Sort of a Quiet Little Saturday You Could Say

Posted on by Markman

Well, I got our Powerballs in for the night. We’ll see what happens, you never know. I’d be satisfied with one of the smaller prizes actually. Still playing around with AI imagery as you can tell. Watched the Conn. Sun game this afternoon against Phoenix and it was a real good one. The Suns won’t be in the playoffs this year but the rookies they have are pretty amazing. They need some time to mature. I think if they can keep them together the team could be a contender in a few. Really excited to see how the Valkyries do as well. Yeah, I’m into the W now.

Currently Reading: Say Anarcha: A Young Woman, a Devious Surgeon, and the Harrowing Birth of Modern Women’s Health by J.C. Hallman. Say Anarcha excavates history, deconstructing the biographical smoke screen of a surgeon who has falsely been enshrined as a medical pioneer and bringing forth a heroic Black woman to her rightful place at the center of the creation story of modern women’s health care. You can learn a little bit more here if your interested.

A Preview of Some Good Stuff Upcoming

Posted on by Markman

Got some good stuff to look forward to in the coming months. A preview of some: another movie hang on a rooftop with friends, another goat snuggling session, hanging out at a fair and hanging out with the stars from the 80s movie Stand By Me to just name a few. Looking good!

Currently Watched: Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence. What a bunch of nuts!

Fox and Flowers

Posted on by Markman
AI getting better?

You never know what you’re going to see in the back yard here. This morning we witnessed a little red fox in the yard. He quickly scurried out an opening in the fence though but it was still pretty cool to see. I finally got the remainder of the plants in the ground for the fall including a witch hazel that we had sitting around in a pot for a few months. Hopefully with a little TLC it will take and provide a nice addition.

Speaking of plants I think next year I’m going to focus almost exclusively on little flowers. Chamomile (we grew some this year), Alyssum, Lobelia (got some of those this year too), things of that nature. We’ll see!

We Just Made the Lobster Roll Cut for the Season

Posted on by Markman

Last Friday was a pretty day. Between doctor appointments, getting cookies at Tatte in Wellesley, getting a sticker to use the town dump, going into best Buy and getting a new tv and setting it up. (We went larger this time and one that utilizes a better display technology), and then prepping some food for the next day which was…

Saturday we had a couple of friends over for a BBQ. It was such a nice fun time! We need to hang out more often. Anyways, I grilled up some salmon and roasted veggies, nothing too crazy. Then I went and bought a subscription for the Ring doorbell.

Sunday. Had to go to Marshfield to get the lobster roll we love so much and they close after Labor Day for the season. When we got there, though, it was a little iffy to see if we’d even be able to get one because they were running out. It was getting really close! The cut-off line was fast approaching! It would suck to go all that way and miss out.

We just made the cut! Two people after us was the cutoff line! LITERALLY just made it!

. Then back to Wellesley to put together a bookshelf which took me about an hour or so.

Currently watching: Vatican Girl. A selection by our BBQ friends this weekend! Thanks L&D!

Small Late August Update

Posted on by Markman

I definitely want to take a ride sometime down to Providence again to check out the new trolls. More specifically the one by the river holding a canoe over it’s head. Then maybe a trip to Charlestown to get a pic next to some statues of a hippo and a rabbit woman playing chess. I’m kind of weird that way.

I did enjoy going to out friends pool yesterday afternoon, and playing with their dog Mollie, I needed a bit of late summer relaxation after finding out my sister was in the hospital and I visited her in the morning before. Apparently it was some kind of anaphylactic shock by the appearance of things. More tests to determine, but she’s good and out of there now so that’s a relief.

Of course after all the hanging around my exercise goals for the day was low so I had to go around the block around here a few times last night to get my steps, activity minutes, and calorie burn set to meet my goal which I did in the darkness of the street lights. I never used to care about those things but I’m on a roll having met my goal everyday for close to 6 weeks now and I don’t want to stop.

The tv finally crapped out last night. I’ll need to buy a new one. It did appear to going on the fritz lately, So that’s on my docket to get over the next few.

More later today…

Currently Reading: The Secret Life of a Cemetery: The Wild Nature and Enchanting Lore of Père-Lachaise

Strange Locations

Posted on by Markman

We found this really great place for lunch yesterday but actually finding the place turned out to be a little difficult, mostly because it’s actually inside s parking garage! It was so weird to be in the garage, going through a door, and being instantly transported into a cute little café. This has got to be the strangest location for a café I’ve ever seen in my life! But as I said, the food was actually quite good!

The Week So Far Uneventful

Posted on by Markman

Let’s see, Monday night I “snuck” into the gym to use the hot tub. Tuesday was just a regular type of day I guess, Wednesday was pretty uneventful as well. although I did watch Chronicle to see if there were any good restaurants to try out that had great views, and Bubble Bath looks like it could fit the bill but it also looks like a hassle to reserve the rooftop spots which is where I’d want to be. (Also, somewhat of a strange name if you ask me).

