Random Synapse Firings (and Misfirings!)

I LUV Southwest Airlines!

My "peanut" and I have flown on Southwest many times! :)

- Laurie :)

YouTube Videos of Alex!

Hi all!

Alex has been saving up for months to buy a waveboard (it's like a skateboard, but requires a lot more motion and balancing skill!). He finally reached the magic number - including sales tax - yesterday, and spent the rest of the afternoon cruising the neighborhood.

I shot some short video clips, and I'm pleased to report that I successfully uploaded them to YouTube! To take a look, log on to www.YouTube.com and search for my videos. My user name on YouTube is "LeapDayBaby" (which will make sense for those who know me well! :) )

Enjoy!

- Laurie :)

Girls Rule - in Fantasy Hockey!!

Hi all!

Well, the '07 - '08 Yahoo! fantasy hockey season is over, and the outcome was certainly different from my rookie year...

...because this year, I won the championship!

Our league expanded to 14 players this year - me and 13 guys. Needless to say, I think they're a little stunned to have lost to a girl, but the league commish (who happens to be one of my coworkers) was very gracious and complimented me on how much I've improved from last year (5th place out of 10). I may not be Janet Eagleson yet, but this year I showed that I can run with the big dogs!

Now if you'll pardon me, I'm off to draw up my list of draft picks for next season ;)

- Laurie :)

Festival of Trees

Hi all!

Earlier this month, we packed up the car and headed to the Festival of Trees, held each year at the RI Convention Center. This year's theme was "A Christmas Story" - yes, the 1983 classic holiday film. Here are some pictures:

"It's indescribably beautiful! It reminds me of the Fourth of July!" Yes, it's the Major Award itself - a replica of the infamous Leg Lamp won by Ralphie's Old Man. Brian Jones, the man behind A Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio, was on hand at the Festival with lots of "A Christmas Story"-themed merchandise (including more replicas of the Leg Lamp - even an inflatable lawn decoration!) and lots of fun stories about how he purchased and restored the house used as the Parker family home in the filming of "A Christmas Story". The movie was filmed in Cleveland, and the house has been lovingly restored to its movie-era grandeur. For more information about the house and museum, you can visit Brian's website at http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/. Brian, thanks for taking the time to chat with a fellow "Ralphie"! :)

Here's Alex looking sweeter than sugar next to an incredibly pink tree. Each tree on display was decorated with a particular theme and was made available for either outright sale or bidding via a silent auction. The designers donated their time, and all proceeds from the event went to local agencies that provide services to the homeless population in Rhode Island. This year's event was organized and sponsored by the Rotary Club - kudos to the membership for a job well done!

Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa/Merry Yule, everyone!

- Laurie :)

I've Been Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century

Hi all!

As the year draws to a close, I'd like to express my thanks for things that up until this year were not in my house...really, I swear they weren't.

- Caller ID: I've had Caller ID-enabled phones for years, but finally subscribed to Caller ID service this year. When I think of all the telemarketing and charitable solicitation calls I answered before getting Caller ID, I want to get in a time machine and smack my past self upside the head for not springing for this sooner. Admittedly, most of the telemarketers have been filtered out thanks to the Do Not Call list, but still...
- Nintendo Wii: Yes, after all my squawking about how video games would rot my child's brain, I'm the one who insisted that wii should have a Wii in the house. Even my parents love it.
- Digital Cable: Now I have Versus (and about 200 other channels). I can watch other hockey besides the Boston Bruins (no offense to the Bruins, of course). Yay!
- HDTV: It's not a flat panel, but it's still awesome - especially with the digital cable's high-def channels. Now I can watch Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer) in HD. I'm definitely a calm and dominant pack leader now ;)

Technology is my friend!

Cheers,

- Laurie :)

Forget math and science; Americans can't spell, either!

Seen on the marquee at our local Wendy's:

TRY ARE 4-ALARM!!!

SPICY CHICKEN

Anyone who is thinking, "What's wrong with that?" needs to leave my blog right now, never to return. "Are" is a verb expressing a state of being; "our", the word that should have been used in lieu of "are", is a pronoun signifying possession.

I'm not even going to get into the misplaced exclamation points.

I'm optimistic that some slightly-less-dim bulb at Wendy's will see the error and fix it, but I'm not betting the ranch on it.

I'll get off my soapbox now and go shake my head about the state of American education in a corner somewhere :)

Thanks for listening!

- Laurie :)

Forty isn't fatal...and neither is 39

Hi all,

Sometime this week (can't be too specific, as I'm a "leaper"), I enter my fortieth year of existence - in other words, I'm turning 39. It's a sobering thought.

Way back when, approaching forty was a sure sign that one was "over the hill", washed up, so unhip it's a wonder one's bums didn't fall off, etc. I couldn't disagree more with that sentiment. While many people wistfully yearn for their carefree high school days, I don't; quite frankly, with some notable exceptions, high school sucked. I wasn't good looking; I was socially awkward; my family was not financially secure by any means (which meant I wasn't walking away with any "best dressed" awards or driving myself to school), and for me, being smart definitely did not equate to being popular. I did - and still do - have a wonderful circle of friends who made high school fun, but I don't have any desire to step into the Way Back Machine with Sherman and Mr. Peabody any time soon. In fact, I think I'm just hitting my stride...along with many others who will turn 39 this year:

- Daniel Craig (Bond. James Bond. I can't believe I'm older than James Bond, if only by two days!)
- Julian McMahon (Dr. Christian Troy from "Nip/Tuck")
- Celine Dion (sang some song or other from a "sinking ship" movie... ;) )
- Will Smith (two-time Oscar nominee, still "jiggy wit' it")
- Tony Hawk (X-Games legend, whose name is on at least half of my son's wardrobe)
- Lucy Liu (forget Charlie's Angels...she'll always be O-Ren Ishii to me :) )

Then again, Vanilla Ice and Pauly Shore turn 39 this year too!

- Laurie :)

Pictures to Accompany Our Holiday Newsletter!

Hi all,

With the holiday season comes the annual edition of "The Seubert News", sent to faraway family and friends. This year, I thought recipients of our newsletter and others who visit my blog would like to see some recent pictures of (and/or taken by) John, Alex and me highlighting our travels this year. Enjoy!