Martini Cartwheels

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (Weird how sometimes only your face turns pale after being bit by a vampire)

The Red Sox World Series Victory Parade, Boston

These are some photos I took while on my commute home yesterday. The top photo is the Mass Pike in Newton. This part of the Pike always stinks. You are bumpa to bumpa (as they say in Bahhston) so it's easy for drivers to see into other people's cars, which is usually ok unless you are snapping photos. Then you get some odd stares. People are so uptight when it comes to this whole safe driving thing. The middle photo shows commuting essentials. Obviously you have to be careful with the water consumption (refer to photo 1). The candy has been in my car for a month - it's just an emergency snack in case I need a little sugar pick me up while driving. No coffee, for it can create issues similar to the water. Books on tape are a great way to pass the time. Creepy books are not good because they make me think someone who is hiding in the way back of the car will eventually pop out and kill me. The last photo is a shot of the sky around 5:15 pm. This was tricky to shoot because th...

I'm a Cowgirl from the West, With Big Mountains on My Chest* Editor's Note: CJ has agreed to commute into the office 4 days a week for the next month or so (as opposed to her usual three days). Posts for the next fours weeks may appear childish, incoherent, or just plain stupid. In addition, expect more spelling errors than usual.

I guess this one never rolled.

Driving West on the Mohawk is fun, The Fall scenery is second to none. But if it's deer that you seek, Then you better act meek, For when you shout "There's the effing deer" then they run.

Schaefer is the one beer to have When you're having more than one. Schaefer's pleasure doesn't fade Even when your thirst is done. The most rewarding flavor In this man's world. For people who are having fun, fun, fun, fun, .... Schaefer is the one beer to have When you're having more than one. Apparently this little diddy also works well with Pabst Blue Ribbon. However, when drinking Spaten Octoberfest, you can not go one for one with your buddies who are consuming the two aforementioned beers. Where's my Advil?

It's 1:20 in the morning. And I should not be up listening to Bronski Beat, Missing Persons, Depeche Mode, Ministry, or any other 80's tune I have stored away on my ipod. My coming of age, my discovery period, whatever I call it, the 80's were good to me. I learned who I was, what I wanted to be, and I was young enough to get away with things that I couldn't now. Ground Zero,Axis, Venus De Milo, The Rat, ManRay and various other Boston bars were my playgrounds. War Dancing, Doc Martens, and vintage clothing were just as important as getting up for work and paying the rent. A haircut every 4 weeks with my head shaved up the back, Harvard Square, the cute bartender at Bobbby's, my first girlfriend, did you really get us tickets for The Cure? REM, Love and Rockets, Public Image Limited, New Order - oh man, I'm really dating myself. I'll be honest - I do miss it a little bit. But not enough to want to go back.

I'm walking down the stairs of my usual parking garage early this morning, trying not to trip as I did two weeks ago, when I spy something that startles me out of my morning stupor. There, underneath the landing at the bottom of the stairs, I see a pair of horizontal legs, construction boot clad feet toes down. I'm now thinking 'that's an odd position to be in to do electrical work'. When I get to the bottom, still alone in the stairwell (except of course for the body I assume is attached to the legs), I peer around the last stair to see a man lying face down on the cement. Hmmmm, this is not good. So what are my options here? I could approach, but this being Boston and seeing no other people around makes me question if that is such a good idea. And what if the guy needs mouth to mouth or something? Or he is shot in the head? Not something I want to see at any time during the day, never mind before 7:00 AM. I decide this one is better left to a professional ...

I'm not sure why, but for some reason I got the feeling I was supposed to post this today. After my Father passed away, my Mother sold the house that they lived in for 40+ years. My father passed in the house. Right after we sold it, I went back in and took pictures of all the rooms. I've seen in various shows and publications where they discussed orbs - those round bubble looking objects that sometime appear in photos. They are supposed to be the energy of those that have passed. I took pictures of every room in the house with a disposable camera. When I got the prints developed, the only room that showed anything that looked like an orb was the room in which my father passed. I agree that it could have been something with the film, lighting, or the camera itself. I just thought it was odd that the only picture that showed this was the aforementioned room. And the orb appears over the area in which he passed. Anyway, since this blog is named after you Ernie (in a round about w...

From CBS 3 Springfield: A national group is accusing a local state representative of lying to voters.The National Organization for Marriage posted a billboard off I-91 calling Representative Angelo Puppolo a traitor.The billboard titled Betrayed compares Puppolo to Judas and Benedict Arnold, because the group says during his campaign he promised to vote for putting a question on next year's ballot that would ban same sex marriages in the Bay State. But Puppolo voted against the question, and the New Jersey based organization says this is a betrayal to voters. From Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country." To Members of The National Organization for Marriage: It would be my great pleasure to start a relief organization to finance your relocation to an area where you would be free from the number one scourge of this country - homosexual marriage. I'm sure President Ahmadinejad would welcome you with open arms....

Boston words and phrases that often get lost in translation: Winta Tigha - Those 4 round rubber objects you put on your car (cah) so you can drive through the snow. I'm onnit like a honnit - To jump onto a task and stick with it until completion. Kahkeys - Casual pants, can be worn in the office or down the Cape. " I like to buy my kahkeys at L.L. Bean." Your sister's ass - Usually used as an expletive or said in a moment of frustration. Emphasis should be on the word 'ass'. The Pole - Refers to the street sign outside one's residence. Examples include Resident Parking, Tow Zone, Commercial Vehicles Only, and the like. "I need to take the dog out to the pole".

Pumpkin this and pumpkin that, Fall is here and I feel fat. Cider donuts, apple pies, Adding inches to my thighs. Football snacks and mugs of beer, Up a size oh dear, oh dear. It's time to stop, it's time to quit, I think I felt my pants just split. Yeah Fall!!!!!!

One hundred miles in one day might not sound like much to most seasoned riders, but for me, it is a pretty big deal. I've been riding for a few years now, most of those on a permit. This spring I finally got serious, got my license, and upgraded to a bigger bike that would have a little more power for longer trips. On Saturday, I spent the whole day riding with friends and finally hit the 100 miles in one day mark. That's me in the red jacket. It matches my pretty red bike and red helmet. It's good to have a matching ensemble when you have a bad case of helmet hair - it distracts people away from your head. I first took a motorcycle class about 7 years ago. Unfortunately, that whole klutz thing clicked into high gear and I had a little mishap. Apparently when the instructor tells you to gently squeeze the front brake, she/he is not just blowing smoke. I guess I just didn't grasp that whole concept. I thought squeeze hard, stop quick. It's more like squeeze hard, ...

What a week. Between commuting to Boston and running off to visit my Mother in rehab (for her hip, not for Lindsay Lohan type issues) I feel pretty spent. To top it all off, I just found out my 25 th high school reunion got postponed from November 2007 to March 2008. Holy REO Speedwagon Batman. I had mentally prepared myself for all the standard reunion dialog and now I have to wait another4 months to use it. "Hey CJ , I have five boys. What about you, any kids?" "No, I hate kids. You can't legally crate them like you can dogs. Ughhh , what I meant to say was I just plain forgot to have them. That's why I look so much younger than you. Ummm , no really, I love kids. It's just that I have awesome great nieces and nephews and I can play with them when ever I want and then I can return them. ( CJ thinking - I'm in really deep you know what now). Hey, that's a great dress you're wearing. Husband? Oh no. Never married. None worthy. Actually I lik...

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"—Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000 "As yesterday's positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured."—New York, Sept. 26, 2007 Pay more attenton to the spell checker CJ and while youre at it, watch the grammer two, is you or is you not a colledge graduate?