The videos are terrible quality, but we had to try!

Coldplay

Some of you know that Josh and I were able to fulfill a life goal (and a really lofty one at that:) yesterday. We went to a Coldplay concert in Boston, MA last night and it...was...Awwwwesome. Instead of writing a witty and much more interesting narrative, I'm just going to list off some of the things we noticed (and when I say we, I mean me...Josh can enjoy things better). Let me first start by describing the people around us:

Couple #1 - located to our left. When we stood up, they were right behind me (think slanting in on the chorus risers). Well there are two things I have to say about them. 1) The dude stunk like he hadn't showered in 3 days. The worst part about it was that he didn't even look like a stinker, but WAS! Oh, wait, I lied...the worst part about it was that he was also ripping the entire night. 2) Stinky man thought he was Chris Martin. I listened to two front men last night - the amazing Chris Martin and Stinky McStink-pants.

Couple #2 - located directly in front of us. Picture crazy is an understatement. Wild-eyed is also an understatement. And mousy - you guessed it - huge understatement. Unfortunately, they had no rhythm either.

Couple #3 - located in front and to the right. They were the worst couple of them all. Picture Matt Muir's height and red hair blocking the entire show in front of you. If it were Matt we could excuse it, but the dude also had no rhythm and he stood up from the beginning to the end of the concert. He and his girlfriend had several "moments" throughout the night as well. And listen...all of you who know me know that I was an avid concert goer in my younger years and I'm totally for standing during a concert. In fact, my favorite place to be was on the floor in a mass of people. However, when you're on the balcony and everyone else around you is sitting...take a hint. I still had to give it to him for standing and enjoying himself, but next time it better not be at my viewing expense. Josh just reminded me...it wasn't just that he had no rhythm...picture a tall and lanky Elaine Benice. Oh yes, you read correctly...jerking and all.

Now that we have the company established...let's get on to the good stuff...

1) I know this happened before tonight, but cell phones have officially taken over the lighter. I did not see one lighter being waved during the entire concert.

2) Whilst I did not see any lighters, there must have been some because I smelled the inevitable aroma of cannabis setiva. Oh yes...it wouldn't be a concert if some kid (or maybe adult, who knows these days) snuck in some pot.

3) We paid a painful $28 to park...that's not right.

4) Tom Brady was definitely in the audience and Chris Martin dedicated the last song (Death and All His Friends) to him.

5) While Martin was honored to have Tom Brady there, he was surprised that there were so many people there on a Monday night missing out on Seinfeld and Home Improvement re-runs. Needless to say, they were very gracious musicians. And it was hard to miss Home Improvement...

6) Their drummer, Will Champion (awesome name), is one of THE most talented people I have ever seen. At one point he was drumming with one hand (working the pedal with a foot), shaking maracas with the other hand, AND singing all at the same time. Later he sang an entire song.

7)The lighting was pretty awesome - think lasers and white spotlights during "Fix You."

8) He let the audience sing a lot. My favorite times were when we sang the "Whoa-oh-oh" during "Viva la Vida", singing "Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you" during "Fix you" and the first line in "Yellow". It rocked.

9) So there was a big globe hanging from the ceiling that projected different things throughout the concert...it started off as just blue...draw your own conclusions. We had a good laugh.

10) They played two songs in the audience...freakin' awesome!

11) I could've gone with a longer set -list. I also could've gone without their little political blitz sideshow that flashed "OBAMA" four or five times before they came out and played an encore song - "Polotik"...surprise. Now, I loved the idea and the song but I'm not a fan of entertainers using their clout and ability to persuade when it comes to politics...especially when they're NOT FROM THE USA. It made a 10 concert a 9.

12) I say DOWN WITH TWO OPENING BANDS! Or maybe down with the opening band. If you say the concert begins at 7:30 please, please don't make me wait until 9:30 to see who I came to see. If you want to have two opening shows, start them at 6:00 or so. Especially if they're not great. So my conclusion...one opener.

13) Lastly...you know you're at a great concert when you feel like you can hear your heartbeat in every song that's played. The playing was inspiring and Chris Martin sounds as good as he does on CD, if not better.

I know this was incredibly long but if you're still reading...thanks for sticking with me!

Cleveland, HO!!!

Did you all catch the joke in the title? Instead of Cleveland, (abbreviation for state of Ohio), I put Cleveland, HO...as in westward HO, Thundercats, HO, etc. I didn't want anyone to think that I made a mistake!

Anyway, as the title states, my parents are leaving the Syracuse, NY for greener pastures in Cleveland, OH. (see, this time I did it right!) Mom is leaving tomorrow with Taylor and Ben, and Dad will follow two weeks later after he is done working at Upstate. Dad has accepted a postion with the Cleveland Clinic in the Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia.

