Coolest Mom EVER!

So, this past weekend I became (at least I think!) the coolest Mom EVER. I booked a Carnival Cruise for my daughter Steph's sweet 16th birthday, just her and I. We leave on July 30th and return on August 6th. We will be cruising the Southern Caribbean. We will fly to San Juan, and from there we will cruise all night, and wake up in St. Thomas in the early AM. From St. Thomas we will cruise on to Dominica. After Dominica, we will continue on to Barbados and THEN....ARUBA!

Cruise Itinerary:

Day Ports of Call Arrival Departure

1 San Juan, Puerto Rico --- 10:00 p.m.
2 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
3 Dominica 9:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
4 Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
5 At Sea --- ---
6 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m.
7 At Sea --- ---
8 San Juan, Puerto Rico 7:00 a.m. ---


Wow....according to this map, we will be cruising VERY close to Venezuela. Maybe I can convince the ship to stop there so that I can grab some gas for everyone back home. I heard that it is only seventeen cents there!!!!!



We will be sailing on the Carnival Destiny.

In Memory.....

Today, April 19th marks the 10th anniversary of my cousin Joey's death. Has it been ten years? Memories are still so fresh in my mind, that it seems like yesterday. Questions about why he had to be taken so young remain unanswered. He was so full of life and promise. He had everything to live for, yet a higher force and a stronger demon (cancer) thought otherwise. I still cry when I see a picture of him or a certain memory comes flooding back.

I am SO thankful that I had a chance to say goodbye to Joey and spend some time with him. I'm not sure if he knew that we were even there, but I would like to believe that he did. Even though it was so hard to see him and the rest of my family in so much pain, I would not have traded those days for anything.

It makes me stop and think of how important family is. It makes me think of how important it is to keep your loved ones close and let them know in different ways how much you care for them. It also makes me think of how important it is to let anger and animosity go towards a family member. You never know when the very last time you see them will be. You never know how fragile life is until it is gone forever. Ask yourself these two questions: Do you want your last words to someone in your family to be hateful? Is your anger toward them bigger than your love for them?

Great Video.....

My daughter and I absolutely LOVE Sarah McLachlan. We play her CD "Afterglow" in the car any chance we get. This video is INCREDIBLE! When I showed it to my daughter, she said that she almost cried. It's amazing the way that she breaks everything down, and really sobering when you think about it. The things that we all take for granted...something like making a video seems so unimportant.

Music Video Code provided by MySpace Video Code

This is the complete list of what was donated instead of paying out the money that it would NORMALLY take to make this video.

http://www.worldonfire.ca/donations.html

Random Babblings....

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I have been sprucing up my myspace lately. Check it out! www.myspace.com/kerriedub

More later.....I actually have to do something WORK RELATED.....

Something To Make Your Heart Melt

After changing my neices diaper today up in her bedroom, I noticed that she no longer had her pacifier in her mouth.

Me: "Kie, where did your nunnie (pacifier) go?"
Kie: (putting her little hands up in a shrug gesture) " I no no...." (I don't know)

It's the little things............

Talk About a Conflict of Interest!

Sirhan Surhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assasin, comes up for parole this week.

The assassin's parole hearing at Corcoran State Prison on Wednesday — the 13th since his conviction and the first since Schwarzenegger's election in 2003 — will be heard by two board members, one of whom was appointed by Schwarzenegger.

IF, and that is a big if because it is VERY unlikely, he is recommended for parole ....the decision of whether to free Sirhan will fall to Schwarzenegger.

When I heard this on the news this morning, I absolutely laughed my head off. Looks like he will rot in prison.....

Anyone know why I laughed? I know it's quite obvious why I found this amusing, but I want to know what YOU think......

Foxwood's

On a whim (and because of Fridays bonus check and retro-active raise), we decided to try our luck at Foxwoods on Saturday, and stretch our rental car's legs (a Nissan Altima, I am only the second one to drive it...I WANT IT!)

While we lost everything that we went down with (we limited ourselves to a certain amount of money - we were NOT excessive), we DID have a good time.

Foxwoods is the ULTIMATE place to people watch, so I am going to share some of my people and general Foxwoods observations.....

