SoundByte 59
Good Morning All! It’s an Early Monday Edition of the show, so nevermind my bedroom voice and groggy tone. Today’s show is just a few updates, and the reason why I decided to wait till March 1 to record a show. Hope you all enjoy, and thank you so much for downloading!
This week’s music:
- Don’t Rain on My Parade – Bobby Darin
- Baby When The Lights Go Down – David Guetta featuring Cozi
- Swept Away – ATB
- To Love Somebody – Nina Simone
- The Storm (Inpetto Remix) – Jerry Ropero featuring Cozi
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Mid-Week
I still can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. I’m feeling so tired, and beat down, surely, it must be closer to Friday than this? In any regard, I didn’t want to post just so I could bitch and moan. I wanted to just write down some of the thoughts that greeted me upon waking this morning.
Soon, there will be a shift in my life. Soon, if all goes well, my life will become a little restructured, and though I welcome a change up of things, I’m still wondering how I’ll make the adjustment. These changes, thankfully, have been coming at me in a semi-organic way – meaning if it felt good/right, I went with it; I am rolling with it. Still, as with most changes, there is an adjustment period, and it’s that time which usually causes the most anxiety in me.
Okay, so I’m talking rather nebulously, and for that I apologize. Honestly, after this Friday, I’ll go into more detail. I mentioned I have an interview for a new second/part-time job on the podcast. I’m also preparing myself mentally for the adjustment of school. I was working on my study plan yesterday morning, and as I was going into finer detail with what I want to focus on, and what I want my writing to explore, it really hit me that this whole process is going to take a large chunk of my already-short time. I may not have time to work both jobs, and attend to my studies. I would probably need to give up a job in order to create space in my day/week for the work I’ll be doing. I only hope I can manage to figure out a way to pay my share of the bills, and still be able to give the majority of my attention to doing my best with regards to school. Still, if there’ a will, there will be a way. It will be up to me to find it, and adjust. Always adjust.
For now, I do know I’m tired of working two jobs and having little to show for it. I can recognize when I’m not using my time in the most efficient way possible, or earning money in the most efficient way I can. I’m hardly using my degree, or any of my further education that I’ve already earned, so there’s lots of potential energy stored inside me that could be put to use. I could be commanding a higher salary, and it’s that realization that keeps me moving forward, trying to find the best balance of my time, and earning potential, to match my abilities and our expenses. Eventually, I will get there. Eventually, I will be in a more fiscally comfortable spot, with a work/life balance that comes close to the ideal for me. Until then, I’m going to be in flux, and I’ve got to keep on my toes.
Right…off to get ready to go to work!
-Thom
SoundByte 54 Mid Winter Vacation Show
Today’s show is a reflection on the vacation that Nate and I took to mark our 9th year of being a couple. I also talk about where I’m at in my head, and where I am with regards to school, politics, and being social. It’s a reflective show, and a little random, but I hope you enjoy! Thanks for downloading!
-Thom
Leave a voice mail: (617) 466-9740
Today’s Music (in no order):
- Feel Your Love: Kim Sozzi
- Begging You (Armin Van Buuren Remix): Cerf, Mitiska and Jaren)
- A New Day: ATB
- Mysterious Skys: ATB
- Walking on Clouds: Tiesto
- Death and All His Friends: Coldplay
- Riddles in the Sand: Ron Hagen & Pascal M
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A Week Beyond
So, I know, I know…I’m overdue for a podcast. I promise, there will be a show this weekend, and probably an extended one. I’ve got so much to catch you all up on. This morning, though, I wanted to just get some stuff out in writing, and see where it takes me.
A week ago, Nate and I were tucked away in our little room in a quaint little guest house in Provincetown. A week ago, I was struggling to unwind, struggling to let go of my anxieties and just relax on our little break from reality. Today, I find myself struggling to get up the gumption to get out of bed, let alone be productive and creative. It’s like my body is here, in Boston’s North End, but my mind (and potentially my heart) have found a home away from home at the end of Cape Cod and are refusing to catch the next bus home. I’m clinging to the feeling of relaxation, of not taking myself so damn seriously, and of simply smiling because I woke up to see the day before me. I know, eventually, this feeling of floating will subside, and I’ll be looking at the calendar, wondering when my next opportunity to get away with Nate will be coming. For now, I’m just getting through the week, and hoping the weekend comes quickly and painlessly.
