Blue Moon

As I was out with the dog on skunk watch, I realized there is a big, full moon tonight. Given that it's our second one in a month, it's Blue Moon. Of course, it would be better if it was actually blue!

Last Week and Memorial Day

This was a great weekend. It was so nice to have time off and to be outside.
The downside was the nasty cold I managed to pick up. Given the stress of the last few weeks, I suppose it was inevitable. It's been a miserable one and my head still feels like it's going to explode. In spite of this, I did manage to have some fun.

I was quite busy last week and out almost every night (which is probably why I got the cold I have!). The Web Innovator's Conference was a lot of fun and I met some new people afterwards. It was very busy Tuesday night!

What happens when you a bring a box of Cheez-its to a bar? That was what my friend and I found out when we grabbed dinner later in the week. We went to a place she is a regular and there was some back story about the Cheez-its. Surprisingly they were a good bar nibble and created no end of controversy for the Cheez-it-less people in the restaurant.

Though I was feeling a bit stuffed up, I headed into the city on Friday night to meet another friend for drinks by the water. It was such a gorgeous night out we had our drinks and dinner outside. We tried to solve the mysteries of dating in Boston but she and I didn't come to any solid conclusions. We walked back to the T via the Harbor Walk.

Even though we thought my Pomegranate Martinis were providing good anti-oxidants, apparently I needed many more because I woke up Saturday with my cold in full bloom. I had no energy and had to cancel the plans I had because I couldn't leave the couch. It was a bummer but it was better I not spread my germs.

Sunday was BBQ time. It's really not Memorial Day weekend if I don't have some form of meat on a grill. I wasn't feeling great with the cold so it was only a short visit with the family. The food looked great but with my nose so stuffed up I couldn't taste much of it.

Today was a relaxed day outside with the pets and reading a book. All in all a good weekend!

First Summer Day

It was a gorgeous day Friday and the weather was perfect. The dog enjoyed some time in the pool to cool off!

Light up my life

Everyone knows how handy a flashlight is. Imagine that you have no electricity at all. No light to read, do your homework, keep you safe or seek medical attention. Imagine you live in a refugee camp. What's the one thing that you do have? Sun. So how about a solar flashlight? Brilliant idea. The creator of this light has a deal for you. It's the ultimate buy one, get one free. You purchase one flashlight for $25 (plus shipping) the free one gets shipped to Africa and an additional $1 gets donated to an aid group. It's a great idea and I encourage everyone to get one. You can learn more about this program here.

Friday Night Fun

After a rather long week, it was good to have a night out with my friend. The downside was the fact that it was cold, rainy and raw. With umbrellas in hand, she and I still had a good time. We had fun at our usual Irish pub where we managed to pick up a bachelor party. We chatted with the two Jim's from Philly. It was amusing and I'm sure the boys had quite the evening! There was one quirk however. Due to construction, we had to get to the ladies room by leaving the bar, going around the corner and coming back inside. It really made you evaluate whether you wanted to go or not.

We then headed to my friend's usual spot over by Faneuil Hall. When we got out of the cab, I managed to make a friend from Calgary thus continuing my streak of International men. The bar was a cute neighborhood place and fun. I met a handsome Spanish man who was very disappointed he could not persuade me to have another drink but we were off to the cigar bar. I have smoked a few in my day and just love the smell of cigar smoke. To me there is something so masculine about it. It's hard to explain. All in all, a great evening!

Goodbye Gilmores

I generally do not watch a ton of television. No Survivor, American Idol, or Lost for me. I have the attention span of a fruit fly when a new show comes on. I watch the first one and then forget all about it. Besides The Simpsons, the only show I have watched religiously has been Gilmore Girls. I loved the show the first time I saw it in 2000. The fast talking mother and daughter as best friends was enormously appealing. As someone who has a very similar relationship with my rather young mother, I was instantly hooked. The musical and pop culture references were astounding.

Tonight was the series finale. It came as a surprise to me and I was saddened to have to see it go. So with thunderstorms rolling through, I watched and cried.

Goodbye Gilmores, thanks for being my steady date on Tuesday nights.

Dating Post-mortem

A few thoughts after recent events.

"Act your age" - I've dated someone 50 who thought he was 20. If you are 40 please do not act as though you are ready to head to Boca to play shuffleboard and eat dinner at before it's dark outside.

"I want kids. Maybe. Sort of" - This is a yes or no question. Mind you, I wasn't sure if I wanted to mingle my genetic material with yours but at least know where you stand. Given that in this day and age all I need is a credit card, Internet connection and a turkey baster to have a kid, I know where I stand.

