The One With the Beverly Parade

 

 

 

Once again, the annual Beverly Parade descended upon us. This time, only one of our kiddoes was going to be in it. Kiff was taking to the streets to do the honor. He was wearing a classic, and new, ugly sweater for the occasion.

 The parade was as lovely as ever, though the weather was a bit miserable. It was cold and rainy, which dampened the moon. However, the Falcons band did a stand out job as they performed holiday hits as they marched down the street,

 We talked to a neat lady who was connected with the Beverly marching band. She even recommended local bands that Kiff could join if he wanted to be part of a student orchestra.

Bri was impressed that Kiff was in the middle of the front line. According to her, they only put people who can help keep time in that spot. Kudos to him.

It was a great parade. We then went to Tony C's to get lunch and then I took Bri back to UMass. Overall, it was a great day! 

The One With the Celtics Game

 

 

 

Tonight, we did something new on Thanksgiving Eve. We attended a Celtics game.

 Now, with this being an off year because of Jayson Tatum's injury, the team has been average at best. As a result, I didn't expect much from this game. Along with that, the team was playing the Detroit Pistons, who were on a 13 game winning streak. I assumed it would be 14 by the end of the night.

 Because it was a release day, I zipped home. The game was an NBA cup game, so it had a 5 PM tip off...which was wild!

We had our foray to Outback, like we do most Thanksgiving Eves and then went to the game. We arrived with about 20 minutes to spare. We had seats behind the basket on the team bench side. The seats were great.

However, even better than the seats was the excitement of the game. It was the best game I had been to since the Celtics played the Pistons in Double OT years ago. The game went back and forth with multiple lead changes, horrific officiating, and a raucous crowd.

The Celtics pulled off the win in the end...which meant we weren't leaving early like normal.

Great game!!

 

The One With Sentimental Value

 

 

Kiff and I went to see the movie Sentimental Value tonight. Truth be told, I wasn't too sure what to expect....but when Kiff told me there would be subtitles right before we left, well I was not quite as excited to be there.

But, as he reminded me, the last two times I saw movies with subtitles with him, I enjoyed them. And, lo and behold, he was right. Despite the fact half of the movie was in Norwegian, the story was compelling and moving - showing how a fractured relationship between a director and his daughters is slowly repaired.

 Overall, a good movie. While we were enjoying, Emmie was out at a paint night, and Bri was at UMass enjoying a play. All of us had a fun night. 

The One Where Kiff Performs at Danvers Veterans Day

 

 

 

On Veterans Day, Kiff had the honor of performing in the Veterans Day ceremony at DHS. It was a poignant ceremony, complete with speeches, dance performances, singing, and the DHS band.

 Following the ceremony, we had the chance to watch Kiff perform Taps outside. Last year he was the shadow, but this year he was the lead. For some reason, I was unable to attend last year, but fortunately, I could be there this year and it was an amazing ceremony.

Kiff did great!!! 

The One With the Veterans Day Parade

 

 

 

 

Today, we have the opportunity to go to yet another Boston Veterans Day Parade. This time, only Kiff was in the band (unlike the past few years, before Bri went to college, and they were both in it). The day started off a little bit raining....but ended up clearing beautifully by the time the parade stepped off.

Nancy came to join us, which was a lot of fun. We drove in and parked in our normal lot and then walked up City Hall Plaza to get to our spot on the Common. There were several other Danvers Falcon parents there as well.

 The winds started picking up as the Danvers band turned the corner of Tremont Street. But, nothing would take away from the performance of the military marches as they passed by with the color guard in the front. Kiff looked focused in the middle of the front row of the trumpets.

They passed quick and we followed along until the stopping point at the plaza. The Falcon band took a picture and then ventured off to the buses. They were going to stay in Fanieul Hall for lunch. Emmie, Nancy, and I did the same thing, enjoying some chowder before heading off. 

Overall it was an amazing day. 

The One With the Veterans Day Breakfast

 

 

 

 

Today, we had the annual Veterans Day Breakfast at Kennedy. It was the 23rd annual ceremony.  As always, it was an amazing ceremony. However, going into it, we were wondering how it was going to be.

 First, and sadly, many of our veterans who were staples are no longer able to attend. Sadly, we have lost several of our World War II and Korean War veterans in the past few years. And, with the government shutdown, some of our local facilities were unavailable.

Still, we ended up having 25 veterans and active service people show up, which was awesome.

Adding to the fun of the day was our attempt to do things a little bit differently this year. We decided to have more rotations - three downstair and four upstairs. We decided to add a few new elements as well. We made sure to add a poem, a reading, and an introduction all read by students. We also had opening remarks by Brian (Jeff was out on paternity leave) and me. 

