Went to Fenway Park last night as part of a work outing. Started pre-gaming at the Landsdown Pub, where we got free shots of rum, which lead to us getting free t-shirts advertising said rum, and a possible social media shot that I haven’t found yet. More later…
Anyone who’s followed me for a while knows that I just love visiting lighthouses. I’ve climbed them, read about them, studied them, and love them. Some of them are really crazy feats of engineering in the placement of some of them – they have a beauty to them, a light to guide seafarers. They can also be death traps for the people who had to run them (nowadays they’re mostly run all automatic though). Plus they’re along the sea – usually on a rocky coast.
Lighthouses are rich with symbolism and conceptual meanings. The lighthouse illustrates concepts such as danger, risk, adversity, challenge and vigilance. But it also offers guidance, salvation and safety. Lighthouses symbolize the way forward and help in navigating our way through rough waters. Nothing else speaks of safety and security in the face of adversity and challenge quite the way a lighthouse does. I guess that’s really why I love them. Stand up to the the storm! I’m going to need to – I got some cryptic news today that might not be great, but fingers crossed.
Decided to hit the beach this afternoon. I was jonesin’ for some wave time. Thankfully and somewhat strangely the beach wasn’t all the busy and it was such a perfect day for it too. The tide was just right, the waves were just right, the water temperature was just right. Everything came together awesomely and we had a really good time. Afterwards we found out that Green Harbor is only less than a mile away so we hit there afterwards and dined on some seafood.
So this morning I decided too sit out on the patio early this morning, just sipping my coffee and chilling out when I turned my head to see Brazen Bunny staring back at me from the concrete patio stairs. “Come to get seconds?”, I thought to myself but ignored him basically and went back to my crossword puzzle. Over time I notice this bunny filling its mouth up with grass and straw and running over the the corner of the deck back and forth next to the hydrangea that is there. I believe it is building a nest! Strange thing is this nest location is not all that hidden, basically in a corner just a bit under the hydrangea but in an easily photo-graphical location. So in a couple of weeks or so we may have some more babies to check out!
While cleaning out my stack of old CDs I happened across a classic I had totally forgotten about. It’s the soundtrack to the movie classic “Better Off Dead.” I’m going to listen to this again and re-live the magic.
Woke up this morning, and as I like to do, grabbed my coffee and headed out to the back deck to enjoy the cool morning air. I noticed something stirring going up the stairs, at first I thought it was squirrel – they’ve been known to climb up there. Once I even saw a chipmunk or two climb them. But lo and behold to my eyes it was neither of those. It was this little guy, who I’ve chosen to name the Brazen Bunny. Needless to stay he didn’t hang around long, but I watched him silently sniff around, take a taste of a few things, and then hop back down the stairs and take a bath. And then he was gone. I looked at what he was attempting to investigate but I didn’t see any damage to anything so maybe he was just nosy. Never a dull moment around here.
The cookout went pretty good I thought. I grilled up some chicken, hot dogs, burgers, and corn. Nothing too extravagant. I was pleased that my items come out pretty good – grilled to perfection if I may be so bold to say. I’ve become quite the grill master over the last year or two. LD put together a wonderful salad to go with. My mom was very appreciative and enjoyed the little break and change of scenery and conversations. I also had a good time last night at my belated birthday dinner. We had a lot of laughs – especially over things that we had said and done over the last week or two in catching up.
Well, I jumped on the bandwagon for this one and this afternoon partook in the trying out of an Impossible Whopper at Burger King. I had heard of this thing for about a week now so I was curious to try it myself and see just how it is. And you know what? I actually liked it. It tasted just like a regular whopper to me. It is more expensive and the patty is plant based meat substitute. So I give it a thumbs up. I would get it again.
Sean the Pumpkin Vine is really starting get long – will we get a real pumpkin out of it? Fingers crossed! We did get the flowers already. Also been watching the 90210 reboot. It’s actually not really a reboot, but a story of the actors from the show getting together to do a reboot of the show. Pretty Meta – it’s actually not bad, I find I’m kinda digging it. I never saw the originals anyway.
Got a new puzzle game to rack my brain on: Landfill. I like it, but I do find it challenging.
I decided to ride the newer bike into work today. I can’t believe it’s been over a month already since I last rode in general. Schedule just didn’t allow it, either due to weather, or other things I had going on. Anyways on the way back I happened to stop by one of those Little Libraries near Davis and scored by picking up a little book on how to repair bicycles. Might come in handy one of these days. Then after getting back on the trail I happened to notice this birdhouse just hanging in a tree. It’s probably been there for quite a while but I just noticed it today. I was rather impressed with it. Whoever built it did a really good job!
