The One With the 2024 Recap

 

 

During the course of the year, I kept a list of what we have done throughout the year. He is a list of 90 special events that we were a part of in 2024. 

 

What a year!!!

Jan 15 – The Beekeeper (movie)

 

Jan 27 – Jazz and Acapella Night

 

Feb 3 – Winterguard Comp

 

Feb 10 – Annie

Feb 11 – Zone of Interest

 

Feb 19: Snowmobiling/Skating

Feb 20: Ice Castles

 

March 4 – Band meeting

 

March 9 – Winter Guard Comp

 

March 10 – Winter Guard Comp

 

March 16 – Love Lies Bleeding movie Framingham

 

March 20 – Spring Concert

 

March 22 – KMS Musical

 

March 23 – KMS Musical

 

March 24: Nick Bagataze

 

March 29- Ghostbusters

 

March 30 – Winter Guard

 

April 7 Winter Guard Finals

 

April 10 Endicott Jazz Festival

 

April 15 Boston Marathon and Mel’s Diner. (20)

 

April 17 NYC – M+M Store, Times Square Visit, Watch Digital art at 11:57, Went to Revel and Rye

 

April 18 NYC – Visited Madam Toussauds, saw filming of FBI (the TV show), went to Juniors, Went on RIDE tour of NYC, went to Stardust Diner. Went on Big Bus.

 

April 19 NYC – Went to Central Park, Visited Zoo, Took Carriage Ride, Went to Juniors, Went to Sweeney Todd. Went on Big Bus.

 

April 27 – Pops Night

 

April 28 – Dress Rehearsal/Natick Earth Day

 

April 30 – Sing Sing at Boston Film Festival

 

May 3 – Fall Guy (May 8)

 

May 11 – AggroDr1ft movie at Alamo Drafthouse

 

May 17 – IF (movie AMC Danvers)

 

May 18 – Bri Family 17^th party

 

May 19 - Recital

 

May 20 – World Language Honor Society Induction Bri

 

May 21 – National Honor Society Induction (Bri – she won the Suffolk Book Award)

 

May 22 – Awards Night (Bri got one for band, Chiff got one for TV production)

                  Civil War movie

 

May 23 – Prom Promenade

 

May 27 – Memorial Day parade

 

May 29 – National English Honor Society

 

May 31 – NH Drag Race (which was on Fox Sports One)

 

June 5 – Grade 8 Dance

 

June 9 – DHS Graduation (Chiff performed, Bri was a marshall) (40)

 

June 11 – Ensemble Night

 

June 12 – Red Sox vs. Phillies

 

June 16 – Bad Boys 4, Museum of Science [Father’s Day]

 

June 21 – Hootie and Blowfish; Celtics parade in morning (1 million people showed up)

 

June 27 – Inside Out 2

 

June 28 – Chiff screening NYFA; Aquarium, Tasty Burger

 

June 29: Daddio (Emmie and Chiff)

 

July 2 – Good Harbor Beach and Ruth Chris’s in Waltham

 

July 3 – Fireworks in Gloucester

 

July 4 – Cookout, Horribles Parade

 

July 5 – Fly Me To the Moon

 

July 7-8 – Cape Cod

 

July 11 – Bri BC tour; Chiff and Dad Kinds of Kindness

 

July 20 – Canada taking down wall paper, playing Pictionary, going to Pizza Delight

 

July 25 – MacDonald Museum

 

July 27 – Fireworks spectacular

 

July 29 _ Angies as a family

 

July 31 – Anne and Gilbert Musical

 

August 1 – Anne of Green Gables House

 

August 4 – Deadpool and Wolverine (60)

 

August 10 – NKOTB

 

August 14 – Trapped movie

 

August 18 – Cape Cod Harbor Hotel

 

August 19 - Twisters

 

August 20 – Cape Cod Hyannis Harbor Cruise

 

August 26: The Wallows MGM Fenway

 

September 6: Marching Band at Football Game

 

September 7: Coast for the Cure

 

September 13 – Football Game

 

September 14 -15 – Beverly Air Show

 

September 20 - Beetlejuice

 

September 22 – Apple Picking

 

September 29 - NESBA

 

October 4: Football Game

 

October 5 – NESBA Contest

 

October 8 – Brighid’s Trim M ceremony where she is historian presenting

 

October 11: White Bird (Bri and Em), Megaloplis (Dad, Kiff)

 

October 12 – Bored Teachers at Chevalier 7 PM

 

October 13-14 - NH

October 19 – NESBA Reading

 

October 27 – Chiff’s Bday Ruth Chris’s and Saturday Night movie (80)

 

November 1 – Senior Night Football

 

November 3 – NESBA Finals. (Danvers got gold with score of 90 pts and 4^th place)

 

November 9 – Veteran’s Day Parade

 

November 27: Gladiator 2

 

December 1 – Beverly Parade

 

December 7 – Tree lighting, Salem Honor Band

 

December 11 – DHS Winter concert

 

December 26 – Nosferatu

 

December 27 – NY Trip ride down

 

December 28 – NYC – Rockefeller Center, Rockettes, Carmines. (90)

 

December 29  - NYC Ride home

The One With New Years Eve 2024

 

 

New Years Eve 2024 has arrived. It is hard to believe an whole year has gone by. But, what a year it has been. Thank you, God, for the amazing year. Here is just a sample of what happened:

1. We took our first family trip (and second one, too) to New York City. We stayed in Times Square. We had just put on New Years Rockin Eve a short time ago and saw some of the places we went to when we were there. Very surreal!!!

