My Google Photos tells me that on this day back in 2008, I was sitting in Symphony Hall with Helaina, Rachael and Jacob. Thanks for that reminder, Google Photos. It's a good day to be reminded of something like that.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
On This Day...
My Google Photos tells me that on this day back in 2008, I was sitting in Symphony Hall with Helaina, Rachael and Jacob. Thanks for that reminder, Google Photos. It's a good day to be reminded of something like that.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
In Today's Mail
With all that's going on in the world, I'm glad to see that some people are still on top of things. Case in point, I finally received my prom mailing from Men's Wearhouse (get it?) today. It's about time! Hope I can have half the fun that these fine young gentlemen seem to be having (except for maybe that African-American guy. Maybe they told him not look too happy).
(As an aside, I don't know what's going on with that guy's eye on the far right side of this photo. My guess is that, due to the cutthroat nature of men's tuxedo modeling, his photo was likely sabotaged by one, possibly all, of these so-called friends.)
Thursday, March 26, 2020
A Short Walk
With all that's going on, Sam hasn't been working for going on two weeks now, so it's nice to be able get outside with him. This is a little patch of water that Sam and I pass when we're on our walk along the rail trail. If you listen real close, you might be able to hear the frogs sing. It seems early for this kind of chorus but it's especially nice to hear after the cold silence of winter.
It's always nice to get outside with Sam, but it's particularly needed right now - to get away from the news and to get away from the occasional swings between the sometimes stress and the sometimes boredom of being home - and to instead walk together under cool blue skies, sometimes in silence, sometimes with the occasional drips of conversations that allow him to bring up things which might be on his mind.
Or sometimes, to just walk along together with thoughts unspoken, stopping every once in a while to listen to the frogs sing.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
A Friday Night Update...on a Sunday
Sam and I continue on with our tradition of making popcorn and watching a show together on Friday nights. This tradition started almost five years ago (wow!) when we began watching Monk together.
When we finished watching Monk, we went onto MacGyver (the original series, not the current knock-off). Making this transition wasn't without some amount of trepidation.
We really enjoyed watching Monk together. Not only was it a good show, it was kind of Sam's first introduction into watching something a little more mature than what he was typically used to. It was a show that he (and I) enjoyed, partly due to the company we were keeping (for me, anyway) but mostly (for Sam) it had stories - and especially characters - we both enjoyed. The fact that the main character some obsessions, not unlike some of Sam's, helped.
I don't think Sam saw it that way but there were times, when Sam faced a particular struggle, we could (sometimes) relate it back to Mr. Monk.
After spending about two years worth of Friday nights watching Monk together, we finished the series and, as with finishing a good book, a good long book - finding something we could both get into for a non-disappointing follow-up was a bit of a challenge.
We landed on MacGyver. One reason for MacGyver was I wanted something a little bit different from Monk, mostly because something too close might pale by comparison. But like before, I also wanted it to be something which, maturity-wise, would be a good fit for Sam. (It's also possible that the DVDs were on sale. This would have given it an edge in my decision making process.)
After a somewhat rocky start, we finally watched each and every MacGyver episode - and enjoyed, with a few exceptions, pretty much all of them.
Discounting the aforementioned "rocky start", it was kind of startling to me how progressive the show was. Not only was it progressive for it's time (presumably) but it was especially so in watching it through the prism of today.
Back when MacGyver was approaching it's inevitable conclusion, I spent a good bit of time trying to figure out what we would segue onto next. At first, it was going to be Chuck. I even bought the DVDs in preparation for this momentous event. (Also, the DVDs were on sale.)
But before we launched into the era of the Chuck Friday-night-athons, things took a left turn. The left turn was spotting a "Lightning Deal" for a show called Quantum Leap.
As with MacGyver, I wasn't particularly familiar with Quantum Leap. But the show's description read like something Sam might enjoy. Here, because I'm too lazy (re: untalented) to think of a concise description, is how IMDB describes it: "Former scientist Sam Beckett finds himself trapped in time due to an experiment gone awry, leaping into the body of a different person each week."
