My very beautiful flashlight
I was sitting in the office when I heard Theodore running down the hall saying, “Sister! Sister! Let’s go upstairs.” I looked over to see him race by me holding a small, toy cupcake. Jacqueline…
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Jacqueline and her dress
Today Jacqueline wanted to wear her new dress. Not just any dress, but a dress made by her Grammy. So, here she is, in her birthday dress, and she is happy to show it off.
The first time
I was reading through some older posts today, and I came across these special words. I remember the night I wrote these words and how they just poured out onto the page faster than I…
Clear
It’s a beautiful day! The air is crisp and clean. Seeking a shaded tree on which I wish to lean. Wishing I was in the woods north, not near. Right beside a babbling brook…
The Twins Turn 3 (take two)
Some folks had difficulty accessing the pictures on the Sky Drive so I have re-posted in this format. Hopefully this works better. Thanks for your patience. We hadn’t really celebrated with birthday parties for the…
The Twins Turn 3
We hadn’t really celebrated with birthday parties for the twins in either of their first two years so we decided (last-minute) to celebrate this year. It was a two-day celebration and the twins were quite excited to…
Burdened Heart
Burdened Heart I sit here with a burdened heart, a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes, unable to separate myself from my own thoughts. Dwelling not on the past, negative, or the…
Made me smile
This morning, as I usually do, I sat at the computer for a few minutes to check email, the newspaper, weather, etc. My daughter, Jacqueline, who will be three years old on Saturday, walked in…
Proud to be an American
Sing the Anthem! Sing it to yourself. Sing it together. Sing it to your kids. Our National Anthem is on my mind. It often is. I can always count on Chicago to take The Star…
Pray for Boston
Pray for Boston.
Generation Jumping
Generation Jumping
April, 2013 ~
This weekend I drove my parents to New Brunswick, Canada, where my mom was born and raised. The trip was planned, and made, to visit with my Aunt Janette who is currently sick with cancer, in the hospital. We arrived in Woodstock late Friday afternoon and visited with family throughout the evening and even into the wee hours of the morning. Another aunt of mine, a second double cousin, and I stayed at one of my mother’s double cousin’s house. My parents stayed with another of her double cousins. If you are not familiar with the term ‘double cousin’, it goes something like this. A long time ago three brothers married three sisters … the definition: A set of brothers from one family married a set of sisters from another family, so their children will be double cousins (meaning they’ll be cousins with the same people on both their mother and father’s sides). Not only that, two of the families actually lived on the same farm for a while, but that’s a story for another time.
Jingle Bells
This morning, yes, April 11th, the twins were playing on the floor near me and they broke out in song. Today’s song was a lengthy, 3-year old inspired, rendition of the Spring Classic, Jingle Bells.…
Delight to show mercy
In recent weeks I have been thinking an awful lot about the end of days, whether they are mine, or anyone else’s. Not in a morbid sense, but in more of a reality sense. More…
If that time has come
One way I often hear people relate to getting older is by learning, hearing of, and discussing news of friends, family, and loved ones becoming ill, or even passing away. In that regard, I am…
In the city
From the other room I hear the twins singing their best version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, then the singing ends; abruptly. I hear the rapid pitter-patter of Jacqueline’s feet (one bare, one with a…
I felt compelled to share Mike’s blog
Before today I had never heard of or seen anything from this person before. Then my cousin in Canada shared this blog, and I read it. No ego. No fluff. Just the real deal. I…
Flames Pee Wee Major 2012-2013 Recap
First, I want to thank everyone inside and outside of our team and the Flames organization for all of the support, feedback, comments, and encouragement I have received throughout this season. You all have been…
Draw the line and make the best of it
I sat down to write this piece, or at least get it started no less than five times in the last week, so as to recap the last three weekends of our hockey season. The…
In search of silence
I walk, in search of silence, somewhere near this place. I pause and stare at beauty absent of human trace. Stopped, I listen, hoping only to hear the snow fall. Maybe the breeze as…
February 24: Flames 5 @ Nashua Pee Wee III 3
Sunday afternoon the Pee Wee Major Flames made their way across slick roads, around numerous spinouts, and through piles of wet, heavy snow to Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, MA for their final GSL regular season…
February 23: Flames 5 @ Shamrocks 3
Like the promise that each new day brings, the Flames Pee Major team keeps us all in suspense as to what their team effort will look like. On a snowy Saturday evening in Wilmington, MA…
February 17: @ Flames 3 vs. Raiders 3
Sunday afternoon the Pee Wee Major Flames returned to home ice for a game against the Raiders based out of Everett, MA. Right away it was apparent that the Flames effort level and team involvement…
February 16: @ Flames 2 vs. Nashua Pee Wee III 0
In the spirit of today’s Flames home game, I am writing this while four people stand around watching me. The Pee Wee Major Flames earned a berth in the GSL playoffs by virtue of their…
Amaris, Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 14th. Valentine’s Day. Whether or not you think the day is worth celebrating, it’s still Valentine’s Day. I want my wife to know she’s special, loved, and my valentine every single day. I get…
February 10 – @ Flames 5 vs. Bulldogs 1
After dealing with Winter Storm Nemo for two days, and adjusting to rinks actually closing their doors, the Flames returned to the ice. Sunday afternoon at West Side Arena, the first and second place teams…
February 5: Flames 1 @ Northern Cyclones 2
It was another GSL game, but on an odd day, Tuesday, at an odd time, 5:20pm, but against a familiar foe, the Northern Cyclones. The Flames traveled to Hudson, NH to face off against the…
God Made a Farmer
Inspired by the Super Bowl farmer ad, I am sharing this quick note.
This commercial was not only my favorite ad from the advertising blitz that is the Super Bowl, but it may also have been my favorite part of the entire game.
See, to me it wasn’t an ad about a company, but a cognitive visit to times and places I don’t visit often enough.
Paul Harvey was a standard at my grandparents home. Breakfast, lunch and Saturday’s always were accompanied by the sound of Paul Harvey’s voice booming over the radio.
February 3: Flames 2 @ Nashua II 2
It’s February and the idea of “I can’t believe how many games we have left!” has been replaced with, “We only have how many games left?!” It’s a push to the playoffs in both the…
February 2: Flames 3 @ Raiders 0
The Flames returned to the States, and also resumed playing league games after playing in 8 tournament games over the past two weekends, including the visit to Ottawa, ON. In, normal, road game, fashion, the…
I said please already
Theodore and Jacqueline asked me for a snack. In this case they wanted some fruit snacks. Or as Theodore says, “fruit nacks”. As I rose to get them their snacks, I asked, “What do you…
Ottawa 3 – January 26: Flames 0 vs. Kanata Blazers 2
Saturday afternoon the Flames played their third and final game of round robin competition in the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Hockey Tournament. The Flames played the Kanata Blazers with a playoff berth on the…
Ottawa 2 – January 25: Flames 1 vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers 0
The Flames played their second game of the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Tournament vs. the Kitchener Jr. Rangers. To the point, the Flames won 1-0 in a thrilling, tightly contested hockey game. The game was…
Ottawa 1 – January 25: Flames 3 vs. Perth Blue Wings 1
The Manchester Flames Pee Wee Majors traveled to Ottawa, Ontario to compete in the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Tournament, and this morning they played their opening game. Walking into the complex this morning, we…