2. Bri made three more honor societies and belongs to a total of four. She became an officer in two.

3. Chiff became a section leader.

4. Bri got her license!

5. Chiff went to film-making camp.

6. Bri was a marshall at the DHS Graduation based on her grades and class rank.

7. Chiff got his learner's permit.

8. Bri got into college.

9. We took a family trip to Prince Edward Island. Emmie had the best cup of latte ever there.

10. Emmie passed her Humanities Test!

 

Here's wishing and praying that 2025 is even better!

The One with The Rockettes

 

 

 

Today, we spent a fun day in NYC.

 First, we had breakfast at the Marquis Marriott. We sat in the glassroom in Revel and Rye...always good.

We then made sure to add a wish to the Times Square Wishing Wall. We did it electronically and it will be printed out and released as a portion of confetti when the ball drops to 12:00 AM. Super cool!!!

Then, we visited the NBC Studios and Rockefeller Center. We saw the fabled Christmas Tree - it looked amazing - as well as the skating rink (which was hard to see because there were a bazillion people there).

We visited a nearby record store and then went to Radio City Music Hall. That was an impressive site.  We saw some pictures in the grand foyer including one with Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo at the hall. Neat!

We then watched the 4 PM Rockettes Spectacular. It was incredible to see the Rockettes in their home venue. They show was amazing and included more than just the Rockettes. Santa narrated - always fun - and there were other singers and dancers. However, the Rockettes definitely the star of the show. Their dances, kick line, and marching soldier number were amazing. There was even a living Nativity - something I remembered from seeing the show in Boston - which was incredible. They even used drone frost fairies in the show. They did warn audience members that they were so light they sometimes land in the crowd - and they did - but it was amazing to see. It was also fun to think that one of Bri and Chiff's dance teachers was on stage. Miss Lauren is a Rockette now.

We wrapped up the night at Carmines, where we had chicken parmesan. All and all a great memory!!!

The One with Nosferatu

 

 

Chiff has been waiting to see the updated version of the 1920s classic. So, we decided to see it tonight at 9:45 in Danvers.

 As a classic movie monster fan, I was very interested in seeing how the movie would turn out. And, it did not disappoint. Sure, it was no "classic," but the director paid homage to the original story as best I remember (I had only seen portions as a kid, but had read about it).

 The two things I remember about the original story was that Nosferatu was considered to be the vilest vampire. And that stayed true to in this movie, too. He literally tries to ruin everyone. Second, the original vampire was considered to be scary looking. Check, there, too. He was creepy.

The movie was intense, but solid. And the filmmakers used light amazingly, including what looked some black and white scenes at times in the movie. Overall, it was a great take.

 

The One With a Merry Christmas

 

 

Today is a Christmas Day 2024. We had a great Christmas.

We got up around 8:45 to open gifts. We started and took a paused around 10:00, when I went to Mass. We then opened a little bit more, than had our annual Christmas brunch, which is one of my favorite things. We finished up gifts. Bri and Chiff brought stuff to their rooms while Emmie and I watched Jingle Bell Rock with Joey McIntyre.

We took a walk, then prepared supper - roast and sweet potatoes. We played a few games, including Smart As! and a Gibberish, which was fun. We ate, and then watched A Christmas Story, which is one of my favorite Christmas stories.

We just wrapped up as I am typing this. All and all, it was a great Christmas Day!!!

Merry Christmas to all and God Bless Us Everyone!

 

 

The One With Winter Solstice

 

 

Today we celebrated the winter solstice. Technically, it was one day late - we were having our windows replaced on December 21. But, we had an amazing day.

 

We started by going to see the sunrise in Beverly. This is always fun, but took on added enjoyment because there was a fresh coat of snow on the ground from a storm two days ago....and it was brutally cold outside.

 

Then, we tried to make our way into Boston to see the Muppet Christmas Carol. That did not work out, so we went to the Sugar Factory!!! That was amazing!

 

Then, we came home and did our normal festivities - the shutting off of lights, the feeding of the animals (they liked the food and we added blueberries this year), the making of the yule logs, and the turning on of all the lights and walking around the house. We then watched Little Bear, got snacks nearby, and watched "Muppet Christmas Carol" at home.

 

As Emmie said, "This is the best winter solstice I can remember."

The One With My First DHC Board Meeting

 

 

This past month, I decided to fulfill my role as a Civics Teacher and take it to a new dimension. I decided to take part in a civic role in Danvers.

I joined that DHC - or Danvers Historical Commission. It is something that I had considered doing the past few years and because of some changes, they needed new members. And, I was excited to be a part of it.

Our first meeting was held in the Toomey Room at Town Hall. It is a pretty schnazzy room....but I found out we do not meet there regularly. Still, it was a neat way to join the board.

I learned a lot about the town and how it works in just the first meeting. We also got to approve a project and work on some other projects as well. All and all it was a good first meeting. I am glad I joined.