The One With Bowling

 

 

Earlier today, we decided to do a family event....we went bowling!!! 

 Now, it started off a little sluggish. We tried to go to Kings in Lynnfield, but that proved to be fully booked. So we rebooted out plans and went to Sunnyside. That was a true pleasure.

We played three rounds as a family - kids vs. adults. The first string definitely went to the kids. It took Emmie and I a string to get warmed up. In fact, during my first three rolls, I actually scored a "2." I don't think I had done that bad since I was five. However, I caught my rhythm.

As Emmie and I warmed up, we evened the match during the second string. Kiff's unorthodox rolls - which netted some big gains and gutters - and Bri's trick shots that sometimes knocked down many pins and sometimes guttered - helped us get back in the game. The third string was a strong contest where Emmie and I came up on top - barely. However, Kiff did something that I had never seen before. He actually had three spares (as well as many goose eggs). 

But, in the end, it was an AMAZING time! We can't wait to go again.

The One With Wonka

 

 

Earlier today, we went to see Wonka. This prequel to the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 1971 was something of a mystery to me at first. Although I wanted to see it, I am a Charlie fan...so I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was particularly curious because the Johnny Depp remake from the 2000s was very strange and definitely not up my alley.

So, I eagerly took a chance on this movie and was more than delighted by the results. This movie was exactly what most "prequels" are not - thoroughly engaging and a true homage to the original while creating its own niche. It not only subtly helps explain themes in the original movie, it enhances the experience by giving delightful background to Wonka and the Ooompa Loompas that Roald Dahl would surely have enjoyed.

It is rare that I find a movie that I would put on part with defining children's classics, such as The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, or even the original Charlie. However, I would dare say this one comes close. As I was watching some of the musical numbers, I realized that the lyrics and songs paralleled many of the ideas in the original movie. I was truly captivated. And, I particularly enjoyed how the wove not only the Oompa Loompa song into the movie, but Imagination as well, which was particularly poignant.

So, if you are a fan of the original, check this out. You'll find out about why Wonka's desire to be so secretive came about, why he wanted to share the chocolate factory with a new generation, and where the idea of the golden ticket came from...among other things.

This was my favorite movie of 2023.

The One With a Merry Christmas

 

 

Merry Christmas to all

Christmas 2023

 

 

We had a nice day today. We got up later than normal (8:30) after going to bed earlier than normal last night (around 11:30). We opened gifts, had brunch, took a walk, had Tony and John over, took a ride, and than watched A Christmas Story. What a nice day!!!  Last night we went to Christmas Eve mass (Bri, Kiff, and I) and had a great evening.

The One With the Danvers High Christmas Concert

 

 

 

This Wednesday, December 20, we went to the annual DHS Christmas Concert. This was the first year Bri and Kiff were in the same concert, which was amazing.

The concert began with the chorus singing. They did a splendid job. Then, there was the saxophone ensemble. They did great. Finally, the DHS band performed.

They were able to take on some different songs than they could in the past. That is because they finally have band all meet at one time. Their songs included several interesting winter ones that were mellow and light. Bri had two solos in one of them. They performed Undertow, which was a hyped up song. And they ended with a classic version of Sleigh Ride, which teachers joining in as well and their principal on the percussion that makes the "snap" sound of the whip. This rendition was as good as the Boston Pops!!!

It was a fun way to usher in the final three days before vaction.

The One With the Honors Band at Salem State

 

 

Last night, Bri took part in the first annual Honors Band Night at Salem State College. The band was comprised of select members of North Shore bands. She was one of six students from Danvers chosen to be part of the one of the two bands to perform. She was part of the Blue Honors Band.

 

We did not know what to expect, but it was quite a show. It was held in the small musical theater at the college which resonated with the bands performing. it was quite powerful and - gotta admit - almost as good as the Pops!

 

Bri performed as one of the flutes. They played four songs, including "In Bleak MidWinter" which was ironic because it was 50°F outside.

 

All and all, a great night!!!

The One With the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party

 

 

As a history teacher and Natick Minuteman re-enactor, it is incumbent that I make a note that today is an important anniversary of one of the most memorable Patriotic events of all time. Today is the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. 

As a person who has re-enacted it, it is definitely a memorable event. Although I could not attend in person today - Bri had a concert at Salem State - I tweeted about it and posted on Facebook. But, I also knew I had to blog about it.

I did get a chance to catch some almost live video and watched the web cam of the event to be there in spirit!!!

HUZZAH!!

The One With The Christmas Carol at NSMT

 

 

Last year, we started an annual tradition by seeing the Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theater. We decided to keep up the tradition this year. And we were not disappointed.

The show at the NSMT is definitely unique. Because it is told in the round, it does have elements that you have to pay attention to. Fortunately, we were able to follow it well after last year's visit.

While many of the actors come back year after year - including J.T. Turner who plays Fezziwig and also  visits are school as William Shakespeare (and does an amazing job) - there were some new cast members. Still, they were incredible.