In addition to sounding interesting, I figured that since the show was produced in the same era as MacGyver, it might have a similar ambiance to it, which might make a transition easier.
It's been difficult for Sam to get used to the idea that, each week, the show's Sam is "playing" someone completely different, located in completely different surroundings and living in a slightly different era. Why the main character would be confused by this situation is something we've struggled to understand. But we're doing better with it and it prompts a lot of discussion - which is always nice.
Anyway, Sam and I just finished the first season and we're enjoying the show more and more with each episode.
If you're cooped-up and looking for something distract you, you can kill a few minutes and read this almost-a-year-old interview with the show's then star. It's pretty short and you might actually enjoy it.
If you want to go further (and you should), do two things. First, check out the show's first episode - or technically, the first two episodes, (since I think it was a two-parter). It's called, "Genesis". And then, if you do nothing else, skip ahead to episode eight, titled, "The Color of Truth". And while you watching this episode, imagine this episode playing on network TV in this day and age. It wouldn't happen.
And while you're watching this episode, imagine watching it with someone like Sam and imagine how many times the show has to be paused for questions and for explanations.
And if you decide to go still further, and again, you should, imagine that it's Friday night and imagine that you have a bowl of popcorn in your lap. And imagine that we're watching this show (or any show, really) together - because it makes any good show (or anything, really) better if we're doing it together.
When we finished watching Monk, we went onto MacGyver (the original series, not the current knock-off). Making this transition wasn't without some amount of trepidation.
We really enjoyed watching Monk together. Not only was it a good show, it was kind of Sam's first introduction into watching something a little more mature than what he was typically used to. It was a show that he (and I) enjoyed, partly due to the company we were keeping (for me, anyway) but mostly (for Sam) it had stories - and especially characters - we both enjoyed. The fact that the main character some obsessions, not unlike some of Sam's, helped.
I don't think Sam saw it that way but there were times, when Sam faced a particular struggle, we could (sometimes) relate it back to Mr. Monk.
After spending about two years worth of Friday nights watching Monk together, we finished the series and, as with finishing a good book, a good long book - finding something we could both get into for a non-disappointing follow-up was a bit of a challenge.
We landed on MacGyver. One reason for MacGyver was I wanted something a little bit different from Monk, mostly because something too close might pale by comparison. But like before, I also wanted it to be something which, maturity-wise, would be a good fit for Sam. (It's also possible that the DVDs were on sale. This would have given it an edge in my decision making process.)
After a somewhat rocky start, we finally watched each and every MacGyver episode - and enjoyed, with a few exceptions, pretty much all of them.
Discounting the aforementioned "rocky start", it was kind of startling to me how progressive the show was. Not only was it progressive for it's time (presumably) but it was especially so in watching it through the prism of today.
Back when MacGyver was approaching it's inevitable conclusion, I spent a good bit of time trying to figure out what we would segue onto next. At first, it was going to be Chuck. I even bought the DVDs in preparation for this momentous event. (Also, the DVDs were on sale.)
But before we launched into the era of the Chuck Friday-night-athons, things took a left turn. The left turn was spotting a "Lightning Deal" for a show called Quantum Leap.
As with MacGyver, I wasn't particularly familiar with Quantum Leap. But the show's description read like something Sam might enjoy. Here, because I'm too lazy (re: untalented) to think of a concise description, is how IMDB describes it: "Former scientist Sam Beckett finds himself trapped in time due to an experiment gone awry, leaping into the body of a different person each week."
In addition to sounding interesting, I figured that since the show was produced in the same era as MacGyver, it might have a similar ambiance to it, which might make a transition easier.
It's been difficult for Sam to get used to the idea that, each week, the show's Sam is "playing" someone completely different, located in completely different surroundings and living in a slightly different era. Why the main character would be confused by this situation is something we've struggled to understand. But we're doing better with it and it prompts a lot of discussion - which is always nice.
Anyway, Sam and I just finished the first season and we're enjoying the show more and more with each episode.
