Don't get left out in the cold looking for optics

Like many other days, I found myself riding the main chairlift at Sunday River this morning, eager to take my first run. With my goggles resting on the front rim of my helmet, a strong gust of wind whipped down from the ridgeline and knocked my goggles off. While I could see where they landed, I couldn’t know if they’d be there when I got back to the bottom. Someone could ski or ride over them - destroying them or perhaps someone would pick them up as a souvenir. Instantly, I thought about what I would do. Buying sunglasses or ski goggles at a ski resort can cost an arm and a leg, but then I remembered a website I came across that has thousands of products like sunglasses, goggles, telescopes, and even night vision technology. And although I was lucky to race down the mountain to find the goggles intact and safe, I still logged on to OpticsPlanet.com to take a better look at what my options were if I needed to replace them. I found a great gift guide and learned that they have free shipping on purchases over $29.95. And with over 200 brand names to choose from, I’ve gotten a lot of my Christmas shopping done in one place.

Oh to be obsessive...

Although I didn't even take a full week off this past week, I still found myself fighting the urge to check my work email. This has been an issue with me for years. I've always had trouble letting work go and just enjoying myself. Indeed it has its good points, it can make for less productive relaxation. I even found myself exchanging emails while I was on vacation in Lake Tahoe last winter. Being three hours behind, I had someone at work summarize the prior day for me and then before going to ski for the day, I would give my responses, reactions, etc. Whereas at the time I thought it was multi-tasking, it was really me being obsessive and I've been working on that. So I'm proud to say that I haven't touch work since I left Tuesday afternoon. Now if I could get myself to not worry about Monday!

The JourneyLite Surgical Option

Are you someone who has struggled with weight and no diet seems to work? Has your physician discussed the possibility of surgery to curb your appetite? The LAPBAND surgical procedure is less invasive than gastric bypass and presents far fewer risks to recipients. JouneyLite is a countrywide network of physicians who perform the obesity surgery and is unique in that they offer support from the initial consultation through post-operative counseling and support through support groups and healthy dieting suggestions. JourneyLite knows that while having the LAPBAND procedure will help curve obesity, a lifestyle change is a necessity for long-term success.

Take time to smell the roses... or Pine trees!

I've often heard the old cliché - take time to smell the roses and shrugged it off as I pressed on; working long hours to get ahead in my job and barely allowing myself time to breathe. And yet as cliché as that phrase is, I found it increasingly important, as I've grown older.
We live in a country that encourages that attitude of go-go-go and sometimes we forget that life is far too short to not appreciate all that it has to offer. While this isn't a new concept to me, I go a special reminder today while on the last of a three-day vacation. Like every other day in the winter when I'm not working, I was at Sunday River and while it was less crowded than a weekend, there were still quite a few folks on the mountain taking advantage of the wonderful early season ski conditions, but then as the day grew older and the early winter shadows crept over the mountains, people headed for the lodge the bar, or perhaps made their way back from whence they came. My feet and knees aching from full few days on the mountain, I too, was inclined to head back to the condo for a nap before my girlfriend arrived, having not been as fortunate to have had the same days off from work. When I noticed the line empty at the chairlift, I decided to take one more run; not because I really needed the exercise or was even sure my body could take it, but I was drawn my the allure of the emptiness that surrounded me in all directions. And as the chairlift swiftly whisked me up the mountain, I turned off my iPod, lifted my goggles from my face, and took in a deep breath. I was overcome with a feeling of calm and relaxation that is sometimes forgotten when I'm in the real world of work. As the chair rose over the peak, a beam of the falling sun caught my eye and while I've never been one for clichés, I had my chance to smell the roses.

Johnny Depp reunites with Tim Burton for Sweeney Todd

Johnny Depp’s range as an actor is undeniable. From his portrayal of demonized English Inspector Frederick Abberline in the re-imagining of the “Jack The Ripper” investigation in From Hell to his playful antics as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Depp has proven he can take on any role and deliver a pleasing performance. And on December 21st, fans will get another chance to see Depp reunited with Director Tim Burton in another dark film set in 19th century London. Depp plays Sweeney Todd – in a film by the same name – as a barber, who is wrongly accused in the death of his wife and daughter. Having just been released from prison, Todd vows revenge in this masterful thriller.
While I’ve seen almost all of Depp’s films, I am most fond of his portrayal of Inspector Abberline in From Hell and Dean Corso in The Ninth Gate. While the latter is far from the settings of From Hell or Sweeney Todd, the film mixes the playful and arrogant side of the actor within a serious and dark setting. In the opening scene we are introduced to Corso while he is conning a couple into selling a priceless volume of Don Quixote. Although an ethically challenged situation, it sets up the rest of the movie in showing that Corso can use his expertise of rare literature to help solve the mystery of The Ninth Gate. Conversely, Depp’s portrayal of Abberline in From Hell is as much about the flaws of his character as it is about the horrid crimes for which he is seeking the killer. Abberline becomes so immersed in the investigation that he risks his own sanity by taking opium for which he believes will allow him to see visions. His character rises to the occasion when challenged by his boss over whether he is deeply involved in the case or has indeed gone insane. The range of these two characters lends itself well to the line between sane and insane for which Sweeney Todd toggles in Depp’s latest role. For more on Sweeney Todd, visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site or visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace.

Who thrives during the writers strike?

So I have been thinking about this whole Writers' Guild of America writers strike and how the networks are preparing to air re-runs and back-up shows. I guess what hit me the most was that NBC was actually lowering themselves enough to air American Gladiators. I still can't believe that, but whatever. Now I understand that most of the shows wouldn't work on NBC with the viewer demographic, but NBC, like ABC, owns many cable networks. The difference between NBC and ABC in this regard is that most of NBC's cable affiliates offer serial dramatic television and made-for-television movies. ABC on the other hand owns networks like ESPN. While it might not be a long term solution, NBC could gather shows from USA, A&E, Bravo, or even Sci-Fi. Until that time, it's 90-mile-per-hour tennis balls and men in tight shorts - Yikes!

The deals remain, even after Cyber Monday

As Black Friday passed, the figures show that while the numbers of shoppers may have gone up, they seemed to have spent less. Conversely, Cyber Monday had numbers increase sharply for the forth-straight year. While we will have to wait a couple of months before truly knowing whether people just spent less on Black Friday because of a lack of consumer confidence or if they indeed have opted for online shopping, you don’t have to wait to get in on the great deals from CouponChief. Before heading out to the jungle that is the mall, check out CouponShief for deals for Blue Nile deals and Staples coupons.

Not so fast for 11, 12, & 13 -year-olds looking for the pill

Maine might not produce the shear amount of newsworthy stories as its' larger neighbors to the south, but that all changed earlier this fall when the Portland School Committee voted to allow nurses at King Middle School to dispense birth control bills to its' students, who range from 11 to 13 years old.
Suffice to say, there was a fair amount of outrage about the decision and the story quickly caught the attention of every major news network around the country. Everyone from Dr. Phil to Pat Robertson jumped into the debate and now it seems the committee members, who were not up for re-election a few weeks back and favored the measure, may now lose their seats.
A group of Portland citizens recently finished a petition drive to force a recall election for the aforementioned committee members. And while the vote still stands, it seems like the dominoes are beginning to fall for those in favor of providing the pill to these youth. Morality issues notwithstanding, it seems that Maine's primary might be more newsworthy for who is not running as opposed to who is. And yes, people will also choose their parties choice for presidential candidate as well.

