It was all worth it. Ceol na Mara is back in the water for the 2012 boating season. On Saturday we went down to the winter storage dock to pick her up and drive her back to the Dorchester Yacht Club.

It was a lovely weekend on the water, on our boat and on a friend’s boat.

Each day, we promised we would get home early to get things done around the house.

But somehow we couldn’t leave this behind.

So we stayed  a little bit longer. We’ve waited for this weekend for what seemed like an eternity, and it was so good to have our favorite pastime back.

Also back was a sandwich I left on the boat, unrefrigerated, by accident in October. This veggie and hummus wrap from Shaw’s was still in perfect condition and didn’t smell. We are still marveling over it. How can that be?!

More importantly, is it bed time yet? I can barely keep my eyes open!

How was your weekend?

Technorati Tags: boating, Boston

I actually started this post last week while on my first BoltBus. What I had hoped would be a pleasant and cheap trip to Newark, NJ to then take a train to my family turned into somewhat of a nightmare (Almost two hours late and an incessant beeping noise for six hours because the engine was overheating, nice!).

I certainly tweet my fair share of gripes, especially when it comes to transport, but since it’s been awhile since my last post on such a topic, I thought it would be fun for a Friday. Here are a few annoyances of late.

Food on public transportation – I thought it was a no-brainer, but there are certain foods that just don’t belong on planes, trains, or shared automobiles. These include fish, eggs, and really anything that leaves a tons of crumbs or mess. Am I wrong? The girl next to me on the bus pulled out a giant container of meat and rice, and every time the bus hit a bump, rice went flying everywhere. It was really appetizing.

Music on public transportation – Traveling to an office part time again has me back on the good old MBTA, and I am remembering the many things I can’t stand about the system. One is definitely people with iPods so loud that they drown out my own music. How do these people still hear anything?! Yesterday I could hear every (profane) word from the music of a woman at the other end of the car. Turn it down, kids.

Air conditioning – When we were having our condo built, central air conditioning was a must. I love it on hot summer nights when getting to sleep otherwise would be difficult. I do appreciate it, I really do. But why does every office and store have to go to the extreme the second the outside temperatures go above 70? Working in freezing conditions does not keep me awake; quite the opposite, it makes me feel like it’s bed time. It also makes me hungry. This summer, offices of America, let’s save some energy and let us ladies wear actual seasonal attire; “cool it” with the ac!

Tourists – I know they are good for the city, and I love people to love our great hometown, but can they step out of the way while some of us are sprinting to meetings? A Silver Line for tourists might be a good start.

Neighbors – Mine have been pretty quiet over the past few weeks, but there is literally an overflowing bucket of empty packs of Camel Lights on our porch. Gross. And I can’t remember if I told you about the vomit on the porch incident? Summer with the neighbors might be a post in itself. . .

In short, people need to step it up and realize they’re not the only ones on the planet.

Be sure to share one (or more!) of your recent rants in the comments. And then go and enjoy a beautiful weekend!

Sometimes, I scan and delete, and other times, something catches my eye, and I need to find out more. There were three occasions this past week that really stood out to me as simple opportunities to help, and I thought I would share.

The Women’s Lunch Place Mother’s Day cards – Mother’s Day is this weekend, and The Women’s Lunch Place in Boston is selling cards to raise money for the many services they provide, including daily meals to homeless women in Boston. I have volunteered at The Women’s Lunch Place in the past, and I love that they do not just give meals, but they provide community,  a sense of dignity, job skills, and other things that human beings all crave and things that many don’t have access to.

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If you’re interested in buying cards, please see the below information from The Women’s Lunch Place.

· Click here to order online and select Mother’s Day Card as your ‘donation reason’ ·You can always call us! (617) 449-7185                                                                                           · Visit our kiosk at Shops at Prudential Center: Thurs, 5/3 – Sat, 5/5  &  Thurs, 5/10  – Sat, 5/12. 10 AM-6 PM weekdays & 10 AM-5 PM on Saturdays (Located in the Belvidere Arcade, adjacent to Dunkin Donuts and the Post office)                                                         · Visit Tasti-D-Lite located at 205 Newbury Street! Receive a coupon for $5 off any “tasti” cake or pie with your purchase of a                                                                                     · On Friday, May 11, WLP volunteers will be selling cards at Starbucks on 165 Newbury Street.  Find us on the patio!

Gremlin’s Wish

Gremlin is a therapy dog and a pit bull. Her life before being rescued was not a good one; she was rescued from a dog fighting ring and at the time had broken legs that had grown back so badly they had to be re-broken. She also had other very visible signs of cruelty. Now? She spends her time reading with school children and brightening the days of cancer patients.

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From Gremlin’s Facebook page: Gremlin’s Wish is that all animals and children are given an equal opportunity to succeed. In order for us to make that happen we are trying to build Gremlin’s Wish Therapy Center. This center will be a one of a kind facility in which it will be open to the community to come spend time with our registered therapy dogs in a multitude of different programs. We all know that not all kids are given the same chances, not all schools offer the programs that are needed to help them succeed.

In the same effort to help the animals, we will be taking dogs from the local high kill shelters and work with them to be able to go back into the community as a registered therapy dog. We will be a completely volunteer run center so there will be no cost to the families that will come and use our programs.

Gremlin’s dad Chris has also suggested that the therapy dogs will be used to work with other people who need it such as soldiers with PTSD. He is doing amazing work, 100% volunteer, saving dogs, training them, and bringing them to schools, hospitals, and other places where a furry, gentle friend does a world of good. His Facebook updates alternately make me laugh and cry.

If you’re interested in finding out more or supporting Gremlin’s Wish, check out Rowdy to the Rescue.

The author of Where Hash Rules, The Story of Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe is donating a dollar from every e-book sold to Alex’s Lemonade Stand - Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope.

Where Hash Rules can be found on iTunes and Amazon among other places, and is $9.99.

If you have any great charity events or initiatives you’d like to share, please feel free to post them here!

Technorati Tags: charity, Mother's Day

Eversave Boston is going to be making summer a bit more delicious for a couple of lucky members. They are giving away two BBQ bashes, either from Dickey’s Barbecue Pit or, if the winner does not live near a Dickey’s, $250 to Omaha Steaks.

Just click on the below image for details and to enter to get your Memorial Day BBQ started.

And because Eversave is so nice, they are giving me $10 toward the next save of a lucky reader. Just leave a note in the comments letting me know what your favorite BBQ food or drink is. I’ll choose a winner on Monday. Not a member of Eversave? Join now!

Have a great Thursday. . . we are almost at the weekend!

Technorati Tags: BBQ, Eversave, giveaway