Tuesday, February 3, 2009
My usual musings
Hello Clan,
Well we have one month under our belts for 2009. So far the year has proven a slight improvement over 2008. Tube is feeling the effects of the economy, but so far we have been able to keep our heads above water. We have turned our focus on long form videos and starting to step away from the TV commercial business. We have a video for Shriners Burns Hospital for Children in the works and a sales video for New England Jeep Dealers in pre-production. In terms of our Ireland clients we have been involved with a lot of networking opportunities including conducting an Ireland Meet-up group on a monthly basis that meets at local pubs and talks about Ireland to potential travelers. Brian Moore International Tours (who sent us to Ireland in 2007) has asked us to do some additional video work this year. So we may be going back to the West Coast of Ireland in July for a summer camp program they are selling. 7 days this time. But I tell ya, you can rent a cottage in the Killarney area for as little as $500 a week not including air. if anyone is interested in looking at going to Ireland...let me know. I am also reaching out to businesses in Scotland and trying desperately to make it back there as well.
I am going to really try and make Ireland and Scotland a major part of my future. I feel at home there and when you go, you'll see why.
On the home front. My dad is attending a adult day care once a week and so far it is working out. It gives my mom time to herself and my dad seems to enjoy the socializing. But as I told Tommy, he does talk about killing everyone there with his imaginary 45 caliber handgun when he walks through the door...it's ok to laugh. It continues to be an adventure.
I am trying to get the GBS road race back on track with Tim...I have been distracted. But I am ready now.
On a sad note, Genie's cousin lost his 16 year old daughter this past week. She was a competitive skier and died after she skied into a tree at Sunday River. We went to Connecticut to visit family and offer what support we can. Her name was Rebecca McGill.
Well that is the catch up. I hope you are all doing well.
Well we have one month under our belts for 2009. So far the year has proven a slight improvement over 2008. Tube is feeling the effects of the economy, but so far we have been able to keep our heads above water. We have turned our focus on long form videos and starting to step away from the TV commercial business. We have a video for Shriners Burns Hospital for Children in the works and a sales video for New England Jeep Dealers in pre-production. In terms of our Ireland clients we have been involved with a lot of networking opportunities including conducting an Ireland Meet-up group on a monthly basis that meets at local pubs and talks about Ireland to potential travelers. Brian Moore International Tours (who sent us to Ireland in 2007) has asked us to do some additional video work this year. So we may be going back to the West Coast of Ireland in July for a summer camp program they are selling. 7 days this time. But I tell ya, you can rent a cottage in the Killarney area for as little as $500 a week not including air. if anyone is interested in looking at going to Ireland...let me know. I am also reaching out to businesses in Scotland and trying desperately to make it back there as well.
I am going to really try and make Ireland and Scotland a major part of my future. I feel at home there and when you go, you'll see why.
On the home front. My dad is attending a adult day care once a week and so far it is working out. It gives my mom time to herself and my dad seems to enjoy the socializing. But as I told Tommy, he does talk about killing everyone there with his imaginary 45 caliber handgun when he walks through the door...it's ok to laugh. It continues to be an adventure.
I am trying to get the GBS road race back on track with Tim...I have been distracted. But I am ready now.
On a sad note, Genie's cousin lost his 16 year old daughter this past week. She was a competitive skier and died after she skied into a tree at Sunday River. We went to Connecticut to visit family and offer what support we can. Her name was Rebecca McGill.
Well that is the catch up. I hope you are all doing well.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy New Year
Well what an incredibly crappy year 2008 was, right to the bitter friggin' end. But it is a new year and with it comes the promise for new adventures and opportunities and I am ready!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Hello and Season's greetings
Well, we just finished putting up our Christmas decorations, including the ones from Mom with all our names on them, which is nice because it causes us to take a moment to think of all of you as we deck the halls. I hope all are doing well this season and that this Christmas time brings peace and joy to the hearts of all of you. And remember at the center of all the busyness and commercialism, that the reason for this season is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Jason, I don't know if you check in to the blog much, but in case you didn't get my message, Happy belated birthday. If you did get my message, then you are a big loser for not calling back. I know losers, because I am one was well. Happy Birthday.
Jamie
Jason, I don't know if you check in to the blog much, but in case you didn't get my message, Happy belated birthday. If you did get my message, then you are a big loser for not calling back. I know losers, because I am one was well. Happy Birthday.
Jamie
Friday, November 7, 2008
Musings for a Friday
Running:
So Tim just barely made a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon in his recent bid, but only by seconds. Nancy ran the San Francisco Marathon and ran a time of 3 hours and 50 minutes. Not bad I think...actually, she is catching up on Tim's time. My question is...what is the draw to running in our 40's? Are we running from something? are we battling middle-age? I know I am just at the beginning of training for the Edinburgh Marathon in 2010 as a wee testament to my battle with Guillain Barre Syndrome, and it is going to be painful. Don't be surprised if I turn it into the Edinburgh Pub Crawl.
