Gordon and Sarah's world adventure

On March 18th, Sarah an Gordon will embark on a trip of a lifetime. According to Gordon, the "gist is to fly to Riga in Latvia and get a train to Moscow, pick up Trans Siberia train to Mongolia. Then on to Beijing and six months exploring China, then Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Singapore before heading to Oz for Christmas with some old friends and on to New Zealand to explore and see the relatives there." The plan from there gets a bit more sketchy, but will develop as they get closer.

Gordon has set up a blog and a flickr page for their photos. He's also got a new email address (gorglionelburger@googlemail.com) for the trip so everyone can keep up with them and see where they are.

I've added their site addresses to "My Links" at the bottom right of this page too. 

Untitled

Mmmm irn-bru!

Posted via Pixelpipe.

2008 Year in Review

First, Merry Christmas everyone! I sincerely hope your holidays are filled with good times, good health, warmth and love. I'm posting this letter in a couple of spots, so you may see it elsewhere. It's my year in review, highlights and not-so-high lights — in sort of chronological order — sorta.

ILLNESS

2008 was by far the sickest year of my life. It started while we were in NJ visiting over the holidays last Dec/Jan. New Year's Eve was spent with my head in a bucket and not for the usual reason. I had gotten some bug Chris had had the day before, so it made for a very long 14-15 hour drive home New Year's Day. And unfortunately I kept getting sick, for about 8 or 9 months, off and on. I was (mis)diagnosed with bronchitis three times till I finally had to insist on seeing an allergist. Turned out it was asthma related to allergies, not bronchitis. Argh. Doing well now and Chris, though limping from his hip problems, is also doing very well.

LONDON

In early March, I traveled abroad to see Liz and Carol in London for four days. It was fantastic to see them, and they were wonderful to me, taking me all over the city. The hard part was the cold I had had gotten so much worse that at one point I couldn't speak and couldn't hear. It was probably the strangest experience I'd ever had with a head cold, but it makes for a funny story. I just wish it didn’t have to happen then.

FACEBOOK

I resisted, like so many others that I have now pestered about joining, but I got on board with Facebook and amazingly have gotten back in touch with old friends, colleagues, classmates and long-lost cousins — and even cousins I have never met. It's been pretty cool to just follow what your "friends" are doing, see what they post, what their interests are and see what they look like now from photos they add to their profiles. Like I said, I resisted, but now I'm hooked.

BLOGGING

My blog is titled "Blethering on about nothing (as usual)," because basically it's whatever comes to my mind, or it's a video or photo I thought was interesting or amusing ... hell, it’s whatever I feel like posting. Often it's about sports, hockey usually, but once in a while I'll actually post something of value — like the holiday photocard pricing. I got a lot of emails thanking me for that. You're very welcome, and thanks for reading. 

LBI, YEAR FIVE

2008 was our fifth year vacationing in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island and the third year in the same rental house. A few years ago we started traditions like taking Jordyn to a children's play at the local theater (2009 will be Mackensey's first time), making our beach spot outside the Tiki Bar, celebrating my birthday, and going to the amusement park on our last night. But the tradition I think I enjoy the most is watching the sunset together. We all walk to the bay and sit on the yacht club steps watching the show. It never gets old. Unlike me.

KITCHEN RENOVATIONS

We tore out the ugly Brady Bunch oven that had obviously been wired incorrectly — the dials on the front heated up to whatever temperature you set it to (?!!!). With that, the brick walls that housed it were also removed, but that was not really what I wanted gone so badly — it was the 1950s knotty pine paneling that just made me cringe (and still does unfortunately) every time I walk into the room. So down it comes and up goes drywall. We have lived without an oven for over 18 months now. Making Thanksgiving dinner was interesting, we cooked the turkey (breast) in a crockpot. It actually turned out great. Click on the link above to see the progress we've made and check back after the new year to see what's new. We actually have our new appliances, we just need to install them.

JOB

In the three years I have been at the AJC, I have had four different job titles. Currently I am the Art Director of the Sunday paper. I have also moved my desk five times. I'm not complaining, I have a job, I'm just sayin' ...

