Pink Granite

Romney’s Reasoning

2012-02-01T22:47:00.002-05:00

Willard Mitt Romney, one of the Republican presidential candidates, may have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he regularly swaps it out for a platinum foot.Read the New York Times collection by Ashley Parker of some of Mitt’s best, oddest, most out of touch statements.And rest assured there will be endless sequels.

SoundHound

2012-01-26T21:06:00.003-05:00

SoundHound works. It kicks Shazam to the corner and back. Not only does it identify the music quickly and accurately, it is content rich - including lyrics. And it’s free!

I Still Wish...

2012-01-22T16:07:00.001-05:00

I first wrote and posted this piece in 2007. My feelings have not changed. I believe it bears repeating and more so this year after extensive political wrangling to get not just abortion, but most forms of contraception outlawed in this country. Of course the balance on the Supreme Court remains key to this issue. Which means the upcoming presidential election is vital as well.Today is the

STOP SOPA!

2012-01-17T23:31:00.010-05:00

STOP CENSORSHIP!VOTE NO ON SOPA!SOPA - the Stop Online Piracy Act - is a mess.The US House of Representatives bill has a catchy title. Who isn’t against online piracy - other than, well, pirates, right? The problem is it is a hodgepodge; a catchall written by power brokers and it is far too wide reaching. It is a huge blanket of censorship being thrown over the entire internet, with the

A Moment

2012-01-16T11:29:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we drove down to Rhode Island for the first time since Christmas. We visited with my Mom as well as Al, Carrie and Isabella Rose. Izzy is in constant motion now. She has graduated from walking while holding on to two hands, to holding on to only one hand! (Racing down the hallway with her, while bent over holding her little hand, is a chiropractor’s dream scenario!) She is also

Smoky Goodness

2012-01-14T22:56:00.004-05:00

Chuck and I first tasted a Chipotle based salsa at a Mexican restaurant in Redmond, Washington many years ago. We were so taken with it, we asked the staff about it. Then we went off in search of some wonderfully smoky Chipotle sauce. We tried several, but eventually settled on Tabasco Chipotle. We love it so much we travel with it! We also use McCormick dried Chipotle. I use the Tabasco

Thank You TJ’s

2012-01-12T22:44:00.009-05:00

For several weeks we have been devoting a great deal of time and energy to helping Chuck’s elderly aunt. Working with hospice has been of clear benefit to Tanta and a blessing to us. Every life is complex and complicated; Tanta’s no less than anyone else’s. We are wending our way through a life’s maze built on privacy and filled with explicit and sometimes contradictory requests and desires.

We’re Zipping Down The Rabbit Hole Again Folks

2012-01-07T21:03:00.003-05:00

Living this close to the state of New Hampshire, just before the presidential primaries, means we are inundated with political ads. This is not my favorite season. I keep my finger on the mute button and much of the time manage to simply tune out the unrelenting blathering buzz. But recently Massachusetts’ former governor Willard Mitt Romney began running an ad which penetrated - gall can do

The Ninth Night

2011-12-31T21:36:00.003-05:00

We went to Christmas Revels at Harvard on Wednesday.If there was such a thing as the “ninth night” of Chanukah, that would have been the night.But there is no ninth night.Revels this year had a skeleton figure which moved silently and somberly throughout the show - even dancing in the lobby of Memorial Hall during” Lord Of The Dance”. Ironically, the skeleton was played by a young, lithe woman.

Not A Creature Was Stirring

2011-12-24T20:30:00.003-05:00

...He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight -Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.Whether it was written by Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston, Jr. “Twas The Night Before Christmas” has a special place in my heart. Less as a poem and more as the beautiful musical

Happy Chanukah!

2011-12-20T22:56:00.004-05:00

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. We lit the candles, read the story and sang the songs. But I’m afraid the latkes will have to wait another day or so until things slow down around here. They will slow down, won’t they? ;o) Here’s some useful information which I posted last year:: : As always, Chabad.org has an a great and exhaustive section of their website devoted to all things

Need Or Scam & Does It Matter?

2011-12-14T21:46:00.004-05:00

Back in May of 2010 I posted about my dilemma when it comes to being panhandled. Many of you shared your stories of when you do and don’t and the internal struggles you have. I came away from that discussion feeling that saying no was generally the best strategy and to always say no to giving someone a lift somewhere. However, in the twenty months since I posted “Need Or Scam?” I have

23 & 1/2 Hours

2011-12-13T12:16:00.000-05:00

Wow.This puts it all in perspective:Thank you Dr. Mike Evans!

