Good Friday

My 2 Princesses

Fiona in her Cinderella dress and Mama in her wedding dress. Both wearing Fairy Wings and McDonald's Happy Meal Cinderella crowns.

Fiona and Lisa Loeb: Seperated at birth?

KOTO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

So in my Gastronomic Tour of Vermont Post I mentioned going to Koto Japanese Steak House.

Here is something I wrote in Smokin' Dog back in 2001 about going there one time with Maureen.

ME, REEN, ARNOLD & JIM

Last year, Maureen came to visit and she and I went to one of thos Japanese restaurants where they cook the food right in front of you. There was another family sitting with us. (We were trying to avoid talking to them, but it was no use.)
ARNOLD: So, where are you from.
ME: We're from Reading PA, but I leve here and my sister lives in Virginia.
REEN: So anyway, we get to the movies and this lady...
ARNOLD: What do you do for work?
ME: I work for Bell Atlantic.
REEN: And I work for an engineering firm.... so this lady sits right in front of us and she has this huge hat on her huge head...
ARNOLD: Are you an engineer?
REEN: No, I am in human resources.... so she's got on this hat and I asked....
Then the chef, Jim, comes to the table.
JIM: Hello everyone, my name is Jim and I'll be your chef this evening.
ARNOLD: HELLO JIM. MY NAME IS ARNOLD.
JIM: Hi.
ARNOLD: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
JIM: I'm from Ohio.
ARNOLD: WHAT PART OF JAPAN ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY?
JIM: Actually, I'm Chinese.
ARNOLD: YOU SPEAK VERY GOOD ENGLISH.
JIM: Well, I should, I've lived here my whole life.
This banter went on for some time. When we left the restaurant we get in my car and Reen starts imitating the guy in the restaurant, only louder.
REEN: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I AM FROM BURLINGTON VERMONT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE BURLINGTON VERMONT IS?
I was laughing so hard that I started to cry.
REEN: EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID YOU WERE NOT FROM JAPAN AND ALSO STATED THAT YOU DO NOT SPEAK ANY JAPANESE I AM GOING TO ASK YOU THE JAPANESE WORD FOR EVERYTHING. WHAT IS THE JAPANESE WORD FOR FORK? WHAT IS THE JAPANESE WORD FOR PLATE? HOW DO YOU SAY SODA IN JAPAN? I AM A JACKASS. HOW DO YOU SAY JACKASS IN JAPANESE?
And then Arnold came out of the restaurant and looked over at us and we drove away laughing.

2 Comix (Good ones this time)

Amy: so so mean to me.

Fiona is wicked funny:

Vermont Food

So Joe told me he went to Vermont Pub and Brewery the other day and had a Reuben. It made my mouth water. I consider myself something of a Reuben Connisuer and the VT Pub and Brewery has very very good Reubens.

So I added VT Pub and Brewery to the list of restaurants I want to visit the next time we go to Vermont. Then I made lists of all the other restaurants I want to go to next time we visit Vermont.

It took me about an hour and a half to plan out

My Gastronomic Tour of Vermont.

It will be 3 meals a day for 6 days. My 6 favorite breakfast places, my 6 favorite lunch places, and my 6 favorite dinner places.

Of course, we will be enjoying Green Mountain Coffee as often as possible and drinking Magic Hat beers unless otherwise noted. And desserts will be: Mazza's Apple pies with Ben and Jerry's Vanilla Ice Cream, or a waffle cone of one of the following Ben & Jerry's Ice Creams: Chubby Hubby, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, or Phish Food.

DAY 1 - BURLINGTON

Breakfast at Leunigs -

Eggs Benedict (Leunigs is really snooty and aloof, like they are better than everyone else, and normally I don't like places like that, but their Eggs Benedict are so so good that I am willing to put up with the jackassery. Even the description of the Eggs Benedict sounds snobby. Everyone knows what is in Eggs Benedict. And they say "Wolferman's English muffins" as if Wolferman's are the greatest English muffins in the world. Like it would be an affront to the delicate palates of the French-Canadian snobs who eat there to eat a Thomas' English muffin. BUT I must reiterate... these truly are the best Eggs Benedict in the world. I think the ingredient they didn't mention is ground up crack cocaine.)

