Sweet Caroline…good times never seemed so ANNOYING!!!

May 15th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

It’s official. I am SO SICK of “Sweet Caroline.”

I’ve never been a big fan of Neil Diamond. I always thought he was cheesy and I’d fast-forward through him in The Last Waltz. However, after I moved here and started getting on the Red Sox bandwagon, the song started to grow on me. I’d sing along and dance around to it during Red Sox games…and I’ve even karaoked to it with a group of friends.

But now I am so so so sick of it. I came to this realization today when I was loading my car after a productive Costco run and some young woman in an SUV came driving into the parking lot blaring “Sweet Caroline.”

My first thought: “Oh no.” And then for whatever reason, she sat in her car for a while as the song continued to blast. My thoughts at that point: “MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STTTTTTTTTTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I am so over you, Caroline…and you, too, Neil.

Honeymooners on a Budget

May 12th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

In spite of the fact that Matt and I have been married for almost 8 months, we still have yet to take a honeymoon. We went to China two weeks after the wedding, but it was with Matt’s family (parents, siblings, aunts, grandmother, etc)…as fun as it was, it was definitely no honeymoon!

We had originally planned to take a summer honeymoon to Lussin, but then my sister moved her wedding up to this fall, so we decided to take less expensive honeymoon so we could concentrate on the wedding! We decided to plan to go to Bermuda instead. But then looking at our finances, Bermuda wasn’t really feasible either, especially because next summer Lussin is definitely happening — but as a big family trip, not a honeymoon.

I started getting upset because it looked like we were NEVER going to take a honeymoon…so I decided to start looking at places to go that we can drive to.

We settled on Assateague Island, Maryland. We went there when I was a kid, and it’s a great spot for a vacation. Nice beaches, and wild ponies running around!

The best part is that while looking for a hotel, we found an inn only 15 minutes from Assateague on Fenwick Island, Delaware and it’s only $69 a night!!! It’s a block from the beach and only a few miles from the Ocean City Boardwalk.

So, look at us!! Honeymoonin’ on a budget. So, it’s not a European island or a tropical island either…but it’s on the beach, it won’t hurt our pocketbook…and it’s the first time Matt and I will be taking a VACATION together that’s just us!!! It’s always been with family, spent visiting people, or it’s just been for the weekend.

I’m looking forward to spending a week as a beach bum. :-)

Magic Garden

May 11th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

Anyone else out there used to watch that show “The Magic Garden” on WPIX in NY? According to Wikipedia, it ran from 1972 until 1984. I used to watch it. It was weird.

Anyway, I’m not writing about that right now! I’m writing about OUR garden!!

Matt and I have gotten into gardening lately. I tried a few springs ago, but nothing lasted very long, unfortunately. I think that at the time, I simply didn’t have the patience. In September, we planted a bunch of mums. Since we had a fall wedding, we decided to use autumnal flowers as decorations…we settled on potted mums. We took the mums home and planted them. To our surprise, they are doing VERY well! A few of them haven’t come back, but most of them did! After I saw them coming back, I thought maybe we should try to plant more things.

Our yard is very small and a little bit of an eyesore in some respects. Our yard is separated from our neighbor’s by a chain link fence, and our neighbor has a very large, tacky, light-up Madonna. So, we figured we can make our yard a little more pleasant by gardening! The front of the house had some more promise with flowers from the previous owners, but we don’t really have a front yard because our house is right up against the sidewalk.

IMG_2097
Those are our mums making a comeback. They won’t be blooming for a while.


A Jupiter’s Beard that’s beginning to bloom and some pansies. Pansies are good because they’re pretty resilient and can even stand up to cold nights.


That’s a Jacob’s Ladder, which is blooming very nicely!


That’s an azalea that’s actually been there since before we moved here. It’s really thriving this year. There are also more pansies and a pink dahlia. That’s another azalea towards the right, and it’s not doing so well. We bought another azalea after I took this picture, but it’s not blooming yet.


Daisies and pansies. The new azalea is to the left of that. Those yellow sticks around our house are from when the exterminator was here last week. Carpenter ants were eating through the wood in our basement, so we had to get the house exterminated…but that’s probably for another blog post!


We bought that today. I can’t remember what it’s called, but we thought it was kind of neat looking, so we planted it in front. We used to have a tiger lily flower there from the family who lived here before. It was really pretty, but someone stole it! It was completely uprooted while it was thriving. One of the safest cities in America? Ha! They should take flower theft into account (and peace rock theft!)


