Thursday, June 29, 2006

What I did on my summer vacation...

After attending a conference in Pittsburgh over the weekend, I came home to Mount Carmel for five days for my "summer vacation" - I put this in quotes because those of you who live in, have lived in, or have visited Mount Carmel know that is it definitely not a place one vacations in - rather, it's a place to visit family and friends.

Day 1
-Wake up at 11:30am, totalling 11 hours of sleep. (Haven't done that in a while. Awesome.)
-Eat bowl of cereal.
-Watch World Cup Game. (Loving the soccer, I am.)
-Shower at 3:00pm. (Normally, I wouldn't have showered so early, but I knew I had to avoid Mom's questioning at 3:30pm when she returns from work: "You mean you haven't left the couch all day?" Um, no, frankly, vacation = worthless.)
-Visit Gram & watch Phillies game, total of 12 innings.
-Come home for dinner.
-Eat homemade cavatelli. (Delicious.)
-Sit on couch. Watch news and College World Series. (la de da)
-Wait until 11:30pm to think about going to bed so as to meet 12 hour rule (have to stay awake for entire 12 hours before going to sleep for the night; excludes naps).

Day 2
-Wake up around 11am. (Another quality night of sleep)
-Assist brother Joe in making oatmeal cookies. (Looks Aren't Important Bakery is open for business.)
-Watch World Cup Game. (Still loving the soccer, I am.)
-Shower around 1:30pm.
-Go to Gram's to visit relatives from CA. Engage in good conversation.
-Pick up cousin Jen at 5:00 to go to Bloomsburg for dinner and movie. See "The June Monsoon" for a recap of flood survival.

Day 3
-Arrive home at 10:30am from night before due to flood.
-Eat cereal. (I love cereal. Maybe I should try that Special K - Eat 2 bowls a day diet. NM. I hate diets.)
-Sit on couch.
-Annoy brother. (always fun)
-Put on Phillies game at 1:35pm. Watch Chase Utley bat in first inning.
-Take 3 hour nap.
-Check email and voicemail regarding work. (Completed one work task. Ignored most others.)
-Shower.
-Go to Mattucci's for family dinner. (Stuffed myself.)
-Sat on couch so as to not interrupt food coma.
-Watched NBA Draft. (wanted to see Memphis boys get drafted)
-Watched a rerun of Without A Trace. (best show on tv)
-Watched Anderson Cooper 360. (best news on tv)
-Fell asleep on bed.

Day 4
-Wake up at 8:15am. (way too early for a vacation)
-Shower.
-Eat cereal.
-Aunt picks me up.
-Get pedicure. (Remember, that I do not like feet, so it is strange to realize I allowed someone to touch my feet, but it was nice to be pampered, I won't lie).
-Meet rest of family for lunch. (mmmm. chicken and waffles... delicious.)
-Check email. (Complete one work task; ignore others.)
-Hang out with high school friends.
-Cousin Jen picks me up. Go to mall (45 minutes away).
-Spend $$ I don't have.
-Go to see The Breakup. (Liked 98% of the movie; hated the ending.)
-Fell asleep on couch watching CNN.

Day 5
-Wake up at 10:30am.
-Check email.
-Watch World Cup games.
-Take nap.
-Entertain family.
-Eat pizza for dinner (pizza at home is amazing).
-Make fudge in Joe's "bakery".
-Entertain family.
-Pack.
-Sleep.

Pretty solid week, if you ask me.

And finally, for lunch...

Chicken and Waffles, 75 cents
Mashed Potatoes with gravy, 25 cents
Corn, 25 cents
Milk, 30 cents
and Sandwich of the Week: Chicken Salad with Lettuce, 75 cents


A trip down memory lane to the great Mount Carmel Area High School Lunch.

The family went out for lunch today to Masser's and I proceeded to eat Chicken and Waffles, which was my absolute favorite lunch in high school. As you can see from the prices above, well worth the money. In fact, it really only cost $1 if you bought the whole lunch, which often was the case.

Over today's lunch, we debated on the best high school lunches of all time. My top five:

1. Chicken and Waffles (clearly, a local favorite)
2. Salisbury Steak (delicious, grade-E meat)
3. Tacos (made the best taco salad ever)
4. Rotini with Meat Sauce (loved the supplemental salad, i.e. shredded lettuce, and the tea roll)
5. Meatball Hoagie (chips go on the hoagie)

"Big Plate Thursday" clearly dominates the winners.

Brother Joe will disagree and say that the Steak Hoagie should make the top five, but this is my blog, and what I say goes.

We do agree that Chili and Baked Potato Bar clearly fall into the category of "Most Underrated Lunch".