I am pretty happy with the progress I made this week with regards to my school application. I decided to just give it up, and submit my writing pieces. When I mean submit, I mean I’ve added them to my school application, with the unwritten understanding that I won’t be editing them again until I’m actually in school. I’ve put that whole fear of failure with regards to the words I wrote behind me, and now am looking at gathering the info I need to plan out two years of studying. I have a general idea of the overarching focus of what it is I’m going to be doing, but it’s the finer details that I’m worried over. I also need to develop a bibliography of books I’ll be using in my studies. It’s going to take some time, and some research, but I think I’ll get there, hopefully by the end of next week. That, coupled with filling out my FAFSA, will put my application to rest, at least in terms of my end of it. There’s still the letters of recommendation to collect, and transcripts to request. Soon, though, it’ll be complete. Then, it’s a matter of waiting to hear from Goddard.
There are so many other things rolling around in my head right now that need to be attended to, and sorted through, but I’m hoping a little downtime this weekend will prove to have the soothing effect I need. Right now, I just need to get my life in order, and get through the tasks I feel have fallen behind, organize my schedule, and set some reasonable goals in terms of my writing. I also get to undertake filing my 2009 taxes (joyful time), and hopefully get a sizable refund. That would come in VERY handy right now – especially in terms of putting money in the bank, and saving for our next adventure out.
Anyway, I’ve got to get ready for work, but know I’ll be back on the air this weekend, with a mouthful to say, I’m sure. Thanks for standing by!
-Thom
Before We Go…
So, before we head off to Provincetown, MA for our anniversary celebration/mid-winter break from reality, I wanted to do a quick blog post, and just share a few of the thoughts rolling in my head.
As most of you know, the Prop 8 Trial has started in California. Though I’m very much on pins and needles to see how the trial turns out, honestly, I’ve tried my damnedest to not get too worked up over it. I know, I know…but, Thom, you’re a gay man who’s married, and this trial can have a direct impact on your life and the legal status of your marriage…believe me, I’ve been saying that to myself for days now. After the loss of gay marriage rights in Maine, though, I’ve recoiled, and in a way, turned my attention inward. I don’t agree that the right to marry should be on display, or even up for judgement. It should just be. That said, I appreciate the legal system we have in this country, and I appreciate the process of getting the laws written down in such a way as to protect current and future people from discrimination. I do hope for a positive result of the trial, and I desperately want my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in California to be afforded the same rights that I currently share with Nate here in Massachusetts. I still don’t understand the ramifications of this case being tried on a federal level, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a precedent-setting result, one way or the other.
I’m also staring down the application for school that is a constant reminder on my desktop. The application essays need to be edited, the questions all answered to the best of my ability, and honestly, I haven’t had the courage to face them lately. It’s not that my passion for it has waned, as I know going back to school, and doing it the way I’m applying to, is the right direction for me. I just need a little more reassurance, from myself to myself, that I’m worth and capable of chasing down this goal and achieving it. I’m hoping that the recharge of my batteries this weekend will provide me with that assurance, and though I’m not going into this break in P’town with any real expectations or goals, it would be nice to come back with a clearer head, and a more focused drive to get this application off my desk. For that, I’m just going to need to dig deep.
I will be going “radio-silent” while we are away, though I have a feeling Nate isn’t going to be the same this time around. If you do need to reach me, you can send an e-mail, and if it’s urgent, I’ll respond, but until Tuesday morning, you won’t be hearing much from me. Unplugging worked wonders for me the last time we took a break like this, so I’m hoping to have a repeat performance.