Flash!

2011-12-08T21:28:00.001-05:00

I admit I get a kick out of the flashmob phenomenon. This one from Minnesota is a holiday delight!Enjoy!

One Sideshow Closes

2011-12-03T22:44:00.002-05:00

Herman Cain “suspended” his presidential campaign today.Jaws did not drop.There are so many important problems in need of solutions in this country and around the world. It's troubling how much media attention was devoted to Cain and all of his "alleged" affairs. Journalists should know better, but they find the bread and circuses impossible to resist. Before tossing his hat into the race, Cain

My Life, Your Life - It’s All Equal - Or It Should Be

2011-11-28T21:58:00.003-05:00

I love this video from the Australian group “GetUp!”. In less than two minutes they take us on a journey we all can recognize and relate to.Thanks to MoveOn.org for linking to this video which they described as “the best ad for marriage equality we’ve ever seen”. I can’t disagree.

53 - 18 = 35

2011-11-27T22:19:00.005-05:00

You may remember I posted about the incredible moment of serendipity when I met an elementary school classmate from Rhode Island, while visiting in Seattle back in June. That led to a mini-reunion in Rhode Island in late July. On a hot and humid Friday afternoon, ten of us gathered at our Catholic elementary school for a private tour. No teachers, no administrators, just a group of adults

Thankful Times Five

2011-11-25T20:17:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, the traditional day for gratitude and I can assure you, there was gratitude in abundance. Today is the fifth anniversary of Pink Granite which leaves me thankful for you, the reader. This past year and a half or so found Chuck and I immersed in both worries and joy - and seemingly always on the go. Unfortunately, that has meant my posting on PG has been less

Occupy Democracy

2011-11-22T20:52:00.001-05:00

In just over two minutes Robert Reich clearly sums up our current political environment. Had I been charged with this task there would have been many expletives and references to Alice down the rabbit hole. Good that we have Professor Reich!

Two Months Along

2011-11-21T23:29:00.003-05:00

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) began on September 17, 2011. What impresses and truly humbles me is the tenacity of the OWS folks. They have been working at this for over two months. The movement started rather modestly but it grew and spread across the nation and then on to other parts of the globe. This has happened without an individual leader. The OWS folks embody the 99% which is us. Some have

Jeff Was Right

2011-11-19T22:59:00.002-05:00

Jeff was often right. He was also insightful, smart, cynical yet open minded and generous with his thoughts, his blog posts, his knowledge and his links.Two facts caused me to think about Jeff Barnard tonight. The first is that Jeff’s yahrzeit is coming up on November 28th. The second is that Chuck and I ate at Carmella’s Italian Kitchen in Brookfield this evening. It was wonderful. Chuck

A History of the Sky

2011-11-18T14:15:00.001-05:00

I came across this video over on My Jewish Learning. As I watched it, I first found it interesting, then fascinating and ultimately quite calming. It has a lovely meditative quality about it.It really is best viewed as large as possible and with the highest resolution.Enjoy!

Senate Bill 1853

2011-11-17T21:06:00.003-05:00

There has been a great deal of misinformation out there about the United States Postal Service (USPS) and about other USPS related legislation. This bill, S. 1853, is the first one which addresses the biggest problem and respects the role of the post office in the everyday lives of rural and low income Americans. Senators Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Kirsten Gillibrand of New

Give A Book

2011-11-13T22:11:00.003-05:00

Isn’t it wonderful to lose yourself in a book for a little while? Back in 2009 I posted links to some veterans and armed forces charities. I recently learned of another one called “Books For Soldiers” which is just as simple as the name implies: you send books to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. For more information go to Books For Soldiers.

Honor

2011-11-11T09:15:00.000-05:00

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month...  “On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” - President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s

A New Case Of You

2011-11-08T22:36:00.003-05:00

Joni Mitchell’s album “Blue” came out in 1971. I damn near played the grooves off it. When CDs came out in the 1980s, “Blue” was one of the first CDs I purchased. When we got our first iPod six years ago, yes, “Blue” was one of the first albums we loaded.I was chatting recently with a friend and we agreed that many covers of great songs fall flat. Tonight, I heard a brilliant interpretation