• Don't people KNOW that they should NEVER EVER wear a fanny pack? I counted about 6, but this was in the period of the 45 minutes that we had to wait to get into the Hard Rock Cafe.
• The amount of "80's doo's" is APPALLING!
• If you come to Foxwoods on a bus tour, don't you know when you are leaving and what time to meet the bus? Why is it that you hear over the loud speaker EVERY 5 minutes " so-and so, please report to the bus terminal, your bus is ready to leave"?
• When I was sitting at a video poker machine,there was an ANCIENT guy sitting next to me. He had a photo of a nude woman propped up on the screen. Everytime he went to choose his "hold" cards...He touched the picture. Can you say "EIEEWWWW?"
• Although, NOT a smoker....I always find myself in the smoking casino? Why do you think that is?
• I find the .25 cent machines are better because it stretches your buck, or in MY case....BUCKS!
• It's always cold there from all the oxygen being pumped in.
• Time FLIES when you are losing your money!
• The ride home always SUCKS.
• Ok, THIS pissed me off a little bit. I saw a trailer trash fat ass couple sitting at the video poker machines with their VERY mentally and physically incapacitated son propped up next to them in a wheelchair. ADDICTED much??????????
• I found that when my boyfriend was sitting next to me, I would start to lose.....

We didn't stay there REALLLLLY long....long enough to lose our money and eat at the Hard Rock. All in all, it was a pretty good time.

On my A.M. Playlist.......

So I meant to post this yesterday,but go caught up in posting on the Idol board (because, again...I am a geek and ADDICTED). All will be quiet over there until Wednesday morning after the show. I am writing this at 6:00 A.M. on a SATURDAY.

Anyway, there are times when I actually get to DRIVE into work instead of taking the subway (you know, that HORRIBLE means of transportation where somehow the person who has just eaten an EVERYTHING bagel from Dunkin Donuts thinks that it's a good idea to sit next to me and breathe on me...), but I digress....

I love those times when I get to be in my car alone. Even though I hate driving, and there is usually bumper to bumper traffic, I look forward to it. These are the times where I can listen to any CD (without complaints from the peanut gallery) as loud as I WANT. My music choice is usually something that I can sing along to (which, now that I think about it does not distinguish any one CD from the other because I sing along to EVERYTHING).

I have always related songs to things and memories that have happened in my lifetime. A certain song on the radio can remind me of a period in my life (good or not so good). Yesterday's CD of choice was: The Police "Every Breath You Take - The Classics". I am going to run down the list of songs, and write down the memory that comes to mind. Some of them, I might skip over,just as I do on the CD because they are not my favorites. MOST of them will have a caption.

Roxanne: Every time I hear this one, it reminds me of Beverly Hill Cops, where Eddie Murphy is sitting on the bus with his headphones singing this song at the top of his lungs. Also reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit where Sting was the guest on the show. Dana Carvey see's him in an elevator and starts singing this song. It is so funny the way he sings it, because he is trying to do the front vocals AND the backround at the same time, coming out sort of like " Roxanne(putontheredlighhhhhhhhhhhhhht)Roxannnnnnne..." You would have to see it.....

Can't Stand Losing You: No particular memory for this one, but I DO love it. It SOMETIMES gets skipped over in order to hear the next song, which is......

Message In A Bottle: I remember my stepfather (or FORMER stepfather) playing the drums to this. Even though my general thought on him was that he was an ass, I DO have some good memories of him. He was definitely a Police fan, and I really liked listening to him play the drums to the various songs. I really think that if not for him playing their records (yes, they were RECORDS back then), I would not be SUCH a fan of them. Thinking back now, I'm sure that it was SOME form of OCD...ADD that made him play a song over and over again. That's ok though...Because now I know ALL the words, and I actually do that too...

Side note: This song was not the best song that he played the drums to. It was actually "Driven To Tears", which is not on this CD. You can bet, though, that I DO have that song on another CD, and do a pretty good imitation of him to it....(evil)

Walking On The Moon: Usually skipped over....

Don't Stand So Close To Me: So THIS song (most notably the video for it) was where I first noticed the male physique (and appreciated it) Side note: To my COUSIN who shall remain nameless...BILLY SQUIRE DOES NOT COUNT. Sting jumping around that classroom without his shirt on...Oh yeah. I could STILL watch that video....I wanna see it NOW! Also, I love the way he says "it's no use....He see's her (but the her sounds more like "HAH")"

De Do Do Do De Da Da Da: Usually skip over this one too. Remember this one for the obsessive compulsive drumming also....

