The Big Deal Column2008-08-21T01:46:55Zhttp://blog.thebigdealcolumn.com/atom.aspxQuick BlogGreatest News EVER!tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-08-14:1ea2ed76-bb62-4b24-8796-adc91602a10cRon and Chel2008-08-14T16:44:52Z2008-08-14T16:35:00Z Now that Brett Favre has joined the New York Jets and is dead to me I have been in a bit of a limbo for about a week. Then today Ann sent me the following bit of information because she rocks and knows that I needed a new reason to get out of bed each day. Seriously Ann, you have out done yourself and might be my new hero!
Here is the news I have been waiting to hear for 5 years now:
Varitek files for divorce
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek is splitting with his wife, Karen. The team captain filed for divorce July 28 in Gwinnett County, Ga., where the couple live in the offseason. They were married in 1997 and have three daughters, ages 8, 6, and 3. Varitek is in the final year of a four-year, $40-million contract he signed after the BoSox won the World Series in 2004. He'll be a free agent at the end of this season, though he turns 37 in April and is hitting just .216.
What a glorious day!
]]>..."Ann, you have out done yourself"...8-10-08tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-08-10:a8f93b38-91c4-435f-9adb-2d5ada927924Ron and Chel2008-08-10T13:46:20Z2008-08-10T13:44:00Z ]]>8/05/08tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-08-05:436a184d-190e-44f6-989c-df0caaa05629Ron and Chel2008-08-05T18:49:09Z2008-08-05T18:47:00Z ]]>True Story!tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-07-31:22bf7e7f-cfc9-4d4a-8643-b99b22cdc4ceRon and Chel2008-07-31T16:47:28Z2008-07-31T16:36:00Z Tuesday evening Ron and I and our friend Rich were sitting at a stop light in north Phoenix. I was driving and didn't have my glasses on (safety first!) but I could swear I saw something I recognized about the car in front of us so I asked Ron what the dealer sticker on the trunk said. Sure enough, Wiscasset Ford! Unmistakable logo even without corrective lenses! To make things ever funnier, the car was actually a Pontiac Grand Prix! From Maine, go figure! Why do people in Maine love the Pontiac vehicles so much?
]]>..."the dealer sticker on the trunk"...Blog Assistancetag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-07-29:9ed966ea-5066-4014-8f5b-cea886fa9cb0Ron and Chel2008-07-29T16:07:04Z2008-07-29T15:58:00Z Every now and then someone will send me something that seems 'blog worthy'. Most things get posted, some don't, it all depends on my mood and how busy I am outside of the BDC. I recently received two particularly cool things from my lovely nieces' Jackie and Melanie.
This first one came to me from Jackie as a picture message on my phone, she saw this and it reminded her of me so much that she had to take a picture and send it to me:
SCURVY!
Not to be out done and also because she failed to slip the term into her graduation speech, Melanie sent me this:
Do these girls rock or what?! Honestly, I am so proud of both of them it brings tears to my eyes! Thank you both so much!]]>..."my lovely nieces' Jackie and Melanie"...The Trip Back East part 1, The Countytag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-07-14:4dc92254-79cf-43d4-abd2-a5fd4b5a52ddRon and Chel2008-07-14T20:47:55Z2008-07-14T20:47:00Z As everyone knows, Ron and I spent over a week in New England last month and I am sure you can hardly wait to get the recap of the trip so here it goes:
We took the red eye flight from PHX to BOS on June 5th. We landed in bean town early Friday and wouldn't you know it, it was raining like a bastard outside! Some things never change We grabbed the shuttle to the rental car place and were given the following options for a car: Ford Taurus, Ford Mustang, Volvo S40, hum, no, no, yes! Hell yeah we took the Volvo over the Mustang, it rained all day and we would have been hydroplaning the entire drive to Maine! Besides, Volvo has an outstanding safety rating and their cars have what Ron calls 'smart technology'. Honest to God it was like the car knew me, I felt like Michael Knight with Kit! The car tried to communicate with me! Here is the proof:
We drove all the way to Maine and kept driving, and driving, and driving until we reached Island Falls. We had somehow decided to stay at Birch Point Campground mostly because we are idiots and didn't think it would be 'that bad'.
About 2 weeks before we left for the trip we were discussing our itinerary for the trip and I referred to Birch Point Campground as Shit Creek Lodge. The name stuck after that so it was really kinda funny when they more than lived up to the name.
We were assigned cottage #4, not campsite but cottage so we are inside protected from the crawly things outside. Or not. Now, if I am staying inside and not sleeping in a tent on the ground than why the am I seeing so many bugs near me? Anyone?! The place was not what I would consider clean, at all. In fact the furniture was far worst than that of a frat house at the end of the school year. When we moved the hazardous waste land that was the couch to face the huge television so we could watch the Celtics - Lakers game I had to sweep the floor! There was a big pile of dirt when I was done that even had the back of an earring from a previous guest in it. I would say that the management must be aware of the bug issue as evidenced in the picture below of one of the 'amenities'. On a scale of 1 - 10, cottage #4 rates at just barely a 4 (and that is being VERY generous and it's a County 4!).