All there is to do in sunny Key West

Located 160 miles south of Miami, Key West, Florida is widely known for it’s magnificent sunsets, extensive offshore fishing, and has been forever immortalized in the songs of Jimmy Buffet. Yet the abundance of activities and history in the southeastern tip of the United States is limitless. Trusted Tours and Attractions invites you to join them in sunny Key West to explore a wonderful destination play land, which was frequented by literary legend, Earnest Hemingway and President Harry S. Truman.
With literally dozens of sightseeing tours available at varying prices and durations, check out Trusted Tours and Attractions’ online newsletter for the latest deals in Key West as well as dozens of other vacation destinations around the country. If you sign up for the newsletter by December 14, 2007 you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win 4 free tickets to tours in a city of your choice.
A haven for artists and writers alike, Key West draws millions of visitors a year to this island that is fondly known as the only Caribbean island in the United States. And while the allure of the sea is certainly be huge draw and selling point to the local economy, you’ll want to check out Trusted Tours and Attractions’ website for a listing of a myriad of sightseeing activities ranging from the Key West Aquarium, the first attraction built in the city, to President Truman’s “Little White House.”

So much to do on my vacation?

With my job, I'm blessed with an extensive amount of vacation time. Granted, money keeps me from for than a couple of destination vacations a year, but the other time off, like this week, I'm lucky to have a place enjoy my time in the mountains. Some of you may think I'm crazy to take vacation time in the winter, but we all have our passions and mine is skiing. And while I'll send much of the week, at least part of every day, on the slopes, I look forward to taking some time to bettering this site and offering more for my readers.
A mentioned earlier in a post, I plan to begin my series of now defunct television series and have a number lined up. I'd also like to dedicate a day to reviewing an older movie. Why? These too, are passions of mine and I want to share with all of you.
And then there's the grey elephant - my unfinished final draft of my novel that I really need to work on. Revising a draft for the 22nd time is no east task, but with a little peace and quiet, I hope to complete the manuscript and have it in to the publishers by January. But then again, maybe I'll just ski.:)

Hiking boots make the perfect gift for the holidays

Not unlike ski boots, a proper fitting hiking boot is critical to both comfort and safety while out in the wilderness. While everyday running or tennis shoes may seem more comfortable to begin with, they offer little support for the ankle and can lead to easily twisted ankles. So if you know a loved one that loves to hike, but needs proper hiking boots, check out metboots.com for a wide selection of hiking boots from trusted names like Hi-Tec and Terra. And when you spend over $100, you get free shipping with every order.

How many records will Tom Brady break?

The New England Patriots are a team claims not to care about statistics or individual goals. AS a fan of this team from birth, I can attest that whether the team has cared about breaking records or not, they have never had a player like Tom Brady and until this decade, were certainly not breaking records of any sort.
Like the good team player he is, Brady shrugs off questions about the passing records he may set this season. Regardless of the team mantras and "company lines," if you will, I actually find this sort of surprising. Why? Tom Brady already has three Super Bowl rings; would it not be fair for him to get some acclaim for himself? Surely the Patriots wouldn't be where they are right now without Brady and quite frankly, while I want to see the team win another title, I'm going to be greedy and say that I also want this guy to win some awards and set some records. I'm so sick of hearing how great Peyton Manning is - not that he isn't, but I think it's time for him to step aside - likewise for Dan Marino. In 1984, Marino set the single season passing record with 5084 yards. After 11 games Brady has 3439 yards and would need to average an astonishing 329 yards over the next five games to break the record. Although it's a long shot, just look at this past Sunday when Brady passed for over 360 yards in what was not his best game. More likely to be broken is the record for touchdown passes in a single season. While Marino held this record for two decades, Manning set the new standard with 49. After 11 games, Brady seems in the drivers seat with 39. While he only had one in the last game against the Eagles, don't expect Randy Moss to be covered so well the rest of the season - he's too good and so is Wes Welker. So while most are willing to bet that Brady will break the TD record and the single season passing percentage record, I will go out on a limb (sort of) and say that he will add the single season passing yardage record and single season QB passer rating record. And then after the season, perhaps voters will look to someone other than Manning as the league MVP, but then again, Brady doesn't and won't do TV commercials.

Get the right orthopedic surgeon

The key to healthy joints for many of us is an active lifestyle, but as we age, even those of us with well-balanced exercise routines begin to feel pain. When your pain starts to localize in the joints, in can mean anything from arthritis to ligament damage. And while age will certainly play a factor in what surgical procedures are available to each individual, it is extremely important that whether you need a hip of knee replacement, you get an orthopedic surgeon with the not only a great reputation, but the most experience and dedicated staff.

Will 14 be a charm for Jim Rice?

With the 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame recently announced, there are some familiar faces to go along with the 11 new candidates. For Boston fans, no player is mosre recognizable than Jim Rice. While the Boston Red Sox slugger has come close several times, including leading the ballots of non-electees last season, but some feel that while he was a great player, his numbers don't add up to a Hall induction. Rice, the 1978 AL MVP, batted .298 in his career and hit 382 home runs.
While most players from his era are often heard from, Rice is still an integral part of Red Sox Nation as a host of NESN's pre and post game shows along with Tom Caron. And with 2 years left to somehow get voted in, the odds may be against him, but there are still many pulling for his election.

Book a great ski trip!

Booking vacations can be somewhat of a hassle if you try and piece things together from air to hotel to care rental, but it’s important to understand that if you take a just a little time, you can easily do everything at once and get complete vacation packages to include airfare, Hotel Reservations, and car rentals. Using HotelReservations.com can not only save you tons of money is deals and rebates, but they have price guarantees and some really neat packages to destinations like Breckenridge, Colorado and Park City, Utah.

Have fun with Smorty

So I think I established yesterday that I’m not exactly optimistic about my chances for the Publishers Clearing House jackpot, but just because I am a little skeptical doesn’t mean I’ve given up hope! Quite frankly thought, I’ve been thinking a lot about finance these days and how important it is to earn and save money, regardless of whether it’s from doing small things online from time to time or whether you rely on your actual day job.
In case any of you have missed the recent mercurial trip of the stock market, we have a very unsteady economy and whereas I still have consumer confidence, I value fiscal responsibility. That said, I do like to ear a few extra bucks on the side from my normal job and connecting bloggers and advertisers is a perfect way to do so. I highly urge anyone who has a blog to get involved with Smorty and have some fun writing short opinion pieces while you advertise on blogs. Nope, you won’t get rich and there will be no prize patrol, but it’s pretty fun and the extra money won’t hurt around the holiday season.

The writers go on strike so the tennis balls will fly!

