Tag Archives: Oreo

April 2010 12 of 12

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Here it is, in all its glory: my April 2010 12 of 12.

6:18 a.m. - The sunrise coming up over the blossoming trees...and the Dunkin Donuts.
6:25 a.m. - Spring is here!
8:57 a.m. - Setting up the DocCam for Theory 2.
10:34 a.m. - The view from the piano after my Aural Skills 4 singing exams.
12:14 p.m. - Making up the Aural Skills dictation exam sheets for Wednesday.
12:48 p.m. - Mmm, lunch!
5:43 p.m. - CUBS WIN!!
6:24 p.m. - We went Outback last night. Unfortunately, the dinner wasn't very good.
7:13 p.m. - The Nutter Butter pie dessert, however, was delicious. It didn't stand a chance.
7:33 p.m. - Before the movie, Xan waited patiently as I listened to the classical radio station, trying to identify the composer. I correctly ID'd the piece as a Haydn symphony (No. 96, to be exact, which I had never heard before). Go me!
9:51 p.m. - On date night, we saw "Date Night." Much like the food earlier in the evening, it was disappointing.
10:57 p.m. - Wrapping up my evening with some Cubs highlights and a little CV updating.
10:57 p.m. - Wrapping up my evening with some Cubs highlights and a little CV updating.
BONUS PIC: Oreo, looking attentive in the sunshine.

March 2010 12 of 12

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A picture chronicle of my March 12th, 2010.  Enjoy!

6:18 a.m. - It was tough to get out of bed, but the fact that it was the Friday before Spring Break made it easier.
9:19 a.m. - It's Exam/Casual Friday, hence the non-tie duds.
10:51 a.m. - Part of the analysis example for my Theory 3 exam. I thought the example was pretty straightfoward; my students, on the other hand, had other ideas. VII6/5? Really?? HONESTLY???
1:20 p.m. - Part of my lunch that I scarfed down before some racquetball with Mike. Man, do I love those Welch's fruit snacks!
5:22 p.m. - The crumpled, sweaty, dirty heap formerly known as my racquetball glove. It may be time for a new one.
5:40 p.m. - Enjoying some Peanut Butter Crunch and some PTI.
6:16 p.m. - Playing Vector Tanks EXTREME on the iPhone before passing out for a juicy nap.
8:44 p.m. - Some like it hot.
9:12 p.m. - Enjoying an IZZE soda with dinner. YUM.
11:14 p.m. - Cereal for a late-night snack? Don't mind if I do!
12:01 a.m. - Deciding what the fall-asleep movie will be. We watched all of 5 minutes of The Breakfast Club before passing out.
12:02 p.m. - Trying to get artsy with the nightstand light. I think I need to set the lens to stay open just a little longer.
BONUS PIC: Oreo, asleep in Xan's lap while we're watching TV. I've said it before and I'll say it again: That dog is TOO. CUTE.

February 2010 12 of 12

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Yeah, I know I’ve been lazy with this bog since the new year started, despite my “it’s gonna be part of my daily routine” spiel.  Oh well, here’s my latest attempt at getting back on track.  I present to you, oh wondrous blogosphere, my February 2010 12 of 12.

7:09 a.m. Heading off to school. Getting there early to help Mike set up the classroom for our "1979" performances. Yeah buddy.
8:12 a.m. The new Propel flavor, Citrus Punch. It's OK, but not nearly as refreshing as the Lemon flavor.
10:24 a.m. My lips are chapped. Burt's Bees to the rescue!
1:07 p.m. After my classes and tutoring session, I get to work on the first Theory 2 exam of semester.
6:16 p.m. I'm groggy after taking a monster nap on the couch with Oreo. It was bright sunshine outside when I fell asleep, and totally dark when I awoke, thus messing me up for a bit.
6:31 p.m. Looking over some floorplans for potential new apartments.
6:54 p.m. Wrapped a little V-day gift for Xan.
7:27 p.m. Playing a little long-distance Scrabble-like game ("Words") with Marty. Not surprisingly, he's winning handily.
8:01 p.m. Speaking of Marty, while chatting with him on the phone, this is my reaction to the footage of the tragic death of the luger at the Winter Olympic games. Scary stuff.
9:01 p.m. While waiting for Xan to get home, I get to transcribing "Fireflies." As they say up here in New England, that intro is "wicked hahhd."
10:12 p.m. Watching "Community" after dinner, one of our favorite new shows this season. God bless DVRs.
11:41 p.m. Apparently, it's "Park However The F*** You Want To" Day. Unfortunately, this is not an aberration. I've never seen this guy's car parked correctly.
Bonus pic: Oreo on her perch, after our epic nap.