It ended up being an amazing day. To top it off, I reconnected with a former Troop Seven member, Matt, who was also a veteran. All and all, it was a great day!

The One With Frankenstein

 

 

Tonight, we ventured into Coolidge Corner to catch the latest edition to the Frankenstein movie franchise - the updated Frankenstein.

It was one of those artsy movies that Kiff enjoys going to, with the guy from Star Wars last three movies in the lead as the doctor.

I did not know what to expect - and coming into a crowded movie theater late didn't help (though Kiff made a deal with the other people in the row to make sure we got to our seats. However, as the movie would prove, I was pleasantly surprised. It followed the canon of the novel more so than typical Frankenstein movies...incorporating elements of Mary Shelly's classic tale including the tale of the blind man and the ending in the Arctic. But, there was plenty of homage to classic Universal Frankenstein as well.

In the end, it was a spectacular movie and one I would give an "A" to. In fact, it was so well done that people applauded in the theater when it was done. What a great movie. 

 

 

The One With Halloween

 

 

 

 

Yet another Halloween was upon us. And, as in recent years, this Halloween was no different. Bri was enjoying Halloweekend at UMass. Kiff was at a friend's Halloween party. That left Emmie and I at home to enjoy a Friday Halloween of trick or treaters coming to the door.

 While it seemed like it was going to be a slow night, even though we gave out the big bars, we eventually had 25 kids come to our door...it was the second in the past eight years (we got 28 one year).  

After trick or treating, Kiff came home and we watched It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown which we had not watched yet this year (which is shocking).  

The One where Kiff Turns 17

 

 

 

Today was Kiff's 17th birthday. And, we celebrated in rather unusual fashion. 

First, we all ended up being home, including Bri, who had been home from college. As a result, we were able to do our scavenger hunt all together with Kiff.

Then, we ended up taking Bri back to college. It was a little bit of a long trip - and probably not the way to spend a birthday. But, we were together. And, she gave us a nice tour of UMass. Emmie got Kiff a birthday gift there. And, Bri got his some birthday macaroons.

After that,  we made our way home. We opened some gifts, including one that will commemorate the movie Stand By Me....which is pretty cool.  We went to Century House for take out for his birthday. Kiff loves their food. Then, Kiff was able to put the ultimate wrap on a TV show he has followed since earlier this year. He watched the final episode of FRIENDS (which is ironic because the titles of this blog are modeled after Friends).

 After Friends, we watched Frankenstein, which Kiff has been waiting to watch.

 Then, we called it a night. Quite a 17th birthday adventure. 

The One With Back to Back NESBA Wins

 

 

We just got in a few minutes ago from Danvers second NESBA competition this fall. This time, we were in historic North Reading for a competition following last week's first place finish in Melrose (ironically over Melrose, who came in second).

 This week brought a new set of challenges for the band. They were adding their third piece to the Alice in Wonderland show. And, they were looking forward to seeing how it looked. New movements, a new song, and new flags for the colorguard.

 This week's show did not disappoint. Emmie and I, and what we believe to be the largest group of Danvers band parent volunteers ever assembled for a competition, were able to help Danvers take the field. And they rocked it. Kiff did an amazing job with his parts. Several kids from the performing arts came to watch. As a bang, not only did they perform the third song well...it might be the best one of the show. To top it off, they came in first place again (also again over Melrose) and scored an 80%.

 It is the first time they scored  back to back first places as far as we can tell. To cap off the fun evening, Bri and Jack visited as well, showing support for their old crew!!!

 

 

The One With the First Football Game of the Year

 

 

 

 

Friday marked the first official DHS football game at home. Of course, it also marked the return on DHS Marching Band, which is always fun.

 

As we have for the past two years, Emmie and I are volunteering to help out...which has always been a fun thing to do. This year, we are helping to coordinate volunteers for the half time show, which is a salute to Alice in Wonderland. Now, it is weird to only have one student in band again, now that Bri has moved onto college...though she thinks she might do band next year there.

 

The show itself is entertaining. DHS stepped it up this year, evening getting special costumes for the Alice in Wonderland effect. And it looks pretty good (though, it appears the boys are not full fledged fans of the shirts). The first show went well, with the first two songs a resounding success. Kiff has two interesting parts in the show - a tug of war with another student while playing the trumpet with one hand and a solo before the send of movement two. 

 

Show one went down nicely...and the football team, with many of the kids Kiff played flag football with, ended up winning, too. All and all, a nice day for DHS. 

The One With Caught Stealing

 

 

Kiff and I decided to end my second week back at school and his first week with a movie. While Emmie was having dinner with fellow college Moms, we went to see Caught Stealing.