Lunch at Vermont Pub and Brewery - Reuben Sandwich.

Dinner at Koto Japansese Steak house

DAY 2 - BURLINGTON

Breakfast at the Oasis Diner (from what I've read, the people who owned when Amy used to go there a lot have sold the place. Hopefully it is still as good.)

Lunch at Ri-Ra's - Beef and Guiness Stew and a Harp Lager.

Dinner at Kwan's, my favorite Chinese restaurant for General Tso's Chicken. (Amy CLAIMS there was a bug in her Pork Fried Rice one time... I am pretty sure it was just some burnt rice. Either way, that was the last time she ordered from there. I did not let it stop me, though.)

Day 3 - AMERICAN-STYLE FOOD STARTING IN BURLINGTON AND MOVING NORTHEAST TO STOWE

Breakfast at the Libby's Blue Line Diner for pancakes and sausage.

Lunch at Al's French Frys for a sausage sandwich and a pizza burger and a pint of fries.

Dinner at Gracie's for "The Boxer" - Half-pound cheddar bacon burger (yeah, it's $9 but really well worth it.)

Day 4 - JOHNSON, MORRISVILLE, STOWE

Breakfast at Plum & Main in Johnson.

Lunch at Munchies for a couple of greasy burgers and fries.

Dinner at The Shed. I'm going to go with the Shed Burger - Ground Beef marinated in Beer and spices. At the Shed, I will get a Ski of beer - it is a miniature ski with 6 - 6oz glasses of beer. We went there on Christmas Eve 2001 with our friend Tracey Jackson and they had the best Holiday beer I've ever had. It was so light and crisp. I am not a beer connisuer, but I know what I like and I really really liked that beer.

Day 5 - STOWE

Breakfast at the Troll Trail Bed and Breakfast. (I couldn't find a web site for it - maybe it is no longer in operation. They used to have the freaky troll come out and handed out wooden coins. One snuck up on my dad and nearly scared him to death. I am pretty sure my dad still has his troll coin.)

Lunch at Depot Street Malt Shop - Grilled Cheese and Tomato, and a malted milk shake.

Dinner at Von Trapp Family Lodge. They actually have a real dress code - this is a real classy place!!!

Appetizer

Wild Mushroom Cake with Chanterelles on Asparagus Salad with White Balsamic Vinaigrette $10.50 (Being married to Amy, I don't get to eat mushrooms very often, let alone a mushroom CAKE!)

Soup

Alpine Mushroom Onion Soup with an Emmenthaler Crostini and Scallions $6.50 (Again with the mushrooms.)

Entree

A Duet of Wild Game: Wild Boar Sausage and Venison Chop on Hunter’s Potatoes with Asparagus, Chestnuts and Lingonberry Demi Sauce $36.00 (Surcharge: $10.00) I am also going to ask for a side order of Spetzel.

Desert

Apfelstrudel: Layers of light flaky crust, rolledwith sliced apples, raisins, and cinnamon.

Day 6 - MORRISVILLE AND BACK TO BURLINGTON

Breakfast at my favorite "after church" restaurant - the Charlemont - I will have the Charlemont Breakfast Sandwich - Bacon, Eggs and Chese on an english muffin.

Lunch at Marco's in Burlington for a pepperoni Calzone and some Garlic Knots.

And then, for our last mean in Vermont: Dinner at Trattoria Delia.

