tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80057282011-11-20T19:04:52.030ZA Washington, D.C. area native blogs about enjoying the ride of life: the pursuit of music, bands, road trips, relationships; living in Charles County, MD ("Where Eagles Fly"); motorcycling and motorcycle commuting (60 m.p.g.!); running an all-age music school in a wealthy community; and attaining whatever goals seem worthy of pursuing.Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.comBlogger3691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-75974912378479875572010-07-22T02:09:00.003Z2010-07-22T02:29:06.502Z

It's been about 15 years since Ani DiFranco nearly got me killed by a pack of wild, rabid lesbians. I realized this a couple days ago as I purchased a copy of Curve, the lesbian magazine, for the first time in five years or so. As I flipped through the magazine, I once again felt more of an outsider than an insider. Just like Ani, probably. The truth is that music fans have more contact with

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-69864207291174281192010-04-08T18:46:00.006Z2010-04-08T21:39:55.038Z

A year into parrot ownership, and goddamn, this sun conure, Roxy, has transformed our lives. We purchased Roxy from Petco in Waldorf, MD, in late April of 2009. I happened upon there, not because I was in the market for a parrot necessarily, but because I was feeling sick that day and I needed a pick-me-up. Crazy little birds to improve my mood. This was the first time I realized that and took

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-68371859094867453462010-02-26T03:01:00.002Z2010-02-26T03:06:25.296Z

As an adult, it's difficult to put oneself in a child's shoes. As a guitarist who's played for over twenty years, it's tough to distill my knowledge down to what I think a student should learn in their first 10 - 20 weeks of studying the guitar. That's what I'm working on this week and the next couple, along with some co-workers, as we re-vamp our school's curriculum.I'm trying hard to see the

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-18283087448466418772010-01-11T23:56:00.001Z2010-01-11T23:56:24.999Z

B2R McLean 9:30 Club Battle of the Bands winners!Originally uploaded by beachheartedI couldn't be more proud of the young rockers at my music school! Our Battle of the Bands was yesterday at the 9:30 Club in D.C. My school's kids placed five out of nine times, with our high schoolers taking first and second place! Perhaps this is why my fortune cookie last week said, "Your greatest dream is

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-80142815329111593762009-12-21T22:59:00.003Z2009-12-21T23:12:16.906Z

Waiting patientlyOriginally uploaded by beachheartedThe D.C. area got hit by its biggest December snowstorm in a decade this weekend. It's the first time I've been absolutely unable to ride my motorcycle since getting it in August. Here it is sitting beside a snowbank. I started it today and was so sorry to not take it for a spin. I've hated springtime for as long as I can remember, probably

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-85338767991823225482009-10-27T01:35:00.002Z2009-10-27T01:53:11.003Z

Hooray, I rode my motorcycle over 1,500 miles so far. Got it in August, then had a supposed broken toe and was off the bike... went on vacation for a week in September.... But generally, if it's nice out, and I've got no meetings or work to do in a day, and it's not going to rain, I ride, ride, ride! (Funny how when you have one whole day off a week, it rains on that day, whether it's Sunday or

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-20561166215803958032009-09-20T18:18:00.001Z2009-09-20T18:18:06.386Z

Myrtle Beach Heli 1Originally uploaded by beachheartedTook a helicopter ride yesterday while on vacation at Myrtle Beach. Saw some schools of fish--awesome! Here's the downtown strip (pictured.)

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-72197374841398721762009-09-04T04:07:00.001Z2009-09-04T04:07:14.380Z

H-D Iron 883 peanut tank with skull gas capOriginally uploaded by beachheartedConvinced now, to be a motorcyclist is one of the best decisions I ever made. When people ask about my motorcycle and what it's like to ride I keep saying, "It's just so basic--so punk." As my friend, Adam, once said, "...You're riding an engine down the road...."Today I strapped my Mac Powerbook onto my back along with

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-28747271980199021722009-08-05T23:05:00.001Z2009-08-05T23:05:01.994Z

My new motorcycle!Originally uploaded by beachheartedBought my first motorcycle today! Here's my new Harley Iron 883 in black denim in the showroom today. I've never seen a black Iron 883 because they are usually snatched up the second they hit the showroom floor. This time, my name was on the bike for at least a month prior to its delivery to the dealership yesterday... so I got first dibs. At

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-3805654057158694812009-07-21T02:07:00.005Z2009-07-21T02:26:36.914Z

I always knew it would come to this. It started with watching CHiPs as a kid, sticking a playing card into my bike's spokes, etc. I secretly always wanted to ride a motorcycle. I feel like I am coming out of the closet all over again. I don't dare tell my mom this time.So 35 years into my life I am learning how to ride a motorcycle. At 30 I did an odd pre-cursor--I learned how to ride a downhill

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-29083573841671909502009-05-13T01:56:00.001Z2009-05-13T01:56:13.065Z

Guitar Instruction, Sun Conure-styleOriginally uploaded by beachheartedI can't believe I lived without a pet in the household for so long! Here's my new parrot helping me play the guitar. I thought she might be afraid of it, but instead she crawled down from my shoulder almost immediately and sat on the body of the guitar while I played. After watching for a few minutes, she decided to assist. I