The show as a true spectacle and a tradition that we hope to continue year after year. Kudos to a great memory!!!

The One With The Boston Christmas Trolley

 

 

Tonight, we did a follow up on an event we took part in this summer. We joined the Old Town Trolley of Boston for a Christmas adventure.

 Truth be told, we were not too sure what to expect for this event. We thought it would consist of mainly seeing lights in Boston at night and hearing a few stories about Boston at Christmas. However, it was a lot more than we expected. It consisted of two tour guides who actually played characters throughout the journey, including the main narrator called Little Star. She sang and danced and told stories. She was really into it.

We went through the city and even stopped at the Boston Common. We walked to the Nova Scotia Tree, where they took pictures of us under the tree. Then, we went to the Frog Pond where we watched people skate as well...which was neat to be so close.  The tour was a lot of fun and brought a smile to our faces!

The One With Christmas Vacation in the Theater

 

 

 

What is the Christmas season without the chance to see Christmas Vacation? It is always one of those movies you see once - or a bunch of times out of sequence - throughout the year.

Well, this year, we decided to do something different. We found out AMC was playing Christmas classics, so Emmie bought tickets for us to see it in the theater. I had never seen it in the theater, nor had Bri or Kiff. Emmie saw it back in 1989 in the theater. In fact, she thinks it may have been the last movie they all saw together as a family (Mom#2 was not a big movie fan).

 Seeing it in the theater was even more fun than I expected. I know we all enjoyed it and I have to admit that I laughed out loud at a few scenes. We also realized that small pieces of the movie have been cut out in the current televised version of the movie, including the elongated scene where Chevy Chase walks to the door, while his parents and in-laws are behind it. What a classic...and a fun memory!!!

The One With The Danvers Tree Lighting

 

 

Each year, we try our best to take part in the annual tree lighting. And, on Saturday (Dec 2), we did it again. We went to the Danvers Tree Lighting.

This year, a new group in town, similar to the Friends of the Fourth of July Committee rebooted, called Falconfest, helped usher in the event. And, they did a pretty great job because this might be the biggest celebration yet.

In years past, we would go down with Kiff and Bri and visit the lighting, often stopping for some clam chowder at Cherry Street Fish Market and then grab some hot chocolate downtown or listen to carols at the Maple Street Church. However, this year, things were a little different. Kiff was hanging out with a friend, as was Bri. They seemed to enjoy their own time hanging out with buddies, so Emmie and I had our own little date night.

The tree lighting even had a mini Truck parade before it began. Then, the countdown was on, and the tree was lit! And it is a beauty (even if it is slightly tilted).

Another fun tree lighting!!!

The One With the Salem Trolley Christmas Carol

 

 

This Friday, December 1, we went to a real treat. We took a ride on the Salem Trolley for a live action version of the Christmas Carol.

What is neat about this event is that Emmie and I took the kids back when Kiff and Bri were really young - Kiff may have been in first grade and Bri in third grade. Although they remember hearing about going, they don't remember the actual trip back then (and probably rightly so, because Kiff was also having trouble with asthma at the time).

Flash forward eight years and we traveled on the Trolley again. This performance may have outdone the other one. Although it was a bit of a gloomy night, and we were racing to get to the trolley depot from Tony C's, we made it on time. In fact, we were one of the first groups there. We picked up the Trolley outside of the old coin shop down by Derby Wharf, which still has some amazing coins.

We were greeted by Bob Crachit. And once me met Scrooge, it was clear he was no ordinary Scrooge. He was playing it up phenomenally. He definitely went after each and every person on the trolley with a droll sense of humor. Emmie and I were "affectionately" called Ken and Barbie after he said, "This is what happens to Ken and Barbie when they get old." And the kids were called the accessories. A ton of fun.

We had three stops along the way. Fuzziwigs was first, which was a lot of fun and audience members had to dance (not us though). The second stop - which was really part of the first stop - was a visit to Bob Crachit's house. Just as she had to do with Kiff before, Bri got to play one of the Crachit children (Kiff was not selected this time). She seemed to quietly revel in the moment, which was great to see.

The last stop took us to the graveyard, where Scrooge came full circle (under the drizzle of the night).

All and all, a great take. And, we got a souvenir chocolate coin!!!

The One With Little Women

 

 

This Thursday, November 30, Bri, Emmie, and I went to DHS to see the students perform their annual musical. This year, the students put on Little Women. It was a great show and a sneaky holiday treat...after all, it took place during Christmastime at the beginning.

Truth be told, I didn't know what to expect because I was not familiar with most of the story. However, the students put on a truly magnificent show. Perhaps what made it most entertaining is that we have been able to get to know many of the students in the show during the past two years through Bri and Kiff. So, seeing them perform was a real treat.

The stage crew - the people I always  come to see - did a great job and included several of Bri's friends. The sets, which I always am interested in seeing, were magnificent. The story was phenomenal - I can see why Emmie loves it. 

