Veteran's Day

Today is November 11th

Today and everyday, I say thank you to all who serve. Past, present and future.

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation.

Living Wills

Thirsty Thursdays provide some great insight into life's "what ifs"

Tonight's topic was what we wish to happen when our life hits the brakes. I find it interesting that each of us has different views as to what we want for our afterlife or our journey into the hereafter.

My daughter, who is just shy of fifteen and is usually freaked out when we talk about death, announced that she has a will. If she should die, she has made a list of how to divide her estate ( which consists of guitars, books, an absurd amount of cd's , clothing, sports memorabilia etc.)

In the event that she becomes brain injured, her request is simple. She is NEVER to be unplugged.

I am to play her favorite cd, 24 hours a day, make sure a hockey game is on the television at all times and be sure I take her ( hospital bed and all) to any concert locally.

In the event of her death, I am to bury her cd's with her, she has clothing selected for her afterlife and she has listed which of her family and friends will receive the remainder of her belongings.

My niece wishes to be buried NAKED!!!.. now that gives a whole new meaning to a "Viewing"

I've been to some weird Irish wakes..but I'm willing to bet, this will top the weirdest of weird. I will see to it (if I am still here) that her wish is carried out. I can't wait to see the looks on the faces of our older relatives.

My sister ( the nothing sacred, baby of this clan) has a simple wish as well. She would like to be buried with a smile on her face and big blue implanted in place. Again, should I outlive these two, I will make it my personal (he he) mission to see that their wishes are carried out.

I can only imagine the trip to the funeral home to make the arrangements. For my niece, I will bring nothing for personal effects. I wonder if the Doherty boys have ever had such a request?

For my sister, well, I am sure, after I leave, they will have a good laugh.. after all, morticians are people too.. and they are some very handsome boys as well.. if the spirit still lives after we die, I am sure it won't be too hard to get that smile on her face once one of the Doherty boys plants her personal effects.

For me, I want to take a few items. A full bottle of whiskey, a pack of cigarettes, a cd of the Drop Kick Murphy's and my Red Sox shirt. I don't want tears, I want laughter because I'll be laughing from beyond.

Dinner, Conversation and Mother Shows Interest in Sex Toys

Have you ever wished you could shower your brain?I have a very vivid imagination and when someone says something a movie plays in my mind.

Sometimes it's amusing, others.. not so much.

Each Thursday my sisters and parents get together at my house for dinner and cocktails. It's never boring nor is it civil. The conversation can go from potatoes to masturbation in one fell swoop.

Tonight we were talking about many things and the conversation turned to cysts and such ailments. My niece arrived late and was eating dinner, the poor thing. We were discussing the fact that my mother trys to diagnose herself before going to the doctor. Somehow we started talking about cysts and mother pipes in with " I have cysts everywhere. I'm loaded in places you couldn't imagine. As a matter of fact I grow things everywhere."

I couldn't resist " Have you grown a penis yet Mom?"

The following is the conversation while poor Caryn tried not to choke on her dinner.

Mother: whispers " No but if I did I'd have sex with myself"

So of course my sister, niece and I look at each other and laugh

Me: You know Mom, there are toys we could get you.

Mother: That would be fun

Sister: Ew.. I don't want that image in my head..stop , stop STOP (she has a mind like mine and at this point a movie has begun to play in her head )

This from the one who asked mother if she ever participated in oral sex !!!!!

Mind you this woman is 67 years old. Raised Irish Catholic and never , ever discussed sex with us, never mind masturbation. Now, she kind of chuckles at the thought of a battery operated bed mate.. Goes to prove you're never to old to find the pleasures of life..

Media Frenzy

The echo of the crowd hasn't even silenced yet and already the local media has started the rumor mills. I suppose a sports town such as Boston will always provide these people with something to write (using this term freely.. more like creative writing) about. They are the reason Curt started his own blog (38pitches.com). He too was tired of words being twisted and stretched more than a rubber band.

