Practice is the best form of hope.

Category: Blog Posts

  • Birthday Weekend Recap

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    My birthday this year was most enjoyable. Thanks to all who made it great by wishing me well on Facebook and in person. Here is a list of cool things that happen, as well as some naked photos.

    Just kidding about the naked photos. Here’s why my birthday was better than yours was.

    • I went for a gorgeous bike ride with my wife. She keeps getting better and better at riding in the forest.
    • We enjoyed some artfully prepared and delicious sushi in Boston. I convinced Megan to steal a black napkin from the restaurant, so that I could have a formal bandana for Jesse’s vow renewal scheduled for the morrow. She did steal it. What a brave woman I married.
    • Visited the Garment District and scored the perfect belt to wear to tomorrow’s formal event. I also found a brown bandana. The GD never disappoints.
    • I visited with my boy, Benjamin Hilton who just moved into a new place with his family. He’s been a dad for about 6 months, and he seems really exhausted. I do not think I’m capable of doing it, but it was great to see him.
    • We attended a graduation party for our cousin Molly. We enjoyed tasty food and drink, and hung out with the Martin family for the first time in 6 months.
    • I finally spoke with my Aunt Annette and had a conversation I’d been putting off for months. It was the first time I’d talked to her since my cousin Johnny’s funeral. I cried several times and feel quite relieved.
    • Learned that my neice Taylor welcomed a baby girl into the world on June 13th, the greatest day of the year.
    • Spent the night at Aunt Mary’s camp. I taught a nephew how to start a fire.
    • Attended Jesse and Joy’s vow renewal ceremony and diner. I rated it 5 stars on Yelp.

    Here are the non-nude pics I promised:

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    The perfect belt for my grey jeans!

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    The perfect bandana for my coffee t-shirt.

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    Sushin in Boston

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    Welcome to this world Olivia Leigh

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    Cool graffiti in Providence RI

    Birthday Weekend Recap

    Having some fun at Jesse’s vow renewal with my formal bandana

  • #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

  • Happy birthday sushi

    Happy birthday sushi

    Today has been a stellar birthday. I’m thankful for my great friends and family. Thanks for your birthday wishes. Here is a pic of some fantastic sushi we had at  Genki Ya in Brookline, MA. A bit far to travel for my Maine peeps, but certainly stop by if you’re in the vicinity. Yum!

     Happy birthday sushi 

  • Our first camping trial was a success

    Our first camping trial was a success

    Megan and I completed our first camping trip today. We spent a night at a campground 2 miles from our apartment. Our goal was to get our new tent out its box and make sure we could set it up. Also, as it had been a while, I wanted to make sure I could still light a fire. Success! The tent was easy and breezy, and I made us breakfast on a campfire!

    A few folks have expressed curiosity at our sudden interest in camping. Why are we doing this?

    • It’s a cheap way to travel.
    • As a programmer who sits most of the day on my bum in front of a computer, I need some downtime that gets me moving in the great outdoors.
    • Car camping is a gateway drug. I hope to learn some real survival skills, and car camping is a good first step for someone who grew up in comfy suburbia.

    Our end game is to move to Denver. After living all our lives in New England, we hope to climb to the top of it before we fly away!

    Before I sign off, here are two quick gear reviews. This first peice of equipment, the Camp Chef table, is a hybrid between a food preparation table and a portable pantry. There is a great episode of Parts Unknown, where Bourdin visits Quebec and meets some chefs who manage to prepare gourmet meals in the wilderness. Megan and I plan to do the same, and this table will help us get there. We’ll post some pics of our creations over the summer.

    Our first camping trial was a success

    Next, our tent, the Midori 3 by Eureka, was a gift from Papa John. It is a solid couples tent. It is roomy, easy-to-assembly, and very breathable. We extend a big thank you Papa John, who is currently touring the country with just his motorcycle and tent! I believe he is at Glacier National Park today.

    Our first camping trial was a success

    Ok, that is all for now. I’m sure I’ll talk your ear off again after the next camping trip.

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  • Cool Designs for PortFringe 2015

    Cool Designs for PortFringe 2015

    Here are two flyers, hot off the presses for PortFringe 2015. Both were lovingly crafted by Allie Munier. Yours truly will be starring in I Can’t Take You Anywhere, alongside my wife. We will be playing a quarreling married couple. If you like these flyers, then you should obviously come see the plays. ( I’m writing this post from a campground by the way ).