The more clouds you have in your sky, the more colorful sunset it will be.
Might expand on some activities we did later – just getting them down so I don’t forget: Popcorn Park meeting Angel the Pig (sponsored), Riverboat sunset and fireworks cruise, hanging at the beach (Long Branch/Spring Lake), watching a storm come in over the beach, Staying at an old Inn in S.L., Checking out Seward Johnson’s work statues (had seen his stuff before at Grounds for Sculpture (Link pic) and wildlife in S.L., Pooling it in Belvidere, staying at a new boutique hotel where we couldn’t figure out how to work anything, Italian dinner in Sea Girt, Motorcycle Rally on I-80, birthday one on one at Tabor’s, checking out BH90210 in S.L., Playing soccer, Crazy Diner looks, more…
Spending some nice time at the beach today. Going on a cruise to see some fireworks tonight. Even spent a little time at Popcorn Park Zoo this morning.
Another shot from yesterday along the boardwalk in Spring Lake, NJ. Not to worry though, today is nice and sunny again – Imma gonna hit da beach!
Taking a little break by heading down to the Shore. Made great time and didn’t really hit any rain until we were in for the evening. Had a nice lunch over in Long Branch and it started looking ominous there, but then we went south to Spring Lake and the weather was pretty good for the whole afternoon. We only hit the rain after having dinner at a great Italian restaurant we like in Sea Girt.
I love being near the ocean. I like visiting places that lie along the ocean. I don’t think I could live anywhere that is not a short drive from the ocean. There’s just something about the sea air, the sand, the waves lapping up against the shore. I’ve been to the mountains and they are majestic but I just don’t get the same feeling of contentment there that I do by the ocean. Not necessarily the beach as that can be a another animal altogether, although it also has it’s place. Just watching the water lap up against the rocks is enough for me. I’m glad I was able to find a person who shares those beliefs and even introduced me to so many more.
Not too much to report back on today. Did get some minor things accomplished like catching up on my watching of that Autopsy, The Last Hours Of… show. Does anyone else like that show – I mean, I do find it a bit morbid but I do like learning about the celebrities lives. I also drove down to a local gas place and got the propane tank refilled for future outdoor cooking activities. It was getting pretty low with all the recent grilling. I did have to swing by Earth-1 real quick because my mom didn’t know how to rescan her over-the-air television channels, so I obliged. Worked out since LD was out with a former colleague during that time. Also got a chance to see the progress of the building of the condo next door. Jezus, that thing looks big. I suppose will be better than what was there before though, when all is said and done. New neighbors!
We were hankering for a monstrous lobster roll at this place down in Marshflied called the Green Harbor Lobster Pound. It didn’t disappoint – the thing is freakin’ huge!
Later in the afternoon I went down to the summer concert series to try to win the raffle to some restaurants but as usual I came up empty. Too win you have to be present so I need to stick around while the band plays their first set (lasts about an hour) – usually after I find out I lost I take off though and don’t stick around for the 2nd hour set. Big band is okay but not enough for me to stick around.
Well, it’s been a productive Fri-yay so far (see what I did there?) I finally got myself down to the barber shop and got my hair cut. And speaking of cutting, when I came back I decided to take on the front and back lawns and cut those down too – including edging and some weeding. I think it looks pretty good.
I’ve started to read a new book: Dawn of the Code War: America’s Battle Against Russia, China, and the Rising Global Cyber Threat. Pretty scary stuff. Recommended reading by me.
The bedroom is finished! The area rug has finally been laid down, the artwork is up on the walls, the new shades are in the windows, and it’s all good. Even went to the hardware store yesterday to get some new knobs for the nightstands that match the decor of the room better and put those on. While there I also obtained a bolt and a nut I needed to help repair the mower when the piece fell out last week, but it’s all good now. At some point I plan on buying a new mower with some accouterments and features that I currently do not have but that will assist moving forward, but for now these touch ups will do. We also got a bigger planter for Sean the pumpkin plant who is growing more everyday. He’s kind of an experiment at this point, so we’ll see what happens to him as the days progress.
Went out to the grocery store and bought some things that we ended up grilling for lunch. It was pretty hot out but overall not too bad – I didn’t mind it, and it actually came out pretty good. Will need to refill the tank real soon though, as it’s quickly getting to empty. Also competed food prep for the week early, which was a bonus.
I little while back I sent out one of my photos to be printed on glass, and that also arrived yesterday. For some reason, this picture I just like. It has a lot of muted greens in it which is not something I usually have in my photos – I don’t know – I just liked it. An impulse buy to be sure, but when my pics are printed and framed, I feel they really look better. Also blown up like this you can actually see the people in the top of the lighthouse where the lens is because they were doing tours that day.
