Saturday Survey...

(Courtesy of Dawn)

Outside my window... the little bit of snow that fell last night is glistening in the bright sunshine.

I am thinking... that I hope the kiddies don't tear each other apart today! They both woke up with a touch of a stomach bug, so we are just spending the day in and relaxing. Could be a good thing....could be a war zone. Time will tell....

I am thankful for... all that I have, and I don't mean that materialistically. I have a beautiful family, fabulous friends - and to quote Steven Tyler "I don't want to miss a thing...."

From the kitchen... Hmmm. Not sure since the little one's don't feel that great. Might be a boring chicken broth kind of day. I did make a delicious pork roast last night though.

I am wearing... A Red Sox tshirt and pajama pants. Certainly nothing glamourous!

I am creating... Nothing at the moment. I did re-create the employee schedule for the store the other day, but again - nothing glamourous.

I am going... to catch up on my laundry. (ho-hum. So little glamour here...)

I am reading... The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It's okay; not as good as Angels & Demons but it's starting to pick up a bit.

I am hoping... that we get good news regarding our mortgage this week so we can put an offer on the house we really, really, really want.

I am hearing... Spongebob Squarepants. Ugh.

Around the house... is lots of sunshine through the windows. And happily, very little dust...

One of my favorite things... is sushi. Can't have enough of it. Yes, I'm addicted. Truth.

I don't understand... how people can treat children so horribly in this state and not suffer the death penalty for their abuse. It's disgusting and the cases keep getting worse and worse - each story of the torment that these children are suffering through and dying from keep becoming more atrocious. What will it take for someone to finally punish these people in the manner in which they deserve?

I wish... I can't share my wishes...they won't come true if I do.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I'm not really sure what my plans are for this week. It's still too early to tell -- except that Princess Petunia and I have a date to see "Beastly" on it's opening night!

A picture to share... Princess Petunia at the beach this past summer.

Yoga is freedom...

Yesterday I was at yoga and it was one of those days where there was only 3 of us in class. I love those days because you tend to get more out of the class from who ever is instructing.

One of the women in the class with me was an older woman; incredibly thin and not so strong looking - yet someone not exactly new to yoga. As we were doing inversions in the class (handstands) she was insistent that she couldn't do it; so fearful that she would fall - even though she was against the wall - that she completely blocked her mind to the idea of even trying.

I was next to her, and she was saying "I can't do this" in a tone that I knew just meant "I'm afraid to do this, I don't have the confidence to do this". I couldn't help but say to her "you can do this. It's scary at first - it's all about trusting yourself. The worst that will happen is you'll hit the wall hard...but you won't get hurt. Trust yourself to take a chance." She shook her head and said, "alright...". And you know what -- she did it. It wasn't the right formation, and she didn't stay up for but a second - but she did it. Her frightened frustration, turned to a shy, but more confident smile.

Yoga is freedom.... if you practice, then you understand what I mean. It's the one time that you are doing something that is so good for you, physically and psychologically; it affords you the opportunity to have the mindset of trying anything - as if you were a child again. And if that isn't a form of freedom, then I don't know what else is.

The theme for today is.....

Stewie: Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but you're a total bitch.

snide: adj \ˈsnīd\
: slyly disparaging : insinuating

Technology that I'm digging these days...

1. The Color Nook. Okay, while I'm most definitely a "see, touch, feel" kind of girl when it comes to shopping - I am enjoying this little gadget. It cant' replace the excitement of going to the book store, smelling the books and touching the covers - but since this girl doesn't typically have the time to make such excursions -- the Nook is working out just fine. I'm half way through Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" and just downloaded "90 Minutes in Heaven" which I'll be starting next. Got book recommendations? Please share! Have a Nook and want to "lend"me a book - let me know! Remember, one of my resolutions was to get back to reading and this is totally affording me the opportunity.

2. Pandora. Okay, again - I'm all about the music store (love, love, love Newbury Comics), but I'm really digging this Pandora thing that is bundled with the Nook. So I can read AND listen to music, which truthfully - is rather counterintuitive for me because it can prevent me from really becoming "lost" in the story. But still, is pretty cool. Pretty, pretty, cool. (Yes, Curb fans, that was a shoutout to the show which is "supposed" to be coming back on the air really soon....)

3. Netflix. No, I haven't joined yet - I must get my Roku box. But, WOW - just to be able to catch up on shows like Smallville and Greys - it's beyond worth it! Anyone a Netflix member? Care to share thoughts -- let me know!

What are some great gadgets that you've got that you're loving these days?

I'm sorry but....

Couple: Bruises on dead child due to ‘clumsiness’

And we don't have the death penalty here in Massachusetts for batterers, why....??

Please, someone explain it to me. Because this girl just doesn't get it. Not at all....

Lyrically speaking...

You see 'em comin' at you every night
Strung on pretension they fall for you at first sight...
You know their business--you think it's a bore
They make you restless--it's nothin' you ain't seen before...

Get around town, spend your time on the run
You never let down...say you do it for fun
Never miss a play, though you make quite a few
You give it all away when everybody wants you

You crave attention--you can never say "no"
Throw your affections anyway the wind blows.