December 2009 12 of 12

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The semester’s been crazy, so I haven’t updated in a very long time.  Nonetheless, here’s my December 2009 12 of 12.

9:37 a.m. Let's hop in the Way Back Machine, shall we, and start our Saturday morning with an episode of Saved by the Bell. This was the episode where the students switched places with the teachers and administration. Ah, Kelly Kapowski.
10:11 a.m. Hopped online to order one of Xan's Christmas presents. The yearly fee for Amazon Prime: TOTALLY worth it.
10:15 a.m. Our little Christmas tree. Cute, huh?
3:13 p.m. I got WAAAAY behind in my grading toward the end of the semester. Here's the sea of papers in which I almost drowned.
3:56 p.m. Staying hydrated is just as important during the winter as it is in the summer.
5:07 p.m. Our new blu-ray player can stream Pandora...wirelessly. It's pretty kick-ass!
6:58 p.m. Grading is done! This is the stack of papers that I graded this afternoon. As you can see, it's taller than BOTH my gradebook and my pen stacked on top of each other. Yikes!
7:03 p.m. As a reward for finishing my grading, I play IMPLODE!, an addictive little game in which you try to demolish various structures. I accomplished my goal of getting A+'s on every level. Go me.
7:26 p.m. After beating IMPLODE!, I play MGMT's "Electric Feel" on the bass. Man, I love that bass line.
9:24 p.m. Making the Aural Skills 3 dictation final key.
10:15 p.m. Getting directions to a party.
10:49 p.m. It was an "Edward Fortyhands" party. I decided to go "Christopher Twelvehands." Hooray, beer!!!
Bonus pic: Oreo cuteness!

October 2009 12 of 12

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In all its glory, my October 2009 12 of 12, with pics taken using just my iPhone.  It’s good to be back.

9:01 a.m. Good morning, world. Thanks, Christopher Columbus, for discovering America and subsequently providing us with a day off.
9:01 a.m. Good morning, world. Thanks, Christopher Columbus, for discovering America and subsequently providing us with a day off.
9:32 a.m. 43 degrees outside. Not cool, Mother Nature. Not. Cool.
9:32 a.m. 43 degrees outside. Not cool, Mother Nature. Not. Cool.
11:54 a.m. In the elevator at school, headed up to my office to get some work done.
11:54 a.m. In the elevator at school, headed up to my office to get some work done.
4:35 p.m. Grading Friday's Uninflected Interval Quiz. Fun times.
4:35 p.m. Grading Friday's Uninflected Interval Quiz. Fun times.
5:37 p.m. While taking a break, I beat a Hard level on GeoDefense Swarm.
5:37 p.m. While taking a break, I beat a Hard level on GeoDefense Swarm.
5:47 p.m. It's a two-fer! I beat another level on GD Swarm just 10 minutes later. It's a good day, indeed!!
5:47 p.m. It's a GD Swarm two-fer! I beat another level just 10 minutes later. It's a good day, indeed!!
6:31 p.m. In the elevator, headed home.
6:31 p.m. In the elevator, headed home.
8:34 p.m. Grading part-writing. Yup, that's four-voice writing on notebook paper. This is the kind of crap I have to try to decipher every day. Ugh.
8:34 p.m. Grading part-writing. Yup, that's four-voice writing on notebook paper. This is the kind of crap I have to try to decipher every day. Ugh.
8:52 p.m. Making some delicious chianti braised beef & rigatoni. God bless dinner-in-a-bag.
8:52 p.m. Making some delicious chianti braised beef & rigatoni. God bless dinner-in-a-bag.
9:45 p.m. For tonight's entertainment: F.R.I.E.N.D.S Season 4.
9:45 p.m. For tonight's entertainment: F.R.I.E.N.D.S Season 4.
11:00 p.m. Some hot chocolate to cap the evening. Delicious!!
11:00 p.m. Some hot chocolate to cap the evening. Delicious!!
11:33 p.m. Getting ready for bed, about to brush our teeth with the Sonicare. Xan's being silly.
11:33 p.m. Getting ready for bed, about to brush our teeth with the Sonicare. Xan's being silly.
BONUS PIC: Oreo with her new toy, Swan Valdez.
BONUS PIC: Oreo with her new toy, Swan Valdez.

