MIFF, take 5 ... and some other stuff

Last night I saw Dabangg.

The lead wasn't the best dancer. It was obvious that there was some lip syncing (the point here being the obviousness of it all, not that it happened). The subtitles were inaccurate or even completely missing at some points (Google translate, anyone?).

Overall, it was ridiculous.

In a completely fantastic kind of way. I'm not trying to say "it's so bad it's good" (e.g., ala Starship Troopers), but that despite its failings it is still good. In a over-the-top kind of way. In a Quentin Tarantino made a Bollywood movie kind of way. I mean, he didn't - at least not this one - but that's the vibe. Numerous stylized fight scenes interspersed with large group singing/dancing numbers. Throw in some family issues and a love story just to give the movie a plot [But who really needs a plot? Give me more fighting! Dancing!] and you have 2hours of Dabangg.

Plus the title is just fun.

--

The film let out at 12am, and as we left the auditorium on campus there was this beautiful (and extremely large) light show outside. And by light show I mean terrifyingly close heat lightening storm. It really was amazing. So we just stood there for at least 15minutes watching it. Every bolt would light up the entire sky in the direction we were looking. The most spectacular ones would include the visible bolts of light traveling horizontally (at least that was the visual signal) from cloud to cloud.

I guess that was the one positive thing about this oppressive "feels like 100+degrees heat" up here in the world of non-conditioned air.

--

And to my parents: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Love you!
 

mattmoo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Matt!

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

(and that's where my record of the yearly birthdays ends)

Matt, I hope your birthday is full of plastic drum sticks, sippy-cups and big wheels! 

... or whatever the adult equivalent of that is.

jessie

As I've briefly mentioned, my parents got a new dog: Jessie!

Our beloved Siberian Husky, Scout, passed last summer. While she has been missed, my parents (and brother) have been wanting to get another dog. Being the responsible people they are, they waited until my mom was done teaching for the year so that someone could be home with the new dog full-time at the beginning. You know, so new dog didn't wreck the house up. Or think that it was unloved. Probably, really, so that it could bond exclusively with my mom, which would allow my mom to proudly proclaim that SHE was leader of the pack (I know your tricks, MOM).

So a little over a week ago the family went to a shelter out in Loudoun to check out a pup they saw online. By the end of the visit they had adopted her. There was a brief delay so that Loudoun Co. could verify that my parents weren't dog-abusing maniacs, and Jessie came home the following Tuesday.

Not sure when I'll meet her, but I'm looking forward to it.

breed: German Shepard (definitely) and Australian Cattle Dog (maybe)
age: 4 years (according to shelter) or younger (according to family vet)
history: found as a stray; previously adopted but returned because not good with other dog in home
disposition: full of energy; needs a harness for maximum walk-control; intelligent
loves: squeaky toys
looks: absolutely adorable

mom's

So. It's Mother's Day. 

(I'll wait while you scatter out to go get your mom a card or something. Go on.)

I don't want to get overly flowery - Hallmark and FTD will have that covered today - but just want to make sure my mom knows how much I love her. You know what? That doesn't quite get to it. Of course I love my mom. Nothing new there. What I really want her to know is that I also like her. To me like is the more voluntary, purposeful emotion in this scenario. As in, even if she weren't my mother, I'd still want her in my life. Sure, our relationship isn't perfect and I don't always answer her calls... but I like her. 

Not only does my mom have the day-of-mom's accolades coming to her today, but last Saturday was also her birthday. I could say that I was waiting until today to post something about her, but that would be a lie. I just forgot to post then (note: I did not forget the birthday... just to post about it here). Anyway, I was going to make up for that by writing a post about the new dog the family adopted on her birthday (best. present. ever.), but my mom has yet to send me a picture of said dog. Ahem, MOM.

Wow. Nothing like praising your mom and shaming her all in one post.

And with that... a happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!

