Jenn Martinelli Blogging in Boston

This is a picture Rob took from the Cambridge side of the Charles River a couple of years ago the day of the Head of the Charles regatta. The cranes to the right may be associated with the redevelopment of Charles River Plaza which we live just up the street from now. Funny.

This is from Billy's 7th birthday, according to the folder it's in. (He's 10 now.) Apparently he was worn out from all the celebrating.

This is my old road in Doylestown, OH where I went to high school.

This is just so sad.

Can someone point me to actual scientific data showing that there are lower crime rates in states that have a death penalty? Because that's what all the idiots on "the hill" who are pushing for it to be reinstated in Massachusetts are claiming, but I don't know what the hell they're basing it on. Here's a clue folks: criminals aren't usually all that swift. If they were they would have figured out a way not to live a life of crime.

Here's a photo Rob took near South Station a couple of years ago when I worked down on Summer Street. I like the crazy group of buildings in the picture.

Can you believe a year has gone by since Arafat died? That still seems like recent news to me.

I finished Suzanne's scarf. Take a look.

Finished scarf

Scarf detail

Here's my brother dressed as Luigi for Halloween. Nice.

Now Brian, please get rid of the creepy mustache.

Here's a random picture of Heather and Billy in Charlestown in January of 2003. I really want us to get pictures organized and online, so to inspire us I'm going to try to post pictures fairly often. I just thought this was a funny picture.

How ridiculous is it that the only reason I know there are riots in Paris is because I saw something about it on a Spanish channel on TV in a takeout restaurant the other day, and because they talked about it on NPR. I don't see anything in the papers about it around here and the local news had not a word to say about it.

Another reason the local news sucks.

Anyway, but this is my favorite - this is what sparked the riots:

The riots began after two youths of North African descent were electrocuted when they hid in an electric power station, believing they were being followed by police.

Since when is it the government's fault that you decided to hide in an electric power station?

France seems to have some major issues.

Oh, there's nothing I love more than a big dumb dummy trying to reassure the public that we aren't going to die in a pandemic of avian flu.

"Come on, people, even if it did come to our country, it's a bird disease. Relax."

I'm paraphrasing but that's basically what he said.

I just heard someone on the radio talking about how the next generation (ie: younger than me, I don't know what that is... Generation Next or something stupid?) is concerned that they will be the first generation in the US to inherit a worse life than their parents had.

Whoa kids, I think my generation has that covered. The cost of living is way higher for us than for our parents' generation, it's almost impossible to support a family without 2 parents working. Hey, it's almost impossible just to support 2 adults without any kids on just one salary.

Note to the next generation: you're totally screwed.

My baby brother Brian dressed as a Mario Brother for Halloween. It is deeply disturbing. I'll post the photo here later but at the moment I can't access it because I'm at work.

Oh, Brian. You're so special.