The One With New Year's Eve

 

 

Happy New Year's Eve 2022

We are watching Avatar (for the first time for any of us).

Here is hoping 2023 is AMAZING!!!

The One With The Year In Review

 

 

Looking back, 2022 was quite a year. We had some good memories and some sad ones, too. Here is what the year had in store for us:

 

• Sadly, Dad Number Two joined Mom Number Two earlier this January

• We returned to Canada in July

• We saw Bri and Kiff in Marching Band

• We went to the Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, and Post Malone Concert

• We went to the Red Sox

• We saw our First Celtics Game

• We watched Bri in her first St. Patrick's Day Parade in Boston. 

• I returned to 8th grade

• We cleaned out the Brown House and it sold 

• Sadly, Auntie Nancy and Uncle Chet left us

• We saw Polar Express in the Theaters for the first time 

• We took the kids to the Union Oyster House for the first time

• We chaperoned our first band event 

• Kiff did track

• Bri became a co-captain for Winter Guard

• We were able to watch the Celtics return to the NBA finals.

The One With Our Christmas Movie List

 

Here are the Christmas movies we watched this year:

 

• Spirited (good movie)

• Christmas Story Sequel (the third one, came out this year, was excellent, though bittersweet)

• Christmas Story

• Its A Wonderful Life (it was 75th anniversary)

• Christmas Vacation

• Santa Clause

• Bad Mom's Christmas

• Daddy's Home

• Just Friends

• Miracle on 34th Street (which we watched on Thanksgiving).

 

 

The One With Bri's colleges

 

 

Bri is a long way off from going to college, but today she showed me all of the emails she has received from colleges. Of course, as she mentions, they are form letters. But, the list is pretty hefty and includes:

 

• BU (my BC rival)

• Hofstra

• Bryant

• Siena

• Dean

• Assumption

• Salem State

 • University of Minnesota

 

The One with Bri and Kiff Day

 

 

Today, we had a Bri and Kiff day. Emmie took Kiff to see the Fabelmans (they loved it) and then to Texas Roadhouse. After that, she returned home to chill with Bri and have an in home Spa Day.

 Bri and I went to eat at Not Your Average Joes. She got a salad. I got the BBQ Meatloaf. It tasted great....but I can still taste those garlic potatoes.

The One With Our First Celtics Game as a Family

This Tuesday, December 27, we did something we have never done before as a family. We went to our first Celtics game. In fact, it was the first time Bri or Kiff had ever been to one. Being huge Celtics fans - especially Kiff and I - it was a memorable event.

The Celtics had just come off a Christmas Day victory over the Bucks. They have had an up and down December after dominating much of the NBA in October and November, so I wasn't too sure what to expect.

However, before we got there, we went to Tasty Burger, where Kiff and I introduced the restaurant to Emmie and Bri. They both liked it.

Then, we went into the Garden. Of course, we had to buy the obligatory "merch" (that word still makes me cringe) and then got drinks.We went to our seats in Loge 7, Row 22 (worth remembering because they have a nice overhang in front to put drinks).

The game started off a bit slow, as the Celtics played pretty evenly with the Houston Rockets (who have one of the worst records in the league). Part of the problem was that the Celtics couldn't hit a three pointer for much of the first half (they were shooting 20% for most of the half). Ugh!

The best part of the first half was that the Celtics honored Paul Silas, a former Celtic who recently passed away, and whose son, Steven, was coach of the Rockets. That was a touching moment (he later expressed appreciation for it and mentioned his brother and sister were there).

By midway through the third quarter, the Celtics finally kicked it in gear and pulled away. In fact, much to Kiff's chagrin, we were able to leave with 4 minutes left in the game.

It proved to be quite a game. In fact, Rob Williams tied a record with Paul Silas for most rebounds (15) in less than 20 minutes played - which was cool. The Celtics also set their own franchise record for most threes taken in a game....they missed more than 50 percent of them.

Overall, a VERY MEMORABLE evening.

The One With Yule

 

On December 26, we celebrated Yule as we typically do each year. It is always something I look forward to.

 To celebrate, we harken back to an earlier time to honor what our ancestors experienced in the past. So, we always make sure to get up to see the sunrise. This year was no exception...but we woke up just in time to see it rise in Beverly.

Then, we came home and had breakfast. We watched a nature show - Yellowstone at Christmas - to capture the mood. We only watched a little bit of this.  

 We then made sure to prepare food for the animals to hang on the Solstice tree. I always love doing that. We served apples with peanut butter, bread and peanut butter with birdseed, and cranberries.

 We then made our annual Yule logs, complete with decorated Swiss rolls. It was a ton of fun!!! I love those rolls.

We wrapped up by turning all the lights in the house to "honor" the light.

All and all, an authentic, and ancient, way to reflect on life.

 

 

The One With Christmas

 

 

We've had a fun, but tiring Christmas weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

We had the Forest family Christmas Eve party at our house yesterday.