You always make it--you're on top of the scene
You sell the copy like the cover of a magazine

Puttin' on the eyes 'til there's nobody else
You never realize what you do to yourself
The things that they see make the daily reviews
You never get free when everybody wants you

Everybody knows you
Everybody snows you
Everybody needs you...leads you...bleeds you

Nights of confusion and impossible dreams
Days at the mirror, patchin' up around the seams
You got your glory--you paid for it all
You take your pension in loneliness and alcohol

Say goodbye to conventional ways
You can't escape the hours--you lose track of the days
The more you understand, seems the more like you do
You never get away...everybody wants you

Can you say "ouch"....

So, I made it back to yoga.
And wow - am I sore.

My abs are never really sore; but from my lower abs right to the upper ones - they're sore to the touch!! How's that for a kickin' workout??

And - I'm going back tomorrow. Hopefully, Friday as well.

But the first run I'd anticipated on, well....that might have to wait for next week.

Love is all around you.......

It is not just a Hallmark holiday.

While we can show each other we care on any given day -- it's the one day that we should force ourselves to take a moment out of our otherwise normally busy days, and take a moment to show the ones we love, just how much we love them -- because even though they may know this, on otherwise normally busy days we just might take them for granted.

It is not just a Hallmark holiday.

To say that it, is just a way to justify the laziness and lack of effort one wants to put into taking the extra effort in life. Sometimes a card is what a person needs to brighten their whole day. Getting cards on random days is special -- why wouldn't it be special on a day like today? Is it difficult to sign your name; is the card too heavy? No.... I think not.

It is not just a Hallmark holiday.

It's fun to make an otherwise normal day a bit more special; what's wrong with wanting to have a special dinner or dessert with the ones you love?

It is not just a Hallmark holiday.

Life is too short to not take the opportunity to show someone you care. Always seize the opportunity to show someone how much you love them - on Valentine's Day - and every day that you can. It can all change in the blink of an eye; and then that Hallmark holiday, might not seem so unimportant anymore.

Happy Sunday...

1.) Today is officially reporting day for Catchers & Pitchers. And, speaking of Catchers....who knew that in the last issue of NorthShore Magazine (Feb/March), the one my store was mentioned it -- two pages over, was a picture of Jason?!? The two of us, featured in the same magazine just pages apart.... who'da thunk it?

2.) Bieber Fever? Well, this girl is going to have it for a two hour window with Princess Petunia today. We're going to see "Never say Never" today, and she can't wait. Me? Well, two hours of giggling little girls can't be a bad thing. Very, very cute.

3.) Mike's Pastry on Comcast Sportsnet? Seriously, two great things that taste great together - sports & sweets. I'm watching Nate Robinson at Mike's Pastry, which is actually quite funny because you can tell he's not a local guy. Just the way he annunciates the "North End" - his inflections are different. (Listen, I'm all about grammar and vocabulary and articulation. It's an interest of mine. Call me geeky, I know....)

4.) Come hell or high water.... this girl is going back to yoga on Tuesday morning. It's about flipping time. I'm getting back into the swing of things this week - yoga, then running a week from tomorrow. I hate having to stop during the holidays because you get into such a good groove, and in such great shape - and then you have to start all over again. But fortunately, muscle has memory - and it won't take long. The best part of it isn't so much how I look - but how I feel after. Happier because I feel healthier; cleaner because all those toxins are released; and just more peaceful within because I feel better overall. Endorphins, those are some pretty great things....

It's the most wonderful time, of the year.....

No, it's not Christmas.
But it's pretty darn close!

It's Valentine's Weekend -- which means it's the official beginning of Baseball season.

Pitchers & Catchers (and a particular Catcher...) report, and it's Red Sox all day - and all night on sports television from now until hopefully, October.

Ah yes, football - you were fun, and I enjoyed you. But move over, because baseball is back in town.

You Are Baseball Games

You like old fashioned things. You're one of those people who values tradition. You enjoy a slow pace of life. You believe that life is all about enjoying every moment. You love the changing of the seasons, and you look forward to what each season brings. You are smart and a bit obsessive. You become very immersed in your interests.

What Part of Spring Are You?

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "R" and the number "1".

Respect.

re·spect   /rɪˈspɛkt/ [ri-spekt]
–noun
esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.

Something you should always have for others. From the way you speak to them - to the way you behave towards them - to the way you carry yourself in front of others who may be impressionable.

And most importantly - have it for yourself.

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." --- Benjamin Franklin

Today, I attended a Silver Oak & Twomey Tasting at The Market Restaurant in the W Hotel in Boston.

I have to say - the food was outstanding; the downside - it was uber petite.
UBER.

Last year I attended, and we ate at Abe & Louie's. That meal -- fantastic. It was a meal, and not so petite.

That being said, the wines were of course phenomenal. Standouts for me were the Twomey Sav Blanc, and the Merlot. LOVED the Merlot, but I'm always sort of crushing on good Merlot anyway. I think if someone was to say "quick, what's your favorite varietal".... I'd have to say Merlot, with the caveat of it being well made and not over oaked. I don't love feeling like I'm chewing on a tree; I much prefer the beautiful fruit.

