The One With the 2024 Recap

 

 

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

 

What a year!!!

Jan 15 – The Beekeeper (movie)

 

Jan 27 – Jazz and Acapella Night

 

Feb 3 – Winterguard Comp

 

Feb 10 – Annie

Feb 11 – Zone of Interest

 

Feb 19: Snowmobiling/Skating

Feb 20: Ice Castles

 

March 4 – Band meeting

 

March 9 – Winter Guard Comp

 

March 10 – Winter Guard Comp

 

March 16 – Love Lies Bleeding movie Framingham

 

March 20 – Spring Concert

 

March 22 – KMS Musical

 

March 23 – KMS Musical

 

March 24: Nick Bagataze

 

March 29- Ghostbusters

 

March 30 – Winter Guard

 

April 7 Winter Guard Finals

 

April 10 Endicott Jazz Festival

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

April 27 – Pops Night

 

April 28 – Dress Rehearsal/Natick Earth Day

 

April 30 – Sing Sing at Boston Film Festival

 

May 3 – Fall Guy (May 8)

 

May 11 – AggroDr1ft movie at Alamo Drafthouse

 

May 17 – IF (movie AMC Danvers)

 

May 18 – Bri Family 17^th party

 

May 19 - Recital

 

May 20 – World Language Honor Society Induction Bri

 

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

 

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

                  Civil War movie

 

May 23 – Prom Promenade

 

May 27 – Memorial Day parade

 

May 29 – National English Honor Society

 

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

 

June 5 – Grade 8 Dance

 

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

 

June 11 – Ensemble Night

 

June 12 – Red Sox vs. Phillies

 

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

 

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

 

June 27 – Inside Out 2

 

June 28 – Chiff screening NYFA; Aquarium, Tasty Burger

 

June 29: Daddio (Emmie and Chiff)

 

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

 

July 3 – Fireworks in Gloucester

 

July 4 – Cookout, Horribles Parade

 

July 5 – Fly Me To the Moon

 

July 7-8 – Cape Cod

 

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

 

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

 

July 25 – MacDonald Museum

 

July 27 – Fireworks spectacular

 

July 29 _ Angies as a family

 

July 31 – Anne and Gilbert Musical

 

August 1 – Anne of Green Gables House

 

August 4 – Deadpool and Wolverine (60)

 

August 10 – NKOTB

 

August 14 – Trapped movie

 

August 18 – Cape Cod Harbor Hotel

 

August 19 - Twisters

 

August 20 – Cape Cod Hyannis Harbor Cruise

 

August 26: The Wallows MGM Fenway

 

September 6: Marching Band at Football Game

 

September 7: Coast for the Cure

 

September 13 – Football Game

 

September 14 -15 – Beverly Air Show

 

September 20 - Beetlejuice

 

September 22 – Apple Picking

 

September 29 - NESBA

 

October 4: Football Game

 

October 5 – NESBA Contest

 

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

 

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

 

October 12 – Bored Teachers at Chevalier 7 PM

 

October 13-14 - NH

October 19 – NESBA Reading

 

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

 

November 1 – Senior Night Football

 

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

 

November 9 – Veteran’s Day Parade

 

November 27: Gladiator 2

 

December 1 – Beverly Parade

 

December 7 – Tree lighting, Salem Honor Band

 

December 11 – DHS Winter concert

 

December 26 – Nosferatu

 

December 27 – NY Trip ride down

 

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

 

December 29  - NYC Ride home

The One With New Years Eve 2024

 

 

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

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

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

3. Chiff became a section leader.

4. Bri got her license!

5. Chiff went to film-making camp.

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

7. Chiff got his learner's permit.

8. Bri got into college.

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

10. Emmie passed her Humanities Test!

 

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

The One with The Rockettes

 

 

 

Today, we spent a fun day in NYC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The One with Nosferatu

 

 

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

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

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

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

 

The One With a Merry Christmas

 

 

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas to all and God Bless Us Everyone!

 

 

The One With Winter Solstice

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

The One With My First DHC Board Meeting

 

 

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

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

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

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

The One With A Real Pain

 

 

 

Today Chiff and I went to the West Newton Cinema and saw the movie A Real Pain. Although it sounded good because Kiernan Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg were in it, I wasn't too sure what to expect. However, I knew it should be fun because we were going to the Cinema I hadn't been to in years.