KINDERGARTEN & POTTY TRAINING

Being so far away from home, I'm missing out on the milestones in the lives of the two most precious people in my life, Jordyn and Mackensey. Jordyn started kindergarten this year. I can't believe it. And I really couldn't believe it when I got her school photo and she looked like she should be starting junior high! Mackensey has grown up so fast that I barely recognize her any more than she does me after months away from each other. Walking, talking, potty training and learning her ABCs. The kid is a riot too, just take a look at this video (below).

ROCKY

Well, as most of you know, we lost our little buddy this summer. It was by far the lowest point of the year and is still a source of great pain for Chris and I. But he had a great, long life, so we decided our Christmas card would pay tribute to him with photos from his 15 years. I also realized it was about time I went through the thousands of photos we have of him, and after editing them down to just slightly under 200, I published a book on Blurb.com called "Rocky, The other white boxer from Philadelphia." 

BIFOCALS

That's right. Bifocals. Middle-age has a head-lock on me now. They're actually not that bad. The upside is that I can now see the when I watch hockey!

JOIN US ON XMAS08

This is a wee site I started for everyone to share stories and photos of their holidays (if you're reading this, you are invited to participate and have probably already gotten an annoying email from me about it). I thought it would be fun to have one place where we could check in and see what we're all doing this year.

MILNECLAN.COM

Yes, I know. I'm a slacker. Truth is, I've just been busy doing other stuff and found other ways to connect (see facebook and blogging above). Since my last update, there have been two new members to the family — Corey and Jason Wimmer welcomed daughter Audra back in March. And my Kiwi cousin Greig Russell and his wife Kelly welcomed their daughter Summer, in July (which is winter time in New Zealand). The baby news continues with Fraser and Arlene Milne expecting another bonnie wee lass in the new year on Robert Burns' birthday (Jan. 25th — c'mon people!).

Well, I think that covers just about everything. Here's wishing you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Cheers,

Joanne

Naughty ... or nice?

Squirrely soccer player

What the puck? Part 2

Claude Lemieux back in the NHL? Are they serious? From what I understand, San Jose is bringing him back to the big leagues — at 43 years old! I will admit, I thought he had to be older than that. It sure seems like I've been hating that guy since I was 4 or 5 years old and just learning the sport. Not that 43 is old, heck, I'm 42, but in hockey? I guess with guys like 46 year-old Chris Chelios, who technically is still on the Red Wings roster though on injured reserve, as well as old-time hockey great Gordie Howe, who played when he was 51 for the Whalers, it's not that unusual. But c'mon, Gordie is Mr. Hockey — what can you really call Lemieux except, well, I can't write it here.

Photocards this holiday season

Making your own photocards for the holidays? There are plenty of sites that will turn your uploaded photo into a snazzy card — and every one of them has different styles to choose from. But if you are budget conscience this year, then you may want to look at the difference in the bottom line rather than the styles. Depending upon how many you need to send out (don't forget to add in the price of postage to your grand total), this list may help you make up your mind:

4x8 photocards 

smugmug.com    12.95/20   26.95/50   49.95/100

snapfish.com    15.00/20   27.50/50   45.00/100  (get an additional 20% off with coupon code "holiday08")

shutterfly.com      16.50/25*   26.00/50   44.00/100

photoworks.com    18.75/25*   33.00/50   66.00/100

kodakgallery.com   13.98/20 29.95/50   59.90/100

*25 per box rather than 20

Jordyn and Mackensey, October 2008

WHOOHOO! Congrats Phillies and Philadelphia!

Whoohoo, the Phillies win! Thhhhhhhe PHILLIES WIN!

Wish I was home to celebrate with you all!  

Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News stories online.

What the puck?

1. The Flyers haven't won in New Jersey in four years. After a horrible start this season (they hadn't won any of their first 6 games and were the last team in the league with a win), New Jersey is exactly where they get their first "W" — 6-3! How does that happen? Then, to add to the miracle, they come home to Philly and beat 'em again today! WTP?
   
2. I have tickets to see the Flyers play the Thrashers this Tuesday — guess who's not playing yet again — Danny Briere. This guy is always, and I mean always, injured when he's supposed to come to Atlanta. WTP? The south ain't that bad Danny! 
3. Lastly, you will not believe what they had to do at the Thrashers vs. Bruins game tonight in Beantown. Well, it's too unbelievable for me to explain. Check it out here. I guarantee you'll be scratching your head and saying WTP?
   

The count is in!

