ON PHOTOS ~ Tasty Grub & Free Art...

Can you identify the food on this bun? Click HERE to see what it is and where we found it...

And you thought you had bug issues at your home. Click HERE to see where we found this building...

Find other Wordless Wednesday photos by clicking on the button below...

ON SPORTS ~ Leagues Of Our Own...

Those of you reading along last fall and winter know that I ventured into the world of Fantasy Football and came out victorious in both of the leagues I joined. This year, I am playing in two different ones since neither of the previous two seem to be active this season - that or they "forgot" to invite me back. Hmmm.

The Family Jewels is a league that I started as a way for the cousins in my family to keep in touch. We are spread across the country and all have competitive spirits. And most of us enjoy sports. Five of the eight cousins signed on. Three of their significant others also wanted in. Andy's sister and her husband decided it sounded like fun to co-manage a team and a cousin's friend (who I think is a ringer - since she chose the team name Jewel Crusher) round out the group. I am so excited to have a way to play with, scheme against, torment, taunt and laugh with these folks who mean so much to me but whom I rarely get to see. I am also excited to take their money when all is said and done.

The other league came to me. It seems that my awesome performance thus far in the Fantasy Baseball League my rookie season this year has caught the attention of a few of my competitors. I received an e-mail two of them lauding my knowledge, feisty spirit versus my nemesis - The Commish - and the ability to use a Tolstoy quote as my team's motto/mantra. They were recruiting me to join in their existing Fantasy Football League that was being purged of inactive and disinterested parties and in need of real players. They obviously weren't aware that I kicked the rest of our baseball league's asses in their football league last year. In the spirit of full disclosure I of course let them know I had vouchers for my success right under their noses. This of course made Andy jealous - where was his personal recruiting invite?! He brought me into the baseball league and introduced me to these fellows after all. So I made sure to tell my pursuers that Andy was easy money and they happily welcomed him into the fold.

This league is filled with a bunch of people who already know each other as friends and I feel like I'm listening to a bunch of inside jokes without understanding the punch lines. I have also never heard such squawking back and forth, bickering about scoring settings, draft orders, and fee collection! These people are nut jobs - entertaining nut jobs, but nut jobs nonetheless. They also want to draft individual defensive players and not just a team defense as I am accustomed to doing. So I feel a bit lost in this league and only hope to keep up - with their witty bantering and the roster moves.

The drafts for both are at the end of this upcoming holiday weekend. One will be stressful and the other will be filled with fun trash talking. Hopefully both will keep my winning streak alive and do the Bumble name proud. And if I can't come out on top, then it is high time Andy brought in some of the winnings around here!

Are YOU ready for some football?

ON MOVIES ~ Kid Stuff...

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about Child Actors...

Do you think Winona Ryder was jealous of Anna Paquin when she lost to her for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1993? She shouldn't have been, since Winona grew up acting in the movies as a young adult herself. There's no shame in losing out to a kid. Especially when they have that kind of talent. Here are some of our favorite roles that child actors have portrayed. Share on your blog the roles you've enjoyed from the younger set, linking back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

• Abigail Breslin as Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
• Jonathan Lipnicki as Ray Boyd in Jerry Maguire (1996)
• Mary Badham as Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
• River Phoenix as Chris Chambers in Stand By Me (1986)
• Elijah Wood as Mark Evans in The Good Son (1993)

 Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Or would you like to guest host? Let us know in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

ON PHOTOS ~ From The Hip...

08-21-2010 - Look At Those Cheeks, Baby Grace! - Ackworth, NH

click photo to enlarge

Visit

to post or VOTE for this (Bumbles) or other interpretations of this week's challenge
(images taken low without using your viewfinder)

ON BLOGGING ~ Go Me!...

Image courtesy Sponge Bob!

Last week I was listening to an archived panel about time management techniques from a recent online conference. Although the featured expert, Janet Bailey, had lots of helpful insight, it was event organizer and panel moderator Terry Kate who had the most awesome time management suggestion I have heard in a long time. I like to refer to it as the "Go Me!" approach.

Everyone knows that the To Do List is a big time management tool. It is supposed to help you organize your thoughts, prioritize your tasks and keep you focused on the job at hand. I for one love the feeling of getting out my pen and putting a big slash mark through an item on my list. However, Terry Kate brought up a different perspective on the old To Do List. The fact that it causes pressure.

That damn list can get so foreboding sometimes. All of these big tasks or important but annoying items to be done. The list has them just staring at you - reminding you of your shortcomings. Your laziness. A peek at the list can send you running to your e-mail, Twitter or Facebook accounts to pass the time more pleasurably while procrastinating the day away.

Terry Kate's solution to this pressure is to ditch the To Do List entirely. Instead, she starts with a clean sheet of paper and creates an Accomplishment List. How awesome is that?!

Every thing that Terry Kate does throughout her day goes on her Accomplishment List. She starts off small - Take Shower, for example. Take Walk For Coffee. Things like that. They are important. Getting up and joining the waking world is a big deal, especially if your day is spent working at home. These tasks get her going and help her to build up steam and motivation on her Accomplishment List.