When we got there, it was clear they had made some cosmetic changes over the years. Although the theater is old, it still has charm and is a better place to see a movie then when I was last their twenty years ago.

 Chiff and I had the theater essentially to ourselves - though there was another lady in our row. It was a sentimental and clever movie about two cousins who go to visit their grandmother's hometown in Poland as a way to celebrate her after she died.

Overall, it was well-written and well-paced. And, it was great to see Jennifer Grey in a movie again, too!

The One Where Bri Gets Into College

 

 

Today was an amazing day. Bri found out that she not only got into one college, but two!!! How amazing was that.

 I first heard she got into one from Emmie on the phone. When I talked to her, she said Bri had good news. She encouraged me to call Bri. Lo and behold, I called and found out she got into Endicott College. Great job Bri. Not only that, but she also got an 80,000 scholarship over four years.

 However, that was not the only college she got into. She found out that she also got into Bridgewater State as well (my Dad and Uncle Chet would have been proud). They essentially gave her full tuition for four years.

 What an amazing day. It is great to know Bri has a place to go.

The One With the Winter Band Concert

 

 

Bri and Chiff had their annual holiday winter concert tonight. As usual, it was an amazing concert. The DHS band performed five songs for the evening. Bri was a featured flute soloist for one of them, which is always fun to see...and hear.

 The night ended with the traditional "Sleigh Ride." It was a ton of fun to hear because they invite DHS teachers to perform. It was an amazing sound!

 All and all a great performance....and a fantastic final winter sendoff for Bri.

The One With Honor Band

 

 

Bri had a special event occur today. She took part in the Salem State North Shore Student Honor Band. It was the second year in a row she appeared in the band.

 She was able to take part in it because she was selected as one of the top flute players in the region. In fact, she was one of seven students from DHS to participate, which was awesome.

She spent most of her day at Salem State. Then, they performed five pieces for us for a short concert at 7:30. It was truly another amazing treat!!!

The One With a Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

 

Thanksgiving has arrived again. And with it, another fun filled Thanksgiving Day. This year, we did some standard things and some new things. 

1. We watched the Macy's Day Parade.

2. We had a small breakfast.

3. We played several games, including Smart Ass for the first time. This is a GREAT trivia game.

4. We had an amazing meal.

5. We watched our standard "Miracle on 34th Street," to usher in the season.

All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving!!!

The One Where Bri is in the Record Books

 

Earlier today at school, I was talking about Bri to one of my students (who I also had in 5th grade).

 The student said, "Oh, I didn't know you had a daughter."

To which I replied, shockingly, "You had me in fifth grade and you forgot?"

She asked about Bri and I said, if you look up her name and Danvers High School, you might find a picture.

 While she was having trouble finding the name, I decided to look Bri up...and I find out something super cool. As a member of the DHS track team last year, she actually made their record book, kept by Max Preps.

In the 100 meter dash, as a junior, she ranks in the top 20 all time with her score from last year, as you can see below.

 

Even cooler was the fact that she is in the junior record book as well, with a record that will probably stick for a while.  Needless to say, I was super proud!!!
 

The One With the Veterans Day Breakfast

 

 

This Friday, November 8, we hosted the 22nd annual Veterans Day Breakfast at Kennedy Middle School. This tradition has become a cherished tradition at our school, with the Morse Institute Library (which helps organize it) and with Metrowest Veterans.

 As always, it takes a ton of work to pull it off. But it is so worth it. Fortunately, we have a great Civics team, with Brian and Jeff, as well as fabulous 8th grade teachers, which helps it run seemlessly.

 This year we had some of our same veterans, including Mr. Leupold, who was in World War II and turned 100. We also had Mr. Radock's daughter, who worked at Johnson when I was there, come with his memorabilia. We have several parents and grandparents of students arrive as well...which made for an amazing day!!!

 The students were spectacular. My decorating crew - aka the Weather Service crew - were official greeters, too. And they did a phenomenal job.

Thanks so much to all those veterans who gave their time, treasure, talent - and in some cases their lives - to protect our country.