Last, but not least, we have raspberries. They’re just starting to come up.

Also, Matt is growing hops to use in his homebrews. It will be a while before they’re usable, but it’s pretty cool. We also planted tomatoes and lettuce today! I hope those work out, too. We can use the tomatoes to satisfy my tomato cravings and not only will the lettuce be good for salads, but we can feed it to Karl the iguana!

Eat your vegetables!

May 11th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

I was thinking about how when I was a kid, it was a really awful ordeal when my parents would try to get me to eat anything of nutritional value. All I really liked was pasta, pizza, and grilled cheese. OK, those are still some of my favorites, I’ll admit!

My mom would try to sneak broccoli into things…like she’d mash them into potatoes, as if I were color-blind and couldn’t tell that my mashed potatoes had a greenish hue!

My parents would always tell me that when I get older, I’d learn to like healthier food. I never believed them. Then today, I was walking home from the gym and I found myself craving tomatoes. Until only a few years ago, I hated tomatoes (though I loved tomato sauce — go figure!) and here I was, walking home from the gym (exercise is also something I always hated until recently!) craving TOMATOES! Tomatoes! Something healthy!

I started thinking about how I love food like grilled asparagus, broccoli, salads, etc…all stuff that I could barely force down my throat as a child.

I guess my parents were right. Somehow your taste buds must change with age. Look at me, I’m growing up! But, I wouldn’t turn down a slice of pizza and some chocolate mousse for dessert!

And thus continues my love affair with Russo’s…

May 10th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

25 bags of Yerba Mate tea for $2.98. That’s $3 less than at Trader Joe’s, and $5 less than at Shaw’s organic department.

I had to cut down on my Yerba Mate habit because it was getting pricey, but after finding this bargain at Russo’s, I can resume my habit!! Mmmm, Yerba Mate!!!!!!

Ferrero Rondnoir

May 7th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

I do believe I have a new favorite candy! I’ve been a longtime fan of Ferrero Rocher candies, but today at Walgreens I saw something a little different:

Similar to the Ferrero Rochers, but a little different. It’s dark chocolate, for one thing. It’s really tasty. I just ate three. It’s also about 60 calories less than the Rochers, so if I treat myself to a packet of three I am having a very indulgent and filling dessert for only about 160 calories.

