Holidays vs. Vacations

The Europeans go on these month long trips usually from one city of culture to another or from one exotic location to an even more exotic location. They call them holidays.

Americans take these week long trips that are called vacations. Sometimes they go overseas and visit a cultural location sometimes in Europe. The Americans refer to particular dates on a calendar that observe a moment in history, a person who shaped history, or a date that greeting card companies somehow have finagled in order to increase their profits as holidays.

The difference? Americans observe a holiday and usually need a vacation to recover. Europeans holiday and vacations are pathetic to them.

I'm watching Gilmore Girls. Anyone else adore Sookie? She's so eccentric. However (and this is not shallow) I think that if she was a size 2 she'd be annoying rather than eccentric. She's adorable with her neurosis.

*I'll be referencing scenes from the episode "Emily Says Hello" from this point forward just so you don't commit to me a padded room.

Why didn't Rory date Marty? Did I miss the episode in which they discussed why they couldn't date because the Gilmores discuss everything.

Is it sad that Chad Michael Murray's only redeeming quality is his nose? I just adore it. It needs to relocate to someone with some morals and without the creepiness though. This random note brought to you by a commercial for A Cinderella Story.

Both of my brothers are expecting. I already have the world's cutest niece. Now there will be two more. Well, there is the potential for a nephew but regardless I will have three nieces/nephews by the end of the year.

Montana has a week long crash course on journalism and photography. Not just journalism or photojournalism but a marriage of the two separate entities. I'm seriously considering exploring that option as opposed to HIP or the three month intensive.

I've decided baseball isn't so bad. And it is without the drama of football (at least in New England). A game isn't a game when it matters who you bang. Hee he heee. So I have seen more than half of this season's Red Sox game. I'm digging it. It is most exciting when they win.

"Earlier I was talking to Sookie, who btw got knocked up again, crazy slut..."

GG is probably the only show that can get away with saying something like that without being offensive or juvenile.

Bones is on tonight. Was on last night and tonight is a new episode too. What awesomeness occurred that the cosmos have graced us with two days in a row of new Bones goodness.

"That's sweet he's having sympathy mood swings."
"He looooves me."

Oh Lord. Can I just say that I don't think that I'll ever have to help my mom get ready for a date so I think I can deal with reprogramming the remote every time they erase the settings.

I pigged out today. Went to Wendy's. Couldn't resist a Frosty since it was like a bazillion degrees today. Had to have my Spicy Chicken Wrap because that is fabulous. Then of course there must be fries to dip in the Frosty because... yes. And my stomach growled while I was in line so I go two wraps.

I get why Marty and Rory never talked about a relationship. She fell asleep. Only time a Gilmore is quiet.

Going to see Tony Lucca next month. Can't wait! Spending the weekend in Boston. I'm so excited. I need to just get away. I can't keep picking up the pieces for everyone else.

I love the DVR and why is Chief Manning killing people on CSI: NY? I miss The District. I miss the hotness of Anthony LaPaglia. Sadly they killed him off on NCIS. They should have recognized his goodness and given him a recurring role.

The brushes they use for finger printing (on CSI: NY) look fun. Autopsies are not so much fun and yet they torment me with one every week.

I need a pedicure so I can start taking advantage of this great weather with a lovely pair of sandals.

If I ever pick a fight with someone remind me to not do it 20 stories up by a glass window. That is a recipe for distaster.

I take great amusement when listening to someone from Texas give an interview or answer questions. They’ll often preface their answers with “I’m from Texas” as if that explains everything.

“You put ketchup on your scrambled eggs?”
“I’m from Texas and it is good. You ever try it?”

“You played baseball as a kid?”
“I’m from Texas. I played short stop for years before moving to third base.”

“What’s your high score on Rock Band?”
“I’m from Texas. I suck at Rock Band because whistling isn’t an instrument.”

I’ve never really claimed to be from anywhere. I was born in NH, raised mostly in RI, moved to ME, took sabbaticals from the northeast in Vegas and Fl, and am currently residing in MA. I’ll usually say that I’m a New England chic. Never laid claim to a parcel of land as my home. Usually don’t feel much for the geographical location that I’m stopping at until my next residence.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Apr13/0,4670,ChristianCenterFire,00.html

However, I was a bit sad when news broke that fire had destroyed a good portion of Alton Bay. That was my first home. I remember nothing about it. I’ve been there a few times long after it was no longer home. It’s a piece of my history though. I don’t have memories of Christmas and Easter in that home. We probably left before I was old enough to make a mark. I’ve only been back a handful of times since and I haven’t stepped foot inside the house.

Last September I was there for a weekend. Stayed on the campground. Relived memories with my mother. She pointed out where she’d escape to find a few moments of relaxation on the lake while pregnant with me. Pointed out cottages of people who have been deceased for many years that made an impression on her life. Saw places that were part of the beginning of my parent’s ministry. Went into Wolfeboro, NH where I was actually born for a few hours and walked around with a friend. Chilled out nearly three decades after having left where my life began. I didn’t notice the changes that have occurred. Just enjoyed the quaint little town that at one point was home.

In the past year I've had an opportunity to revisit my history. My father is now pastoring at the church that he and my mother married in 32 years ago this June. I've visited my birthplace equipped with a maturity to understand the significance of being there. It is an honor to be able to know from where you came that equipped you for where you are going.

Baseball season has begun which in and of itself is exciting. What most excites me about the start of baseball season is that spring training camps begin for football season not long after and we'll soon be enjoying action on the gridiron.

I love football!

Should have copyrighted Happy Birthday

Flowers arrived at work last week. Delivered by the FTD guy. Ok so not that guy on the sides of the van in the jumpsuit that looks like a reject from the Fantastic Four movies. Nope the Westfield, MA FTD guy who didn't even rate enough to get one of those vans with the speedskating-jumpsuit-wearing flower delivery guy on the side. He dropped off a beautiful spring arrangement.

What struck me as I accepted them was that every bouquet I have ever received has come with the same vase. (Flowers on the left from March of 2009. Flowers on the right from sometime in 2005) If you were to look at FTD.com or through a magazine they all come with the same vase. Whose bottom is too wide to fit in cup holders and not wide enough to prevent tippage so therefore it really isn't the smartest design, but I digress. Someone out there is probably mass producing these generic vases, selling them in bulk to flower delivery companies, and making millions. Or worse yet is that someone out there created these numerous accounts and has since left this planet and has lazy heirs that are making millions off of this generic vase design. Still worse yet is that the generic vases that we receive were designed by someone and someone else came along and decided to copyright, steal, monopolize that design and they are making millions and the designer lived out their days with a mediocre income.

The moral of the story? Flowers are best left to remain rooted in the earth. Send a card. Keep Hallmark busy and therefore keep my friend, Steph, employed.

And because the world isn't complete if we don't get it in black & white.....

A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety. - Ansel Adams, Photographers on Photography : A Critical Anthology by Nathan Lyons (Editor)

RMSP

"No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film."

~Robert Adams, Darkroom & Creative Camera
Techniques, May 1995