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-89317055530321982292009-04-25T22:53:00.001Z2009-04-25T22:53:41.218Z

Doin' what babies do: suckin' her toesOriginally uploaded by beachheartedDay two of parrot ownership went well. Yesterday I trained her not to squawk to get me to come visit her, which came in handy since today we had a yard sale outside. When she squawks she's about as loud as a blue jay, and sounds like one, too. But she only cried out a few times.She got extended play time at least five times

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-59405632537697206872009-04-25T22:43:00.001Z2009-04-25T22:43:25.465Z

Alert parrot, about to bite the cameraphone!Originally uploaded by beachheartedHaven't had a pet in a while because we wanted a bird but couldn't have one in our Silver Spring apartment. A couples weekends ago My Fair Maiden and I moved to southern Maryland... and can now have a pet. This sunburst conure "chose me" last weekend, and I brought her home yesterday. Overall, we're loving being down

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-56992389771933124202009-03-28T01:56:00.001Z2009-03-28T01:56:26.530Z

Three Plus OneOriginally uploaded by beachheartedSome friends and I shoot photos together whenever we can, which is not often at all. About a month ago we took this shot in the dark with the camera set on long exposure while on a tripod. We took turns shining the flashlight on ourselves from under our chins, Girl Scout ghost story-style. Of course, the spookiest part of the photo was the red "

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-31699543569869017372009-03-16T01:09:00.002Z2009-03-16T01:20:10.207Z

Imagine yourself at a concert full of loners, singing the same loner-music they've loved since their painful teens along with their Jesus-of-Loners, Morrissey. Now imagine yourself suddenly feeling out-of-place as you sang a song heartily while all around you stood still and silent because they didn't know it.That was me last night at the Morrissey show at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-77487582948463748752009-01-19T22:44:00.002Z2009-01-19T22:55:12.573Z

I always say I'm psychic enough to get myself in trouble. Case in point:Yesterday I bought my first-ever Fender t-shirt to show my Fender pride at work at the music school. I was only in my office for a few minutes today, wearing my Fender shirt, before I got an email saying that the CEO of Gibson USA was coming in the afternoon to have a meeting at my school. Of all things! I zipped up my hoodie

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-23784136029259341772009-01-12T03:04:00.001Z2009-01-12T03:04:34.752Z

Woobie animationOriginally uploaded by beachheartedIn 2008 I got a little too serious. Here's proof of life after work, and life on the lighter side: three girls, 8 DFH Midas Touches and 4 DFH 90-minute ales on vegan-fed stomachs, one camera, one blanket. This is what happens. Then we took it out into the hallway. I feel sorry for the neighbors if they had to see any of this.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-39526438322596426292008-12-19T03:51:00.002Z2008-12-19T04:10:23.763Z

Roadtrip on a day offOriginally uploaded by beachheartedYesterday I had to have an asphalt exorcism. It was my day off, yet it felt like my phone was ringing off the hook. I logged into my work email to head off any looming disasters, gassed up my car, then hit the road. Text messages started coming in."Day off. Driviny," is what I replied.I drove about 400 miles yesterday. Max. speed: 90 m.p.h.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-67527446271206409582008-12-13T22:27:00.002Z2008-12-13T22:32:37.577Z

Two bands from my music school earned 2nd place for their age groups at the Battle of the Bands at the 9:30 Club in D.C. last Sunday. (One band won second place for high school and the other won 2nd for middle.) Pretty sweet. Overall, I was really pleased with the quality of both the performances and the event itself. A seven-hour-long Battle of the Bands is a lot of amateur-level music to get

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-45597001481500635222008-11-26T02:06:00.006Z2008-11-26T02:27:05.255Z

Reeking like gasoline, I stripped down, showered, and did impromptu laundry.Once I started doing household chores, I figured I might as well scrub the toilet. Somehow some toilet water flicked off the brush, and landed somewhere. Where, I don't know. On me? Near the sink? From gas to ass.Decided to do some Christmas shopping online. The new Mac desktop machine would not power up. Back to the

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-87612693320741210392008-11-24T01:01:00.004Z2008-11-24T02:54:42.455Z

We all have our own self-soothing activities. Some of mine come in the form of rhythmic activities and/or exhilaration. Tonight on the way home from work I went from 0 - 60 m.p.h. in 6.8 seconds, which is pretty damn good for my totally-not-a-sports-car considering I started from a complete stop at a red light, hit the start button on my iPod stop watch the second I saw the light turn green,

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-70724726277674396202008-11-05T00:38:00.002Z2008-11-05T00:43:01.114Z

Like millions of others around the country, M.F.M. and I are sitting around the T.V. with our family, watching and waiting to hear the great victory announcement... we're bidin' our time with some steak, mango chutney, brownies and Dogfish Head ale. Yum. I squeaked my vote out at about 6:45 p.m. It took me about an hour and a half to drive the 15 miles from my work to home this evening. Crazy. It

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-88089776923877999522008-11-04T02:27:00.003Z2008-11-04T02:49:39.090Z

But screw the surface stuff... my main concerns are not tattoos, bands, office politics, or gadgetry. I am trying to solve a few mysteries, or one big one: my family. Almost one-third of my family has committed suicide. Why? And explain to me why mother, my father, my half-brother and I talk, but not a single one of us talks to all of the rest. I share no closeness with my family and vice-versa.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-81428606222464066582008-11-02T22:53:00.016Z2008-11-04T02:12:15.115Z