If you're cooped-up and looking for something distract you, you can kill a few minutes and read this almost-a-year-old interview with the show's then star. It's pretty short and you might actually enjoy it.
If you want to go further (and you should), do two things. First, check out the show's first episode - or technically, the first two episodes, (since I think it was a two-parter). It's called, "Genesis". And then, if you do nothing else, skip ahead to episode eight, titled, "The Color of Truth". And while you watching this episode, imagine this episode playing on network TV in this day and age. It wouldn't happen.
And while you're watching this episode, imagine watching it with someone like Sam and imagine how many times the show has to be paused for questions and for explanations.
And if you decide to go still further, and again, you should, imagine that it's Friday night and imagine that you have a bowl of popcorn in your lap. And imagine that we're watching this show (or any show, really) together - because it makes any good show (or anything, really) better if we're doing it together.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Tonight's Brief Comment
Playing a board game with Sam can take a lot longer when it turns out, we're both trying to let the other one win.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Random Notes From the Week
With the exception of visiting one job-site, I've been working out of home this week. Besides getting some actual work done, I think my biggest accomplishment throughout week was teaching Sam how to make his own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. One more talent for him to rely on.
***
And I guess by being home, it was helpful in maybe fighting against the tide to try to keep things a little calm and "normal" (whatever that means) and to tone things down when the atmosphere was a little, shall we say, elevated..
***
I made two visits to the grocery store this week, once for milk and bread (one of each, thank you) and once for items on Sam's weekly list - bananas, apple juice and... something else that I don't remember.
The second trip was with Sam, earlier this morning. My thinking was that if we could scoot out today, we might avoid the expected madness of going to this store tomorrow (Saturday). We'll know if this was a wise move or not tomorrow - that is, if we're insane enough to go there again. (Though I promised Sam we'll get his usual Saturday pizza at the other grocery store - so there's that).
Today's visit was bad enough. It wasn't that the store was mobbed - which it was - it's just that people are acting like... people - and I hate that. Husbands were driving up in front of the store to drop of their wives (presumably) who then frantically darted into the store, pretty much elbowing people out of the way to stock up on god knows what.
Inside, people were pushing carts with mountains of food, in some cases, spilling over the sides (You'll have to take my word for it. I was too disgusted to take any photos). Some people had so much stuff, they were wheeling around two carts. In at least a couple of cases, people had "helpers" that would grab stuff off the shelves for them in between pushing cart number two. Insane.
***
Did I mention that I hate people?
***
Let's all calm down and watch a video...
LATE UPDATE: Well, there used to be a video here. Apparently, YouTube decided to take it down!
I hope you have a relaxing evening...
***
And I guess by being home, it was helpful in maybe fighting against the tide to try to keep things a little calm and "normal" (whatever that means) and to tone things down when the atmosphere was a little, shall we say, elevated..
***
I made two visits to the grocery store this week, once for milk and bread (one of each, thank you) and once for items on Sam's weekly list - bananas, apple juice and... something else that I don't remember.
The second trip was with Sam, earlier this morning. My thinking was that if we could scoot out today, we might avoid the expected madness of going to this store tomorrow (Saturday). We'll know if this was a wise move or not tomorrow - that is, if we're insane enough to go there again. (Though I promised Sam we'll get his usual Saturday pizza at the other grocery store - so there's that).
Today's visit was bad enough. It wasn't that the store was mobbed - which it was - it's just that people are acting like... people - and I hate that. Husbands were driving up in front of the store to drop of their wives (presumably) who then frantically darted into the store, pretty much elbowing people out of the way to stock up on god knows what.
Inside, people were pushing carts with mountains of food, in some cases, spilling over the sides (You'll have to take my word for it. I was too disgusted to take any photos). Some people had so much stuff, they were wheeling around two carts. In at least a couple of cases, people had "helpers" that would grab stuff off the shelves for them in between pushing cart number two. Insane.
***
Did I mention that I hate people?
***
Let's all calm down and watch a video...
LATE UPDATE: Well, there used to be a video here. Apparently, YouTube decided to take it down!
I hope you have a relaxing evening...
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