Jersey Shore and some other local sights.
Quick NJ December Trip
Author: Markman
Written in the Waters
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
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
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!
Throwback Thursday – Long Beach Island Sunsets
This here is one of my favorite shots I ever took and when I was starting to get into taking scenic photos. This was shot down in Long Beach Island, New Jersey which is a barrier island kind of like the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I can’t seem the remember the exact town in LBI this is in, perhaps Surf city on the western side.
Prelude is Happening
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!
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
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.
The Cutest Little Gift Shop
It’s in the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham. You should definitely check it out if you’re in the area. Little shop called Windows of Hope. I was just there the other day as I was in the area and was enamored with all the cute little things. I thought I would give it a plug because I endorse it.
I saw a bald eagle fly right above me this morning – that was really cool!
Currently Reading: If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All
Plymouth Seal Artwork Makes Us So Happy!
I had been meaning to check out these Plymouth Seals artwork installations all along the Plymouth waterfront, and Sunday was a perfect afternoon to do it. I was psyched that Plymouth wasn’t busy at all, didn’t know how it would be with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up and all, but it was pretty dead. Anyways, these seals are so cool! I love them! They really do make you smile, and placed in such a scenic location by the waterfront! My favorite is the one in the first pic below. It’s name is Jacques CouSeal. The pilgrim looking one was really cool too. LD’s fav was Taylor Surf over up on Court Street. That’s the glittery looking one. I also got my new hoodie so I wore that out for the afternoon as well. Topped it off with lunch from a place there called Woods Seafood. Not as fancy and the East Bay Grille which is also there, but was perfect for us at this time, and the food was great!
Why seals? According to the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, “As playful and iconic coastal creatures, seals represent the spirit of Plymouth’s harbor and the vibrant marine life that calls it home. Each sculpture tells its own story—paying tribute to the town’s seafaring roots, its artistic community, and the scenic beauty that defines our corner of the South Shore.” I couldn’t agree more!
Seeing a Play at the Vokes
Morning – did yard work, collected and bagged leaves, put glass panes in doors replacing summer screens, donated food down the street to a woman who was collected food donations. Was really quite productive.
Evening: Seeing a play at the Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre in Wayland, MA. A very small venue. You can read more about it here if you’re interested. It was cool seeing the actresses in the photos along the wall who all acted there in the early 1900s. We ended up seeing a play called Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike. Serious abs on the Spike dude, but all in all, kind of a weird play. At least it was something different!
Just a Memory But a Good One
Here’s another shot I took over the summer that was just sitting around in my archives, so I figured I’d dust it off and put it out there. The cool thing about this shot is the kayakers way out in the distance. I have a bunch of shots where I zoomed in more on them but then I figured I liked this long out shot better with the rocks in the foreground. What this shot doesn’t show you is all the bugs flying around and biting people. That’s why at a location like this I wear a hoodie and cover myself up even though it was like 90 degrees outside. I’ve tried the bug spray and all but that doesn’t work. I find the hoodie actually works best. As an aside, I believe this was also the night that we went here with another couple (a good longtime friends of LD’s and her boyfriend) and they had to park really far away since the lot here was so small and they had a police officer basically telling people they couldn’t park there because it was full. So when we were close to done he was literally running all the way down the street to get the car, and it was quite a ways. Not really sure why he was running though. I think we eventually picked him up before he got to his car. The details of the night sort of escape me now but I do remember that being a part of it.
Wedding Celebrations and Chill
Had a nice get together Saturday night in Concord celebrating our friends who recently got married so Sunday was pretty much a chill day and clean up the house a little and binge some shows. Here’s a shot I took from the other day of some young people taking a picture in the public garden.
Flowers Make Us Happy! Dresses Made Out of Real Ones!
Discovered this year’s Fleurs de Villes installation at the Pru and it’s a must-see! Made entirely out of real flowers. Fleurs de Villes combines the love of flowers, local design talent, and bespoke, utterly unique displays, for experiential events like none other. Which one catches your eye?
In other minor things that have been keeping me occupied as of late:
Gametime: Proton Path. You know I love these sorts of puzzle games.
Currently reading: The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz. The back story behind the classic Boston band.
You Just Never Really Know
As I went to get gas this morning and stopped at a red light with some other cars, I noticed this car on the other side doing what must have been at least 70, swerve crazily to avoid the cars on the other side of the street stopped at the light, blast through the light and veering pretty much out of control. This was also right in front of the police station, so I know they were on it and they have cams everywhere, especially at that section of road. It was pure luck that it didn’t strike any cars or pedestrians at the moment including mine or smashing other cars into mine! This was super scary but it happened so fast. It sped along somehow zigzagging down to a rotary that’s a bit further down the road. I was sure that a crash was inevitable. Lo and behold I saw on the news a little later that there was a fatality, probably the driver of that vehicle. It’s shut down that stretch of Route 1 in both directions this morning. Then I had a few thoughts. First of all, thankfully more people were not hurt or killed as that would be a must likely outcome on the time of day (kids walking to school!) If a person was hit I would be pretty sure they would be instantly killed. My other thought was I saw someone was driving that car and they were alive and then literally seconds later they were dead. In just a matter of seconds our worlds changed. Crazy to think of it that way. 🙏
Blue Lotus Ten Year Anniversary
Yesterday morning we took a jaunt out to our friends’ studio in Needham, namely Blue Lotus Healing Arts, who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary! They’ve built an amazing place that adds beautiful energy to the town of Needham. Visit for acupuncture, yoga, massage, mat Pilates, and other holistic modalities! Tell them I sent ya!
Love Us Some River Troll Action
Finally got a chance to visit Mrs Skipper troll in East Providence, Rhode Island. Thomas Dambo constructs his trolls from recycled wood with the goal of encouraging people to explore nature and value the environment. Many of the trolls’ narratives and expressions, often with a humorous twist, incorporate an environmental message. After that we grabbed lunch at a random place on our journey that we happened to be near called Rosa’s Tavern and it was actually very good! I got a chicken parm sammie and LD got this very good tasting seafood pot dish. Finished up with a quick jaunt over to Like No Udder for some ice cream and hot chocolate. I also scored a free rubber duck in pirate attire there, which was kind of cool.
Fall in the Ville
Currently Reading: Face with Tears of Joy: A Natural History of Emoji by Keith Houston
The Colors of a New England October in Mt. Auburn
An updated shot from last year around this time. I believe I took this from along the Indian Ridge Path if you want to visit the same vantage point.
Could Use a Quiet Break Right Now
Go slow, my life, go slow. Let me enjoy the beauty of silence, serenity, and solitude
I crossed over into a dimensional portal and got to take a selfie with some of the heroes of that world.
From the Top
Obelisks below, sky above.