Thank you to all of you who have wished us the best, and who continue to follow me, and us, online. We’re a funny couple of guys, but truly, we do appreciate the love and support you all have given us.
My thoughts are also with the people of Haiti, as they come to grips with the massive earthquake that has rocked that tiny, desperately poor country to its core. Please, keep them in mind, and do what you can to help. Even a good thought (or prayer, if that’s your thing) will do a small amount of good. Heaven knows, there’s not enough attention paid to the others who inhabit this planet, and taking a moment out of our days to send some cosmic good out there would be a refreshing change for most of us, myself included.
Till Tuesday!
XX
Thom
Frosty Morning Thoughts
This past week was the first full-length week of work since before Christmas. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for Friday to come. Now that it’s Saturday morning, and I’ve got a short shift at DSW this morning, then freedom till Monday, I’m feeling the effects of such a long week. I don’t know why, but everywhere I turned, I found something to stress over. If it wasn’t a terrible phone call from an irate customer, it was a project that needed to be done ASAP, or racing to get home in time to run back to my next job. I did find one morning to accomplish quite a bit of writing, but that was because, for some reason, my body thought 3:30 am was a great time to wake up. It was a nice respite from the rest of the week, but for the last two days, I’ve been playing catch up with my sleep. Only today am I starting to feel more like myself.
Nate made mention of the anxieties in my life right now during the week last week, and that’s been sticking with me for a bit. I suppose I am facing some rather big things right now, and maybe, underneath it all, I am worried about a lot. In no particular order they are:
1. School application. I need to finish/edit/submit the damn thing and just put it out there for all to witness. Letting go of it, and putting my work up for judgement does, in a way, terrify me. Okay, so it really terrifies me.
2. Work. Both jobs are building pressure on me, kind of like a pressure cooker you’d use to make canned beans. I can see the gauge on the top of the cover inching upwards in p.s.i., and I’m not sure how to relieve the stress, or let some of it go. I know I need to keep trying to leave the stress of work at work, but this week, I found that to be more of a challenge.
3. Health. I’m pretty sure I put on a little weight over the holidays, and though I really don’t want to think about it, and I don’t want it to be an impediment to my life, I’m reminded that I need to clean my act up and make the efforts needed to slim back down a bit every time I walk or move. Bits of me are a bit more round than I would prefer. Nate constantly reminds me that I still look fine, and when I look in the mirror, I know I’m not seeing some drastic need for a weight loss regime. Still, I feel it. It’s a general malaise that needs physical activity – be it a run or a brisk, long walk a few times a week or something more intense, like a gym membership – in order to shake it. I’m also feeling the pressure to make another attempt at giving up the nic-sticks so we can afford to go to they gym. This too must be done. I just need to find the willpower and wherewithal to actually make an attempt.
It’s not a really bad life I lead, and I know these stresses are minute compared to those that many of you, and most of the people around me, face on a day-to-day basis, so I try to keep that in mind whenever I feel myself going back into my shell. Still, these little points of anxiety are resting on me, I feel them, and I know they all need to be dealt with.
-Thom
A Call for Help: To my fellow LGBTQ? and Friends…
I am currently working on an application to graduate school, and as part of my application, I need to come up with a bibliography/resource list of books/material I can use to help further my study.
My study plan includes focusing on being gay and being from New England. Specifically, being a gay male, but any gender outsider’s perspective would be worth visiting and pondering over while I’m at school. Also, I’m examining New England, specifically in terms of the male perspective, but again, any perspective from a fellow New Englander, from any era/age, would be very, very helpful.
If any of you have any suggestions for scholarly, worthy writers/titles that I should include in my list, please feel free to leave a comment here, or better yet, you can just send me an e-mail: thompalmer@teachingthomas.net
Again, topic/subject is either Gay-centric, or, alternatively, living in New England.
I have a small, but growing, list already, given my own educational background, but as it’s a two year program, and I should be reading about 8-10 books a semster (give or take), I need a lot more than what I’ve got listed already.
Thanks!!
