Month: December 2025

Back in Boston for the Cold Spell

Posted on by Markman

Been a cold start to the week. Bunch of stuff going on. However, we’ve been turned on to a show on Hulu called Accused. It’s pretty good. A small update on the last post. Those beach shots along the shore were mostly taken in Spring Lake, one of our favorite places, but we also checked out Bradley Beach and a couple of spots in-between the two. The lighted tree and a bunch of animatronic stuff (over 100!) was at the Livingston Oval, over by the town’s high school. Apparently some guy, Mr. Camuso, had all this stuff in his front lawn but gave it to the town when hew passed on. The centerpiece attraction is the Christmas tree built by Mr. Camuso. It stands 26 feet high, rotates on a mechanical base, and has more than 10,000 colored lights adorning more than 100 individual tree branches, capped with a 4 foot lighted star.

LD bought a new car but the delivery of it has been, shall we say, a bit challenging. But it’s coming!

Currently Reading: The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America

Written in the Waters

Posted on by Markman

Currently Reading: Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging by Tara Roberts. Probably the last book I’ll have to time to read to finish out the year. This one is really interesting. This searing memoir by a National Geographic scuba diver recounts one woman’s epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean—and find her place in the world.

I love when you start reading a book and the story and writing instantly grab you and that’s what this one has been doing to me!

Also I’ve been playing this game on YouTube called Tile Guru: Match Fun under the Playables. It starts out really easy but by the time you get to like level 35 like me, it gets maddening!

It’s Been a Long Week

Posted on by Markman

It’s been kind of a long week hence no updates. Yesterday was fully packed as LD finally bought a new car and in the evening we got invited to a holiday dinner at a friend’s house who has a very nice family.

It’s been a tough year in a bunch of ways, but there were some high points. I’ll try to put together my top ten list together at some point.

Here’s to hoping the next year will be good with a lot of new beginnings.

Meeting the Makers of Craft Colas

Posted on by Markman

Checking out Wander Cat Cola in Somerville yesterday afternoon at a vegan market that was held in the Armory. A building that use to use National Guard troops and where I had to take my driving test with a state trooper back in the day. Now it’s some kind of art space but they hold markets and other events in there during the year. Fun fact: LD knew this girl from when she was just a teenager!

Wish I could get the shadows out of our faces but this was the best I could do!

Prelude is Happening

Posted on by Markman

Sad to be missing Prelude up in Kennebunk this year but there’s just too much other stuff going on at the moment. At least I still have this classic picture I took last time!

After putting up the xmas tree yesterday afternoon we took a trip out to Wayland to check out some holiday fair but it was kind of lame. I did get to see this rather interesting three wheeled car though!

Stand By Me: Forty Years Later!

Posted on by Markman

Stand By Me, 40 years later! Screening and actor talk! This was actually really fun! Great film and still as as impactful now as it was 40 years ago, (Would you believe I had never actually seen the whole thing before!?) For a few moments it was like Teddy and Vern stepped out of the screen and into the stage, and Gordy was a calm, grounded presence. It was actually a wonderful evening. I didn’t realize that this was only the third show that these guys did for this. Wil was Wil, Jerry was funny, and Cory was definitely Cory!

Throwback Thursday: Rachel, NV

Posted on by Markman

Throwback Thursday in and around Rachel, Nevada (population 48!) just outside Area 51! I was working on the Yucca Mountain project at the time and during a break my boss and I took a drive out to Rachel. Very different vibe from Las Vegas for sure. Probably won’t ever go back there and I imagine it hasn’t changed at all, but it was cool to see it. This place is literally the middle of nowhere. Just miles and miles of desert nothingness. The pic in the top right you can see a road that literally goes to Area 51.