"I called ahead to the restaurant to see if jeans were ok" - That clears things up. I had assumed when you opened the door that I was early and you hadn't changed yet. While it may be fine to wear jeans to the restaurant, we were also going to the theater. I took time to dress up since it was a date and all. Nice to see you put in such effort.


"You should tell her you hope she gets cancer" - To my boss? Are you serious? How is this appropriate adult behavior? The fact that I had a family member who was diagnosed with cancer a mere three weeks before you uttered this statement shows a remarkable level of insensitivity.


"You're a good kisser" - Yes I am. Thanks for mentioning it. While we're at it, could we clear up that kissing is all about lips. It is not about you sticking your tongue down my throat for ten minutes. This isn't fun for anyone and if I wanted that I'd be dating a Labrador retriever.

"I don't go to concerts unless I have great seats" - Well aren't we picky. For me it's an evening out and a chance to hear some good music. I can hear just as well from row 27 as I can from row 2. Thankfully the concert I was kind enough to invite you to was open seating.


"I like the outdoors" - Great! Me too. Do you ski? Snowboard? Kayak? Mountain Bike? Hike? Oh you walk. Well that's like hiking except for the trees, dirt and bugs. Going to a Starbucks is not considered an outdoor activity.


"I don't want to get in the way of your school" - Thanks for that. Given that I have worked my butt off for the last three years and this was my last semester I appreciate the understanding. Why then during finals, did you have attitude with me when I couldn't spend time with you? I've been in school for 3 years. I've known you for 2 months. Which did you think was my priority?

"I really like my life nice and quiet" - That's great that your life is so quiet. I assume my life will be quiet too. When I'm 90. Right now, I'm a bit too busy enjoying the noise.

All About My Mother (and Stepmother)

Of course, unless you are living under a rock, today was Mother's Day. It was one of those days where the sky is perfectly blue and the new leaves are still lime green. My mother being the excellent cook that she is, opted to roast a chicken instead of my brother and I taking her out. The dog and I had a very nice time. We both got a doggie bag of leftovers to take home. My stepmom and Dad had other plans so I just dropped off her card and gift.

It was a day with a bit of a cloud over it however. I had a puzzling conversation with CBM last evening that really irked me. I am a ridiculously direct person and I expect the same thing from people. When I don't get it that really annoys me. I can't change the fact that I have pets and he can't change his allergy to two of them. It's not just my felines, there were other, larger issues as well but it is what it is.

Stressful day, warm night

I was just outside with the dog in my bare feet on skunk watch. It's one of those nice May nights where you can still feel the heat of the day emanating from the pavement. While he sniffed around I had the chance to stare up at the stars which are out in full force on this clear night. I always seek out the Big Dipper first since that's the very first constellation my Grandfather ever taught me. It's so peaceful and quiet that it helped to blur the stress of the day.

Work has not been a wonderful place for me of late. I have a boss from hell who finally decided after 3 years to give me a review. To call it a review is an understatement. It is a 16 page, single spaced massacre. I'm pretty sure it blames me for every ill of our department and possibly blames me for global warming.

I believe this line sums things up. My boss said "although we discussed some issues that need to be addressed, please accept our appreciation for the part of your efforts in which our expectations have been met." Ouch. In non middle management speak I think she's trying to say thanks for nothing,

Today I had to work on my rebuttal. Thoughts of taking a black Sharpie marker and writing "COMPLETE LIES. I DISAGREE." on every page did cross my mind.

Since I've finally finished finals, all signs point to finding a new job. Until then, I have to suck it up and trudge in. Thankfully this week is almost over.

Food glorious food!

Mangoes from India are finally being allowed into the US! Oh the wonders or irradiaton and bilateral trade.

Mangoes are one of my favorite foods. That blend of gingery and almost piney flesh and the juice are incredible. The best mango I have ever had was once in Grenada when our tour guide, Clint, pulled over at some woman's house and asked her if he could have a ripe mango from a tall tree in her yard. It was warm from the sun, like a cherry tomato from the vine in the summer. The juice that came from this fruit was amazing. The taste was incredible and I have yet to replicate it here. Hopefully once the Indian mangoes hit the market, I will be able to indulge.

The other food news is a bit puzzling. Yes, it's the Kool-Aid Dill pickle. It's as puzzling as it sounds and gives a normal pickle an otherworldly red hue. Apparently it's from the South and combines sour and sweet in a new way. As much of a fan of sweet and sour as I am, it looks a bit off putting.