Happy Veteran's Day

Happyt Veterans Day!!! 

The One With the Veterans Day Parade

 

 

Earlier today, we were in Boston to attend the fourth annual Boston Veteran's Day parade, otherwise known as Boston's Salute to Service. 

Both Bri and Kiff were in attendance for the parade, though it was Bri's last parade. Unlike years past, when Emmie and I watched from the Boston Common, we actually sojourned down to the Boston Public Library area and watched the beginning of the parade, then followed the band all the way to the end.

It was quite a parade. Clearly, word has gotten out about the parade, unlike the first year, when there were only a few spectators. There were quite a few DHS families in attendance, which was fun to watch as we went through the streets.

I think I took about four videos from different locations. The band played their standard military tunes, which were always amazing!!! The wrapped up at City Hall Plaza, booming their music off the buildings that lined the streets there. I found a picture on the Berkeley Beacon above of Nathan, Natalie, and a few other band members from today.

While we were there to see the Falcons, there were several other fun groups as well. There was a small Civil War re-enactment group. There were several military groups. The USS Constitution sailors also showed up, as well as an East Boston Junior ROTC group.

Afterward, they went over to Quincy Market and had lunch. Emmie and I did as well, and did a little quick shopping, like we always do. All and all, it was a great and glorious day for a parade.

The One With the NESBA FInals

 

 

Tonight was the NESBA Finals...a culmination of the long, competitive marching band season. It has been a long season,  but well worth the effort.

It was Bri's last time marching onto field the receive an award before retiring. We watched it with Kobe's mom, who was experiencing the same thing. It was a bittersweet moment.

The DHS Marching Band marched out and scored a gold with 90 points. That was good for fourth place among the eight teams - a fantastic showing!!!

The One with Senior Night

 

 

 

Senior Night is a very big tradition at most high schools, and DHS is no exception. We have witnessed the time honored tradition a few times at DHS in the past and on this day we got to be a part of it.

As part of senior night, the seniors in the school are celebrated before the game begins. And tonight, was Bri's night. Following in the tradition, Emmie, Kiff, and I were schedule to walk out on the field with Bri, as she is officially announced to the crowd. 

 

We had to arrive at school early to get lined up in the cafeteria. In what was truly a providential moment, we were lined up behind the Dawes, who we have known for what seems like a lifetime because Bri and Kobi, and Kiff and Garrett have taken part in so many activities together over the years. So, of course, we had to take many pictures of the moment.

We walked out on the field - which was fun - and then Bri was officially announced. Several friends, as well as the band, cheered her on as she marched out officially as a Guard Captain. We paused near midfield to have our picture taken. It was an amazing moment we will al remember.

The One With the Happy Halloween

 

 

 

 

It is Halloween night 2024...and it was quite a busy day.

 

First, it was the first time Kiff and Bri had been around in the past few years. And, it was nice to have the around. They helped pass our candy to our trick-or-treaters. We had 23.

 

Kiff and I also put together our new Halloween decoration - the Plague Doctor. It was unique.

 

We set up our haunted house and we also put out the firepit in the driveway, where we greeted trick or treaters.

 

Kiff left early to go to a Halloween party. But, we got back just in time to have the Great Pumpkin visit. 

 

 

The One with Satuday Night the Movie

 

 

Today we celebrated Chiff's 16th birthday by going to Ruth Chris's. And, true to form, we also went to see a movie. We watched Saturday Night Live. 

 

That was an amazing movie. It explained what it was like to put together the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. It has all of the little subplots and anecdotes that have been part of the lore over the years, as well as some new ideas.

 

Some of the interesting things I learned:

• There were two comedians and two musical guests on the show

• John Belushi wasn't too sure he wanted to be on the first episode.

• Chevy Chase fought to have his girlfriend on the show.

• Bill Crystal was supposed to be on the show, but his segment was cut.

• Johnny Carson was not a fan of the show and reruns of the Tonight Show were ready to roll in case they could not put the whole show together.

The One With the New Car

 

 

Today, Emmie and I took a trip down toward the south shore. We visited the Sullivan Brothers car company - a company whose signed I passed a bazillion times since growing up going to the Cape. We were in search of a new, used car for Emmie. Now that Bri has a license, we wanted to do a car shuffle.

