broke the jar.

P.S.S.S. And I don't know who did either.

= = * ==

All Hallow's Eve

H A P P Y

Tonight I hope I don't have Nightmares of Michael Myers chasing me...

~~ Trickster Treater

O ( *

Settlin' Down in Foxborough

If you thought I was excited for last Monday's game at home on ESPN against the Broncos, just think how excited I am to actually be going to today's game against the Rams. Even better is that I have a great seat near mid-field, practically on the sideline.

I'm going with a friend from work who is picking me up in like 10 minutes, so I better get out of here and go get ready for an Awesome game! Thanks Brian and Chesterton!

~~ Fan of Being There

!!!

NES Dreams

You see, I never did have a Nintendo Entertainment System as a child, even as a child of the 80s. I had plenty of friends with them, though. And I was able to play it often, so I did become pretty good at many of the games.

I still have fond memories of sittin' over at Adam's, watchin' him play Super Mario Brothers, and then seein' him get killed. And then I see the controller go flyin' across the room, but not too far - because it was stuck to a cord.

I remember playing Contra with Jason and entering the unlimited life code: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, B, A, select, select, Start!

That's all for now...

~~ One Who Never Had NES Product But Always Had Sega Product

[!]

What fun...

Well, the Patriots did indeed crush the Broncos! That was awesome.


Hey, remember these...?

Atari was my first game system, and I loved it! I wonder if I still have one them laying around in my parent's attic somewhere. To this day I wouldn't mind playing some of those games.

~~ Gamer of Old (I don't own an X-Box or PS3)

!
[ ]

Monday Night Beatdown

I can’t wait - Monday night, ESPN, at home against the Broncos. I hope Denver makes sure to bring those waist pouches, because they’re gonna need to keep their busted-up hands warm while they sit on the sidelines and watch their team get beat down by the Pats.

~~ Choppin' Broncos

P.S. I know that this is a picture of the Jets getting beat.

**

Thinking...

Split Ends

This picture may look familiar because I used it once before in my Prologue post of Wood-frame Ninjas for my Saturday's Storyers. The three stars represented in front are, from left to right, Sean, myself, and Adam. We were like best friends growing up and we had many adventures together, many of which took place in the very building behind us and in the surrounding area. I could go on and on about the dry-docked sail boat explorations or the madcap moped trips, the brick ladder of dreams or the high-speed chases. What I would like to portray, though, is an image of split ends (note the 90's hairstyles), but not those kind of split ends!

The split ends of which I would like to relate have to do with that building, the Lynnfield Ward meeting house. Growing up, this is the ward I attended, and it is the new ward where I will again attend services since today the Arlington Ward split ends. For now, Lynnfield ward's boundaries have been extended to include Woburn and Winchester.

This truly is bitter-sweet because I will miss the Arlington ward and all of its members - I love that ward, but I also love the Lynnfield ward and I can't wait to go back.

In the end, I believe that things happen for a reason, and I look forward to new adventures and hopefully new friends and blessings. For those who are sadder than I, I hope that they can settle down and know that things will be fine, and soon they will be settled-down in their new home ward. Besides, this won't be the last time that the winds of wind blow.

~~ Spalato

+=-

Here's a Sad Story

Shocking Video Unearthed Democrats in their own words Covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Scam that caused our Economic Crisis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

Seems pretty tough to put a spin on this one, but I'm sure they did, and of course the biased media aren't going to jump all over it either.

~~ Sure I'm Frustrated

Mnemonic Snork

I remember the Snorks (not that I watched it all the time), and I remember that they seemed like the Smurfs under water. From what I further remember, both series had similar characters and themes. Now they're just a distant memory of a nearly forgotten cartoon.



The reason I thought of the Snorks is because I was thinking about Snorkeling - Jenn got me this great set for my B-Day and I never got to use it:



Now I can't wait for next year so I can go to the beach and break it in. Writing of which, Adam and I used to go Snorkeling all the time at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester. I love that beach, it is my favorite beach. Those were some great times: diving after stripers, trying to grab lobster tail, wading out to the island, floating down the river, boogieing through the waves, laying in the sun, walking on the sand, collecting star fish and sea glass. Oh, and people-watching. If only I lived on or near a beach or a lake! (I guess I kinda live close to both, but it would be cool to be even closer.)