There's nothing like coming into the music school and my Assistant Director having something very urgent to show me. Is it a billing issue? A scheduling snafu? A congratulatory email from a parent? Another hilarious email from marketing? I lay my laptop bag on the floor and walk around the desk to see a video by Oregon's Red Fang.My Assistant Director kicks ass. I'm so glad I hired him. Not only

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-15005911717762747372008-10-18T03:08:00.001Z2008-10-18T03:08:35.605Z

Bruise over 4-year-old cycling injuryOriginally uploaded by beachheartedToday while opening some ridiculously tough clamshell packaging for an iPod cord, I must've pressed the packaging too hard against my thumb, resulting in an instant bruise that started off blue but is now purple. I broke my thumb at this exact place over 4 years while downhill mountain biking. I was practicing for a national

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-85065999624464973312008-09-24T02:01:00.004Z2008-09-24T02:21:06.387Z

Things are going well. Usually I disassociate myself from my job, so it's a welcome pleasure to connect a part of my self-worth with my success at work. After busting my butt all year, I am seeing the rewards. My music school has doubled its private lesson enrollment goals for the month, as well as surpassing our private lesson enrollment goals for the year. Pretty sweet.Four years ago I was at a

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-15187862751215931822008-08-25T00:27:00.002Z2008-08-25T00:31:10.253Z

There's a point in life where you eat SpaghettiOs with fresh parmesan cheese from Whole Foods sprinkled on top, and wash it down with a gourmet ale that costs $8.99 a bottle. You could say I'm there.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-38164165757645801582008-08-22T01:07:00.005Z2008-08-22T01:33:03.063Z

The year was 1986. I was in seventh grade and volunteered at a thrift shop in McLean, VA, every so often to benefit Fairfax Hospital. On my lunch break I walked over to the Music & Arts Center to look at sheet music and electric guitars. One day I had starved myself at lunch time enough times to buy a new cassette tape--Poison's "Look What the Cat Dragged In." I bought it and hid it in my

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-65435161815819921082008-07-17T14:38:00.003Z2008-07-17T15:04:34.975Z

I'm still exhausted, but I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm managing over 20 people now, and most of the time I feel like life is a horse and I'm just the rider, who's fallen off and is being dragged by a rope. But yesterday I felt a little better.Yesterday our company had a meeting in which we went over everything from the company's vision to our revenue goals and names for our

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-25463908332046346742008-07-01T02:28:00.002Z2008-07-01T02:39:01.742Z

I'm feeling sick at heart lately. So much seems to be screwed up in the world. I'm seeing chaos to the left; chaos to the right. The North Pole is melting tremendously. People are starving, hurting, dying. In my own world, I try to build something that's not chaotic, but then someone else comes along and knocks my work down like a house of cards. Today I worked from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Not

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-29298559802676642012008-06-20T14:24:00.003Z2008-06-20T15:11:29.557Z

Donita Sparks and the Stellar MomentsOttobar, Baltimore, MD, June 16, 2008Monday night shows are never easy. This past Monday, Donita Sparks and her band headlined at the Ottobar in Baltimore on a pleasant, cool evening. The crowd was sparse, and consisted of mostly members of the LBGT community. Whether this had something to do with the two mostly-female opening bands, or if Donita attracts

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-82516649697329487532008-06-03T13:12:00.006Z2008-06-03T13:32:37.126Z

My solo music project, Mansard, was invited to contribute to the annual D.C. art project/event, Queering Sound 08 [pix el a tion]. Queering Sound is this Saturday, June 7th, at the Warehouse on 7th Street, NW (see "shows" on Mansard's MySpace page.) To quote the press release, "The eighth installment of Queering Sound again gathers together local, national and international artists - with a

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-20214518010646341512008-05-15T04:14:00.002Z2008-05-15T04:23:33.142Z

Have you ever worked so hard you lost touch with friends, family, and reality? Same here.I've been so preoccupied with my job that I am losing touch with almost everything I knew and enjoyed about my life. I don't cook nice dinners for my girlfriend anymore. I don't cook at all. I don't read the paper on Sundays. I only check my personal email twice a week--if I remember. My mom barely wants to

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-56637462728356988562008-04-08T09:14:00.003Z2008-04-08T09:25:34.227Z

Judges needed for a Battle of the Bands at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 4th from 1 - 7 p.m.! This is a competition for bands who attend B2R music schools. The students are from elementary school age and up. (Most of the students performing are in high school or younger.)If you are a D.C.-area musician or are from the music industry and want to be considered to be a judge,

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-72861228973728386932008-02-29T02:24:00.004Z2008-02-29T03:20:41.077Z

I haven't blogged exactly what I'm up to lately: I work at a school of rock! Yes, like Jack Black in "School of Rock," except I'm the director!I've never been able to work so many hours a week without getting totally slap-happy, until now. Lately I've worked 75 - 90-hour weeks, yet I've been able to keep my sanity despite not having any form of release to speak of besides throwing my new car into

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-43789213376723531262008-01-28T01:21:00.000Z2008-01-28T02:29:13.711Z

