Christmas Wrapping

Here's a great Christmas song from 1981 by The Waitresses. You may want to fast-forward through the first 45 seconds or so until the lyrics start (here are the lyrics for those of you keeping score at home). And yes, the BloodKillerDeathMan likes The Waitresses.

Where's Boston?

The forecast was for a dusting and so far, we have about 5" today. I know you all are gonna get sick of all these weather-related posts as though this blog were some sort of weather.com outpost on these here interwebs, but I can't get over all this snow.
This is the view out my office window. Normally, what's on the other side of the Mystic River is Boston -- the Prudential Building is like my personal North Star.
When I looked out today, I saw a whole lot of nothing. Then it got dark at 4:00, as it is wont to do this far north.
Now the drinking commences.
Note: it's 9:00 and still snowing. Is this normal?

How We Will Spend Christmas

We decided not to go anywhere for Christmas this year, so I made a plan for some real Boston fun. We have reservations for Christmas Eve night at the Parker House, home of (you guessed it) the Parker House roll and also the Boston Cream Pie. Malcolm X worked there and JFK was a huge fan. It is consummately Boston.
On Christmas Day, we're having what promises to be an amazing 5-course, prix fixe dinner at the Beacon Hill Bistro, about which the Boston Globe had this to say:
"The food and feel of the restaurant are like a soft but seductive melody, insinuating itself into your memory, calling you back."
I can't wait.
We'll let you know how it goes.

Season Tidings to all in the Airline Industry

Disclaimer: If you're a MOM, you shouldn't read this!

In the spirit of this special season of crowds, foul weather, cursing, and the most time-honored of travel traditions - getting our rights and personages violated - I have ordered myself a few special x-mas gifts! Make your own bumper stickers from www.makestickers.com! But seriously, I am really tired of the airport theater and I will not tolerate this shit anymore.



Delta airlines will always have a special place in the hell of my heart for their inhumane and classless treatment of Laura and I during her recent family crisis. That's why I ordered TEN of these.




There are a million stories about the bullshit violation of rights, so I will spare you ours (and C.T.s). But I felt this was quite appropriate. (Only got 5 of these)




I just thought this one was kind of cute! Hey, 'tis the season to get fucked... by the TSA. I ordered 5 of these.




Laura asked me to lay off the profanity, so whatever...I got five of these babies!


And the best part is: I ain't even bullshittin'.

Snow!

This is what it looks like outside our apartment. It started snowing at 12:30 and hasn't let up. As of now (6:00), it looks like about 8" have fallen. It's beautiful, but also treacherous. Jim is still out on his way home and I have admit, I'm a little worried about him, Colorado snow-driving experience and all. I got out of work and walked home as usual. Days like this make me especially grateful to live so close to the office.
It's supposed to stop around 9:00 and the predictions of 6"-12" look spot on right now. I don't think I've ever seen this much snow fall at one time.
Oh, apparently there's another storm heading our way late Saturday/early Sunday. Living in New England is an entirely new experience for a girl like me.

Open Remarks to the Red Sox Nation

You all are effing nuts. Effing crazy. Effing insane. Laura dragged my butt out of bed at 9:30am (okay, that's not that early, but still) to log into the Red Sox website because tickets went on sale at 10:00am.

Me in my kerchief, and her in her cap, sat at the terminals all effing day. We waited in their "virtual waiting room," which refreshes every 30 seconds and tells you if you have been randomly selected from the millions to be one of the privileged few (the audacity!) to be allowed to buy tickets. all effing day. Finally, at 6:30pm (and after some technology trickery...) we got standing room only tickets for a Saturday game and awful bleacher tickets for a Tuesday game, both at ridiculous prices.

I will say it a final time. You are all fucking nuts.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

...at least, that's what they say. A lot has transpired since our last post, so here are some pictures to help explain.





MA drivers licenses








Laura and my Father, Faneuil Hall








Thanksgiving with Laura's family in Wilmington, NC






drinks...


...with C.T. and Sam (and Petey and Lulu-Belle)
















Woodie's final resting place














Back to Boston...









... for coffee, and drinks










with Sally & Rob

Woodie

Allow me for a moment to tell you a story about a man named Morris Wood, known as Woodie. He was my father and also my Dad. This picture is of us, on my first day out of the hospital and in the world. Do you notice that I'm wearing a corsage?
He bought me flowers at least once a year, every year of my life until he had a stroke. When I was a freshman in college and it was my birthday, I got a bouquet; I thought it was from my boyfriend. It was from my dad.
I loved him best of all men I ever knew until I met Jim.
I got to the hospice on Saturday night and he was still awake. I held his hand and he grabbed on tight, gave me the OK symbol and went to sleep. He never woke up. He passed away this morning with my brother by his side. I am relieved more than sad; my dad is finally free of this struggle. Our mortal bodies are shitty, hollow vessels for who we really are. I know that now more than ever.
Here is his obituary. He was a handsome fella in his day.