Drive Baby Drive

2011-11-07T22:10:00.003-05:00

Starting October 1st, I spent nine days driving.It began at Logan Airport and Greater Boston here in Massachusetts. Then there was a trip back and forth to Rhode Island for a funeral. Then Brookline, Massachusetts to New Jersey, driving back and forth to New York City, wrapping up at JFK airport. I’m a mediocre passenger and a middlin’ navigator for another driver - even with a GPS unit to

Quixotic Me - Yet Again

2011-11-06T15:04:00.003-05:00

Fall behind.Sigh.Yes, I do recognize the futility of my quest to put an end to the artificial and arbitrary manipulation of our time. But a girl can dream can’t she, however impossible that dream might be? ;o)Here’s my post from March 2007:The U.S. has begun Daylight Saving Time (DST) weeks earlier this year. The stated rationale is an attempt to save more energy. I don’t buy it. I also don’t

As A Doornail

2011-11-05T14:28:00.002-04:00

The washing machine died. 364 days after we purchased it, the washer refused to work. Nay, it refused to even turn on! To be precise, it’s actually only been in our house for eleven months and hooked up and operating for about ten and a half. Our previous machine lasted twenty years.First available appointment for repair? Friday - this Friday, but Friday natheless.I am not happy. Chuck is

Holiday Flashback

2011-11-03T22:43:00.006-04:00

There are a few things in this world that you can only find at the Vermont Country Store. We’ve visited there once and have ordered a variety of items over the years. Today I received an e-mail from them which gave me a holiday flashback. My maternal grandparents, Gagee and Gramps, had some holiday decorations that I loved. One standout was the cardboard “brick” fireplace with the little

Hurray!

2011-11-01T20:57:00.004-04:00

We have power back! This evening our little corner of the universe was reconnected to the grid. To ice the cake, we even got cable back. We’re happy that we were able to take care of ourselves and be self sufficient. But normal feels very good.A Related Post: Please bury your power lines.

October Nor’easter

2011-10-30T19:14:00.004-04:00

We drove home from my aunt’s memorial service in Rhode Island to find at least 14 inches of heavy wet snow carpeting our town. Our area also remains without power. Thankfully, we lost only one tree limb and there appears to be no damage to the house or barn. But the bushes, small trees and shrubs are another matter. We will know more as the week moves on and warmer weather moves back in. But

Smart As A Whip

2011-10-26T16:34:00.000-04:00

And cute as a button to boot!Congratulations to our niece Kate! She passed the Bar Exam! For the record, she took the exam while she had wicked morning sickness!Now that’s a trooper!<);o)

Ah Ha Moment

2011-10-26T11:56:00.005-04:00

When the cruise ships pull into Bar Harbor, the launches fill up with passengers who are then ferried to the dock. The passengers then pour into Bar Harbor. It’s easy to tell the cruise ship passengers from the regular tourists. The cruise ship passengers are the ones walking, standing and wandering into the streets. They ignore crosswalks and have been known to stand in the middle of the

Hello Hare!

2011-10-24T22:10:00.003-04:00

As we were driving back to our hotel very late Saturday afternoon, we spotted this big, beautiful bunny sitting alongside a potholed, mixed surface road. This was just a stone’s throw from (the moderately) bustling main drag of Bar Harbor. I snapped a couple of photos through the windshield. Right after I did, he or she took off at a great pace. That was when we really noticed just how large

Schoodic

2011-10-23T22:04:00.004-04:00

With a beautiful day forecast we headed over to the Schoodic Peninsula and more of Acadia National Park. Perhaps because it was a Sunday it was a bit “crowded” - meaning we didn’t have the entire park to ourselves! The National Park Service made some improvements over the summer. The most important of which, from a very practical standpoint, is that they now have a universal access restroom

Sunrise

2011-10-22T23:24:00.004-04:00

This was the sunrise today over Frenchman Bay and Bald Porcupine Island, here in Bar Harbor, Maine. On mornings like this I don’t want to ever go home, because not only is this exquisitely beautiful, it also feels like home.

