Notes From Home Plate

Movie Review: Vantage Point

Published on by Lisa

Nick and I just returned from a late night movie, Vantage Point, that opened this weekend.

It was crowded and we sat in decent seats, a bit close for my general liking, but I thought to myself, “As long as there isn’t any home videos or car chasing scenes, I should be alright.” The shaky cameras and fast action tend to mess with my head.

Vantage Point has the longest car chase scene in cinematic history. And Forest Whitaker’s role in this movie primarily features him taking home video footage with his camcorder. Nice.

No Advil on hand either. Drat.

Nick gave it a rating, “Entertaining, but by no means great.”

The plot grows from 8 or so different perspectives who experience one act of terrorism. What Nick found so annoying is that the audience grew unsettled when the storyline kept repeating itself to reveal more details of the plot. Anytime another character’s story began to tell a different angle of the story, the audience started moaning like it had one collective belly ache. Dude, the movie is called VANTAGE POINT.

As Nick mechanically munched his way through a large over-buttered popcorn bag and I slurped the Sprite and darted my eyes away from the screen every 10 minutes to avoid a massive headache, Dennis Quaid [WARNING: SPOILER IN THE NEXT FEW WORDS] comes up huge in the end, of course.

Another wonderfully overpriced Hollywood blockbuster.

Factora-Borchers and Borchers give this 2 thumbs pointing sideways. It scores a B- for originality, overall guessing game, and relevance to current events and political climate. Recommendation: worth a ticket at the discount movie theater or DVD rental in 9 months.

Just for the Record

Published on by Lisa

We were rooting for the Giants.

To say we’re ecstatic would be an understatement.

If you ask me, the city jinxed itself when it said we’d have the victory parade on Super Tuesday.

I mean, SERIOUSLY? We’re prioritizing tissue paper floats and Tom Brady glimpses over our constitutional right to vote?

Serves Boston right.

Updates

Published on by Lisa

The city after a snow storm.


Me and Kristie


Nick and I out with my co-workers/support system
(left to right, Dan, Nick, me, Leanne, Alexis)
Random Update:
I got my nose pierced with my friend, Kristie, while we were in Cincinnati over Christmas break. That’s a picture of us above that was taken right after we had them done. If you look closely, you can see a small red swollen spot on our noses. Yep, that’s because a gargantuan sized needle went through our nostrils about 3 minutes previously. Shh – don’t tell my parents.

City Updates:

  • The city is crazy for the Superbowl which starts in 6 hours.
  • The city is crazy for SuperTuesday which starts in 48 hours.
  • The city is crazy because if the Patriots win the Superbowl, they’ll have a parade on SuperTuesday.

Other Updates:

  • I finally got my Massachusetts drivers license.
  • Last night we found a Filipino restaurant! SCORE!
  • We saw the movie Juno this weekend and give it two very big thumbs up for its one liners.
  • We potentially have found a parish that we’d like to belong to: St. Cecilia which is an energetic and booming community in downtown Boston.
  • Nick’s 2nd semester classes are going well is schedule is a little less stressful with one less class.
  • My job is consuming my life and have made a decision to at least begin job hunting for next fall.
  • My brother and sister-in-law just found out they’re having another boy! That’s four kids total! 1 girl and 3 boys. God love ’em.
  • Nick and Kelly Hartings just had their baby girl, Emma Jeane, on Friday morn – CONGRATS!
  • I’m playing with the idea of applying to a masters program at Simmons College. It’s a masters in Gender and Cultural Studies. I figure while I’m surrounded with academics why not jump in, too, you know? Not to mention, this is my area of specialization.

And there you have it – a small glimpse into our lives for the week. Don’t forget that February is when I celebrate my birthday month. * Along with the start of Lent, Mardi Gras, Presiden’s Day, and Valentine’s Day, February holds one of the most treasured days of all time: my bday.

*Ask Nick, I am not exaggerating this statement.

Hunter Mountain

Published on by Lisa
Hunter Mountain
Nick and Vanessa
(Tom, I’m sorry there are no pictures of you and I watching Lethal Weapon IV)

Last weekend, Nick and I spent a gorgeous weekend with our friends, Tom and Vanessa, at a condo located at the base of a beautiful Hunter Mountain. A skiing mountain was the perfect backdrop for a restful weekend with friends. A lot of talking, laughter, good food, lots of alcohol, and nature’s restorative energy embraced our time in New York.