July 2009 12 of 12

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9:07 a.m. - Good morning, blogosphere.
9:07 a.m. - Good morning, blogosphere.
9:31 a.m. - My earring fell out the other night and I only just found it this morning.
9:31 a.m. - My earring fell out the other night and I only just found it this morning.
9:36 a.m. - Pre-shave, mid-haircut, and lookin' rough! (Man, my hair grows a lot in one week.)
9:36 a.m. - Pre-shave, mid-haircut, and lookin' rough! (Man, my hair grows a lot in one week.)
10:15 a.m. - Post-haircut/shower/shave. Note the "reinstalled" earring.
10:15 a.m. - Post-haircut/shower/shave. Note the "reinstalled" earring.
10:55 a.m. - A little DD coffee (OK, a large one) helped get me to campus before 11 to grade and lesson plan for tomorrow.
10:55 a.m. - A little DD coffee (OK, a large one) helped get me to campus before 11 to grade and lesson plan for tomorrow.
11:43 a.m. - The new-and-improved office desktop. Dual monitors is the only way to go.
11:43 a.m. - The new-and-improved office desktop. Dual monitors is the only way to go.
5:20 p.m. - I returned the Pre (pictured earlier) and got a new iPhone 3GS. (Thanks for the photobomb, Mike!)
5:20 p.m. - I returned the Pre (pictured earlier) and got a new iPhone 3GS. (Thanks for the photobomb, Mike!)
8:24 p.m. - New phone, meet the old phone.
8:24 p.m. - New phone, meet the old phone.
8:55 p.m. - Mike brought over another electronic peripheral that should help launch our rockstardom.
8:55 p.m. - Mike brought over another electronic peripheral that should help launch our rockstardom.
10:31 p.m. - The Cubs' Sean Marshall pitched to one batter, played right field for one batter, then pitched to another batter. All the switching around gave some needed excitement in an otherwise uneventful game.
10:31 p.m. - The Cubs' Sean Marshall pitched to one batter, played right field for one batter, then pitched to another batter. All the switching around gave some needed excitement in an otherwise uneventful game.
10:40 p.m. - The Cubs' Reed Johnson makes a great catch in left field--while stumbling--to keep the Cards' lead to 2 (although replays showed he may have trapped the ball.) The effort was all for naught, however, as the Cubs went on to lose 4-2.
10:40 p.m. - The Cubs' Reed Johnson makes a great catch in left field--while stumbling--to keep the Cards' lead to 2 (although replays showed he may have trapped the ball.) The effort was all for naught, however, as the Cubs went on to lose 4-2.
10:50 p.m. The obligatory Oreo pic.
10:50 p.m. The obligatory Oreo pic.

May 2009 12 of 12

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I apologize in advance if you fall asleep before making it through my day.  Boring doesn’t even begin to describe it.