Every Happiness

2011-10-22T22:25:00.003-04:00

I don’t know who Jeff and Kate are.I do know that yesterday they were at Seal Harbor in Maine and that we wish them every happiness...;o)

Lobstah

2011-10-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

At long last we have found a good Lobster Roll at a restaurant in Bar Harbor, Maine. Don’t get me wrong. Bar Harbor has lots of great restaurants. But it has been hard to find a decent Lobster Roll on a regular menu - not as a special. Tonight, however, we went to a place called the Side Street Cafe. It’s been open just a few years, but we’ve had a meal there on every trip up here. The

Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-15T21:21:00.002-04:00

When Occupy Wall Street began it got off to a slow and somewhat fuzzy start. The media, however, was even slower with its coverage. Now, after one month, Occupy Wall Street has picked up speed, gained participants as well as supporters, spread globally, is being better covered by the media, has raised the hackles of some police chiefs and mayors and has ticked off many of the “1%” and the far

Good Women Both

2011-10-09T19:12:00.003-04:00

Two of our aunts passed away this week. One lived to the age of 95; the other 85. One could write a gracious letter; the other could tell a heck of a good story. They were of different religions, upbringings, socio-economic statuses, educations and careers. At a quick glance they had little in common - save Chuck and me. Yet they were both mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and aunts.

A Boy!

2011-09-25T22:21:00.003-04:00

Kate called to tell us that she and Phil are expecting a baby boy! I squealed with delight, but then added that we would have been just as happy to hear it was a baby girl! Truthfully, we just want Kate, the baby and Phil to all be healthy and happy, now and forever, Amen. Still, the idea of having a boy born into the family is very exciting because right now there are a whole lot of

A Liter Of Light

2011-09-17T22:41:00.003-04:00

Two minutes of your time will open your eyes to an incredibly clever idea! Originally created by students at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), these Solar Bottle Bulbs are now helping people in poor communities in the Philippines.Find more information at the Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) website.You can follow the 1LitrongLiwanagTeam on Twitter.And you can “like” A Liter of

Ben’s A Father

2011-09-15T22:16:00.002-04:00

...but not a Dad.Because he donated to a sperm bank, Ben Seisler is the biological father of at least 75 children. The subtitle on the Boston Globe article by Linda Matchan reads: “As kids conceived with donated sperm grow up, life may get complicated for donors”.But aren’t the lives of the 75 half-siblings just as complicated - if not more so?Read the complete, thought provoking article here.

They’ll Do Anything

2011-09-14T23:04:00.006-04:00

There was an extremely disturbing article in Mother Jones today. It outlines the Republican strategy to gerrymander the Electoral College. The piece by Nick Baumann is entitled: “The GOP's Genius Plan to Beat Obama in 2012”. Be warned, the word “genius” in the title is not sarcastic.: : Update: Nate Silver, the statistical (and political) genius behind “FiveThirtyEight” which now lives at

September 11th

2011-09-11T09:13:00.001-04:00

Because this is the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001, there has been an intense focus on the tragedy of that day.It changed us. It changed us all. But today, on this solemn anniversary, I want to remember the kindness. Citizens and leaders of countries all around the world reached out to us here in the United States. They expressed love, compassion, sympathy, friendship, solidarity and

To Be Awesome Again

2011-09-10T22:37:00.002-04:00

1. Read this wonderful piece by Melissa Wardy.2. Then embrace your true, authentic awesomeness.3. Then help a child to embrace theirs!

Dear National Grid, NSTAR, et al

2011-09-02T22:32:00.005-04:00

Thank you. Thank you for all your long hours and hard work. Special thanks to the linemen who go out in all sorts of miserable and dangerous conditions so that our lives can be easier and safer. And thank you for restoring power to my nieces’ homes after Irene left them in the dark. Now I’d like a word with management. Please bury your power lines. Seriously. Your infrastructure is aging. Your

Twenty!

2011-08-31T17:22:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow marks our twentieth wedding anniversary! Chuck and I have known each other for 26 years. (It’s fun to say we’ve known each other for over a quarter of a century.) But on a gorgeous, sunny day in 1991, with some crisp, dry autumn air breezing through, we were married. Our Chuppah was the house we were living in; our guests were just a few family and friends who we wanted gathered

Hurricane Eval

2011-08-29T02:12:00.004-04:00

- The state and federal Emergency Management Agencies and meteorologists need to provide folks with all the facts about an impending weather event. - The elected officials need to both reinforce the message as well as recommend appropriate action and reassure people that everything that can be done will be done. - The media needs to report the story - the predictions, preparations, history,

Sweet Dreams - I Hope

2011-08-27T22:42:00.003-04:00

Well, it turns out that 13 hours of sleep over 87 hours is really not enough. So I will say hello and then good night and try to catch up a bit. May everyone in the path of Hurricane Irene’s rain, winds and storm surge stay safe and sound.

Happy Dancing - Now Public!

