Karaoke on Steriods

About a month back our friends invited us over to their house. They just recently got Rockband. This has to be one of the funnest party games ever. They even had a song by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Here are the kids rocking out. Guitar, Base Guitar, Drums and vocals can be played by all at once. When you hit the notes you sound like rockstars. When you don't you sound awful and they yank you off stage. You actually begin thinking you really are making music when you are playing well.

Thanks to those who help others

Looks like I won't get out to shoot any photos this weekend. About two weeks ago I was driving to my favorite spot to take photos, when I encountered these fire men putting out a fire in an apartment building. Since the fire departments in most of the towns are volunteer fire men. When there is a large fire the fire trucks from adjacent towns come to help put out the fire. There were 4 different fire departments there fighting the fire. I ended up taking several photos of the fire. This was one of the better photos.

Traveling for work

I was traveling for work this week. I was in North Carolina. Although the weather is really nice down there I realized that I would never be able to live there because it seemed like there was no where to go. I think growing up in New England I am just really spoiled with having the ocean close by, the mountains, the city and of course the change in seasons to keep things interesting. I didn't take my camera (too heavy) so I don't have any pictures from the trip. GO PATRIOTS!!!!

Can you please explain this to me?

When we went to Portugal this summer we spent over 3 hours trying to get out of the airport in Lisbon. I don't understand how a country can complain about not having work or jobs but then not make the decisions and actions they need to move their country forward. It appears that a majority of portuguese people according to this poll don't want a new airport. After going to Madrid and seeing their Airport, I know understand how Spain is more spoken and popular that Portugal in recent times. Even though I don't think it is as beautiful as Portugal. Companies and tourists a like will not want to put up with over 3 hours to get out of an airport. It simply isn't very productive for businesses.

Birthdays

We have had some really nice birthdays over the past few months. Rather than write on each of them I decided to do one posting for all of them. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO all of you! All these birthdays have gotten me thinking. What are they all about? Is it about celebrating making it to another year. Having your health or having your family or all those things. An excuse to get together?

I remember the first birthday party I went to. I think I was in the first grade. I went to a friends party. I can't remember if I brought a gift or not. I think I didn't because I recall him getting all these gifts and thinking 2 things. One my family doesn't celebrate birthday parties. Then I thought wow he is opening a lot of gifts and then I began thinking I didn't bring one. Then I began wondering if I was even invited. I wasn't embarrassed though..I didn't know better and couldn't have done better. I think early lessons in life like this really shape who you end up being.

The one birthday I do recall was when I was in the fourth grade. It wasn't like a formal birthday. Where our mom would send out invitations and we would go to some giant water park or perhaps a movie or perhaps a gymnasium. We were living in Pawtucket in a double decker at the time. My next door neighbor Michael who was my friend came over. By coincidence my girlfriend Michelle and I were hanging outside in the driveway. My mom and grandmother were making dinner. We were going to have chicken soup. My family made chicken soup a little different than other families. There was a large tin pan filled with warm water on the grass. All the sudden my grandmother shows up with 2 live chickens and she snaps their necks right in front all of my friends and I. The chickens started jumping up and down after they were dead. Now I bet none of my friends had ever seen anything like that at a birtday party before! It was the best freshest chicken soup I have ever eaten in my life. I got a brand new huffy bike at that birthday. Number 44. It was an early version of BMX bikes. My friend had one and I never thought I would get one. It was perhaps the greatest birthday gift I have ever gotten. The bike took me all over the city.

Years later Michelle and I both had moved to another town. We didn't see each other though until high school. We ended up going out on a date. While on the date she recalled coming to my fourth grade party and recalled my grandmother plucking the feathers from the chicken in the yard. Didn't stop her from going out with me all those years later. It was another life experience to never be embarrassed of who you are.

So back to the question. What are birthdays all about? Is it about making a wish? A wish that for me usually never involves material things, especially lately.

I think birthdays are about Avo singing happy birthday in Portuguese. Not just the first verse but also the second verse. Everyone tries to stop her but she pushes on. It is perhaps one of the best things I enjoy about Birthday parties now. It is hearing her sing and her persistence to not be deterred from singing the song.

Here are some pictures from a recent memorable birthday in Stowe Vermont.