  • 2015 Portland Fringe Festival

    2015 Portland Fringe Festival

    For the past seven years I’ve supported my wife, Megan, in her whole-hearted devotion to the difficult art of play making. This past year, I’ve been joining her onstage and backstage occasionally. I’m thinking about changing my title from Rocco Tripaldi, Theatre Husband to the slightly elevated Rocco Tripaldi, Frequent Collaborator.

    As I move forward in this endeavor, a quote from the legendary comedian, Groucho Marx comes to mind: “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member”.

    2015 Portland Fringe Festival

    I learned today that a play that Megan is a part of earned over $1000 in crowd funding to appear in this year’s Portland Fringe Festival. When I heard this news, I initially thought that it seemed excessive to solicit donations for Fringe, which is essentially a way to test out new work. Megan reminded me what Fringe is really about. The festival, like most other theatrical events, is competitive. The artists involved don’t simply want to test out their work, they want to take it to the next level. Sometimes you need to make a big impression to achieve that.

    Friends in Portland, friends in Boston, friends in New Hampshire and Rhode Island: come see PortFringe. Come especially if it’s been over 5 years since you’ve seen a play. Come as an excuse to visit us and visit Maine. Come to see great artist striving for bigger spotlights!

  • #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

  • The definition of polarizing

    The definition of polarizing

    Richard’s parents will do anything for their baby… and so will Paula’s. That’s why they’re working two jobs.

    This keenly drawn ( animated GIFs! ) comic strip is what you might see if you looked up “polarizing” in the dictionary. It is perfectly split down the middle, telling the story of two people from different classes. The real fun begins in the comment sections, demonstrating how certain issues can cut the world ( and the internet ) in two. Enjoy!

  • #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

    The magical sandwich order of life. #sketchSunday

    #sketchySunday

  • Taking New Steps

    Taking New Steps

    In New England there is a strange sociological phenomenon that is worthy of investigation. If, for example, a friend asks you to come to their home to visit, it is likely you’d say “no”. BUT, if on the other hand the same friend asks you to come help them, you’d likely say “yes”. That is the Yankee way.

    Today with very little notice, I helped my pal, Chris, build this awesome staircase:

    Taking New Steps
    That’s me, with the plate, sitting on a stone wall and staircase that i helped to build.

     

    There are not many communities in America where a person will go, with very little notice, and help a friend with an unknown project. I’m proud to be a Yankee. Need help with something, give me a call! Here are a few more photos of our awesome effort:


  • Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015
    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015
    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

    Higgins Beach, Memorial Day 2015

  • Kicking off a summer of new adventures

    Kicking off a summer of new adventures

    This summer, Megan and I are trying something new. We are hiking, with a goal of climbing Mt. Katahdin in September. This past weekend we started out small with Bradbury Mountain.

    A few intermediary hikes we have planned between now and then are Mt. Monadnock, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Kineo. Can you recommend any others?

    Kicking off a summer of new adventures
    Megan on Bradburry Mountain.
    Kicking off a summer of new adventures
    Our hiking boots now. I wonder how they will look at the end of the season?
  • First Quarter Review

    First Quarter Review

    I’m attempting the WordPress365 challenge. #wp365. That is, I’m trying to write 1 blog post every day for a year.  It’s been 3 months and I thank you for putting up with me, and I apologize for exposing you to my unadulterated vanity. You see, chief among the reasons I’m embarking on this foolish quest is self-improvement. And I do need you to come along for the ride or else there’d truly be no point.

    However, this quest did not start off as a self-improvement mission. Full disclosure: I work for WordPress but I’m not paid to write this blog. I’m a software engineer and I started ItsRoc.co to become more familiar with the product that I’m helping to build.  As I started writing more posts, I found the process pretty enjoyable. I got my first 3 day streak notification, and I’ll admit, I became slightly obsessed. I wanted to make that number higher and higher. 20, 30, 50, and I’m currently at 91!

    I’ll admit that once I hit around 25 days, the obsession wore off, and it became really hard to write posts. I was tempted on more than one day to give up. Writing has been a challenge for me for as long as I can remember, and now that I’m setting aside time every day to write for #wp365, writing is definitely getting easier. And it is exciting! I’m talking nail biting excitement. Even though I’m struggling less, there are many days when the words won’t come and I publish absolute crap at the 11th hour.

    Additionally, writing daily posts that I then share with the world is also easing my social anxiety. Thinking about you fools regularly makes me a better social being. I cannot thank you enough for that. Keep on doing what you’re doing. You are all perfect.