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic: No real memory for this one except that whenever it is on the radio, my boyfriend says everytime (like CLOCKWORK) " This is the only song I like from the Police" When I say "everytime", I am not exaggerating. So whenever it comes on, I say "I KNOW" in a bitchy voice through my teeth before he even says it. I know, I'm so patient.....

Invisible Sun: This one is almost always skipped.....

Spirits In The Material World: Skipped, it's "ok", but not one of my faves.

Every Breath You Take: I usually skip over this one too, but it's not because I don't like it. It was a hot summer on Neillian. We had nothing to do but walk around the neighborhood with a boom box. The DJ on the radio at the time thought that it would be a good idea to play this particular song EVERY hour on the hour, because of the popularity of it. Not lying. So every hour it would come on, accompanied by groans of "awwwww mannnnnn.....Not againnnnnnn" by us, who were already irritated by the heat.

King Of Pain: Skipped over.....To get to......

Wrapped Around Your Finger: My FIRST slow dance with a BOY! 7th grade? 8th grade? Not so sure about that one. Won't name the name, because there is always the chance of a google, especially because now he is in a semi popular band - then I would feel like a DOOFUS. Give you a hint: "Blurry"

Don't Stand So Close To Me 86: Reminds me of my cousin when I listen to it because I know that she likes it. Makes me wish as though I had her in the car with me singing into whatever microphone substitutes I have in there. (I usually use my cell phone much to my boyfriend's chagrin)

Message In A Bottle: It's a different remastered version. I like to listen to this one instead of the other one because it has more of a powerful "blast factor". Side Note: I am constantly searching for the version of this song that Sting and Gwen Stefani sang at a Superbowl halftime show. I forget which one, but I have been looking for it ever since.

I usually am on Congress Street by this point ready to start my work day - yeeee-haw!

For All Things Idol.....

Hi! For all things involving American Idol, please go to the below link. Here I will be posting my thoughts, comments, likes, dislikes, etc.....after every show

http://myidol.idolonfox.com/blogs/kerriedub

Hey,Hey,Hey.....Goodbye.

Do I pick them, or do I pick them? I was 1/2 right on both the girls AND the boys. My predictions were as follows (I told my boyfriend my final predictions right before the show):

For the girls: Heather Cox and Stevie Scott
For the boys: Bobby Bennett and David Radford

And the results WERE.........

Stevie Scott: I predicted that she would go right from the beginning. Was not impressed with her song that she chose, OR her voice (even though it has been said that she is trained in opera). Not American Idol material. Plus, her SPEAKING voice bothered me too.


Becky O'Donohue: Her endition of Patty Smith's "Because The Night" did not cut it. It almost seemed as though she wasn't using her own voice. It seemed way to "put on". She has an "ok" voice, but Idol is not all about "ok", it's about GREAT. She was far from. That's ok, though...her and her twin sister are in MAXIM magazine now. Take that 15 minutes of fame and RUN, Becky, RUN!


Patrick Hall: Definitely not one of my faves. I feel that he made a wrong song choice with the Melissa Etheridge "Come To My Window". He tried to make it his own, but fell short.





Bobby Bennett: I have one word to say about this, and the word is YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I feel that he had an extreme lack of talent. He should probably try his hand a being a wedding singer, because that's all he is suited for. Or, maybe he could go around to nursing homes entertaining the elderly. Preferably, those that are hard of hearing.


See? I told you that Brenna was going to stay. It is ALLLLLLLL for the drama factor. By the way, her HAIR WAS HIDEOUS last night. Next week, the top 10 girls perform on Tuesday and the top 10 boys perform on Wednesday. Of course, I will have my reviews,favorites,and please go home right now's.

Idol Recap - The Boys

Another American Idol hangover (no - I did NOT play my drinking game). The boys definitely "brought it" last night. I was actually TORN until the last minute of the show over who to vote for! Although Will Maker remains my favorite in the "so cute because he is 16 and adorable category", I think he still has some growing up to do vocally. I DO think that he has SOME staying power in this competition, but it is a safe bet to say that he will not win, unfortunately. THREE contestants really stood out for me last night for three different reasons.