2011-08-20T22:57:00.002-04:00

I can now tell you, with great delight and excitement, that our niece Kate and her husband Phil are expecting their first child! When Kate and Phil made the announcement to the family at the Fourth of July party, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. But tradition dictates that we wait until Kate had safely navigated her first trimester. Now that she is 14 weeks along, we are very happy to

Class Warfare? I Call Bull Puckey!

2011-08-20T21:27:00.006-04:00

And thank heavens, so does Jon Stewart! Do watch both videos in sequence. The “F” word and a few others are bleeped, but probably NSFW. The Daily Show - World of Class Warfare - Warren Buffett vs. Wealthy ConservativesGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook The Daily Show - World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is OverGet More:

All Clear!

2011-08-18T21:45:00.003-04:00

Back in March I had Mohs surgery to remove a small basal cell carcinoma from above my right eyebrow. A few weeks ago I had my follow up visit with my Mohs surgeon. I jokingly asked him to remember which side of my face he had worked on - because that’s how dang near invisible the tear drop shaped scar is now. He surprised me by remarking on the remaining redness and puffiness and told me that

The Local Hub

2011-08-13T20:46:00.003-04:00

Just before we moved to our small town in Central Massachusetts we filled out all our change of address cards. Pretty much the first thing we did when we moved here was visit our new post office. We had a chat with the postmaster who told us what to do to install our shiny new mailbox. The day the letter carrier pulled up in front of our box, (now standing proudly at the side of the road),

Hey! Verizon!

2011-08-09T21:00:00.006-04:00

Chuck and I are Verizon Landline customers. We are outraged by a company which awards an enormous bonus to its CEO while trying to strip benefits from the workers who keep the phones in service! The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) began bargaining with Verizon on June 22, 2011. On August 7, 2011 IBEW and CWA went out on

Truly Worthy Of The Word Awesome!

2011-08-09T20:24:00.003-04:00

You MUST watch this video! Seriously. Within 30 seconds it will leave you gobsmacked. You can watch this video and more over at Science Friday.

The Prints and The Potter

2011-08-06T22:22:00.003-04:00

Worcester, Massachusetts boasts a wonderful gallery and framing shop: The Prints and The Potter. Located at the corner of Highland and West Streets, they have been in business for 36 years. With an extensive selection of pottery, jewelry, glasswork and framed art, the cleverly named shop should be your first stop for a special gift - for yourself or others! They are also the only place we

One Amazing Year!

2011-08-05T11:28:00.004-04:00

”Happy Birthday to you,Happy Birthday to you,Happy Birthday dear Isabella Rose,Happy Birthday to you - and many more!Wheeeeeee!!!”One year ago today our grandniece, Isabella Rose was born fourteen weeks premature, weighing just one pound, six ounces and a wee twelve inches long. We met her when she was just four hours old and she struck us as "sweet and strong". We were right, because she is

Gratitude

2011-08-03T22:32:00.006-04:00

Our plate has been full lately - a little too full. But life doesn’t let us pick and choose when we will be needed. Nor does it let us choose how or by whom. When Chuck and I feel frustrated or overwhelmed we seek out the positive. Sometimes it is an electric pink sky at sunset; sometimes a kind gesture by a stranger; sometimes an old friend who makes us laugh and the years fall away.

Can We Clone Him? Please?

2011-07-28T23:08:00.003-04:00

“The American People Are Angry” I first met Bernie, Senator Sanders, back when he was the Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. I liked him then and my admiration for him has grown exponentially in recent years. What’s not to like about a plain spoken man with common sense, who is always working on the side of the angels?If you would like to read a recent op-ed by Bernie which covers the same ground,

Class Warfare

2011-07-25T20:14:00.005-04:00

"House Speaker John Boehner’s new budget proposal would require deep cuts in the years immediately ahead in Social Security and Medicare benefits for current retirees, the repeal of health reform’s coverage expansions, or wholesale evisceration of basic assistance programs for vulnerable Americans.The plan is, thus, tantamount to a form of “class warfare.” If enacted, it could well produce the

About 50 To 311,832,658

2011-07-23T23:00:00.004-04:00

When we were in Washington state for Chuck’s sister’s surprise birthday party, our timing afforded us a bonus event: our nephew’s senior prom! “A” is a great kid with a good sense of humor and a whole bunch of musical and artistic talent. He’s been friends with “B” for many years so we’ve enjoyed getting to know “B” during our visits to the Seattle area. The afternoon of the prom, 16 couples

Cousins

2011-07-19T22:39:00.003-04:00

Well, technically second cousins and second cousins who had only just met. But you wouldn’t have guessed that if you had you seen them together this afternoon!Our 13 year old grandniece Alex, visiting from the west coast, gave her second cousin, our 11 month old grandniece Isabella, a whole lot of support and encouragement today in the crawling department. Alex took a hands on approach, getting

Paging Palmer & Spencer!