From the previews, it looked like it would be a decent take. A person - Austin Butler - gets caught up in the shenanigans of his neighbor and has to find a way out. In reality, it was quite an intense movie. Spoiler alert - a lot of people die. The action is solid, and intense in some spots, but well defined (and a little gratuitous....but there are reasons for that). There are a lot of twists, and although it was predictable, it was entertaining. I did have to turn my head a couple of times - once when Butler's character ralphed all over a door (but you find out that this actually moved the plot) and another when you see a bone sticking out of his knee.

 All and all and entertaining take. There was a surreal moment when Zoe Kravitz was on screen and looked a lot like her mother - who was one of my favorite actresses of the 1980s. I would give in a B.  

The One With Good Harbor Beach

 

Today, after several false starts, we finally got our chance to go to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester. Now, what made today interesting was the water was actually closed for swimming and surfing - although I felt bad for the surfers because the waves were rollicking because Hurricane Erin was passing far out in the Atlantic, but sending in rough surf.

The waves were definitely pounding the shore - a fact enhanced by the idea we were there one hour before high tide (we stayed until just after high tide arrived at 11:28 AM). In fact, you could see the rip currents (which were definitely a danger). In fact, a few people who stepped into the water went a little to far, and the life guard whistles blew.

Incidentally, what was the reason the beaches were closed....sharks had been spotted there the past two days. In fact, we saw a harbor patrol boat in the area. My assumption was he was looking for potential sharks.

The visit was a memorable one!!! 

The One With Mayflower Beach

 

 

We spent some time down at the Cape and we had the pleasure of going to Mayflower Beach, on the bayside of the Cape. Normally, it would have been croweded but we picked a cool and windy day! A cold front had just passed through and the wind was whipping. The white caps were amazing, despite the fact it was low tide. In fact, it was so low that we were able to see people walking far out on the sand.

 

More interesting was  the fact that there were para-surfers using the windy conditions to surf with parasails. It was incredible to watch. And the beach was amazing!!!

The One With the Fireworks

 

 

 

Tonight, Danvers hosted its second annual triumphant return of the fireworks (the image above is from the ones from last year in Danvers). Normally, we would have rushed to see it (in fact, Bri did). However, Kiff was making his way over to fireworks held in Beverly, to enjoy him with a former preschool friend that he has reconnected with. So, we dropped him off at Lynch Park, Emmie did a few errands, than we went back to pick him up. Fortunately, we got there early enough to watch the end of the fireworks show. It was actually pretty great. And, it turns out that this is a perfect place to watch them, too!!!

The One With Colin Jost

 

 

Tonight, we had the opportunity to go to MGM Fenway to see Colin Jost. What a great show!!

 We started the night be going to the Cask and Flagon. It was a good take, as usual.

Then, we made our way down to MGM. We were able to quickly get in and had good seats. The show actually featured three different openers, including another one from SNL as well. The first opener was solid. The second one was a little new, so he was still working on things. The third one - the guy from SNL - was hilarious. And Colin Jost was amazing. He was funny, but, as a former student at Harvard, also enjoyed interacting with a Boston crowd....particularly one that was interested in where Scarlett Johanson was.

 He even stayed longer than he was supposed to, answering questions from the crowd at the end (several of which were Scarlett related). After we left, Emmie mentioned that the person next to us looked like his mother. In fact, we are pretty sure, if she was indeed there, we spent the evening next to her.

All and all, it was a great night.

 

The One With Naked Gun

 

 

Earlier today, we saw the new Naked Gun movie. Full disclosure - I was not too sure how I would like it. Seeing Liam Neeson in a comedy was not what I typically have in mind as good movie fodder.

 

However, it turned out to be a great take. The movie follows the makeup of the originals. Liam Neeson is Frank Drebin Jr.....son of Leslie Nelson's character (I like how the actor's names are similar). The movie itself was the same type of "dumb funny" as the original.

 

 Bri and Kiff liked it, tho Bri, who recently saw the original, liked the OG better. Emmie gave it 5 out of 10. 

 

Overall, a good movie. 

The One With the New Fantastic Four

 

 

 

As many people in the family know, I am a huge Fantastic Four guy. Ever since I watched the 1960s Hanna Barbera cartoon in the 1980s, I was hooked. There is something about the team that made them my favorite Superhero team, moreso than the Justice League or the Avengers.

Truth be told, I wasn't too sure how I'd take this version. The cast seemed a little "meh" to me in terms of how they match my expectations of the characters. After all, Johnny Storm has always seemed like a wild card to me and the Thing has always seemed like Hulk-light. However, neither character really came across that way to me in the previews. And, although they were like past iterations, this version worked well, as did Mr. Fantastic and Sue Storm. There was a fun chemistry between all of them. And the fact we did not need the backstory to how they came to be just added to the movie. We jumped right into the action.

