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!!!