Day 9 – First off… let’s hear it for Tim Rice… the man who has kept this blog going for over 3300 consecutive days.  So far 9 days has been a chore… not sure how he does it.  But he does and that’s why we love him.  So I have been on the Keto Diet for the past 7 months and I am down 33 pounds.  Upside… I feel pretty amazing and look a lot better.  Downside… retiring a lot of beloved t-shirts.  (RIP “Adultish” T.)  I went to my doctor recently and for the first time in a long time I wasn’t scolded after the nurse checked my blood pressure.  Keto is a diet that revolves are ketosis.  What is ketosis?  No 100% sure.  I looked it up once but it was a little too involved to keep my attention.  All I know is that you lose weight fast and in a healthy manner.  The diet consists of 75% healthy fats, 20% protein and 5% carbs, sugar is totally eliminated.  You’d be surprised how much you are able to eat on this probably-too-good-to-be-true diet.  There’s a lot of prep and table reading involved.  If you’re interested in trying this diet I suggest picking up a book or two.  There’s some great recipe books that go through the basics.  Today I thought I’d share some of the foods that are now a big part of my daily diet.  Enjoy…

 

Day 8 – I sort of know how they work.  Combinations of notes create chords and in turn create music, sweet music.  I have always been fascinated by musical instruments but never took the time to learn how to play them.  Musicians amaze me.  How they move up and down a fret board effortlessly.  How their fingers gracefully run up and down the keys of a piano.  How they get all the hot girls.  I own a guitar, ukulele, harmonica, drum kit, piano, slide whistle, saxophone, bongos and a borrowed bass… and I can’t play any of them.  I know the notes, I know three chords on the guitar (the only three you need), I know how to play one basic scale but it just doesn’t come natural to me.  Or… I haven’t spent enough time practicing.  Could be that.  I sing in multiple bands to feel like I’m a part of the magic (These photos are from last night’s Tailgates Down show at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar).  It’s probably the closest I’ll get to being a real musician.  But as they say… it’s never too late.

 

 

Day 7 – So I was missing the summer a bit today.  This weather could be worse I suppose but there’s nothing like summertime in Vermont.  The air is fresh, the humidity is at a minimum and it’s just easier on the footwear.  We’ve done winter, even though we don’t ski, and it’s just as lovely if you enjoy sleeping, eating and drinking.  So I searched back in my phone for a special weekend trip we took to Smuggler’s Notch.  The kids love the water parks and we love the Boyden Winery. Something for everyone.  We went kayaking for the first time and hiked a few miles through the woods to a secluded pond with an amazing view of the mountains of Vermont and all it’s glory.  Making memories… warm, warm memories…

 

Day 6 – I’ll be honest with you… I cheated a bit on this one. I don’t know how Tim does this every day.  I, myself, had a busy day. Work, resting of the eyes for a bit, errands, hanging some Christmas lights outside (although I was not fully satisfied with the outcome. It’s never enough in my head… more, more, more, but without getting too Clark Griswoldy.  I suppose it’s enough for now… we’ll see how I feel tomorrow.  Then it might be back to the Christmas Tree Shop… again…), then some family time.  And here we are.  Oops!  dailypic!  So I looked back in my camera (phone) and found some shots from a fall trip to Wojcik’s Farm in Blackstone.  Went with Jack and some friends.  Found my way out in pretty decent time.  Cheated a bit there too though.  Shhhh…

My name is Ray and I am a 46 year old man-child.  I enjoy collecting toys.  Perhaps more than my own children.  It’s been an issue for most of my adult life.  There is no treatment for this affliction other than perhaps a decent “grow up” tongue-lashing from time to time, although I seem to be immune to that at this point.  I get uncontrollably weak when I pass by a wall of Pop figures in a store.  I sneak toys into our shopping cart of adult-oriented and practical items when we go shopping.  Will it end?  Will I be cured?  Probably not… it’s too late for me.  Learn from me… save a loved one before it’s too late for them.  My name is Ray and I’m a 46year old man-child.

 

It’s been awhile, but tonight I got the chance to spend some time with my friend, the multi-talented Jim Ligor, in his basement recording studio.  Although most recording studios, in general, utilize the same basic equipment to record music, each studio is unique in reflection of its mission and engineer.  Some are sterile and unwelcoming… nothing but business folks.  And others are filled with nicknacks and memories.  Some, like Jim’s basement, hug you like a long-lost friend.  That’s my kind of studio… a safe haven for creative thought and musical magic.  And that’s lovely and all but at the end of the day I still don’t know what all those buttons and knobs actually do.

Oh!  And we recorded a song tonight!  Merry Christmas everyone…

 

Day 3 – Here’s to hoping Tim is having a good time on his trip.  So far I’m really enjoying filling in for him!

Well, it’s no secret… I love Christmas.  I think I give that fact of information about me away when I start decorating two weeks before Thanksgiving.  For me it’s never enough.  Snowmen, sparkly lights, trees, timers, Christmas-scented pine cones, remote-controlled candles and other things I acquired from dozens of trips to the Christmas Tree Shop this year alone.  (Much like posting these photos, I don’t know when to stop.)  But we do it for the kids don’t we?  Sure… let’s go with that excuse….

Day 2 – Ray here… punchy as ever after a successful 30-hour toy drive at Target, where we collected roughly 5,000 toys and roughly 36 minutes of sleep.  After the bus was stuffed and the toys were shipped off, we had just enough time to jump in line for Milford’s Annual Santa Parade.  And despite a rainy day, the parade was determined to happen.  And it did!  In fact, the skies cleared for the nearly the entire duration of the parade before it started back up again.  As if Santa himself put in a good word with Mother Nature for our benefit.  Businesses and organizations from the greater Milford Area got their holiday spirit on and celebrated the season with festive joy.  Merry Christmas!

 

Hello… my name is Ray and I have been put in a very daring position… to keep this blog going in the absence of it’s creator and curator, the great Tim Rice, Photographer.  It’s a challenge that I don’t take lightly and a job I have no intentions of coming even close to matching.  But here I am, because a friend bestowed upon me this honor.  I fancy myself to be an amateur photographer although that title challenges my true abilities.  Perhaps iPhotographer is a better phrase as I tend to lean towards using my phone and photo apps to capture life around me.  All I can do is hope that what I have learned from the great Tim Rice over the years has sunk in a bit.  So here it goes… wish me luck folks.

My first blog is happening as I type.  My other job is that of Mr. Everything and Morning Show Host at 101.3 MyFM.  This weekend is our 2nd Annual MyFM Stuff a Bus to benefit Toys For Tots.  From 8am today (Saturday) until 2pm Sunday we are camped out in front of Target in Milford collecting toys for kids in need.  Last year’s generosity of the local community was overwhelming as we concluded our drive with about 3,000 donated toys.  So far we are on track to surpass that number!  So please take a trip down here and lend a hand!  We are also collecting gift cards as an alternative donation option.

Bam!  Blog #1 done.  How’d I do???