    And I’m certainly having a lot of fun. I’ve come up with a few gimmicks such as #tattuesday and #sketchSunday. They keep me amused and make it easier to keep a streak going.

    Now it’s in the open. Now you know why I’m blogging so much. Cheer me on please, and I’ll see you at the half-year review!

    Stats ( Feb. 25 – May 27 )
    Views: 1360
    Visitors: 557
    Likes: 220
    Comments: 14
    Total Subscribers: 38

    An article about Megan’s prop design was the most popular for this period. It was shared a lot on Facebook! It will be tough to unseat that article as tops.

  • Memorial Day 2015

    Memorial Day 2015

    My dad first played me this song when I was around 7 years old. Pretty heavy stuff for a kid! The song would be followed of stories about his time serving in the Vietnam war. I was always inspired to grab my toy guns and play WAR! with my pals. I found out many years later that my dad never served in any war, and the scars that he claimed were from combat, were actually from having his appendix removed. What an asshole! Apparently that’s where I received my trolling instincts.

    This song is even more powerful in this live version. The circular narrative and twist ending still get me every time. Play it today and remember those who have served, and those who have given their lives.

  • #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

    #sketchySunday

  • Automattic company photo – Lobstah edition

    Automattic company photo – Lobstah edition

    I was sorry that I wasn’t able to hang at the office with some colleagues this past weekend. Enter the power of Photo Shop and the animated .gif. Props to Joel Desmond for the great portrait.

    Automattic company photo – Lobstah edition

  • Port Fringe Preview

    Port Fringe Preview

    The countdown is on for this year’s PortFringe festival, and the hashtags are just starting to warm up. Get excited people, and make sure you come support the amazing talent in this town.

    To wet your whistle here are a few enticing bits from the web!

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    Port Fringe Preview

    And remeber to come see “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” starring yours truly playing opposite Megan Tripaldi. Without giving away too much, here’s some cryptic images from our writer / director Allie Munier. We’ll keep you posted as time draws closer.

    Poster concept art by Allie Munier
    First table read!
  • The Things We Save

    The Things We Save

    I’m still in the process of sorting through boxes of stuff that my family has saved over the years. Honestly, it’s tempting to just chuck it all in the trash. After scrutinizing the items, that’s where a lot of it is going anyway. Why not just skip the scrutiny? Because then I would miss out on some gems from the past like weird trading cards from the 1980s!

    My dad was an avid card collector, cards for any sport really, he loved them all. Megan and I sifted through dozens of baseball, American football, European football, and basketball. In his later years, he stopped caring about perserving the cards. They were all just lumped together in a trash bag. The only reason we bothered sifting through was to see if there was anything valuable. There was not. The most valuable card was an UpperDeck Michael Jordan valued at $6. It was a nice experience though. It was like spending time with my dad again. And it was sad trashing all of his old cards. While they meant a lot to him, they are pretty meaningless to me. Had he kept them nice, I would have at least donated them to a card shop or an other collector.

    The Things We Save

    I also found some of my old, ridiculous trading cards. I found some cards from popular movies, enscribed with words that were never even said in the film! I found some classic WWF wrestlers, and of course Garbage Pail Kids! Other than I set of GPK that I kept in plastic, they were all in rough shape. In the trash they go!

    The Things We Save

    The Things We Save

    The Things We Save

    I also had to say goodbye to some of my nephew’s toys. Sesame Street characters with no arms, erroded wrestlers. Why bother saving them if we are going to take good care of them. Goodbye, Woody, thanks for providing Bo with much enjoyment over 20 years ago!

    The Things We Save

    Sometimes we save things because it is difficult to say goodbye to the past. I understand that instinct very well, and tonight I had to make some hard decisions. I’m writing this blog post to ease the pain a little. I’ll leave you with this creepy picture of a doll with unknown origins. Good night!

    The Things We Save

  • #sketchySunday 

    Here’s a special WordCamp Maine edition of #sketchySunday featuring the awesome sketches in the men’s room of the Arcadia National Bar. Enjoy.

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  • Best of #wcme15 Tweets

    Best of #wcme15 Tweets

    WordCamp Maine blasted off today, and it has been quite fun. MECA has been a wonderful host and has provided a backdrop of weird and wonderful art. Otto provided some yummy pizza. And Mendal taught me about the Periscope app. Before I head off to the after party, here is a list of some of my favorite tweets:

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    https://twitter.com/wonderboymusic/status/599647116148011008