Now instead of a never ending list of things to do, she has an encouraging list of things she's done. Woo-hoo! Go Me! Maybe next is tackling that research she was hoping to get to. Or washing the dishes. Finishing an ARC needing a review. Go grocery shopping. Tinker around with her blog design. Do the laundry. Reach out to that blogger with connections to a network she wants to be a part of. Organize her photos. These things that start as ideas and become accomplishments are less stressful than when they are presented as a big list of things hanging over your head.

Making a list of accomplishments is a lot more enjoyable than making a list of things to cross off. Sometimes, a simple way of approaching things from a different perspective is all it takes to change your mood, mindset and motivation.

ON FAMILY ~ Lordy Lordy Look Who's Forty...

Andy has bumbled around on this earth for 40 years now.  I have been lucky enough to witness the last 20 of them.  I wrote the following poem as a Valentine's Day gift to the Bumble 12 years ago.  It still fits.  Happy Birthday honey - I love you...

With twinkling eyes and a soft smile,
this is how I think of you

Your contagious laugh, sweet gestures,
and relaxed nature
are why you are my savior

You are warm and sincere,
with shy honesty
which is why I admire you

You are energetic and clever,
outgoing and helpful,
sexy and thoughtful,
loving and respectful,
(with twinkling eyes and a soft smile)
this is why I need you

You are all of the above and more
and this is why I love you

Rock On Concert Boy!

ON HOME ~ Being All They Can Be...

My adopted hometown of Natick, MA is often known for their mall. Natick is home to the Natick Mall - oh, I'm sorry, the Natick Collection. When it was expanded and gussied up with overpriced luxury anchor stores the developers renamed it. They actually wanted to name it NATICK. Someone pointed out to them that the actual TOWN of Natick might take issue with that. The mall is convenient to many western suburbs of Boston and provides a lot of tax relief to the residents. We have a lot of retail in Natick which is great, but the the town's biggest employer is the Army.

Natick has been home to the Natick Soldier Systems Center since the mid-50's. This Army facility provides research, development and engineering to the service men and women across all branches of the armed forces. Situated right in our neighborhood, it is a high tech development and testing facility to provide the best equipment possible for soldiers - specifically food, shelter and clothing. They consider themselves the premier soldier support system.

At the Army Labs (as we refer to them locally) they come up with better nutritional meals for the field, better packaging, more durable and comfortable clothing, more protective armor, stronger parachute equipment for air drop missions, and adaptable shelters, among many others. Pretty much all of the developments, improvements and changes that the field receive in these areas have been worked on at the Natick Army Labs.

We went to a unique town meeting last week where we got to see the labs beyond the guard gate. The Army Labs are putting together a renovation master plan with the hopes that they can be granted the funds to make the 50+ year old facility up to date, pull housing for the soldiers and their families onto the campus instead of scattered in surrounding towns and alleviate traffic issues on our little streets because of commuting personnel in and out each day.

Sounds like a good plan and I thought it was nice of them to bother to let us know where our tax dollars could end up considering we have no say in the matter of their master plan. But they wanted to hear our concerns, questions and input.  They are willing to collaborate on street improvements and share recreational facilities.  And they want to continue to be good neighbors, which helps their standing in the eyes of the Dept. of Defense whenever base closings are brought up.

My understanding is that there are about 1,800 people employed at the Army Labs - with about 1,650 of them being civilians. Local engineers, scientists and technology gurus have jobs because of the Army's presence in our town. And I must admit, I don't mind seeing some of the uniformed men out for a jog ;0) But hearing the notes from the bugle float their way to us on a warm summer day is the nicest reminder of the people who serve on our behalf overseas and those just down the road who do their best to keep them all safe.

Who is your town's biggest employer? Does your town have a local military presence?

ON BOOKS ~ Same Kind Of Different As Me...

I am a big fan of underdogs. I am also a big fan of memoirs. And I enjoy reading different styles of writing. So Same Kind of Different As Me was pretty much a slam dunk.

Denver Moore evolved in his life from sharecropping poverty in the deep South, to homeless city living in Ft. Worth to trusted and beloved family member to one high society Texas couple. That's your underdog. Oh - and he's co-author of this true story without being able to read or write. The man can tell a story - I wish I had an audio version, if one exists, to listen to him spin his life story. His insight is grand through words that cut to the chase.

Then there is the other author. The other side of the coin. Richie Rich Ron Hall. New Rich. Coming also from lessor levels but not with anywhere near the same struggles as Denver - though there are many parallels portrayed. This is where the unique style comes in. One story - two different vantage points - alternating and weaving themselves together gradually.

But the story isn't about Denver and Ron. It is about Ron's wife Debbie, who was moved - or rather, called - to volunteer at a homeless shelter and connected her well dressed, hesitant husband with a withdrawn, scary lookin' mo-fo homeless dude into a friendship that is not "catch and release." That means it is for life, not convenience.