It's not secret that I'm a fan of the 80's. I loved the clothes and the music. Hell, I even loved much of the TV, but some shows were either cancelled or sent off to obscurity for a reason - a reason that NBC has apparently overlooked.
Although it's pretty hard for any network to try to line up original programing when they all of a sudden don't have new episodes of their current line up, but I would think that contingency plans would be key...
...So am I the only one that think NBC bringing back American Gladiator is pretty silly? Sure, I loved it when I was a kid. The heroes, who were almost portrayed as villains against the underdogs with tennis balls being shot at them - sort of like the mix of game show and reality show, but did we need to bring it back? I guess I'll be fair and wait to see what the other networks bring out for the beginning of 2008, but I'd be surprised if there are some quality shows that haven't gotten a chance, just waiting for the call.

Where's the digital camera when you need it?

What a great long weekend we had up here in Maine at Sunday River ski resort. Cold temperatures allowed for non-stop snowmaking and terrain expansion, lots of friends were buzzing around the resort, and the last three days had nothing but bluebird skies. Of course that would be the exact time I would forget to bring my digital camera. While I plan to do a write-up of the Matterhorn Ski Bar, it would have been handy to have had my Canon PowerShot SD620 to capture some of the great and unique images inside. Yes, I can go back and get the same shots of the bar and restaurant, but it was also a great night out with Jules, Bob, and Marcia and it would have been nice to capture the evening on film.
Speaking of my camera, one of the best features I found last year was the video option. Granted, you can’t exactly make a movie and the zooming is a little limited, but Jules and I enjoyed taking turns making small clips of us skiing, which I was able to edit into shorts uploads for YouTube.
As Christmas nears, I’m looking at some new Canon and Nikon cameras as possible upgrades, but after seeing a homemade ski film made of the course of last year and made by my friends Tanya and Walter, I’m seriously considering buying a camcorder so I can make a ski movie of my own. While I was hesitant because I don’t know how to edit, Tanya assured me that the programs are fairly simple and she was able to do everything for East Meets West on her computer. Of course I could always film five minute segments and edit them together with my digital camera as well. Lot of possibilities these days!

Yikes is right!

From a 22-point underdog to almost knocking off the Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles certainly came into Foxboro tonight with a mission. And while I'm happy to see the end result, I have to give props to A.J. Feeley for one heck of a game before the two very costly interceptions. Of course if it wasn't for the nearly perfect pass protection of Randy Moss ALL NIGHT, it would have been a different story, but the Eagles did one hell of a job and you have to respect that.

I could win $10,000,000!

Yeah, so I don't buy lottery tickets or enter many contests, but admittedly I've fallen into the grasp of Ed McMahon and the ongoing saga that is Publisher's Clearing House. You know, those huge envelopes you get in the mail that want you to buy magazines or at the very least, enter their jackpot. Well, several months back, I got an email from ED saying that I might be the winner of $10 million. I don't know Ed very well, but that "Prize Patrol" would be pretty sweet. Suffice to say, I kept getting emails, but have never bought anything, nor will I, but I do continue to submit my entry. It's borderline insane, but I almost think that if I didn't open the email and click continue, then when the have the drawing (which is God only knows when) it would be my number. Ha! I'm not that stupid or gullible, but you never know. I need to get out more!

First Friday art walk in St. Augustine

My parents first brought me to St. Augustine, Florida when I was around 8-years old. Although I was yet to have a history class regarding European explorers, I had heard the legend that city, said to be the oldest settlement in the America, was home to the Fountain of Youth. Whereas I’m clearly no longer 8-years old, I would be remiss to say that the fountain doesn’t house unique power. People still flock to the city from all ever the world. And yes the Fountain of Youth is just one of the attractions people come to St. Augustine for. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is home to the Mission of Nombre de Dios, which is believed to be the first permanent mission settlement in the United States. Settled and established by the Spanish, the Mission of Nombre de Dios is also home to Our Lady of La Leche.
So perhaps you’re not very interested in religion and visiting a historical landmark isn’t exactly your idea of a good time on a Friday; how about taking part in a St. Augustine Artwalk. This is something you’ll not want to miss and St. Augustine offers special events the first Friday of every month, when the art galleries, boutiques, and antique stores in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, are thriving with free sightseeing tours, a free trolley, and free parking. With December 7th still remaining on the 2007 calendar and a near year just around the corner, don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate the culture, explore the historic city, and browse the First Friday Weekend Art Walk in beautiful and historic St. Augustine.

I fell for it... kind of...

For those who know me, taking a nap isn't exactly out of the ordinary for me. I tend to work long hours and ski a lot so sleep can be at a premium, but I've never taken a nap in the afternoon on Thanksgiving. Quite frankly, I don't think there is really enough of any chemical in turkey to make me overly tired, but this evening, while spending time with my family, I zonked out. Maybe the Thanksgiving sleepiness is less of an urban legend than I had thought.

What lies in The Mist?

If you haven’t read the novella by The Mist by Stephen King– which I can only assume most viewers have not, given the novella format not being as widely available – you may take a glimpse at tone of the trailers and think that The Mist is another The Fog remake, but rest assured it’s not. While sometimes considered ominous looking on their own, fog and mist have many elemental similarities, but that’s where similarities end regarding storylines.
Something that I’ve always found interesting about works of Stephen King, which I think much of the time goes un-noticed, is that his works are almost always about much more than horror or the supernatural. While he may draw ideas from either of these, like having the mist be some deadly entity, but if you look deeper, you notice that the story is about the human nature of the people trapped inside the supermarket. This isn’t always the case, but look at some his other popular stories such as The Stand, in which we see religion and redemption as central themes of the storyline that just so happens to be intertwined by a plague. In short, The Mist, like other Stephen King stories, is about the fight between good and evil. True, it’s sometimes hard to find the line between the two and The Mist is no different in that regard. The characters are forced to take sides, look into themselves, believe in each other, test faith and religious beliefs.
I can’t say as though I was overly scared watching this, but I loved it. It is classic Stephen King with all the aforementioned creative pieces and yes, there is certainly the fear factor. I can only imagine myself in the situation these people are in. I try to imagine something like this happening and not having a clue if it would end or if indeed the world was coming to an end.

Happy Thanksgiving

While riding a chairlift just after 8:00 am this morning I got a nice chance to reflect on my life and those around me. It's not as though I don't do so often, but this time was seemingly different and quite frankly didn't have anything to do with the holiday. I'm generally a gracious and thankful person, or at least I try to be.
With a gentle mist falling and the chair gliding slowly through a low-lying fog bank, I could see different sections of the mountain at different times and everything was white. While we've only seen a few inches of natural snow, the flat light and massive amounts of man made snow of the trails and in the trees provided an almost mystical illusion of a winter wonderland... in November. Okay so such imagery might be kink of hard to imagine with the weather most of us have seen, but that isn't the point anyway. The point is that I was keenly aware of everything around me and was so at peace that I just couldn't help but be thankful. And while I wasn't creating a list in my head of the things I am thankful for, I was content with just being thankful in general.

Tactical polo shirts are pretty cool!