 

boston... and the like

For most of February I was looking forward to the first week of March:

On Monday, my parents - taking time away from their vacation in Boston - drove the 3hours up to Waterville to check out where I live/work. The weather up here was pretty horrid (following the previous Friday's kerfuffle), but they made it. I enjoyed showing them my apartment and how I had clearly upgraded in residences since graduate school. While here I wanted to take them out to 2specific restaurants: a lobster place (my treat), and this nice little brick-oven pizza place the following day for lunch. While braving the roads in dad's SUV, we get to the lobster place only to find out it's closed. (Due to the weather? The day of the week? I just don't know. It said it was open online. Bleh.) There's another restaurant - way across town - that I think serves lobster (only because they have a lobster on their sign, but it's Maine, that could mean anything) and we make our way over there. They did indeed have lobster. It was good. My dad and I also learned that there is a $10lobster-shucking fee. Turns out you have to pay to be lazy. The next afternoon, after a daylight tour around town and work (where my parents really did take a picture of my name on the office door... geesh), we walked from my place to get some pizza. Guess what? It was closed. And the Mexican restaurant nearby? Closed. We ended up eating at Burger King. Welcome to Waterville!

On Wednesday, I had to give 2exams and then I was to drive down to Boston to crash my parents' vacation. During the second exam, I looked out the window and it was white out. Couldn't see a thing. Groan. I was not looking forward to my drive down. But by the time I got on the road things were better, and then they fully cleared up by the time I left Maine. We spent the next 2days/nights in Boston. Among other things, we went to the Boston Public Library (very awesome = so many old books I want to touch, great architecture = dork alert), the Institute of Contemporary Art (slightly awesome = points off for being relatively small), Harvard (awesome = old buildings, Museum of Natural History; less awesome = too many people in Harvard Square), and the Sam Adams brewery (very awesome = free beer).

Friday, my brother flew into Boston and we all went and stayed... somewhere in Massachusettes. I have no idea. Saturday, though, we drove to New Hampshire for a family friend's wedding. Those of you that know (of) the Brownells, it was Mark's (the youngest). I was excited to go, but also a bit apprehensive. There's always the potential for awkwardness when you don't know that many people at the wedding (or at least don't know them well). Sure, there's the invitee and their family but they're busy being in the wedding. I did run into an old friend (Alex) there and figured that between her and my brother that I would have someone to talk to during dinner. Looking at the placecards we quickly realized that the 3 of us were not sitting together, nor were we with our respective parents. Crap. I had no fear for my brother - he can make friends left and right. It ended up begin all right as I was actually sitting at a table with the bride and groom's siblings (some of whom I grew up with) - fun dinner! And fun night all around.

It was good to see people, especially the family. But after driving back to Maine on Sunday, I was glad to be home. Three hotels in 4nights is not ideal.

Overall though, I highly recommend a trip to Boston. It's good times.

huzzah!

Today is Stephen Housley's birthday!

Wish him well on this august, beautiful,  bright, brilliant, celebrated, dazzling, delightful, distinguished, effulgent, elevated, enjoyable, esteemed, exalted, excellent, famed, famous, fine, gorgeous, grand, gratifying, great, heavenly, honored, illustrious, magnificent, majestic, marvelous, memorable, noble, notable, noted, preeminent, radiant, remarkable, renowned, resplendent, shining, splendid, sublime, superb, time-honored, triumphant, venerable and wonderful occasion.

[Yes, I did a synonym search for glorious. Why do you ask?]

Love you, Dad!! I hope it's a great one!

wednesday

This week is really busy - my parents are visiting! and a trip to Boston! and a wedding in New Hampshire! - so I planned ahead with a series of scheduled posts involving the aforementioned picture library. 

Last Thursday I attended a lecture by an Israeli author and journalist, Tom Segev, who discussed his recent book on Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter.

The topic and talk were both riveting, but I found myself thinking that Segev was somehow familiar. Between his look and accent I knew this guy. I was mentally searching through various show and movies and actors, trying to figure out his doppleganger:

(source)

It then occurred to me who he reminded me of: my great uncle John.

