New Movie Coming About Jeff Buckley

I'll have more on this later, as we're heading out soon, but this is great news since Jeff Buckley is my favorite artist of all time. He even beats U2.

Friday

Everyday I try to learn some new and valuable lesson. Some days are better than others. The lesson of today was learned quite early in the day and it was this: Never go to bed with a dirty house because you never know who will be trapsing through the house in the morning. There is also probably a lesson to be learned here in night-time wear, but that's another story for another time...
Our carbon monoxide detector started going off about 5:15 this morning. We thought it might be that the battery was dead - so we changed it out and opened up some windows to air out the house. It didn't help - it was still going off. We felt okay, but didn't want to risk anything with Caroline, so we got ourselves outside and called the Worcester Fire Department. They were able to come check out every inch of the house with their detectors and came to the conclusion that we have a faulty detector (I'm going to buy a new one today). But the experience was enough to make me check up on the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning.

Here are some new pics of Caroline and Junior...

Middleville - Updated

Someone else besides New England is finally getting the rain, but in upstate NY they've got way too much. From the pictures / video linked here and here in Middleville (the picture was taken just behind where my Grandmother lived and in the video her house was the one across the bridge) - it looks like it's pretty tough going. We even heard about the restaurant in Dolgeville on the national news and wouldn't want to be getting on the Thruway anyplace near Little Falls.

I never remember the water being this high.

There's more on the way, too.

Update: Reta's famous! Artie and Reta live across the street from where Grandma lived. They've got it bad - I'm thinking Artie won't be riding his bike for a while...

Burnett Lifts Zulu Nation's Hopes For Getting Out of Last

How lovely is this...when I first heard it I thought that the Jays were nuts to let him go out and do this, but looking at the details, it certainly was not a problem (from rotoworld.com):

In just his second start back from the disabled list, A.J. Burnett pitched
a complete-game shutout Tuesday against the Nationals. Burnett needed to throw just 92 pitches to notch his ninth career shutout. No matter how good his stuff was, it's criminal that the Nationals didn't at all try to work the count against a pitcher who hadn't gone more than six innings in an outing this year. All six hits Burnett surrendered were singles. He struck out seven and walked none. Jun. 27 - 9:53 pm et

Weekend Wrap-Up

Sunday night. Lunches are made, clothes are out, the baby is down (hopefully) for the night....
Time to relax.

We had a great weekend up in Portland. It's a fun city. Cute waterfront (it seems like they're trying to make it a bit like Baltimore), nice people, no traffic and nothing can beat the smell of the ocean as you're walking into the ballpark.

This was our first vacation with Caroline and we're slowly learning that we can't do as much stuff as we're accustomed to. Nap time was sort of putting a cramp in our style, but we ended up embracing it by actually taking the time to relax. Just the thing you're least likely to do on vacation, huh?

We spent a lot of time laying low and hanging out in the pool, but Jim was able to get to the Shipyard Brewery (to try to find the Chamberlain Ale we've been looking for since our last trip to Kennebunk), we were able to make the requisite trip to LL Bean, and we were able to get to the Sea Dogs game. We had to go all that way to see them play a team from Manchester, but we had a good time. Sea Dogs won. Caroline slept through her first official ballpark rendition of "Sweet Caroline". And for those of you that actually want to know, yes, that is where we got her name from.

Here are some pics of the highlights of the weekend....

Me and CJ

Dad and CJ prepping for nap time (she tired, honest)

Naptime (finally)

Our first "official" ballpark picture as a family of three

Slugger, Dad and CJ after the game

Just being silly...

More silliness...

That's all for tonight...my feet are asleep from sitting at the computer for too long!

Ta-Daaaa

Here is yet another shot of Princess Caroline bestowing her grace on her faithful subjects.

(Picture provided courtesy of Caroline's Grampy)

Taking a Dip - Updated

She appears to like prunes, huh? I still can't understand how she got them in her eyes, her hair and between her toes, though...

Go Ecuador!

Ecuador now has the best record and aggregate score combined thus far in the World Cup. They also are the only team this year to beat both Brazil and Argentina, the "real" South American powerhouses in the World Cup.

If they beat the home team (Germany) on German soil, they should sail into the quarters as the #1 seed.

Another Dip

We did eventually end up taking a swim in the lake, but the wash basin was just perfect on a steamy day like today. She had fun enjoying her lobster, even if it wasn't in quite the same way that the rest of us enjoyed it.

Sitting Up...

Caroline is mastering the art of sitting. She's still toppling like a ton of bricks when she lifts an arm, but I think she's enjoying the new perspective on things...

