Rain Rain Go Away - Take 1,678

Its raining again.  Not exactly shocking news.  But today I found a unique way to combat the rainy day blues:  a spotty jersey cardi that might just require sunglasses to look at directly!

 

I can’t wait until it gets here!

Question of the Week

This one made me laugh… at the poor fool who asked it.

Does Ireland even have an Olympic team?

Now, the two posts I have written about cheering for the Irish team might have been the products of my imagination, but they weren’t.  Of course Ireland has an Olympic team!  It’s not as big as the teams sent by larger nations but, get this, Ireland isn’t as big or as populous as larger nations either! 

Anyway, Ireland has sent athletes to compete in Athletics (Track & Field), Badminton, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming and Triathlon.  More about the athletes here.

You know what amuses me about this question too?  Apparently the asker was totally willing to accept the idea of teams from Singapore and Uzbekistan, but Ireland was questionable.  Wtf?

All Me. All the Time.

There’s a fun meme going around and I was just urged (via email) to give it a go.  Well, I do like to talk about myself…

1. My uncle once: was an only child.  Then my grandparents had eight more.

2. Never in my life: have I sung the right words to ”Karma Chameleon”.

3. When I was five: I was a strawberry seller in a school play.

4. High school was: almost on the equator.  And yet I still wore pants half the time. 

5. I will never forget: Jennifer visiting us at PC and sleeping in her winter coat.

6. Once I met: a woman who protested the integration of Central High.  She said she will spend her whole life trying to atone for it but doesn’t think it will ever be enough.

7. There’s this girl I know: who loves me so much she offered to be a surrogate mother in case I ever need one.

8. Once, at a bar: I repeatedly chose historical names to “sign the book”. 

9. By noon, I’m usually: starving.

10. Last night: I stayed up to watch The L Word.  Then I realised it was a repeat.

11. If only I had: not put Amy, my ginger Cabbage Patch Kid, into storage when we moved to Singapore.

12. Next time I go to church: I’ll sit towards the back so I that can stand up whenever I need to.

13. What worries me most: is the uncertainty of what could come.

14. When I turn my head left I see: my bookshelves.

15. When I turn my head right I see: a tree near the balcony.

16. You know I’m lying when: I say I don’t mind watching hurling.

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: looking forward to yet another installment of The Babysitters Club.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: despised by current students.

19. By this time next year: I hope I still have a tan from some great sun holiday.

20. A better name for me would be:  Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa.  What do you mean it’s already taken?!

21. I have a hard time understanding: multiplication.  Always have.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: so enjoy writing with new Sharpie pens. 

23. You know I like you if: I talk to you.  Otherwise I’d just try to ignore you and/or get away from you.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: Laurence.

25. Take my advice, never: offer to help a single mother with twin babies on a long haul flight.  Unless you do, in which case you will feel very good about yourself and get a good story to tell for the rest of your life.

26. My ideal breakfast is: lunch.

27. A song I love but do not have is:La Bamba.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: tell me where it is so that I can visit too.

29. Why won’t people: admit that I should run the world?

30. If you spend a night at my house: you’ll get clean sheets and towels, but that’s all I’m promising.

31. I’d stop my wedding for:Eric Bana.  I think we all know that by now.

32. The world could do without: Can Fat Teens Hunt.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: have a spider crawl on me.

34. My favourite blonde is: Myself? 

35. Paper clips are more useful than: decorative garden gnomes.

36. If I do anything well it’s: organise stuff.  Any stuff.  All stuff.

37. And by the way: I’m going to lunch with Alan now!!  Ciao.

Must. Stop. Laughing.

I’ve been writing some fiction lately, and the more I write the funnier this gets.

Now I really should get back to work.

Anyone. And Everyone.

So, apparently a few people took exception to my last post since it “looks like” I’m cheering for Ireland, America, Great Britain, Singapore and Uzbekistan.

It doesn’t “look like” anything people, I am cheering for all of them.  I’m also cheering for a lot more besides.

See, I don’t really go in for the country versus country cheering when it comes to the Olympics.  I cheer for everyone.  I can’t even imagine the dedication it’s taken for each and every athlete to get where they are and I see no reason to ignore their hard work just because they wear a different flag on their uniform.  Besides, it’s not really the sporting achievements I’m concerned with (although that swim from Lezak did give me goosebumps) but the athletes’ stories.  Tell me about someone who overcame a difficulty to get there and I’ll be in tears before you finish.  Or just give me a good name, a young kid or a team that has to change its name to compete and I’m cheering for them from the start. 

To summarise, I cheer for anyone and everyone when it comes to the Olympics and if you don’t like it I don’t want to hear it.  Now go enjoy the fun!

I Love The Olympics

I really do.  Every two years I get caught up in sports I haven’t watched since the last Olympics and become somewhat obsessive about not missing a moment of the blood, sweat and tears that are being shed all over multiple television stations.  I even watch the boxing, which I will not do when it is professional (yay for all the Irish guys and the kid from Providence!), though I confess that the equestrian events are still a little beyond me.  I watch and cheer, but really I have no idea what is going on.