Of course the funniest part was when we looked at the playbill and noticed our names in it because we are on one of the committees (the Marching Band activities committee). That always catches me off guard.

Kudos to DHS Acts on a fabulous performance.

The One with the Darlene Love Concert

 

Tonight, we went to the Darlene Love concert at the Cabot Theater in Beverly. Although I am a Darlene Love fan, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Kiff's all time favorite song is her "Christmas Baby Please Come Home." So, he was definitely excited to see her.

We actually got to Beverly early - Emmie was big on making sure we had parking.  Well, we did and were able to eat at AB Burger, which came highly recommended by Bri. It was scrumptious. Great burgers, nice fries, and some super pretzel bites.

We realized we were done so early that it was nearly an hour before doors opened, so we went shopping at a book store on Cabot Street. It was delightful!!! Got some good gifts there.

Then, it was time to go to the concert. And, it was fantastic. She had an 11 person band with her there, helping her perform a bunch of songs, including some gospel, Motown cover combos, and some Christmas standards. Her musicians were amazing and her saxophonist was one of the best I've ever heard. She did have a backup singer sing an phenomenal rendition of Oh Holy Night - one of three standing ovations for the night. One of her gospel songs was amazing. That got another standing ovation. And "Christmas Baby Please Come Home" began - and ended - with a standing ovation as well.

It was a phenomenal night of music and a great way to kick off the holiday season. It was Darlene Love's first concert of the season as well.

The One With Napoleon

 

 

Tonight was the traditional Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It is always a fun day.

At school,  we were supposed to have our annual Turkey Trot. Alas, it got rained out. However, we did watch a movie in school - the Hunger Games. I forgot how good that was.

 After school, I got home and we went out to eat lunch. It was actually a flashback to the past - we hit The Outback Steakhouse for a pleasant respite.

Although we were all tired, we also brought back another old tradition - the day before Thanksgiving movie. We went out and saw Napoleon. Now, originally, I was not into seeing this movie. But, then I thought - quirky real life leader meets quirky actor. How could you not see that!

And needless to say, it did not disappoint. Sure, it was a bit of a wacky movie, but Joaquin Phoenix did a great job. He brought Napoleon to life in so many ways. It was a bit accentric...and a little bit over the top - but it was awesome.

The One With the Brown Family Thanksgiving

 

 

 

Last night, we held our annual Brown Thanksgiving at our house. After a hiatus for a few years, we brought it back last year. It was a nice, and after a couple rough years, sentimental time.

 

Yesterday, brought more of the same. I learned how to make the Brown family stuffing - which is one of my favorite meals of all time. We did a quick set up (well, quick for us is 5 hours of work). Kiff helped a lot and Bri did a little (but she had winter guard practice and dance).

 

It was a nice afternoon. We had some great turkey (thanks Emmie), squash, potatoes, stuffing, and so on. We had even better conversation and a chance to catch up...which is always nice.

 

All and all, a great Brown family Thanksgiving.

The One With the Fall Family Birthday Party

 

 

Today, we had our annual fall family birthday party. It was a lot of fun. It was the first time we had such a big groups since spring...and it may have been our largest total group in a while, too.

 

While we celebrated three birthdays - Kiff, Emmie, and mine - it was more like a celebration of family. It was a lot of fun  It was great to check back in and get reconnected.

There was a lot of good food - thanks Supinos - and a lot of great conversation.

The One With the Veterans Day Breakfast

 

 

Earlier today, we hosted our 20th (or so) annual KMS Veterans Day Breakfast. It is always an amazing event.

We had 27 veterans come to our school. And, as usual, the 8th grade class was spectacular, engaging with veterans, asking questions, and even sharing stories.

We had several new veterans join us, as well as some of the incredible people we have had join us in the past. 

It is such a powerful event. It is great to express gratitude for those who have served our country and spend the

morning with them! What another great event.

The One With The Marvels

 

 

The Marvels

Today, we went as a family to see the latest Marvel Studies release. The Marvels. The movie features the return of Captain Marvel and two other female Marvels as they save the Earth and the Universe while alternating places at time in the universe. It was again an homage to the multiverse story line that has existed for a while. Truth be told, I am finding this story line a little stale.

Overall, the movie was pretty good. The action was tight and concise, though the plot was a little slow and unclear at times. It is always great to see characters make their return, including Nick Fury. Kelsey Grammar's beast, from X-Men way back when, also appeared at the end when one of the Marvels ended up in an alternate universe. 

We all liked it. Kiff took his friend, Laura there was well. So there were five of us who got a chance to enjoy it. They was an Easter egg at the end, hinting at the potential movie future with the "Young Marvels" getting together.

The One With the Last Competition

 

 

This Sunday, the Danvers band took part in their final competition for NESBA in Lawrence. They performed at the football stadium at the school where they have had their dance recital in the past.

 

The air was cool and the night was crowded.  And the Danvers band was exceptional as usual. Parking in the place was a bit challenging at times. And maneuvering around the stadium was complex. But seeing the band perform and spending time with the other crew of parents there was great.