Interestingly, I was more concerned that the presence of the robot, Herbie, was going to ruin it for me. When they added him to the 1970s remake of the Fantastic Four cartoon, I found him completely annoying and utterly useless. However, even he was an endearing member of the movie.

Overall, I felt myself mesmerized and found this to be a great addition to the renewed reboot of the Marvel Franchise. They even turned Galactus into an interesting villain...which I did not see coming.

The One With Jaws 50th Anniversary

 

 

Tonight, we had a cool opportunity to head to the Cape Cinema in Dennis. This old cinema, which rumor has it ran the first premier of the Wizard of Oz (because Margaret Hamilton was playing at the Dennis Theater at the time in 1939 and had the chance to have it premiered), is a true gem. I have so many movie memories there. As a kid, before it was air conditioned, I saw Author, Author and Four Seasons there with my parents and aunt and uncle (definitely not kid fun movies). Later, I saw the legendarily disappointing Blair Witch Project there with Mark and Mike

 So, tonight, we had a chance to make new history.  Emmie, Bri, Kiff, and I headed down to see the 50th anniversary showing of Jaws! what finer place to see it....particularly on Cape Cod where the sharks now roam (back when I first saw it down the Cape years ago, that was purely fiction).

It was great to see if on the big screen with other people down the Cape and it had a certain essence that could not be beat!!! What a phenomenal experience. 

The One With Eddington

 

 

Kiff and I decided to see the movie Eddington. Now, as I have come to figure out, sometimes Kiff finds interesting movies he enjoys. We've seen a few together. Some of them have turned out disturbing, others weird, and others fascinating. I will say I am not sure how to characterize this one....other than ZOINKS!!!

 The movie was quirky, annoying, odd, and captivating all at once. It took twists and turns - which I often see in movies with Joaquin Phoenix - and ended unexpectedly (and it took a little too long to get there).

The neat part was Kiff had a chat with two other guys when we left who were definitely moviephiles. You could tell they all found something endearing in the movie. As for me, well, I'm glad I saw it...even if I am not sure what I saw. 

The One With Jurassic World Rebirth

 

 

 

We had the chance to see Jurassic World Rebirth today. Now, as a fan of the original Jurassic Park, my feelings about some of the sequels are mixed. The original sequel - Lost World - was not my favorite movie and the third one was okay. Some of the reboots from the Chris Pratt days are decent. So, I had an open mind and low expectations.

Overall. I was pleasantly surprised. I found the movie interesting and captivating...though it borrowed some of the ideas from the Lost World (like getting stranded on the island with the dinosaurs). I thought it might be a retread of that movie, but it turned out a bit better.

The plot was a little bit convoluted - they needed DNA from a marine, avian, and land species of dinosaur. At the same time another family was sailing in the area and had to be rescued. There were too many moving parts to be a really good movie....but it was entertaining. And, best of all, Emmie was willing to see it (she is not a huge fan of the series).

 

  

The One with UMASS Orientation

 

 

Bri is looking forward to freshman year at UMASS. As part of the package, we had to go to Orientation Days at the school. It was technically a two day event - one full day and one half day over the course of two days.

The event itself was interesting. Technically, there were things for parents to do, but we missed the boat in signing up for those. It is just as well - I got a chance to explore the campus. However, I learned a ton about the place in the short period of time I was there. Emmie - who stayed home - and I had a virtual meet with the financial aid office, which was so helpful. And I also had a chance to find out more about moving in days. 

Bri had fun as well. She tried to stay overnight at one of the dorm rooms...but it proved to be too hot and we didn't send her with a fan (I knew there might be a problem when I saw a lot of people on the campus with fans).

Bri made some friends and is looking forward to going in the fall.  And, I found out that the UMASS hotel is not too bad...even if it has the look of the contemporary at DisneyWorld.

 

 

The One With F1

 

 

Today, we had a chance to see the movie, F1 staring Brad Pitt. Truth be told, racing movies aren't really my cup of tea. Typically, they make me think of Herbie or Days of Thunder - fun movies, but not the most exciting movies.

However, this one did catch me by surprise. It told the tale of Brad Pitt, an aging race car driver who helps a friend out and trains a new driver. Great, great movie!!! 

The One With the Museum of Fine Arts

 

 

 

Today was a fun day. It was Kiff's last day of NYFA camp, where students share the videos that they made. At the same time, it was a chance for Emmie, Bri, and I to spend the day in Boston doing something. So, we decided to try something new - we went to the Museum of Fine Arts...which we have never done together.