Appetizers

Bruschetta: Wood-grilled country bread rubbed with garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh herbs and topped with vine-ripened tomatoes. $ 5.50

Scamorza alla Griglia: Wood-grilled handmade smoked mozzarella served on a bed of arugula with grilled tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. $ 8.50

Main Course
Spaghetti alla Pescatora: Fresh baby clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari sauteed with olive oil, white wine, garlic, herbs and tomatoes. $17.50

Dessert
Tiramisu:` Tiramisu means “pick me up,” and this traditional Venetian dessert will do just that! Lady fingers lightly soaked in rum and espresso, in a rich custard with mascarpone cheese, topped with shaved Belgian chocolate. $ 6.50 (There is usually enought rum in these things to get Amy nearly drunk.)

Thus concludes my 6-day gorging in the state of Vermont. I am now poor and in debt and I've put on about 25 pounds.

reacap of my day thus far.

it is 5:58 and I've been awake for about an hour.

i've had my coffee, paid the bills, (diznee credit card, subaru payment PPL) read about last night's Bruce concert (apparently it was awesome and some kid had a sign that said "rosalita, please" and Bruce played it), watched video on youtube of andrew walking, listened to some music on myspace (SeaWolf, Vampire Weekend), looked at some stuff on ebay that I'd love to buy if I wasn't so poor (mostly old bruce posters and t-shirts, movies on dvd, baby einstein videos, diznee movies, star wars movies, and lp records), and made a list of music to buy (Shawn Colvin, Moldy Peaches, Vampire Weekend, The Pupinni Sisters, The Ramones, People Take Warning).

that is all.

Incidentally, i made a list concerning andrew's youtube video. you can find it at my listville site:
www.listville37.blogspot.com

peace.

The Beatles

I was looking at my friend's facebook page and she had a question posted on it: What Beatles song describes your life right now?

I have recently come to the realization that I don't really like the beatles. I like Rubber Soul, Revolver, and parts of Sgt. Peppers, but for the most part, I can take them or leave them. Like today I heard 'A Day in the Life' on XPN and realized how good that song is. Later in the day I heard Yellow Submarine and realized how bad that song is.

I think I don't like them because I don't like 3 of the people in the group. I can't stand Paul McCartney. I think John Lennon was an ass. And I think Ringo is just some lucky douchebag who was fortunate enough to meet John and Paul. Ringo records albums like he has some kind of songwriting talent - he doesn't.

George was the best Beatle. He was in the top ten best songwriters of the 60's and 70's... unfortunately he was in a band with the top two songwriters.

Anyway, I don't like to ruffle feathers with my I-don't-like-the-Beatles talk, but I have to be honest.

Some things John said were interesting and thought-provoking, but most of what he said sounds like idiocy to me. Kind of like that "I'm famous so my opinions matter" mentality. But, I guess if you have the power to work for good, you should use it. He just seems so self-reighteous. I think if anyone did the things he did, like the bed-in or the bag-in or the starting of a country called Newtopia - if any Joe Schmoe would have done it, they'd have been thrown in a loony bin.

To be fair, Bruce does some of that stupid crap too, like writing editorials in the New York Times and campaigning for John Kerry. And it irks me when he does because I have willingly allowed myself to be so identified with him that people (i.e. my dad and my brother and other republicans I know) make fun of me when they see Bruce on tv criticising the president. That is the cross I bear for being a Bruce fan.

Summary:
Paul McCartney - something of a jerk
John Lennon - some sort of weirdo genius who if he wasn't rich and famous would have wound up ranting and raving on a street corner somewhere
Ringo Starr - by far and wide the luckiest talentless bastard in the history of mankind
George Harrison - awesome.
Bruce Springsteen - also awesome.
Michael P. Holland - some sort of weirdo genius who if he didn't have a good woman like Amy in his life would have wound ranting and raving on a street corner somewhere.

Pat and Nate Holland

On Saturday I was watching the Winter X Games on ABC. In race one of Snowboarder X the winner was NATE HOLLAND. In race 2, his brother, PAT HOLLAND came in third.

