one of our best customers...

by the way... this is not the artist Thomas Connolly, Kyle's Dad. but he is the same man who broke the Bush drunk driving story a few years back.


SOUTH PORTLAND — Thomas J. Connolly, of Scarborough, a prominent defense attorney and 1998 Democratic candidate for governor was charged with criminal threatening this morning after an incident beside Interstate 295.
South Portland police were notified around 9 a.m. that a man wearing a rubber Osama bin Laden mask was standing on top of a berm along the highway carrying a sign that said “I Love Tabor,” and waving what appeared to be an assault rifle.
Four South Portland officers and two state troopers converged on the man. They drew their guns when he did not respond to their demand that he drop his weapon.
Police said instead he walked toward them dropping plastic hand grenades. His costume included fake dynamite and bandoliers, police said.
He eventually did drop the rifle, which turned out to be a toy and was arrested, at which time the man was identified as Connolly. He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail.
"The whole thing is just incredibly bizarre," said South Portland Police Chief Ed Googins. "It just crossed the line."
Connolly met with reporters briefly after posting bail to secure his release. Criminal threatening is a misdemeanor.
"There was a First Amendment this morning when I woke up. I don't know how it evaporated with the dawn," he said.
Connolly, a Portland attorney, has been known for wearing costumes to make political statements, typically donning a George W. Bush mask and dancing herky-jerky style for passing motorists. His wife has described him as "marvelously eccentric."
But he took it too far with the terrorist outfit, Googins said.
Connolly was carrying a sign that said "I love TABOR," a reference to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights on the ballot a week from today. But at least one of the people who saw it thought it said "I love the Taliban," Googins said.
Officers who arrived on the location of a future ramp at the Westbrook Street exit didn't know what they were dealing with. "There's no way of telling from a distance whether the gun is real or a fake," Googins said.
Police want to make sure charges are pressed. "For someone to think this is an innocent prank, this is not the case," he said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

I am not going to post any more of Aaron's b'day gift idea. The boy is going wild. I think it now has 49 "ideas". silly little scorpion!
His b'day party is now on November 10th. So much happening on the 5th. I haven't figured otu the family party yet. if you plan on coming up let me know when and maybe i will plan around that.

it's all so crazy 'round here.

Aaron strikes again

this is always such an interesting time around out house


-Italian money
-paranah panic
-candy
- money (us)
- printing ink and paper
- raider gun (for speed)
- Nintendo DS carrier
- video now
- bionical hero's
- Happy feet (the game)
- edible paper and pen -pokemon cards ex
- magnetix ultimate magna case

From Washington

a short list of things to be grateful for

- autumn leaves
- boys who get so excited for their birthdays that they get butterflies in their bellies.
- the end of outdoor sport season
- good friends
- hot soups
- husbands who clean basements and pick up dead things
- good books
- dumb movies
- sweaters
- Band-Aids
- chocolate
- famlies who come to Maine for Thanksgiving

Aaron's list

he has added a few more gift ideas:

football gloves
edible paper
4th and 5th grade work books. he is bored @ school.

my no good, very bad, horrible, rotten day

The book I did the cover for came in. Was SO very excited. (It's a great book, I do suggest you pick it up) Went to go find my name...not there. I did not get cover photo credit. when I contacted the publisher they apologized & have already fixed the error on the second and paper back editions.

this is just so bad. i am completely invisible. my work is currently in the Smithonian... who would know? no one.... cover of a book.. who would know... no one. What if another publisher likes the cover and cannot not contact me? what if they think it is public domain and uses it?? uggg

my high point was when Julia S.F. came in and told me that she has recieved many compliments on her author photo (and yes, i did get proper credit for that). Lisa also said the press kit came in for Mayflower and that looks good. Chris and I watch a stupid stupid movie (40 year old virgin) and that got my mind off this for a few hours.

okay...got it out.. maybe today will be brighter.

Aaron's b'day list

In usually Aaron style... why not reach for the sky.

- healeys
- a watch (digital with an easy to change battery)
- Nintendo Ds ( If he were to get this...his loving parents are)
- games for nintendo ds like this one
and this one or this one.
- $ for clothes (he wants to pick out his own)
- a camera (I think that this is a Santa request)
- baseball cards
- wood working stuff
- oragami paper

It's a boy!!!

His name is Zachary Matao, he was born @ 6lbs 5 oz. he is healthy and beautiful.

Here is a photo of his little hand holding onto Joelle's. He is about 10 mins old here. as soon as he was born he turned towards the sound of George's voice. Sammy has already mastered his name. I know he is going to be an amazing big brother.

They are all doing great.

I have realized (again) that I am no longer 25 and can not exist on 2.5 hours sleep.

Joelle is in labor!!!!

We're off to Cambridge.

yay Jeffery

yay Jeffery won. as much as I didn't really like him I thought it was incredibly talented. my mom was here and we watched, drank wine and then Chris surprised us with a delicious treat with edamame, potstickers and odd but yummy mix of veggies.