Currently Reading: Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations. This book is actually pretty cool in that each chapter is set in a different place and time in human history (or prehistory). The author intercuts his modern-day exploits with vignettes about an inhabitant of that time period doing activities that he discusses in the contemporary parts of the chapter, from 75,000 years ago in Africa to Rome in the 100 ADs, to China in 1200 and a bunch in between. I feel it makes it so much more interesting as if you were there doing what the people of that time did and felt.

Game time: Frog Puzzle. This starts off pretty easy but give it time!

Umbrellas in the Skies of Newport RI

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I wanted to take a jaunt over to Newport Rhode Island yesterday to check out this marketplace that has umbrellas all set up hanging above one of the walkways throughout the complex. Got some amazing deals of some hoodies and shirts while we were there, so bonus. I also learned that two of the elephants from last years migration along the Breakers are now permanently installed over at the library a few blocks down so I had to check them out as well.

On the way back we hit our favorite vegan ice cream place in Providence. They have a vegan deli next door and I tried the “fake” ham and cheese. LD found she couldn’t eat it – it was just too “wrong” but surprising I was able to chow it down just fine, which is rather unlike me. I guess there really is no replacing the real thing!

Pretty in Pink with Beautiful Skies to Match on a Rooftop Garden Summer Night

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Amazing sunset last night too.

We decided to go see Pretty in Pink playing as an outdoor movie at this neat little rooftop park in Cambridge down by Kendall Square. It was hot all day and there was a chance of rain but all our apps said it should be okay. We got in the parking garage and not a drop around. Coming out of the elevator of the garage to access the roof we were bombarded with a pretty heavy rainfall. Oh no! I said we should wait it out a bit. It started thundering. Still waited a bit. Finally we decided to cross the rainy park to this area on the other side that looked to be covered and had one of those pop up food thingies. After getting a burger and some mac and cheese with pulled pork (both were really good by the way!) the rain stopped and we were able to watch the rest of the movie!

Just as we were going to head back home, LD noticed that the skies looked pretty wild and there might be an opportunity for some interesting sunsety shots, and once again she was right! The sky had this amazing pinkish color to it and just the way that it reflected off the water of the river made it look like you were in some magical place, which I suppose we were.

This park is really cute plus it’s neat that it’s up on a roof. We might go back to see the Goonies playing there in September. Anyone is free to join us!

As usual, you can click any picture for the captions.

Gametime: Cloud Walk. I like to keep my brain sharp! I need to, I forget stuff all the time and can’t remember half the shit I need to!

Lowkey BD

Posted on by Markman

I’m having a nice birthday weekend so far. Yesterday we went to our friend’s pool and hung out which was just what I needed. Between the water, drying off in the sun, enjoying a nice BBQ they made for us, and just chatting away the hours, I was pretty spent by the time we finally got home in the evening. Playing with their dog was great too. I’ve given up soda pretty much, been almost two weeks now, all I drink is water (and some coffee in the morning). I’ve been conscious about hitting my steps goal daily.

Today I’m just going to hang out in my gravity chair on the back deck in the sun, work on some puzzles, and just relax. I do have some stuff queued up for this week that I can’t wait to experience!

Mr. History Post 15: Visiting The Real Mother Goose

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It’s been a while since I did one of these. I had some extra time this afternoon to hop the subway on into Beantown to visit a very special lady. This grave in an old Boston cemetery is promoted to tourists as Mother Goose’s burial site — the 1690 tombstone of Mary Goose, first wife of Isaac Goose. His second wife, the Mother Goose who is said to have actually inspired the fictional character might be buried here too, but no one is sure.
While there I checked out a few other nearby sights, such as the Greenway Carousal. There’s a new display in Faneuil Hall towards the end of a minstrel like being. Click the pics for captions.

The Only Place I Want to Be is With You…

Posted on by Markman
A moment is not complete until you realise it is fleeting…

Last weekend down the Cape is in the books! The high point of Saturday though would have to be getting invited up to the deck above the restaurant there at Rock Harbor to enjoy the sunset. Mind you, the deck is someone’s apartment and a restricted area, so it was cool to be invited up there, just us and our two friends. Felt like a real excusive VIP experience! I also finally also get to check out “Staples Rock”, a silly little Orleans ‘attraction’ that’s gained a lot of traction lately. On the way down we usually stop at a place by the canal for lunch, I was jonesing for a clam plate. It did not disappoint. The Airbnb we were staying at had a piano which I played a bit.

The next day was even more fun. Also the weather has been gorgeous, but I digress. We started by hiking the Eddy Trail in Brewster, a favorite of ours. We love to get to the end where the cliff overlooks the miles of Brewster Flats below. It’s a great trail and pretty easy going. Then it was off to the pool and sun and some outdoor fun and games. Wrapped it up with a dinner with out friends and another beautiful sunset evening. (You can click through each pic for the captions).

I brought my professional camera down and took some shots but I haven’t processed them yet. I’ll post some of those up and soon as I find enough time to do so but the top photo of this post is a quick example!