Let's for a minute consider Manny Ramirez. He is a private kind of guy. He shows up every game, does his job (does it well I might add), provides the fans with entertainment and then goes home to his family. The media does not like this one bit. So what if he doesn't grant interviews. When you are done in your day job, do you want to continue hashing it out with a bunch of hacks with a press pass? Never mind that he still has another year on his contract but they are already starting to speculate on what's going to happen. Why don't we just enjoy the feeling of just having won another world series and focus on signing those whose contracts are up this year. That would be too easy.

Jim Rice is a perfect example of just how the media can bite you in the ass. Here is a guy that oozes class. He played and earned his right in the HOF (hall of fame), yet each year when the voting takes place , somehow he is shy just a few votes which would grant him his due. Jim was not a media friendly guy either..

Now, this being a contract year for a few players in major league, the media has a cornucopia of things to work with. Mike Lowell, World Series MVP. Our beloved third baseman. If you read the papers, listen to the sports talkshows on the radio, they will have you tearing your hair out.

It seems they think that the Red Sox will not sign Lowell and opt for A-Rod ( whom I call Assrod) instead. Listen up, Nevah Gonna Happen. Give Theo Epstein a little credit please.

I personally will become a Cubs fan if A-Rod were to ever don a Red Sox uniform and those who know me, know that's huge.

My advice to you who have suffered and bit off all of your nails until 04, remember the brilliant words of Joe Torre ( a class act). " The media has been known to be wrong once or twice."

Don't believe all you read and don't get sucked into the columns written by sports guru wannabes. This isn't Dan Duquette's job to screw up anymore.. we have Theo at the helm and he has made some brilliant aquisitions.

That is it for my rant....

Random Acts of Kindness

My sister, whom I've named Miss Numb in a previous post, was the recipient of an act of kindness from a stranger. It may not sound like such a big deal but in today's world , with all the anger and hate that we are subjected to with each page in the newspaper, stories like this restore my faith in humanity.

Miss Numb travels a toll road to work. Friday morning when she got to the booth, the lady told her she was all set. My sister was confused. The toll worker told her the lady in the car ahead of her had paid the toll for my sister. All she requested was this.

" Tell her to show a random act of kindness to someone and have a great day."

I myself have been in a coffee shop and purchased a cup of coffee for the person behind me. Sometimes I'll hand passes to an event to a family behind me in line when I have extras.

It makes me feel good to do this.

I wonder, if everyone started doing this how much nicer this world would be.

So, I ask you to try it. It does not have to cost you a lot of money. Imagine how nice someone feels when they receive a free cup of coffee, a free pass on the toll road. Who knows, you may be the lucky recipient one day.

Today, I wish you all a peaceful day full of kind thoughts and warm smiles.

You know the Honeymoon is over when ...

Remember the days when you and your signifigant other had to be apart for more than twenty four hours and you felt like half of your heart was torn out? Remember the mere thought of going through a few days without each other caused anxiety?

When I was first married, I recall conversations from those who had been married for many years talking about how they enjoyed when their spouse went off for a few hours or YIKES , days. I couldn't imagine wanting to spend long periods of time. The first time we had to spend three days apart I was lost.

Fast forward to reality...

He enjoys camping. Real out in the woods in a tent , on the lake camping. Me, I can camp at the finer hotels. When he and my daughter would go off on a camping weekend for three or four days I would be in heaven. The oldest sister would ask me how I could stay alone. What was she thinking. BLISS.. shear bliss.

I love golf. Mind you I have never swung a club but since he took it up a few years back, I went out and bought him a wonderful set of clubs because it allows me "Me" time. He has a golf date twice a week and I truly enjoy the few hours that he is gone.

Today, I dropped him off early this morning to catch a plane to Florida. Am I selfish for smiling like an idiot the minute he got out of the car?.. No. You see I've come to the conclusion. I love him dearly but enjoy our separate times as well.

Some days I think I want a man in my life, just not in my house.

ALCS Champs Celebrate in Style

These pics are courtesy of a friend... enjoy


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