Then, we wrapped lots of gifts.

Then we took a ride and went to Tony's to say hi and drop off gifts.

Then, we came home and had Chinese Food. We wrapped up putting gifts by tree at midnight (a new record).

 

This morning we got up early and opened gifts and watched services on TV

We had brunch

We opened more gifts.

Right now Emmie is taking a nap at 4:00 PM. We are counting down to the Celtics!!!

Merry Christmas to all.

The One With Christmas Eve

 

 

Happy Christmas Eve to all and all to a good night!!!

 

The One With Christmas Carol

 

 

Today, we saw a different version of the Christmas Carol - the one from the North Shore Music Theater. Emmie had told me that this was quite different from versions she has seen before. In fact, because it was theater in the round, it was a very different type of play, with little sets...so we never checked this one out together.

 

We originally had plans to go to our favorite version - which is now at the Hanover Theater. However, a flu bug hit us, to we had to forego that plan last weekend. However, we scrambled to get tickets for the second to last show on Thursday December 22. And it did not disappoint.

Although we had a few snafus - lots of rain and some overzealous ushers at times - it turned out to be a GREAT show. As Emmie said, they had really reworked this show a ton. It has lots of sets coming from above and below stage, as well as wheeled on by actors. And the special effects were awesome.

It was definitely a highlight of our Christmas season!!!

The One With The North End Parade

 

 

Today, our kids - along with the Danvers High School Marching Band - were in the 50th annual North End Christmas Parade. And, boy, was it a show.

First, we should mention that Emmie and I decided to chaperone our first parade. It was quite an adventure. Little did we know it would be about 20°F. But, that was no worry. It was a blast. We even took the bus in with the students. I was the wagon wheeler (it reminded me of Time for Timer).

However, the real treat was the parade itself. It was amazing Bri was in color guard as usual and Kiff was playing trumpet. The entire band was dressed up in their Christmas ugliest - with a plethora of ugly sweaters (actually, most were rather snazzy).

The parade itself featured all sorts of attractions - mascots like Blaze the Bruin, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, a Minion (Kiff got a picture with one with the trumpet section) and more. It was amazing! Santa also arrived by helicopter, which was pretty cool. Wally and Tessie from the Red Sox were behind us...awesome.

The parade itself wove through the streets of the North End, ebbing all around and actually recrossing a few spots (including twice by Mike's Pastry - yum). It was long - and chilly - but a spectacular to watch (and to be a part of for the first time). 

This was a quaint addition to the Christmas festivities calendar, but one we will hopefully get to do again!.

The One With The Polar Express

 

 

 

Last night, we went to AMC Danvers and saw the Polar Express  on the big screen. While Emmie and I saw it back in 2004 on the big screen, it was the first time Bri and Kiff did. It was fun to take them.

 

While I have never been a huge fan of the story, I can say that I forgot how majestic it was on the big screen. It was amazing.

 

Kiff said, "I loved it. It reminded me of why it was my favorite Christmas movie."

The One With Kiff's Championship Game

 

 

Kiff was in another Championship Game this year. This one was for his basketball team - the Earthquake. And was it a good game. 

 

Kiff played solid defense and his team was neck-in-neck with the opponents through the first half. During the second half, the opponents pulled away. However, Kiff's team still had life in them. In fact, Kiff made a shot with 8 seconds left to get his team within a point. They quickly got the ball back and had a chance to win at the buzzer....but the shot did not go in.

It was an amazing game and yet another amazing championship game!

The One With The Busy Thanksgiving Weekend

 

We did a ton over the Thanksgiving weekend including:

 

Going out to lunch on half-day Wednesday (Tony C's which we brought home)

Seeing Knives Out Glass Onion

Going to Thanksgiving Football Game in Gloucester for Marching band 

Having mini Thanksgiving at home

Getting tree on Friday

Putting outside decorations out on Friday

Getting Chinese food on Friday

Decorating house on Saturday

Beverly Parade on Sunday

The One With Thanksgiving

 

 

Today is Thanksgiving 2022. And, although we've had a lot of changes in our family, we have a lot to
be thankful for.

 

Today was definitely not a traditional Thanksgiving, but it was a fun one nonetheless. It began with the kids having a band performance in Gloucester for the annual Gloucester - Danvers football game. It was the last official performance of this half-time show, complete with Music of the Night (from the Phantom of the Opera), Here Comes the Sun (the Beatles) and so on. It was a fabulous finale.

 

Then, we came home and had snacks while we watched a recording of the Macy's Day parade. Emmie realized she DVRed the wrong one - it was good, but the the one with performances. But, we finally found one of Peacock.

 

Then, we took a walk in the neighborhood.

 

After that, we began work on our Thanksgiving meal (which is actually a roast this year). We are still cooking it as I write this at 7:10 PM. We also watched a Friends Thanksgiving episode from the past, too.