So even though #4 was kind of a dirty, rundown shack in the middle of nowhere I have to say that our first night there was one of the highlight of the trip. Various members of the family stopped by and hung out, reminisced and made each other pee a little bit from laughing. Between that nights activities, something to do with a graduation or some other such nonsense, I really don't recall and the events of the following day, also something to do with a graduation maybe, I really don't remember, I got to see all of the members of our family for the first time in 2 years! It was cool, I just wish I could remember why we went there.
By Tuesday we had enjoyed enough of Shit Creek Lodge so we packed up and headed south to the Granite State. We made it all the way to Sherman before we were stopped in a road block set up by the US Border Patrol. Yeah, they patrol the border between Aroostook and Penobscot Counties now. We have long been aware that the population of Northern Maine has been steadily declining over the years but come on now! The government can't actually prevent people from leaving but nice try! Besides, we obviously didn't belong there, we were driving a car with Massachusetts plates, I would almost think we could have had a police escort out of the state for that!]]>..."something to do with a graduation or some other such nonsense"...7-09-08tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-07-09:2b5fb8ad-3db1-4c9d-9e1d-e2ad021ca79dRon and Chel2008-07-09T21:45:19Z2008-07-09T21:44:00Z ]]>June Birthdaystag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-27:00b91ec3-a8a3-4c11-9c51-a5d64404784aRon and Chel2008-06-27T22:04:54Z2008-06-27T21:58:00Z I know I am a little late in getting to the June birthday's and I am truly sorry for that. Here they are:
BrianKeith M. Ann F.
Although I am wicked late posting these birthdays it is never too late to point out that Ann will soon be older than Dani.
]]>..."June Birthdays"...I Spy With My Little Eye...tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-23:7f131bc3-1d14-45f2-b3ac-b5c2dde75730Ron and Chel2008-06-23T19:48:41Z2008-06-23T19:32:00Z ...Identity Theft! Well, kind of. The old man and I were watching the Red Sox game, (only getting it on local television because they happen to be playing the D-Bags, oh, I mean D-'Backs'!) when I spotted this in the Sox dug out:
I see 2 blatant infractions: 1) the sign above fat heads right shoulder, just below the graphic of the bases 2) behind fat heads fat face is the same flag we have on the wall above over bed, except theirs doesn't say Surrender The Booty
Is it just me or does it appear that the Boston Red Sox are trying to be as cool as The Big Deal Column?! Trying so hard in fact that they are actually copying The BDC...who's feeling me here? ]]>..."I spotted this"...Scurvy Opportunitytag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-19:e3f8e7fc-428c-4791-bdaa-b7abaf72c249Ron and Chel2008-06-19T07:22:41Z2008-06-19T07:13:00Z So it just occurred to me that Cory, the guy that actually had scurvy ended up with the condition while serving in the Navy. I guess fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to come by if you are in the middle of the sea. Anyway, I had the bright idea that since Mike is in the Navy maybe he could work on getting scurvy!
It seemed like a great idea at first and that it would be completely feasible for him to do so. Then I realize that it will probably never happen because all of the domestic brewers in this country have been sticking lime in their beer brands and Mike is therefore forever safe from scurvy!!
]]>..."maybe he could work on getting scurvy"...More About Scurvy!tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-18:0b83f4a1-554b-4f78-af2a-91eb9d6cd087Ron and Chel2008-06-18T16:27:43Z2008-06-18T16:26:00Z Just so you all know, the guy that had scurvy has commented on the blog! Check it out:
http://blog.thebigdealcolumn.com/2008/02/10/bringing-scurvy-back.aspx]]>In Case You Missed Ittag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-17:6f71843a-fcca-46ef-8a92-e4606324e4e5Ron and Chel2008-06-17T21:12:12Z2008-06-17T21:04:00Z The Boston Celtics have claimed their 17th NBA Championship title, their first in 22 years, by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers real, real bad. Suck it Kobe, suck it sideways! Oh yeah, the final score was Boston 131, Los Angeles 92. Now THAT is a beating!
]]>..."the final score was"...An Open Pleatag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-06-01:9424b5b3-fee5-4f10-8e6f-59f2ce7f073aRon and Chel2008-06-01T21:46:56Z2008-06-01T20:52:00Z So Ron and I have a couple of high school graduation ceremonies to attend in the coming weeks and although I am happy for the students that will be celebrating these special occasions I am also really not looking forward to the actual events.