Breakthrough…a beginning
This morning, I stared down the question on the application for school that has me detailing my plan of study for the next two years. The program I’m applying to is self-directed, so as part of my acceptance into the program, I need to demonstrate that what I want to do, and how I intend on achieving a Masters in Fine Arts, is up to snuff. I need to demonstrate that I can plan, I have a goal, and that there’s some semblance of direction with my course of study.
I have spent a large portion of time locked in this sort of freeze-up in my head. Each time I sat down to plan, I felt like I was staring down the barrel of a gun, and if I strayed from what is considered acceptable, my application would be tossed into the bin, and I’d be passed over for a better candidate, a better student, someone with more focus and vision. I have been in utter terror of that happening, and in fact, that’s been the entirety of the application process for this program. With each question on the application, I’m faced with the fear of being judged, of being tossed aside. This morning, though, I had a little bit of a psyche-up with myself, and broke through that fear, at least a little bit.
I got angry with myself for being scared, and then set about detailing the stuff I want to do while I go back to school to earn my MFA in Creative Writing. No, it may not be the most polished plan, and I still have a couple of semesters to fill in, but it’s something. I don’t want to get into too much detail here, yet, but suffice to say, what I want to get out of further education, and how I intend on using my time at the school I’m applying to (if I stick to what I’ve written so far), will be some of the most amazing, creative work I’ve every taken on. I’m putting my heart and soul into this opportunity, and I would love nothing more than the opportunity to see where this path leads me.
I guess, in the end, I could do what I want to do on the plan I’ve created without attending school, but as an educator in search of a higher degree, if I can incorporate earning a better pay rate, and another credential on my resume, with a deep-seeded passion of mine (writing), then it’s all for the better.
Again, and as always, more details to come as all this unfolds.
-Thom
SoundByte 51 Inter-Holiday Show
Today’s show is all a reflection on our Christmas, with a little peek into New Year’s and the resolutions I have. I wanted to extend a warm thank you to everyone who follows me on here, listens to the show, and offers such amazing support and friendship. Thank you to all, and I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Today’s Music:
- Song For a Winter’s Night – Sarah McLachlan
- My Favorite Things – Herp Albert and the Tijuana Brass
- Sleigh Ride – Herp Albert and the Tijuana Brass
- Christmas is Coming – Vince Guaraldi
- My Saving Grace – ATB
- I Remember – Deadmau5
- LA Nights – ATB
- Time After Time – Sarah McLachlan and Cindy Lauper
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SoundByte 49
This show is kind of bizarre. I seemed to struggle at stringing sentences together…in any regard, I talk about the first anniversary of my marriage to Nathaniel, the application to school, and where I’m at in my life these days. Thank you for downloading, and let me know what you think!
This week’s music:
- LA Nights: ATB
- A New Day: ATB
- Ordinary Miracle: Sarah McLachlan
- Ride: DJ Tiesto
- Call of Loneliness: Reeves
- Never Do a Tango With an Eskimo: Alma Coogal
- Linus and Lucy: Vince Guaraldi
- I Saw Three Ships: Barenaked Ladies
- Wintersong: Sarah McLachlan
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies
- Saving Grace: ATB
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This Writing Thing
I wanted to do a quick post, and reflect a little on this project I’ve taken on for the month of November. As you may recall, and can see from my Weekly Twitter Updates, I’ve been attempting to complete the NaNoWriMo competition by writing 50k words by the end of November. Basically, it’s a chance to finally attempt the task I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time now – get down the words to a story. I’ve been struggling with this task for years, probably ever since I could put two sentences together. I’ve always enjoyed telling stories, and reading them, and I’ve always been meaning to try and write some of them down. This month, and for the past two months now, I’ve finally begun that task. I’m doing the easy part now, according to my friend Shawn (an avid writer and fan of the written word), and just getting down the words. The hard part of editing will come later. I know I’ll be chucking out most of what I’ve written thus far, but that’s not what this post is about. Today, it’s all about the writing.