 

This year has a few new traditions - and is a little odd - but we loved it nonetheless.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The One With the Wicked Good Bruins and Celtics Starts

 

 

 GO CELTICS AND BRUINS

I haven't remembered a winter sports season off to as exciting a start as this one. The Bruins enter a game tonight with a 16 and 2 record. WOW. They have tried the league record with most home wins to start the season with 11. They welcome a lot of former players back, such as David Krjeci and Patrice Bergeron. They team  is playing amazing and have multiple players scoring. They are leading the NHL in points.

 

On the court side, the Celtics began the year 4-2. They have gone 9-1 since then as they entering tonight's game, gaining the lead in the NBA with the best record. They have had to navigate some injuries, a head coaching change, and resting players. However, they have developed a team that is currently 12 players deep, that will grow to 13 when Rob Williams gets back. 

 

Both teams play tonight. I can't wait!!!

The One With Kiff's Playoff Game

 

 

Yesterday, Kiff had a playoff game. I had to miss it (more on that in a different blurb) for Bri's banquet.

 

But from what I heard, he had a phenomenal game. He had 8 pts, a few steals, played good defense, and passed the ball well. More importantly, his team won 36 - 28. Onto the championship game!!!

 

 

 

The One With Centrum Silver

 

 

Today was one of those weird hallmark days. I was at Walmart getting vitamins and I knew that I needed more than just Flinstones for the kids. I needed something for myself.

That's when my eye caught on a vitamin that I had seen my times before - in my own house growing up even. But, I never really saw the day coming when it would be me getting - Centrum Silver (or, in this case, the Walmart Equate version).

Strange indeed. But, for me, I realized now that I am 50, I have to do everything needed to help make sure I live a healthy life after 50 - Centrum Silver healthy.

The One With Bri's Final Record for Field Hockey

 

Bri's JV field hockey team ended up being pretty good this year. Their final record was 9-5-3 with two games that were not played. If those were counted as forfeits, their team was 11-5-3. Impressive!!!

The One With Halloween 2022

 

 

Today was Halloween 2022 and we definitely had a memorable day. This was the first year that Bri and Kiff were on their own with friends. And they were looking forward to it. Here are the highlights of the day.

 

 

 1. In school, I did my annual "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" showing. I have to admit that the 8th graders were more into it than most classes I got. Not only did they get the humor, they also got the nuances and had a lot of commentary.

 2. I booked it out of school as quick as I could. It was weird going to Natick and spending only a short period of time there, instead of setting up the Natick spectacular we used to do.

 3. We quickly made sure to clear off walk when I got home. I also had a chance to chat with John next door for a while.

 4. Sandy next door brought over some goodies for Bri and Kiff.

 5. We had our annual Sweet and Sour Meatballs for supper. I love that food tradition. The kids had to eat quick so they could go out. We watched America's Fact or Fiction: Trick or Treat while eating. I forgot how good that show is.

 6.  Kiff dressed as some mutant Tron character (although I doubt he would put it that way). He had a black track suit with blue lighting. He traveled with a group of friends - Jason, Adrian, Josh, Connor, and Finn. Bri, who changed into her costume at Erica and Raina's house, was the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.  They met up with Sienna as they trick-or-treated.

7. At home, Emmie and I manned the fort. We had a record 33 trick-or-treaters show up. We've never had that before. Of course, I think it is because Emmie decided to serve full size bars.

8. I did post my annual Halloween Peanuts post on Facebook (with the picture above).

9. The night ended with the yearly visit from the Great Pumpkin. Oh yeah!

The One With The Band Competition

 

 

This past Saturday, I was able to revisit a little of my past by going to Wakefield High School. There, the Danvers marching band was taking part in their first ever competition. They, along with a whole host of schools, performed for a panel of judges in the NESBA Marching Band tournament.

 

First, it was a wild experience being back at Wakefield High. By all accounts, the last visit I made there was for my cousin Elizabeth's graduation back in 1986 or so. It was definitely wild to be there...and I made sure to make a memory as I walked up the hill to the football field. Although a vague memory, I still can see me on the bleachers close to the field.

 

Anyway, fast forward 36 years and there were Bri and Kiff competing on the field. And what a competition it was. They were performing in front of a variety of people, judges, and high school performers. And they did exceptionally well.

 

Although they came in fourth place (out of four teams in their division), their score was an 85, which was good enough for a Gold Medal. And, because it was their first time in this competition, the judges were impressed with what they did. All and all, a fabulous memory.

The One With Bri's First High School Goal

 

 

Today was an amazing day for Bri at her JV Field Hockey Game. They were playing Saugus - a team they beat 6-0 last year.

 The first half of the game was going in similar fashion. The Falcons were up 4-0. So, the coach decided to mix things up and play defense on offense for the second half. Little did we know that this would be a "high school moment" for Bri.

 While playing forward she and her teammates had a break away down the far end. She got a pass from a teammate and put it right past the right side of the goalie . She scored her first goal of not only the year, but her high school career. It was quite a moment...I only caught the tail end of it.