What was neat about that is we were able to arrive in mid-morning when it was not too crowded. Right away, we were able to see something new -  Orange Coca-Cola was sponsoring a drink truck outside the museum. So, of course we had to try some. It was phenomenal.

Inside the building, we were able to take in several sights. Some highlights were:

• Seeing the Egyptian room, where they had mummies. I always liked this room.

• Tracking down the cathedral that I went to when I took 8th graders on a tour there back in 2018 on Holy Thursday. It was amazing!

• Getting a chance to visit the Scottish manor room, which is thrilling

• Seeing some of the Americana paintings as well. They are really endearing.

Following the museum, we were able to book it over to the NYFA film fest. It was great. Kiff's movie was particularly clever - it was about a person who has writer's block and then makes a story about a terrorizing water bottle. It was awesome.

What a fun start to the summer!!! 

The One With the Recital and Bri's Finale

 

 

It was a bittersweet day! Today was the annual NSDA recital. And, it was Bri's last day performing on stage with them.

 Now, truth be told, we knew it was going to be a tough day. Bri had a solo in the show...and having already watched it during a preview, we knew there were going to be some water works. And there were.

However, the recital itself was quite a show. Between Bri and Kiff, they were in seven performances, which we think was a family record. Bri and Kiff had three dances together, Bri had her solo, Kiff had a hip hop, Bri was in a ballet, and they had the finale.

The show was phenomenal as usual. There were many highlights. Perhaps that one that made me smile the most was when the two of them danced to Ice, Ice Baby. That was quite a show! And they were a hoot in it. Seeing Bri in ballet and Kiff in hip hop was also a thing of beauty, too!  Of course, the solo stood out - Bri was amazing and got a well earned round of applause. 

Of course, the thing that was the tear jerker was the finale. They always choose a sentimental song - this one was about the wind and memories.  Bri and her two other senior classmates took center stage as others, including Kiff, danced them off. Bri and the other two got choked up - which got most of the rest of the audience choked up as well - and embraced for a long time at the end.

What an amazing end to a 16 year career dancing on stage...though Bri plans to keep dancing in college. The best part was we got to share it with a lot of family as well.

The One With a Great Father's Day

 

 

Today, as the school year winds down, I had the chance to enjoy another amazing Father's Day. Last year, I started a new tradition - order takeout for breakfast - museum - movie - dinner. And, this year, I decided to repeat the feat. It was another great day.

First, we went to Nick and Andy's for breakfast. Always a great take. And, the takeout was great.

Then, we went to the Museum of Science...one of my favorite places. That ended up being good, but not as good as last year because they are doing a TON of work. The lightning exhibit - my favorite - was shut down for the time being (it might be next year as well). However, there were still things to do, including a dolphin movie, the human body exhibit (which has changed a lot), and of course a visit to the gift shop.

We then went to see the new Karate Kid. It was a fantastic blend of original series with the Jackie Chan reboot. LOVED IT!

 We finished the day with supper at Jimmys!!! What a fabulous day! I can't wait to do it again next year!

The One Where Bri Graduates

 

 

 

It is hard to believe it, but today marks the end of an era, a major milestone, a huge achievement. Our daughter, Bri, graduated from Danvers High School. 

 The occasion was both bittersweet and monumental. It marked the end of 13 amazing years in the Danvers schools with a collection of phenomenal accomplishments, as evidenced by her cords and awards on her graduation gown. But, more important, it marked the beginning of an amazing new chapter that she is about to write.

Watching her march onto the field and get her diploma was an emotional moment. In fact, seeing many of these faces we have come to know over the past decade was truly a touching moment. Families we have known and forged friendships with cheering their own children as they graduated was also so moving and touching. And, wondering what those children will do is also quite a feat.

The day was one that we will always cherish. It marked the third generation of Emmie's family to go through DHS. The first included her Mom (though at a different DHS), Uncle Murray and Aunt Nancy. Then, her brother Eric and she graduated. And now Bri represents generation three. What an accomplishment. Adding to the graduation ironies was the fact that I girl I graduated with - who is now a mom - had a daughter graduate with Bri. Wow.

Seeing Bri embrace the future - and her friends - while holding firmly to the memories is something I will savor forever.

Congratulations Bri. I can't wait to see what comes next. Love you, always!!!

The One With the French Honor Society

 

 

Tonight was a fun night for the Forest family. It was the night of the French National Honor Society Induction.

Two years ago, Bri got inducted into the society. This time, it was Kiff's turn. However, what made it more interesting is that Bri is an officer in the honor society. She was in charge of part of the induction, which made the ceremony that much more poignant.