I could have done without the eventual religious vein that hammered itself into your brain the farther and farther the story went. But I do understand that the religion is what drives the lives of those telling the story and living the lives that are shared. So I chose to read it as their true stories rather than passing personal judgment on their beliefs. After all - Ron and Denver - and through them, Debbie's - entire point is to not judge, to not assume, to not fall victim to labels. It is to see beneath one's outward signals and find the heart inside the person. To accept. To love. To rejoice.

That's a theme I can get behind.

I won a used copy of this book via a giveaway from Dee @ Say Anything. All she asked was that it be honestly reviewed. So there you go. Thanks again Dee!

ON MOVIES ~ Prison Break...

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about Prison Movies...

I realized this weekend who George Clooney reminds me of. That handsome devil with the wry smile, approachable personality the guys want to hang with and the girls want to get with, dancing eyes filled with mischief and talent to play dramatic and comedic roles? He is a modern day Paul Newman. They both also happen to have starred in terrific movies about being locked up and busting out. Here are some of our favorite prison movies. Share on your blog movies you've enjoyed featuring jail time or the escape from them, linking back here at The Bumbles. However - NO SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION ALLOWED - that is a slam-dunk automatic (I'm talking to you, Sandy). And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

• Cool Hand Luke (1967)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000)
• Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
• In The Name of the Father (1993)
• My Cousin Vinny (1992)
• Dead Man Walking (1995)

 Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Or would you like to guest host? Let us know in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

ON PHOTOS ~ Games People Play...

05-21-2010 - Your Move - Municipal Services Building Plaza - Philadelphia, PA

click photo to enlarge

Visit

to post or VOTE for this (Bumbles) or other interpretations of this week's challenge

ON BLOGGING ~ Yes, I Kiss Andy With That Mouth...

Image by

Welcome to our weekly BlogAnon meeting where we confess a particular blogging sin and turn to you for support, suggestions and that blogging bond so we know we're not all alone. Don't be shy. Read along and let us know if you identify with us this week.

Well I swear! No really. I swear. A lot. The "F-word" is my favorite adjective. At work, at home and at play. Bet you didn't know that about me. Well, maybe you do if I've exchanged a colorful e-mail conversation with you. And you probably know that at least I'm not offended by it based on some of my movie selections during the Monday Movie Meme. But you won't find it used here.

I'm not trying to be someone different here in the blogosphere. I would find it dishonest and stressful to keep up another persona all the time. What you read here are my real thoughts (and occasionally Andy's too) and our real discoveries in our real world. Minus the F-bombs. I just think it looks forced or fake or crude when I read cursing in print. Even when it isn't. I don't know why it seems that way to me. It just does. If I were to tell you face to face about my fantasy baseball team's piss poor performance today it would go a little something like this:

"F*CK! I can't believe both of my pitchers sucked so bad tonight. F*uckers. What the f*ck does a Bumble have to do to get a f*cking win around here?! This blows. F*ck f*ck f*ck!"

I seriously had a fairly close approximation to that quote when I turned on my laptop to see how the 'ole team was doing. And when the words flowed from my mouth, they had a nice rhythm, a nice flow. Lots of expressive quality and panache. But when I read the transcription - it looks so.....tawdry. Sensationalized. Like I'm using those words to sound cool or grab attention. Screw that. I use those words because it just comes naturally and feels lively and right. Text based communication loses that in translation.

Another reason I don't swear in print is that I never know who is stopping by. Again, I'm not trying to put up a polite front or something. I just don't want to run people off when otherwise we would have lots to share. I do have a filter. It kicks in when I'm at work away from the confines of my cubicle or if I am hanging out socially with kiddos and respected elders. I don't meet someone for the first time, shake their hand and say "How the f*ck are ya?" So when every day a new visitor might come along here, I want them to meet me in a more filtered manner as well.

The last reason I keep the F-word to myself within posts is that I might want to refer future business opportunities to this blog as examples of who I am, what I have to say and how I say it. Or someone might find this blog in doing their own research into my employment potential and I wouldn't want to lose out on a pay day because I sounded like a sailor and some other beyotch came out squeaky clean.

So basically, it doesn't look right to me, it might deter others from hangin' out and it might keep me from being hired. I don't begrudge others who say f*ck it and express themselves in text the way they do verbally. I will admit that for me it will always look like they are trying too hard to be cool, even when I know that isn't the case. And therefore I usually end up staying away. In my opinion, it is a hell of a lot harder to tell a tale in this modern world without using the most versatile word in our language than it is to just drop that mo-fo in there wherever warranted. So I opt for the more challenging path. And if you disagree, go f*ck yourself.

Do you swear more or less on your blog than you do in person? Do you think negatively about blogs that curse? Or do you enjoy those that take off the filter completely? Are you concerned about how your online presence reflects on you in the eyes of others? Or you do you just say "f*ck it - it's a personal blog?"

ON HOME ~ Ask And You Shall Receive...