However, it was clear she scored because her teammates were cheering her on and shouting her name...which was cool to hear. 

Her goal made the game 5-0. Her friend, Callie, scored a goal shortly there after, making it 6-0. Her team would go on to make the final score 10-0.

Wow! What a memory. Bri was definitely all smiles after the game!

The One with Post Malone

 

 

A few weeks ago, Kiff and I were slated to see a Post Malone concert. As you can see if a previous post, that didn't quite happened because Posty got a little under the weather.

 

Well, we made up for it by attending the concert on Columbus Day (October 10). And, it was fascinating!

 

Kiff and I started off like we did before, eating at Tasty Burger.  Although I have been avoiding bread, I did actually get a burger on this night. And it was good. I also tried their tater tots, which were almost as good as Wahlburgers, which are my favorite.

After eating, we went into huge line going into the TD Garden. Unlike previous years, where I've gone in the side doors, everyone goes through the new, and ritzy, front door. Escalators take you up to a keen entrance on the side. Once there, we waited in line to get some "merch" (scary word that makes me cringe). Then, we went into the concert.

 

This concert was definitely one of the wildest I've ever seen. There were people moving all over the place during the concert. Leaving, coming, and going. Many fans were sending "flashlight" signals to each other using their cell phones. The smell of all sorts of things hung heavy in the air. The guy behind us was angry that they did not allow vaping in the Garden, while the people next to us pilfered Bri and Emmie's seats (they didn't come with us). We had some new family members - or so it seemed.  All sorts of people, young and old were there. An older gentlemen with a white sleeveless shirt was dancing during the concert and turned out to be near two of my students who were also there.

 

The DJ before the concert was good and got the crowd going (and singing). Post Malone himself did a great job. He performed lots of songs, borrowed props from the crowd, and even had a fan perform guitar for them. He also said that he had free t-shirts printed for everyone there, as a thank you for coming back after the canceled event. We left around 10:50, to beat the crowd. And, we were lucky. We were able to get a shirt. I found out from my students that because the shirts were being given out at the bottom of the stairs they got moved or pulled to prevent mass chaos while leaving. So, we were lucky.

 

Overall, it was one of the best concerts I've been to.

 

The One With Phantoms by Firelight

 

 

 

Last night, we enjoyed Sturbridge Village's latest edition to their holiday programming by going to "Phantoms by Firelight." While we have been at different Village Halloween programs before, this one was just as neat.

The premise was a troupe of traveling performers set up residence in the village. There were acrobats and a knife juggler - which we saw. There were also story tellers, a temptress, singers, and fire jugglers (which we did not see). It was a pretty cool concept.

 

We also worked hard to solve riddles for the Village's Clues for Candy contest, which was neat. Instead of trick or treating, visitors could answer a riddle (or get a stamp) and turn it in for candy while leaving. It was neat.

 

As an added feature, there was a full moon in the sky...which was quite awesome. And the covered bridge was decked out in sound effects...very much like the Ichabod Crane bridge.

Overall, another great Halloween experience in Sturbridge.

The One Where Kif Scores the First Two Points of the Season

 

 

Kif took part in another annual basketball season today. This year, he is one of the oldest students in the league and it showed at the beginning. He was intense, played strong defense, and even scored the first two points of the season for his team.

 

As the game went on, it was clear the teams were mismatched, so they toned down slightly. As a result, he backed off coverage and even told an opponent he could still dribble...which was nice.

 

In the end, they won handily. It was a strong beginning to the season.

The One With the Forced Fun Family Fall Fest

 

Yesterday, we decided to celebrate the first day of fall - or have a Mabon fest - as Emmie likes to put it.

 That meant the entire day was dedicated to fall fun. This included:

 

1. Bringing in food from Nick and Andy's.

2. Apple picking at Russell's Orchard, which was fun because we got on the back part of the orchard for the first time ever.

3. Emmie made her epic hot apple cider and showed Kiff how to make it.

4. Emmie hosted a Mabon fall festivity and writing moment.

5. We went to Jimmy's steakhouse. YUM!

6. We watched It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Curious George Boo Fest.

7. Emmie and I watched The Glenn Miller Story.

 

The One With Post Poned Malone

 

 

Yesterday seemed like it was going to be an ideal day. It was a Saturday. The sun was shining. A fall wind was in the air.

And we had tickets to Post Malone. Now, I know what you're thinking. Post Malone is not necessarily my ideal concert, but Bri and Kiff are fans. And so, we got tickets to see him months ago.

I should have known something was up when I realized Emmie wouldn't be able to go because of the cold she had. She felt miserable. Bri had made other plans because she forgot, although she was planning to go once we reminded her. However, with Emmie's change of plans, we decided to let her stay home, too.