Kiff was the second of the 10th graders in French (and Spanish) to be inducted. Now, we hoped that Bri would personally give him his certificate, but that was relegated to the teachers. She, however, was able to announce his name.

Kiff was not the only one of his friends inducted into a society. Hope (French) and Jason (Spanish) were also inducted,

It is definitely a moment we will never forget.

Kiff becomes the third member of the family besides Emmie and Bri to be a member of a DHS foreign language honor society. Kudos to all! 

The One With Awards Night

 

 

 

Tonight was Danvers Annual Awards Night for students (and parents) at DHS. We received official invited because both Kiff and Bri were receiving awards. However, prior to the arrival of the night, the fun part was guessing which classes they might be getting the awards in. Bri thought French and Kiff thought TV production.

 

Well, the night was even more surprising than we thought. Both Bri and Kiff made out well at the evening, Kiff did indeed get an award for TV production as he thought. But, even better than the award was the kind comments his teacher made when she met us following the ceremony. She made it a point to come up to both Emmie and I speaking about how amazing he was and her goal was to help him pursue his interest in film-making.

 

Bri also made out quite well last night. It turns out that Bri DID get an award for French. However, she also got three more awards. She earned one called the Presidential Achievement Award (I earned that one way back in the day). She also earned one for Medical Interventions and one for A.P. Psychology (which she was particularly proud of). 

 

All and all it was a great awards nice. They have several pins to wear that their respective graduations. And Bri now supplants me with the most awards at a night - four to my two!!!

 

We are extremely proud of them!!!

The One With The Red Sox Game

 

 

 

 

Tonight, we went to the Red Sox game vs. the Atlanta Braves as part of the "Rivalry Week" of games that occurs between the AL and NL.

 Now, we have been trying to get to a Red Sox game each year. And, Emmie tries to choose either a bobble head night or a teacher appreciation night...and this year, it was teacher appreciation. This means, we got free gifts upon attending. This year's gift was a zipper sweatshirt, which was pretty cool.

 We ate at the park, which is always an adventure. But, the genuine Fenway franks are still amazing.  And we were able to see the unveiling of the city connect uniforms, which were green. They actually looked nice.

That being said, the game did not match the quality of the franks or the jerseys, which is surprising because it featured new Sox ace Garrett Crochet against old ace Chris Sale. While his pitching was solid - Crochet gave up only two runs (both on homers) - the Red Sox offense was inept, both hitting wise and base running. We did see Rob Refsnyder hit a home run. We also saw three Sox get caught stealing - ZOINKS!!!

 We stayed to hear "Sweet Caroline" and then bailed...easily getting out of the city, which was great!

The One Where Bri Turns 18

 

 

 

It is hard to believe that Bri has officially become an adult today. It seems like just yesterday Emmie and I were at Beverly Hospital, with Emmie trying desperately to make Bri a "Star Wars" baby instead of a "Cinco de Mayo" baby....which we missed by about an hour.

 Today we had a chance to celebrate 18 amazing years. So many, many good memories have happened in this time. From sports and recitals, to school programs, musicals, awards, and band concerts - Bri has truly been a marvel.

 We were able to have some fun today, from getting lunch to going out to eat. We had a blast listening to her official 18th music CD (it has music related to memories from over the years), having dinner at Cheesecake Factory, opening presents, and having some cherry chip cake.

We are so lucky to have such an amazing daughter. I can't wait to see what the next steps bring...well, the first one starts tomorrow when Bri can vote in her first election (the Danvers local election)

Happy Birthday Bri!!!

The One with Bri's Last DHS Band Performance on Stage

 

 

 

 

I just got in a few minutes ago, from helping to put away tables at the DHS Pops night. Although I am a little bit tired - and just dropped Kiff and his friend AD, to his house, I felt I had to make sure to write this down immediately after it happened.

 Tonight was Bri's last time performing in Band on the DHS stage. In fact, it might be her last band performance ever, which is so hard to believe. Years of playing flute, that started in 4th grade at Highlands, has culminated in this moment. 

The Pops night Gala was a fun and memorable night. We actually somehow got tickets right up front, which was amazing. It was neat to see band and chorus members up close and see exactly how they sound. We saw many of Bri's and Kiff's classmates and friends on stage. 

And it was hard to imagine that - for the seniors (who were given special shout-outs all night) - this was their final show.

They played four memorable last tunes - a Chicago (musical) medley, Beuaty and the Beast medley, Bruno Mars medley. They capped it off with a song the Seniors played as freshmen, called "Ruckus."