Currently, I’m up to about 13000 words. That’s just this month. If you also count the words I wrote last month, I’ve topped over 20k words since getting back from Provincetown with Nate for my birthday. Just over 30 days ago, I started earnestly putting pen to paper (well, typing, but you get my point), and look how far I’ve come? I’ve actually got over 20k words!
If I think about it, and let it sink in, honestly, I feel so proud of myself. I know, I know, I shouldn’t gloat and it sounds kind of tacky to wax poetically about this, but truth be told, I’m in a spot where I need something like this in my life. Each day is a measurable step towards something greater, perhaps, and without putting too much pressure on myself, or on the story, I’m really hoping to make this act of writing a life-time thing.
Does that mean I’m writing exquisite prose at every turn? Hell no! Like I said, this is just about getting down the words. Yes, someday I’d love to see my book in print, my words wrapped in a glossy cover, facing outward on a shelf in a bookstore. The truth is, that may or may not ever become a reality, but I’m much closer to achieving that now than I’ve ever been. For now, that feels great.
I actually feel like a writer.
-Thom
SoundByte 42
Today’s show is a reflection upon the birthday vacation that Nate and I took. Have a listen, and please, let me know your reactions, and thanks for downloading!
Today’s Music:
- Dirty Water – Standells
- Burned With Desire – Armin Van Buuren
- If I Could Fly – OceanLab
- The Different – Melissa Etheridge
- Here I Am
- Ride – Cary Brothers
- On A Good Day (Remixed by Above and Beyond) – OceanLab
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After the Vacation
I am not ready to return to the life I had prior to our getaway last weekend. It’s Tuesday morning at 6:23, and still my mind is at a place not too far away from here, where I was able to release all of my inhibitions, to explore my inner feelings and express myself outwardly in ways I haven’t ever been able to do. To say this vacation was enjoyable would be a massive understatement. I have come back a changed man, and I want to keep up these changes and not fall back into the trappings of the life I knew prior. I want to cling to the man I was while I was there, and nourish that side of me, bringing out my inner self, and letting the boy who giggled and smiled, winked and noticed, and felt completely alive, be part of my everyday life.
Nate and I took a four-day weekend and dispatched ourselves to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Honestly, I had thought that we’d make a day trip out of it, maybe spend an overnight there, but once we got there, what I thought was going to be a few hours walking around on the beach, exploring the vibrant town, turned into a wonderful journey for both Nate and I. As a couple, we were able to talk to each other more instinctively, less hesitantly, and from a place within ourselves that knows no judgement, no reserve, and no limits. There, in that tiny little beach town at the end of Cape Cod, we became so much closer, so much more in tune with each other, and it has made a massive impact on us both. It has stirred feelings and ideas that I’ve been protecting from exposure for so long. It has revealed to me just how magical it is that I’m with Nathaniel, and how truly amazing he really is. It has given me the chance to look up from the dark and dingy streets of Boston’s North End, and see an existence I never thought possible. In my mind, I see something greater, a life less mundane and repetitive, with more expression of the self, and celebration of who I am, who we are, and it’s something I want to make a reality.
I’m in fear of losing these feelings, and having written them down here, I feel like I’ve given them some permanence. I suppose that’s why I blog. It justifies who I am, where I’ve been, and gives me a place to reflect, plan, and take actions that will improve not only my life, but Nate’s life, and the life we share together.
Truly, I feel the start of something better in my life. I want to make it a reality. The time has come for me, and Nathaniel, to shine.
Of course, I took many pictures, and will be sharing them with you all shortly. Right now, though, I’ve got to get my act together, and put on the skin of the man I was before taking off with Nate. I need to fit my way back into the cogworks of this massive machine, where the almighty dollar is King. This time, though, I see things just a bit differently, and with a bit different perspective. I’m anxious to experience life knowing something better. Wish me luck.