8:42am - I don't teach on Tuesdays, so it's my chance to sleep in. At this time yesterday, was wrapping up my first class.
8:42am - I don't teach on Tuesdays, so it's my chance to sleep in. At this time yesterday, I was wrapping up my first class.
8:43am - Oreo is ready for her morning trip outside.
8:43am - Good morning, Oreo!
8:53am - Oreo watches intently as one of my neighbors brings her dog, Diesel, out for his morning business.
8:53am - Oreo watches intently as one of my neighbors brings her dog, Diesel, out for his morning business.
9:09am - Fueling up for the gym.
9:09am - Fueling up for the gym.
10:11am - The entrance to the UML Campus Recreation Center (CRC).
10:11am - The entrance to the UML Campus Recreation Center (CRC).
1:52pm - A view of my desk at school, as I write my Theory 1 final and chat with Marty.
1:52pm - A view of my desk at school, as I write my Theory 1 final and chat with Marty.
2:45pm - I shot of the Merrimack River as seen between two buildings on campus, shot on my way to drop off receipts for a reimbursement.
2:45pm - A shot of the Merrimack River as seen between two buildings on campus, shot on my way to drop off receipts for a reimbursement.
3:57pm - Going over an error-detection exercise that will be used as part of my review in Theory 2 tomorrow.
3:57pm - Going over an error-detection exercise that will be used as part of my review in Theory 2 tomorrow.
4:44pm - Makin' copies.
4:44pm - Makin' copies. Apparently, I forgot how to use the zoom on my camera.
5:17pm - A little Chopin and Mozart to end my day at school.
5:17pm - A little Chopin and Mozart to end my day at school.
6:31pm - Enjoying a beer with dinner.
6:31pm - Enjoying a beer with dinner.
9:09pm - Watching the Cubs beat the Padres.
9:09pm - Watching the Cubs beat the Padres.

I promise that my next 12 of 12 will be much more exciting.  I’ll be in Germany; so the way I see it, at the very least, it should be scenic!

Cave canem

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As Oreo and I got in elevator this morning, there were two elderly women already in the car.  Oreo got excited, as usual, but did her best not to go crazy and dutifully sat when I asked her to.  One of the women in the elevator then remarked that Oreo “looks vicious.”  Oreo vicious?  Really?  Seriously??  The way I see it, Oreo couldn’t be less vicious-looking if she tried.  You be the judge:

Careful: she'll cute you death!
Beware of the dog: she'll cute you death!

Easter 12 of 12

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Happy Easter, everyone!

9:23am Bundled up on Easter morning. It LOOKED like Easter outside, but it sure didn't FEEL like Easter.
9:23am Bundled up on to take out Oreo. It LOOKED like Easter outside, but it sure didn't FEEL like Easter.
9:24am Yup, you're reading that correctly: Bright sunshine and 35 degrees, with a wind chill of 25 degree. Like I said, it LOOKED spring outside, but it in no way FELT like spring.
9:24am Yup, you're reading that correctly: Bright sunshine and 35 degrees, with a wind chill of 25 degrees. Like I said, it LOOKED spring outside, but it in no way FELT like spring.
11:09am Just before going into the church for Easter morning mass. Notice the lovely Easter wreathes on the doors.
11:09am Just before going into the church for Easter morning mass. Notice the lovely Easter wreathes on the doors and the fresh haircut.
12:24pm The beautiful Easter decorations in the church.
12:24pm The beautiful Easter decorations in the church.
2:48pm Giving Oreo a long overdue. She was great--very calm and relaxed in the tub.
2:48pm Giving Oreo a long overdue bath. She was great--very calm and relaxed in the tub.
3:36pm Loaded up the dishwasher with a week's worth of dishes. I use a lot of dishes when I don't eat out. Plus, I'm lazy.
3:36pm Loaded up the dishwasher with a week's worth of dishes. I use a lot of dishes when I don't eat out. Plus, I'm lazy.
6:25pm Grading some Theory 2 papers. Ah, the deceptive cadence: one of my favorites.
6:25pm Grading some Theory 2 papers. Ah, the deceptive cadence: one of my favorites.
8:20pm Oreo hanging out in front of the fire.
8:20pm Oreo hanging out in front of the fire.
8:30pm Watching the Brewers' Ryan Braun bat in the bottom of the first inning. God, I hate that guy.
8:30pm Watching the Brewers' Ryan Braun bat in the bottom of the first inning. God, I hate that guy.
9:53pm Done with grading, I record the grades in the gradebook.
9:53pm Done with grading, I record the grades in the gradebook.
10:36pm iShoot for the iPod Touch is made the "Naughty Bits." (Mike, that one's for you. BITS)
10:36pm iShoot for the iPod Touch is made by "Naughty Bits." (Mike, that one's for you. BITS)
11:34pm CUBS WIN!!
11:34pm CUBS WIN!!