Later in the early evening the town was having a free BBQ and concert on the Town Common, which we attended, at least for a little while – to take in some sights and hear some music. I had seen this musician there last year – she’s really good.
Here’s a fun puzzle game I’ve been playing around with this week: Blockon. It starts out pretty easy but I’m finding the later levels extremely challenging.
Reunited after 10 plus years and it feels so good. Never disappoint, and didn’t this time either. Also go to hear some songs live off the last album, which I had forgotten had never been performed live because they had broken up right around the time it got released. As Vazquez jokingly said “It’s the CD release party – just 10 years late.” Good selection from their entire catalog and the new drummer is amazing – I think Dustin would approve, rest his soul. Anyways, for those who may be interested, here is the set list:
I made the trek out to Harvard Square as was able to make it through the night. I am dragging a little bit today though, but it’s all good. I didn’t bring my camera gear so all I got was these cell phone pics but if you flit around social media you’ll see better ones – I was mostly there to take in the show. Where will they go from here is anyone’s guess but maybe they’ll be some future things to look forward to.
About a year ago, we happened upon this majestic creature just hanging out in a marsh in Chatham. I had taken pictures of herons before but for some reason this one really stands out – he didn’t seem as skinny as a lot of the other ones I had seen, and now that I look at it, maybe it’s a bit older than them as well. A grizzled veteran I would say. These birds don’t seem to be bothered by anything. I once saw a red winged blackbird pecking at one and squawking away, probably had a nest nearby, but the heron acted like it wasn’t even there. Totally ignoring the pecking and all, seemingly insignificant.
I plan on going to see the rock band Damone tonight – it’s been 10 years or so since they disbanded but now they are a doing a show down in Harvard Square. One of my favorite local bands from back in the day when I actually went to shows. Let’s hope I can stay up that late!
Ladydoc introduced me to a road trip game a while back that we play occasionally that she had played with colleagues so I figured I’d share. It really gets the mind working.
You start by saying “I’m going on a road trip and I am bringing…”
You list items alphabetically, tasking turns, but when it’s your turn you need to also remember and say all the previous things, So for example: “I’m going on a road trip and I’m bringing … Apples.” Then the next person goes and says, “I’m going on road trip and I’m bringing .. Apples and Bananas.” Then it’s back to the other person and they could say, “I’m going on a road trip and I’m bringing … Apples, Bananas, and Calamine lotion.” Get it?
Well, you can expand on this idea to change it up to. For example, I decided once that we could only use medications for the answers. And to refine it even further, only psychotropic medication! Try coming up with a med that starts with X! Theming the puzzle this way definitely makes it harder.
Try it on your next road trip!
Guess we picked a good week last week to visit the Cape. They just got hit with a tornado so Yarmouth and Harwich are without power and there’s been a lot of damage to all the surrounding towns! Here’s a shot of Paine’s Creek at sunset during a much calmer time. Funny thing is that this week is usually the week that we go down there, but this year, other things got in the way so we went down a week earlier. Seems to me like it all worked out perfectly. I love it when a plan comes together!
One thing I forget to mention from last week was the “neighbors” we had in the unit next to us on the right side. They showed up the same as us, and were kind of annoying in the fact that they had to have the two spaces right in front of their unit. But the oddest thing about them was that all week, it appeared that they never left the unit – for anything! Also, they were so quiet it seemed they weren’t even there. Since there appeared to be about 6 of them, included a young boy with a guitar, you would think we would have heard something. We had no problem hearing the other unit on the left side, with their riding their bikes out back, and flying a drone around. Thankfully after that first weekend, some of them must have cleared out because they became quieter – but not so much as this other family. The Ladydoc thought the women might have murdered the men since there was no hide no hair of them to be seen all week – including the child! (BTW- this is when you’ve realized that you’ve been watching too many murder/mystery shows like Dateline and such over the years – when this is your thought process). Then, finally, on the day we have to pack up and leave, there they all are packing up the family trucksters – checkout time wasn’t until 10 am but they were all packed and gone by 8:30!
It was just odd that they never appeared to leave the unit – not to leave to get some pool time in, or barbecue out back, or even take in the beach or catch some sights, as we did. And the silence! Not to say that it was not appreciated by us – it certainly was. It was just so odd to be so silent and cooped in. Anyways, I hope they enjoyed their vacation!
I forgot to mention, the other day this movie was on called Never Too Young To Die starring John Stamos, Vanity and Gene Simmons. I had never heard of the movie. It is terrible! Like, really, really terrible. A real train wreck, and yet that’s what makes you want to watch it. Definitely one for a watch party. Makes we wonder why the hell Stamos took on this project at the time.
