Milestones

In the past 3 days, I have had 3 milestones of various size. The first is silly and only means anything to me as this is my 100th posting here.

The second, is that I am a homeowner. We have already made our mark on the house by ripping down wallpaper and writing on the walls. Already have had the first drinks, the first family visit, and the first cooking in the house.

The third, is that today is my birthday. Today, I am 30…and I had a bunch of wonderful people come out last night to participate in a scavenger hunt that I made (apparently very hard) and then drink with me. They even bought me a ride on the carousel on the Greenway.  I have not had a great year…but I think the tide might be turning. I feel blessed and loved and happy…and that hasn’t happened in a long time.

Today, I am going to go play skee ball, because everyone should do that as much as possible. And then I shall go to my Grandma’s house for dinner, presents, children running around, cake, and loveliness. Yeah!

Seek the Peak Re-Cap

So, I made it up and down the mountain without falling down once, which is actually quite an accomplishment for me.

The week began with some beer:

A sampler from Moat Mountain, lovely place to eat and lovely place to stay about 20 miles away from Mt. Washington and nice comfy beds.

Larry came along for the ride and the weather reminded him of traveling on the ocean with all the fog and rain.

The last of the snow from the winter…it wasn’t as impressive as last year since it was all gloomy when we went by in the morning. If we had come down the same trail (which we should have) the pictures would have been much better.

We made it up here in fairly record time for me. 4 miles in just about 4 hours…with the extra weather and some issues with breathing and a large group of people standing in the middle of the trail, so annoying.

A quick picture after we hit the summit going down Lion’s Head.

You can see how different the weather can be in just a few hours. It was lovely on the way down from the summit.

Remember, kiddies! Be Ice Smart! And remember to scream and wave your hands in the air while running away from large ice boulders.

I love $3 pint glasses!

But orgasmic, organic berries are even better!

Sandcastles in the Sky

We finally got to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now…go to the sand sculpting contest at Revere Beach. It was interesting and then we walked up the beach for a bit with our feet in the water. Nice way to end the day.

The rest of the photos are here

A walk on the beach…

Tomorrow will be spent in the mountains, finally getting Cannon off of my list of summits and starting the summer hiking season, but the other day was spent at the ocean. It isn’t that hard, seeing as how it is across the street from us…but we don’t always get over there. There were a lot of interesting planes taking off and landing and a lot of clams digging into the sand.

Found this little guy on a large piece of sea glass…I have a large collection that I hope to make into necklaces once I get my stained glass equipment back.

Loved the light that was at the beach…

Fourth!

Hope tomorrow is a clear night!
Stay safe

Happy Fourth of July!!

New York, New York

23 hours…that is how much time I just recently spent in New York City with the sole intent of getting myself into a taping of The Colbert Report. I had been to a taping of The Daily Show earlier this year and had jumped on tickets for TCR when I saw them available. Unfortunately, my boyfriend couldn’t go because of work training so one of my co-workers came with me.

The show was fabulous. Stephen is a sweet guy and extremely funny. The people running the show were mostly good to great. The only problem was that I didn’t have enough time to go see all the other stuff I wanted to see! Always a problem.

A picture of the stage set… I got yelled at for taking this photo by one of the security guys, but I love it anyways:

Can anyone figure out what the middle part of this graffiti is? I think it could be a spaceship or perhaps a mutant lobster?

Ships to visit

So, instead of bitching on and on about the Tall Ships and how they are going to be ruined, maybe people should open their eyes to the ships that are already here in the New England area. Sure, some aren’t as big or flashy…but they all have an interesting history, are nearby, are free or cheap, and would make an awesome day trip for a family.

Many places, such as Quincy or Battleship Cove, have multiple ships in port for you to visit or have other attractions around them so it can be made into a full day trip.  I’m sure there are other ships that are not listed here, and I did not go outside of the New England area, but they are all worth a visit. Not only are most of them run by non-profits, which are having issues these days with dwindling attendance and rising costs, but many of them were involved in major battles throughout Naval history.

Here are your options:

MASSACHUSETTS USS Cassin Young, Boston, Massachusetts, Free USS Constitution, Boston, Massachusetts, Free USS Friendship, Salem, Massachusetts, Admission Demolition Boat, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission Hiddensee, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission LCM 56, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission USS Lionfish, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission USS Massachusetts, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission PT 617, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission PT 796, Fall River, Massachusetts, Admission USS Salem, Quincy, Massachusetts, Admission German Seehund, Quincy, Massachusetts, Admission NEW HAMPSHIRE USS Albacore, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Admission RHODE ISLAND Soviet Juliett 484, Providence, Rhode Island Currently sunk by a storm, closed at the moment. CONNECTICUT USCG Boat Arctic Scout, Bridgeport, Connecticut Japanese HA-8, Groton, Connecticut USS Nautilus, Groton, Connecticut Italian Siluro San Bartolomeo, Groton, Connecticut USS X-1, Groton, Connecticut Auxiliary Schooner Brilliant, Mystic, Connecticut, Admission USCGC Eagle, New London, Connecticut

Smokey the Bear

Yesterday I was wasting some time before meeting friends for dinner and I walked over to the park at the corner of New Chardon and Cambridge Street to read my new book, Mop Men (which is excellent so far).

As I was wandering over to a bench, I see: a dog off leash, about 4 people sitting and smoking, and a pile of mulch, also smoking. Soooo not good.

What bothered me more was that there was a woman sitting right next to the pile of smoking mulch and she wasn’t doing anything. No worry, no action…just smoking her cigarette and ignoring everything.

So, I walked up quickly and poured half my bottle of water onto the area and then started stomping on it. And the woman is looking at me like I’m the crazy one! I finally got it put out after about a minute or so and sat down to read my book.

She asked me about it after I sat down and seemed incredibly surprised that mulch catches on fire quickly…idiot.

Now, mulch can catch on fire if someone leaves a not put out cigarette in it or a match, but I think this one started spontaneously as the high heat, wind, and intense sun combined to make conditions favorable. This article is interesting, there have been multiple fires already this year in Illinois. Hopefully, I will not have to play fireman again this year.

Mulch Fire Remains

Summer Plans

With the taste of spring around the corner, I have begun planning my summer trips…not that I’ll get to all of them, but it can’t hurt to plan, right?

Mountains:
Hale
Tom
Field
Willey
Waumbek
Moosilauke
Cannon

Places to go:
Acadia National Park
Cape Cod
Boston Harbor Islands

If I can get those 7 mountains done, then I’ll be at 24 out of 48 and halfway through the 4,000 footer list. Should only take another 2 years or so to get the rest done. Ha!