-Thom
SoundByte 40
Thanks for downloading SoundByte 40. This show goes a little personal, with a work update, and reflections on an event over the past week. Please have a listen, and please, let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
This Week’s Music
- First Tones: ATB
- Offshore: Chicane
- Walking in the Sky: DJ Encore feat. Engeline
- Dooley’s World: ATB
- Good Morning Kaia: BT
- Against the Wind: Bob Seger
- See U Again: ATB
- The Scientist: Natasha Beddingfield
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SoundByte 38
Today’s show is kind of strange. I mean, the topics are the usual: work, what I’ve been thinking, and what we’ve been up to, and what our plans are for the future. But it’s still strange. The common theme seems to be about becoming unfiltered in what I say, and expressing how I feel. Have a listen, and let me know what you think.
Music for Today:
- Hold Onto Me: Armin van Buuren
- How Long: Aly and Fila vs. FKN featuring Jahala
- Ride (Tiesto Remix): Cary Brothers
- A Rainy Afternoon: Armin van Buuren
- Shivers: Armin van Buuren
- Just Listen: OceanLab
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SoundByte 37 For Nathaniel
This show is dedicated to my husband and life partner, Nathaniel. It’s a bit saccharin-sweet, so grab your insulin shots! Also, some updates, looking forward, and a whole lot of music!
Today’s Tracks:
- Kota: Bononbo
- Deepest Blue: Deepest Blue
- Melissa: Allman Brothers Band
- Stars Come Out: ATB
- Dooley’s World: ATB
- Sirens of the Sea: OceanLab
- Riddles in the Sand: Ron Hagen & Pascal M
- The Way (John Denis Remix): Divine Inspiration
- When Love Takes Over: David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland
Enjoy!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
SoundByte 36
Here’s another installment from your resident of Boston, reporting in on the week’s events, end of summer madness, and the future. Thanks for listening!
Today’s Music:
- Just Listen: OceanLab
- Reckoner: Radiohead
- Walk On By: Cake
- Sons & Daughters: Decemberists
- A Sorta Fairytale: Tori Amos
- When Love Takes Over: David Guetta
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
SoundByte 34
So, this post has been brewing for a few days now. Well, at least since I became of the current state of affairs with regards to the health care reform debate here in the United States.
Be warned, this show is half the usual banter, and half special comment from yours truly. I had to speak my peace, and I welcome you to do the same.
Please, let me know your thoughts. I’m very interested in hearing what you all have to say!
Thanks!
-Thom
Music in today’s show:
- Nina Simone: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
- Radiohead: Bodysnatchers
- Dr. Rockit: Cafe de Flore
- Lily Allen: Smile
- Jack Johnson: Flake
- Alanis Morrisette: Crazy
- Cake: The Distance
- Bjork: Army of Me
- Snow Patrol: Run
- Melissa Etheridge: The Prison
- Motorcyle: As The Rush Comes
- Gabrielle: Dreams Can Come True
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A Day Off
Today, I’m not going to the publishing job. I still have to work at the shoe store tonight, but, for now, I have a day off. The idea came to me a couple of weeks ago, as my manager had taken a few scheduled days off, and extended his weekend. I made a comment how that would be a really nice thing to do, and even though its super busy at the office this time of year, he suggested I do the same. Bada-boom, here I am, in my shorts and t-shirt on a Friday morning, and I’m not wondering about what my workload is going to be today. I’m pretty pleased about it all, really.
The game plan for today is to get me some new spectacles. I had my eyes checked a few weeks ago, but haven’t actually filled the prescription. The glasses I currently have, I’ve had since before I moved overseas, and suffice to say, my eyes ain’t what they used to be. I’m constantly fighting off headaches and straining to see, especially at the end of the day, and moreso towards the end of the week. Turns out, my eyes have gotten a bit weaker, and a new pair of glasses are in order. Of course, even though I have coverage through my health insurance for glasses, it goes something like this: I pay for 65% of my frames, and my lenses are $50, if I use the insurance. Oh, and those lenses better be the base-model, or the coverage isn’t really coverage at all. As we are always being as frugal as we can, we started out by looking at the chain glasses places right here in the city.
