Category: Selfie Love

Umbrellas in the Skies of Newport RI

Posted on by Markman

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

Posted on by Markman

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!

Mr. History Post 15: Visiting The Real Mother Goose

Posted on by Markman

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

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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*

A Rooftop Garden Oasis in the City

Posted on by Markman

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!

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.

Emotional Baggage at a Winery!

Posted on by Markman

Woke up this morning to some kind of screeching. Couldn’t tell what it was. Eventually we figured out it was a Common Raven! Never encountered one of those before, it’s always been crows.

Checked out the Blueberry Festival this afternoon in Mendon over at the Vandervalk Winery. There was a giant Santa there and we got some really cool stuff from some artisans that had a few tents there. Before that we hit this Hosta place in Mendon that sells very specific varieties of Hosta and Lillies that they grow themselves. Got a few of those. They also do a great job with Lotus plants, but that’s really tricky stuff to grow, plus you need a body of water. I ate some grilled cheese from a food truck that was there as well for a quick bite.

My Princess Cheyanne book arrived just as we were leaving the house. I grabbed it up but LD wants to read it first, so I let her. She actually knows the person, from a different time and career path at the time. Anyways, I’m going to see if I can find the former Princess and see if I can get her to sign the book.

Gametime: Blobun Mini. Get the snake to cover all the squares!

It Was An Interesting Fourth In Jersey

Posted on by Markman

Sun’s Out – Tongue’s Out! 👅 Also highlights: Enjoying lunch at the Pompton Queen Diner after a long drive down, watching LD do forty lengths at the Madison Y – amazing facility and great job LD! A dinner at a place called the Thirsty Turtle – the pretzel buns are shaped like pretzels! A doggo falls asleep on my foot after I took him for a couple of long walks – think he enjoyed! Finally Cowboy Up before leaving – also I learned something new called “Alabama Apple Sauce!” – you had to be there.

Doing Bunny Yoga For a Change of Pace

Posted on by Markman

First off, I have to send out a Congratulations to my one and only, Ladydoc, for completing 5 miles of swimming to benefit the American Cancer Society! Awesome job! This morning I went down to the pool with her and watched her take the final laps and document the occasion for posterity!

The town of Dedham had some all afternoon bunny events. We chose Bunny Yoga!

Sunsets, Fish Shacks, Cape Porpoise Love

Posted on by Markman
Cape Porpoise Fish Shacks

We headed off to Cape Porpoise for a little mini weekend getaway. I really enjoyed this trip. The Airbnb we stayed in was really great – I would surely return to it. It was so spacious and the hosts were super great. The first night we headed to the town over called Biddeford Pool because there was a food/store place called Goldthwaites that we wanted to try. It was good and the views from their back outside area were wonderful. I noticed you could even see the Stage Island Monument in the distance. I do so love this area of Maine. We also saw deer and what appeared to be a company of black swans, but could that be true?

Next day we did a bunch of things. We hiked a part of the Carson trail, which is part of the Rachel Carson Reserve Wildlife area. It was kind of too hot to really do too much of that though plus it was a little buggy so we didn’t stay there too long. There were a ton of chipmunks around I noticed. For lunch we drove into Kennebunk and I ended up getting a burger at a place called Duffy’s. We then headed back for a little rest before hitting Goose Rock Beach for the afternoon. While there we saw piping plovers, a cool sandcastle that someone built, and a very cute Bassett Hound named Baxter that we had to greet.For dinner we got some good eats at Mabel’s Lobster Claw.

Next day we went to Sunday services at St. Ann’s Church, What’s cool is that they do the service right by the water weather permitting. It was a bit rainy when we went so the service was actually indoors but even that was pretty cool. I actually really liked everything about this location and plan to return for some other services soon. We got breakfast at a place next to Mabel’s from last night called the Pantry. I decided to try the eggs benedict with lobster and it was damn good. Another afternoon at the beach afterwards I wanted to catch a sunset at the famous fish shacks. Thanks to LD for finding the perfect location for me to shoot from!

The fish shacks. I was always curious about these buildings. After taking these shots we eventually found a place where we could get some eats (a pizza actually) which was a bit of a struggle to find food since it seems all the places around here close at 8 or 9 o’clock. I caught the tail end of the Valkyries WNBA game as they beat the Suns. It’s nice that this Airbnb had all the stations you could want, they aren’t usually like that in my experience.

Finally on Monday it started to get really hot. We checked out, hit Stonewall Kitchen for a quick bite and Yummies to get some candy fix. Our freinds up in Georgetown were kind enough to let us stop by and use their pool for a bit so we could cool off before going all the way home. So we took a dip for an hour or two and were then on our way back home.

All in all, this was a fantastic trip! I probably left out a ton of stuff but these were some of the high points!

Currently Reading: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers

Celebrating Michael Madness

Posted on by Markman

If you know, you know! Twas a busy day yesterday, between the brunch in the morning, a little rest in the afternoon to catch an WNBA game, and then back at it for the party.

Had a pretty good day today, even set up out first fire pit outing of the season, and even fired up the grill not once, but twice today for two different meals throughout the day. And caught a little WNBA basketball in the early afternoon.

Mr. History Post #13: Squirrel Nuts!