I kept G home yesterday since Ethan was here and they had a really sweet afternoon...I bought them each a peacock plume @ the farmers market, they picked out gourds then they played on the shores of the Atlantic ocean.

sort of freaked out by images in the hausfrau. happy that people "get" them but it is really strange to see ME, not just something by me. it's very personal.

I hate mice

we have mice. found some dropping the other night. since are now quite experienced with this we immediately jumped into our annual anti mice roles.

what I fear the most is not the scurrying little rodents but finding dead mice. I am reading She Got off the Couch by Haven Kimmel and there is a scene where her cat deposits 27, yes 27 dead mice on her bed while she is sleeping. so....before I go to bed I check my bed completely...fitted sheet, flat sheet, comforter, the floor and then make sure the door is closed tight. then of course I worry about Mica figuring out how to open door. this is not fun.


in the past 2 days Mica has left 6 dead mice and 1 dead bird on our porch.


I am traumatized.

16 years

seems impossible that we have been married for 16 years. I know it seems so silly to say but I dont' feel much older than 16. What to do? There is no traditional gift for the 16th year but the modern gift is silver hollowware. Ha ha... holloware. as a gift the boys raked up the leaves in the yard. that works for me.

Now for the really big new..... drum roll please......


Gabriel lost his first tooth!!!!!! I am a bit sad of course since it means my baby is growing up. He looks SO cute though, I know no saddness when I look at him.




Brushing his teeth is much easier without the loose tooth in his mouth

:)

yes.... this is a solicitation

Aidan and Aaron football league is having a raffle. the tickets are $10 per or 3 for $20, the prize is a plasma TV. let me know if you wish to buy one.

Luckily, The weather was nice today. We were out at sporting events from 9am until 6pm. We did come home for 45 min to eat lunch before we were off to G's soccer game. Very exciting day... We are all now very tired. well, all excpet Max who is sleeping at a friends and did not go to any game but played bass and ate brownies all day.



Aaron showing off some of his "skill"

Gabriel... well, I am not sure what he is doing.

Aidan was giving trying to give this boy a hug. I think he liked his red pants.

Aaron and G in moment of sweetness

tonight for dinner: red wine, chocolate and pot

why? because it's good for you...

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) -- Good news for aging hippies: Smoking pot may stave off Alzheimer's disease.
New research shows that the active ingredient in marijuana may prevent the progression of the disease by preserving levels of an important neurotransmitter that allows the brain to function.
Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California found that marijuana's active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can prevent the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from breaking down more effectively than commercially marketed drugs.
THC is also more effective at blocking clumps of protein that can inhibit memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients, the researchers reported in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.
The researchers said their discovery could lead to more effective drug treatment for Alzheimer's, the leading cause of dementia among the elderly.
Those afflicted with Alzheimer's suffer from memory loss, impaired decision-making, and diminished language and movement skills. The ultimate cause of the disease is unknown, though it is believed to be hereditary.
Marijuana is used to relieve glaucoma and can help reduce side effects from cancer and AIDS treatment.
Possessing marijuana for recreational use is illegal in many parts of the world, including the United States, though some states allow possession for medical purposes.

Hell is...

coming home from a lovely morning of perusing the library & farmers market to a message on your answering machine that your second son is not in school today. You sent him off to school this morning on the little yellow bus. Why wouldn't he be in school? what could have happened in the time between 8:05 am and 11am? you think of EVERYTHING that could of happened in the moments it takes the receptionist at their school to double check and inform you that he is in class.

Happy Birthday Karin!!!

am slowing editing photos. Here are a few

cute boys










cute family












more cute people

the whole cute gang of boys

We had a reading @ Portland Stage tonight. The usual cast of actors (whom I love) and a few area writers. one thing that John M. and Monica W. said really stuck in my mind.
A audience member asked if they read their own work out loud. They all answered that they did and why then John said that is bothers him knowing many readers read faster in their head then when out loud, that they do not fully pronounce the words in their heads. Therefore missing much of what is written. Monica then added that she find it unsettling when people tell her that they read her book very fast, racing through (because they loved it). She commented that it took her 4 years to write and she wished people would slow down and really read it.

I found this very interesting. I often race through books, I am a fast reader and if I love a book I just cannot stop, I'll read while cooking, walking, until my eyes close. Sometimes I do read again or get it on book on tape/cd, maybe not enough.

Was great having Papa here this weekend. He was able to see all the boys games. then got to spend some quality time while Chris and I were at the wedding and then went out later that night. Aidan and Aaron both has good games and Gabriel scored his first goal.

The wedding was great! I think we may have made a spectacle of ourselves though.. It was getting cold. Chris, Lisa J.C. and I were eating and having a lovely discussion. Chris went over to take a rest in the grass when he saw the ferry coming towards the island. While we were having a great time, we knew that the next departure would not be for another hour and half. So.... he ran back with the news, the three of us left our food and ran towards the ferry... across the lawn...through peoples yards (to the surprise of one poor man) and were able to board the ferry home (laughing the whole way). I hope that Darling C.C. and sweet Lew were not looking in our direction at that time.
Later we went to local 188 for tapas (yum yum yum) and wine then we ventured down to David's. Very fun night in all.