Pat Holland (Pink Shirt) and Nate Holland (Yellow Shirt)

A much much cuter Pat Holland (green footie pajamas) and Nate Holland (white footie pajamas).

YET ANOTHER NEW BLOG FROM ME

I have started yet another new blog.

All Lists All The Time

it can be found at

http://listville37.blogspot.com/

I would have liked to have used listville.blogspot.com, but some idiot is already using it... and he updated it 5 times in five days.... in september of 2006.

anyway, i encourage you to post comments of what you would have listed for the different lists.

Odds and Ends

I finally have my folk duo parther!!

Amy's Christmas Present

1. Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow is Jewish and he released a Christmas album. Well, I guess it's okay since we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, who was also Jewish.

2. Father of the Year - I would like to formally nominate myself for Father of the Year. I know it sounds egotistical to claim to be such a great father, but you haven't heard why I deserve the award. I deserve the Father of the Year award because I am taking my child to see Bruce Springsteen in concert. Yes, indeed, Fiona and I will be rocking it with the Boss on July 27. Amy and Maureen will also be there to witness the finest fathering this country has ever seen. Before the nervous nellies out there get concerned for Fiona's eardrums, I want you to know I am taking care of that. I am getting (or borrowing) earmuffs that you wear when you go skeet shooting.
My only real concerns about the concert is that Fiona has some very specific favorite Bruce songs. They are Out In The Street, Candy's Room, and Bishop Danced. There is a chance he will sing OITS and CR, but there is almost zero chance he will sing Bishop Danced. I don't want her to be disappointed if Bruce doesn't play OITS or CR. What I am going to do in the next 7 months is play songs he is guaranteed to play like Badlands and Born To Run and Radio Nowhere. That way she will definitely hear songs she know and likes.

That is all for now
PEACE

Santa is a Phillies Phan!!

We went to the Christmas Bazaar at our church tonight.

I was wearing my Phillies Hat.

Santa Claus was there and he was talking to Fiona. He said "I know you have a good daddy because he is a Phillies fan." Fiona then told Santa that she goes to Phillies games. I told Santa that every time Fiona goes to the Phillies they win.

Santa then looked at me and said "why didn't you take her to the playoffs?"

Veteran's Day

As you all know, my dad was in Viet Nam. You probably also know that my buddy Joe was in the Gulf War and my buddy Kevin served in Iraq. Both of my Grandfathers served in the Army in World War II.
This past weekend was my annual small-game hunting trip with my dad and another Armed Services Veteran, Larry Schultz.
None of Veterans I know brag about their service and all of them were proud to have served their country. I am glad that our nation has a day to honor veterans and that most media outlets are on board with honoring veterans even if it is sometimes contrived and half hearted. It is nice to see feel-good stories about veterans, but should it only be once a year? Shouldn't veteran's be honored every single day? Yesterday during the Fox broadcast of football, a player ran out onto the field and shook the hands of the members of the color guard. Fox showed it over and over and over throughout the day. That was nice that that player honored the members of the armed service, but shouldn't that happen every single game. With the exception of the patronizing "let's remember the armed services" line before the national anthem on Veteran's Day, what does the NFL or Fox broadcasting really do for the advancement of our Armed Services?
This morining, while listening to WXPN, Penn's radio station, the listener request for Veteran's day was a trio of anti-war songs. Give Peace a Chance, Where Have all the Flowers Gone, and some song by Phil Ochs. I was incensed when Give Peace a Chance started to play and fired off an email to the DJ:
i am a new listener in lititz pa and i do love your station. HOWEVER, i am very offended that in honor of Veteran's Day you chose to play Give Peace A Chance. My father fought in Vietnam, friends of mine served in the Gulf War and more recently in Iraq, both of my grandfathers served in World War II. To play the music of an anti-war activist in honor of Veteran's day is an affront to all the brave men and women who served our country. While my father was in vietnam, John Lennon was smoking weed and staying in bed for 7 days straight. I have no problem with the song give peace a chance, i have a problem with your playing it on Veteran's Day. thank you.
I know that the target audience for WXPN is liberal college students, but show a little respect. If you can't find three songs to play that, at the very least do not degrade and debase the men and women who served our country, then don't play any songs at all.
3 Songs about VietNam that are by musicians that are played on XPN that could have been played:
Rooster by Alice in Chains
Good Night Saigon by Billy Joel
Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
I was really pissed off, but realized that people like my dad and grandfathers fought so that liberals like WXPN can do and say whatever the hell they want, even if it is something that pisses off the people who protect them.