Whether you’re in law enforcement, hunting in the great outdoors, or are a volunteer first responder, you need to have long lasting and durable clothes and equipment. At 511 Tactical Outdoors you’ll find everything from Tactical Polo Shirts to Galco holsters. Almost all orders can be shipped within 24 hours and many qualify for free shipping.

Even if it only lasted a couple of hours...

The first snow in Portland is always magical, especially when it falls at night in the crisp air, but Mother Nature has her own plans and today she decided that even though it wasn't quite freezing in Portland or anywhere on the coast, it snowed for a couple hours and even stuck a little.
Yes, it has snowed in the mountains and was last weekend when I was there, but being almost two hours south and at sea-level, snow in November isn't as common as some may think. And while the forecast calls for the type of precipitation that doesn't freeze, I'll keep dreaming of snow!

Optimize your shopping cart software

About a week ago I began my holiday shopping for the year and while I may not have gotten very far as of yet in terms of how many people I purchased gifts for, I’ve done something that would have been unheard of a decade ago and yet now isn’t even considered unique. I’ve made all my purchases online. Interestingly, I bought from about five different sites and all five were different from the ease of navigation to the actual checkout process. It’s no doubt that the Internet has come a long way from the original days of eBay and with such progress, online sellers need to get the most out of their website and optimize the shopping experience to get more customers and retain the one they have. Ecommerce Software is revolutionizing the tools available to sellers of all sorts. The Shopping Cart Software available makes credit card processing easy and there are no transaction fees. The bottom line there is that you can maximize your earnings when you don’t have to shell out an additional percentage for fees. Additionally, Network Solutions has a vast selection of store front web site options so you can customize the look of your store, but perhaps the selling point for me is that unlike other ecommerce software, Network Solutions offers customer support 24 hours a day and every day of the week. Whether you need a whole online website store or are just looking for software to interface with your existing website or auction site for shopping cart solutions, Network Solutions has a package for you.

Lowell signs a 3-year deal with Boston

Millions of Red Sox fans including myself let out a collective sigh of relief today as it was announced that World Series MVP Mike Lowell re-signed with Boston for 3 years and $37.6 million. While Lowell may have been looking for 4 years, he also indicated that he wanted to be in Boston. And I won't lie, when Hank and Hal started waiving around cash in the hopes that Lowell would re-join the New York club that drafted him, I wouldn't have been surprised. Not because of the money, but a 4-year deal at a less demanding position with his original team may have been attractive, but over the last two years it has become very clear that Lowell has developed some relationships with players, coaches, and obviously fans in Boston that may have been one of the driving forces. Whereas I can't speak for all Boston fans, I am happy to have Lowell back, not because I think he'll put up the the numbers he did this year, but rather because he is one of the best guys to be around all the young talent that the Sox have. Thanks Mike!

The search for Lewis and Clark along Oregon's coast

Being from Maine, I am very familiar with the ocean from long sandy beaches to rocky bluffs. Since my youth, I have seen pictures of the Pacific Northwest and almost thought of its’ coast as a sister to the one we enjoy in Maine. Nestled between northern California and Washington state; Oregon’s coastline is nothing short of breathtaking and more and more people are discovering the Oregon coast as a vacation destination.
While relaxing in luxury condominium or rented home is a wonderful and peaceful way to spend a vacation during any season whatsoever, the Oregon coast is close to hundred of educational, historical, and sightseeing opportunities. Regardless of where you choose to stay on one of your oregon beach vacations, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway provides access to some of the most astonishing towns and villages in the state. If you’re looking for a historical perspective, take a drive to Astoria. The area encompassing Astoria and Warren, just across the Columbia River is not only the oldest settlement west of the Rocky Mountains but also the very end of the famous Lewis and Clark Trail. Rejuvenated towns like Astoria are beautiful in any season, but especially the traditional Christmas and New Years vacation weeks when these towns offer vibrant celebrations of the holidays.

And to think, people really do care

After a long day on the slopes Saturday, I was pondering the temptation of a nap as Jules flipped through the channels in her condo. Late afternoons after skiing I rarely question what is on the TV as I do normally nap; however, I have to say that I really was taken aback by what I saw that day. Now, it's not like I haven't seen a little E network now and again, but the fact that there was a reality show about the daily lives of the family of one of the dead attorneys for O.J. Simpson, really blew me away. Who cares? I wondered, but obviously tons of people do. Don't get me wrong, there was some funny stuff, but it wasn't anything different than watching coverage of any celeb of Inside Edition. It just so happens to be a different set of faces, but the situations are the same.

Now later in the evening, Jules was again surfing and came across Mobile Home Disasters on CMT. I'm not really sure how much I can say about this without the chance of offending a large chunk of society, but perhaps the fact that the host were making fun of the people on it is some indication of the content.

I'm glad I skied most of the day and we switched over to some of my DVDs later...

Looking for a fountain to spruce things up?

While the housing market may be struggling, potential sellers will be looking for ways to increase the value of their homes while others are looking to spruce up their backyards and gardens. Wall Fountains can be used indoors or out. Garden-Fountains.com has a wide selection of all types of fountains for simple to install wall fountains to garden fountains for every style and taste.

Harold Alfond leaves a long legacy of giving

Born in 1914, Harold Alfond, one of Maine's most well-known and beloved benefactors passed away on Friday. Several of Maine's colleges and universities were honored with sizable donations by the founder and former owner of Dexter Shoe. Quite frankly, it's hard to imagine sports in Maine without the contributions this man made, which totalled well into the multi-millions of dollars. Alfond was also a former part owner of the Boston Red Sox. Perhaps the most significant of his donations was the one that created Alfond Arena. (show above) In 1977, The University of Maine was ready to make the jump to Division 1 Men's Ice Hockey. Alfond's generous donation enabled the university to build the original arena with 3,500 seats and later expand to 5,500. Two national titles later, it is one of the most feared home ice arenas in all of college hockey. Along with several other structures on the Orono campus, Alfond also contributed sports facilities and educational centers to St. Joseph's College, The University of New England, Husson College, and Colby College. Harld Alfond's legacy will live on and his passion for sports in the state of Maine will be fondly remembered.

The Business Card 2.0

Bloggers are constantly trying to find ways to promote their site. I too, fall into this category and while I don’t depend on mine for a source of income other than a few bucks here and there, it’s still good to get your name out and have people read your work. Interestingly enough, in a time when almost everything has become digital, Ooprint.com has come out with the “Business Card 2.0” and wants to test it out on you. This is a great opportunity to get Free blogger cards to promote your work and your site!

Off to another weekend in the mountains...

...and while I may or may not have access to a computer, I'll be thinking about some things I want to write about (While I ski!!) and the finalization of my own weekly project that I mentioned a few weeks back. Nope, I'm not having a contest and it won't be wordless, but I do want my cancelled/defunct TV show review series to be on one specific day each week. So I'll be thinking of a gimmick, but if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know. Yours, Jerry

Finding holiday gifts for children

If you’re at all like me, you struggle when it comes to choosing gifts for the little ones in the family. Having two nieces and a nephew, I know I’ll have my hands full trying to decide the right gifts that will please both them and their parents. One place I found interesting is Identity Direct, which has over 500 Personalized Gifts for Children. They’ve got everything from Disney to Sesame Street and are well worth the visit.