It's like asking the audience on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" ... the results are in — both from the comments in the initial posting and from write-ins and shout-outs (from across the newsroom) — and as you can see, C was the winner. 

For a teensy-weensy time D was winning. In the end the "elephant" Matty pointed out either made people love it or shy away from it. And I'm glad he pointed that out, 'cause I did not see it.

Many thanks to all who weighed in and helped me make a decision — artists can be so blind sometimes — anyway, I'm still experimenting, but I have tried C out on my smugmug page if you like to see it, click here.

Go Phillies!!!!

This little sweetie pie is Audra, daughter of my cousin Corey. She's apparently a HUGE Phillies fan, so let's not disappoint her boys and win another for her tonight!

Posted by email from milneclan (posterous)

Happy birthday Glenda!

Wishing my friend the happiest of birthdays with lots of love.

J.So

The name game, part 2

Back by unpopular demand, it's D-F of the NFL player name game (for letters A-C, click here)! After round one, I think I wasn't quite as surprised by the names I saw this time around, but there were (of course) some notable ones I would like to share with you:

• Na'il Diggs, Carolina .. the apostrophe is so he doen't get called NAIL, 'cause that would just be stupid.
  
• DeDe Dorsey, Cincinnati ... when he's asked his name, doesn't it come out like he has a stutter? D-d-dorsey?
  
• Early Doucet, Arizona ... I guess he was unexpected?
  
• Marques Douglas, Baltimore ... it's Marcus people!
  
• Leger Douzable, NYG ... both names are funny, but together they're ridiculous.
  
• Elvis Dumervil, Denver ... wonder if he ever met the guy below.
  
• King Dunlap, Philadelphia ... wonder if he ever met the guy above.
  
• Ebenezer Ekuban, Denver ... man, Christmas must've sucked when he was a kid.
  
• Atiyyah Ellison, SF ... look, if atiyyah once, atiyyah a thousand times!
  
• Ciatrick Fason, Jacksonville ... I can hear it now, "he was pushin' on my ciatrick nerve the entire pregnicee, so i'm callin' him Ciatrick!"
  
• Yamon Figurs, Baltimore ... yeah mon, figures.
  
• London Fletcher, Washington ... he has Grey Poupon delivered wherever he plays.
  
• Marquis Floyd, Seattle ... all together now: IT'S MARCUS PEOPLE!
  
• Devard Darling, KC; Dowayne Davis, KC; Dovonte Edwards, Detroit; Dwan Edwards, Baltimore; Devale Ellis, Detroit; D'Brickshaw Ferguson, NYJ ... DeShaun Foster, SF ... ohhhhh, I get it. Add a D or a De or a Do to any word, name, or group of random letters and it's brand spanking new! Just call me D'Joanne.
  
• Jermichael Finley, GB ... his parents didn't want him to sound too Irish, so they added the "jer" (unfortunately the were unaware of the "d, de, do" rule which may have helped him fit in better in school).
  
• Keyaron Fox, Pittsburgh ... "my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done ..."
  
• Bubba Franks, NYJ ... okay, finally a name I can relate to.
  

And the runners-up this time were: Renardo, Aubrayo, Wilrey, Drayton, Kalimba, Tala, Trai, Jahri, Brayton, Warrick, Keyunta, Kellen, Wale, Chartric, Najeh. All, well, interesting names to say the least.

Your opinion matters ...

Unless it's different from mine that is ... juuuuust kidding! Seriously, I would like your opinion on the above logo designs for myself (click on the image to see it larger). I don't want to sway you by telling you which one I'm leaning toward so be honest, feedback is helpful. Just post a comment through the link below and tell me what you think.

Many thanks in advance.

J.So

Apparently little sister is going blonde too!

 

Posted by email from milneclan's posterous

Congrats Philadelphia!

Congrats to all the Phillies fans out there. Great to see a Philadelphia team make it. C'mon Philly!

Thanks for the ride Manny, Joe and ... Park? Hey, there's no Jack on the Dodgers!