Raising Sand

Bluegrass virtuoso Alison Krauss and Led Leppelin Frontman Robert Plant have teamed up to record an album called Raising Sand.
It is really good, it doesn't rock, but it is nice to listen to.
Mike Seeger is on it, as is Patrick Warren (michael Penn's recording partner and studio musician extrodinaire. he has appeared on albums including but not limited to: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aviril Lavigne, Neil Diamond, OK Go, Fiona Apple, Michael W. Smith, Macy Gray, Perry Farrell, Jewel, and is featured on the new Bruce Springsteen album.)
Is there a Springsteen connection? Why yes... yes there is. Bruce's Sister, Pamela, was the album photographer.

odds n ends

yo!

i have a couple of things here, none of which would warrant their own blog post.

a couple of mediocre comix, a picture from the R Phillies, a Springsteeen update, other new music updates and a list I wrote about a year ago of what Joe could have named his child.

BRUUUUCE!!

Springsteen has a new album coming out on October 2. The first single, Radio Nowhere, is available for free from iTunes and it rocks. It is soo good that when describing it to a friend I used an expletive to describe how good it was.

Bruce is, of course, going on tour with the E Street Band, but he didn't see fit to call me when he was planning his tour dates. His Philly show is October 5 - Amy, Nona, and I will be singing Happy Birthday to Andrew Patrick in Mashpee, Massachusetts that day. His Washington DC show is on November 11 - Dad, Larry, Jackdog, and I will be chasing grouse around Potter County and then celebrating the kill with Buffalo Trace Whisky. My only real hope is for the Boston show on November 18. I know what you are thinking "Mike, you are handsome and slender... would you really drive to Boston Mass to see Bruce??? That sounds a little far." I would like to remind you that I once flew from Burlington VT to Philly and then drove with Dritsas to Washington DC to see The Kids in the Hall, and once flew from Burlington to Philly and drive to Hershey to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also, I drove from Burlington to New Jersey to see Bruce. So, to answer your querry, yes... yes I would. Plus if I go to Mass to see Bruce, there is the bonus of getting to chill with Maureen, Mark, and Andrew. Duh.

IF I don't get to see Bruce this year, I will, of course, see him next summer when he goes on a stadium tour.

TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER

Allison Kraus, the best bluegrass singer around today, and Robert Plant, the lead singer of the greatest band of all time, have recorded an album together of blues and bluegrass music. As you all probably know, Plant loves America blues music. BONUS: my close personal friend, Mike Seeger, who is argualby the greatest ethnomusicologist/musician alive today is on the album. And when I say "close personal friend" i mean i met him one time and asked him 3 questions, had my picture taken with him, got him to sign 2 albums, and then he took a picture of me and Amy.

READING PHILLIES

Mom, Dad, Fiona and I went to see the Reading Phillies last week because Chase Utley was there. Once again a photo was taken of a group of people next to us and we got in it. We are at the top middle. I am wearing a white shirt w/red sleeves. Mom and Nona are next to me and Dad is next to them.