Ron is with me on this one, we are especially not looking forward to this coming Friday's graduation. Is it really necessary for it to take over 2 hours for about 40 students to receive diploma's? That school makes graduation suck with the heat in the gymnasium and the bugs and humidity and uncomfortable seating. Then there are all the speeches, the tragically long, boring speeches. Now this is the part of this years ceremonies I am actually looking forward to, at least I will be if my pleas fall on kind ears, or eyes in this case. Since I happen to know 2 of the people that will be speaking Friday (Kylie, Melanie) I think it would be super if at least one of you girls slipped the term 'awesome opossum' into your speech. I also think one of you should step up the the microphone and simply say ' thank you, good night!' Short, sweet and to the point. But, if you must take the whole speech thing seriously, I personally think that Kylie owes it to everyone listening to use the word ass as much as possible in her speech. It would be so easy to do, she could talk about how she offered assistance to other students while working on assignments, no matter how asinine they might have been. Is anyone else seeing the beautiful possibilities here, anyone?!
]]>..."I think it would be super"...Catching Up With The NBAtag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-05-27:ad813c89-5743-480e-8c24-11e2650b2e82Ron and Chel2008-05-28T07:38:25Z2008-05-27T18:53:00Z So TNT has been broadcasting the NBA Playoffs and part of their shtick is 40 games in 40 nights. They are holding true to that and I have watched most of those games! It all started with all the unresolved Steve Nash stuff which lead me to watching the Suns in the early part of the playoffs. They lost to the San Antonio Spurs or the New York Yankees of the NBA as I like to think of them. Now Ron and I have been watching the Spurs games and cheering for their opponents and that takes up several nights each week. At the same time the Boston Celtics are having a record season and have been a must watch. Not only do the Celtics have the Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen but they also have Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis! When they are in the game at the same time you see jerseys that say Rondo and Davis! Right now Boston is Playing Detroit for the Eastern Conference championship while Los Angeles is playing San Antonio for the Western Conference championship. It almost pains us to cheer for the Lakers but they are playing the Spurs! Plus I am hoping that we get to see an old school Celtics - Lakers championship series, Celtics on top of course! ]]>..."all the unresolved Steve Nash stuff"...Sorry!tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-05-22:47557547-bb99-4578-90f8-17cb4c99e888Ron and Chel2008-05-22T13:31:15Z2008-05-22T13:25:00Z I know I have not been blogging at all lately and for that I am truly sorry. Things have been crazy busy for me but I promise you all that I am working on a post that will make all of this down time totally worth the wait.
]]>..."I am working on a post"...Happy Mother's Daytag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-05-11:fc1e1ce7-3609-4830-87c1-b19c5db0839eRon and Chel2008-05-11T09:51:19Z2008-05-11T08:52:00Z It's Mother's day, unless you are in Maine then it is Mummer's Day! Don't forget to give props to your Moms today, it might be a good idea to do that everyday.
I asked Ron what our kids were giving me for Mother's Day and it turns out that I get nothing! But, with kids like ours, every day is Mother's Day! (hey, at least they didn't hurl on the carpet, that is a gift in itself!)
]]>..."do that everyday"...May Birthdaystag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-05-10:aac1f591-c2b9-420c-9c48-f510f2cd4c4fRon and Chel2008-05-10T10:19:31Z2008-05-10T10:13:00Z Mike F. Joe L. Cathy K. Ammie T.
Happy Birthday May babies! again, I am sure I have missed a few but I only have so many of them written down!]]>..."May babies"...Bigfoot Sighting in Northern Mainetag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-05-02:1d798767-c771-4030-b43f-82985fb89cb5Ron and Chel2008-05-02T07:22:53Z2008-05-02T07:05:00Z Northern Maine residents are keeping their pets inside after a local woman has confirmed sighting of Bigfoot. Cathy Kennedy of Merrill was able to capture pictures of Bigfoot as he wandered through her yard early this morning. He was first spotted around 8:30 on Thursday evening lurking in Cathy's yard. Cathy thinks this could explain the disappearance of her pet cat a few months ago. She will keep an eye out for more sightings.
]]>..."he wandered through her yard"...Is It Just Me...tag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-04-21:cf391cff-c76e-4272-bd09-69bbc4c9fd72Ron and Chel2008-04-21T07:36:26Z2008-04-21T07:32:00Z ...or does Danica Patrick look like a retarded dude in most of her pictures?
I can drive a car too but you don't see the media freaking out over me! Hey, at least she FINALLY won a race now there can be justification as to why people are so over the moon about her! Seriously, the Go Daddy chick is WAY hotter than Danica.]]>..."Danica Patrick"...Californiatag:blog.thebigdealcolumn.com,2008-04-19:db32878f-9a67-4827-91a4-074f126295e5Ron and Chel2008-04-19T10:18:23Z2008-04-19T10:13:00Z If you are the driver of a vehicle with California license plates it is assumed that you are a fucktard and further assumed that you can suck my ass!]]>..."it is assumed"...
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We grabbed the shuttle to the rental car place and were given the following options for a car: Ford Taurus, Ford Mustang, Volvo S40, hum, no, no, yes! Hell yeah we took the Volvo over the Mustang, it rained all day and we would have been hydroplaning the entire drive to Maine! Besides, Volvo has an outstanding safety rating and their cars have what Ron calls 'smart technology'. Honest to God it was like the car knew me, I felt like Michael Knight with Kit! The car tried to communicate with me! Here is the proof:
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