The name game

Okay, I've heard of Plaxico Burress and Alge Crumpler (is that a fungus killer?) and I knew the NFL was filled with names that made you scratch your head trying to pronounce them, I mean, Chris has been reading them aloud to me from the paper for years. So a week ago, when I was guest designing for our vacationing sports designer, I was looking at the rosters for the Falcons and the Packers and saw Lawyer Milloy and Atari Bigby ... among other given names like: Kindad, Ovie, Kroy, Jerious, Tramon, Ruvell and Chevis (gee, I wonder what mommy was drinking when she named him). I mean seriously. So I decided to look on NFL.com to search the list of the players for some more, well, unusual names. Here's just the first look (I only got through the letter "C"):

• Flozell Adams, Dallas ... no wonder he's a football player, he must've gotten the crap beaten out of him as a child.
  
• C.J. Ah You, St. Louis ... God bless you!
  
• Scorpio Babers, Sam Houston State ... yeah, he was born in November. Either that or his mother watched General Hospital back in the 80s and 90s.
  
• Brothers Boss Bailey and Champ Bailey, both play for Denver ... word is little brother, Emperor, is an up-and-comer.
  
• Yeremiah Bell, Miami ... I heard he really wanted to play for the Yets. And no, he was never a Bulldog or a bullfrog.
• Casper Brinkley, Carolina ... he seems friendly.
  
• Fakir Brown, St. Louis ... who's your mother, Fakir?
  
• Mkristo Bruce, Jacksonville ... they must have these names backwards, Bruce is the last name?
  
• Digger Bujnoch, Cincinnati ... and his dog's name is Steven.
  
• Khayyam Burns, Arkansas State ... it that like cayenne (pepper) burns?
  
• Jerametrius Butler, N.O. ... a cross between Jeremiah and Demetrius perhaps?
  
• Aveion Cason, Detroit .. there once was a flu named after him.
  
• Jehuu Caulcrick, NYJ .. geshundheit!
  
• Marquice Cole, Northwestern ... it's Marcus people!
  
• Laveranues Coles, NYJ ... mommy is Laverne and daddy was apparently a orifice of the lower half.
  
• Kevis Coley, Houston ... a cross between Kevin and Travis? Maybe?
  
• Curome Cox, Maryland ... let's just say, I hope it is not pronounced like "chrome."
  

Also noteable were Tashard, Gosdar, Eldra, Travarous, Kentwan, Martellus, Nehemiah, and Anquan.

Got a good one? Add your find to my list by clicking on the word "comments" or "post a comment" below. Can't wait to see what letters D through F bring!

Flying high now

So WHO exactly is this 40-year-old-I've-never-heard-of that pinch hit for the Phils last night and ended up getting the game winning two-run homer? Who?

The guy's name is Matt Stairs — heard of him? Well, apparently the Phils are his 11th MLB team and he's had only 2 at-bats in the post-season so far. Wow! Way to go!

Now, as much as I would love to see Joe Torre go on to beat the Bosox in the World Series (of baseball, not poker — that's just a ridiculous "sport" if you ask me), I am not rooting against Philadelphia. I can't. I was born and raised there (that's a not-so-subtle hint to all you Philly-born Cowboy fans). I would love to see the NLCS go seven games though. And I would really love to see the Rays and Sox go seven and beat each other up. 'Cause for the first time since I was a Phillies-loving kid, I want the National League to win it all. Whether it be Philly or LA.

Save your memories — now!

Answer these 2 questions for me:

1. Do you take photos with a digital camera at least once in a while?
   
2. Do you upload your photos to an online photo-sharing site?
   

If you answered yes to both of these questions, then I'm very proud of you. If you answered yes to number one and no to number two, then we need to talk. I have just witnessed yet another friend's heartbreak over losing all of their photos due to a (computer) hard drive failure ... they are gone, FOREVER. 

As a compulsive amateur photographer, I can't tell you how important it is to back up your photos — your memories — to an online photo sharing site. It's easy and most are free. And it's not just malfunctions that could cause you to lose all those precious family photos, what if your computer is stolen? Again, they'd be gone — FOREVER. 

I'm writing this not only because of my friend's experience, but also my own. About a year or so ago I switched to the new operating system Apple introduced and it wiped away all of my photos —  from iPhoto. I was sickened but luckily I had backed up most of my collection online. Note: if you think iPhoto is backing up your photos online, think again. It lives on your desktop (though if you have the new Leopard operating system, they say you should be okay with their TimeMachine software, but again, if your computer is stolen ... well, I don't know, and I just don't like to trust it.) 