Danvers took the stage and actually it was a super smooth, invigorating show. Even all of the speakers and special effects worked!!! 

At the end of the night, Danvers took 4th place out of 5 teams (some kids were disappointed). But, they also won a gold medal. So it was a win-win!!!

The One With the Veteran's Day Parde

 

 

Today, we went to the Veteran's Day Parade in Boston. Two years ago, the city restarted this tradition after what appears to be a long hiatus. And, for the past three years, the DHS band has performed.

 Kiff and Bri were both in it this year as well.  They took the bus and I met them in Boston parking at the garage near Faneuil Hall. Unfortunately, Emmie had a migraine, so I was running solo.

Although I was at the Common waiting for quite some time - so much so that it looked like there was no parade going on. I was interviewed by two people from the Emerson student newspaper because I had my Falcons jacket on. However, once the parade got rolling down our street, it was a spectacle.

The band sounded amazing...as you could tell from the people watching it. It even paused where I was - which gave me the chance to cross the street and get some nice pictures (I tried to be better than most people watching the parade, who rushed across during any break they found).

One the band passed, I followed it down. The route was a little longer this year - it went down to City Hall Plaza. The way the sound echoed off the buildings made it seem like the band was three times its size. 

Once they disbanded, they spent some time at Fanueil Hall and then went home. It was an amazing event!

The One With the Playoff Game

 

 

 

November 3, 2023 was a little different than we expected. The Danvers football team had a home playoff game - they had an amazing year with a 6-2 record after an 0-2 start.

The band had to perform both in the stands and their halftime show at the game. Emmie had a migraine for the game, so I flew solo on that one.

The halftime show went well. In fact, it was one of the best of the season. I even got to hear Bri get announced (they got her name correct). Perhaps the best part of the day was the game itself. The team was up 17-0 with two minutes to go in the half. Blackstone Valley raced back to make it close. With three seconds to go, and Danvers up by 1 point, Blackstone had a chance to kick a field goal from the 10 yard line. However, Danvers rushed in and nicked the ball, sending it wide right. Danvers won at the last second and they made it to a second game (against Dedham) in the playoffs.

The One With a Happy Halloween

 

 

Tonight is Halloween 2023. And it was definitely a memorable Halloween for a variety of reasons.

 

 

First, Emmie and I hosted our first garage haunted house.We had wanted to jazz up the garage for the holiday, so we decked it out with lights, a skeleton, Halloween decorations, and assorted other things. It was actually pretty cool. We even played music and sound effect playlists on the TV. And, of course, the Great Pumpkin light was on!!!

Then, Emmie and I decided to move the chairs and fire pit to the driveway. We were out there for two hours giving candy to a total of 18 customers (the last four were Kiff and his friends).

Kiff spent time with friends and Bri was at her friends house.

We did have two kind neighbors come by. One complimented us on our yard. The other complimented us on how we have decorated our house over the years, which was also nice to hear.

 

All and all, a very happy Halloween.

The One With the Holdovers

 

 

This weekend, we saw a sneak preview of the holiday movie, The Holdovers.  

I wasn't too sure what to expect. It was definitely set in the late 60s and looked like it could go either Dead Poet's Society route or Mona Lisa Smile - both exquisite movies, but one more to my liking.

Surprisingly enough, the movie was its own unique creature. It tells the story of four kids who have to stay at a New England boarding school over the course of a Christmas Break - two of which did not intend to stay. Eventually the parent of one picks up three of the kids, leaving one who did not intend to stay behind left at a school with staff he doesn't particularly enjoy. We start to see their stories unwind and realize they have their own sadness, backstories, and secrets they are hiding. The end is a powerful moment on movie drama.

We all loved the movie. The only thing I would have liked is almost an epilogue about what happened to the characters ten years later, or so, to know that things worked out okay. But, other than that, it was a great take.

The One With Tri-M

 

 

Earlier tonight, Bri was inducted into the Tri-M honor society at DHS.

 The honor society is dedicated to students who excel in the music realm and hope to share their love of music with others. Bri got in for her grades, but also her ability in concert and marching band.

As part of the induction, students have to perform. Bri performed a color guard routine I Aint Worried by One Republic. It was an amazing performance. 

What was just as neat was seeing other people that Bri has known and grown up with over the years get inducted as well. It is amazing to see how far they come.

After, we went to Cherry Hill to celebrate. Though there were not too many people there, Bri and Kiff knew all of the people ordering at the three other windows...which was wild!

Congrats to Bri on being inducted into her first High School Honor Society. 

The One With 30 Years of Hocus Pocus

 

 

 

 Who would have thought that 30 years ago, this movie came to theaters and would be a Halloween cult classic. I know I didn't. In fact, I never saw the movie in the theater (though my Dad took Patrick to see it - and although he had fun with Patrick, he severely disliked the movie).