3:00am, the technology hour

Woke up in the middle of the night to write some software. First, I got re-acquainted with an old favorite radio station, radius fm. You can listen to them streaming live out of Belarus at http://www.100fm.co.il (just click the headphones icon).


Then I decided what I want for Christmas: a bluetooth laser virtual keyboard. This thing is tiny and transmits a holograph of a keyboard which you can type on and is picked up by your handheld or pc via bluetooth.




Finally, I started a google calendar for our Thanksgiving trip so everyone knows what the heck we're doing. The iframe below won't do much, so to really see our agenda, please click this link.

Boston taking hold

Hard Evidence that Google is Lying

Google is considered a trusted source by the public, and has been heralded as one of the most upstanding websites for use and dissemination of information in this new age. However, not everything Google says can be proven to be true. Or is true.

Google published "Zeitgeist" year-end statistics for 2006. It clearly states in black & white (well, green and black, anyway) that the "Top Search in 2006" are 1. bebo followed by 2. myspace. There are, of course, eight more, but lets focus on these two.

Google has another tool, called Google Trends. This is a pretty neat tool which allows a user to enter search terms and see how often they were searched for in a period of time. This tool has many shortcomings you can read about on their discussion board. Nevertheless, it still claims to have valid data.

When one enters the terms "sex, bebo, myspace" and views the results, it is clear that "myspace" was a more frequent search term in 2006 than "bebo", and that "sex" was searched for more than both of them.
(Siobhan's Note: Does this surprise anyone?)

These two sets of data, both published by the same author - Google - claim to be correct but are in direct contradiction. I posted a question about this on the tool's discussion board, but no Google representative has stepped forward to address it. Perhaps, as one reader notes, "Googleology is Bad Science."

I await a definitive answer for the folks at Google, or anyone else with insight, for that matter.

Funny pics

The cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland. The sign reads: "No tottering on one foot with arms akimbo on the cliff ledge as it crumbles away beneath you." As you can see, that's exactly what I'm doing...










And now, Lulu-Belle the dog, going to a costume party as Carmen Miranda:

Finally, someone she can watch football with

Some of you might remember Joe. Now I'm off the hook for beer & baseball (thank God, did you see the last post ?!)

For Hooker

Sunday Fun Day in Mass.

Rolling Medford-style.
We completed our chores and are now setting out to drink as many champagne supernovas as we can.
Observe my beloved showing how klassee we are.

Friday night in Boston

Finally, after a long week of work,we were able to go out and paint the town (Boston). We went to Chinatown and had some delicious treats, and then strolled around. It was cold, so I bought a $4 hat on the street. We walked around and looked at some fancy-pants apartments and found a pedestrian mall near Tremont.



Oh yes, and we went to a "historical" site where one of Boston's previous four town halls had been turned into a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Also, in the garden, Laura's shadow stole a smooch from mine.....

Finally, we made it to the Hub Pub in a neighborhood called Downtown crossing. Old men with hard hats and college dames talking about playing Beirut made up most of the social atmosphere.

After some beers and a little Jameson we went around the corner to a dive called the Sidebar, which is hooked onto another bar called the Dubliner, where we had some shots of Maker's and some pretty rowdy conversation.

Finally, we wondered around to Faneuil Hall, which was like Georgetown meets Adams Morgan. Needless to say, we didn't stay there long.
LW note: It's amazing to me how a place like the Faneuil Hall area can be so cool during the day and then be filled up to the very brim with douchebags at night.

Bored, so I'll post some interesting pics

Another day in paradise. Want to see what a small town in Belgium is like? Then check these pics. I miss friends to talk to, but I do love these times alone too....


A windmill in Brugge, Belgium. Brugge is the most romantic place on planet Earth.







Amsterdam can be great, and also insane

The Best "Welcome to Boston" Gift EVER!

I know that Jim has reiterated that this is NOT A BASEBALL BLOG!
But on this day, in this place, how can I not write a something about how it feels to be surrounded by people who are a little bit happier, kinder, who walk with a lightness of step and who, despite being severely sleep-deprived, feel refreshed and, dare I say, normal?
The Sox normalized all of us, their fans last night; this World Series win feels different, less like there was something to prove and more like our team was the best team, wire to wire. I didn't even cry at all - even when cancer-survivor Mike Lowell won the Series MVP. (SIGN HIM!)
I am cognizant that I'm stepping near Ken Burns and George F. Will territory here as I glorously opine about the national pastime and that C.T. is going to give me an unending ration of shit for being so emotional about a game.
Instead I'll let one of our nation's best poets, Walt Whitman, speak for me:
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will...be a blessing to us.
Amen, Walt. Amen.