1: Chris Daughtry: For the "Rocker with a KILLER voice" category. He wowed the crowd (and the judges) with his rendition of Bon Jovi's "Dead Or Alive" I ALWAYS tend to lean towards the rockers, because I really would like to see American Idol taken in the direction of something other than bubblegum pop, no offense to Kelly Clarkson...We all know that she is coming into her own.

2: Elliot Yamin: For the "AMAZING voice" category. He REALLLLLY kicked ass with a Stevie Wonder song. He really impressed me AND the judges. I predict that he will go far (I will NOT say win, because at this point this is ANYONE'S contest...) I definitely look forward to his other performances, I know there will be many.

3: Ace Young: For the "HOTTIE with a sexy,amazing voice" category. He really knows how to work the crowd, and looks into the camera with these sultry looks with those amazing eyes. I know, I know....Constantine tried that LAST season, but Ace knows how to do it better. He sang George Michael's "Father Figure", doing a GREAT job. He may just win America over, but he has some tough competition.... Side note: They kept showing his brother sitting in the audience.....TOTAL HOTTIE. It must be in the genes.......

And here are the DEFINITE NO'S

Bobby Bennett. I cannot for the LIFE of me imagine WHY this person was chosen as one of the top 12 boys. Besides being an absolute NIGHTMARE to look at (sometimes when he sings, one eye goes one way and the other goes a different way. My daughter and I tried to duplicate it because we are evil....But we only ended up dying of laugher at our attempts), his voice is AWFUL. Maybe it is the song that he chose....Which for the moment ESCAPES me because his performance was TOTALLY forgettable. Could he be going home tonight? I will be SURPRISED if he does not. American Idol has surprised me SEVERAL times in the past.

Labeled as "The Crooner", 17 year old David Radford did not impress me, although I felt bad when the judges critiqued him and he almost cried. You could TELL that he was trying to hold it in, letting a little sniffle escape here and there. I think that he totally chose the wrong song....But I don't even remember what it was...Oh yeah, it was "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" . I feel that it was forced and over sung. It was almost like he was trying to, as my cousin and I like to say "Harry Connick-ize it" It is still early in the competition, so he still has time to impress, but my prediction is that he will not make it far. We will see if I am right tonight.....

Lastly, Taylor Hicks. Although, he DOES have a great voice....I JUST CAN'T get over the Dumb & Dumber haircut. I JUST CAN'T. It kills me to admit that he has staying power, but I don't believe that this is his contest to win (I sound like the judges...Oh god....)



In the end, I voted for Ace Young. What can I say? I am a SUCKER for the pretty boys!!!!!!!

More tomorrow, a recap of the four that will be voted off tonight. Stayed tuned........

For a full review by MSNBC go HERE

Kerrie OUT (haven't heard Ryan Seacrest say "Seacrest OUT" yet this season...Maybe I missed it.....)

Idol Recap

As promised, here is my review/top picks/definite no's of American Idol. Last night was the first round for the female top twelve.



Although, I went into this with a biased opinion, my top choice so far has shifted a bit. Ayla Brown did a GREAT job with her rendition of "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera(sp?), and I was ALL SET to vote for her at the end of the show (yes- I am one of the dorks that vote....But then again I am not alone, because that is what ultimately decides the winner) , but THEN Katharine McPhee, the last contestant to perform, blew me away with her rendition of a Barbara Streisant (sp?) song. It escapes me as to which song it was because I am not really a fan of Bab's. I predict that Katharine will make it far into the competition. It would not be fair to predict a winner at this point. It was their first performance to the American audience, and you can imagine how nervous they must have been. Ayla still has a chance in MY book.

Edited to say that my daughter and I think that Katharine McPhee looks ALOT like my friend Kathy.....


Ok, NOW for my definite NO. If it were possible to PUNCH someone through your television set, THIS girl, Brenna Gethers would be LAYED OUT. I hate her attitude, I hate her general presence, I am NOT even a fan of her singing. I think that she is full of herself, and also think that the ONLY reason that she SQUEEZED through to the top twelve was to create some drama. Because everyone KNOWS, what would American Idol be without SOME drama. I have to admit that it could go either way for this idiot. Either the American audience will love that she has attitude, and that she talks back to Simon, OR they will be like me, and have absolutely NO use for her. Time will tell.......