LISTVILLE: NAMES FOR JOE'S KID

1. Jobi-Wan Kenobi

2. Jobacca

3. Qui-Gon Joe

4. Joe Joe Binks

5. Joda

6. Joba Fett

7. Joebba the Hutt

8. C-3PJoe

9. Queen Tammydala

COMIX

PEACE

MPH

Odds & Ends

hey hey



i set up a seperate website for photos of Fiona and Patrick. I was starting to feel as though i was not doing them justice by posting their pictures on a blog that focuses on my unhealthy obsession with bruce springsteen, concerts i've been to, crappy comix, my thoughts on the letter "c," and my allergies.



so, to bypass the usual crap you find here at Scrapple Dog and to get right to the pictures of my adorable kids, please go to: fionapatrick.blogspot.com.



now, let's get back to the aforementioned crap you've come to expect from Scrapple Dog, like my new phillies hat and my new sandles.



Amy got me a new phillies hat for Father's Day. I needed a new phillies hat... my other 20 phillies hats were getting boring. This hat is, by far and wide, my favorite phillies hat.



here is a ranking of my phillies hats:
1. New Green Hat with red "P" and red shamrock.
2. Green Hat with white "P" and white
3. Retro maroon Hat with the old-style "P." This hat was a give-away at the first game of the last season at the Vet. My dad gave it to me and I wear it only on special occasions, like when the phillies win with a walk-off homer, or if someone hits a grand-slam, or when Aaron Rowand smashed his face catching a fly ball.
4. Regular red hat with white "P."
5. Black hat with white "P." I wear that one when the Phillies are slumping or when they lose the game in the 9th inning.

I also wanted to post a few images of my new sandals. for years I have thought about trying to turn a pair fo Chuck Taylors into a pair of sandals. I finally did it and i am happy with the results. They aren't much for looking at, but they are wicked comfortable. I probably will never wear them outside the yard, but i think they will be good for up at the cabin if i want to go walking in a stream or in a pond and don't want to get my expensive sandals wet.




there is only one thing to say about my Chuck Taylor sandals:
I RULE!!!!!!!

PEACE
mph

Patrick Kieran

Pat, Pat, and Pat Holland

A few fun facts about Patrick's Birthday:

Patrick shares his birthday with Ramblin' Jack Elliot and Michael Penn. Michael Penn's first album, March, is on my top-ten favorite albums list.

Other important people born on August 1: The greatest female labor organizer of all time, Mother Jones. (please note that in a lot of places her birthdate is listed as May 1, which is May Day which is a very important date in Union history. Her real birthdate is August 1.) Herman Melville - author, inventor of the name "Starbucks." Francis Scott Key - writer of the National Anthem. Publius Helvius Pertinax, Roman emperor.

Less important people born on August 1: son-of-a-Beatle Dhani Harrison, rapper/borderline felon Coolio, rapper/social activist Chuck D, Stupid Hippie Jerry Garcia, seven-pack-a-day smoker Yves Saint-Laurent, gigantic fatass alcoholic Dom DeLuise.

peace.

Patrick Kieran

PATRICK KIERAN

August 1, 2007

2:45 p.m.

7 lbs. 12 oz.

20 inches

LISTVILLE: BABY NAMES

We are getting down to crunch time here. We are locked in on a girl name but are a little wishy-washy on boy names.

So I submit to you:
LIST OF POTENTIAL BABY NAMES THE POTENTIAL MALE HEIR TO THE MICHAEL P. HOLLAND THRONE
1. Cool Hand Luke Holland
2. Mr. Lukas War Hero Holland
3. Lucas Jackson Holland
4. Jason Greg Joe Smith Manny Dritsas Holland
5. Jason (Z not Crazy J) Holland [and that would be the spelling of the name with the parenthesis and all]
6. Good Hank Holland
7. Hud Holland
8. Hombre Holland
9. Fast Eddie Felson Holland
10. Okemah Holland
11. Big Mac Filet-o-fish Holland
12. CHEWBACCA! [the name would be spelled in all caps and the exclaimation point at the end of the name would be part of the name and we would forego a middle or last name.]
13. Theodore Roosevelt Holland
14. Stupid Flanders Holland
15. Simon Sez Holland
16. Jungleland Holland
17. Ahab Holland
18. Led Zeppelin III Holland
19. Oliver Boliver Butt Holland
20. Cool Hand Luke Skywalker Holland [two great tastes that taste great together]