Sox at home A-OK with virtual bartender

It would seem that ticket prices for the red sox are out of our league, and therefore we will be watching the world series at home (or in a crowded, sox-loving tavern - probably a little of both). It turns out that won't be so bad, especially since we've set up an official booze cart, with only the finest booze.




Of course, no home bar would be complete without a virtual bartender. He's a great listener, he never tells you that you've had too much, and the best part - at least with ours - is that he encourages me to sleep with his sister.

Thanks C.T. Wood, I think I will have another....

I BELIEVE!

My World Series prediction: Sox in 6. This isn't hubris; this is faith.
Now off to bed - I start my new job tomorrow.

Officially Moved

We are now officially moved.

Dear God - hear our prayers

Love, BoSox Siobhan

Fiona's new home

A co-worker of mine said hs parents had a cat who died about a year ago. They were looking for a mature, good-natured cat to lounge around their large, country house.

I nervously headed over to their house at 7:00 in the morning with the goods. During the drive I steeled myself and prepared to off them if the deal went sour.

Actually, they were a very nice, loving couple, and Fiona immediately took to her new surroundings. The moment I opened the box she popped out and started poking around. Here is a picture of her as she jogged from room to room, taking stock.



The little old lady and the little old man had very different reactions to the cat. The old lady followed her from room to room, eager to pet her and even once tried to hold her for a moment.



The little old man just sat and bided his time, waiting for Fiona to come to him. Eventually, after staking out her territory IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM, she jumped up on the couch next to him.


Of course I am sure that, as cats are wont to do, she will soon be ignoring them both and turning her attention to the big bay window in front of the bird feeders.

p.s. Laura's web browser history indicates an increase of late in pages on canines...

Warren Tavern

I just want to reiterate what Jay said about the Warren Tavern. It is a great spot to hang out and drink, eat and (in my case) watch football.
I checked out the history of the place and it has had some really notable folks belly up to the bar, including Paul Revere and George Washington.
It's named for Dr. Joseph Warren who was a real Patriot - present at the Boston Tea Party and felled by the British at Bunker Hill, mere steps from the establishment.
I love when my drinking outings become exercises in historical learning.
DC people - take a lesson from Dr. Warren - not the dying part but the protesting part - get out there and make a stink about your own "Taxation Without Representation!"

I'll Be Glad to Start my Job

I have to admit, I'm getting a bit bored with all this staying home and doing housework nonsense. I make a shitty housewife; I can't wait to get back to work. This girl in the picture here sums it up perfectly.
We put Jay on the T last night and he said his room has a great view - it's not too far from the Prudential Center where we had our first cocktails (of many, obvs) on Saturday.
Life update:
Fiona is doing well in her new home, I paid off one of my student loans, the apartment feels like it's really our home, the Sox are tied 1-1 in the ALCS and I start work in one week. All in all, things are looking up here in the land of Wood-Barkley.
It's about time.

What-a-fun-time-but-I-might-be-dead, or Jay's visit, day 2

What a fun day yesterday! We fiddled around with technology until noon (with Laura's coffee & donut reinforcements) and then headed downtown for some fun. First, we bummed around Chinatown and then had some deeeeeee-licious treats at the Grand Chau Chow. We all shared some spicy eggplant, a sizzling seafood hotpot, some dry-fried squid, and some crispy aromatic shrimp.




We made our way to the Boston Common and the Boston Gardens (Note proper use of plural).




Then we all went shopping as we made our way to the Prudential Center, which is a 52-story building from which you can see Vermont. Jay, Lori and Jim all bought some new duds.













In the tower, we all had grown-up drinks like Martinis and Manhattans, and Laura got a great shot of Fenway Park. Even though this blog is not about baseball I will post it.







Now things start to get a bit dicey. We went to a bar, called The Rattlesnake, for drinks, and where I will later consume ten mini-tacos. I will let the pictures do the talking.



Nice pic of me (taken from Laura's cute, pink, new camera)







Jay and I engaging in Frottage (ask Hector, if you don't know what this means).







I'll spare you the debauchery of the camera wars, but lets say there was tequila involved, as you can see from Jay's pucker. Please note the annoyed Bostonian with hand over face.

All hell broke loose, Jay and I crashed a bridal party (I'm sure you'll see video footage on his blog), and somehow we made our way home. This is not the end, Jay's after-hours blogging reveals a chilling tale of self-betrayal.

The morning times, as predicted, resulted in sentiments like "Pray for Mojo." Also, you lucky readers now get to see another pic of Laura and p.j.'s. Though it may seem like she's in pain in this picture, Jay is conspicuously absent and I am taking a rape shower.





























Come on Mojo, do your happy dance