This is the story of a Notary, a volunteer and a gift. A lesson in never being afraid to ask, and the generosity of strangers. A reason why I love my adopted hometown of Natick, MA.  Even when I have to visit the Town Hall.

In my real life job working for a financial planner, I am a registered Notary Public. I am also a bit overwhelmed with paperwork and get so focused on everyone else's needs and deadlines that I overlook my own. Like the fact that my Notary appointment had expired. What a royal pain in the neck that was. You have to get three people (including an attorney) to vouch for your upstanding moral fiber (now what would attorneys know about that), submit a business resume, fill out the application explaining your reasons for pursuing the matter and then send in a fee. Once the state has approved your moral fiber you then have to take your oath in the presence of two other Notaries before you can resume your duties of verifying people's signatures.

Since I kept missing the monthly meeting of Notary oath taking at the library, I was referred to the Town Hall. It seems that the clerks could give me my oath. So I stopped by one morning on my way to work and while waiting for the clerks to complete their end of the paperwork I noticed a beautifully crocheted American flag hanging on the wall. My grandmother had crocheted many things in her life so I knew that this flag took lots of time and love. I wondered where it had come from.

Generally, I keep my mouth shut about such things. I don't know why - too shy? Maybe it was because it reminded me of my grandmother who passed away recently, I don't know. But that morning I asked my question. "Where did you get that pretty flag? I know someone who would really like it."

The clerks told me the story of a senior citizen named Helen O'Malley who volunteers at the Town Hall on a regular basis. Helen is extremely patriotic. She always dresses in red, white or blue. And in fact, her entire home is decorated in red, white or blue too. It seems that Helen made this flag for her beloved town to display proudly for all of the community to see. They also said that she had made multiple flags and might have another one available for me. They took down my name and number and promised to pass along my interest to Helen the next time she came in to volunteer.

A few weeks later, our phone rang one Saturday afternoon and sure enough, there was Helen herself on the other end. She had lots of spirit in her voice and was extremely friendly. She explained that she crocheted these flags as a hobby and certainly had one available for someone who would provide it a loving home. I told her that I knew someone who I would love to give it to and who I thought would display it with patriotic pride. And I asked how much she would charge.

"Oh no. I would NEVER charge someone for an American flag. Especially one that I made. You can have it free of charge. I can drop it off or you can pick it up."

Flabbergasted, I offered to pick it up from her at the Town Hall the next time she was volunteering. And I did. And when I arrived she was easy to spot - all decked out in red, white and blue. What a kind lady Helen is. And talented as well. She has high hopes for her country. And that spirit probably spurs her on to volunteer for her town, when she could be selling her creations for a tidy profit at the weekend farmer's market instead.

In my eyes, Helen is a local treasure. I have a feeling there are lots more like her right under my nose here in Natick. And there are probably lots of them in your neck of the woods too. As I come across them, I'll be sure to share them with you here. Have you encountered any in your part of the world? Sometimes, all it takes to discover one is the nerve to ask a question.

ON FUN ~ Tradition...

Every summer we trek up to the middle of Maine to our friends' summer lake house for a weekend with friends, water escapades, card games, campfire fun and cocktails.  Sometimes it rains, sometimes it is too windy, sometimes it is chilly and sometimes it is perfect.  But it is always a fun tradition where moments are captured and new memories are made.

Growing up, my dad's family had a tradition of renting a beach house on Myrtle Beach a week or two in the summers and the entire family would gather together to reconnect, play and grow up.  We didn't live anywhere near South Carolina, having become "Damn Yankees" as my grandfather always teased.  But we made that looooong drive down in the summer whenever the family got their act together with a rental.  Living so far away from everyone else, it was the only time I got to spend more than a day or two with all of my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  I loved those days at the beach.  And I attribute my continued close relationships with my cousins to the effort my folks made to keep us connected through the years.

I feel the same way about our Maine weekends now.  Or the holiday party our other friends have each December.  The football playoff party other friends have each January.  The bi-annual pumpkin carving party another set of friends organizes.  The Falmouth Road Race weekends Andy's aunt always hosts.  The annual PGA golf tournament weekend we spend with my family in Connecticut.  The backyard ice rink Superbowl party our neighbor hosts.

These recurring traditions that we attend throughout the years help to keep us in touch with lots of people we don't otherwise see on a regular basis.  Sometimes the same circle of friends and family appear at many of them.  But other times, it is the only time we get to gather with a particular group.  In the past we have tried to host BBQ's over Labor Day weekend - it coincides with lots of birthdays, anniversaries and vacation plans though.  They are fun ways to get ALL of our different circles together at once and maybe we'll throw another one again this year.

This coming winter, the torch has been passed to us in Andy's family to host Christmas Eve celebrations.  Logistically and space-wise our home just makes more sense now than his aunt's house where the evening has always been held.  It means the start of something new - because we are hosting now we won't be driving off to Connecticut anymore to see my family.  So they will need to come to us.  A combining of both families will be a lot of fun.  But new traditions mark the end of cherished ones that laid the groundwork and that can be sad sometimes.