I think most of us who went to MCA appreciated the cheapness and the quality of the food we had for daily lunch. I know that when I'm shuffling over $6 in TigerDen now at UMemphis for Subway or Chick-Fil-A that I often would rather the high school food options and prices. And besides, what could be better than listening to "Mezz" and "Chez" read your menu over the televised morning news each day. Clearly, a good package deal if you ask me.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

The June Monsoon...

I am on "vacation" in my hometown, visiting the parents, family and the hometown friends. While usually anticipated for a good time of eating awesome favorite foods and taking in some fun and sun at my aunt and uncle's house, this vacation has already taken on a new theme. Ridiculousness is the theme.

For starters, Mother Nature has been a serious bitch to the northeast. Since arriving in PA last Thursday, it's rained just about every day since. Monday and Tuesday of this week, I swear it stopped raining for a good 12.8 seconds. That's not really fun considering everything I want to do is outside. It's also not fun that I failed to pack foot attire other than flip flops. Clearly, not helpful.

Every time I come home, my cousin Jen and I participate in our ritual of dinner and a movie. Last night, we planned to drive to Bloomsburg (30 minutes away) for dinner at Applebee's and a movie (closest movie theatre is in Bloomsburg). We figured since it was raining, this was a good way to at least have something to do.

On our drive to Bloomsburg, it poured and poured and we noticed potential flooding in different areas on the way. We arrived at Applebee's in one piece and figured we could eat a good meal, see the movie, then battle the rain home. At some point while eating dinner, a commotion ocurred at Applebee's. Our nice server, Mike, informed us that the only entrance/exit was starting to flood. Funny how there was barely a puddle there when we arrived an hour earlier. Funny how, also, SUVs were having difficulty getting out of the lot. Great, I thought. I had mom's car, clearly as low to the ground as possible, instead of my wonderful Santa Fe. While finishing our meal (and free dessert), the fire company had to come and help a car get out of the flooded entrance. Spectacular. My car just happened to be sitting in the middle of the parking lot where the waters were beginning to get higher from both sides. We had to get out of the lot, and we had to do so quick.

The Applebee's staff orchestrated a "ramp" so we could drive up onto a curb and get out on the highway and avoid getting flooded out in the entrance/exit. Jen manuevered the car over the ramp and onto the highway. We discovered, however, that driving into town, which is what we needed to get back to Mount Carmel, was not really an option. Everyone was driving away from town, towards us. We called my aunt and uncle who live outside Bloomsburg, explained our situation, and asked for directions to their house. Jen successfully completed the plan and we arrived safely at their house. We learned upon arrival that all roads into and out of Bloomsburg were closed and much of the quickest route to get home had areas of flooding. We camped out for the night.

Upon waking up today, we learned that much of central PA has been victim to the wrath of Mother Nature. My gram called it yesterday afternoon when she said, "This is like Hurricane Agnes and the flood of '72". Somehow, she anticipated this weather we were having could be the worst this area has seen in decades. She may just be right as the weather reports predict serious flooding tomorrow when the Susquehanna River crests. We also learned today that the easy routes home to Mount Carmel all had flood areas. Therefore, we had to drive to 20 minutes west of Bloomsburg to Hazleton and then drive south another hour to get home. Nothing like taking the scenic route.

I swear, though, at one point, Jen and I were pretty convinced the end of the world may be in sight. Either that, or it's time for the northeast to deal with the wrath of Mother Nature. She is seriously pissed about something.

One thing is certain, I apparently can't go for a month without being stuck in the middle of some ridiculous situation (last month: see crime scene debacle). The madness at the Applebee's parking lot made the local paper today... interesting how they could call someone in to take some pictures but couldn't find some way to help the customers and staff get out of the lot. Thank God the Applebee's staff had some creative thinking or I could just be floating away somewhere in Columbia County.

Monday, June 26, 2006

All in the family...

This is a IM conversation between my cousin Jen and my brother Joe. While this was taking place, my parents and I were sitting in our living room watching baseball. It made for a worthwhile family moment of simple laughter. I share it only because it is a good reminder of the small moments that we often fail to appreciate fully.