Obama:
Whether you voted for him or not, you have to love seeing people taking to the streets celebrating an American election. Does anyone have any recollection of that at any other time in our lives? I won't go into my politics, but I think the lesson for Republicans is that it is time to move more towards the center. The Christian Right has proven to be anything but Christian. I think if you judge others, discriminate and are intolerant you may have a hard time adhereing to the Christian Creed. Actually, I will go into my politics, I mean what is a blg for after all. I think the election of Obama shows the world how a true democracy works, that the oil money and lobbyists fell short and the masses turn out and put the right man in for the job. And seeing the recent feeding frenzy of Sarah Palin by the right-wing media and her exposed lack of knowledge of not only NAFTA, but of geography...she would have been a disaster in the administration. McCain's time was in 2000. I saw him speak, he was a powerful speaker with unique ideas and a truly maverick approach and then "W" and Karl Rove went at him like Swift Boat Veterans and he was sunk by his own party. His embrace of Bush for 2008 was his undoing and I was disappointed to see a great man lose his focus. Will Obama rase taxes? Yup. You can't even begin to address a 700 billion dollar bail out and multi-trillion dollar two front war with a collapsing economy without addressing the need to raise taxes and McCain would have done the same thing. So the road ahead is tough, there will be more bad news before there is good news. But hang in there. The world has rallied once again for America and watching blacks, whites, asians, and hispanics celebrate together was truly an American moment in time that should be cherished.
Sarah:
Good luck this weekend and CONGRATS!!
Uncle Davy and Mary:
You guys haven't been driving around your neighborhood in Florida in a golf cart I hope. That would make you both redneck and Floridian and that is unacceptable.
Alice and Dick:
My mother and I went to the Alzheimer's Assocation for some guidance and resources in dealing with my dad. It was a great meeting and we got alot of good stuff out of it. Primarily coping mechanisms as well as some milestones we need to establish and hit. So far so good. My father is kind of plateauing. he hasn't gotten significantly worse or signficiantly better. The Beatles said it best...this is going to be a "long and winding road" or maybe the Grateful Dead said it best "What a long strange it's been".
That's all for now.
So Tim just barely made a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon in his recent bid, but only by seconds. Nancy ran the San Francisco Marathon and ran a time of 3 hours and 50 minutes. Not bad I think...actually, she is catching up on Tim's time. My question is...what is the draw to running in our 40's? Are we running from something? are we battling middle-age? I know I am just at the beginning of training for the Edinburgh Marathon in 2010 as a wee testament to my battle with Guillain Barre Syndrome, and it is going to be painful. Don't be surprised if I turn it into the Edinburgh Pub Crawl.
Obama:
Whether you voted for him or not, you have to love seeing people taking to the streets celebrating an American election. Does anyone have any recollection of that at any other time in our lives? I won't go into my politics, but I think the lesson for Republicans is that it is time to move more towards the center. The Christian Right has proven to be anything but Christian. I think if you judge others, discriminate and are intolerant you may have a hard time adhereing to the Christian Creed. Actually, I will go into my politics, I mean what is a blg for after all. I think the election of Obama shows the world how a true democracy works, that the oil money and lobbyists fell short and the masses turn out and put the right man in for the job. And seeing the recent feeding frenzy of Sarah Palin by the right-wing media and her exposed lack of knowledge of not only NAFTA, but of geography...she would have been a disaster in the administration. McCain's time was in 2000. I saw him speak, he was a powerful speaker with unique ideas and a truly maverick approach and then "W" and Karl Rove went at him like Swift Boat Veterans and he was sunk by his own party. His embrace of Bush for 2008 was his undoing and I was disappointed to see a great man lose his focus. Will Obama rase taxes? Yup. You can't even begin to address a 700 billion dollar bail out and multi-trillion dollar two front war with a collapsing economy without addressing the need to raise taxes and McCain would have done the same thing. So the road ahead is tough, there will be more bad news before there is good news. But hang in there. The world has rallied once again for America and watching blacks, whites, asians, and hispanics celebrate together was truly an American moment in time that should be cherished.
Sarah:
Good luck this weekend and CONGRATS!!
Uncle Davy and Mary:
You guys haven't been driving around your neighborhood in Florida in a golf cart I hope. That would make you both redneck and Floridian and that is unacceptable.
Alice and Dick:
My mother and I went to the Alzheimer's Assocation for some guidance and resources in dealing with my dad. It was a great meeting and we got alot of good stuff out of it. Primarily coping mechanisms as well as some milestones we need to establish and hit. So far so good. My father is kind of plateauing. he hasn't gotten significantly worse or signficiantly better. The Beatles said it best...this is going to be a "long and winding road" or maybe the Grateful Dead said it best "What a long strange it's been".
That's all for now.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Dublin
Well it was along 17 days. We purchased an HD camera prior to leaving the US so we could really maximize the stuff we would be shooting. We landed in Dublin and had to stay awake for roughly 36 hours to get adjusted to the time as quickly as possible. So what better way to kill time than to take a tour of the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate in Dublin. You also get a free pint at the Gravity Bar at the top of the brewery which has a 360 degree view of Dublin. Dublin is very much like Boston...very big, congested, full of crazy one way streets and you can't throw a stick without hitting a pub. We toured Trinity College and did some investigating into the Irish Famine (we are developing a treatment for a documentary and will keep you posted on that). We spent time at the Temple Bar Pub in Temple Bar which is like a crazy version of Fanueil Hall. Saturday morning at 11:30 and the fiddles are playing and banjos strumming and everyone is really enjoying the "Craic"...pronounced "crack" and the locals use the word often. We stayed two nights in Dublin and during that time the counties of Tyrone from the north and Kerry from the southwest are meeting at Croke Park to play for the All Ireland Gaelic Athletic Association Football Championship. Dublin was packed with the Green and Gold and the Red and White. the GAA is all amateur and Croke Park holds 80,000 fans. We met up with the group that we would be bringing around Ireland and had a pint at the Hairy Lemon on Grafton Street. I was shooting and playing tour host for the time there. On Monday it was off to Galway (to be continued)
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