Creating new traditions is a fun process though.  Be it a barbeque, a holiday dinner or a weekend away with friends to escape the madness - traditions are important.  Sometimes you don't even realize they've become a tradition until you stop and think about it for a while.  The ones that just became a part of your life because you love them, not because you planned them.  Those are the best traditions of all.

ON MOVIES ~ Jake Ryan Fan Club...

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about John Hughes...

A while back, Monday Movie Meme participant Anne of Static and Silence contacted us with a topic suggestion we couldn't pass up. You see, the Bumbles grew up as teens in the 80's. Director and writer John Hughes helped us through those awkward years. Anne is a fan too and she wanted to shine her Guest Director spotlight on the man himself. How could we say no? All Guest Directors get free reign here - including choice of topic, first dibs on selections and creative freedom of format. Without further ado - here's Anne's debut...

This is my debut as a guest blogger in The Bumbles Monday Movie
meme weekly blog event. I would like to thank Molly for giving me this honor.

This week's topic is all about the films of the late John Hughes. Admit it. Once upon a time (in your life), you were bitten by the John Hughes bug. I haven't seen all of his movies, but those I saw still beat those chick flicks running around these days. Show how much you love John Hughes' movies by answering this:

John Hughes... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

1. You made lip syncing look so cool because of Duckie, Ferris and Kevin.
   
2. For making me believe that a jock like Andrew could fall for a basket case like Allison.
3. You made 80's music sound so good with a special mention of Don't You Forget About Me and If You Leave.
4. You made me fancy and wish for Curly Sue's card tricks and beautiful curly locks.
5. For Jake Ryan and Blane McDonnagh.
6. For writing and making films that are Some Kind of Wonderful.

Join in and share on your blog your love of John Hughes, linking back here at The Bumbles. If you're curious what our choices are, hop on over to Anne's blog to find out. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

 Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Or would you like to guest host? Let us know in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

ON PHOTOS ~ Your Life Is Now...

08-07-2010 - Lake Wassookeag - Dexter, ME

click photo to enlarge

Visit

to post or VOTE for this (Bumbles) or other interpretations of this week's challenge

ON BLOGGING ~ Thumper Says...

I had this helpful blogging tip all set on the agenda for today.  And then I went out and had a fun evening visiting with out of town family.  I got home late and sat down here to bang out my blog tip post.  But then I felt it would be pretty hypocritical to talk about time management tips when I was blogging on the fly.

So here is the real tip.  Don't force things.  Ever.  There's no fun or value in that.  To you or to those who read what you have to say.  People can see through an auto pilot post as opposed to one that has real feeling, inspiration or emotion behind it.

And don't do a bash post when you're pressed for time either.  Those are easy.  When you write them that is.  Not so easy to take back a day later when you have second thoughts.  I learned that lesson from the movie Bambi - Thumper's mom reminds him that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

You can take Thumper's mom's advice further in blogging to mean that if you don't have anything to say - don't say anything at all.  If you aren't that interested in writing it, people probably aren't that interested in reading it.  Spend that time enjoying other things instead.  In my opinion, that's the best way to convey how to manage our limited time on this Earth.  Take that tip to the bank.

ON HOME ~ Shop Local...

Last week I told you a little bit about the history of my adopted home town of Natick (pronounced Nay-tick), MA. This week I'd like to show you a little bit about the current happenings here in the corner of the world I live in. Each Saturday morning in the summer the town hosts a farmer's market for local vendors to ply their wares on the green in the center of town. It is a vibrant place for families and neighbors to gather, browse, shop and support local vendors in their community.

Sometimes you find a bounty of food for the dinner table.

Sometimes you find flowers to brighten up someone's day.

Sometimes you find things to make you pretty.

Sometimes you find goodies and treats.

Sometimes you find creative beauty in delightful spaces.

And sometimes you find a new friend.

Buying local gives you fresh and quality products and supports the members of the community around you.  Does your region provide opportunities for you to shop local?

ON BOOKS ~ Avalanche!...

Did you forget that I am, at heart, a Reader? I wouldn't blame you if you did. I haven't done proper a book review in almost a year and aside from my Spring read-along with Stacy on War & Peace I haven't delved into the innards of what I am reading and shared it here in forever. And I'm not presenting any such insight here today either. But I wanted to show that I am still excited about reading and how all of you in the book blogging community keep me inspired to discover new worlds.

I haven't been out and about much lately because work and the real world have occupied most of my time. For which I am sorry but that is the way it is. And I know the same has either already been or will be true for you towards me some day and that is OK. But here and there, in the last month or so, I have had the incredible luck to happen across posts giving me the opportunity for free books. All of which I actually won. This never happens. I don't win anything. Ever! Woo-hoo for Mrs. Bumble!!!