At times I have struggled to come to grips with the fact that my parents are leaving. Fran and I have been lucky to be within a few hours of both of our families this year and the last few weeks have been sad for me. My parents moved to Tully, NY in the summer of 1990. In 1994 they began construction of our home in Jamesville/Manlius and the family has lived in that house ever since. 18 years is a long time, and I know that my parents did not think that they would have stayed that long when we made the move from California.

I know that my parents are anxious and at times concerned that the decision will end well for them. So, please keep my parents and two brothers in your thoughts and prayers as they make this transition.

Thanks,

Josh

VACATION

Yes, the pictures are finally up even though we've been home for almost a week. I apologize the delay in getting them up and in keeping up with our blog. The last little while was really crazy with graduation, a wedding, finishing teaching, vacation, moving back home, and more vacation...not to mention birthdays and more birthdays:)

Josh and I went to California right after I was done grading at school. We left on Tuesday from Philadelphia (spending a few hours in the city) and flew to San Francisco where the fun began. While in San Francisco we saw Fisherman's Wharf, I bought a cheesy San Francisco fleece because I underestimated how cold it would be, we listened to a Time Share pitch just to get over-priced tickets (tours and the such) for free, and saw the city from a double-decker bus. It was a whirlwind day and a half but it was a lot of fun. We'd like to go back sometime with more time.

From San Francisco we drove through Muir Woods and on to Lodi to see Great-grandma Hauser. It was an enlightening experience as she is quite the honest person...in every way possible. From Lodi we drove down CA through Yosemite National Park (the long way through) and it was some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen in my life. I actually wrote for the first time in a long time while driving through the park. Once we got through Yosemite we drove down to Big Bear Lake and visited with Grandma and Grandpa Beal. We watched the best fireworks we've seen in a long time.

From there it was on to LA and the beaches and good food. We found the best beach called La Piedra beach near Malibu. It was fun because there wasn't a lot of people there (it was a little difficult to get to). We visited Josh's old house in Pasadena, went to little Tokyo and had good (real) Japanese food, went to the LA Science Center, and finished it off with a Dodger's game.

Once in Anaheim, we went to Disneyland all day. It was a lot of fun considering the last time I went I was three and I got lost in line at Space Mountain. After spending the day at the happiest place on earth, I was able to have dinner with a friend from college I haven't seen in years. All in all, it was a BUSY but wonderful trip. We needed it and hopefully it will last us for a long time.

After we got home from California, we went on a quick trip to Boston with Josh's family to watch a Red Sox game, eat delicious Gelato, walk around Quincy Market, go to the Boston Aquarium, see an IMAX film, and eat cannoli from Mike's Pastry Shop...yum yum! We hope all of our friends and family are well and will forgive us for being bad bloggers:) We'll try to do better:) Enjoy the slideshow of vacation pictures!

VACATION!!

Everything else...

Josh and I have been doing a lot lately (contrary to our normal schedule) and this is the blog to catch you all up. It starts off with my sister Olivia's graduation and graduation weekend. This also involved my AP English class' year-end presentation and a gathering of the Masino clan. Below is an array of pictures from this time period (June 20-28-ish)...

Above is my AP English class the day before the presentation...they did a wonderful job

My classroom workspace after I rearranged the room...it was usually much messier than this :)

The whole clan (minus our better halves) after Livy's graduation.
In order - Bry, Jessy, Jeannette, Livy, me, Veronica


Livy and the boys - LR - Josh, Livy, Dad, Kelly, Bry

Livy and Me - Sisters and Student/Teacher

Graduation weekend - Michael and Josh painting a train together

The cutest little 14 1/2 month old boy in the world, Isaac...with food on his forehead (strategically placed there by Josh)

Four of my grandfather's brother (missing is his brother Mike and sister Luiselle)
LR - Uncle Tony, Uncle Armando, Uncle Mario, and Uncle Fiore

The above picture and the following pictures were taken at my cousin's wedding. Weddings are a great thing in my family because they're like a family reunion. Since my grandfather died (the oldest of all the Scialdone children) family gatherings have been minimal. He was the glue that held everyone together. This wedding, though, was the first time we've seen this many brothers together in one room. It was great because each brother reminds me of my grandfather in some way or another. They all have the same thick hands that have worked years in delicious backyard gardens (only the kind Italian men can grow), the same storytelling eyes and hands, and the same smirk. It was a gift to be able to see all that again.

Wives and cousins included:)

Top Row (LR): Dad, Veronica, Josh, me, Kelly, Jessy, Sean
Bottom Row (LR): Mom, Uncle Paul, Aunt Marylou, Jeannette

Josh and me


After a little storytelling

Pics from my mom's camera