 

The goal of today was to find a Jeep Wrangler that Emmie could use driving back and forth from school and on local drives. After all, she had longed to have a Wrangler again.

 

And we were in luck. We found one for the right price that was a good deal. And the people at Sullivan were amazing. It was a great experience.

The One Where Bri Gets Her License

 

 

Today was a banner day for Bri. She got up early in the morning and had her driver's license test planned for today in Beverly at 8:15.

The first time around did not go so smoothly for Bri. She bumped into a curb when she was parallel parking, which means you automatically have to do it again. So, needless to say, she was nervous.

However, she had been practicing all this week - particularly her parallel parking - and reviewing what she needed to work on (checking her blind spot when backing up and stopping before entering an intersection from a parking lot).

Although she was nervous - as most of the kids were there today - and had to wait long, it was worth it. At about 9:37 AM she was off. She returned 6 minutes later, looking stoic. Of course, it turns out that the exam driver didn't tell her if she passed, either, so it took her a moment to realize that when he said, "You did good," and then she checked the permit she had to bring for the test, it became clear she passed.

It was amazing!!! Her face beamed as I took her picture and she had a special skip in her step. She couldn't wait to get home to tell Emmie (who, along with Kiff, congratulated her via text). And according to Bri, she did the best parallel parking she ever did (and she even showed me the red car she parked behind).

 That was just one of her successes this week. She found out yesterday that she now has set the family record for SAT scores with a 1320. Zoinks!!!

The One With Bored Teachers

 

 

Emmie and I rarely have date nights these days, so when the opportunity arrives, we try to take advantage of it. And, we had a great opportunity to see The Bored Teachers comedy show.

Emmie and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at Double Bull before heading out. Then, we worked our way toward the Chevalier Theater, which is always a fun spot to see a show. Highly recommended.

When we got there, we were not too sure what to expect. But, the night was dazzling with four teachers - or former teachers - who took the stage to do standup. And each comedian was amazing, drawing from their own experience to capture to essence, and humor, of being a teacher, in 20 minute segments.

It was a fantastic night!!! Emmie saw a co-worker who she chatted with and I believe I saw one, too. And a great show. We are looking forward to catching them the next time around.

The One With Megalopolis

 

 

Wow. That is all I can say. On Thursday, Kiff and I went to see Megalopolis. He has been hoping to see it all year and I have been interested in it as well. Although he knew it was supposed to be a flop - he had heard that for months - he still wanted to see if. After all, he is a huge Francis Ford Copolla Fan.

 

However, nothing could truly prepare us for the wild ride we went on. The movie was marketed as a fable. While allegorical, I think it would be better advertised as a parable. But, then, it is really hard to say what the heck is going on in the story. Yikes! 

Of course, my favorite quote was when Kiff turned and said, "This is so bad!!!" Indeed. To make matters worse, for a short period of time, when of the best displays of Northern Lights to reach New England was visible while we were in the movie. Nice!!!

The One Where Bri is at a Tri M Ceremony

 

 

During the past year, Bri has had the chance to take part in many honors. One of them is being officer in the Tri M honor society, which is a great opportunity.

As an officer, we got to see her in action (though she said we did not need to go). As historian, she was helping induct new members into Tri M. So, of course, we wanted to check out the first part of the ceremony.

 It was fun to see her  read her short speech and take part in a tradition. But, even more interestingly, it was great to see her as an officer, doing something important for others. It was an amazing moment. What made it even more special was that it was the day my father was born and Mom 2 passed away - both were definitely looking down on Bri with pride.

The One With Apple Picking

 

Earlier today, we celebrated the first day of autumn (it arrived at 8:43 AM today), by going apple picking. Of course, we visited our traditional spot - Russell Orchard in Ipswich.

Emmie was worried that we might get there too late (we left at 10 AM). Indeed, it was packed when we arrived at that time, but they were definitely moving people through fast. We were able to get our standard apple cider donuts within 5 minutes of arrival.  Emmie also made sure to take a picture of Bri and Kiff on the tires.