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The Squirrel brand dates back to 1890 when it started as the Austin T. Merrill Company in Roxbury. Incorporated in 1899 as the newly named Squirrel Brands Salted Nut Company, the company’s ownership changed and two long-time employees, Perley G. Gerrish and Fred S. Green, began to run the business. As the company grew, it moved from its Boston location to Cambridge in 1903 and then to this building in 1915.

The company was here in Cambridge from 1915 to 1999.

Their popular flagship product was the “Squirrel Nut Zipper,” a vanilla, caramel, and nut taffy that supposedly was named after an illegal drink during Prohibition. The candy was always regionally popular, but it made more of a national comeback during the 1990s when a retro swing band named themselves the Squirrel Nut Zippers and gave out the candy at their performances.

When Hollis Gerrish, the son of the founder, died in 1997, he left instructions for the company to be sold. In 1999, Squirrel Brand Company was purchased by Southern Style Nuts and the operation was moved to Texas. Its leaving marked the departure of the city’s last major independent candy manufacturer.

My personal connection is that I can remember my late grandmother telling me when I was a kid that she worked there probablyaround the kate 1940s. (My mom might have also worked there at the same time for a while.) Everytime my granny would tell me of her time there I kept imagining in my head that famous I Love Lucy episode. My grandmother was on the line!

This one was for some of our memories together Grandma.

Added a new category called History to link all these history visit posts.

Gametime: Sokobird 2.

Sunday We Do Yard Work

Posted on by Markman

We were quite busy today getting a bunch of stuff done around the house. But first we saw a promotion from a local floral business that stated if you brought them 2 or more old vases you would get a free floral bouquet. So we looked around, found two old vases that we had no real attraction to keeping anymore and went down and met the folks. And got the free bouquet. Pretty good idea actually.

Then it was on the yard tasks. First before anything else, I put the AC up in the window because it’s going to start to be getting hotter. Then I went ahead and gave the outdoor grill a thorough cleaning, inside and out. I also cleaned down the patio table and LD planted more potter plants. Then we went over to the “prairie area” we have a weeded out there. Now the 100 year old lilies that we planted there a few years back will have more room to grow and prosper. I have to say they look really good and healthy so far, I guess they like the location. I then decided to go ahead and mow the lawns and edge the fences. That took a while since it’s a pretty big yard, but I like the job that I did. I left a spot in the middle of the lawn where some wild buttercups are in bloom for pollinators though. Once they’re done I’ll mow over them.

As a reward LD decided to take me to a place I saw on tv the other night that makes mochi donuts, an Asian specialty that I wanted to try. I got three different kinds but I think my favorite of the ones I got was the taro. Now it’s wind down and relax time as our bodies muscles are hurting! Escpeally mine after all that biking yesterday.

Saturday Morning City Bike Ride

Posted on by Markman
Took a picture of this church before the ride.

This morning was the annual spring bike ride that the city of Cambridge puts on that I try to do every year. This year’s theme was a tour of Cambridge’s off-leash dog areas. We also stopped at Fresh Pond for a water and restroom break and to hear from a guest speaker about the City’s biggest dog and wildlife hotspot. The ride was really good, mostly level terrain, with a police escort. If you weren’t near the front though I don’t think you’d actually know where the parks were because there wouldn’t be anyone to point it out to you as you rode by. This was a good 11 mile ride with about 115 participants. The best parts were the dogs that came along for the ride. After it was all over I headed to place a saw on Chronicle last week in my neighborhood that I wanted to try out, a Rwandan couple that has a coffee shop and serves coffee from their homeland, I must say it was pretty good! Would definitely go back and try some other things.

Below Listing:

  1. Cambridge city bike ride start
  2. Doggo on the ride
  3. Rest stop
  4. Wildlife by the Charles
  5. Back on the road
  6. Only time we can bike this underpass
  7. Again
  8. Drinking coffee from Rwanda!

Swinging into the Weekend Like…

Posted on by Markman

I was able to find a book of some of Edgar Allen Poe’s most famous stories in a little library while I was hanging around, It’s been a while sine I read those. This version looks to be nicely put together, with illustrations and editorial thoughts in the margins. Afterwards we picked up some more plants, which we’ll get into their pots this weekend, along with a stone cat figure that reminds of of Carson. Probably put it near where the bunnies lay their nests in the pot as he is the protector of the baby bunnies!

mr. History Post #12: Winter Hill Gang HQ

Posted on by Markman

It’s a church now, but the building at 12-14 Marshall Street, a landmark in the history of 20th Century organized crime, served as the headquarters for the infamous Winter Hill Gang.

With 12-14 Marshal St. as its headquarters, Winter and James “Whitey” Bulger directed a criminal organization that fixed horse races along the east coast, corrupted the Boston office of the FBI and provided the basis for an academy-award winning film (“The Departed” was loosely based on Bulger’s role as an FBI informant). From the 1970s until 1994 when Bulger fled Boston to avoid law enforcement, the gang rivaled the local Mafia in brutality and profits. And until 1980, when Winter went to jail and the gang moved to Boston, Marshall Street was the crew’s command center.

In 2008, the garage’s infamous trapdoor, which led to a basement where the Winter Hill Gang tortured or disposed of their rivals, was still intact. A significant place in the history of organized crime in the United States.