2011-07-16T23:13:00.007-04:00

“44 States Discontinue Teaching Cursive Writing!” How did I miss this?Many states have adopted the “Common Core State Standards”. The CCSS English Language Arts Standards do not include cursive writing. Likewise, with “No Child Left Behind” cursive writing is not a requirement. So now 44 states have stopped including cursive writing as a skill to be learned. Their focus is on printing and

Keep Breathing...

2011-07-14T21:25:00.006-04:00

I found myself recommending a relaxation breathing technique to a gal who is beginning a challenging recovery in a rehabilitation facility. She was hit by a car just last week. Melanie, AKA The Coupon Goddess, is a generous soul with a very good sense of humor. Do stop by and wish her well. As I left the information for her, I realized I had never posted about it here.Dr. Andrew Weil

HHH + A

2011-07-12T22:50:00.003-04:00

Oh I know it’s only mid July and there is a whole slew of summer left to go, but this heat and humidity has already gotten to me. Far too soon, I know. Jump shift:You love Adele, right? Of course you do. We have her albums “19” and “21” and love them both. Recently she performed in the iTunes London Festival. It is a delight! You can watch it here. And if you reside in the Northern

Crazies, Breadcrumbs, A Delete Button & A Hat Tip

2011-07-09T21:16:00.004-04:00

I saw a tweet or two on Twitter from Margo and Roger Ebert which intrigued me. They were about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann signing a pledge called "The Marriage Vow: A Declaration of Dependence upon MARRIAGE and FAMILY". But the tweets referred to slavery. Curious, I followed a link which led me to an article by Jason Linkins on the Huffington Post entitled: “Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa Social

Mount Rainier

2011-07-07T20:56:00.003-04:00

On every trip we have taken to Seattle, Washington we have always been able to glimpse Mount Rainier at least once. You would think that at 14,411 feet or 4,392 meters, it would be a constant presence. But it is frequently shrouded in clouds, fog, rain or snow. On our most recent trip, we saw Rainier on the clearest day we have ever experienced in the Northwest. It was absolutely stunning.

Sparkler

2011-07-04T17:41:00.005-04:00

Happy Fourth of July! We did our celebrating a day early on this long holiday weekend. We spent yesterday down in Rhode Island with family and friends. Al and Carrie kindly hosted the sometimes boisterous cheerful group. Isabella was at ease with the crowd, including one cousin she had never met before and an Auntie and Uncle she had only seen once, half a year ago. Good food, a couple of

Precisely!

2011-06-30T23:15:00.004-04:00

This is not my work.Because I admire it so - both the sentiment and the graphic design - I am posting it here. I found it via Pinterest on a website called Wild Guess, which I think is part of Tumblr. I believe it was "Wild Guess” who created the poster/print. Liz Feldman is a writer and comedian.

2011-06-29T22:49:00.003-04:00

Did you ever tear a photograph of your dream kitchen out of a magazine? A wedding dress? The pink sand beach in Bermuda that you dream of escaping to in the middle of winter? Well, Pinterest is the on-line location where you can gather all the nifty things you come across on the internet. Pinterest is the virtual intersection of a bulletin board, a scrapbook and a notebook. As Wendy says,

Major Step For Little Rhody

2011-06-29T20:56:00.003-04:00

Tonight the Rhode Island State Senate passed a Civil Unions Bill. It’s not perfect. It’s not full and equal marriage. But it’s a big step, in the right direction, for the smallest state. Governor Lincoln Chafee will sign it. Thank you Rhode Island!

Minot

2011-06-24T22:04:00.004-04:00

Before last month I had never been in the state of North Dakota. When we took “The Empire Builder” there was a scheduled stop in Minot, North Dakota. It was a brilliantly sunny day, with nary a cloud in the sky. We stepped off the train onto the platform to stretch our legs and breathe the fresh spring air. We were in Minot much longer than anticipated because of a problem with one of the

It Felt Like A Sunday

2011-06-22T22:23:00.003-04:00

Chuck and I met 26 years ago next month. In September we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. In the intervening years between meeting and marrying we became friends and fell in love. Shortly before we met, Stephen Sondheim wrote the Broadway musical “Sunday In The Park With George”. We were smitten with it. Song after song moved us; touched us in some deep way. The musical was

Urban

2011-06-18T22:16:00.005-04:00

I may have been born in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, but I grew up in suburbia. I have lived in a few cities, including Worcester, Massachusetts. Now I make my home in a rural community. So my city forays are for shopping, education, cultural activities, entertainment, sporting events and dining. That’s why this photo opportunity was irresistible to me. The Amtrak train we were on

A Brief Explanation

2011-06-18T14:51:00.004-04:00

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains the problems with the U.S. economy in less than 2 minutes, 15 seconds — replete with illustrations. Watch and learn...Many thanks to MoveOn.org for this video.