Then, we bought bags and a hayride and went out to the fields. The man getting us lined up was a big Bruins fan (I had worn by Bruins hat) and had a cool Hawaiian shirt with his dog printed on it.

When we arrived at the fields, we were allowed into the back section of the orchard, which we had never been to before. It turns out they had just opened that part for pickers today, so we had the run of the apples. It was amazing and the view in the distance was incredible. We found out that gala apples were not available at the orchard this year - the bees did not pollinate them. However, we found a whole row of honeycrisp and it was amazing!!! We were able to get some of the best apples we ever got.

We took the hayride back to the beginning and picked up a few items in the store. Then, Bri drove us home. Overall, it was an awesome way to start fall.

The One With Open House Night

 

 

Tonight, Emmie and I came back from DHS Open House. It was the fourth Open House we had at DHS, which is always a fun night. As we have done in the past, we had to do a little divide and conquer - particularly where we had both kiddoes up there.

 Emmie took on Kiff's schedule while I went to Bri's...though we did overlap in band. Because Bri had a study, we were able to both go to Kiff's chemistry class - which had some cool experiments. And, Emmie came to Bri's "Hero" English class.

All and all it was fun. What was neat was - like years in the past - the National Honor Society seniors were there to help navigate.  This year, Bri got to be one of them and it was super cool. They were all wearing their blue class of 2025 shirts! Pretty keen.

It was a fun night and we saw lots of families, which makes it extra fun. However, it was slightly bittersweet, too. It marked the 13th - and final - open house we will be going to for Bri. It is so hard to believe!!!

The One Where Bri is a Senior

 

 

 

It happened today much to our surprise.

It happened slowly, but in front of our eyes.

Our little girl has come a long, long way.

She officially became a senior today!

 

It is hard to believe, but Bri's first day of her last year in the Danvers schools started today. As I am typing this, she just came in and is eating after a tiring first day where she spent a ton of time with friends. It is hard to believe that 13 years are starting to come to an end.

 It is amazing and scary at the same time. I can't wait to see what our amazing daughter becomes, though!

The One With the Wallows

 

 

This evening, we went to Fenway MGM for the first time ever to see a group Kiff was interested in seeing called the Wallows. The group was fronted by the guy who played the older brother in Alexander and the No Good, Horrible Day! (a fact I learned after the show).

 While we were not too sure what to expect, the venue was amazing. Very quaint for a musical concert. Bebee was the warm up act. She is a New Zealand singer. She was definitely indie, but she did fine. However, the Wallows were the main show. Although I knew little about them, they were amazing. They use a lot of lights and affects in their show, which took some getting used to. But it was well worth it. 

I would see them again.

The One With the Harbor Cruise

 

 

We had the opportunity to take a Hyannis Harbor Cruise today. It was quite a memorable opportunity. Although the skies were gray, and the weather was a little windy, the cruise did not disappoint. The host was highly knowledgeable of the area.

It took off from where several of the cruises take off from...down by the waterfront. What made this one special is that we took a tour of the harbor and went further than we have in a long time.

We went passed Great Island, which we know is closed off for the most part - owned as private property. We also went out toward where the Kennedy Compound is, which is amazing to see so up close from the water. We were even able to see some of there boats. We went by the free beach in Hyannis as well - which is actually on the Hyannis-Yarmouth line. We learned that it is a great place to go to the beach because it has parking and you don't have to pay for it.

Overall, it was an incredible experience and one we'd like to do again.

 

 

The One With the New Kids on the Block Concert

 

 

Every two years, or so, the New Kids on the Block go on tour. And, one thing is almost always clear - when they are on tour, Emmie is going to see them.

 And, of course, when it was announced that they were touring this year, I knew we were going to be going. I also knew, somehow, I'd be the one getting the tickets - which I was.

This year, we were seeing the Summer Magic Tour, which was a reboot of a tour that they did back in the early 1990s. We had prime seating at the Xfinity Center (where we had seen them in the past) and also a VIP pack, which included some free goodies, which were always fun. Fans were also encouraged to dress in their 90s best, which I did, rocking a dashing shirt that actually got compliments from several people. Booyeah!