First time fishing, with mom and Uncle John.

You may disagree - and even looking at the pictures I do too somewhat - but he's all I could picture after I made the connection. And that accent. That accent was spot on.

tuesday

This week is really busy - my parents are visiting! and a trip to Boston! and a wedding in New Hampshire! - so I planned ahead with a series of scheduled posts involving the aforementioned picture library. 

Let me introduce you to two of my aunts, Peanut (left) and Raine:

(Hopefully I'm not wrong and just awkwardly showing someone else...)

A couple of years ago my Uncle Karoly passed away, which prompted many Housleys to descended upon VA. I was flying into BWI, and my aunts Peanut and Raine picked me up from the airport. Though the occasion for the impromptu reunion was undoubtedly a sad one, I had a ridiculous amount of fun with these women that day. I don't recall the exact stories or events, but I'm left with such a positive impression of my time with them.  Plus it was inspiring to see the strength of the bond these 2sisters share, though they live on opposite coasts.

Returning to OH, my friend Dave picked me up from the airport and I proceeded to regale him with stories from my visit home, including the time spent with my aunts. Peanut and Raine this. Peanut and Raine that.

It didn't take long for Dave to question my aunts' names and ask if my grandparents were hippies. Those of you knowing my grandparents would know that being "hippies" is pretty far from the truth. Beside that, though, I wasn't quite picking up what exactly had prompted the question. What in my story, my weekend had triggered the query? 

Then in dawned on me: Peanut and Raine. Potential hippy names, I suppose. I quickly explained that both were nicknames. That Peanut was actually Susan and Raine was Lorraine (though to be fair, in a verbal telling of the story Raine could have easily been spelled Rain).

So a fun day with my aunts turned into a confusing conversation with Dave, which in turn became a highly amusing story. Well, maybe you had to be there. But my family sure thinks it's funny.

monday

This week is really busy - my parents are visiting! and a trip to Boston! and a wedding in New Hampshire! - so I planned ahead with a series of scheduled posts involving the aforementioned picture library.  

Last Friday some major snow came through. Had I not needed to be in the building that day I would have avoided going in to work, but alas there was much to do. I had a meeting with a guest speaker, the speaker's colloquium, and then I was to go to dinner with said speaker. By the time I left the building at 5pm the parking lot was near empty. 

After 15minutes of clearing off the car, I started to drive to dinner. I didn't get very far. I had to start, stop, and backup numerous times just to get through the parking lot. At this point I was glad there were so few cars (fewer obstacles), but was worried about the lack of people around in case I needed a push...

I didn't and was soon enough on an actual road. There are 2ways off campus: The short way that involves going down a pretty steep hill and the long way that involves, well, more driving in the snow. During previous storms I've always driven to school via the long way (to avoid going up the hill) and driven home the short way (the roads never seemed that bad). I decided to go with past experience and take the short way.

Big mistake. Gravity was not in my favor as I continued to slip and slide my way down. The worst part was not SLAMMING on the breaks. I was riding them a bit, but as you continue to speed up and loose traction every instinct in your body is telling you to hit the breaks. Though that would of course only make things worse. About half-way down the hill I decided going to dinner was just crazy and that I was instead going home.

Upon arrival to my house I stared at my unplowed driveway. This was going to be rough. Many attempts were needed just to clear the incline that sits at the very foot. I was pushing my car so hard just to make it in the driveway. It was ridiculous. I finally got up and then got stuck maybe 10feet in front of the garage. Fantastic. Out came the shovel and I dug my way in.

That's when my neighbor came home (I could have used his help earlier), but I was able to help him get his car tucked away for the night. And then we both joyfully discussed how we were hunkering down for the night.

I tell you all of this to make the following point: Sledding with my brother - which appears to be the goal in the following pictures - would have been a much less stressful way to spend almost an hour in the snow. Though, someone should have probably told me back then that is was summer...