 It was quite a great scene. There was a brief reception after as well, where we got to see so many of the families we have gotten to know over the years, particularly the Dawes, whose daughter wrapped up tonight as well. She and Bri have done gymnastics, dance, and scouts and eventually Band together. What an amazing run!!!

 It is hard to believe this musical adventure is over for Bri. But, I am hoping there are many more!!!

The One With Carmines

 

 

Today we arrived in NYC for our second - perhaps annual - April vacation visit.

 We learned a lot from last year's visit and made sure to only plan one thing for the day - a trip to Carmines. It certainly was worth it.

 We got zucchini sticks (these are like the Durkee fried onion trips that were awesome growing up), Chicken Parm, and ziti. The portions, as usual, were amazing. And  the food - and atmosphere - were great. We also saw four birthday celebrations around us, too.

 Great food and a great time.

The One With the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord

 

 

Yesterday was the 250th anniversary of the opening battle of the Revolutionary War. Not too surprisingly, Massachusetts has decided to really do the anniversary in spectacular fashion.

 

Although I would have preferred to be there in person - and ode to my old Natick Minuteman Days - they actually held the events on the real day, April 19th (which was also the date of our family Easter Party and dance class from Bri and Kiff). As a result, I got up early and watched the reenactment on TV.

 

The TV experience was not too bad. I also live streamed the event, too. What was interesting is seeing a former Natick minuteman there, Marco. 

 

Overall, it was a really cool event...and narrated quite eloquiently, too. I'm glad to have seen it even virtually...and remembering the event is important!

The One With Black Bag

 

 

Emmie, Kif, and I spent the evening at AMC Danvers watching the movie Black Bag. While I did not have it on my must see list, I did think it sounded interesting,particularly where it was a spy thriller.

 Ironically, it was not the type of spy thriller in the vain of James Bond, Jason Bourne, or No Way out. It was basically Bridge of Spies meets Twelve Angry Men with a solid focus on character development and a character driven plot.

 Essentially, there is not a lot of action - only plot development and dialogue. Intriguing, yes. But, not fully my cup of tea. Emmie liked it and Kiff was a fan.

Overall, I would give it a 7 out of 10.

 

The One With Sal

 

 

On February 28, Kiff and I ventured up to Portland Maine to see a comedy show featuring Sal Vulcano from Impractical Jokers.

 The word "ventured" certainly is an apt description. We left around 5:20 and promptly ran into snow along the way. Yikes! It slowed down traffic and we made it to Portland just in time.

 The Venue - the Merrill Auditorium - was quite a nice place. Homey, plenty of parking nearby, and easy to get in and out of.

The show itself was great and memorable. There was a host - who did a little comedy himself. Then, one of the writers of the show came out to do a set of jokes. He was really good. However, he encountered something I have never seen in person at a show before - a heckler. And, the heckler heckled  not once, but twice. Still, he did a great job plugging away.

Sal was awesome. He was definitely animated, particularly after hearing the heckler in the back. He got into chatting with a crowd and was quite a hoot! In fact, his set was amazing. We would definitely see him again. He joked about his life, his marriage, the fact he became a father for the second time, and how he planned on protecting his house with a machete. All and all, an awesome show!

The One With Snowmobiling

 

 

 

For the second straight year, we went snowmobiling with Northern Extremes in North Conway. Last year, we had an amazing time as a family going for our first every snowmobiling event. So, when the time came up this year to do it, we were all in.

 Unlike last year, we had an idea what to expect - a fun filled ride through closed roads in the White Mountains. What could be better than that. Well, as we found out, we were fortunate to have our same guide from last year - Parker. He is awesome and wanted to make sure it was a fun time for all.

 While we doubled up last year (Kiff driving with me, and Bri driving with Emmie), this year Bri had her own snowmobile (Kiff went with Emmie). That made for a fun adventure. She was a little timid at first - which we thought would happen - which is why I ended up behind her, in case she needed help. However, as time progressed, she got into the swing of things. However, she did go airborn not once but twice when she hit a bump - which did cause her to be a little cautious a few minutes after that.

 The snow was a little bit softer this time around, which made for a great ride. It was also deeper than last year, and led to some bumpy spots (Kiff and Emmie knocked helmets). We also saw were able to move a little faster than last year, going on an extra loop (called Albany Brook) that we didn't do last year.

It was a fantastic trip and one we can't wait to do next year when Kiff will be able to drive.

 

 

The One With the Academy Award Shorts

 

Kiff and I went to Cinema Salem today to watch the Oscar nominated shorts. While I was not sure what to expect, it turns out it was a great experience.

 First, when we walked in, clearly this was a true Cinema Salem experience - quaint indy movie theater. We were in a very small screening room with about 20 other people who were there for the same reason, which was near.