You Are What You Eat. Sort of.

Interesting stuff about obesity in the New York Times today. It would seem that if you are overweight and you lose weight, then you should be able to keep the weight off. Not exactly.

It seems that "each person has a comfortable weight range to which the body gravitates. The range might span 10 or 20 pounds: someone might be able to weigh 120 to 140 pounds without too much effort. Going much above or much below the natural weight range is difficult, however; the body resists by increasing or decreasing the appetite and changing the metabolism to push the weight back to the range it seeks.".

Huh. Who knew? It makes all those people who insist that when you hit "25, 30, 35, 40, 45 you will see" look a bit silly. I have a hard time believing that once you turn a certain age you will suddenly just wake up with 20 extra pounds. I do realize that metabolism does slow as you age but these people seem to forget that every one's metabolism is different. Some of us are luckier than others in that regard, but as long as you keep active your weight should be pretty stable.

Chicks!

So today the dog an I took a little trip to visit my family. We headed out to my Dad's house to see his latest arrivals. The new chicks were here! My Dad started raising chickens a few years back. I grew up with all kinds of animals both as pets and non-pets but this has been an interesting experience. I can't tell you the last time I had to buy eggs in the grocery store. There is something so very cute about a fluffy little chick. As the designated chicken-sitter when he and my step-mom go on vacation I have a significant number of charges this year!

Disco Ball With Legs

One this very busy weekend of finals, I did what anyone preparing for exams would do. I went out of course!

Last night was a fun night with my usual Friday night nacho eating friends. We laughed and had a great time but I stayed out far later than I had planned. We were all amused by the women wearing the odd silver sequined dress. We were in an Irish Pub so she was definitely overdressed. Black leggings did not add to the outfit at all. When my friend said that this woman looked like a disco ball we all realized we are going straight to hell for being so catty. At least we'll be in good company! When I came back from the ladies room I have no idea what happened in my absence but the lady who looked like she had escaped from Princess Bride kept glaring over at us for the rest of the evening. By far the best comment of the night, "Nice shirt. Did you buy it or was it a gag gift?"

This evening was the Brandi Carlile concert in town with CBM. What an amazing show! There is something so sexy about a woman who can play the hell out of a guitar and she certainly can. The show started with a Dylan cover, had a great version of Creep by Radiohead and a rollicking Johnny Cash tune. It was a blast and it was one of those shows where clearly all the planets have aligned because the music and performance were so incredible.

My New Sister

Well I do have a new "sister" but it's not in a traditional sense. I just got a package from Women for Women International containing the information about the latest sister I am sponsoring. She is living in the Sudan.

Here are a few facts -

-She shares a home (hut actually) with 24 including her 5 boys. She had 6 children but one died. There is no running water or electricity and the main source of lighting is kerosene.

-She cannot read her name or write and has never been to school.

-Medical attention is too expensive, too far and has a shortage of medicines.

-In the Sudan, a woman is more likely to die in childbirth than to graduate from primary school.

-Almost 90% of women in Sudan have experienced FGM (female genital mutilation). Women who do not under go FGM risk being shunned or sanctioned.

-Rape has been used extensively as a tool of war during the conflict in Darfur to terrorize the population.

It's a big reality check as I wrote my letter to her in my home with heat, hot water, ample food, computer, tv, cell phone and pets that are probably better fed than some of the residents of Sudan.

Science Friday

Today I was lucky enough to sit in on the live broadcast of NPR's Science Friday. It was two shows (two hours each). The first hour was devoted to Cambridge Science Week and had panelists discussing recycling and green efforts in the city of Cambridge.

The second hour was completely fascinating. It was all about stem cell research. I have read a lot about this subject but it was great to hear even further explanation about how it's done and what the potential could be with further research.

I know that stem cell research is one of those hot button issues like abortion that just gets people all wound up. I have a very scientific mind and am a firm supporter of this research. I do understand the "life begins at conception" people and why they would have this belief. One gentleman who called in was completely in this camp. When one of the panelists was playing devil's advocate and asking this man if there was a fertility clinic on fire and there was a six year old girl or a tray with twenty frozen embryos and he could only save one, which would he save? This man hemmed and hawed and finally said that if he was a firefighter he would save whoever was closest to the door! I asked my dad, a retired firefighter of twenty five years, which he would do and the answer was clearly the little girl.

I respect the caller's right to his own opinion but it annoys me to no end when people bullishly insist on their belief as being the correct one but can't back it up. Stem cell research is very subjective. It's easy to say it is wrong until it is your child with diabetes. Or mother with Parkinson's. Or husband with Alzheimer's.