 So now, it was just Kiff and I. But, we were going to have fun. We left at 5:00 for an 8:00 concert with plans to make it to the TD Boston Garden and have something to eat before the concert. We parked in the North Station garage and walked up through the garden. Then, we noticed Tasty Burger outside the garden and decided to give it a try.

 We picked a good place. There was definitely no line - which would prove ironic later - and was not too crowded when we went in. Kiff had a milkshake, fries, and burger while I had nuggets and fries. The food was good, and as time went on, more and more concert goers came in. However, like most places, they were short staffed, so we waited a while for them to take our credit card (people around us took notice and had their's out when the wait staff brought the bill).

 As we paid, we noticed a funny line being formed outside the garden. Now, having gone to many events at the garden, I found it unusual. I've never waited outside, But, some concerts give away those glowing watches, so I began to wonder if that is what was going on. Kiff kept wondering if we were waiting to get in - but from the people in front of us and behind us, as well as the people who held signs for "Post Malone" in the line, it was clear we were in the right place.

 Around 7:20, it became clear why there was a line. Several people, either working for the TD Garden, or Post Malone, came out and said the concert was post poned. They gave no reason, other than that he "posted a note on social media." Honestly, they should have taken the time to tell us exactly what was happening because people in line could fine nothing posted on Instagram or Twitter.

 Eventually word did pop up on social media. We felt bad - Post Malone was actually in the hospital. Our evening out definitely turned into a memory for a different reason....but that's okay. We will catch Post Malone when he comes around again and hope he recovers quickly.

The One Where Bri Gets Angry

 

 

 

 It is always interesting when Bri gets angry...especially when she plays a sport. Because when she does, she tends to up her game. We have seen it in the past before when she has played indoor field hockey and softball.

So, when we suddenly saw Bri all over the field in her field hockey game yesterday, we knew something must have happened. In the second half of the game - in a cool, windy day in Middleton, Bri began racing all over the defensive side of the field. She seemed to be intent on stealing every pass, every dribble (yes, there was a player on the opponent that liked dribbling by bouncing the ball off her stick), and any shot.  Emmie and I reasoned that something must have "ticked her off."

When the game was over, we asked Bri about that. And a player definitely raised her dander. According to her, a player knocked her down in the middle of a play, which caused her to see red. As a result, it became her mission to stop any and all people wearing red.

 

And, the other benefit - she won the player of the game stick for JV

 

 

The One With Bri's Bump on the Head and Field Hockey Game

 

Today was Bri's third field hockey game of the year. She definitely had a memorable moment. Although I missed it - the game started early and I got there a little later than planned - it must have been quite a hit. She hit a ball which bounced off an opponents stick then hit her in the head.

The only way I knew something was up was when I saw her walking toward the bathroom at half time. I figured she had to go the bathroom, but when she came back with an ice pack, I realized what happened.

The most fun part of the game was hearing a student in the crowd actually looking for her when talking to someone else. and pointing out that she did a good job. That was a "proud dad" moment for me.

The One Where My Mom Turns 87

 

Today, I went to the Cape and joined Mark to take my Mom out for breakfast. It happens to be her 87th birthday. It is soooooo hard to believe.

 

Happy 87th Mom!

The One With The First Football Game

 

This Friday, Bri and Kiff performed in their first football game together as members of the marching band. It was so phenomenal to see.

It was so much fun to see them performing together. And, it was a blast to see them enjoy the third quarter pause in the game as well.

Kiff did a great job with the trumpet. Bri was awesome as part of the color guard, especially with their new, competetive dance.

They are quite a duo.

The One With Imagine Dragons and Macklemore

 

 

Last night, we went to a concert at Fenway Park to see Imagine Dragons with opener Macklemore. 

 

We started the night by going to the Cask and Flagon. We arrived at 4:30, but  found out, unlike eating their before the red sox game in july which was on a weekday, the restaurant fills up quick on a weekend. We were literally there 2 hours....but the food was good1 I love their buffalo chicken wraps.

 

after that, we went next door to the concert. of course, we had to make our obligatory visit to the souvernir shop to get IG gear...which was fun.

 

We went in and - to be honest - it was the hottest it has ever been when I've been to fenway. but, it is still a swell place to watch a concert. we got to our seats shortly before macklemore took stage. i was only familiar with a couple of macklemore songs, but i have to admit, he is a true showman. What a show! He got fans excited on multiple occasions, told stories (he had spent a lot of time in MA as a kid), and had many guest singers on stage with him. He even performed a song for a crowd called "ManiaC' or the first time since it had been released the day before. Amazing Show...he was like a younger, rapping donnie wahlburg.