Twin Names
1. Luke and Dragline Holland
2. Bruce and Clarence Holland
3. Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton Holland
4. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard Holland
5. Robert Plant and James Patrick Page Holland
6. R2-D2 and C3PO Holland

Triplets
1. Luke, Dragline, and Coco Holland
2. Vini, Ernest, and Max Holland
3. Bruce, Clarence, and Little Steven Holland

Quadruplets
1. Luke, Dragline, Coco, and Bobalougats Holland

Quintuplets
1. Jason, Gregg, Joe Smith, Dritsas, and Manny Holland
2. Luke, Hud, Hombre, Fast Eddie Felson, and Sullivan Holland

Nontuplets
1. Bruce, Clarence, Steven, Nils, Gary, Roy, Danny, Max, and Pat Holland
2. Then Boss, The Big Man, Little Steven, Nils doesn't have a nickname, Neither does Gary, The Professor, The Phantom, Mighty Max, and Red Holland

That is all for now
MPH

"Ch"

So Dritsas visited on Saturday and we were talking about the town he in which he grew up: Cheltenham.

He pronounced the 'ch' as if it was the same as the "ch" in church, or change.
I pronounced the 'ch" as if it was more like a "sh," Sheltenham.

He deemed himself correct on the pronunciation merely because he is from there, but I begged to differ and differ I did.

He threw out words such as church, chill, cheese, chap, cheeky, cherry, and challenge. As if he were challenging me to refute his claims of the correct pronunciation of Cheltenham.

I cheerfully came back with the following: Charlotte, Cheryl, Cherise, Chicago, and Champlain.

Please note that all the words I listed are proper nouns, implying that proper nouns of course, use the "sh" sound instead of the harsher "ch" sound.

Of course, I thought I had won the argument when I realized there are cities called Chester, Chattanooga, Charlestown, and Chickamauga. And of course there is a little country called China.

So I went on the internet and did some research and googled "Cheltenham Pronunciation." and that gave me a brief history of Cheltenham England. It also has an audio clip of how to pronounce "Cheltenham."

And so, as it turns out, Dritsas was correct.

But I am not done with the letter "c" just yet. I just want to say that I have always disliked the letter "c" because it is so wishy-washy. Not only can you use it as a "chuh" and "sh" sound, but it can also be used as a "k" sound as in Christopher, and chronology. It's like C is to much of a wimp to stand up for itself and say "this is how I sound."
I would like to add that all three of the sounds it makes can, in fact, be made by other letters.
Church could be respelled as jurj. Sound it out, it is practically the same.
Cheryl could be respelled as Sheryl.
And Christopher could be respelled as Kristopher.

Therefore, in the interest of simplisity, I move that all use of the letter "see" be halted immediately. Klearly, there is no further need for a kompletely usless konsonant in our vernakular. Wouldn't it be nise to have an alphabet with 25 letters. 25 is a square number, it is mathematikally pleasing to have 25 instead of 26 letters.

I am not asking you to throw away your keyboards in antisipation of the new 25-letter keyboards, obvioulsy it will take some time for the "Be Free of 'See'" movement to take off, but I am asking you to do your part. For example: if you send a Kristmas Kard to my brother and his family, write "Kristopher Holland and Family" on it.

That is all for now.
Pease.
Mikal Holland

P.S. I am not a krakpot.

three AWESOME things in one

Three AWESOME things
1. Jason Zecchinelli
2. Banjos
3. Star Wars

after further review...

yeah, you actually can see me and amy in that bruce clip.
i am the one in the front row pumping my fist in the air. and as it zooms in on Bruce when he is saying "Baby if you wanna be wild..." you can see me lean over and say something to amy.
Dude, i don't mean to brag, but I FREAKING RULE.