The concert itself was great. One of the people that I had always wanted to see in concert - and we almost had the chance years ago - was Paula Abdul. So, knowing she was going to be in it was a highlight for me. And, she was still amazing!!! Her songs - and her dance moves - were as crisp as ever.

Then, DJ Jazzy Jeff had a turn on stage. He's always been a favorite, so it was great to see him in person.

Then, it was time for the New Kids to take the stage. And they put on quite a show, complete with their standard homage to their hometown of Boston. They did an amazing job working through the crowd as well, which was fun to see. The concert was awesome. We even had some highly expensive "Liquid Death" water, too. But, it was another phenomenal take at an NKOTB concert.!

The One With Prince Edward Island

 

 

Last year, we attempted to go to PEI, a place that Emmie had longed to share with us. Unfortunately, Bri caught a nasty cold in Canada and we ended up going home early instead.

This year, we got to make up for it. And, I will say, it was quite an experience. PEI was such an amazing island and more beautiful than I ever imagined.

A few highlights of our trip.

 

1. Emmie had THE BEST caramel latte she ever had in a restaurant in PEI. In fact, we tried to go back and get another one there, but it was closed.

2. We had the chance to visit the Anne of Green Gables house and walk the grounds. It was, simply put, enchanting.

3. We saw the musical Anne and Gilbert.  It was incredible. A great take.

 

We definitely would visit the island again.

The One With Our 20th Anniversary

 

It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed. But, today, Emmie and I celebrated our 20th anniversary!!! We spent a day in Charlottetown. We ate at Sims Steakhouse. And we saw Anne and Gilbert, the Musical. it was an amazing way to spend the day.

 

Happy anniversary Emmie!!! Thanks for 20 amazing years. I'm looking forward to many, many, many more.

 

Love ya!!!

 

 

The One With the Boston College Tour

 

 

July 11, 2024 - 22 years to the day of Emmie and my first date, another epic first occurred. I got to go with Bri tour Boston College on a college visit. It was an amazing experience and very surreal. After all, I graduated there 40 years ago.

To be honest, there were a few things I found out. First, BC has changed a lot. The standards of who they let in has changed (and the number of admitted students has dropped a ton). One of the speakers, when asked about SAT scores, said that in some majors 1340 would be acceptable and others, they might expect 1500. 1500! Are you serious?

After the realizing that I would never be admitted to BC if I applied now settled in (fortunately Bri is a better student), we enjoyed touring a variety of places on Campus. We went to several of the halls, including Gasson Hall, and visited a few of the classrooms, as well as the Bookstore area - always fun.

When we were done, we went to the Bookstore and also got a quick snack in the dining hall. Lots of fond memories came flooding back during my time there, and I showed Bri a few of my favorite spots. I tried to show here her the School of Education, but most of that was being revamped.

It was a fun day and we had a blast! I was also happy to hear that Bri was sincerely interested in going there, particularly after the tour.

The One With Cape Cod

 

 

We took a very action packed overnight trip to the Cape these past two days. We left on Sunday morning, beating most traffic down - though there was a lot of traffic coming off the Cape. 

The first big ticket item was to go to Hobby Lobby. This store, which Emmie went to briefly in NH, was a hit with Emmie. She found a ton of stuff, as did Bri (for a spa day party). Kiff also found an ugly dogs playing poker picture in a frame that he fell in love with.

After that. we headed to the go-karts, which is aways fun. Kiff got a dud of a cart, while Bri was able to race off to first place in one of her races. Those driver's ed classes came in handy.

We went to Mark and Carols to celebrate a birthday cookout. We had a fun time, enjoying the deck and the cool air at the time (it had been cloudy and humid all day).

The following morning, we hit Hearth and Kettle. Bri actually drove us there and got the first taste of Cape traffic. Then, we did a few things including just resting and reading. We went to the beach and then trekked home.

Overall, it was a calm and relaxing overnighter.

The One With Fly Me to the Moon

 

 

Today we got a chance to see a sneak preview of "Fly Me To The Moon" in the theater. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. 

As a history and astronomy buff, I was looking forward to seeing it. But, I expected it to be a ho-hum affair. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this movie was fun, energetic, and had a lot of twists and turns. It presented the idea of the "soundstage version" of the moon landing and where it might have come from.