Anyway, this Olympics is kind of a bonus for me since it’s in China and I happen to love China.  Wo ai Zhong Guo!  In fact I spend much of the little “postcards from China” scenes screaming out “I’ve been there!”,  “I’ve seen that!”,  “I still know what they’re saying!”, “Oh my god, I love those!” and on and on and on.  In fact, Larry probably deserves his own medal for sitting through this Olympics with me.

And sit through it he has.  During my commentary on the opening ceremonies (”Wow!”) and the athlete’s parade (”Why is the Irish team wearing white shoes?”), the badminton matches (”Where are the Singaporeans?  Just once I’d like to hear Majulah Singapura during a medal ceremony and I think this should be the year!”) and the technology associated with the games (”You can SMS Team Singapore?  Where’s my phone?!  Think you can do that for Ireland?  America?  Uzbekistan?”).  Thankfully he likes it as much as I do, as evidenced by the 1am viewing of women’s weightlifting that we both enjoyed.  Possibly for all the wrong reasons, but enjoyed nonetheless.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I believe I have a broadcast or twelve to watch.

Like Rabbits

To round out the posts on our little holiday, I must add this one.  Out in the front garden of the Cape house are two decorative bunnies.  They normally “chase” each other somewhere amongst the shrubs.  In all my summers at the Cape I’ve only seen two people move these bunnies.  One was a cousin who was approximately 3 years old.  The other was a friend who is significantly older than that. 

CT wanted the bunnies to have fun at night.

 

And a nice cuddle in the morning.

 

Needless to say, CT is out of her mind!  But in the best possible way.

New York City

Our second surprise day trip came after we left the Cape and were heading down towards D.C.  We decided to head into New York City for a day!  I’ll admit, I was skeptical of this plan.  The day started out with serious thunderstorms and there was a “severe thunderstorm watch” for the areas we were in, but Sue put on her happy face and promised us that no one would die.  And no one did.

We did, however, get caught in a small rain shower. 

 

But it was ok because we were heading towards Singapore Cafe where we all dried off.

 

The food was delicious.  Chicken rice and tofu and kai lan, oh my! 

 

Not to mention the super secret, extra special cans of 100 Plus that the hostess went back to her own kitchen to get.  Just look at the joy on those boys faces!

 

After lunch Rob walked us through some great neighbourhoods and we finally ended up at Central Park.  Rob made sure we entered through Scholar’s Gate, and for added emphasis showed the world what a great thinker he is.

(Yes, Sue was correct, the rain turned into beautiful sunshine).

We’re almost at the end here friends, but check back tomorrow for an extra special post on Cape Cod fun.

Red Sox Nation

So one of our surprise day trips, courtesy of SED, was a family outing to Fenway!  This was an interesting choice given that only half the family is actually willing to be counted as fans - Rob, Jen and Mom - while Dad and Dan both have other teams that they care for and I tend to support whoever still wears the old-school stockings uniform.  Hey, a girl’s gotta have some fun!  Of course if we open it up to the other boys, that being Larry and Mike, then Red Sox fans win out. 

Anyway, on with the show!

Jen and Mike at Game On.  Aren’t they cute?!

 

Rob and Dad, deep in discussion about… something.

 

Sue living the dream.

 

 A packed house under the lights.

 

Sue and Jen love Fenway.

 

Sporty sisters!  Please note that I am not heavily pregnant with triplets, as this picture seems to suggest.  I was wearing a blousy shirt and apparently leaning forward is not such a good idea with that particular style. 

 

I believe this one speaks for itself.

 

Still more pics coming to you tomorrow!

Capey Goodness

On to the photo show! 

You’ll notice a conspicuous lack of photos featuring me because a) I was the photographer and b) there is no way that pictures of me in summer clothes and/or swimsuits will ever really hit the Net.  But enjoy anyway.

A quintessential Cape scene.  (Feel free to revisit this picture in deepest, darkest winter.)

 

The cutest candy store in the world.  And I’ve seen a lot of them.

 

The cutest ice cream truck in the world.  And I’ve seen a lot of them.

 

The siblings arrived.

 

Larry, Dan and Rob played wiffleball.  Jen and Mike joined in later too, but I only brave “nature” once to get a picture.

 

Jen enjoyed the beach.  And now you know how much I love her since I agreed to sit near her while she did the whole bronzed-sun-goddess thing and I tried to avoid the sandflies.

 

Dan and Rob also enjoyed the beach.

 

Mike and Larry also enjoyed the beach.  And yes, Jen and I did each manage to find a red-head to love.  (PS Isn’t Larry’s arm bending well?  He can hold a beer with it!)

 

Then Dan turned 30!  (Which was the excuse we all used for getting together).

 

And we all lived happily ever after like these three handsome men.

 

More to come tomorrow!