It's Been Finalized

I received a call from Ethan informing the title to book VII will be, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". He read this on CNN of all places. However, still no word as when the book will be released.

203 days until "Order of the Phoenix"

Traveling With Dumb and Dumber

I have found myself in a sort of lull lately. I haven't blogged, I haven't checked my email except for about once a week. I've gotten out and ridden some, but I feel as I don't have a purpose. It's taken me a bit to get a handle on it. Basically cross is over. There were times through November when I was looking forward to the end of the season. Being able to have a life back, actually having time to play my guitar, get into the holiday season and what not in the place of just work, ride, eat and sleep. However, now that it's here I already miss it.
We just got home from Nationals today. It was a long and tiring weekend. We went up early so we could try to see a little of Providence. We were in Providence last year for 4 days and all we did was eat there one night. Through years of going to races I've been all over the Northeast coast primarily. But it's basically all the same. I can tell what the park looked like, or what the weather was like. I couldn't tell you anything about the actual town. This year, we left late Wednesday so we could walk around some Thursday before all the racing began. Marc, Ethan and I just strolled around town aimlessly just taking it in. We stopped at a local deli and grabbed a bite before heading off to pre-ride the course and help set up the compound. It was a good day.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all about the races. The days flew by watching everyone try their hardest in their respective races. Some racers were disappointed due to the more mild weather we had this year. It was around the 50's each day and no rain. The course was dry and super fast. I did not share their disappointment. Though I can understand why it would be to their advantage if it were sloppier. I was much happier with the warmer and drier weather.
There were many high and low points to the weekend. I'm really bad at remembering all everything, and I know Marc will go into them in much more detail. Basically, everyone busted their ass and did the best they could do and it was amazing to watch. Overall it was a great wrap up to an awesome season. I'm already counting the days until next year's.


Marc relaxing prior to his pre-lap. And yes, he is sporting the trucker mustache.











Marc taking the inside line around the tree.













I felt something bumping into me while I was watching the race. I turned around to see this green guy. Not sure what he is. Kinda freaky. Amy wasn't as freaked out by him as I was.















Betsy, Amy, Fitzy and I cheering one of the races.












Betsy flying by in the elite race before getting a flat.













Katie at the start of the elite race.












I just thought this was cool. That's Marc up towards the top of the hill. This was several laps in and they're still all packed together.

This is an ice rink in the center of Providence.













Inside Providence Place. It's a giant mall around 4 or so stories tall. It is neat to see. But still a mall.











The infield of the course. A bit going on. I didn't see much of it. Too much other stuff to see.












Every chilling inside the compound.













And finally, but not least, the mullet. Yeah, Ethan with the mullet and Marc sporting the trucker were my traveling companions for the weekend.
Oddly enough, this wasn't the only mullet we saw. However, it was the only one with racing stripes.

Harry Potter to Curious George

Back in the Spring my sister and her kids were over the house for dinner. I was trying to cook something that wasn't going too well, so dinner wasn't exactly on time. In order to help keep the kids entertained we turned on the TV and in flipping through the channels we happened upon Harry Potter. My nephew Jake, who was not quite 3 at the time, sat mezmorized watching the movie. From that day forward he loved Harry Potter and he wanted to watch it constantly.
My sister doesn't really like him watching too much TV, so I figured I'd try to help and burn Jake the soundtrack so he could listen to it instead of watching the movie all the time. Well, the CD turned out to be a little bit of a challenge at first. He was very excited when Jen announced that they'd get to listen to Harry on the way to school in the car. She popped the disc in and the music started and Jake asked very confused, "where's Harry". He wasn't putting it together that a CD is different then a DVD and he wanted to know where the screen was. Jen tried to explain it to him and he eventually understood. He then would ask to listen to his music Aunt Di got him all the time, to and from school. Plus, he still wanted to watch the movie when he got home. So now my poor sister, who doesn't even like Harry Potter, is totally encased in it. She couldn't escape it. She started telling fibs to Jake that she forgot his music at home when they'd be on the way to school, but then mysteriously she'd play it on the way home. He never questioned it.
Last week I figured that the Harry music was such a hit that I'd burn him another CD. This time it was Jack Johnson and Friends from the Curious George soundtrack. Jake had never heard of Curious George. It was just the music, I didn't give him a movie nor did he see it. I just told him I had some more music for him.
The other day I get a call from Jen and I asked is she had played Jake's new CD yet. She replied with "oh, yes". Apparently they were on the way to school and she had popped in his new music and Jake says out of no where, "mommy, I think I want Santa to bring me the Curious George movie for Christmas". I think I'm ruining my nephew. Now he thinks all music have a movie that go with them. Jen hasn't banned me from giving him any more music yet though. She said at least it's better than the music they actually make for kids. She said she got one once a while back, popped it in one day and about lost her mind listening to "the wheels on the bus". She said that one got lost really quick.