~~ Mnemonic Snork

*

Apple Dumpling

Ok, so I finally decided to post a post again, and since today is Monday and Monday is my day for Mond'y Funnies, I decided to post this funny picture that my friend Jodi took whilst we were thusly apple-picking apples. (Note the quality of the picture due to their great lens.)


Now, since it has been soooooo long since I thusly posted any posts at all, I would like to share with any the joke that my friend Jesse, Jodi's man, shared with me. It goes like this,

"Knock, knock."
"Who's there?" (But before the persone can answer with a "who", you bust in and say...)

"The interrupting Cow!"

It is so funny, you should try it. Really.

Now, I will tell of a time when the weather was warm and the sun was shiny and the wind was whispy: Saturday we went apple picking with the Aldouses and had a great time, even though most of the accessible trees were bare. Nevertheless, we came away with a bounty of juicy fruits. We went to the land of Stow in MA to the farm of Honeypot. It was a great time, just as I wrote that we had a great time, it was a great time too. That's all for now.

~~ Apple Dumpling (That is the funny knickname that I gave myself for the picture)

P.S. If this is not at all funny to you, then please read it again in a deep voice.

A Story Looms...

~~ Loomis

Coming Soon...

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.

I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

It's time to bring this ship into the shore,

And throw away the oars, forever.

~~ Weatherby

Couldn't Hold Back...

Skate it Off

Before I found Sunday Settle-downs, I used ice skating as a way to relax. Whip Hill provided the perfect place to play a little pick-up pond hockey. Each winter my friends and I would go skating after school up at the vernal pool. The area was just the right size for four on four or five on five (including goalies) games, and the rink was even complete with a rock formationed back-drop that also functioned as a splendid ricochet spot for firing slap shots.

For a few years at night the resident groundskeeper/caretaker would pump water from the pond onto the ice to create a fresh and pristine playing surface for the next-day skaters. If it snowed we would all pitch in to clear the ice.

Then we each would throw our stick into a pile in the middle and someone would skate up to the mass, bend over, and start tossing sticks left and right creating the teams. Naturally we each took a role and started playing. If you got tired or got a cramp there was a nice nook under a huge pine tree where you could rest, drink hot chocolate, tie your laces, etc. If you were injured (not severely of course) you were told to, “Skate if off.” (Yes, this was still more relaxing then staring at laundry in the washing machine as it agitated.)

Those were some great times. At times there were some great skaters up there too. I loved those great times.

Though there were also others ponds and venues, I will leave those great times for another time. For instance, now I will not write about the two man-made pond-like rinks that were dug into this field in Reading. No, now I will not tell of the gigantic ditches that were filled with water during the Winter by the City so that the ice could form for the citizens. Those great times may come another time.

Best of times to you,

~~D Graf

P.S. I need a new pair of skates. Can anyone guess what kind I used to have?

One of These Days I am Going to Again Take Time to Blog

What I Did (or Saw Happen or Heard About Happening) with Colored Smoke Balls : )

When you're 10 years old, you like to make people laugh, and the local grocer, candy store, news stand, joke shop, and convenient store all sell these to anyone with a buck, you tend to find fun, interesting, mischievous, unique, often questionable, hopefully legal, and sometimes embarrassing (looking back: maybe even shameful) ways to utilize them.

So I’m kinda sorry to admit that my friends and I took the colored smoke ball from being a pretty visual aid to being a pretty off-colored gag which aided our pranks. Without getting into too much detail I remember this one time when some random kid came walking down the street where we hung out. He was carrying a Nerf football which somehow ended up in the hands of one of my friends. Anyway, someone stuffed a Colored Smoke Ball into a crevice in the FB (those old Nerfs tended to crack), lit the sucker, and then threw it back to the lad. The poor kid freaked out because he thought it was an actual bomb or something, and he ran away.

Another time someone may have opened the door to a local Apt/Condo complex and rolled a lit Smokey Ball down the hall. I can’t really remember. And there may have been a time when someone threw one in the Kindergarten bathroom through an opened window, and all the kids may have been temporarily evacuated. But who keeps track of those things? I may have just heard about that one.

~~ David Misbehavid

P.S. Do Not Try This At Home or Anywhere

Took time to recoup...

Yo, Was that a Yodel that Hit my Door?!?

Ahhhh, the good ol' days: hangin' out with friends, sittin' on the front steps shootin' the breeze (and maybe a raccoon or two with the Gotcha Paintball gun),











playin' flashlight tag (at night of course), eatin' Yodels, and then taking a Yodel and hucking it at your neighbor's front screen door.