First up was a debut novel A Truth Worth Tellin' by Toni Teepell. A few months ago on Kaye's blog, Pudgy Penguin Perusals, I saw a wonderful guest post by the author about her personal inspiration behind this novel about living with a parent suffering from schizophrenia and I could not resist leaving a comment for the giveaway because it was so fascinating to me. And I was one of 3 winners randomly selected. Even better than that, beloved blogger Margot of Joyfully Retired also was selected and the two of us are trying to coordinate some time to read this together and share our thoughts with all of you. Stay tuned!

Next up was a happenstance revisit to one of the first book blogs I ever did see - author Karen Harrington's terrific Scobberlotch. I had lost her for a long while and then came to find her again through other blogs coincidentally on the day she decided to give away copies of her debut book Janeology in honor of her birthday which I have had on my To Read shelf for almost 2 years now. This is a fictional work exploring the psyche behind what just might drive a mother to drown her own child. Karen writes beautifully on her blog and I love her introspective windows to her world. When her book arrives I will devour every word I am sure.

Every now and then it is all about timing. And I hit the Say Anything site just right one day when Dee decided to give away her copy of the memoir Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. Dee, who usually exhibits interviews with all kinds of bloggers to introduce us to new people, wrote this great review of a book that displays the workings of fate in the lives of two men brought together by a special lady. I was touched by the impact it had on Dee who asked for commenters to share a person who made a difference in their life. Only two of us responded to her post and the other person had already read the book. Good news for me!

Finally, sometimes it is just meant to be. Susan from Bear Swamp Reflections did a bit of housecleaning and decided to just up and give away some of her books to whomever claimed them. Susan had left a comment on this here blog mere days before in response to a post I did about non-fiction, recommending this super cool memoir to me called Mostly True - A Memoir of Family, Food and Baseball. Molly O'Neill has been a food columnist and critic for Boston and New York newspapers and is the sister of former NY Yankee outfielder Paul O'Neill. Here she speaks of growing up surrounded by boys and how they each came to find their own way within the influences of their family. This book had been on my radar and then got lost in the shuffle. Susan brought it back to my attention and then a week later she was putting it out there for any of her readers to claim. So I did. And I can't wait to dive in.

Every few days over the last week I have been coming home to care packages containing these books inside with lovely notes from the kindly donors. This is so exciting to me - having never been a "winner" before. I feel so lucky to have an avalanche of good tidings. I will try to share my reading experiences of each here for all of you to see. Since this isn't a pure "book blog" there isn't always a time for me to share all my book reviews here. But please know that I always review each book I encounter on Goodreads - you can connect with me via the widget on our sidebar to the right. Happy reading to all of you and thank you to all the book bloggers for keeping me well stocked - this community never stops giving.

ON SPORTS ~ Not Such Longshots After All...

Andy has been an absentee Bumble for the last few months - out late each Monday and Wednesday coming home smelling of beer with a silly smile on his face. Not to worry - he's not out having a fling. I was just a softball widow there for a while.

I have told the story before of his men's slow pitch softball team, The Longshots. They never win. I never go to watch. Until this year. Those Longshots actually had a winning record for a while. And I was actually convinced to come down and witness them in action live. I got to see the run-away inning I've heard so much about - where the other team runs away with the lead while the 'Shots temporarily forget how to field. But I also got to see the comeback - something they've just gotten the hang of this summer. With their backs against the wall, the scrappy 'Shots found their stroke and mustered a string of exciting hits that scored enough runs in the bottom of the final inning to walk off with the win. And then we had a BBQ in the parking lot afterward which was really the reason I agreed to come along.

These Longshots are a good group of guys. They get out, feel the excitement of a ringing hit or diving catch, pull their hamstrings and re-live the game over a few beers a couple of times a week. They have fun while also trying to have success. And this year, they actually made it to the playoffs! I kid you not. The Longshots hit the big time for the first time in their existence. And they actually won a game in the playoffs. But not the first round. No - the 'Shots got bounced after a brief taste of the postseason.

So now I have Andy back home each night. But we don't have any more time together like I thought we would. You see, it seems that soon-to-be 40-year-olds don't have as much energy as they thought they did. Non-stop softball and late nights up with his teammates have finally caught up with him. He's crashed on the couch. Safe and sound, dreaming of homers and championship seasons. There's always next year.

ON MOVIES ~ The Stuff Of Legends...

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about Future Legends...

Last week on the Monday Movie Meme, The Gal Herself of One Gal's Musing left a topic suggestion in her comment that we thought would be fun to explore. The Gal Herself is a fan of the classics (and the Cubs) and so of course she was drawn to AFI's list of top screen legends. She wanted to know who we thought could be screen legends of the future. Well, slam dunks as far as the Bumbles are concerned are Denzel and Meryl. But who among the under 50 crowd might reach legend status in the next 25 years or so? This was a toughie, but here are my selections. Share on your blog actors and actresses under 50 whose careers you think will become legendary, linking back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