 Kiff got a drink, I got some popcorn - it was great.

We then watched all four shorts. They were really good, though the "Last Ranger" which did not win (a one about a woman thinking she was a robot did) was my favorite. It was about a park ranger protecting rhinos in Africa. It was amazing!!!

All and all, a fun experience.

The One With Captain America and the Brave New World

 

 

The ultimate way to spend a Valentine's Day is with Captain America - or at least the original one (which Emmie would agree with).

 

Although the reviews coming in about the movie were poor, we were still looking forward to it.  And, the movie did not disappoint. Clearly this movie is about relaunching the next chapter of the MCU (Phase 6 will be coming up soon). The movie made it a point - several times - to explain that President Thaddeus Ross was asking Captain America to form the Avengers again. The other two Hulks, including Ross's Red Hulk, were in the movie. The Winter Soldier made an appearance (his character is running for Congress). And, their is a new Falcon.

 

Overall, it was a great movie.

 

 

The One With Murray

 

 

Tonight we went to Boston to see Impractical Joker James - Murr - Murray host a comedy show at Laugh Boston.

 

Now, it is the first time we ever went to Laugh Boston, which is in the Seaport at the Westin Hotel (which is like its own city). However, it probably won't be the last. We did learn a valuable lesson....try to get a table instead of premium seating. The tables are a little small.

 

However, the show was phenomenal. Murr broke it down into two parts. The first part was humorous story telling, about the show, about his life, about his encounters with Ring doorbell security, and some of the "oops" moments he has had on the show. The second part is audience participation. He borrows peoples' phones (with their permission) and sends funny texts...then helps undue any hiccups he caused. Then, he sends out his cohost - and one of the Impractical Joker crewmembers - to do similar challenges on the show.

 

It was an amazing time. It last 90 minutes, but the time flew by. We even had him pass in front of us, which was pretty cool. And, we also found out they will be releasing a movie based on one of Murr's books  this fall. Super cool show and a super cool time. Even Emmie, who is not a huge fan of the show, loved it.

 

 

The One With Dancing with the Stars

 

 

Tonight, we did something I had wanted to do for a while....we went to the Boston viewing on Dancing With the Stars. Having watched the show for a long time - and knowing how much our family and my parents loved it - I was eager to see what it was like.

 

First things first - it was a high intensity blast of fun. The dancers were amazing, the dancing itself was stunning, and it was a whole lot of fun. The crowd was definitely into it, including the young females who were big fans of Alan and Gleb. Bri enjoyed seeing Alan, who she met at a dance competition when she was much younger. Kiff was excited to see Rylee. And, I am always a fan of  the host, Emma. 

 

Not only was there so much dancing backed into a two hour show - with a short intermission - there were so many different genres of dance and music for the audience that everyone, young and old could enjoy it. And there definitely was a multi-generation audience.

 

Here's looking forward to seeing another one in the future.

 

The One With the Celtics vs. Kings

 

 

This Friday, we went as a family to the Celtics game. It was a Christmas gift from Emmie for all of us.

Now, truth be told, the Celtics have been a little flat this season. They actually were returning home from a 3-1 west coast road trip. They had looked good, so I was hoping they would be. But, they came out looking awful against the Kings...and got blown out. They were so bad, they were booed...and they deserved it.

While the game was atrocious, the actual experience was not. We started the evening off eating at the Harp. They had redone it since I had last been in. The food was great and there was definitely a Celtics crowd.

We had some amazing seats as well. They came complete with posters. But, perhaps even cooler, was we were right near where Eddie House sits. Soooo cool. And, they actual hosted some of the fan fest activities from there, during the game. In fact, one of the people from our row was called to "follow the ball" game.

After half time, I had an amazing surprise. While waiting to return to our seats - we now have to wait until a break in the action - I turned around and saw one of my students, named Luke, and a friend from school. He was totally shocked, as was I. And, because he is a BIG BU fan, I could not help but point of the BC banner hanging from the rafters.

All an all, it was a great memory from a horrible game.

The One With the Nickel Boys

 

 

Today Kiff, Emmie, and I went to see the movie "The Nickel Boys" with Kiff's friends. Of course, we made sure to stay away from them to make sure not to be an embarrassment. They were interested in seeing it because they read the story in school that it was based on.

The movie was phenomenal. It told about life at a cruel boarding school for people accused to crimes....even ones that they might not necessarily have committed. The story was engaging, vivid, and based on a real story.

It has a surprising ending. It was haunting and amazing at the same time. It was also the first time I saw a movie at the Kendall Square Theater. It's a great place to see a movie.