Another one of my least favorite performers last night was Stevie Scott. She is apparently trained for opera, and what she sang last night in a falsetto opera-like voice was, as Simon put it "an absolute disaster". I was NOT a fan. To be fair, I am hoping that she learns from her mistake and chooses a better song next time around....HOWEVER, as much as I hate to say it - there may not BE a next time around for this girl....


For a review by MSNBC go HERE


Staying on the subject.....Here are some of my idea's for an American Idol drinking game. It would go something like this:

You would have to take a drink everytime.....

• Randy says " Woooooooooowwwwwww" after a performance
• Simon says that the performance was an "utter (uttahhhh) mess"
• ANY of the judges says " this is your contest to win"
• Randy says "dude", "dawg", or "dog pound"
• ANY of the judges say that "it was a little pitchy" or "you worked it out in the end"
• If Paula hits Simon after one of his comments
• If Paula says anything NEGATIVE about the performance
• Ryan Seacrest says "after the break" (you will be drinking ALOT on this one...There are MANY breaks)
• ANY of the judges compares a contestant to a past American Idol
• If Simon says the word "karaoke"
• If Paula claps or stands during a performance

I'm sure that there are MANY more, but that's it for now. Stay tuned (we'll be RIGHT back after the break) for tomorrow's recap of the MALE top twelve.........

American Idol season is once again in full swing. They just announced their final 24 last night, and I am PSYCHED to say that Ayla Brown from Wrentham MA is among them. I have to say that I knew that she was going to make it when I watched her Boston audition. She has it, plain and simple. I am hoping that she makes it all the way.

As for the GUYS.....My daughter and I have our hearts set on 16 year old Will Maker, just because he's a cutie and reminds us of a smaller, younger version of John Mayer.

Also, Ace Young (ACE?). I'm sure the ladies will just LOVE him!

Totally an American Idol JUNKIE. It's really bad too. I yell at the TV. Kinda like when guys are watching sports. " WHAT was THAT????" " you gotta be effing KIDDING me...They voted HER off?????????" " They are letting HER stay? Are they STUPID ???????"

Of course, I will have weekly recaps from here on in. Gooooooooooo Ayla!

You Know Your From Massachusetts When......

A little Friday Mass humor.....


Your know your from Massachusetts if...

Khakis are something you start the car with

You think crosswalks are for wimps

You think if someone's nice to you, they either want something or they are from out of town and probably lost

You know how to cross 4 lanes of traffic in 5 seconds

You are amazed when traveling out of town that people who work at McDonald's actually speak English

You think it's not actually tailgating unless your bumper is touching the car in front of you

You know that a yellow light means at least 5 more cars can get through ... and that a red light means 2 more can

A Crown Victoria = Undercover Cop

The transportation system is known as the "T"

Subway is a fast food place

You could own a small town in Iowa for the cost of your house

There are 24 Dunkin Donuts shops within 15 minutes of your house

When people talk about the "curse of the Bambino," you know exactly what they are talking about, and you believe in it too... or, did :)

You think of Rhode Island as the "deep South"

Anything past Worcester is "the middle of nowhere" (if you live inBoston)

You believe using a turn signal gives away your plan to the enemy

If you stay on the same road long enough, it will eventually have 3 or more different names

Someone has honked at you because you didn't peel out the second the light turned green

You've honked at someone because they didn't peel out the second the light turned green

All the potholes just add excitement to your driving experience

Stop signs mean slow down a little, but only if you feel like it

Six inches of snow is considered a "dusting"

Three days of 90+ heat is definitely a "heat wave" ... and 63 weather is "on the warm side"

$15 to park is a bargain (bahhhhhhh-gain)

You cringe every time you hear some actor/actress imitate the "Boston accent" on TV or in a movie. If you don't have it, you're never going to get it right ... even if you were born here

At the ice cream shop, you call chocolate sprinkles "Jimmies"

You can go from one side of your hometown to the other in less than 15 minutes and see at least 15 losers you graduated with doing the same exact same thing they were doing the last time you saw them...SO FUCKIN HILARIOUS...CUZ THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

You know how to say "Worcester," "Haverhill," "Peabody," "Gloucester," "Salisbury," "Pelham," and "Needham"