Sweet Surprise

2011-06-17T22:29:00.007-04:00

It took two weeks and nine modes of transportation to complete our recent trip. Several months ago we received an Evite from our brother-in-law. He and the kids were planning a surprise 60th birthday party for Chuck’s sister. We couldn’t resist. But we decided to do something different. We decided to travel by train - - - to Seattle, Washington. Yes, four days and three nights on the train

He’s Smiling

2011-06-16T21:20:00.006-04:00

My Dad loved the Boston Bruins. We lived in Rhode Island when the Bruins hockey games were broadcast over a UHF station out of Boston. We had only one television that could pick up the UHF signal. It was a little black and white TV with the round wire UHF antenna on the back. Dad had to position it “just so” in the northeast corner of a second floor bedroom. Even with his careful and repeated

10 = 7

2011-06-09T22:16:00.004-04:00

Isabella turned ten months old on Sunday. Having been born prematurely, her adjusted age is seven months. When we visited today her Mom, Carrie, treated us to a very big surprise:Izzy can sit up all by herself!Oh, and she is presently quite fascinated by her toes - - - along with everything else in this great big, wonderful world!

Jumping Back In

2011-06-08T22:23:00.003-04:00

I’ve been gone so long I hardly know where to begin. We were away for two full weeks and every day deserves its own post! That seems a bit too unwieldy right now so let me start with an easy one:Congressman Anthony Weiner is a schmuck.(Yes, all Yiddish puns intended.)I thought Congressman Weiner was a good politician; a good advocate of the liberal agenda. I honestly thought that while he was

Hyla Neighbor!

2011-05-20T21:06:00.003-04:00

We were rushing out the door to get to an appointment this morning, when we spotted this Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor). He/She was clinging to our storm door, about halfway up. Despite his thriving conservation status as “least concern” neither of us had ever seen one before. Clearly the appointment would have to wait a couple of moments! After I snapped a few pics, he leapt down to the

Yum!

2011-05-19T22:38:00.002-04:00

If you are anywhere near a Trader Joe’s drop what you are doing and head directly for their freezer case. Look for their "Caribbean Fruit Floes". Buy a box. Eat one. Come back and thank me. Repeat.They are like sorbet on a stick, only chewy. They are meaty popsicles. That sounds bad and these aren’t bad. These are delish.Please buy them. Please save us from being the kiss of death to another

Seven Years and Counting...

2011-05-17T22:34:00.003-04:00

Today is the seventh anniversary of the legalization of Same Sex Marriage in Massachusetts. Happily, despite repeated attacks, equal marriage has remained the law of the Commonwealth. All those specious arguments; all those dire predictions about how so called “traditional marriage” would be undermined, yet here we all are. The sky did not fall.Image from Mass Equality’s website.

What A Week!

2011-05-15T21:34:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow is Roo’s 50th birthday! It’s also Jake’s birthday. Tuesday is Sue’s (Jake’s Mom) birthday. Thursday is Wendy’s birthday. And my birthday is Wednesday. Which one? Let’s just say my 50th is in the rear view mirror - but not very far!”Happy Birthday to us,Happy Birthday to us,Happy Birthday dear all of usHappy Birthday to us - and many more!Wheeeeeee!!!”Spring has been arriving at a

Left Behind

2011-05-10T22:15:00.002-04:00

As the tide draws down and out across the sand, it leaves so much to see. Ever changing, it reveals new stones, shells, flotsam and sinewy tracks from rivulets of sea water. All quite fascinating and beautiful.