 

However, it was fun to go together as a family to see the movie in the theater. It was phenomenal. Getting to see it on the big screen made me aware of some of the dialogue that I had not noticed before, such as when Bette Midler says to Sarah Jessica Parker, "you were dancing behind me, like an idiot." More amazingly, we never realized the Binx the cat - when he was a boy - was played by Sean Murray, better know as McGee on NCIS (as show we have come to love in the past year). That was awesome to see...though he did not provide the voice. 

 

Overall, the experience was great...though hiccupped a little by a group of teens looking for the phone by the climactic ending....clearly they didn't know they could wait ten minutes and the light would come one.

The One With the Rain Out

 

 

Tonight was the second marching band performance of the year. It started off great, with the annual potluck dinner. That is always a fun time. However, the band performance was cut a lot short. Periods of rain in the area made the half time show literally cut in half.

Emmie and I help run things out on the field....but we cut back what we did so know parents had to be on the field. Instead, we were able to watch a pseudo-show...which was awesome! We got to hear Bri get called out, which was cool.

The One With The First Home Game

 

 

The first Danvers home game happened and it was definitely an event for us as we helped the marching band with their show. First of all, we had to arrive earlier than we ever did last year - which was made a little trickier because it was definitely a packed house.

 

Once we arrived, we realized it was the start of the second quarter, so we had some time, but not a ton, before getting to the field to help out. In the meantime, the Falcons started off strong, which at least made the game interesting, too.

When it was time to go to the field, of course, both teams took several time outs to stop the clock. That was an experience. But, 00:00 hit the clock and it was show time. Everyone sprinted. Emmie put out her field numbers. I put on the platform and microphone for drum majors. Everything was in motion.

It was quite a show. We did get a chance to hear Bri's name get called as a co captain of the guard, which was awesome...though we did not get to see her serious walk to the front (we saw that later on TV - it was phenomenally in sync). Kiff and Bri put on quite a show and we had a ton of fun.

 

Overall, a great first game!

The One With the Salem Game

 

 

Last night, the Danvers Marching Band combined forces with the Salem Marching Band for an amazing pre-game show performance at Salem's opening football game. We had never done something like this before, but it was a great idea. And, because it was right before Hurricane Lee passed off the coast of Cape Cod, the night was actually a true beautiful calm before the storm night with an amazing sunset.

The night started off a little weird. It turned out that one of the buses from Danvers was late (the bus Kiff was on), so they had to get a police escort to the stadium. That makes for quite a memory!!! Then, they quickly assembled and put on a nice show.

Once the game started, the Danvers planned played sporadically in the stands throughouth. The game itself started off well for Danvers, which took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. But, they were eventually outscored 15-0 the rest of the way, and lost the game.

But all and all, it was quite a night.

The One With My Big Fat Greek Wedding Three

 

 

 

Earlier today, we watched the third installment of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding series. We have been fans of this series as a family - especially Emmie and I - and we were looking forward to this sequel.

 

Overall, it was a cute and sentimental movie about some of the family reconnecting with family members in Greece for a reunion. Although the plot was a little quirky at the beginning, and the story definitely had some contrived moments for sentiment's sake, overall it was fun watch. Several of the cast members from the original two movies were not in this for one reason or another - some of which was sad because both father figures have since passed away. This added to the poignance of the movie. Emmie and I realized that, when each movie came out - the wedding one, the kids growing up and parents growing older, and now loss of parents one - we were able to relate to the movie because we were going through similar things.

What is nice about this series is it tries to be light and jovial, but remind you about the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of life. As a result, it is not a true escape, but a movie that makes you realize that life is something we all go through together.

The One With The Summer Recap

 

Today is that day I always dread, but know is coming. Today is that last Sunday before the first day of school. Ugh.

But, it is the perfect time to reflect on the past year take a glimpse at what we were able to accomplish this summer.  And, to be honest, it was an amazing summer:

Here is a list of what we did:

TRIPS

Cape Cod (three times)

Canada (for a week)

Hershey Park (for four nights)

FUN STUFF

Horribles Parade

Boston Trolley Ride At Night

Father's Day Brunch

Bri's 16th party

Oldies Night 

Emmie Paint Night

PLAYS

All Heaven Broke Loose (Carlos's play)

CONCERT

Ed Sheeran

MOVIES

Flash

No Hard Feelings

Asteroid City

Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Oppenheimer

Mission Impossible 7

VISITS

Good Harbor Beach twice

Swamp Walk

New Walk (in Danvers) 

 
CLASSES

Bri and Kiff took Writer's Course

Bri took Driver's Ed

Band Camp

PROJECTS

Garage!!!

Fix side walkway

Plant in front of pool

Fix swing set to turn into a reading nook

Clean out bedroom and hall

 

Overall, it was quite a summer!!!

The One With Hersey Park

 

 

Today we spent the entire day at Hershey Park as part of our Hershey visit. It was a ton of fun. Emmie and I went on some rides, but the kids went on most.

