Lazy Dipstick!

On a conference call this morning, so I'm tied to my chair and listening in.  I'm also watching my neighbor shovel his driveway.  Well, actually tidy up the snow that has blown back into his driveway following the original clean up.

So, the Friday morning free local newspaper lay at the end of their driveway this AM, as it typically does.  They seldom pick it up.  Typically, it sits out there in all kinds of conditions until Monday morning.  Monday morning is trash day for us and this is when it's finally picked up and discarded.

Over time, I've seen them walk right past it - going to fetch the mail, off for a neighborhood walk, doing lawn maintenance, etc. It baffles me why they can't be bothered to pick it up each week and take care of it.  It's unsightly!  Here's an idea, how about they call and have the delivery stopped - they never read it!

This morning was NO different.  He simply scooped it up with his snow shovel and tossed it onto the snowbank!

What a LAZY piece of shit!

Minus?!?!

It's a tad nippy here in Franklin this morning, BRR!!

Happy New Year 2014

Another year, another vasilopita!  

Once again JoAnne made a delicious dime cake.

We hosted this year and after filling our bellies with Chinese food we moved onto the tradition of cutting the cake.  The luck recipient of this years dime was none other than our own Emilie!!!

Stop in for a sampling a cup of coffee, YUMMY! 

Sixteen

It's cold out there today, brrr!!

16 degrees at 7:00AM and it hasn't warmed up too much since.

As I understand it, tonight is predicted to be in the single digits!  Too cold to venture out that's for sure.  We'll be ringing in the new year with the neighbors, some friends, some food and a movie.

Have fun and be safe if you're heading out! Don't drink and drive!

Happy New Years Eve all!

The Santa History of Em

Started back in 2008 and has continued through this past 2013 Christmas, pictures with Santa!

All taken at the same place, and four I think, with the same old Santa.

Thanks for the picture with Santa memories Bass Pro Shop!

Another First For Me!

 

Had my first black & tan yesterday afternoon, actually, had two!

Officially called "Outlaw Oatmeal Stout" and described as follows - "Deep rich and creamy with roasted coffee and chocolate overtones.  A great dessert ale.".

Not too bad - tasty!

XMas Score!

Well, the fat man hooked me up good with a couple bags of OH-SO delicious salt & pepper pistachio nuts, YUMMY!

Also, seeing as how I'm such a homer athletic supporter I scored some awesome home town team swag!

Go Bruins & Go Pats!

A Trixie Christmas 2013

Trixie dog enjoyed her Christmas!

Santa brought her a new Rudolph chew toy that she loves!!

She was coo coo for all the presents, wrappings and stuff strewn about.  However, here she is sitting nicely behaving.

Look, Up In The Sky...

Hey, what's that?!

Up there in that hickory tree!

Get closer!

No, closer -

Ah, I see now.  A lovely Red Squirrel

Merry Christmas 2013

From our house to yours, we wish family and friends a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree 2013

Our Christmas tree is up (has been for several weeks now) and looks terrific!

The Elf On The Shelf appeared shortly thereafter and has been bee-bopping throughout the house from place to place.  Amazing how he knows when the trees up.

Gifts have even started to appear under the tree.

Years Gone By

Sitting here this morning drinking my coffee and doing a crossword puzzle, and for some strange reason a memory of the past; my childhood, popped into my head.

I was reminded of a nursery rhyme that my grandmother from West Virginia would tell us.  Of course, that got me thinking and reminiscing of those times gone by and just how much I miss them...

It went like this:

Eye Winker

Tommy Tinker

Nose Dropper

Mouth Eater

Chin Chopper

Gobble Gobble Gobble

(here she would tickle under our chin)

Fall 2013 Honor Roll!

Honor Roll!

Emilie made the honor roll!

Her first report card as a middleschool-er and, WOW, look how well she did!

We're VERY proud of her!

Keep it up Emilie!

Fun With Commute!

So, can anyone shed any light on why this person (a woman in this example) needed to pull onto the highway this morning, with what appeared to be a car that was still warming up (fogged up windows and an exhaust that was puffing cold smoke), while on her cell phone and immediately get into the high speed lane (using NO directionals (blinkers if you're from Boston)) and then proceed to drive at or near the posted speed limit?!  Especially, when there was no one in front of her in the far right lane for a couple hundred yards?

Dipstick!

Pre Storm Auto Maintenance

Battened down the hatches out in the yard in anticipation of the snow storm heading our way.  I also ran a few errands, like gasing up the Toyota, filling the gas can for the snow-blower and, if needed, generator, the package store of course and the automotive store.

Picked up an under the hood air filter and a cabin (inside) air filter.  As you can see from the above photos they were both in dire need of replacing.

Believe it or not the dealership (that word along makes this believable) wanted $87.70 to replace both these filters.  I did it myself for $28.98!  Quite a savings wouldn't you say?!

Breaker One Nine, Over

While sitting in Thursday mid-morning stop and go traffic amongst the endless number of 18-wheeler trucks I snapped the above picture.  It doesn't capture what I was wanting to show, perhaps because I was caught off guard.  The driver of this big rig was a woman!  I also have to say she didn't appear to be the stereo-typically woman one might think of (at least what I think of) when thinking about woman truck drivers.  She looked attractive.

Nothing wrong with this, just saying.

Someone Should Be Fired For This!

Following a 9AM appointment Friday morning, and thinking my commute would be a breeze after all it was 10:30, I jumped on Rt. 495 North.  However, at the half way mark, ~30 miles in, at Rt. 117 traffic was at a complete standstill!  Dead stop!

After 2 hours of sitting in stop and go traffic I finally made it to the office.

Come to learn, the brilliant powers that be thought it would be a good time (keep in mind a snow storm is on the way.  Not to mention that it was ~20 degrees out at that time) to close the two left lane, UGH!  Why you ask?  Well, they were repainting some of the Rt. 495 lines...  If you can believe that!

Living The Life of Trixie!

Lap dog!

Double Reds!

Here I am hooked up to the double-red machine -

Raffle winner board. Check out #3 - 

It's become an annual event for JoAnne, Emilie and I to attend the American Red Cross blood drive hosted at Gillette Stadium. The home of the New England Patriots.

The event is sponsored by Bob's Discount Furniture store. They do a tremendous job too.  They hold hourly raffles for furniture and signed Patriot memorabilia, have special appearances from past Pats players, host the local towns high school cheer leading team AND have always had several Patriot cheerleaders on hand!

And this year was no different!  Joe Andruzzi and Chandler Jones were on hand for pictures and autographs.  Pats cheerleader Rachael was there too signing autographs and mingling with everyone!  The highlight of the morning was when Cathy from Bob's Discount Furniture grabbed her mic and began calling out the names for the first hourly raffle...low and behold she called out "JoAnne Frye"!!!  YUP, JoAnne won a $325.00 gift certificate to Bob's Discount Furniture store, yippee!!

Alright alright, so JoAnne winning the gift certificate was tied with getting Rachael's autograph, hehehe.

Gobble Gobble Gobble!

Here's the lone wild turkey hen once again.  She's made her way into our garden and is gobbling (no pun intended) up the winter rye grass I planted.

She's welcome to stay and hang around as long as she wants.  However, I'm afraid her days are numbered the way she hangs out near and crosses the street.  From what I've seen so far most drivers stop and let her pass but there's someone out there that simply won't be paying attention (texting I'm sure) or will be looking to run her down.