(222 days until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

Secret Santa

I had to run some errands today after work. At work we're doing this secret Santa thing where not only do you not know who you are receiving the gift from, but you also don't know who you are giving it to. This has made it a little hard to shop. I do have a little to go on, as a couple weeks ago we all had to send in a list of 3 things we like and one thing we don't. The first time we did this we all sent in actual items we like and dislike as we thought it was going to be a secret Santa thing. Then we were told that wasn't what we were doing and we were to put our actual likes and dislikes. It was going to be part of some kind of get to know your co-workers thing. So we all re-dis it and then found out it was a secret Santa thing, only now we all have these really crazy lists. When they gave me my person I got a list that said they like to travel, cook and work in the yard and they dislike coconut. So I've been wracking my brain as to what to get.
After some discussion with a couple of my co-workers (which we weren't supposed to be doing) we decided a cook book would be a good idea. So I headed off to Borders. I haven't been there for a while, so I was looking forward to going. Upon entering the store I glanced briefly at the new release table before heading over to the cooking section. I stopped dead in my tracks. To my surprise the new release was a new Michael Crichton book. I stopped and picked it up. I love his books. I first read one of his books by accident. I had picked up "Rising Sun" when I was looking for "A Raisin In the Sun". I've been hooked ever since.
So after grabbing the book I head off again towards the cooking section. I keep glancing at the new release tables as I go by and I see another book that sparks my interest. Now I have two books for me and none for my person. All I can hear in my head is my mom saying "you're supposed to be shopping for other people not yourself". I'm the worst Christmas shopper.
Finally I make it to the cooking section and I peruse through the numerous books. Everything looks so complicated. I realize this is harder than I thought. Me being a non-cooking person, I found it very difficult to pick out a cookbook for someone who likes to cook. I finally settled on a cookbook that looks like it has some interesting things, but nothing too overly complicated that real people wouldn't make it at home. Also it was on the sale table so that was a plus as it turns out cook books are quite expensive, and I have a budget I have to keep within. It must be all those pictures. I also found a recipe book to go with it. So now with the two books for my person and the two for myself I decide to check out as I still have another stop.
Next stop, Home Depot. I had a little left I the budget so I wanted to try to touch on the working in the yard like. I decided to try to find something plant like. As it's winter there isn't really too much in the way of out doors stuff available, but I did find this cute bulb thing that's in a vase and it grows into a pretty Christmas flower. So I figured that would do the trick. They can take care of something indoors, since they can't work outdoors.
So my shopping is done now (for secret Santa, not my actual Christmas shopping), and I think I didn't do too bad considering what I had to go on. I do feel bad for the poor person that ended up with me though. I put down my likes as riding my bike, playing my guitar, and summertime. And my dislike as cold weather. Yeah, they're hating me about now.

Getting In the Holiday Spirit

Last night Amy, Les, Kathleen, Marc and I went to stroll around Longwood Gardens along with about a billion other people checking out their holiday lighting, ice show, and Christmas displays in the Conservatory. It was festive.

Here are a bunch of pictures of what we saw. Our camera isn't really made for these type of shots, so they don't really do it justice.



Les and Kathleen.










Marc sitting in a bush waiting on the ice show to start. We had a great spot until the guy made us all sit on the ground. Marc ended up in a bush. An English Speading Yew matter of fact.












This was the fountain of lights show. This is Amy's favorite. She stood right up front in awe.












These are actually lit to look like flowers. It was really pretty. Bigger it looks a better.













This was just a lot of blue.














Tab, I thought of you when I saw this one. It has the ruby slippers and the yellowbrick road is made of flowers.
















Isn't this pretty. This was the main entrance into the Conservatory.












I liked this tree. It was in the cacti room. I liked the cacti room. It was the only one that where I could breath. My allergies were killing me with all the flowers. But they were so pretty.

















More flowers.