It’s deliciousness has left me in awe. viagra negative symptons full tilt poker infinite play chips
cialis active ingredient play baccarat black jack
spain farmacia levitra she asked play strip poker
english viagra free triple play vidio poker
regals cialis gg points voucher getlucky play gambling
viagra success pictures solitaire fun game bingo play tripeaks
viagra generic cheap play game bingo free
info on viagra fun play slot uk
viagra market bewitched slot game instant play
viagra research play web poker
viagra online cheap how to play holdem poker
buy viagra toronto play caribbean stud poker online
videos viagra free slots machines to play
viagra impotence hearing play seqa monkeys casino game
canadian pharmacy viagra play games with dice
cialis western open games to play with your dice
mailorder viagra play bingo free without winning prizes
cialis women play poker on line for free
cialis cancdian dugs play sim slots
cialis zestril interactions play strip poker whith teenagers
generic cialis talafadil gow learn pai play poker
medicaid levitra play live poker
generic to viagra hong in kong online play poker
cheapest cheap viagra how to play street craps
generic viagra tadalafil google groups play online poker
soft tablet viagra play fruit machine free online
advertising age levitra bingo free now online play
women takes viagra card play poker seven stud
cheapest viagra world caribbean online play poker
referrers viagra free money to play bingo
viagra c-ring bingo bonus free play
cialis online pharmacy play free bingo games online
viagra ingredents platinum play casino games
vaniqa cialis cialis online play dice
viagra length instructions play poker
no prescreption cialis kids bingo play free now
splitting viagra multi line slots to play
viagra billboard cleopatra slot play free
viagra paypal france how to play dice street
cialis advice play poker online no downloads
gary null’s viagra double pay video poker play online
viagra cialis kamagra pai gow how to play
cheao cialis play bingo black
followup levitra post play top dollar slots free online
viagra 10mg 20mg strip poker how to play
viagra precription online play free online bingo games now
cialis overdose symptoms play free online poker
cialis ed drug play super jackpot party on line
generic viagra deals learn play play slot
prices levitra play online single deck pinochle
20mg cialis free slots online play now
lily lcos cialis games to play with dice
best buy viagra play for fun casino online
20mg buy cialis free bingo chat rooms play money
viagra 9 how to play craps craps
viagra market tools backgammon gammon gammon play
discount levitra purchase play free slot machine
viagra instructions dosage bingo free live play
canada prescription viagra bingo game onlin3 play free
web viagra craps craps craps online play rule
viagro cialis holland play and profit casino games
viagra for copd ways to play backgammon
viagra coupon 100 free play slots
viagra for cheap get paid play poker
cialis eye problems how to play casino card games
cialis patent search casino free machine play slot
cialis newsletter play online strip poker for free
cheap viagra nz bets play online-bet
50 mg viagra play chinese poker online for free
cialis experiences pure play casino download software
cheapest brand cialis play jackpot party online slots
heart attack viagra play saints sinner bingo free
order uk viagra play bingo for frr
canadian discount viagra where to play poker in vancouver
viagra and roids craps online play play poker
viagra dicks derby dice fun online play
5 viagra tablets play poker online professionally
and flomax cialis play ffree slot games
viagra times play monopoly slot machine game online
10 mg cialis high roller casino play station
cialis cost how to play blackjack tutorial
order zenegra viagra play monopoly slots online
viagra breathing free slot machines games play free
viagra alternate play free on-line poker
viagra usual dosage buy chip play poker pokerstars
bargain levitra flash casino free slot play
medication levitra prescription pay to play casino games online
buy uk viagra instructions on how to play backgammon
new viagra free free play slot video
free viagra free learn how to play casino games
buy viagra pill casino fun game play
free cialis how to play straigth poker
viagra ibuprofen play bingo buyin backgammon
viagra 100mg usage free play money poker rooms
viagra engineer how to play craps video
2 levitra prescription 7 card play poker
viagra canada generic play online casino games like poker
soft cialis tabs online play slots blackjack craps roulette
very cheap viagra play blackjack about blackjack casino game
cialis generic tadalafil play for roulette for fun
viagra nasal congestion play bingo now
prescription drug viagra play free bingo for money
cialis soma diazepam play igt slots free
chewable viagra 100mg how to learn to play blackjack
pfizer viagra dosage bingo game onlihe play free
clarinex vaniqa levitra play slots uk
viagra tablets uk online bingo play chat 1776bingo
cialis lawsuit how to play video bingo casino
viagra generic cheap how do you play strip poker
senior discount viagra colosseum online casino games play
gifts ambien viagra free cash play prize bingo
female viagra alternative play video slot alien invasion
viagra soft tabs play for fun casino slots
viagra xenical play free v ideo poker
ajanta generic cialis play slot for money
endometrium viagra online casinos that uses fire play
transexual viagra bingo free mecca online play register
order viagra prescription play live strip poker
muse viagra buy chip money play poker star
buying generic cialis play current new slots for fun
viagra versus lavitra free game online play slot
salis vs viagra 50 free game play poker video
viagra nz play hentai poker
viagra music play slot free
viagra generico barato craps play bingo
generic viagra woman how do you play liars dice
viagra full moon learn play poker on line
viagra blindness play blackjack online free blackjack online
viagra herbal substitute play poker like the pro
ukraine music viagra you play online casino gaming
tramadol and viagra free casinos play for fun
viagra $7 play freeroll tournaments at the casinos
canada generic cialis game bonuses blackjack learn play
viagra precautions platinum play casino games online
viagra used with free play bingo no deposit
cialis study play online free casino games
vardenafil levitra online play poker superstars
viagra price free slot bingo to play online
discount viagra viagra play berwyn il bingo
brown viagra capsules poker practice play demos
viagra soft tab play free bingo to win money
cialis nascar machine online play slot
viagra partners play monopoly slots online free
viagra misuse play texas poker
key viagra texas holdem poker play for free
22buy levitra online22 maryland play keno
gneric viagra head online play poker up
viagra inventor casino music lounge play list
cialis reaction free printable play money