My addiction to Survivor

Perhaps I shouldn’t admit this, but for one reason or another, I’ve become somewhat addicted to Survivor. Now in it’s like 10th season, this is only the second one I’ve watched and quite frankly, when I’d heard about it previously, I couldn’t understand for the life of me why this show would still be on the air. The about a year ago, there was an office game that played along with the show’s then current season. I drew a name from a hat and got a guy who ended up winning.
While I didn’t even know this season had begun until about a month ago, I quickly tuned in to see if I still like it and I found myself captivated by it. I realize that it is like the same stuff over and over, but for some reason, perhaps anthropological or societal, people are drawn to the characters and like in the show, we choose favorites and sides.
I haven’t decided if this makes me a loser or not, but who cares? It’s fun and it’s fluff TV, which I think is a good way to wind down after a long day. Last night I chose to watch while I conquered my own challenge on the elliptical machine and found that the hour workout went by really fast. My favorites on the show for this season would be Eric and Amanda. Eric ‘cause I just think he’s got a realistic style. Amanda ‘cause, well, do I really need to say? I mean she’s good at playing the game!

Do some homework before playing online

While I may not be much of a gambler, I have been known to play a slot machine or two and sometimes even sit down to a friendly game of blackjack when I’m in Lake Tahoe, but for the most part, casino style gambling is not an option for me where I live unless I go online. I would offer a couple of pieces of advice prior to partaking in online poker or any other online casino style game. First, make sure that it’s legal in your state and second, head on over to Pro360.com before choosing a site or sites to play your hand. Pro360.com reviews over 3000 online casino sites and has some very helpful information. The two aspects that are of most interest to me are what other gamers think of the site and what the sign-up bonus is. Reviews from other players lend credibility and a hefty sign-up bonus and brighten-up you winnings or indeed pad your losses. Whether you’re a avid gambler or just want to give it a shot, having the best information in hand is always a smart bet.

Parking Revenge

People who know me would probably describe me as a bit of an A## at times. I won't shy away from it, it's true. I often tell it like it is, speak my mind, say honest things others are afraid to, and every now and again I may be a little offensive... None of that withstanding, I am respectful of most people and things, just so long as they are respectful in kind; however, when someone does something just stupid, I can't help myself sometimes. (I'm really a nice guy... really! This weekend was one instance.
So Jules and I were arriving back at her place at Sunday River nearing eleven pm on Saturday after making a surprise in Cape Eliz for her mothers' bday party. Sure, it had been a super-long day with skiing, tons of driving, and even more chatting, but nothing prepared me for what I saw as I pulled into the parking lot behind the condo building. Now, being the very beginning of ski season, there were practically no cars in the lot, but the lot still has a parking protocol to be followed - you don't park in loading spots or handicapped spots whether there are cars in the lot or not and you certainly don't park your car or truck along the edge of the lot in a perpendicular manner. If you park along the edge, you either back in or drive the front end of your car facing the edge, but NOT perpendicular; that's just taking at least two places - empty lot or not.
So when we drive in, some guy had parked in this manner with his truck, apparently having the idea that he or she would just jump into the truck and drive right out of the spot. Right, 'cause whomever this guy is, he owns the lot.
Bringing Jules' car to a stop about halfway into the lot, I looked at her, not knowing whether she'd seen the offender, and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to do this." I then proceeded to pull right in front of this guys' truck and blocked it from pulling right out. No. I didn't block him in. All he had to do was back up and then pull out, but a point had to be made.
It probably had a lot more to do with a lack of sleep than it did with the actual situation, but Jules and I couldn't stop laughing. The next morning Jules snapped a shot of the offender with her car parked strategically in front. Priceless!

Stock up on great online deals in North Carolina

NCNatural.com is one of the most comprehensive resources for everything that is North Caroline. A great site for travelers and vacationers, NCNatural.com has partnered with hundreds merchants to offer some of the best Coupon Codes possible. The site is updated daily to reflect the constant commitment to its visitors and those who live in North Carolina. Why not some of the bargains they offer for Sierra Trading Post and Eddie Bauer, especially if your in the mood to get outside this winter.

Was Beckett robbed of the Cy Young?

Interesting question. Josh Beckett was the only twenty game winner in the major leagues this past season and he got out-voted by a wide margin for the Cy Young award, given annually to the best pitcher in each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Collecting almost two-thirds of the votes was the Cleveland Indians' C.C. Sabathia. Yes, the same Sabathia who was shelled in the playoffs against the Red Sox. The same Sabathia who lost to Josh Beckett in both post season games this year. The Same Sabathia, who having pitched almost 40 more innings, had one less win than Beckett.
As interesting as those figures are, only one of them matters at all in terms of this votes. You see voters cannot take playoffs into consideration as this is a regular season award. In fact, the ballots are cast on the eve of the playoffs. There is little doubt that if the playoffs counted, Beckett wouldn't have been denied, but lets not forget who got the ring at the end of the day.
As I sat down to write this thought long and hard about whether I was actually bitter about the award and quite frankly I'm not. C.C. Sabathia is one hell of a pitcher and might face Boston again next year in the playoffs - we've seen how he does under pressure. Josh Beckett is another great pitcher and may get a shot to make it three in a row against the tribe next October - we've seen how he does under pressure, too.
And yet that match-up wold make Fox a little giddy, Red Sox Nation has something else to look forward to - an already great number one starter who has a chip on his shoulder and might just want to settle the score next season. So while folks might think the voters took something away from Beckett; they're only half right. The writers might have just fueled an already fiercely competitive man.

It might not be snowing where you are...

...and it isn't here in Maine either, but thanks to some much desired cold temps, the snowmmakers at Sunday River have done a hell of job getting the mountain open and expanding terrain. I thought I would share a nice shot from the top of Locke Mountain with a view towards Mount Washington Valley. Enjoy!

All things in time

So I wrote a post a little while back about the watch my girlfriend bought for me while in Paris and I wanted to sort of update that because I have to be honest, the Mickey watch has decided to have a little life left and therefore I have yet to don the new one. Now that ski season is here, I will probably switch over as Mickey will not withstand the cold weather. I do kind of like having two watches, though. The watch that Jules bought is kind of sporty and is pretty much perfect for the slopes or tennis, and while I am totally not taking the gift for granted, I wouldn’t mind picking up something that would look snazzy at work. Being a sailor, I have always had a fondness for Tag Heuer, which is a featured watch at J.R. Dunn Jewelers. Perhaps not as recognizable in the sailing world, but certainly worth its’ worldwide reputation, Baume Mercier has several models featured at J.R. Dunn. For now, it’s Mickey and my new watch. I haven’t named it yet, but all things in time…

