Quigs’ Corner

I went to see Sex and the City last weekend - Mr Q was working, so I went to this year’s biggest chick flick.  

I was a big fan of the TV show, and one of the reasons we kept HBO around.   When the movie was released, I was excited to see my friends Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda again.  Their men were there too, but the focus in this movie was the women.  Overall, it was okay.  There were some good ‘fashion’ scenes - the wedding dresses (some of them were amazing!), the 80s dresses (quite funny to think that people actually wore them!) and just the outfits that they wore (again, funny to think that they actually wore some of them!).  There were a few scenes that I could have done without, and of course there was a lot of, well, I’ll just say it: sex.  

I have to say my favorite story line and actress in the movie was Jennifer Hudson.   Hired as an assistant to Carrie, she was a woman that knew what she wanted and did it on a budget, unlike her boss that routinely wore $500 Manolos and sacrificed many other things to have the perfect pair of shoes.  Jennifer’s character got things done, and believed in her dream.  I only wished that they had developed her character more and didn’t go in the direction that they did with her….I won’t spoil it for those that haven’t seen it, but let’s just say that she was robbed.  

The movie is worth seeing, but I’d recommend the matinee - $5 was an acceptable price to pay.  Or, wait for the video, but make sure the kids are in bed - I suggest giving them Benadryl or Nyquil for their nightcap to ensure they’re down for the night.  I think EVERYONE will sleep better. 

The Lakeside Bar and Grill softball team made the league playoffs last night, after placing second for the season.  The playoffs were all in one night - the first game at 7pm and the next at 9pm if we won the first game.  

Under the hot summer Texas sun, we won the first game, and then we all settled in to watch the next game, since the winner would be our next opponent.  The team that won was the first place UNDEFEATED team for the season. 

We had our work cut out for us for sure…they had beat us handily earlier in the year. Last night, as the ‘visiting’ team, we had first ups and we scored five runs in the first inning.  This was of course unexpected by the opposition, and gave us the momentum we needed to go on to win the game.  But, not without drama.  

All our lives we’re taught to be a good sport, a good loser, all the cliches.  Apparently though, the other team was never taught these lessons growing up.  In the middle - yes the middle - of the game that WE were winning, they stopped the game and demanded to verify everyone against the roster (note that the team that they beat prior to us was not asked for this).  Now, how many people actually bring IDs to a softball game?  Apparently, the other team was taught to always carry ID and they all did have them.  Eventually, we were all able to produce the appropriate identification and resume the game, but not without aggravation. It seems that they didn’t think that our players were on the roster.  Most of us feel that they just plain didn’t like losing and basically accused us of cheating.  Or, they wanted to change the momentum of the game.  Or they were tired.  What ever it was, it didn’t work.  In the end, we brushed it off and won the game 12 - 9.  But, our trophies were in dispute due to the protest from the other team.  

Nonetheless, we knew that we had our bases covered (hehe) and all our players were registered.  The rec league verified it today, and the other team not only lost the game, but $50 for the protest.  So, we really are the champs!  How awesome is that, for a bunch of 40-something neighbors kicking around on Monday nights and complaining about the aches and pains on Tuesdays!?  

We celebrated at a house of a team mate, and I got in WAY too late.  It’s always fun to play, and more fun to win.  I can’t wait for the fall league now… 

Some of the ‘greatest’ inventions in the 20th century, in my opinion, include magically dispensing soap dispensers, mind-reading water faucets, self-propelled paper towels and self flushing toilets.  i encounter some or all of these as I traverse the country, and overall , I appreciate all of these advances.  A self-proclaimed germophobe as I get older, these allow me to avoid these potentially bacteria infested items. 

What I wonder though, do these toilets really save water?  How many times have you been in one of those stalls, and when you make one little move this way or that the next thing you know, the commode is doing its thing?  It never seems to fail - just as you have the seat cover in place, and you’re lining up to do your business and the sound of rushing water beneath you gets your attention real fast!  

So, I personally am happy to not have to touch things in public bathrooms (where reportedly only about half of the visitors actually wash their hands after using the facility) though I’d like to see a more intuitive toilet.  

While I was in NH last week, I used my mom’s phone multiple times to call family members and friends in the area.  When I did this, I discovered the WEIRDEST thing - I didn’t have to dial an area code first!  I only needed seven (that’s right - 7) digits.  I felt like I was cheating.  But, at the same time, it was comforting and felt like the ‘old days’.  (Though long ago in Rye one only needed to dial FIVE numbers to call in town!)

NH is one of only a handful of states - Maine, Idaho, Rhode Island to name a few, that have just one area code.  Yes, these are less populated states, but I suspect they have less complicated lives - even if it’s dialing three less digits every time they pick up the phone.   

After what seemed like an eternity, the service for Frank was held on Monday night.  It was one of the least saddest memorial gatherings I’ve been to. The mood of the room was respectful, however laughs could be heard over and over again from those in attendance.  Frank would have been proud and honored. 

A ’shrine’ to his favorite things was in front of the room: coffee can, a slice of his friend Jodi’s chocolate cake, a model of a boat that looked alot like his ‘Little Tiger’ and his always present Camel cigarettes. 

His daughters, Ma and I worked on constructing posters for the service with pictures of the people and things he loved, and captured his spirit.  The funeral home put together a video with pictures of him that was a fitting tribute, along with many ocean scenes.

The eulogy was delivered by Ma.  No one was more surprised than I; knowing how close they were, I thought of how hard it must have been for her to do it - especially in front more than of a hundred people.  She captured his essence perfectly.  She had just the right amount of humor, talked about what was important to Frank, all clearly coming from her heart.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the place because people knew all she said was true, and her love for him was so clear and genuine. 

After the service, the family had a nice meal at ‘Fast Eddie’s’, a diner Frank used to frequent in Hampton.  The owner, Neil was very accommodating and helpful.  We all got to see family members we haven’t seen in years - cousins I’ve only seen a handful of times in my life, and all of us had a chance to reflect on why we never see each other except for occasions like these.

Unfortunately, it seems that these events are the ones that force us together, but also forces us to take a personal inventory and help reassess our personal priorities.  I’ve been lucky enough this week to re-connect with my cousins Tori and Nonna, the cousins with whom I spent the most time with growing up.  I will be making it a point to see them when I’m in town in the future - we really had a great time together and I miss that kind of connection with them.  Besides, since they’re family they have to be nice to me :-). 

We’ll all miss Frank in our way.  He was the one of the best men I ever knew, and am proud to say he was my uncle. 

I’ve posted pictures from the evening.  Click here to see them.