Out of the two Silver Oaks (Alexander & Napa Valley), my preference was by far the Napa. Amazingly delicious and best of all - ready to drink. Silver Oak is one of those producers who prefers to sell table ready wine, so you don't have to question whether it's ready when you buy it or not -- no surprises. You've got to love it.

And oh yes, I do....

Today's orginally scheduled post has been cancelled due to the following whine:

Will I ever be able to get back to yoga?!?!?!??!
W. T. F.

Looks like it's going to have to be next week.

Musings for Monday....

Nothing can hit the spot like...... a good, old fasioned peanut butter and jelly or fluff sandwich. It's got to be incredibly soft bread, almost so soft that it will stick to the roof of your mouth. Few things will trigger the salivary glands quite so well as this. (And I know this because Princess Petunia was still hungry after finishing dinner, so she asked for a PB&F sandwich, and I snuck a little bit of it. I'm thinking skip my dinner and just eat that...!)

No matter how hard I try, I can't listen to the new sports station. Sometimes when WEEI is on commercial or they're talking about something that rather bores me, I flip to music. Occasionally, such as a day like today when I like hearing the post Superbowl chatter and Pre-Spring Training conversations - I'll bop on over to The Sports Hub. I swear to God, every time I do - I regret it. Listening to Toucher & Rich, I feel like my intelligence level has been brought down. Occasionally decent points are made, but more often than not I feel like I'm listening to the Bevis & Butthead of morning talk. Listen, I'm all about having fun - but I take my sports more seriously, and truth be told - these guys aren't the "experts" who's opinion I take seriously. But I try.... I try.

Dear Facebook: The answer is NO for the millionth time. NO I don't want to make you my homepage. NO I don't want you to auto-log me in. (Even though it's CONSTANTLY pre-selected every time I log in or out.) NO I don't want you to share my personal information with third party vendors. Dear God Facebook - I don't want you to take over the world - mine, or anyone else's. It's obnoxious....!

You are my friend, you are special - special to me - I like you.

(Who doesn't love Mr. Rogers? We all could use a little more of Fred in our day to day lives. I know I'm a better person because of him....but I digress.)

Speaking of friends...

Meet my new BFF, Jennifer Lopez.

I am totally LOVING this season of American Idol. As much as I adored Simon, I'm really not even missing him this season. Steven Tyler & Jennifer Lopez are really great additions. And the best part is - they have "street creds"; I respect their opinions, whereas Ellen Degeneres lent nothing but quirky humor to the judging table.

What I love best about Jen, is that she just is so real; you can tell when she's not comfortable - you can tell when she feels the boys need to be reigned in - and there's such a warmth to her. I always liked her - but I really love her now.

Yup. We're totally BFF's.

Totally.

Love, love, love this - heard it three times today. What are the chances?!?

A man in my shoes runs a light and
All the papers lied tonight
But falling over you
Is the news of the day
Angels fall like rain
And love (love, love)
Is all of heaven away

Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade

A race is on, I'm on your side and
Here in you my engines die I'm
In a mood for you
Or running away
Stars come down in you
And love (love, love)
You can't give it away

Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade

Don't you go
It makes no sense when
All your talk and supermen just
Take away the time
And get in the way
Ain't it just like rain?
And love (love, love)
Is only heaven away

Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade

Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade

Inside you
The time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade

Wondering.....

How many times will I repeat the following phrase, before it actually is done: "Sit right, face forward, feet under the table - use your utensils!".

If I tell you what I mean, write you instructions AND draw you a diagram - at what point is what I say not clear. And will you ever tell me....??

Just curious....what part of "no", actually means "yes"?

Manners. Live them, love them, use them. At what point did manners not become important with EVERYONE - not just strangers.

Why there isn't a license out there for people to use computers. Seriously....

Scents from a snowy day...

Crisp, clean snow. Hazelnut coffee. Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Fresh Sausages. Pumpkin Pie candles. Cinnamon Streusal bread baking. Steam from the shower and citrus soap. Sweet & Sour meatballs cooking in a crockpot. Smoke in the fireplace.

Poor little puppies!

Okay, so maybe she's not a puppy. Or even a dog. She's a coyote....and she was brutally killed by the Boston Police on Sunday. They felt she was a risk because she was injured. Poor thing -- probably was hit by a car, hurt and just trying to find shelter.

The poor thing was injured, and lost...coyotes don't venture into the heart of the city!

That doesn't warrant killing the poor animal. How's about capturing it, and rehabilitating it to release into the wild?? My God, we don't kill murderers in this state, but God forbid you're a coyote out of your comfort zone. No wonder wild animals are petrified of us.

And just a few hours ago - a small coyote was found stuck in the Charles River - and he was rescued and brought into the Museum of Science to warm up.....and he was fine with his rescuers! He will be relocated, hopefully someplace more rural.

I love coyotes. They're the closest predator to a wolf that is local to my area; I live abutting the woods, and have a little dog and small children - so I know the risk they pose. I still respect them, and can't help but feel badly for them when their territories have become so small and encroached upon.