For those of you wondering what I've been up to in Boston...

Yes, sadly, I've been moonlighting as a sheep. Even more sad is that Brad joined me when he came up to visit. I'm not sure he really got the hang of it...

The history they don't teach you at Marshall Simonds (Or, "Failures in the Public Education System")

I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to diss Burlington ever again. I have just found out two AMAZING facts about the only town I can really call home.

I already knew that Amy Poehler (SNL) and Jay Pandolfo (NHL) both hailed from my old stomping grounds. But I did NOT know that Steven Wright (the comedian) also grew up there. Not a bad alumni list for a smallish suburb...

However, thanks to the joys of Wikipedia, I have found out what might be the greatest useless fact I have ever heard: Burlington may have been ... the birthplace... of the high five. I kid you not. Check it out here.

The high five has been used as a celebratory gesture in sports as far back as 1974. Jack McCullough of Burlington, Massachusetts claims to have been an original inventor of the high-five during CYO basketball competition. Home movies do prove the use of the high five on his basketball team. The gesture caught on very quickly throughout the league, so much so that some consider Burlington to be an unofficial birth place of the high five (though strictly speaking this is probably not true and the town has never publicly made this claim).

Hearsay? An urban legend? The work of some BHS pranksters? Probably, but I'm pretty sure I don't care. If you think I'm not spreading this myth despite its dubious nature, you don't know me at all. How is this not in our town motto?? "The Home of the High Five" should be on every Welcome to Burlington sign and official town document. The Red Devils mascot -- OUT! A giant jumping hand (nicknamed "Fivey"?) -- IN! I may have to run for the Board of Selectmen on this platform alone.


Some other High Five resources...

April 19th, not just another day

A conflicting tale of the origin of the High Five (Lies!! All LIES!!)

US Patent 5,356,330 (Albert Cohen is a hero...)

A smattering of High Five examples, trivia, and the science behind the art

The High Five goodwill ambassador



I've never felt such a sense of hometown pride as I do right now...

It's sad when you see a headline like this and wonder, "Which one?"

.

Clinton shows femininity to court older, married women

.

Back from Bolivia!

So I've been a bit of a bum about posting about my trip to Bolivia. I'll write some thoughts and observations soon. But to whet your palate, I've posted some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Montinator/BoliviaAugust2007

Boliviar!

Heading to the Southern hemisphere for the first time in my life, for a missions trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Our team will be teaching Bible lessons to kids, working at an orphanage, and doing some construction projects. It'll be quite the busy week. You can track our progress here. I'm a pretty good mix of excited, nervous, and curious. It will be a challenge and a blessing to spend a week focusing on others rather than myself. I'll do my best to do some updates while I'm there, but I'll definitely put up stories and pictures when I'm back.

To the Bangladesh contingent of my readers...

Happy Birthday!
Happy Arbitrary Anniversary!
Come back soon.

Maybe he has a point...

"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?"

Evelle from Raising Arizona.

Simpsonize Me

In honor of the Simpsons movie, they (whoever "they" are) started a website where you can "Simpsonize" yourself [http://www.simpsonizeme.com/index.php]. You upload a photo, customize a few things, and whammo, they give you the Simpsons-animated version of you. It's nearly the speed of molasses and sometimes doesn't like the picture you upload, but to me it was worth the hassle and pain. This is what I came up with:

I think the 5 O'Clock shadow doesn't really suit me, but I didn't know how to capture my normal scruff. The ears are giant enough, and the eyes and glasses are about as expected, but the hairline may be a bit generous. I nailed the T-shirt though. Go Grey!

UPDATE: I gave it another crack when it wasn't acting up so much, and came up with this:

That's pretty darn me.

Wedding Exstravaganza

So... Chris and Katy got married on Sunday. It was quite a celebration, and was very cool to be a part of. I got to push buttons! And I added a dance move. Though I'm pretty sure it's only appropriate for awkward solo dancing while everyone else glares. It was great to see some friends, and venture up North, and watch some belated July 4th fireworks. Congrats to newly-created Norberg Family!

The Whole Gang. Nice job wedding party! Way to make sure Chris and Katy got married!

Shhh, keep it on the Down Low, but I think Chris has a thing for Katy...

Yes Danny, I see the baby. He's right there...


See, I told you he has a thing for her!

That's a nice vista backdrop, but it'd be even better if there were a rustic barn...

Chillin' on the patio thing


Hey look, a rustic barn!! Great backdrop, and way to hold it up.


Couple, Cake, and Kids.


And the winner of coolest most popular table at the wedding: Table 18!!

Jack Smuck is a funny name

Today was the 2nd anniversary of me entering the working world. Two years. I have very little idea what that means. I celebrated by breaking out the Surf Rock for the first time in a while. Yeeeah.

How I spent my summer vacation

Stephen and I built a fort on Saturday. We were inspired by some off-hand comment he made, and we committed. It took up 80% of our living/dining area. It was pretty much the best thing ever. We read in it, prayed in it, ate cookie dough in it, watched Return of the King in it, watched baseball in it, slept in it, ate ice pops in it, and hung out in it. Even Stephen and Chris's parents hung out in it! Everything's better in a fort! Unfortunately, we had to tear it down. Sad times.

Joey Chestnut wins, every one else loses

Happy Independence Day! Boom! Pow! Oooooh! Aaaaaaah!

Joey Chestnut brings back the title of Most Gluttonous back to the US. I really wish I could find some way to be impressed, but I can't get past visualizing how 66 hotdogs would feel in my stomach. Ugh.

A Very Scottford Wedding

Just got back from Scottrick's wedding. It was very cool despite the heat. They had it outside in a public park, and invited the homeless folks that Scotty and his then-bride-to-be had been serving the last few years. And in their vows and message Scotty and Elizabeth kept coming back to the image of Christ as the bridegroom and us as His bride. Congrats guys! So excited for you.

We're putting the band back together...

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bride

She made it


Marriage-y things

Ok, this is from Gene's wedding in March, but too bad.

Issues

My nose keeps itching, and it refuses to stop.
I can't tie my tie right today. It's either too long or too short, or the knot looks bad.
I keep tripping on nothing in the hall. Not due to new shoes; I've had them for 2 years.
I keep crashing into Will, and then having awkward conversations with him about ties and tripping on the hall.

Though annoying, if these are the only issues I have today, not so bad.

High School Music

Sunshine lollipops and rainbows everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together
Brighter than a lucky penny something something something ... must rhyme with together

This song popped into my head today. For whatever reason, some of us sang it regularly in high school. I forget why, but I certainly remember how. We never really figured out the end part, so we probably just hummed it. I looked it up, but it's easier to remember my version. It was a huge accomplishment the day Michelle P remembered the second line started with "brighter than a lucky penny".

Weekend Update:
Congrats to Mary on her engagement (and thanks for an awesome engagement party, with horses and chickens and trampolines). Way to go Chris and Brad and me for our skills on the baseball field (and the soccer field, which was still the baseball field). I was the only one who was bad at frisbee, but it was because of the wind. I swear!