 

Perhaps the most interesting - and exciting - part of the day was the fact that we had identified which ride Emmie and I went on that caused us to avoid roller coasters for the rest of our lives (at least for now). It was the Wild Mouse. It was still in operation. Bri and Kiff decided to be brave and go on it. Bri needed some little coaxing. In the end, they both loved the ride. But they also found out why we may not have liked it so much. Interestingly, Emmie and I found out that the ride is their highest category of thrill ride - this is something we did not know in 2004 when we went on it. Perhaps if we did, we would have avoided it.

 

The other rides we went on were:

1. The Dry Gulch Railroad - it was cute but short.

2. The Comet - this is a classic roller coaster that Bri and Kiff went on and liked

3. The Monorail - a short ride that goes out of the park. It usually has a long line, but moves fast and is a relaxing ride after walking all day. 

4. Reese's Cupfusion - similar to the Toy Story ride in Disney. You are on the hunt for "bad candy" (aka candy not made by Hersheys). It was cute, but nowhere worth the nearly two hour wait.

5. The scrambler - Bri, Kiff, and I went on this. It was a very fast scrambler ride

6. Twin turnpike Speedway - we all went on this ride. It was a tradition ride cars ride in the park.

7. Tilt-a-whirl - An awesome tilting ride....very much like traditional tilt-a-whirls

8.The Howler - Bri, Kiff, and I went on this. it was designed to be like a Tea-Cup in the air...but they shut off the motion part for our ride.

9. Cocoa Cruiser - mini coaster that Kiff and Bri went on. It was a long wait and Kiff said it wasn't worth it. But they had fun.

10. Frontier Flyers - Kiff and Bri shared a flyer on this ride. Bri learned not to be on the inside of it.

3. Music express - Bri and Kiff went on this ride like the Himalaya at Santa's Village...good ride

The One With Oppenheimer

 

 

Today, we saw the movie Oppenheimer. It is one that I had been looking forward to for some time...and one that was on my list of must sees.

And needless to say, it did not disappoint. Of course, Kiff insisted we see it in the IMAX theater. While it was worth it - spectacle wise - seat wise it was a little tight.

 But, that was the only complaint. The movie was simply magnificent. It really had two stories going on - Oppenheimer creating the atomic bomb with the other scientists as part of the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer defending himself from Lewis Strauss, later on, during the height of the second red scare.

 It was a little long, but did not drag, and really showed the power of what was happening at the time. It is definitely not just a movie, but the embodiment of an important piece of history.

The One With Good Harbor Beach

 

 

Today, we decided to do something a little different. We actually decided to have a Beach Day.

Emmie has wanted to go to a Gloucester Beach for the past few years - mainly as a way to de stress - so we decided to do that today. First, when I think of North Shore beaches, I often think of ones that are rocky. But this one had the sand found like most Cape Cod beaches. It also had a small island to the left of the beach....one I would have loved to explore when I was a kid. The beach was wide, which was amazing. And you were allowed to play with different balls (we brought a football) on the beach. Amazing!!!

We spent about two hours there. We checked out the water - it was cold. Someone was surfing....which for the first time ever looked interesting to me. And the lifeguards were on the beach working on different things (including moving a large log).

After our stay, Kiff got the most expensive smoothie ever. We also went to Essex Seafood and got clam strips (well, I got chicken fingers). What a great way to end the day.

The One With the Boston At Night Trolley Tour

 

 

Ever since it started last year, I had been interested in the Boston at Night Trolley Tour. Although billed as seeing the sunset along the Charles Tour, I knew it had more to offer than that. So when our plans changed for our anniversary, we jumped at the chance to go.

Of course, our anniversary actually started off by a stop at our favorite restaurant for anniversaries - Ruth Chris's. It was awesome as usual. We did try the creamed spinach for the first time...it was good.

Then, we left the old city hall region to head over toward the old Hard Rock region. We spent a short time in Faneuil Hall as we waited for the trolley, and then headed over to the Marriott. There, we met the trolley...which was a 90 minute tour of the city.

The goal of this trolley ride did not focus on the typical history (we've done that trolley before), but some of the anecdotal history, as well as stops as some prime spots for pictures. That included our own version of the website picture shown above. It was incredible. Perhaps my favorite part was when we passed by the back end of Fenway Park - often closed to regular traffic - and could hear Pink's concert in the background. What a night!!! And what a happy 19th anniversary!

The One With the Fourth of July

 

 

 

Today we enjoyed another 4th of July in Danvers. We began the day with the Horribles Parade. It was actually nice to see this year's edition. Last year - the first version after the pandemic - was definitely low key. This year was a little more substantial. In fact,  they had an old car in it.

 

Later in the day, we broke in our new grill. It was awesome!!! Of course, the burgers and dogs were great! We had Tony come over and had a fun time.

At night, we watched the Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular. It was pretty good and the fireworks were amazing. All and all, it was a great fourth!!!