At least that's what one of my friends did one night, as we were walking up the hill, and it made such a loud clang that we knew it must have stirred the inhabitants, so we all just instinctively ran. We scattered: Nick ran up the hill; Jason ran down the hill; and I ran across the street and hid alongside a rock wall. Sure enough old man Stethington (changed name to protect the innocent) came blasting out of the house - flashlight in hand. He beamed that sucker right in my direction, but he never saw me. Then he proceeded to patrol the sidewalks, skulking up and down, but he never found for what he was looking - for we were too covert to be discovered.

I'm not sure if he ever figured out who threw that Yodel, but I'm sure he had his suspicions.

~~ David Misbehavid

Time Keeps on Tickin'

The Doorbell

A man is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. Since the boy is very small the doorbell is too high for him to reach.

After watching the boy's efforts for some time, the man moves closer to the boy's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder, leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring.

Crouching down to the child’s level, the man smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?"

The boy replies, "Now we run!"

I remember playing that game; those were the days.

~~ Ring and Run DSC

What I Would Like to Do, Eventually

Often I put off things until a later date – I guess you could call these the things that I would like to do. Others may call them the things on which I had procrastinated. (What if I was waiting for a rainy day?)

















I consider my brother-in-law Jeff to be a non-procrastinator; he wanted to get the lizard out of the house, so he grabbed some tongs and removed it.



He’s also the one who used to help us put up and take down the Christmas decorations. If we would have done it my way, then we never would have needed to put them up and take them down because they would have been there all year long.



OUR OLD NEW HOUSE IN OKLAHOMA



That's Jeff ^^^^







It has been written and said that we should not procrastinate the day of our repentance. That’s great advice, especially if we keep messing up (and we all mess up - I have yet to meet a perfect person.)



I do know some perfectionists who probably don’t put off things. I bet the kids in this incredible band don’t put off their practice.

















Now Valentine’s Day is already here and almost gone. I wonder how many people are still out buying flowers and a card or some such. It’s the thought that counts, right?



In addition to all of the obvious benefits from not procrastinating, I like to consider (but don’t always live by) this great proverb: Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because if you like it today you can do it again tomorrow!

~~ Rainy Day Dave

A Far Volley From Pong: Tennis Anyone?

Table Tennis Tournament Amazingly realistic table tennis game!

Play this free game now!!

Remember Pong? As part of my journey to Nostalgiaria, I conducted a web search in search of the classic game so that I could post it. Instead of dots of dots and bars of dots I found this gem which is sure to become a new classic.

I’m excited to see how it works out, and I’m looking forward to some competition; any challengers? For your sake I hope that you, your computers, and your connections are up to speed. Oh yeah! Bring the pain. C’mon. Are you tough enough? What, too afraid? I’m gonna eat your fear for breakfast, and then I’m gonna have a light lunch, and then eat your paddle finger for dinner, with a side of whine, and then for dessert I’m gonna drink your sweat. Then I’m gonna break your will and make you crumble. Oh it hurts, it hurts so good. That’s right, I’m gonna make mincemeat out of you. I’m gonna crush your face. Wait, come back, I was just kidding. Really, I'm a nice person; I just get carried away sometimes. Please don’t be sore with me, don’t leave. Please, stay and play my game. That’s right, shhhh, shh, shh it's OK, shhhhh. Ok, Ok, that’s it. Now, let’s enjoy some quiet Table Tennis Tournament. (softly)

~~ Milosh

P.S. Post your results if you dare, wait, I mean if you would kindly care to. Thanks.

Time to Reflect

The Focus had a black and red interior. This is for the Black and Red Stallion - I miss you ol' buddy. I hope those 16"s are still brightly machined.

~~ D Racer

P.S. Picture the background in black as is on the website.

Why the Giants Won - nudge, nudge

Two Giants fans were standing at a bar. The one fan said to the other, "You know, the Patriots might have won the Super Bowl, but the refs acted like blind politicians."

A man walked up to them and with a mad look on his face said, "I find that statement offensive!"

One of the Giants fans replied, "Oh, you must be a referee."

"No," the man said, "I'm a Democrat!"

~~ Conservative D

On My Honor I Will Do My Best to Do My Duty to God and My Country...