 

The Imagine Dragons followed and they were simply spectacular. in fact, i would now add them to my to 15 groups list. their songs told a story, much like the weeknd did earlier this year. The music was crisp and robust, as well as diverse, and i recognized many songs. we learned that three of the current members - the two guitarists and the drummer, who is a red sox fan - went to Berklee around the corner. The lead singer had so many amazing messages - including ones about therapy and overcoming obstacles - was phenomenal and definitely connected with the audience. He admitted that he wanted to go to berklee, but his mother said that byu was a better option because he was a member of the church of latter day saints (the other member who was on backup instruments went there, too). There were a lot of kids there, and he dedicated a song to them. they also dedicated a song to ukraine, as well as one to teachers (including mr. white, who taught the three berklee grads). They dedicated "Demons" to anyone who lost someone in their lives through death, breakup, and drifting away...emphasizing our need to be connected. They were fantastic.

 

one thing we did learn - don't park in our usual lot when you are at a concert and plan to stay until the end - there was a road closed that really, really, really messed it up.

The One With A League of Their Own

 

 

We had a little forced family fun today by declaring a "movie night." We had been talking about watching A League of Their Own, particularly after watching the first episode of the Amazon series two nights ago.

 

Needless to say, Emmie was all in, as were Bri and Kiff. It was neat to watch a historical fiction movie with so many stars in it - ones they know a little different than we do - with them and to share part of the history behind the movie with them, too.

 

They were both enamored of the story and the characters in it. They also noted how poorly women were treated at the time and were besides themselves. However, the movie won them over, particularly the transformation of Tom Hanks character. We also were amazed that the characters at the end were not photo enhanced age progressions of the actual actors, but were actual actors that were older but looked like them. Wow.

It was great to share it with the kids, particularly where they both played baseball and softball.

The One With The Perm

 

Earlier today, we had something happen that I actually never thought would happen. Kiff, deciding to update his hairdo, had been growing it out to get a perm.

 

I was not sure what to expect. In fact, Emmie spent the two hours at the stylist with him as he got it. She sent Bri and I some pictures so we could be prepared. And, it came out better than expected.

 

Of course, the whole situation reminded me of the Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally gets the "Jelly Roll" haircut. So, Kiff now has the nickname, "Jelly Roll."

The One With The Weekend

 

 

Tonight, we went to see the Weeknd in concert at Gillette Stadium. Now, truth be told, I like the Weeknd  and all, but he would not necessarily be the guy I'd plan to go out and see in concert. But, my expectations were truly blow away by his performance that night.

So a few things. First, we learned from seeing Ed Sheeran that it was best to get tickets for parking ahead of time...which we did. We were able to park outside of the stadium (which was awesome at the beginning, but led to an hour wait to get out at the end). We also learned that it is a good idea to stay over, so we did book a room at a nearby hotel.

We got there and got our bearings. Fortunately, there was no rush for seats. Doja Cat was supposed to be the opener, but she got sick, so they had a couple of DJs opening up. One of the DJs we missed while getting water and souvenirs - Emmie always has to do that. The second one was good with some 80s music mixed in, but the graphics in the background were a little wacky.

Once the Weeknd went on, it was clear that this was no ordinary concert. The Weeknd was a story teller. He shared a magnificent story about a city that seems to be under attack by some unseen force (in actuality, it is probably not that at all). He had dancers that seemed to mimic the Imperial Guard from Star Wars...if the guard had rhythm. And, he had a giant moon opposite the stage. It was IMPRESSIVE.

He shared one song after another - blending them melliflously (I've always wanted to use a variation of that word in print). Spectacular light shows and pyrotechnics helped tell his story. And the ending, with Blinding Lights, sealed the deal. It was one of the best concerts I had ever been to. WOW!

The One With Thor: Love and Thunder

 

Yesterday, we saw Thor Love and Thunder. To be honest, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Although Thor is always an amazing superhero in the Avengers movies, I am not always a big fan when it comes to the stand alone movies. I wasn't too enthused about the first Thor. Although the Dark World was okay, it was not my favorite. I liked Ragnarok, but wasn't a huge fan.

 

But, Love and Thunder was different. It was definitely my favorite Thor standalone movie. I have to admit that they have definitely made Thor more comic relief now, and that shown through definitely in this movie. In fact, I laughed out loud a lot - sometimes being the only one in the theater. The sound track with 80s metal rocked as well.

 

There were definitely cliffhangers left in this movie, too, which makes we wonder which direction it will go. Overall, a good experience and the last of my three summer movies that I wanted to see (Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion being the others, which we saw in June). It was crazy getting in and old because we saw it in Metheun in what happened to be Metheun days (the theater actually closed early because Metheun had fireworks last night. We didn't stay for those, but we were able to definitely enjoy the show!!!

The One With the Red Sox Game

 

 It is 11:08 PM and 15 minutes ago we got in from a Red Sox game. Although the Red Sox lost to the Rays 8-4, the game was perhaps the best I have been to for many reasons.

 

1. We realized if we left at 3:15 for a 7:10 game, we had plenty of time to get in. Traffic, though a little tough because of Rush Hour, was awesome! We were able to get through Kenmore Square rather easily and found a parking lot just past (and down in the back left) of where we normally park. So much easier to get out of.