jen: carol home?
joe: carol home
jen: what is she doin?
joe: not 1 thing at the moment
jen: alright
jen: ask her if we are still on for tomorrow?
joe: she is nodding in agreement
joe: r u going to meet or ????????
jen: huh
jen: meet where?
joe: she doesnt know the meeting procedure
jen: ooo
jen: well pam hasnt got back to me
jen: so its just me and her
jen: i only have work til 3
joe: what u want her to do
jen: movies are 445,725, and 945
jen: which would she prefer
joe: she has no preference
jen: unreal
joe: ha i know
jen: she did this im memphis lol
jen: so if you go visit her expect to make all the decisions
jen: :-)
joe: thats not good
joe: im bad at making decisions
jen: word
jen: im not too good either
jen: ask her if we are eatin at home or somewhere else?
joe: "up to her"
joe: hahahaa
jen: i hate her
joe: haaaaaaaaaa
jen: what are you doin tomorrowa?
joe: practice at 4
joe: if no rain = golf
jen: ic
joe: i guess she wants to know if ur coming home first or should she meet u in bloom
joe: but im just guessing, she didnt say, and shes worried what we r saying cuz i keep losing it
jen: hahaha
jen: bobo jr (a friend of our grandparents)
joe: well now she says she will pick u up at 5ish and u will go to applebee's
jen: o really
jen: who died and put her in charge
joe: scribbs died and left her in charge (also a friend of our grandparents)
jen: as did Bobo Sr (another friend of the grandparents)
joe: butch said bumba (i have no idea)
joe: we forgot bumba
jen: yea we did
jen: i saw picky the other day (a friend of our gradnparents)
joe: gram used to call ur mom bumba (true story)
jen: he was walkin up the street sideways (picky did in fact do this)
jen: he was on his was to mucca's house (another real friend)
joe: my dad said scribbs wife was the georgia peach (true story)
jen: unreal
jen: as in blanch from the golden girls?
joe: my dad told me once that uncle yonk was called yonku bc he spilled something in the bar and pap said "you yonku you" (yes, we call our uncle "yonk")
jen: hahahaha
jen: i think i heard that before
joe: probably
jen: alright
jen: im peacin out
jen: im tired
jen: gotta get up early
joe: alrighty
joe: is the plan settled?
jen: 5ish
jen: got it
joe: alrighty
joe: cyaaaaaaaaa pickey
jen: word up Joe "the dolly guy" (also a true friend of the grandparents. he brought deliveries of kegs using a dolly to their bar and would often give us "rides" on the dolly)

Aeroplanes...

I don't mind flying. I won't say I love it because sometimes it's not enjoyable, but I don't hate it either. It's probably because I don't fly often enough to really hate it. I do often wonder, though, how business people fly so much... I think that would drive me crazy.

I flew on Thursday and Sunday of last week and will fly again this Saturday. This means I have had some time to make interesting airplane and airport observations.

I like airports because I like watching people. People who are stressed about delays and seats and screaming children. People who could care less about when they leave and when they arrive. At any given time, someone is doing something interesting.

I often fly on small planes. The ones where you can feel like you can touch the back of the airplane when you are standing at the front. On my first flight last week, I entered a small plane and realized I was seated next to the bathroom. I only had this experience one other time in my life, sitting by the bathroom. A rather heavy-set man asked to sit next to me, even though there were many empty seats on the flight. He was pale and sweating profusely and I determined he wanted to sit next to the bathroom because he was not feeling great. Well, I was correct in this observation because the flight ended when he whipped open the barf bag and used it. This was the first time I experienced someone using the barf bag. So on Thursday, when I sat down by the bathroom, I was somewhat suspicious that this could be a bad sign. I am pleased to annouce, however, that this was an enjoyable experience. A fifty-ish old man sat down next to me with a casual style briefcase and a coke. He had a magazine that he chose not to read. Instead, he opened his briefcase and pulled out the original Nintendo Gameboy. Of course, I proceeded to say, "The original Gameboy - that is fantastic! You just made my whole day." He asked if I wanted to play, but I politely declined. I didn't want to show him up with my amazing skills. I did watch him for an hour, however, and he was pretty good at Tetris. How great is that?

That flight took me to Charlotte, which is my favorite airport. It has good food and shops and a variety of live entertainment. It also has white wooden rocking chairs that are great for lay-overs. The airplane I took from Charlotte to Pittsburgh was decent in size, seating 6 across. I haven't flown on this size plane since going to Vegas a few years ago. I was impressed by this flight because they dropped the television screens for the flight. While the duration of the flight was not long enough to view a movie, it was suitable for the airline to provide Cranium trivia. This I found enjoyable. I dosed off for a few minutes, woke up, looked at the screen, learned some new fun and useless facts, and dosed again. Repeat process. It was either this or talk to the two suits next to me about my 401(k), the stock market and my life story, which I was not interested in. Seriously, these suits talked the entire time. No, they were not friends. Complete strangers. Ridiculous that two people who know nothing about each other could invest in conversation for this long on an airplane. I enjoyed my many short naps and fun facts instead.