Tom and Vanessa live in New Jersey and this was the perfect midway point for all of us. Nick and I were Hunter-bound by Friday evening and got stuck in city traffic. The elevation messed with our heads a bit, but that didn’t stop us from getting there, ready to relax.

The no-skiiing rule was put into effect rather quickly as Nick retold his skiiing stories of when he ventured this sport two years ago with his brother Keith. If you’re surprised that Nick is not a good skiier, that means you haven’t heard his skiiing stories. When a skiier has no ability to shift to the left, this poses signficant navigation problems. This happened to be Nick’s problem. As he tells it, his fear of runing over the children at the bottom of the hill forced him to “slide like it’s second base.”

Ineffective theory for skiers.

I hardly have room to talk. To prove my ultimate badass coolness, I joined the Ski Club in highschool. In retrospect, why in the world would I join the Ski Club when I have never skiied before? To make a 6 week story short, just know that falling off the ski lift, almost having my legs amputated from frost bite, and crying while face down in the snow is not my idea of a good time.

I also tried cross country skiiing about 6 years ago. Yeahhhh, that didn’t turn out so well either. That adventure resulted in me taking OFF my skis and WALKING the rest of the journey with my friends cajoling me the entire way home.

Regardless of our inept skiiing skills, we had a tremendously wonderful time at Hunter Mountain. We owe a million thanks to Tom and Vanessa for their generosity, friendship, and warmth. When’s our next visit?

Our Competitive Sides

Published on by Lisa
A random moment caught when we’re both talking smack to each other, aka making fun of each other/challenging the other to an absurd opportunity to compete against each other to prove one’s superiority.  This competition has included: bowling, wrestling, corn hole, geography trivia, rumicube, beer pong, and tripoly…just to name a few.


Nick’s Going Deaf

Published on by Lisa

Nick’s right ear has problems.

For the past few years, it has rung more than Sunday church bells and gives him annoying headaches that require zoning out in front of the TV, which happens to be the #1 life pet peeve of mine.  I hate 90% of television.
I try not to be an annoying wife.  I never say anything about his white holey socks or astronaut shoes.  I think he looks great in those shirts he’s worn since 1992.  I participate in sporting events, learned how to play poker (albeit, with a cheat sheet), have decreased shopping trips and never drag him along unless it’s absolutely necessary.
However, with concern to his hearing,  I have been nagging him like a horse.  This last episode where his ear was ringing like a schoolbell, I yelled at him to get to the damn ear doctor before he goes deaf and can’t hear me anymore.  He consistently argues this is fine with him and will just wander around in his own world.  UNACCEPTABLE.
The thought of how much work it will take when I’m 89 and will have to hobble around to his left ear so I can blast my latest thought into his noggin motivates me to get him to the doctor NOW.
He makes an appointment.
Basically, the words internal pressure, balance, fluid, and inevitability were used doctor to explain why he inserted a new tube in Nick’s ear that will help drain whatever needs to be drained.  A small sliver was cut into his eardrum to support the new tube, but otherwise it’s a relatively uncomplicated process.  I was impressed with the simple procedure because he had a tube put in about 3 years ago and was entirely put out for surgery.  When I came to get him post-surgery, they warned me he might be “a little off.”
His behavior was indeed “a little off” after surgery.  Nick was flirting with the 60 year old lady nurses and laughing his head off.  He kept saying, “HI BABE!  WHAT’S HAPPENING?” about 9 times in 10 minutes and picking at his hospital gown.  The nurses loved him.  I had a headache.
So, now that the procedure is done, I am grateful for two things:
1) Nick’s hearing is preserved (for now)
2) I didn’t have to live through the nurse flirting again

Bring on the Fire

Published on by Lisa

Nick and I have been married for 2.5 years.  In that time frame, I’ve begun to forget the rage and hectic stress that came with planning a wedding.  As Kelly, Nick’s sister, is now engaged, we are often talking about our own experiences with vendors, catering, DJs, space, money, photography, guest lists, flowers, music, ceremony, dress, priest, gifts, time, programs, court, rehearsal, readings, petitions, aisle runners, hair cuts, honeymoon…you get the idea.