Although it is based on the Apollo 11 mission - and the huge PR campaign for it - the overall plot is fictional. However, the characters are fun, realistic, and believable. And the movie was great. We all loved it - and it is definitely a surprise movie of the summer.

The One With the Fireworks

 

 

 

 

Every year for the past several years, we try to see the Gloucester Fireworks. Traditionally, they are held the night before the fourth and are one of the best displays in the region.

 

This year was no exception. We went to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester and were mesmerized by the spectacular display. The fireworks were incredible. This year, they did feature food trucks, which actually made the sky brighter than normal....but that was not a problem.

 

The pyrotechnics themselves were splendid and captured an array of styles....and included three finales (we actually missed the final finale, thinking it had already happened). The only hiccup was one of the fireworks went low to the ground....though still out in the harbor, which seemed to be fine.

 

Parking was not as bad as usual, and they opened up a side gate on the grass lot, which helped immensely.

The One With the Good Harbor Beach

 

 

 We went to Gloucester's Good Harbor beach today. It was a beautiful day for it. The tide was going out and the sun was shining.

 We stopped and got a little Panera before going there. Then, we spent about two hours there.

The only hiccup was the inconsistent sunscreen. It was spray Neutrogena that did not go on smoothly. We all had slight red spots as a result of the poor spraying.

The One With the Celtics Championship

 

 

It is 11:53 on June 17, 2024.

 Sixteen years to they day of the epic 2008 championship, the 2024 Boston Celtics have just won the NBA Championship for a record 18th time!!!

They defeated the Mavs in game 5, winning the series 4 games to 1.

Jaylen Brown was NBA Finals MVP.

Kristaps Porzingis came into the game with an injury to give them a lift.

Jrue Holiday got them jump started in the first quarter.

Derrick White lost part of a tooth in a face plant on the floor.

Payton Pritchard hit a buzzer beater to go into half time.

Sam Hauser hit two big threes.

Al Horford set the record for most playoff wins before winning an NBA Finals.

And Jayson Tatum led the team with 31 points. 

We watched the entire second half as a family.

What an amazing ending to an amazing season. It is incredible to call the 2024 Celtics NBA Champs!!!

 

The One With the Red Sox Game

 

Earlier tonight (before the Celtics took a 3-0 series lead in the 2024 NBA Finals), Emmie and I went to Fenway Park to attend a Red Sox game. 

 

Now, the full reason we went was because Emmie wanted to get the free merch they were giving away - Red Sox teacher cups as part of Teacher Appreciation night. It also served as a date night because the kids were at band.

 

We arrived a little late but considering fan apathy this year, it was not too bad. We were over by the third base side, surrounded by  Phillies fans (that is who the Red Sox played). And, true to form, they were loud at first...especially when the Phillies went up 4-0. We saw a couple triples, a near inside the park homerun by the Phillies, and a homerun by David Hamilton of the Sox. We also got a couple a really good Fenway Franks.

But the Red Sox actually roared back. Even though we had to leave early, we saw them score 8 runs...and they eventually won the game 8-6.

What a game and what a memory.

The One Where Bri is a Marshall At DHS Graduation

 

 

Bri had quite an honor at graduation today. We actually found out about it a little more than a week ago. According to her story, a few students in band heard that she had been called down to the office. Thinking it was a joke at first, because to of the students were freshman,  she ignored it, then when verified by a fellow junior, went down.

When she arrived in the office, the secretary said, "Can I help you?" When Bri said she was called down, she smiled and pointed to Mr. Federico's office. There, she saw several other students she knew, including Erica.

She soon realized that she was one of the top ten students in her class. As a result, they got to be marshalls at DHS graduation. It is an amazing honor...but it also comes with the perk of community service hours for high school as well.

So, we had the opportunity to see her march in with the seniors. She was at the head of the line of the graduation class, helping them march in. She also motioned for them to move when it was time to get in line for their diploma.

To be honest, seeing Bri in a gown - even though it was gold - was quite a powerful experience...and allowed us to get a little head start on what next year would be like. It was an emotional day for us, and her, as she watched several of her best friends graduate. But, it was an amazing moment for all of us!!!