Scooby-Doo and the Gloworm Today My Fair Maiden and I had a very Scooby-Doo day. We spent most of the day driving around rural areas in southern Maryland, taking photos of spooky places and things that were falling apart. Our adventures also served to break in my new car at highway speeds (since I know during the week I'll be stuck in traffic a bit, which is not good for a new car during its

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-34263030362493855602008-01-11T01:55:00.000Z2008-01-11T02:18:35.677Z

I feel it's best to accelerate out of tight, unpleasant situations rather than get slowed down and held back by people who are being jerks.I started a new job Tuesday!!! I've moved back up into management again. I'm the director of a new project on a new site that's under construction. The final touches on the workspace should be completed next week. In the meantime I'm learning about my new

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-42699785263645976832008-01-06T13:39:00.000Z2008-01-11T01:53:20.278Z

Sleeping in on the weekends has become impossible because I have the misfortune of living near the Giant Grocery store on East West Highway in Silver Spring, Maryland. Who knew Giant employees would wake me up on a regular basis?Giant in Silver Spring has a P.A. system for communicating within the store (for example, to announce things like, "Brian, you have a call on line two, Brian, a call on

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-16894083932286480012008-01-05T03:22:00.001Z2008-01-05T03:22:43.163Z

You have new Picture Mail! Originally uploaded by beachhearted 2008. Woo-hoo!Still alive and kickin' here. Just busy.I have a second, so I thought I'd shoot a post out there.This is a vegetarian lasagna I made last night, after a very, very long day at work yesterday. You can see the onions, ricotta, and broccoli on top. (We also made a meat lasagna.)What I love about my relationship with

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-18520590375217828092007-12-20T03:00:00.000Z2007-12-20T15:16:38.794Z

This past Sunday these weird and rather alarming storm clouds rolled through at four-something p.m. when My Fair Maiden and I were hosting a few friends. They were the kind of unusual clouds that make one review his/her choices in life and wonder if this was The End.I just hadn't been paying attention to the outside world, and the weather. (Translation: Some friends were over while I had my own

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-75137180652899907752007-12-07T19:03:00.000Z2007-12-07T19:11:27.891Z

On the subject of energy conservation, here's a "cheeky" commercial about using energy-efficient light bulbs. It doesn't make much sense, but it made me laugh anyway, which means a lot on this rainy D.C. day.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-74569308052567865082007-12-07T16:25:00.000Z2007-12-07T16:31:37.934Z

The government of Ireland is working to ban energy-wasting lightbulbs by January 2009. Other European countries are kicking around the idea of phasing them out, too.Do you have energy-efficient bulbs in your home yet?

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-52564371800766917362007-12-05T18:08:00.000Z2007-12-05T18:24:41.505Z

In an effort to assemble photos of my favorite band, L7 (R.I.P.) into one place, I started an L7 photo pool on Flickr called L7 is for Lovers. Please take a look and if you know anyone who has shots of L7 from 1985 to when they went on hiatus in 2000 or so, please let them know to look for the pool (or send them the link.) Here's a little bit more about it:"L7. You know them; you love them. This

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-60511146959320826872007-12-04T00:32:00.000Z2007-12-04T00:34:39.952Z

Another game of "Guess who's in the hospital (now)?" took place a few minutes ago when I got home from work.The ill: a family member.The hospital: in Minnesota.Travel required: Perhaps.What a year. Please let it end soon.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-20721395529693325722007-12-02T15:29:00.000Z2007-12-02T15:50:04.148Z

Lately My Fair Maiden and I have a little game (mostly used on the phone) called, "Guess who's in the hospital (now)?" It's our attempt to have a sense of humor about the mishaps, illnesses, and deaths we've been touched by this year. The year got off to a horrible start with the passing of MFM's father, and has had some strange lows since then. The past month, it seems like every time the phone

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-33750900609609455812007-11-29T03:10:00.001Z2007-11-29T03:10:32.682Z

The musicians we looked up to in the 90s are changing the way we make, publish, and sell music today--further proof at CASH Music. I look forward to seeing what comes of this site and others like it. Donita's made me proud--yet again!read more | digg story

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-18537906844560087632007-11-20T21:44:00.001Z2007-11-20T21:44:35.649Z

No wonder the Metro has so many delays! Originally uploaded by beachhearted Dear Metro, I think I may have found why the red line has had switching problems lately!This morning I spotted an elf on some equipment along the red line between the Metro train line and the Amtrak line near New York Avenue (in D.C.) Please see the photo. Is that not a creepy, dirty elf causing mischief of some

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-29992578964282321792007-11-20T02:41:00.001Z2007-11-20T18:10:22.486Z

On to the next subject: Cooking. I've cooked more often in the past couple weeks since we're home more often. It seems I'm always sauteeing something. I don't pretend to know anything about cooking, especially culinary lingo, but I know what tastes good. And if I give myself a little time to cook, I end up surprising myself.It turns out that all the times my mom tried to show me to cook and I

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-86218647527793541222007-11-20T01:52:00.000Z2007-11-20T18:17:04.297Z