• Sean Penn (Age 49) - This is the first actor I thought of. And he just sneaks in under the Age 50 requirement since his birthday isn't for another week and a half. I have never witnessed a poor performance by Sean Penn since I have never seen Shanghai Surprise with his ex-wife Madonna. But I have seen most all of his other performances and the variety, quality and outside the box roles put him in a higher level. Carlito's Way, Sweet And Lowdown, Dead Man Walking, I Am Sam, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, The Falcon And The Snowman, Bad Boys, The Thin Red Line, Casualties Of War, Mystic River. I haven't seen Milk yet but know I won't be disappointed. He's just starting to get his feet wet behind the camera now too (Into The Wild) so I have a feeling he'll be adding impressive directorial displays to his body of work for a long time to come.
• Michael Cera (Age 22) - I must confess, I first saw Michael Cera on television and not film. His role on the incredibly funny and vastly underrated TV show Arrested Development was stellar. He is young, funny and talented. He may trend towards nerdy and sweet, but his talent will keep him from being pigeon holed. I loved him in Superbad - a movie I otherwise thought was appropriately titled. He gets more attention from his role in Juno. He was in the film adaption of the popular book Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist which I haven't yet seen. He was in his ex-girlfriend's documentary about love in Paper Heart which sounds incredibly interesting. At the same time he was doing standard silliness in Year One with Jack Black. And now he's got a new movie out called Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Comedy is harder than dramatic roles. And he does comedy on a higher level - straight man, sarcasm, wit. I can't wait to watch his star rise to join the ranks of legendary comedic forces.
• Jodie Foster (Age 47) - I first remember Jodie from the Disney classic Freaky Friday. In the same year, she was starring as a teenage prostitute in Taxi Driver with Robert DeNiro, earning an Oscar nomination. Talk about versatility at a young age. Jodie always makes me feel her characters. The Accused was masterful and earned her an Oscar. My favorite of all her roles. I was so angry for her character, Sarah. I was so scared and proud for her as Starling in The Silence of the Lambs - another Oscar winner. Nell was another one to capture Oscar attention. Maverick showed me a whole different side entirely which was quite fun and rollicking. She has carried films and also enhanced or shined above the performances of legendary actors. She ventured into directing with Little Man Tate - pulling double duty in front of and behind the camera. She's doing it again with a new movie called The Beaver - though with the troubled Mel Gibson as her co-star it could be doomed before it has a chance. No matter. She's legendary in my book.

  
Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Or would you like to guest host? Let us know in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

ON BLOGGING ~ Where'd That Mojo Go?..

Image by

Welcome to our weekly BlogAnon meeting where we confess a particular blogging sin and turn to you for support, suggestions and that blogging bond so we know we're not all alone. Don't be shy. Read along and let us know if you identify with us this week.

Is it a summer slump that causes such apathy? Is it contagious? Harmful? Whatever it is, I have seen lots of posts out there in the blogosphere the last few months from bloggers who are in a funk. Myself included. Last week I talked about tips for capturing ideas for future moments of blank slate syndrome. I'm not talking about a lack of ideas now though. I'm talking about being uninspired to bother with any of them at all.

When you lose your blogging mojo, what do you do? It happens to everybody in the blogosphere. We aren't machines. This isn't a job. It is for many of us a hobby, something to do for fun, to meet people, or to build confidence in talents we're reluctant to unveil in the real world. So when the fun stuff becomes a chore, that's a problem.

When my mojo decides to take a vacation, so do I. I step away from the blog. I step away from the feed reader too. No Twitter. No Google chats. No e-mail. No Facebook. Well, OK, I'm not even on Facebook. But you get the idea. For the most part, I just take a cue from my missing mojo and give myself a break too. I don't stress out or go looking for that mojo. I go my own way and let it come back to me when it is ready.

Now - a prolonged lack of mojo can spell death to a blog, if you care about such things. I do care about such things. I can't help it. I like having visitors stop in, even if they don't always say hello. And I'm not going to apologize for it either. I know many of you don't care. You blog for you and you alone. And that is just as valid an attitude too. Either way, an extended mojo vacation means that it is trying to tell you something.

Sometimes what that absent mojo is saying is that this blogosphere is not so fun anymore - and you need to give it up and stick to living your life beyond the blog. Sometimes it means that you are just stuck in a rut and need to shake things up a bit - become braver, or more active or more focused in whatever it is you want to do out here. Sometimes it doesn't mean anything deep. It is just a reminder to get those priorities back where they belong - on the real world around you every now and then. After all, face to face living is good for the soul - and the mojo too.

What do you do to get Mr. Mojo Risin'?

ON HOME ~ What I've Learned About My Adopted Hometown...

A while ago Tami of Just One More Thing -blogger friend, librarian and wife of a grain elevator operator - shared a few days in the life of her family during wheat harvesting season which I found to be extremely interesting. It got me to thinking about how all of us in the blogosphere hail from all corners of this Earth. What may seem common knowledge and boring, everyday happenstance to me could be very interesting to you out there from some entirely different region of the world.

I happen to live in a historically rich area of the United States. A place where many of our current rights and freedoms were born and fought for. The oldest spots of the USA are found near our home. Our house is older than cities throughout the country. This is something I often take for granted until I travel somewhere else and get a chuckle over how "old" some cities are. Then again, I suppose people in Europe have a real belly laugh when they see Bostonians and Philadelphians touting their age.