The One With All Heaven Broke Loose

 

 

On Friday June 30, Bri and I went to see a play at the East Baptist Church in Lynn called All Heaven Broke Loose. The reason we saw the play was that C.O. was playing a part and Bri wanted to check it out. And, I joined her.

The play was a new spin on the Easter story. It focused on telling the story through the eyes of other people who were there, including the perspectives of Peter, John, Thomas, Mary, Pilate, and the Sanhedrin. It was quite an interesting look.

The actor troupe was really skilled and definitely played their parts in such a way that the audience was interested in what they were thinking as the events of Jesus's death and resurrection unfolded. Added interest to the story was the use of recorded scripture showing how the events had been prophesied earlier in scripture. And, the playwright, who was also one of the actors and helped put it on, used the original Hebrew names...which took some getting used to. Appropriately enough, it was about three hours, which is said to be the time that Jesus's death on the cross took place.

C.O. did a great job. Peter - aka Kefa - looked to me like Harry Potter. And we definitely enjoyed the show. It was great.

The One With Danvers Rewind

 

On Tuesday June 27 , Bri, Kiff, and I went to Danvers Rewind sponsored by Falconfest. This is a group trying to bring back some of the retro events of the old family festival. 

 It was great to see an event like this. It was modeled after the old Oldies Night that used to be downtown when Maple Street would be shut down. It had stores open, music, and different vendors. It was a neat reminder of what used to be before the pandemic.

Ironically, we all were on our own there. Bri and I went together, but she met up with friends. Kiff went with a friend as well. I stayed for about an hour, which was enough to have fun and reminisce.

The One With the Cape Cod Visit

 

 

This Sunday through Tuesday, we spent some time at the Cape. We were able to enjoy a visit with Mike and Rachael, Oliver and Elliott. It was nice to see them in person for the first time in about six or seven years. It was great.

 

We then spent some time at the Go-Karts and the trampolines. Always a fan favorite.

 

We also had a chance to visit Harwichport, which makes for some fun, too. All and all, it was a great visit.

The One With Father's Day

 

 

 

Today was Father's Day 2023....and boy was it busy...

 

It started with coffee and cinnamon rolls in the morning, which was nice.

Then, we went to the Yacht Club for breakfast buffet.

We followed up by going strawberry picking at Cider Hill....it was very muddy.

After, we went to see The Flash at the movies. It was great and paid awesome homage to DC heroes from the past.

Then we came home and took a walk.

 

 It was an awesome and tiring day!!

The One With Mother's Day

 

 

Today was Mother's Day and we had a lot of fun. We had one plan - harbor cruise - but Emmie decided she wanted to do something different. We

• had quiche and pecan rolls for breakfast

• went on a 4.5 mile bike ride

• got lunch at Essex Seafood

• got ice cream

• watched Tangled (and Celtics beat 76ers in Game 7 of EC Semifinals).

 

We also got a few ideas for future mother's day things to do:

• Sylvan Street brunch

• Harbor Cruise in Boston

• Harbor Cruise in Gloucester

• Mother's Day Comedy Show

• Lilac Sunday at Arnold Aboreteum

• Appleton Farm picnic

• Mother's Day by the Sea at Beauport Hotel in Gloucester 

Happy Mother's Day Emmie

The One With Dave and Busters

 

 

Today, we checked out Dave and Busters for Part II of Bri's birthday. I had never been there before, but it was actually a pretty fun place. They had some awesome video games that we all enjoyed - including Emmie and I. In fact, we had an epic game of Space Invaders and I introduced Bri and Kiff to Centipede.

 

Afterward, we had an amazing snack in their bar area....we loved the large pretzel!!!

The One With Bri's 16th Birthday

 

 

Brighid's 16th birthday was today. It is hard to believe that she turned 16 years old....I don't know how that could have happened so fast.

 

Of course, her way to celebrate was to have an AP European History Test (which is ironic, because the day after, is Coronation Day for Charles III). 

 

She got to come home early from school, which was nice. Emmie was home, which helped with that. Then, we did our scavenger hunt (we made sure the last clue when to the garage, where the loft was completed today). Wow! We then blew out candles on her cake. She opened a few gifts, including her special necklace for turning 16.

 

We then journey as a family, with Carlos, to Ruth Chris's, one of Bri's favorite spots. That was a lot of fun...and the meal was pretty good, too.

 

The ride home was an adventure because Storrow Drive was shut down and then we had to try to cross the Mass Ave Bridge....which was packed. The ride, which is usually 36 minutes, was about 75 minutes.

We got home, had a slice of cake, and went to bed. We will move onto Day 2 of celebrating her birthday.

 

 

The One With the Somerville Film Fest

 

 

Today, Kif and I went to Somerville to see student movies as part of the Independent Film Festival of Boston.

We journeyed to the Somerville Theater. It is actually a pretty neat theater - very old fashioned and cozy. In fact, I learned that they play a lot of old Sci Fi movies there, including my favorite, the Gamera series from the 1970s. That was awesome!!!