Funny how life works. Last week I seriously entertained the thought that I should blog more regularly. But life takes its course, and I find myself with less and less time to write. As soon as I decided I want to blog more, I ended up blogging less.The Juliette and the Licks show in D.C. at the Rock and Roll Hotel was less fun than the one in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, because the crowd was

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-53516408812728509022007-11-13T19:27:00.001Z2007-11-13T19:33:47.837Z

Greenpeace whales speak out against Japanese whaling Originally uploaded by beachhearted Photo: Greenpeace USA activist, Sara, in her humpback whale costume. This photo was taken from inside my blue whale costume!Greenpeace whales visited the U.S. Capitol at lunchtime on Monday, November 13th, 2007 in hopes of finding the visiting Japanese prime minister and asking him to stop Japanese

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-66765117291929695132007-11-08T16:14:00.001Z2007-11-08T17:15:19.987Z

Juliette Lewis lights it upOriginally uploaded by beachhearted Thoreau, I believe, wrote something about sucking the marrow out of life. This past weekend my partner in crime and I did just that. Somehow the weekend managed to be inspiring, rocking, tiring, rejuvenating, surprising, peaceful, and fun all at once.Friday we had good seats to see Morrissey at Constitution Hall in D.C. with our

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-68459653205802079732007-11-07T23:53:00.001Z2007-11-08T00:59:57.864Z

I've been meaning to write this entry for about a month. But I was sick at the time of Donita's show last month with The Donnas in Baltimore, and as soon as I got a little bit better, I jumped back on the roller coaster of life with my hands in the air, screaming. Now I'm playing catch-up at life, at laundry, at everything.Donita Sparks works the crowd at the OttobarOriginally uploaded by

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-43519431074743755342007-11-07T17:01:00.000Z2007-11-07T17:48:47.775Z

Now that the weather has cooled off here in the D.C. area, many of us are paying closer attention to our energy bills and power consumption. While energy-use is on your mind, it might be a convenient time to switch to using clean energy. Green energy currently costs more than its dirtier counterpart, but as it gains popularity and more infrastructure is built to accommodate the needs of the

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-31802235733396763832007-11-06T09:59:00.000Z2007-11-06T11:06:50.339Z

The weekend of exhaustion and revelationThis past weekend was insanely awesome. It's been a while since Monday came around and I just shook my head about how much I enjoyed the weekend. I'll probably spend my next few blog posts trying to catch up on good shows I've seen in the past month-and-a-half, and summing up this weekend. I think I am just about over my month-and-a-half-plus bacterial

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-72098959773311960792007-11-05T23:11:00.000Z2007-11-05T23:21:04.804Z

As many of you know, I work in marketing in Washington, D.C. for Greenpeace USA. Every so often, all of us employees are asked to pitch in and do some hands-on fundraising, so I've joined the Great Whale Trail with Greenpeace. What is the Great Whale Trail? Please read on.The annual Japanese whale hunt begins soon. Japan sanctioned the killing of over 1,000 whales for “scientific research” in the

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-66549637069463279742007-11-02T17:15:00.000Z2007-11-02T17:21:47.066Z

It's going to be an action-packed weekend. I can't believe we'll see Morrissey and the intriguing Girl in a Coma tonight in D.C., and Juliette and the Licks tomorrow in N.C.! Wa-hoo! Plus, we're probably going to eat at Waffle House as a bonus! And see friends, of course!

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-919161908234606072007-11-01T18:39:00.001Z2007-11-01T18:39:42.607Z

Morrissey Halloween '07 at the Ram's Head in Baltimore, MD Originally uploaded by beachhearted ...get closer to the stage!

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-86739334416132869932007-11-01T17:41:00.000Z2007-11-01T17:57:58.041Z

Imagine paying over $75 through TicketMaster for a concert ticket, being one of the first ten people to arrive at the club to line up for the show (before 2:00 in the afternoon), sitting on a hard floor for over six hours waiting patiently in line, and when doors open at 8 p.m., rushing to the stage only to find that over 60 people had been let in before you and were already lining the stage

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-6906611767629946612007-10-26T19:42:00.000Z2007-10-26T20:19:59.674Z

After a few hours wandering around Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, hunger could strike anyone I'm sure. Reading about hardship, such as that experienced during the Civil War, makes me thankful for the pleasures of modern life. Especially after remembering that Civil War soldiers ate hardtack.So during our visit to historic Gettysburg last Sunday, my partner in crime

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-64494107094901272842007-10-15T22:43:00.000Z2007-10-15T23:49:29.321Z

Healthcare costs so much these days that many parents don't have a damn thing to pass onto their children/heirs if they were ill before they die.On the Wednesday night before the auction Friday, MFM and I went into full promotion mode. We e-mailed dozens of various types of collectors in the area to ensure that somebody who valued and knew the value of the items would show up. This was the best

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-3548133061806973132007-10-12T19:00:00.000Z2007-10-13T15:37:34.351Z

For the past month, I've had my heart set on seeing Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments play a couple shows on the East Coast: one show at the Ottobar in Baltimore (last Saturday), and the other at Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, N.C. (tonight.)But I've been sick with various illnesses since returning from vacation over a month ago. I can't seem to get a break. (First it was possible food

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-53315919324291183012007-10-10T23:31:00.000Z2007-10-12T15:41:42.337Z