Though I memorized the Scout Oath over twenty years ago, and I have recited it countless times since, only now have the words impressed me in such a way that they actually have given me comfort (if ever there were a time when I needed comfort and serenity, now would be one of them - not just because the Patriots blew a Perfect season, but also because I have progressed so much over the past few years that I cannot allow some needless guilt to impede, hinder, or negate such progress or any future progress.) To be quite open, recently I had been punishing myself with needless guilt over a false concern that I had not been offering enough service or that I had been unable to more serve others.

The comfort, however, first came after I read the First Presidency's message in the January issue of the Ensign. As part of his inspired message President Monson quoted Elder Richard L. Evans (1906–71) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “We can’t do everything for everyone everywhere, but we can do something for someone somewhere.”

I knew right away that these words were meant for me, or that I was meant to read them. The Spirit of comfort was so strong that I nearly cried; finally the burden had been lifted as I realized that indeed I had been doing enough, if not more than enough.

Then I felt comfort from the Oath. After I sat pondering my new realization, the very familiar promises of the Scout Oath, which I had made over and over yet too often had forgotten, came blazing through my mind like the bright red words of an electronic LED display: On my Honor I will do my do best to do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law. In no part of this Oath did I ever promise to always do everything; I simply promised to do my best, and if doing my best does not include everything, then at least I am doing something.

~~ Eagle Scout Dave

Wood-frame Ninjas (Chronicle Two): Blockbuster Busted

For Devon the Calling came on a cold November’s day, a day which began without incident or apprehension. On this fateful morning Devon simply wished to rent a video, The Hunted (1995), and watch it, peacefully. Yet as fate would have it Devon’s plans would be interrupted.

After transacting the transaction, Devon practically skipped to his F-250 (for sheer excitement at the prospect of watching his video.) As images of Christopher Lambert in action darted through Devon’s head, other images – violent images - obscured his psyche. Distracted and disturbed, Devon fumbled for his keys, but still was able to board the diesel nonetheless.

Helplessly unable to control his thoughts, Devon persisted, and began to depart. Before pulling out onto Salem St, Devon paused, still troubled, when Flash, his eyes were blinded, instantly, momentarily. (Was this real or imagined?) Suddenly three personages appeared before his truck. Three dark figures, whom he had neither before seen nor noticed, now surrounded him: one to the front, and two to the sides.

Devon cracked his window and asked what was wanted. The stranger to the left inquired about which video had Devon rented. Devon abruptly replied that he would never tell. All of a sudden the power door looks snapped open and the right door nearly flew off its hinges. In a burst the starboard Gate Crasher entered the vehicle, Ashikos first, and proceeded to thromp with his heel on Devon’s head, side-kick after side-kick.

At first Devon could only raise his arms in defense, blare the horn, and shout for assistance. But Devon knew that no one else would or could answer his call, and at that very moment Shadow reached across the midsection console and grabbed the enemy by his throat. Crushing with all his might, Shadow wrenched his moistened fist to the left, to the right, and with a jerk he dragged the flopping corpse through the vehicle and smashed its head through the driver’s side window pummeling the second attacker port.

From the front, the Kama wielding henchman sprang to Shadow’s side. But before this rookie could lunge, Shadow had thrust open his door and knocked the third attacker to the earth.

Without forethought Shadow leaped into the air; then salting, he positioned his knee such that it had viscerally crashed down on “throatman” absolutely terminating his assignment.

Victimized by a backward leg sweep, the second Gate Crasher instantly faced the ground, again. And like a cloud, Shadow rolled, and with his elbow wailed on the Crasher’s flailing body until he and his assignment too were cancelled!

Dripping and on one knee, Shadow glared into the sky trying to make sense of what had just transpired. Finally, feebly the third sendee stood, dropped his Kamas, and fled into nowhere.

Predestination to be revealed…

~~ Chops

This Guy Scares the Crap Out of Me

CREEEEEPY

I can’t put it any more plainly or simply than that. This guy is creepy and he scares the crap out of me – so much so that I often experience night terrors and nightmares in which he is chasing me. Typically during these sleep induced hallucinations I run in slow motion and Michael can always find me, no matter where I hide. If I have a gun, I can’t shoot him. If I try to shoot him, the bullets plop out in slow motion, like some horrible Matrix reenactment, except in these situations I desperately desire that the projectiles hurl toward him at 1200 fps.

Why then therefore do I continue to watch Halloween? I don’t anymore. I stopped watching those flicks after H2O, and the Zombie one doesn’t whet my bloody vessels.

~~ Chopped