She Was Wonderful

2011-05-08T10:01:00.004-04:00

I was very lucky. I had a second Mom, my maternal grandmother. Her given name was Marion, but we all called her Gagee. She was terrific. Intelligent, warm and funny; she was a woman who epitomized unconditional love. And she was a hugger; eager to wrap you up in a big embrace.That’s Gramps and Gagee, with Gagee holding Carrie Elizabeth in her arms. Gramps was 76, Gagee 75. When the photo was

I Kid You Not

2011-05-06T22:05:00.004-04:00

Ralph was there again!For many years, on Park Loop Road, in Acadia National Park, just past Otter Cove, near Little Hunters Beach, a seagull has been waiting for us. O.K. I have no proof that it’s the very same Herring Gull, season after season, but it’s pretty darn cool. We pull up in the car, roll down the window and snap away. I usually get out of the car and continue taking pictures.

After The Rainbow

2011-05-05T21:29:00.001-04:00

Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands at sunsetYou can see why we never tire of Acadia, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert!

At The End Of The Rainbow

2011-05-03T22:30:00.004-04:00

...is Maine.This rainbow appeared Sunday afternoon, April 17th, several hours after a powerful storm had lashed Mount Desert Island. The wind had howled so fiercely our hotel door whistled and rattled relentlessly! But as the tide rolled out, the clouds followed suit. I shot the photo across Albert Meadow and Shore Path to Frenchman Bay, in the general direction of Egg Rock.

Death Comes

2011-05-02T01:16:00.006-04:00

As we listened to the President address the nation tonight, we cried. The horror of September 11th was enormous and life changing. There has been so much death and destruction since then; loss and pain; so many wrong moves with dire consequences and long lasting repercussions. We do not yet know the ripples from this moment. But I have no problem with the killing of Osama bin Laden.We are

More Maine

2011-05-01T22:13:00.005-04:00

Looking our toward Otter Cliffs from Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park

Maine

2011-04-30T22:38:00.007-04:00

The week before Easter we drove up to Bar Harbor, Maine.It was exactly what we needed.Over the next few days I’ll be posting photographs and a video.Shore Path, looking over Frenchman Bay to Sheep Porcupine Island.Chuck watching the waves crash at Schoodic Point, Acadia National Park

They Did It Up Brown!

2011-04-30T08:08:00.006-04:00

There seemed to be two major camps in advance of the Royal Wedding. Either you were eagerly anticipating the event or you were seeking a complete media blackout until the couple was off on their honeymoon. I fell into the first camp. Unlike many here in the States, I did not set the alarm for 4:00 a.m. and have tea and scones at the ready as the festivities began. But the first thing I did

Milestone

2011-04-25T21:28:00.003-04:00

Our grandniece, Isabella Rose, was born on August 5, 2010 after just 26 weeks gestation, weighing only 1 pound, 6 ounces / .62 kilograms and a wee 12 inches long. Since then she has been loved fiercely and wonderfully by her parents. Al and Carrie have cared for her with tenderness, skill and grace. Nurses and doctors at the NICU brought every possible resource, coupled with decades of

The Deficit - In 190 Seconds

2011-04-22T22:29:00.003-04:00

Gut Check

2011-04-20T22:17:00.002-04:00

We all know we have one of four blood types. (Chuck’s is B positive - natch!) but did you know we have gut bacteria types? As reported in a tantalizing New York Times article, scientists say that our enterotype bacteria sorts us into three distinct types. Who knew? In the brief but fascinating article by Carl Zimmer, we learn that the investigators speculate that “the guts, or intestines, of

Up Down & Out

2011-04-19T00:18:00.003-04:00

When I watched the first episode of the new “Upstairs Downstairs” on PBS, my interest was piqued. It was no “Downton Abbey”, but it was engaging and enjoyable. Sunday night I tuned in for the second of the three episodes and was very disappointed. The first hour was a bit rushed but the second felt like a badly edited Cliff’s Notes. Was this a budget problem? Could they not afford another

Silence Is Golden

2011-04-10T22:34:00.004-04:00

I’ve written previously about our adventures with our new washer and dryer. I continue to adjust and almost, yes, almost like using the darned things. One problem we hadn’t anticipated was “water hammer”. The new high-efficiency, front loader washer calls for water repeatedly during the wash and rinse cycles. The old top loader just filled up the tub once for each cycle; sloshed about and

Three Weeks

2011-04-05T22:26:00.005-04:00

It was three weeks ago today that I had Mohs surgery just above my right eyebrow. Chuck and I are astonished at how well the wound has been healing. If you look at it closely or in bright light from a raking angle, you can see the outline of the teardrop shaped incision. The first few days after I stopped wearing a bandage it looked like I might have fallen and scraped the area. But now it is