If you live in the D.C./Baltimore area and like to collect records, beer cans, soda cans, model trains, model cars, stamps, military collectibles, china, or dolls... please check out this estate auction this Friday, October 12th, at 6 p.m. at the Chesapeake Marketplace and Auction House near Solomon's Island, Maryland. I think you can even call ahead and make a bid if you can't get there--I'm not

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-21698404156510786682007-09-27T15:13:00.000Z2007-09-27T20:48:41.363Z

Greenpeace USA's Executive Director, John Passacantando, a Greenpeace board member, and almost 50 other protesters were arrested outside the State Department at a U.S.-led meeting of the Major Emitters this morning in Washington. Protesters held signs reading, "Bush: Wrong Way on Global Warming." Full story with images at Yahoo! News and at the GP USA site.Kudos to those of my co-workers and

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-10943001428676228172007-09-27T14:34:00.001Z2007-09-27T14:34:21.222Z

Patchwork wall, Chinatown Originally uploaded by beachhearted This morning there was a fire on the Metro's Red Line somewhere near Judiciary Square when I was on my way into work. Our train operator told us we were holding temporarily at Judiciary Square. When he updated us a minute later and said we were holding indefinitely, I smelled smoke coming into our car from the station.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-25551397448893085482007-09-19T17:17:00.000Z2007-09-19T17:42:52.174Z

I still can't marry my partner of three years. Yesterday the Maryland Court of Appeals upheld its ban on gay marriage. Seems like most straights (and most courts and state legislatures across the country) still think allowing gays to marry will wreck the sanctity of marriage. With divorce rates at about 50%, I'm still shocked at how hard lawmakers pretend to think the institution of marriage is

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-22096238396175465172007-09-16T18:58:00.000Z2007-09-16T19:16:59.041Z

This afternoon My Fair Maiden and I took a walk along Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. As we walked towards the downtown, past the Silver Spring Fire Department, we noticed a broken and boarded up window on the side of a martial arts center. Always interested in urban and suburban decay, MFM wanted to snap a photo of the window.We took about five steps off of the sidewalk into the Silver Spring

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-4758503598416476752007-09-11T14:21:00.001Z2007-09-11T14:21:53.364Z

Balcony Originally uploaded by beachhearted This was our view for days and days when we were on vacation. I've never logged so much time just looking at the ocean. It was nice to be at the beach, to enjoy the ocean, and for once to have the luxury of knowing that in an indirect way, my duties at work helped to preserve it. That is a first for me, and that's a special peace of mind I've

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-71601645087921018662007-09-11T13:48:00.000Z2007-09-11T14:10:01.390Z

I know I haven't posted in a while. Everything's busy right now, but in a good way.MFM and I just got back from an awesome, long, beach vacation yesterday. We took lots of fun pics, and I'll be sure to post some. This was our first long vacation together. Last year I used my vacation time for downhill mountain biking camp, and before that I wasn't allowed to take off during the summer, which was

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-21462714110690141082007-08-16T14:27:00.001Z2007-08-16T14:31:29.408Z

Here's yet another random shot I took:Beery goodness at home.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-1922985913671349042007-08-14T18:19:00.000Z2007-08-14T18:29:03.565Z

The only time it's okay for a fly to be in your soup is... if it's cock soup, as found in Silver Spring's Giant grocery store. Ew.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-18911322083021214702007-08-14T14:58:00.001Z2007-08-14T14:58:23.606Z

Rainbow bus. Now that's gay. Originally uploaded by beachhearted This Rainbow Bus went zooming by today in Chinatown, DC, when I was on my way to work. As you can see, I barely got the shot with my camera phone. The bus driver was an elderly gentleman in rainbow suspenders. Wish I had gotten him in the shot!

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-38938493881305679792007-08-09T14:25:00.000Z2007-08-09T14:43:26.327Z

Last night I dreamed that My Fair Maiden and I moved to the suburbs and ended up living next-door to legendary lesbian mountain biker and motorcycle racer, Missy Giove, and her girlfriend/wife(?). (Apparently we moved to Chesapeake, VA!) In my dream, I actually remember seeing her coming out of her garage, and I was like, "Oh, my God! That's Missy Giove! Missy Giove is our neighbor! Score!"Her

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-32483974491691887932007-08-08T19:25:00.001Z2007-08-08T19:25:39.427Z

FruityMan as LOL Cat Originally uploaded by beachhearted It's high time I offer my cat up to the world of LOL cats, so I submitted this image to ICanHasCheezBurger.com today. If you can think of a better caption/slogan for his pic, please find his pic on TheCheezburgerFactory.com and make a better submission! Thanks!-Capt. Jack

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-51283661921432886022007-08-07T00:46:00.001Z2007-08-07T14:03:01.248Z

"That's Why I Gotta Get Back to the Restart": The Beastie Boys dug up an old hardcore song of theirs, but butchered it so badly after two restarts that they scrapped it in front of at least 20,000 people. Ladies and gentleman, that's why live music is so fun. In my teenage and college years I used to dream of seeing a band play something so familiar yet unfamiliar to them that they couldn't get

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-35034635392337201912007-08-06T13:41:00.000Z2007-08-06T20:06:21.110Z