A sad state of affairs in high school sports

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about playing sports for the love of the participation and passion for the games. When I wrote that I was unaware of something that happened in my home state of Maine that really has me sad.
Granted, rules are important in sports. When you break the rules, you get punished, but at the same time, rules are established for a reason. Some are based on situational factors while others are set up to stop something from possibly happening. We have increasing seen different sport almost re-write their rule books to allow for interpretation of rules that have particular areas of grey. This is one of those rules that certainly should have been better evaluated prior to acting upon…
In late October, the Massabesic Mustangs’ Girls Cross Country team was competing in the Maine State Championships when they encountered “Rule 4, Section 5, Article 8-c of the National Federation rulebook prohibits: Competitors joining or grasping hands with each other during a race.”
At the end of the 23-minute race two of Massabesic’s runners were about to finish 5th and 6th in the race. While the team already had two top-ten finishers, a Class A State Championship was all theirs; and then freshman Nicole Smith took the hand of teammate and senior, Kendra Johnson. After crossing the finish line, both competitors were disqualified and Massabesic High School fell from 1st to 4th overall.
When asked about the disqualification, Massabesic Coach Mark Crepeau said, “There was no intent to help. Their intent was to congratulate each other because the race was over." And the coach has a point. The rule in question was established so runners couldn’t band together and block other runners from passing. There were no runners approaching Smith and Johnson.
Sadly, the Massabesic team lost what should have been a title for them and a shot at the New England Championships being held this weekend. Even sadder is that none of the other teams had a problem with the disqualification even though the situation was clear.
Nicole Smith and Kendra Johnson are competitors who celebrated the spirit of competition on that day and they were penalized for their love of both the sport and the concept of being a teammate.

Explore the wonders of New York City

It would be hard to imagine the United States without thinking of New York City. While not the country’s capitol, or even the state’s, New York City is arguably the center of America’s cultural world. As writers, we know of New York as the Mecca for traditional literary publication. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island illicit thought of the millions of immigrants who came to our country to live the American dream. Its’ sports teams – past and present – are storied in history and a source of pride to the eight million who live in the five boroughs.
New York was the first city in the modern world to truly explore the concept of building up instead of out and through such exploration, skyscrapers such as the Chrysler Building and The Empire State Building were erected and stand tall today. And like the European cultural centers of London, Paris, and Rome, New York City is full of some of the best museums and tourists attractions in the world. One of my favorite places to visit is The Metropolitan Museum of Art, fondly known as the Met. With over 33,000 objects, the museum’s collection has Egyptian pottery dating to 3700 BC, extensive collections of artifacts from the Far East, medieval Europe, and the most sought after collections of American history. With the New York CityPass you’ll gain access to site seeing tours, the city’s amazing architecture, and of course the museums like the Met.

Sunday River opened for the season a day early!

Upstaging perennial rival and "family member," Sugarloaf/USA, Sunday River Resort, Maine, officially opened full time for the 2007-2008 season at 11:30 today.
While Sunday River had opened for one day on Halloween, most don't consider a resort to be open for the season unless they stay continuously open, therefore, the Halloween opening doesn't really count as Sunday River's opening. Why is this important? Quite frankly, it really isn't in the grand scheme of things, but bragging rights are always the banter of forums and bar stools.
After a long period as king of early openings and late closings, Killington, VT - now operated by POWDR Corp, decided to not even attempt an early opening this year, which is the first time in decades. While this opened the door for Sunday River, who had all along intended to open no later than November 9th, it was recently announced that Sugarloaf would also open on the 9th, bumping up their opening by a week. Not to be outdone by its' sister resort, the mountain operations crew at Sunday River resume snowmaking operations yesterday afternoon and were able to lay down enough snow for today's opening on one trail and one lift.
For the time being, skiing and riding is for advanced only and downloading is required on the Locke triple. So if you're not an expert, please think twice about getting on the lift. No, the terrain is not normally overwhelming, but early season skiing and riding is not easy and a lot of people end up walking down slopes and getting injured. For the full story on this and other alpine news, check out the good folks at Alpine Zone for the lastest updates.

Ever thought of memory foam for your mattress?

I increasingly heat radio advertisements for sleeping solutions. Now I haven’t quite figured out what a “sleeping solution” is, but admittedly, I often have trouble sleeping and might be interested in getting in on the fun. Nope, I don’t want to be a lab rat and test some weird new product, but I have often raised a curious eye when watching TV and seeing commercials for memory foam beds. Sure, the people pretending to be sleeping are paid to smile while they appear to be sleeping, but that surely doesn’t mean that memory foam doesn’t work.
There are currently two companies that offer identical NASA-developed HD (higher density) foam technology bed systems. I’ll be honest, I’ve never even laid on one of these mattresses, but I know many folks who swear by them. The technology relieves pressure & stress while conforming to every contour of your body. This isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer hard beds while others like beds with pillow-tops on them. It’s obviously a point of preference, but I have heard that these memory foam mattresses are recommended by many physicians. The catch is that they are expensive – much more than buying a regular mattress and box spring, but given that we spend so much of our life sleeping, or trying to at least, perhaps it’s an investment worth making. Who knows? Maybe I’ll head out to the mall area this weekend and check out some tempurpedic mattresses. If everything I hear is correct, it could be worth the drive.

Did you vote? Do you wish you did?

Yes, I mentioned this the other day as I was referring to voter apathy and did so for a reason - I think it's an important topic and an important constitutional right. So anyway, I stopped into the grocery store last night and while I was checking out, the two ladies working the front end were talking about the local elections, bonds, etc. They were upset about some of the proposals and how if one had passed, their taxes would go up. And then one of them asks the other, "Did you vote today?"
Lady number two replied, "No."

Enough said...

Who's gonna pay for all the time off?

It’s funny ‘cause I was just commenting on someone’s page about American’s needing to take more time off from work, and now I’m going to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and talk about the British. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the Brits, but you guys take more holidays than the French. Well, close at least. So I sort of figured if anyone needed payday loans, you might be the most viable candidates. Yes, I’m showing my jealousy. I want 8 weeks of vacation time a year!

No real surprise here - Kevin Youkalis wins first Gold Glove!

I'll update this with more info a little later, but I wanted to note that Kevin Youkalis became Boston's newest Gold Glove winner. Youkalis, who did not have an error in 2007, is the first Red Sox Gold Glove winner since Jason Varitek won a few years back. Mike Lowell won a Gold Glove while with Florida. IN more unfortunate new, Coco Crisp came in forth in voting for a Gold Glove given to the top 3 vote getters in the outfield. Of the three that won GGs, only Tori Hunter had a better play percentage, but votes are votes and popularity is a big part of it. Oh well, congrats to YOUK!