Overall, I had a decent week of flying. I am not sure why people hate it so much - it never seems to be that bad. Perhaps my flight next week will bring another interesting opportunity to observe or experience something new. If not, though, I will at least get to enjoy the rocking chair in the Charlotte airport again and that makes it all worth it.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Changes for the Catholics...

The Catholic Church has made some changes here in the US regarding key phrases during Mass. Don't be alarmed - it's nothing like the overhaul of Vatican II, but it is something to be aware of, particularly if you're like me and you are not a regular attendee of weekly Mass. I'm sure you'd figure it out when you show up one random Sunday and the regular-goers are already down with the new lingo and you're wondering what the heck is happening but I'd figured I'd comment anyway.

On one hand, I appreciate changes for the Catholics. Change is often good, I believe, and since the world we live in does constantly change, perhaps elements of one's faith and practice of that faith should hop on board and be changed when appropriate. On the other hand, if I had to pick what type of changes I'd want the Catholic church to pursue, I'm pretty sure changes in phrases repeated each week at Mass fall pretty low on my list. I'd rather see changes in bigger policy/hot-button issues, but I digress... it's just not the right time for another serious overhaul.

You can read about the new changes here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061502252.html?nav=rss_nation

I found this article, read it, and sent it to my Catholic bud, Susan. As always, Susan had some fun witty commentary to offer, and I believe it worthwhile to share, so here goes. Susan said:

Jess sent me a similar article yesterday. I said "good thing I have stopped going to church. The changes would annoy me."

I found this piece and thought I would share my comments:

Change: The exchanges between priest and parishioners that now go "The Lord be with you" / "And also with you" would become "The Lord be with you" / "And with your spirit."
Comment: So the priest has a spirit but the congregants do not?

Change: The Act of Penitence, in which parishioners now confess aloud that they have sinned "through my own fault" would include the lines "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."
Comment: Catholic guilt 101 -- make a little fault a "most grievous fault"

Change: In the Nicene Creed, the opening words "We believe" would become "I believe."
Comment: Heaven forbid we take a communal approach and recognize our membership in a larger body.

Change: Early in the Eucharistic Prayer, "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might" would become "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts."
Comment: By hosts do they mean people who throw parties? Let's use the vernacular and not obscure religious language.

Change: Before Communion, the prayer "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you" would become "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof."
Comment: I am homeless and take offense to this one. It discriminates against people who do not have roofs under which others may enter.


So for you Catholics out there, whether you're dedicated weekly attendees or slackers like myself, may you find the changes to your liking. However, if you do not, as Susan anticipates, please let me know and we will share a good laugh and some commentary.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Would you kindly massage my feet?

I don't like feet.

I don't know when I realized this or why but feet gross me out.

I think part of it has to do with my years as an athlete in high school. I am sure someone who I played sports with, particularly who I ran cross country with, can attest to the fact that I always had nasty giant blisters on my feet. They were disgusting and painful. I spent many hours back in those days trying to find the right cushions, bandages, wraps, etc to heal old blisters and prevent new ones. Nothing ever worked. So I think part of my dislike of feet stems from the many blistering experiences of my adolesence.

The weird thing is, though, that I don't like shoes either. Most people would think that because I don't like feet, I would prefer to hide them from humanity. My feet prefer to be free, however, not crunched up in sneakers or uncomfortable shoes . My feet like freedom, particularly the freedom of some flip flops when outside or of nudity while inside.

My friends sometimes give me a hard time when they know of my dislike of feet. Just last week, cousin Jen thought it would be funny to stick her feet on my neck while she was sitting on the couch and I was sitting on the floor. I almsost puked. This humor is apparently funny to some people.

My friends also sometimes give me a hard time because I have often said, "You know, if I was ever dating someone that I wasn't really sure about and he asked me to massage his feet, I might just have to call the relationship quits." (Yeah yeah, I know... it's a stretch to think I'd ever date again, but regardless...)

But seriously, I am not sure I could do it. I don't think I could fake my way through giving someone a foot massage if I wasn't entirely convinced he was 100% worth it.

Then it hit me, however. There are occasional days that I come home from work or some place and I think, "Damn, my feet hurt. I could use a massage."

Would I be willing to take a foot massage from someone if I wasn't willing to reciprocate?

In what situation would I be willing to touch someone else's feet?

The answer hit me last week. Love. There needs to be a serious level of love between me and someone else for me to touch their feet. I realized this when my gram asked me to put a band-aid on the blister between her toes. Gladly, I did, even though feet are gross. But she's my gram, and I love her, and if you can't touch the feet of someone you love, well, you're obviously not dedicated to the relationship.

I guess time will tell what lucky fellow will be the recipient of such a deed.