Today I'm feeling really, really good. Exhausted, but good. The Virgin Festival in Baltimore this past weekend was infinitely awesome. I'm beat; I don't think I could think my way out of a wet paper bag at this moment, but I'm digging my sweet rock hangover.My favorite performances were by Velvet Revolver, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beastie Boys, CSS, Interpol ('though I left to see Velvet Revolver),

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-7553367190541051882007-08-03T15:17:00.000Z2007-08-03T15:31:48.944Z

Has anybody heard of the Virgin Festival?! I only know two other people who are going to the Virgin Festival tomorrow in Baltimore. Nobody I ask about it has even heard of it, which is weird--I've asked lots of people who are really into music. Sometimes I feel a little old, but I think I can handle this double-Lollapalooza-type event... maybe most people my age are "over" festivals?Regardless,

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-77732173206746347622007-07-31T12:30:00.001Z2007-07-31T17:55:31.333Z

The White Stripes rock Virginia Originally uploaded by beachhearted The White Stripes rocked Virginia Saturday night, and Virginia rocked them right back. This was one of the best shows I've ever been to. Not only was the band better than I expected (I knew they'd be good but I didn't know it would be mind-blowing), the crowd was so into it--it was probably the best crowd I've ever been a

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-1050042784213151162007-07-23T22:07:00.001Z2007-07-23T23:12:15.236Z

It's five O'clock somewhereOriginally uploaded by beachhearted Saturday we rolled into Rehoboth Beach and were surrounded by full-on nice-summer-weekend-day madness. As soon as we crossed the drawbridge into town, the parking spots were occupied. The town was a madhouse. We had to circle the block a few times, just to find parking near the Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats. When we realized they only

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-24087305151191917982007-07-20T21:22:00.000Z2007-07-20T21:45:46.878Z

Before the month of July is over I ought to share the story of how having an allergic reaction lead to me to seeing five different fireworks shows this past July 4th (and not one of them was on T.V.)!On July 4th, my partner-in-crime, MFM, and I went to work out together in the early evening before we went to Takoma Park, MD, to see their fireworks celebration. I hopped on an elliptical cardio

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-64980308822537596752007-07-07T14:01:00.001Z2007-07-07T14:01:57.326Z

Chicken So Good I Wept Originally uploaded by beachhearted Last night MFM and I went out for her birthday dinner at our favorite restaurant in D.C. and the oddest thing happened: My buffalo wings were so divine that I actually teared up after one bite and wept after two bites! They weren't spicy or anything, I wasn't having PMS, and my day had been all right... the chicken was just so

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-51199480116065340952007-07-04T17:40:00.001Z2007-07-04T17:40:51.890Z

Ibanez RG Series Guitar - Black on Black Originally uploaded by beachhearted "None More Black." (Quoting, "This is Spinal Tap.") I couldn't resist putting black guitar strings on my black-on-black guitar. But word to the wise--yes, these DR Extra Life coated guitar strings might last longer, but they don't feel or sound good. They don't have the "bright" sound of new strings, and they

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-69243948320684506062007-06-20T20:58:00.000Z2007-06-20T21:26:54.893Z

The past month has been action-packed but I haven't had much time to write about it. Given that I penned a pretty depressing post earlier, I thought I'd share some of the joys I've experienced recently, too!Highlights of the past month were boat training with my Greenpeace colleagues, going to a reading by my new favorite author/humorist, Laurie Notaro, listening to Ralph Nader speak when he

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-25769334406809469432007-06-20T01:33:00.000Z2007-06-20T02:03:30.950Z

Yesterday in the kitchen at work I said "hi," to a co-worker who I don't know that well. All I know is that I sensed she was a really sweet person. We've never met officially. I think we've said "hi" a few times. It turns out she died yesterday. "But I just saw her!" is what I thought when I heard the sad news.I think we all tend to do that when someone passes away. We don't want to believe it.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-21623084442286730432007-06-13T18:26:00.001Z2007-06-13T18:26:22.516Z

Fine, Not Fine Originally uploaded by beachhearted I saw this passive aggressive note this weekend on a fridge in a place shared by many.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-25313368304871088392007-06-12T19:53:00.000Z2007-06-12T21:24:26.190Z

I like to take the bull by the horns. Thursday I saw some thrilling footage of a Greenpeace RIB (rigid inflatable boat) being chased down by German police inside the G8 security barrier. Friday I signed up for a spot that had just opened up in a Greenpeace boating class (yet another perk with the new job.) Friday night I flummoxed My Fair Maiden by saying I would be boating Sunday instead of

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-40854334902407343092007-06-05T20:00:00.001Z2007-06-05T21:38:29.240Z

I just found out that I'm having dinner tonight (for work) with the original tomboy from "The Facts of Life"! (No, not Jo, Cindy.) I think it's kinda cool, because it says on Wikipedia that Blair kinda accused Cindy of being a lesbian for being such a tomboy and whatnot, which is something I can identify with from growing up, as well. According to the entry on Wikipedia, Cindy was one of the

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-87930333434913581402007-05-31T17:27:00.001Z2007-05-31T17:29:46.145Z

Holy cow, I found the Phantom of the Opera in our sink a couple months ago. I decided against lacquering and selling the spatula on Ebay for an ungodly sum. I'm not very into food art, as it were.Doesn't it have an uncanny resemblance?