Tension in Virginville

So I received word from R. today that's he's a bit peeved at me for blogging about his virgin situation. He thought I should not have told anyone. As I pointed out to him, I told him I was going to post on that topic. Additionally, if this had happened to me (not that I would ever in a million years date a 27 year old virgin, mind you) I would be writing about it as well. He was so upset that I was really quite taken aback.

Then it occurred to me, the downside to dating a virgin is that you are not getting any. I think that R. is feeling a bit pent up and looking for an outlet. Instead of sex, it was being mad at me. This is not my problem.

He said I had no integrity and was poking fun at him about this situation. It's a funny story and I would be remiss in my duties as someone with a great sense of humor not to share! The gall of someone who considers himself the "Designated Deflowerer" questioning my integrity is really priceless.

Call me Boo

So my baby brother, the one who coined the Boo of the title, has had this nickname for me since he could talk. My real name was too tough for him to say so thus I am Boo.
I think it's great that he still calls me this and it comes in handy for purposes of this blog.

My brother does not have a computer so he calls me for all his Internet needs. Is so and so dead or alive? What do you feed a Venus fly trap if you don't have flies? Where did the guitarist from Alice in Chains go?

Usually they provide a distraction so I don't mind. My brother figures that since I am getting my hard earned IT degree shortly, it's really just me using my education.

This evening while talking to him, he asked me to find out something else for him. I laughed and said I was his Google. He one upped me and said that no, I was actually his "Boo-gle". That just cracked me up to no end!

Like a Virgin

So today I heard from my friend, let's call him R. He's in his upper 30's. Apparently he's been seeing a girl, we'll call her Mary. She's in her upper 20's and very religious. They've been out as a part of a group and hadn't even held hands. Granted there is a very large height difference that may also preclude hand holding!

Apparently they spent all weekend together. Cut to the evening and he's going to sleep over. Of course, he's assuming that what happens when you have a date and sleep over will happen. So they are in bed and that's when she tells him that she's a virgin. The timing could have been a bit better!

By the time you are post college, you pretty much assume that once you're in bed with someone they have done this before. And there is a huge difference between being a teenage virgin and an almost 30 year old virgin.

I think that with someone who's religious and held out this long there can only be one reason. Saving yourself for marriage. This is not a fun situation. If she does decide he's the "one" what's his obligation? Are you pledging something about the relationship that's just started? What if she has religious remorse about the whole thing? Is her family going to show up to beat the crap out of you? The one positive I pointed out to him is that if he's terrible, she won't know!

R thinks he should do research. I don't think there is a "Deflowering a Virgin for Dummies" book. He also seems to be viewing this as the Fates trying to tell him something about his life, particularly after a really bad relationship. I guess the Fates are telling him not to have sex. Hmm, fate does work in a mysterious way!

The Young and the Clueless

After an atrocious Friday the 13th it was a relief to see my good friend for an evening out after work. She and I had a lot to catch up on and decided to walk through the Common and chat. We weren't quite sure where we were going but the walk was enjoyable. We were both engrossed in our conversation when we finally looked around. Our actually conversation went as follows.

Me, looking at the barricades and Adidas trailer: "Did we miss something? Looks like some sort of sporting event went on earlier."
Her, looking around too, "Yeah it does."
Both of us, "Duh. They're setting up for the marathon!"

In our defense, we had both had really tough weeks and were a bit distracted. I am confident we would have figured it out once we walked over the finish line!

We finally made out way to a bar we had been to before. Another friend joined us and we were having fun, until the bar took our bar stools away. Apparently they have problems with their patrons "stumbling over the bar stools" and "fighting with the bar stools" so they take them all away. It would seem to me if you have people tripping over a bar stool or jousting with them, maybe you shouldn't serve them so much alcohol.

Finding ourselves vertical, we took being seatless as our cue and walked up the street to a different bar with seats where we finished our evening.

Failure is not an option

"It is on our failures that we base a new and different and better success". Havelock Ellis

Actually it is an option and it seems to be happening quite a bit lately. For me it's on the heels of a great personal success so it's kind of dampening my spirits despite my best efforts. There are a few others in the same boat as I am.

While failure can be in the eye of the beholder, it doesn't help when it's you who are the one it applies to. I certainly understand the whole "when one door closes another opens" thing but for once can't both be doors stay open?

As for the author of the quote above, if anyone knows about overcoming obstacles it would be him.