Here's a run down of some of the sites I've used (and still use), plus some of their features:

• snapfish.com
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
  
• Can order prints to be picked up at a Walgreens, Meijer or Staples anywhere in the U.S. — so if your granny lives in Omaha, you can send them there and she can pick 'em up)

• shutterfly.com
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
  
• Groups (allows more than one user to add to an album, you can invite several people to join the groups you set up. You also get a "website" or URL and email to go with it)

• photoworks.com
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
  
• Can sell your photos by setting up a "store"
  
• Kodak "Perfect Touch" color correction option

• kodakgallery.com
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
  
• Obviously, all prints come on Kodak paper (always a plus)

Strictly sharing photo sites (no prints of gifts in other words):

• flickr.com
  
• Great for sharing and joining groups

• picasa (linked with Google)
  
• A sharing site that works with blogger.com (in case you want to start a blog — it's free too)
  

Pay photo-sharing sites

• smugmug.com
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
• I use this one because it allows me to add tags, captions and I can always download the original full resolution photo anytime, anywhere I need to. If I lose my computer for any reason, I am backed up in at least four different states with smugmug
  
• You can upgrade and add videos, though only short ones.

UK site worth taking a look at (if you live in the UK or have peeps there):

• photobox.co.uk
  
• Sharing, prints, photo gifts
• Create your own photo blog
  
• Link to your Facebook profile
  

Another reason you should put your photos online: say you're visiting a friend 800 miles away from home and you get to talking about so-an-so's wedding you went to, well instead of saying "I'll send you some photos when I get home," you can just log in and show them right then and there. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to add a comment to this blog and I will reply the best I can. Good luck!

MAKE (better) USE OF your time

If you're a computer geek, a music fiend or someone who just likes to find new ways to make life easier or more fun, you need to get on the makeuseof.com email list. 

I have found ways to bookmark everything I want to save without using my browser's bookmarks menu (which, let's face it, is pretty clunky and, without a whole lot of work, is near impossible to organize on the go). I have been directed how to grab my brother's Youtube videos off the web so I can show them to friends and family on my iPod. And I have learned about features on my email accounts that I never knew existed. Seriously, that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

Subscribe to the daily updates here. Let me know if you find anything that works for you, though I'm sure you will.

Alfie

As I sit here trying to compose what to say about Alfie, I just keep shaking my head and thinking it just can't be true. He can't be gone. Even though I don't live in Jersey anymore, I would get the odd email joke or link or even a hello. I always knew he was there.

My dad initiated my love of sports and introduced me to Rangers football, but it was Alfie that kept Chris and I coming to the matches week after week — if for nothing else but to hear his commentary of the game. He was one of the first members at the Scots Club to welcome us into the fold. He helped us understand the history and even the rules of SPL football, but most of all he made us laugh. If there is anything I will remember of Alfie it's that he was one of the funniest and warmest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing ... and could make you laugh so hard you'd nearly cry from the pain of it.

My heart goes out to Kathy and the rest of the New family, especially his beloved "grandwains." And also to the Kearny Rangers Supporters Club, who have not only lost a founding member, but a great friend. Alfie will be sorely missed by everyone he knew.

If you'd like to share a story or say something about Alfie, please click on the "post a comment" link below. To sign Alfie's online guest book, click here.

Fantasies ... and Joe Torre

Get your attention? Joe Torre is my hero ... okay, hero is a strong word, but he's just amazing to me. He takes a sub-500 team and takes them to the post season. Joe has made it to the play-offs for the 12th straight year. That says something about his managerial style if you ask me.

And where are the Yankees after their first season without him? Home watching Joe's Dodgers sweep the Cubbies in the NLDS. Hmm. 

Which brings me to my fantasy. Now, I'm not predicting this, but it would be a dream to me if Joe went all the way to winning the World Series against ... you guessed it .... the Bosox (sorry Matty). How sweet would it be to rub that idiot Yankees organization's face in it all? I think Manny might like it a wee bit too.

As Dodgers shortstop Angel Berroa told him before drenching him in champagne last night, "Joe, you're the man."

O.J. is guilty? Really?

How can it be that I'm working 15 hours on a Friday — IN A NEWSROOM — and be the last person on earth to find out about the O.J. verdict when I arrive back at work a mere 12 hours later? 

At least this jury had some guts, but I don't expect it to hold up, or O.J. to go away for very long.