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-53548587380450382632007-05-29T19:14:00.000Z2007-05-29T19:41:26.552Z

...or, Just Because You Have Kids Doesn't Mean You Can't Start a Green Life!I've been hanging around on Yahoo! Answers, my latest online addiction. CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are an oft-discussed topic on there in the Environment section, and I've actively participated in some of those question-and-answer sessions.From being on there and seeing what the general public thinks about

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-88624082861494060582007-05-18T16:46:00.000Z2007-05-18T16:56:44.872Z

As you've probably already heard, Exxon funds phony science to create confusion among the public as to whether or not global warming is real. That way, if people are lead to believe that scientists still disagree about the existence of global climate change and the effect the burning of fossil fuels has on it, Exxon hopes that people will continue to use Exxon's gasoline and petroleum-based

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-43803311866840856592007-05-16T17:03:00.000Z2007-05-16T17:10:56.302Z

My trainer kicked my ass Monday night and I still have soreness walking. Seems that lifting my entire body weight 20 times with only one calf is harder than it looks. I would have never thought to do the lifts with less than both calves. Not sure if I will do it again, either. I thought to myself, "I'm paying for this?! This sucks!"As I thought she would, she suggests I try spinning classes and

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-12284720863875827522007-05-16T16:03:00.000Z2007-05-16T17:13:29.669Z

I grew up in a church and went to Sunday school and services every Sunday. When I said, "Jesus," it was a kind and gentle word that came out of my mouth like sweet honey. In middle school, I started enthusiastically attending youth group Sunday evenings at church. By senior year of high school, I was the youth group president. As a devout Christian, Liberty University looked appealing to me.But

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-37925585891998806752007-05-11T16:22:00.000Z2007-05-11T16:27:04.894Z

Shoo. I saw this commercial after dinner the other night and had a good laugh. I have a fondness for comedic trumpet- and trombone-usage in commercials and T.V., and any ad that can make me laugh.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-56826405474348391812007-05-10T20:55:00.000Z2007-05-11T21:35:26.991Z

MFM and I went up to a small town in Minnesota two weekends ago for MFM's dad's funeral. It kinda sucked because we had already had a memorial service in March, but MFM and her brother had to go through the emotions of another service because the older family members in Minnesota wanted a second service in her dad's hometown.The town, Halstad, has a population of 600 and is about half an hour

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-56174521240597605712007-05-09T19:54:00.000Z2007-05-09T20:07:46.300Z

This versus thing is overdone.Why is it that in the entertainment world, every time somebody works with or even talks to someone else, somebody calls it, "This person vs. That person," even when it's not in the spirit of competition?Is there so much disagreement in the world that when people come together we have to refer to their partnership in terms of a boxing match? I don't get it. Could

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-57642889094807450122007-05-08T21:03:00.000Z2007-05-08T21:16:19.539Z

Greenpeace sent a few activists to the White House today to deliver over 30,000 petitions to President Bush, and two of the activists were dressed in adorable humpback whale costumes.Charles Dharapak snapped this photo of them at the White House gates, as shown on Yahoo! today. I love the shot. And fear not, while the petitions to save the whales weren't accepted at the gate, they'll get mailed

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-47122737280406539772007-05-07T17:31:00.000Z2007-05-07T18:31:12.934Z

Do you ever have days where you get up and feel so good you want to shake your sweaty, rock 'n' roll head all over a crowd? But you're wearing a grey suit and uncomfortable shoes, and you've got love handles from spending too much time in the office fighting hard to do a good job working for a company that you don't even stand behind 100%? You have to start somewhere, and don't try to do it all

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-5672536122804823972007-05-03T01:25:00.000Z2007-05-03T01:50:56.726Z

Tax refunds are rolling in. I got a refund--less than I hoped for, of course, but enough... and it's actually good that I didn't give Uncle Sam a loan for the year by having too much taken out of my paychecks.I used most of my refund to make amends for a tax mistake I made in 2004. With the rest, I bought a bunch of domain names pertaining to a business idea I have, plus a couple to sell off...

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-33767553552320440652007-04-23T21:25:00.000Z2007-04-23T21:50:41.484Z

I've never had occasion to be there for a girlfriend who had lost a parent.... until now. My Fair Maiden's father had a stroke a few years back and has been in poor health since. Last year his health was particularly touch-and-go. He had a number of surgeries from which we were worried he wouldn't wake up from. It was a rough year. Better for MFM than 2005, though.I can't begin to write about how

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-8101819757583323472007-04-17T14:21:00.000Z2007-04-17T14:24:38.971Z

The Moaners. Tonight. IOTA Club and Cafe, Arlington, Virginia.Check them out.

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005728.post-52268838636490719962007-04-04T19:09:00.000Z2007-04-04T19:26:33.442Z

I'm ba-ack! My hiatus from the blog was good, but I never, ever wrote for myself as I thought I would. I've been busy, though.In my time off from the blog, I worked hard to land a great new job... and for a change, I can actually write about my job and what my organization is about because... I work for Greenpeace USA! What an awesome difference this is as compared to working for the federal

Mansardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11237383362907055971noreply@blogger.com2