The student portion of the film festival was about 2 hours and a ton of fun to watch. There were clever movies made from college students all over Massachusetts, including BU, UMass Lowell, Fitchburg State, and Emerson (where Kif thinks he wants to go).

There were a variety of interesting movies there - one about a boy who creates a superhero, a sad clown, an angry couple, and a fox turned human (Kiff's favorite and one of mine, too). At the end, they had a quick Q and A with the film-makers and Kiff was hooked.

When it was done, not only were we happy to go, but hope to go next year, too.

The One With the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi

 

 

 

We found out earlier this week that, in honor of Star Wars Day on May 4, Lucas Film was releasing Return of the Jedi in honor of the 40th anniversary of the film. So, we decided to see it.

 

It was the first time that Bri and Kiff saw one of the "Original Three" in a theater. And, it did not disappoint. It was an amazing show...as always. We all enjoyed it. In fact, I had never seen an Original Three in the theaters with Emmie. I did not realize just how much she loved the Ewoks.

 

It is funny that I actually picked up on something I had never seen before while watching this movie. Both Obi Wan and Yoda disappear when they die - which must be a Jedi thing.

When we left, we did hear some people who were a little disappointed at the updated graphics (which had actually been in the movie since they were updated right before The Phantom Menace debuted). They were definitely upset that a new ending song, instead of the weird Ewok victory song, had remained in the updated version. I, personally, am happy that it was. Back in 5th grade, when I saw the original movie, although I did not know what the word meant, I knew that the song was soooooo anti-climactic to what happened in the movie.

The One With the Maine Overnighter

 

 

It's April vacation and you know what that means.... we always do an overnighter some where to escape. This year we visited a place Emmie and I went to years ago - Stage Neck Inn. And it did not disappoint.

 

We had an amazing room (in fact I am in the room as I type this) complete with electric fireplace and ocean view from a balcony) overlooking an inlet in York Maine. We just had an amazing breakfast buffet with homemade donuts (apple cider variety, which were phenomenal).

 

We also ate at a local riverside restaurant last night, where Bri got a beet salad, Kiff got prime rib, and Emmie and I had chicken teryaki. The food was pretty good.

 

Bri and I visited the gym - the first time we ever did that - and had a grand time, too. I showed her how to use some of the equipment and did my own workout with weights.

 

The One With The Boston Marathon

 

It is April vacation, and we have decided to do some fun things each day. On Patriot's Day, we decided to see the Boston Marathon. While I have seen it dozens of times in person, Emmie, Bri, and Kiff have never seen it in person. 

 

We drove down to Natick, where we went to the end of Boden Lane - the historic spot that I used to watch it with my Dad, my Mom, Mark, and Debbie - as well as my friends. It brought back lots of memories.

Kiff and Bri had a good time. We got down just in time to see the women's elite leaders go through. We saw some of the wheelchair athletes as well as some of the men's runners, too.

 

It was interesting to see how security has changed over time along the route. There were tons of police motorcycles and intermittent state police cars going by.

 

Although we only stayed for 30 minutes or so because it was rainy...but it was fun to see. When we got home, we actually saw the women's runners that we watched in Natick pass through the finish line.

 

Definitely a great memory.

The One With Dungeons and Dragons

 

We saw Dungeons and Dragons today. It turned out to be an amazing movie. Starring Chris Pine - and a lot of fun other actors - it actually shows the different types of characters that someone might encounter, or play with, in a D & D game.

 

Having just learned how to play in the past year, Kiff, Bri, and I found it both fun, and interesting. Emmie, who has played for years, helped us understand the roles of the different characters. There was a rogue and musician (Chris Pine), and warrior, a magician (who was not great at magic), and half elf/ half druid, and a paladin (sort of like a D & D knight, which Emmie said Eric used to be when he played D&D).

The plot was fun, fast paced, and exciting. And, it had Hugh Grant as a villain, which doesn't happen to often. It also had some amazing monsters as well. Definitely happy to have seen this.

The One With Trevor Noah at the Chevalier

 

 

Today, we went to see Trevor Noah, the comedian who used to host the daily show.  Needless, to say, it was an amazing show!!!

We started off the night by going to the Double Bar Grill in Peabody. Although we were running late - they weren't. We had a super supper - and even caught the end of the Game 1 win by the Celtics over the Hawks in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Then, we were off to the Chevalier Theater in Medford. We didn't know what to expect from the theater, but we were pleasant surprised at how amazing it was. It is an old school theater, literally. It was attached to an old school which is now an apartment building. Parking on the street proved to be easy - so much easier than going to Boston. And it was easy to get in and out of.

The show itself was fantastic, too. The opener was hilarious - one that Kiff is hoping to see in the future. Trevor Noah's set was spot on, too - from discussions about sports, national anthems, to Bostonians, to politics, to trials, he had one great series of jokes after another.

When the night was over, we all left hoping to see him again on his next tour.