A surprise out of Boston

I call it a surprise 'cause quite frankly, I thought Curt Schilling would not pitch his final season in Boston. Of course I'm not the only one and even he had been sending his goodbye letters. Granted, Schilling had previously requested one year for $13 million, which was a pipe dream - not only coming from the Red Sox, but perhaps anyone given his age and lack of once powerful fastball, but I think the Red Sox decided that regardless of his regular season mediocrity the past couple of years, Schilling is still a big game pitcher that can rise to the occasion. With a 6 & 2 post-season record, the Sox might want him for that reason alone. They figure that come next October, they'll again be in the playoffs. Now comes the odd part of the deal: The Red Sox are signing Schilling for $8 million in base pay for a possible $2 million if he meets a series of weigh-ins. So if he meets his incentives, it's $3 million less than he asked for before the season, but probably that much more than anyone else would have given him, except perhaps the Yankees and he already made it clear he wouldn't pitch in New York. So it sounds like they want him around for October and hell, if they make it to the playoffs again, he should be nice and trim!
Looking a little further into this deal, it has far less to do with what happens on the mound with him than it does with his knowledge and ability to teach Boston's young prospects. I'm glad Curt will retire a Red Sox; he is one of the big reasons we no longer have a curse!

10 top ranked web hosting sites in one spot!

I constantly hear form folks who are moving on form their current web hosting site for various reasons. Many take the step from a free site to a platform that allows them more control over their pages and domains. So if you’re currently using Blogger and want to take your site to the next level, you need to find the hosting site that best suits your needs. Top 10 Web Hosting has numerous plans and platforms from Yahoo to VistaPages. One of the better deals you’ll find is hostmonster, which allows you to have unlimited domains at no extra charge. Whereas this may be a little above my needs, for those of you with 5 or 6 blogs, this could be a great deal.

Have you done your civic duty today?

As posted a few days back, I think it's important for people to get out and vote whenever there are issues being put in front of us as voters. I sincerely hope that it you are a registered voter, you have considered voting, or have in fact voted. Quite frankly, I am tried of hearing complaints about our state of affairs et al, only to find out the person didn't vote when they got the chance. Voter apathy is pathetic. That's just my opinion.

Get the best online car quotes before you buy

With the instability of the national economy, buyers in the United States are weary. Many are watching their mortgage rates climb and others are worried about the see-saw ride that is the New York Stock Exchange. While the Federal Reserve has just dropped interested rates again, some are worried about recession, while others are more concerned with the strong possibility of inflation. This has translated to horrible 3rd quarter results in the auto industry, but might mean great things for consumers in the market for a new car. I kind of wish I hadn’t bought a car two years ago when I see the falling prices for new cars today. Prudent car shoppers needn’t let car dealerships talk them into a sale when it can be the other way around. Yet before you start getting quotes on new cars, why not get online and do your homework. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find when you look for Honda, Toyota & Ford Car Quotes. The best deals of the century may be on the horizon. Don’t miss out.

About 5 Advil and I'll be ready to go!

Somewhat in tune with the 33 aspect of my life, it seems my knees just don't like to be pounded on at the gym like perhaps they would have when I was 23. Don't get me wrong, I can do everything a 23-year-old can do and then some, but it seems that there's a lesson I really need to learn - you can't go from working out a couple times a week on a stationary bike to a full-speed workout on a higher impact machine without some pain. Perhaps building up to the level I was try to attain this evening would have been more wise, but if there's one thing I really don't like, it's when folks talk about building up and then a couple months down the road they're still in first gear. I think that's the obsessive compulsive in me. Julie says I'm all or nothing. Perhaps that is true about some things, but certainly not all. And while I'm not being critical of such an analysis, I would rather have the will and ability to switch from nothing (we'll say moderate, it's never nothing) to all than just keep my life at nothing. How sad would that be? Who am I kidding? I'm just a wimp so give me some Advil!

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Daylight savings seems to make things a bit dreary

Perhaps I'm the only to one who thinks this, but I somehow doubt it. We might gain an extra hour sleep one night each fall, but it's sad to see the sun go down earlier. Of course there's always the glass half-full way to look at it... it means ski season is closing quickly, but to be honest, I was enjoying some tennis after work each evening. That's not gonna happen now unless Jules and I shell out $40 for an hour of court time. Yikes! I wouldn't be surprised if the national depression average goes up right about this time of year. Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, but I hadn't read a post about daylight savings, and given I'd been thinking about it - why not write my own? Nighty-night, it's dark already!

Free contests should be just that - free!

I stumbled upon a site that has me pretty fascinated. Being a fan of contest and free stuff, I admit that every now and again I will enter an online contest as long as I don’t have to give any important info. Inevitably, it turns out that the only way to win online contest – for the most part – is if you participate in sponsor offers. Not my cup of tea, but I recently found this site where there are tons of contests and the rules are different. It’s called the whogets.com online game show and instead of random drawings, other members votes on who wins based on response, blogs, and stories. This puts a whole new spin to online contests for great items.

An over-hyped game that was prime for a letdown

Some called it "SuperBowl Forty-one and a half," but quite frankly, today's game between the Patriots and the Colts was perhaps less entertaining than most of the other games in the league. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but really, if it weren't for the two touchdown comeback in the final 9 minutes by the Patriots - led by the always poised Tom Brady - all the football pundits would be talking about the game that really wasn't. And yet that's just what's on the surface. The people that talk about the game on TV and on the radio have to talk to the masses; therefore, they might not talk ab out what really went on in this game - domination by the Colts for 51 minutes. That's right! The first 51 minutes was all about defense and the Colt's running game - both were amazing and apparently caught the 9-0 Patriots off guard. Being from Maine, you can imagine that I am pleased with the result, but I'm not fooled. The final score was very deceiving and the re-match in the playoffs should be interesting.

Before you hit the market, do your homework!

Over the next several months and possibly years, it may be one of the most opportune times ever for homebuyers. Being one of them, I’ve started to do my homework so I can properly budget my life to include my fixed mortgage rates. While a 30-year fixed mortgage is a preference of mine and perhaps a suggestion to others, what’s more important is that your learn as much as you can about home loans, even before you start looking for real estate agents. Your home is a key part of your livelihood and the more you can do to protect it for the future, the better.

It seems like an odd time of year

Maybe it's just that I literally slept all day, but with remnants of the latest hurricane slapping us around up here in Maine, we seem torn between seasons. In Maine we usually go from summer to winter with only a few autumn days to enjoy, but this year has been different. As the minutes get us closer to November 4th, only the mountains have had a taste of some good ole fashioned cold weather. Perhaps I didn't notice it before because I was caught up in working all week and watching baseball at nights. So yes, that is a totally random post with a moral that just implies it's good to take a moment to stop and look around once in a while 'cause you might forget how good you have things.

When it was a game...