The weather, personality and cross section of New England is very different than other places of course. So I thought it might be interesting to share small tastes of our town with you here and there. I find Natick, MA (pronounced NAY-tick) to be quite friendly and vibrant. Natick is a big rival of Andy's hometown of Walpole just a few towns away. So he is conflicted when the two high schools meet up for competition. Natick recently bowed to political correctness and changed their high school team name from the "Redmen" to the "Red & Blue" (which I personally find to be very lame and awkward).

Natick is an Indian word, meaning "Place of Searching" according to the Native American Indian Tribe based here. It has also been defined as meaning "Place of Many Hills." Natick was founded in 1651 as the first praying Indian village - meaning it was a safe place for local Indians to gather who had converted to Christianity under Puritan missionary and Englishman, Rev. John Eliot.

The spot of their church now holds the Unitarian Eliot Church and is right down the street from our old apartment when we re-located to South Natick a few months before our wedding. It looks very much like a classic New England church with an old cemetery. I had no idea until now that it was originally a place for native Indians to worship. Their services were called not by church bells but by drums. Rev. Eliot worked for several years to translate the Bible into the language of the Natick Massachusett tribe and it became the first printed Bible in America.

The King Phillip War rounded up all the Indians in Natick Praying Village and sent them off to Boston's Harbor Islands where most of them perished. Rev. Eliot continued to support them and eventually brought survivors home after King Phillip's death. The Natick Praying Indian people still have a foothold in this community and like all Native Americans, they are conflicted. However, these particular Praying Indians are looked upon differently by their Native American people because they have Christian beliefs, but are also looked upon differently by the descendants of their former captors - the white people who converted their beliefs and then shunned them altogether.

All this time I thought of Natick as the home of NFL star and Boston College "Hail Mary" champion quarterback/Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie. I knew that it was home to the first baseball factory. And I know that it is a part of the Boston Marathon's route. But I had no idea it was created as a place for Indians converting to Christianity to gather under their own culture and government. I had no idea it was home to a shoemaker turned Vice President - Henry Wilson, under Grant's administration. And to continue the Civil War theme, I found it interesting to learn that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" author Harriet Beecher Stowe's husband grew up in Natick and she based several of her other stories on her time here in the summer with his family.

As I explore more of our town and share images and stories with you in its modern state, I'll keep my eye on the historical foundation too. Living only 15 miles west of Boston, you get used to the American Revolution seeds and sites all around you. Which shows how easy it is to overlook other stepping stones in this region's (and the country's) history.

What do you know about your town's history? Ever considered sharing it with all of us?

ON FUN ~ Yes, I Was Checking Out Their Ass...

So while looking for something in my saved photo folders over the weekend, I came across a slew of shots I had completely forgotten about that made me laugh. You see, back in the early Spring I went along on a ski/music fest weekend trip to Vermont with Andy and our friends. I don't ski and I wasn't a fan of the host band's music so my role was babysitter back at the condo. But I did get out one afternoon to see a few other bands perform at one of the lodges which was fun.

As I sat back enjoying my brewski and the tunes, my mind wandered and I noticed that my view was at the exact height of everyone's ass standing before me. I began analyzing the variety of butts surrounding me - and took out my camera to document them all. My friend got a big chuckle out of my documentation and I thought you might too. So here is a sampling of a cross section of society's butts for your viewing pleasure - sorry none of them are of naked hotties:

SAGGY BUTT ~ This is the first one I noticed and practically screamed out to be documented. You would think his butt was at his knees.

STRETCHED OUT BUTT ~ This one's got the pockets properly positioned height-wise but they seem to be a little too tight across the hips - stretching that seam out.

WALLET BUTT ~ Guys - use a money clip. Wallets make you look lopsided by enhancing or magnifying one cheek and not the other.

FLAT BUTT ~ This butt needs a few wallets stuffed in it - or better fitting jeans.

CONCAVE BUTT ~ Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than the flat butt, the no-butt makes an appearance.

THE GUT AND BUTT ~ This guy's just got it all goin' on and he isn't hiding beneath baggy clothes. Maybe he and the Concave Butt should switch pants.

DAY-GLO BUTT ~ This guy was stuck in the 80's, but he was attracting all the babes - who went looking for a butt beneath that ski suit.

PREPPY BUTT ~ Sometimes it is all in the pose. This guy tried to rock the J.Crew look but he had some wallet enhancement going on that was initially overlooked due to the properly positioned pocket heights and jaunty hip action.

GIRL BUTT ~ When I began to wonder if there were any cute butts to be found in this joint Andy pointed this one out to me.

CARGO BUTT ~ This was the best butt I found there. He wasn't hiding in his cargo pants - these fit just right. And gave me a nice view while I finished my beer.

FAMILIAR BUTTS ~ I made the boys do a lineup when we got home just to see how their asses looked in comparison. They need some work. Can you guess which one belongs to Andy?