viagra alternative ne ow to play poker
viagra for horses kids play bingo and win cash
viagra levitra review play 2-4-6 slot keno
cialis pharm internet poker play
efficacy of viagra how to play dead dice
colleagues viagra how to play family dice games
maid order viagra baccarat black jack play
cialis marijuana play bingo line free
viagra recreationally craps download odds play poker poker
pfizer japan viagra free online slot play now
viagra now play bingo live tournament
viagra max dose casino free game play poker video
football sized viagra play poker for real
cialis in wmoen saturn bingo play big looked
billig viagra free play money poker
cialis medicine rule play keno
diovan cialis online casinos with flash play
female viagra use casino play free download games
cialis paraplegia play roulette guidelines about casino gambling
apcalis generic viagra hour free play win casino coupon
cialis class 3d the outcast of poker flat play
buy cialis we swim n play deck rails
viagra insurance 2005 play strip blackjack with girls
viagra like pill play online casino with no deposit
dysfunction erectyle levitra play free casino games poker
viagra usual dosage play texas hold em poker
viagra candy play free bingo and win prizes
black demon viagra play life of luxury free slot
cialis and woman free game java play slot
viagra concerns free video poker to play
viagra pill splitter casino how to play cards
viagra sportswear free keno to play for fun
cialis viagra together play online poker palace
article viagra weekend let it ride poker free play
legally purchase viagra bingo king power play
tijuana levitra backgammon online play partner
viagra clearance poker play cards clipar
viagra expiration hard rock casino play free
viagra wikipaedia online free bingo house play
viagra generika play craps for free no download
womens viagra uk bingo gwme play free
online cheap viagra casinos professional poker players play at
acheter levitra play bingo free win real money
viagra miller drug how to play boardgame backgammon
gay men viagra play online cash keno red ball
european viagra play free online poker bodog
lowest price viagra play anime poker
cialis principal investigator free online play money poker sites
order viagra cheap how to play c lo dice
cialis free fedex strip poker to play
viagra nortripyline onlinel-otteries casino play bookmaker
ski silverton viagra play fruit machines for free
viagra recreational use crazy free game money play
cialis placebo play slot machine for real money
200 mg viagra play astro bingo
bestellen levitra online play casino game online for free
viagra how permits to play bingo in ct
viagra precautions how to play wow deck
average levitra dosage play roulette for fun no downloads
cheep viagra keno tricks to play
best geniric cialis play for fun slots online casino
viagra overdose how to play casiino crap
cialis generic information poker play online
condom viagra play totally free bingo online
viagra and heartburn canada in online play poker
on-line viagra download money no play poker texas
iguana viagra rules to play casino
viagra nobel prize backgammon free play
cialis ingredient free slots play for free
viagra alternative levitra casino fun play slot
buying levitra online play fun casino game
origen levitra marca arie casino crown play theater
cialis doesnt work how to play card game casino
women on viagra play free slim slot
sildenafil citrate viagra play poker by my self
chew viagra play slot machine for fun
dosing for levitra gambling play roulette slot
overnight viagra god does not play dice bohr
extasy and viagra learn to play poker uk
male viagra play backgammon online free
delivery overnight viagra slots to play
caverta generic viagra online slots play
viagra fuerteventura play caribean stud poker free online
cialis retin learn to play poker razz
before after viagra internet casinos play baccarat online
viagra france game play plug poker tv
variety sample levitra play on line slot machines
cialis soft tab play free offline slots machines casino
penis viagra how t play baccarat
viagra memphis tn free fun play slot machines
herbal page viagra free slot to play only
viagra prescription houston howto play poker
softtabs cialis fortune free machine play slot wheel
and flomax cialis play on line gala bingo
mexico viagra poster on how to play craps
try viagra play free poker win money
viagra soft hard proper craps play
legitimate viagra free igt machine play slot
cialis recreational use online slot allow to play malaysia
cialis dysfunction erectile free play uk aristocrat slot machines
herbal viagra 32 gambling software to play craps
cialis 5mg cheap muliti play video poker
viagra and steroids play online backgammon
boost as viagra poker online free play
viagra express play casino slots online free
viagra brands play yahoo backgammon
cialis online overnight play for free casino slot game
female impulse viagra play money casinos
viagra online blue play for fun slot machines
viagra phone prescription play bingo in bloomington mn
regalis vs viagra tape recorder deck wont play
viagra side effect directions for how to play craps
viagra in women free casino plays
cost of cialis money online play play poker
women chat levitra play free online poker sites
topical viagra play backgammon money
herbal viagra viagra how do you play pai gow
addiction to cialis play video strip poker
sale uk viagra how do u play poker
benefits of viagra play keno online top keno casinos
express delivery cialis bingo to play online
3 generic viagra free play money texas holdem tournaments
cialis europe viagra found free machine play slot
cialis corporate website play for free jackpot party slot
viagra bomb 1 casino free hour play
buy generic levitra bonus casino casino game jolly play
viagra free bingo deposit free no play
u 52892 viagra free game play slot
viagra drug test play pai gow poker online
viagra package quantity play video poker for fun
viagra and cocaine play free hot dog slots
cialis introducing online slots free play
cialis patent information download free to play casinos
cialis ohne rezept bonus casino game play sign up
try cialis free machine online play slot video
generic viagra rx play texas holdem poker for free
cialis incredible power jackpot party slot game free play
viagra women forum free holdem online play poker texas
sofia viagra model play strip blackjack free
cheap mexico viagra play blackjack online
herbal viagra ingredients play roulette online australian casino
viagra cialis delivery casino download fun game no play
medication levitra free lesson play poker
viagra realy works lets play russian roulette
pablo francisco viagra play free bingo on line
palmeiro viagra bingo cash free play win
best pill viagra poker star play money chips buy
2003 latest levitra free mermaid mystical play slot
viagra pour feme how to play poker instructions
tadalafil generic cialis printable casino match play coupon
generic cialis 350 play game for money free