Having a Blast at Our First WNBA Game

Posted on by Markman

High point though was getting to meet a star player on the Valkyries, Veronica Burton Number 22. These women players are Bad Ass! As a bonus we even got to hang with her sister Kayla, who is a sports reporter and anchorwoman on the NBC Boston network and does the Celtics games too! Oh and their mom and dad too, who is also a big name sports reporter here in Boston. Mad props to Ginni for making it happen! Oh, and Suns actually WON this game and by a considerable amount so the place was going crazy! These fans are serious! (You can click on the pics for descriptions).

Currently Reading: Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance by Laura Delano.

Now you’ll have to excuse us for a bit as we need the water heater replaced as it decided to go belly up this weekend. *sigh*

Made the News

Posted on by Markman

A photo from Maine that I took made the Scenic Six at Boston.com

Scroll to the bottom here to see it bigger.

Got something really exciting brewing up for the end of this upcoming weekend! It’s going to be a blast!

A Rooftop Garden Oasis in the City

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I wanted to check out this rooftop garden in Kendall Square because we might see some free outdoor movie there sometime next month with another couple possibly. (Pretty in Pink, if you must know!)

I had some business at Earth-1, so after that was done I decided to bike on down there and scope it out. Found it pretty easily. Basically next to the train stop a door down from Legal Seafoods. It’s cute but small. I’d be down for hanging out there tho. Google has a huge office space there and there’s a bunch of MIT stuff.

On the ride home I trolled thru Central, passed by some places I hung out at back in the day. Although it looks pretty different now. The Middle East is where I’d see local rock acts in the early aughts like Angry Salad, Tootsie/Jaded, Waltham, and Damone. And at TT the Bears next door (long gone now).

There’s a Target in Central now??? Guess I’ve been out of the loop for a while!

Love Me Brewster

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This picture was taken from a wooden walkway like the one you see in the photo while looking back toward the sun after walking around the are for a bit. I always likes this picture for some reason. It’s one of my personal favorites. There really are a lot of scenic areas to shot down the Cape, this shot is from Brewster, one of the towns that we particularly like down there,

Gametime: One More Treasure. This game is pretty sweet!

A Whirlwind Weekend Quiets Down on Sunday

Posted on by Markman
Goodbye Sweet Weekend

Did a bunch of things around the house yesterday. I finally got around to installing the new doorbell. It’s pretty sweet how it senses when someone’s outside. Mostly good to know when an package has been delivered. Went to the hardware store and got some screws to help address some issues with the side door and got a new hibiscus plant to be planted in the corner now that the new fencing is just about done. Ended up watching some tv, the first part of that Billy Joel documentary for one. It’s really good but be prepared to watch it for a while – the first part is almost 2 and a half hours long. For lunch LD drove me over to the Bubbling Brook in Westwood where they have different food trucks on different days and yesterday was Capt. Mardens. I was jonesing for a clam plate. Must have been all that beach time we had the other day.

Pool Days and Beach Days Equals Summer Fun!

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I had a great time at the pool yesterday. I must have spent at least 4 hours solid in the pool, which is a lot for me. We played water basketball, and I was very tired afterward but it was a lot of fun. I got a pretty good sandwich from a place called Café Sarina. I wish there were more places to eat up there but I guess that’s how it is. I love visiting the dog Mollie. She is so cute, but a little sassy, which I like. When we got home, we got takeout from a local place and watched a documentary about the Idaho college kids tragedy.

I was planning on going to Maine this morning but I was too tired so instead I went to LD’s gym and used the hot tub, which I needed since my arm and shoulder were a little sore from all the throwing and splashing in the water yesterday. Ended up chatting with the trainer there today. Pretty cool.

Then, this afternoon we decided to hit the beach and meet up with another pal! Why not?

Also starting to set up a new doorbell this weekend with video capabilities as a side project.

If I Ever Make the Cover of Men’s Health

Posted on by Markman

Mark stood in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting his favorite t-shirt and let out a long, exasperated sigh. “This is just perfect,” he muttered, running his hand through his thinning hair. “Twenty years ago I could play basketball for hours, now I throw out my back reaching for the cereal on the top shelf.” He stretched gingerly, feeling the familiar twinge in his lower spine that had become his constant companion since turning forty-five. The irony of his shirt choice wasn’t lost on him as he contemplated the growing list of daily aches and pains: his creaky knees that predicted weather changes better than the meteorologist, his shoulder that protested every golf swing, and his neck that seized up from sleeping wrong on his supposedly ergonomic pillow. “When did my body become a walking complaint department?” he wondered aloud, though deep down he knew the shirt was both a badge of honor and a cry for help—a middle-aged man’s way of announcing to the world that he’d officially entered the phase of life where comfort trumped style, and ibuprofen had become a food group.

Hot Afternoon at the Gym Pool

Posted on by Markman

Yesterday was a good afternoon to hang by the pool, even if only to watch LD get some more yards in. What else happened? Not too much, kind of a rest day. Went to the lobster food truck for lunch, watched the Indiana Fever game, did some weeding and cleaning of the back deck, had a pizza for dinner. Pretty chill for a hot day.