As I told Nick last night, I am “reliving the fury.”  It’s absolutely appalling at how much CRAP you have to do to get married.  It’s insane!  I joined The Knot when I was newly engaged.  The Knot is a site for planning the big day and it has more tips and buttons on that thing than anything else on the internet.  Brides from all over go on that thing, ask each other questions, compare rates for vendors, and gather ideas for themselves.  To get an account, you must have an ID.
Mine was FieryBride27.
Whenever I am reliving the fury, Nick nods in agreement but then punches, “FieryBride’s back!”
This FieryBride is definitely fired up for Big Fun, but hope that all of our friends out there who are planning this special sacrament are able to really step back and ENJOY the sacrament, the sanctity of your love.
So for Bella and Anderson, Megs and Dave, Kerri and Chris, Tom and Vanessa, Geri and Jim, Greg and Maura, and of course Tim and Kelly – we are keeping you guys in our prayers as your special day inches closer and closer.
Contact FieryBride 27 with any questions!

Anticipating the Impossible

Published on by Lisa

We’re over the Sugar Bowl.

I know that we’re officially over it when Nick proclaims, his eyes round like huge UFOs, “You know something? I’m excited for Ohio State football next year!”

My mouth is full of my burger, “You are?” Except it sounded like, “YHO AH?

“Yes! They’re going to have everyone back next year except for two guys.”

“Ok.” I am contemplating the level of danger to emotionally invest in the 2008-2009 OSU football season so soon after the Sugar Bowl.

“I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR!” He’s nearly jumping from his seat.

I remain calm and contained my emotions by maintaining distance to that prediction. It’s like we switched life roles or something.

Nick continues, his eyeballs fixated on something far far away into the future, his voice drops in thoughtfulness, “As long as they beat USC. As long as they beat USC, we’ve got a chance.”

Well, I’m glad we’re healing and Nick is planning next year already. As I finished my burger and watched his face begin contemplate how the Fall 2008 schedule will unfold, I began fearing what might happen to the Bucks in about 48 weeks should they advance that far.

Our fanhood cannot be questioned.

Boston Undies

Published on by Lisa

Keith is in town.

As he is now Mr. Audit for Macy’s, Keith has spent the weekend with us here in Beantown. Knowing that Keith’s been up here a few times before, we knew that entertaining wouldn’t be difficult. A few bars and good eats provided a fitting backdrop as we got to spend some quality time catching up.

On Saturday afternoon, Nick, Keith, and I went into Harvard Square for the afternoon. After a nice lunch at Au Bon Pan, Nick and Keith headed off to explore and I went to explore the sales at some of my favorite retail places. We met up at the great bar of John Harvard’s Brewery and I saw Nick’s shoulders sag with relief when he saw me return with empty hands. No shopping bags means thicker wallet in butt pocket.

We headed back home and walked to the T stop (Boston’s public train station) and amidst our chatting, I noticed an odd site. I shook my head thinking I saw it wrong. I looked again and I could have sworn I saw a few men with jackets and ties, but no pants – only boxers. Nick and Keith were engaged in conversation and I peaked around them to get another look. A few more people appeared in their underwear and before I knew it the train pulled up and Nick was pushing me along to get on the train.

Nick and Keith looked dumbfounded as Fox news and police officers were on the train with us. Cameramen were interviewing common T riders asking how they felt about riding the T with others in their underwear. It was then I looked beside me and saw a man, mostly normally dresssed in a nice suit, except for no pants. He was wearing boxers. Nonchalantly, he read the newspaper and Keith was swiping glances out of the corner of his eye while he did the infamous silent shoulder-shaking Keith laugh.

I looked around and saw a number of police officers just ensuring that nothing too outrageous occured.

Nothing outrageous?

Fox news, police officers, and people running around in their underwear on the T was just another funny day in Boston. As it turns out, it was just an organized harmless prank of over 500 individuals to get people smiling and laughing. Click here for the full story.

As we contemplated whether to drop our own pants or not, Nick, Keith and I could barely contain our laughter when we overheard a police officer say, “Yeah, did you see that one guy’s boxers? The Rubix Cube ones? He must be an engineer or something.”