Turkey sighting in Waltham

May 7th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

Remember this?

Well, this morning I pulled into work, and there was a big ol’ wild turkey gobbling around the parking lot.

The worst part is that I now have a hankering for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

I got them ALL cut!

April 30th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

I guess I never wrote about how I got my long locks chopped off, though you can see the outcome in the Sheep Shearing post. Remember back in January, I wrote about how I needed a haircut really badly after a bad haircut experience in 2002? And my follow-up post about how I got four inches snipped off?

Well, I started noticing something…my new hair was not coming in curly! In fact, the curliness didn’t even start until past my shoulders. So, I went and made an appointment and got a FOOT cut off. Alas, it couldn’t be donated because it had been bleached. But it’s weird to think that my hair was about 16 inches longer only a few months ago!!

I now have phantom hair…even though I cut it a month ago, I still use way too much shampoo and I keep combing my shoulders and back. It’s a little wavy now, but mostly straight.

Meanwhile, Matt’s hair is practically down to his waist!!

Bad Gym Etiquette

April 29th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

I was just at the gym, and I saw some behavior that was so incredibly rude that I had to blog about it!!!

There are these nifty ellipticals with a nice incline that I like, and there are only two of them in the entire gym. Both were empty, but one seemed to be occupied. It had a towel, water bottle, and tabloid on it, so I assumed someone had quickly jumped off to go use the restroom or something.

I began my work-out, and about 10 minutes into it, this woman doing sit-ups on a mat behind the row of ellipticals got up and started using the elliptical. I thought it was a little odd. She worked out for about 10 minutes, then went back to the mat to do some more mat exercises, still leaving her stuff on the machine. Then she came back to the elliptical. Then, she left again.

When I was done on the elliptical, I went to go refill my water bottle, and I saw her on the weight-lifting side doing some strength training. Then I walked over to the exercise bikes and I saw that her belongings were STILL on the machine. I did fifteen minutes on the bike, and when I got up to leave, I saw her doing mat exercises again with her stuff still sitting there on the machine!

I was there for about an hour, and she was off and on that machine but left her stuff on there so nobody else could use it!!! I was absolutely appalled! She had only actually used it for 25 minutes or so, but she hogged it for close to an hour! And as I said, there are only two of these ellipticals in the whole gym, so it’s not like there are a dozen of them!

This lady needs to have a little lesson in common courtesy! I’ve never dealt with this level of inconsideration at the gym before.

Sonic

April 29th, 2008 by Kristine Munroe-Mahoney

I’ve been seeing commercials for Sonic for years. I used to see them back in the SF Bay Area, but I never actually SAW a Sonic. I always thought it was a little weird that they would advertise in an area that didn’t have any locations.

When we drove across the country 4 years ago, we saw a Sonic! We HAD to stop there, no question! I ordered grilled cheese and tater tots. I enjoyed them.

And that was the last time I ever saw a Sonic. But I still see those stupid commercials all the time!!!

So, I decided to go to their website to find out where Sonics are. The closest one to Boston is on the Jersey Shore.

This graphic was on their website:

Isn’t that a little misleading? It’s not like they’re all over the place, like McDonalds. They don’t have ANY in New England!

I simply don’t understand why they advertise everywhere! Don’t companies usually like to advertise where they actually have locations? I don’t see commercials for Shop-Rite up here. I never saw Friendly’s commercials when I lived in California.

To make matters worse, their dumb advertisements make me want grilled cheese and tater tots. The worst part is that I never see commercials at home because we have Tivo…so I see these commercials at the gym. Just what I need, to start craving grilled cheese and tater tots while workin’ up a sweat on the elliptical!

I suppose I could just make my own grilled cheese and tater tots. It’s not that hard. I even have a grilled cheese machine!