Acrobatics

She'll be ready for the Cirque de Soleil soon. If she could only figure out how to use her arms so her face wouldn't drag on the ground...

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my father! As an early present (you'll get the better one later today)...here is a new picture of Caroline. I heard you were sick and tired of looking at my nasty finger! =-)

How about those Twins?!?! Jason Kubel (who we've had a picture of posted on our fridge for as long as I can remember) is coming through in a big way for the team. As much as I like (okay, LOVE) the Red Sox, I can't help becoming more and more of a Twins fan. I think Bat-Girl (and the fact she's moving out to Amhest) is a factor. Following the Red Wings helps, as most of the guys currently up with the Big Club have had at least one stop in Rochester. But I think it's mainly their fans. They're just so darned nice. When we were at Fenway for one of the Twinkies games last year we could barely stand all the obnoxious, drunk, cocky Red Sox fans. It's only gotten worse since winning the World Series. Maybe finishing below Toronto in the division for a couple years in a row will humble them. Who knows. But people from Minnesota would come right up to us and start talking to us (we all were wearing Justin Morneau shirts, which helped, I'm sure). Plus, instead of the Monster, they have a "Hefty Bag" for an outfield fence. I respect the fact that they call it as they see it...

Oh and don't forget to cast your votes for the All-Star game (you're allowed to vote up to 25 times). Charlene - you're only allowed to vote if you vote for people that I like =-) ! We need Joe Mauer there!

Okay - the post will be shortened because my father just called and needs his "Caroline fix"...

A Lull in the Action

It's nine in the evening on a Tuesday night. The Sox and Twins are on (Lew Ford almost just made the BEST catch EVER) and Johan Santana just recorded his 1000th strikeout. He's so cool. Not that Schilling isn't - it's just that he's not Johan K. Santana...

Yup - that's a picture of my knarly, crooked and bruised fingers above. Why do I show you this, you ask? Or are you simply just happy that it's not (another) picture of Caroline? Well - besides it being a pretty slow blogging night, I had to show off my most recent softball injury. Every so often I just apparently need to be shown just why God made mits. Especially when catching (yes - even in slow pitch).

I also wanted to brag about the 6-2-3 double play that the Fairlawn team turned last night. Even though we lost, we decided that we must have done okay if the ump came up to us after the game and congratulated us on our defense. I have to say that I've never seen a double play turned quite like that in slow pitch.

I love this game.

Screeching to a Halt

Our "Celebration of Immobility" has officially screeched to a halt. Caroline has begun doing a sort of modified commando-crawl. This involves lying on her belly, bending her hips and knees up as far as she can and then trying to dig them into the ground as she straightens to propel herself forward. She has not figured out how to lift her head up as she does this, so her face ends up dragging on the ground. She leaves quite a large trail of drool - so we can mark where she has been. Last night she wiggled about a foot across our bed.

The intended target you ask?

Junior, of course.

He's in for it.

Hanging Out with Cookie

Caroline hung out quite a bit with Cookie this afternoon. He's still her favorite.

Sitting Up (sort of)...

Caroline is slowly figuring out how to use her arms to support her while she's in a seated position. But she hasn't figured out that she topples like a ton of bricks when she lifts one of those arms up to reach for something. She's learning, though...

Food.

Patiently waiting...

Yup, Daddy - hold it right there.

You couldn't have gotten any more in my mouth than that?

All tuckered out. Apparently green beans help her sleep.
I'm continuously amazed at how big she's getting. Sitting in a high chair already.
Baby food. What's next? The Prom?
Let's conquer potty training first...

On a Rainy, Rainy Weekend...

This weekend just pales in comparison to last weekend, at least weather-wise. Cold, damp, and just plain-old yucky in general. With rainfall totals significantly above average for this year - I think the next thing that we're going to invest in (well, besides new gutters for the house) is an arc.

We've all been a bit under the weather (no pun intended) this week. We've all had the same cold, which Caroline has ended up taking the brunt of. She seems to be getting better now, but is still pretty stuffy. Turns out, though, that she's gotten good at blowing snot bubbles (which we will spare you the pictures of).

A friend of mine from work's house was severly damaged by fire yesterday. The Red Cross was there right after the Worcester FD left offering them a place to stay, gift cards to get some clothes on their backs, food and cash for whatever else they might immediately need. I was so impressed by their speedy responce to the situation and their compassion. Please remember that they do a lot for "little distasters" and not just huge natural disasters. They need all the donations (money, blood) that they can get. I was also impressed by the Worcester Fire Department. They were very professional and the Cheif came back to the house hours later to see if everyone was still okay and if there was anything more that they could do. Please pray for Patty and her family during this difficult time.

More From Last Weekend...

Just hangin' with Daddy..