2. We went to Cask and Flagon. It was the first time we had been there as a family. It was not too crowded when we got there (about 2 1/2 hours before the game, but was picking up by the time we left).

3. Emmie was very excited because this was PEANUTS Bobblehead Night. We were able to track down where to get them - which was cool - and now we all have a Linus Bobblehead.

4. We also learned that Emmie has to check prices on Red Sox apparel more carefully. WOW!!!

3. We took some pictures of different World Series tributes, including the tribute wall and the 2007 and 2004 championship. We choose 2007 because that was the year Bri was born and 2004 because that was the year we were married.

5. We got to our seats early and were able to see pregame festivities and even saw a 10 year old girl do an AMAZING job with the National Anthem.

6. The flag was blowing out - which meant it was going to be a hitter's game. We saw the Red Sox fall down 3-0 early, but they came back by hitting 2 home runs to tie the game. It was awesome to see two homers, one hit by Xander Bogearts and the other hit by Trevor Story.

7. We saw two spectacular catches on the wall, one by the Rays and one by the Sox (we saw the Sox one while getting ready to leave on the TV).

8. We saw a great stolen base by Jarren Duran.

10. The crowd did the wave in two directions and it actually went all the way around the park in one direction crossing over once.

11. One kid kept saying "I want a pitcher, not a belly itcher" which was hilarious. That kid will have no voice in the morning.

12. We saw people get kicked out of a section for drinking alcohol (we ended up in the CVS family section, which, apparently, has strict rules about that).

13. We saw Nick Pivetta hit Yandy Diaz with a pitch, which caused a quick shouting match and benches started to empty. It quickly got under control. However, the ensuing booing that happened introduced Kiff to booing at Fenway Park. The home plate umpire also got booed during the game for a really faulty strike zone. It stunk!!!

14. There was an awesome tribute to Luis Tiant - who was also there. We sent a pix to Mark because it was his birthday and also had Bri and Kiff look at his wind up.

15. We saw a marriage proposal on the Jumbotron, which I have never seen in person.

16. We did have rain fall several times throughout the course of the game.

17. Perhaps the most epic thing - of a great night at the park - was the fact that the ushers asked us if we wanted to move closer around the 6th inning. Though we had thought we would take off because of the approaching rain, we decided to go down and it did not disappoint. We were on the 3rd place side behind home plate, thirteen rows up...the best seats I ever sat in. It was amazing.

The One With the Fourth of July

 

This Fourth of July, some normalcy came back into our lives. After a two year COVID hiatus, the Highlands Horribles parade returned. It was a lot of fun to see the parade come back. Although it was only a handful of entries, and it passed by in five minutes, just having them on the street was amazing!!!

 We tried to check out to see if the Back Bay parade was up and running, but it seemed we had missed it. It looked similar to the Highlands parade...just a small group. But great to have back.

 Later, we went to an event I have always wanted to go to, but never went to - the noontime reading of the Declaration of Independence. Held at the library, we were surprised to find out his is an audience participation event. They actually ask people to come to the library pavillion to read. Some of the hosts saw Kiff and Bri and asked them to participate. Though Bri did not, Kiff did and he did a fine job. It turned out the Bri and Emmie and I eventually participated as part of the "group read" of the last part of the Declaration. It was a fun time. And, we had a nice picture captured by the Danvers Human Rights Committee.

We capped off the night by watching the Pops on TV...always fun!!!

The One With the Gloucester Fireworks

 

 

Earlier tonight, we headed over to the Gloucester Fireworks. We had learned last year that this display was one of the  most epic that we had ever seen - Disney excluded. So,we decided to go back and check them out again. And it did not disappoint.

The air was warm, with a slight breeze. which made it fun to watch. The display itself was extraordinary. There were several mini-conclusions with multiple explosions in them. And, there were a few drones that added some extra drama as they ventured closed to the explosions. Along with that, there were a few fireworks that did exploded low in the sky and drifted to the ground, which added heightened intensity. But, overall, it was an AWESOME show.

We did sit closer to the ocean this time than last year (where we were on top of the hill). While the hill goers get to see the fireworks right above them, I think we sat in a particularly good place where we could watch them explode in front of us instead of over us. Definitely something to do again.

A couple of things we learned:

1. Make sure to bring insect spray.

2. Make sure not to park in the lot...instead, park along the road heading out (which is where we parked last year). It makes it easier to get out.

3. Watch where Google Maps takes you...we went a wacky way out down a dark road with few street lights. But, it made for an interesting memory.

 Overall, another great fireworks display!!!

 

 

The One With Essex Seafood and Mini Golf

 

Today, June 30, we tried to do a couple fun things to break up some of the tedium of wrapping up the clean up of the Brown  House. Early in the day, Brick House Movers - the best moving company - came to move some of the Brown family treasures and furniture to a storage place up the street. They were amazing.