The title reminds me of a two-part HBO special from the 80's or 90's about the days of baseball's past. Mostly shot in black and white with real interviews and candid moments with some of the games greats, the special showed something that is seemingly gone from professional sports - the love and passion for playing the game.
Yes, I'm well-aware that there are plenty of professional athletes out there with all the drive in the world, but they are totally overshadowed by the self-absorbed and larger-than-life characters that we as a society have created. These people get paid millions of dollars to play and we treat them as gods. Curious. Perhaps that's why they are self-absorbed.
In the 1980s athletes began to get very large contracts and once it started, it just got worse and worse and team owners and sponsors competed with each other. In the past few years, some professional sports leagues have put salary caps on teams, but players still make absurd amounts of money while rarely showing the class that the ballplayers from days gone by, showed.
I'm not going to call any of these athletes out by name. We all know who thought he was bigger than the World Series. We all know current players who think they are bigger than basketball. Hell, we even know golfers that make so much money from sponsorship - due to demand from fans who watch and create ratings - that you'd think he'd appreciate his fans, but the reality is that sports in our country have been declining for decades and it's a sad commentary.
I could make more of an argument, or rant, if you will and delve into the world of "college athletics," but I don't think there is enough room on the page; however, on the note of "amateur" sports, it isn't too long ago that we watched the Olympics and saw a unique spectacle that only allowed amateur athletes. While that is mostly not the case by-in-large, there are still many events in the Olympics (winter and summer) where money is NOT an issue whatsoever and it is great to see the twinkle in the eyes of these athletes as they enter the stadium for the opening ceremonies. Their payday isn't a bid check, but rather a small flag embroidered on their uniform, a camera full of priceless pictures, and memories to last a lifetime. Some of the events may be obscure, but perhaps it is those sports where we find those athletes who truly embrace and remember, when it was a game!

Halloween skiing at Sunday River even drew Tony The Tiger!

Even if it was only for one day, Sunday River, Maine turned some heads with the surprise last minute opening for Halloween day. New outlets from all over New England and even the Weather Channel wanted in on the action. After a few blustery nights, the renowned Sunday River snowmaking crew had laid down enough of the white stuff to cover the T2 trail and operate the Locke Mountain chairlift. While downloading was required from mid-station, the opening of the upper part of the lift and the T2 trail itself was a throwback to the 1990s when resorts like Sunday River, Sugarloaf/usa, and Killington all vied for bragging rights of first to open in the east. While the Sunday River "treat" had already been decided to be a one day affair, the media outlets are still buzzing about skiing in Maine on October 31st. The mountain operations crew deserves a lot of credit for allowing this special event to happen while Sunday River PR guru and director of Communications, Alex Kaufman, was busy attending to the media. When word got out Tuesday afternoon about the event, folks were already making plans to make their first tracks. Unfortunately this kid was stuck in the office. Sunday River is officially slated to open for daily skiing and riding on November 9th, weather permitting. For more on this event and anything having to do with Sunday River, check out sundayriver.com.

Is metal or stainless steel an option for your kitchen?

With all the remodeling and decorating we see on television there seems to be a niche market for a more modern look when it comes to the kitchen. Living in an old brick home with mostly wood interior, I think that aside from appliances, I would stay away from stainless steel or metal cabinets, but the demand is there. With new and unique designs to compliment varying kitchen decor, stainless steel is probably the best bet of the two, especially if you're looking for a long-lasting and durable product.

The gym is gonna whip me into shape!

Here I am, still unshowered since my return from the gym and yet I'm on this damned machine. Haha, not an exercise machine, but a computer. Oh well, it's pretty fun and downright addicting. I remember when I thought myspace was addictive. In my opinion, it doesn't measure up to all that goes into blogging, but anyway, the reason for my post is that I wanted to share a post from Jules called "The Gym," which is mostly about her experiences at the gym, but made me laugh due to the gym etiquette. I don't know. I just think it was a perfect picture of gym scene that I had to laugh, and share.

If you have to do it, be prepared

As someone who relies on bi-weekly pay checks, I understand the importance of making sure you have money when you need it, but I've never been a fan of pay day loans. I feel that most people providing these loans take advantage of people who are in desperate need for cash; however, there are two side two every story and therefore it would be unfair for me to make a judgment for everyone else. There are certainly times when bridging the gap between paychecks is a absolute necessity and if your have to do it, you might as well have the most information possible. So do your homework, search extensively for the best Payday Loan Quotes.

Fans have spoken: Keep Lowell!

World Series MVP Mike Lowell is going to get a sizable contract from one lucky major league team. Lowell, a unrestricted free agent, came to Boston is a trade to acquire Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins. Beckett, the 2003 World Series MVP was the hard-throwing right hander Boston was seeking, while Lowell considered himself a "throw-in."
A former Gold Glove winner, Lowell had a good 2006 season and a record setting 2007 season when he set a record for RBIs by a Red Sox 3rd baseman with 120, which was also the team high.
While almost flying under the radar for most of the post-season, Lowell was quietly contributing, batting .333. The after his decisive home run in game four, Lowell was the writers' choice for series MVP.
As Boston fans made their way to the lower levels of Coors Field, they chanted, "re-sign Lowell" and "Don't sign A-Rod." The chants were continued on Tuesday as the Red Sox took to the streets of Boston. And while Curt Schilling has made the most noise about free agency thus far from a Red Sox player's perspective, it is Lowell who the fans want to hear about.
Fans know that baseball is business, but sometime the right guy is better than the right statistics. Boston fans would probably be less welcoming to A-Rod than they were to J.D. Drew and Drew never tried to swap at one of the Red Sox pitchers.
While the Red Sox brass is very reluctant to sign a soon to be 34-year-old to more than two or three year deal, the Red Sox would do well to make a damned good offer to this man.
For this fan, the choice is clear - resign Lowell and keep a throwback hard-working player. Then again, if it was up to me, they'd re-sign him and he join Jason Varitek as co-captain of the Red Sox. Wishful thinking. I know!

Make sure your flooring is protected

iFLOOR Announces One Million Dollar Warrenty!

Perhaps this seems insignificant to perspective homeowners or folks looking to do some remodel, but proper, durable, long-lasting flooring is one of the most important aspects of raising the price of value of your home. And with great hardwood, laminate, or bamboo flooring, you will be far less-inclined to look for wall-to-wall carpeting and instead show off your beautiful flooring.

iFLOOR, America's largest online flooring retailer, today announced a $1,000,000 limited warranty designed to protect its customers from predatory manufacturer policies that exclude warranty coverage from online purchases.

The policy, which goes into effect immediately, offers up to one million dollars of coverage in the event that a customer's warranty claim is denied specifically because they made their purchase online. It is complimentary for every iFLOOR customer, and protects the buyer under the same terms as the original product warranty.

iFLOOR, Inc. CEO, Steve Simonson, came up with the program to combat "scare tactics" used by manufacturers of hardwood floors and laminate flooring. "Their idea is to discourage you from buying at a discount!" wrote Simonson in his blog "It's About Flooring". "This is not right! You deserve to save money! So we're going to take care of this problem once and for all."

And it would appear that federal law is on his side. Section 108 of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Act, states that, "In general, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty."

Under iFLOOR's new warranty, a key provision allows for iFLOOR to "seek justice" on behalf of the customer in the event of legal action. According to Simonson, "I'm putting iFLOOR's money where my mouth is."

About iFLOOR, Inc.
Since 1998, iFLOOR.com has been the leading online and retail flooring company, with 36 local retail stores nationwide offering more than 70,000 products, including hardwood floors, laminate flooring, bamboo flooring and cork floors. iFLOOR.com is the largest online flooring retailer according to Internet Retailer Magazine, and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States for the past three years. Committed to quality customer service, superior selection and friendly expert advice, iFLOOR.com enables customers to buy flooring both online and in its retail stores at a substantial savings over traditional retailers. For more information about iFLOOR, please visit www.iFLOOR.com.