OMG Frames are NOT CHEAP. And why is it necessary to buy some expensive designer frames? Who really cares if my frames are made by ACME Frame Corp, or if their Prada, or Gucci, or Ralph Lauren??? Who the hell’s going to know? Truly, if you judge me by the teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy label that would be on a pair of frames for my glasses, then someone has an insecurity issue, and it’s most certainly NOT me. (sigh). So, instead of shopping at the chains here in Boston, where I would have to fork over upwards of $400 for glasses (and that’s WITH my insurance discount), we’re heading out of town today, to where the real people live, who buy glasses that function just as well as the pretty-people ones I could buy in town. We’re most likely going to hit up Sears (two for $99) or LensCrafters (not sure what their sale is, but they do have cheaper frames) later today. Nate’s rented us a ZipCar for 9:30, and off we go.
Other than that, today’s going to be, hopefully, a day to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Nate and I haven’t had a shared day off in a very long time, so hopefully it will all go smoothly. We’ve got groceries to do – which I loathe doing – and I want to spend some QT working on my tutoring website, and seeing if there are any flickering candles of hope with regards to a teaching positions. Given it’s August 7th, probably not, but as my therapist suggested, if I can at least tutor and keep up teaching on some level, that will look better on my resume than over a year spent out of the education world, and out of touch with students.
In any regard, it’s a day off, and I’m going to enjoy every last drop.
-Thom
Weekend Update
Just a quick note to let you all know this week’s show will be delayed a day, as we are headed to White Horse Beach for a quick get-away to the shore! I will try to do an audio update via Utterli, so stay tuned!
Beautiful Morning

This little guy kept meowing hello to me this morning
So, after nearly 40 days and 40 nights of sheer terrible weather, Boston finally saw extended hours of sunshine yesterday! I took the opportunity to go out for a little walk/run in the morning, which I felt in my knees, but not too badly. It was amazing to me to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. Just the day before, when I was going to work on an overcast and rainy day, everyone looked just plain angry. We all needed to feel the warmth of the sun on our skin, and finally feel like summer was here in the city. Today looks to be no exception to that, either.
It’s the 4th of July, so there are TONS of tourists in the city this weekend, which is appropriate considering Boston is where the Revolution began. There is going to be an awesome display of fireworks tonight, which Nate and I will be attending, and I hope to take some pictures of to share with you all. If I had the day off from work, which I don’t (DSW, that is), Nate and I would be going to the Esplanade for the concert by the Pops, which kicks off in mid-afternoon. The Esplanade will be FULL of people, starting early this morning, as they all camp out and mark their territory for the best viewing of the fireworks over the Charles. Though I am working, it is only until 3:00 this afternoon, so there will be plenty of time to go among the hoardes, and enjoy the 4th, Boston style.
Nate’s spent the better part of this weekend down in Plymouth, with his family, at their cottage down on the beach. I wasn’t able to go, due to my work schedule, but by all accounts, the weather has been decent, and he’s had a good time catching up with family. Cousins are in from all over, and it’s been good for him to be able to enjoy time spent with them down there. Still, I can’t wait to see him this afternoon when I get home. I do miss the little guy
I hope you all have a lovely 4th of July, and please, be safe. Don’t go lighting firecrackers near gas tanks, or any of that nonsense! I hope to have some lovely pictures to share tomorrow, as well as a new SoundByte to share!
Take care!
-Thom
SoundByte 28 Monday Morning Quick Show
It’s a quick show this morning (under 10 minutes, I think) with a quick recap from the week (mostly the weekend). Enjoy!
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This Weekend
Hey All!
Just wanted to let you know that I’m taking off for Maine this weekend. It’s a combination trip to celebrate my gram’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday and anniversary, and Father’s day. There won’t be one long show from me, however, there will be small bytes from me, as I’m going to use my phone to send some lovin’ your way.
Be prepared for pictures, smiles, and hopefully good weather. It’s been so rainy in Boston for the month of June, I’d pretty much kill for a decent day with sunshine.
Anyway, stay tuned!