After that, and some clean up here, including installing the old China cabinet from the Brown house, we decided to do our "one fun thing" for the day, which actually turned out to be two fun things. We went to Essex Seafood, our first time there since they had to renovate. The food was great!!! I had a chicken finger plate, Bri and Kiff had cheeseburgers, and Emmie had a clam strip plate (though we all borrowed some of those strips). What a delight!!!

Then, we went down to Paradise Golf and enjoyed a round of Mini Golf and ice cream. We played pretty well.

Emmie scored a 49 (including an amazing hole in 1)

Kiff scored a 58

Bri scored a 60

And I got a 45 (two holes in one, though people did question if I was being honest).

We also had some amazing ice cream. I got Cookie Monster which was blue cookie dough ice cream. Amazing!!!

What a day!

The One With the Old Cars

 

 

Last Night, Kiff and I did our one fun thing by going to "Cruisin' at the Tree." This is when classic cars come out on Wednesday nights to the Liberty Tree Mall. It was a spontaneous idea - we had gone down to the library and saw the cars pass by. We decided to check it out (Emmie stayed home to doze and Bri was walking with a "friend.").

There were some amazing cars there, including some old ones from the 1930s, several Corvettes, a Chevelle, a few Mustangs, and an army Truck. It was a fun time. And, to top it off, Kiff went to the Ms. Hot Dog Truck and got a "Screwball" - the updated version of my beloved Cannonball, only it was cherry and had two pieces of Bubble gum.

It was a good night. To top it off, we went on a three mile walk through Danvers (this time with Emmie).

The One With The Last Day of School

 

 

Yesterday was the last day of school for me. Hard to believe, I know. This year flew by fast. It was definitely memorable. I had some amazing students and an  amazing team of teachers - and Jax the therapy dog - to work with. I definitely will remember this year.

 

It is hard to believe this is the 28th last day of school that I have had. It is hard to believe that I am closer to the end.

 

However, the more important thing is that SUMMER IS HERE!!! Who-hoo

The One Where I Am A Trivia Question

 

 

A couple of weeks ago, we did Kindness Week at Kennedy. As part of this week, students were asked to answer trivia questions about Kennedy throughout the week.  On the last day of trivia week, the question was:

 

Why staff member has worked at Kennedy the longest?

 

That was a shocking question, because I knew the answer...me. I have been working here for 27 years, which is hard to believe.

 

Good memories, but wow, how time flies.

The One Where the NBA FInals Returns to Boston

 

It has been almost 12 years to the day (minus a week). But tonight, the NBA Finals returned to the TD Boston Garden for the first time since June 13, 2010 (a game the Celtics won to go up 3-2 in the Finals).

Tonight, the Celtics are playing Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors. The crowd is amped. The Celtics seem ready to get back at the Warriors and Draymond Green (whose antics got them Celtics off track in the last game).

 

The Celtics are trying to push the tempo and ahead 18 to 9 with 5:25 left in quarter 1.

 

GO CELTICS!!!

The One With Top Gun Maverick

 

Yesterday (June 5), Bri, Kiff, Emmie, and I went to one of those once-in-a-lifetime movie events. We went to see the sequel to the surprise 1986 epic Top Gun. We saw Top Gun: Maverick, a movie that was 12 years in the making.

 What a fantastic movie. I was not too sure what to expect. Of course, as a huge fan of the OG movie - I will watch it any time its on - I knew I'd like it. But WOW. It was AMAZING. Just as good as the first one.

 To start the weekend off right, we watched the original movie on Friday. Although Bri had seen it, Kiff had not paid much attention to it. He of course enjoyed it thoroughly.

So, when we went to see it yesterday, it was certainly a family event. It had action, adventure, humor, and a cameo from Val Kilmer (so cool!). And, Tim Cruise looks pretty great for his age. And it is amazing how Footloose, turned Fantastic Four, turned Goose Jr. - Miles Teller - captures the part and the heart of the audience.

It is a great, feel good movie and one movie event I am proud to have attended.

The One With Kiff's Track Meet

 

 

Although it was May 20, amid a dark sky with some light rain, Kiff had his last middle school track meet today. This was the first year Kiff did track in middle school and certainly won't be his last.

 The middle school track year is only a few meets long - 5 in fact. While Kiff missed two when he was sick, he did take part in three, developing a hankering for three different events:

 

• 100 m dash

• long jump

• relay

 

Today, he wrapped up a solid first season by finishing in the middle of the pack in the 100 m dash and by jumping a record (for him) 12 feet in the long jump.

 

Congrats on a great first year, Kiff.

The One with the Trip to Boston

 

Earlier this week, we went on a day trip to Boston to explore the Freedom Trail. We visited several fun places: Our itinerary took us to:

• Boston Massacre Site

• Old State House where we met some nice workers

• Faniuel Hall 

• Paul Revere's House (great trip inside)

• Outside the Old North Church

• Union Oyster House

• Holocaust Memorial