March 2009 12 of 12

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It’s been a couple of months since my last 12 of 12.  But I remembered this month…and what a day it was!

img_0725 7:42AM  I don’t teaching on Tuesday or Thursday, so I slept in today.  Only until 6:30, however, because I had to drop off my car to get my oil changed and get the SRS light checked out.  Little did I know it would end up costing me much more than I intended to spend.

img_0729 7:43AM  Oreo’s used to the morning routine by now.  She got in her bed in the kitchen without me even having to tell her.  Note the look on her face that says, “OK.  Fine.  Leave me…again.”

img_0737 9:03AM  I rearranged my office again (for the 7th time…literally).  I’m trying out a new floorplan, with the desk against the wall.  It really opens up the space and makes the office seems quite big.  (And yes, that’s Optimus Prime on my wall.)

img_0734 9:27AM  My new dry erase/cork board combination that I hung up on my wall this morning.  Now I can write and post notes to myself without having to scotch tape them to the lovely cinder block walls in my office.

img_0736 10:16AM  The view from my desk, while grading papers and listening to Pandora.  Man, I love Pandora.

img_0741 1:31PM  Taking a break from grading (and waiting for the Honda dealer to call me about my car), I practice a little piano.  I’m playing the celeste part for Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.  If you look closely, you can see that it’s very simple part that oscillates on an E major chord for 10 measures.  Ah, my kind of accompanying.

img_0745 2:56PM  The Honda dealer STILL hadn’t called me.  I was getting frustrated.  They called me about 15 minutes later to tell me that my car needed a new battery, and that it would be done in an hour and cost me more than initially quoted.  Great.img_0749 3:14PM  Finally having a timeframe of when I’d get my car back, I scramble to finish my lesson plan for Theory 2: cadential and passing 6/4 chords.  Fun times.  (You can really tell it’s my office by all the U2 posters on the walls.)

img_0750 4:12PM  I run to the duplication room in hopes of picking up my Theory 1 Proficiency Exams before the Honda shuttle picks me up, only to find out Arlene left early today.  Great.  So I rush back to the Music office to try to make copies there, only to find that it’s closed early, too.  This is the view of the office from the outside of my mailbox.  I go into school on my off day and stay much later than I should, while others who normally work later than I leave early.  The irony of the whole afternoon was not lost on me.

img_0751 4:46PM  The Honda dealer finally picks me up and drops me off to get my car…8.5 hours later!!

img_0754 4:48PM  What was initially going to be a $30 oil change ended up costing me nearly ten times that much.  All to get the stupid SRS light to shut off.  It took the service department almost nine hours to figure out that my car needed a new battery.  *SIGH* I miss Proctor Honda in Tallahassee.

img_0753 4:51PM  I’m finally back in my car.  Notice how the SRS light isn’t on any more.  Not bad for $300.  Ugh.  What a day.

BONUS:

img_0757 11:40PM  The way I see it, regardless of how crappy my day went, it ended nicely, with my packing for FriendFest 2009 Part a in DC.  I’m driving to visit Mike, then going to Houston to see Xan and my parents.  And, yup, that’s a Guitar Hero guitar, packed and ready to rock!  Bring on the Expert level!!