Sunday, September 6, 2009

Feast of the Three Saints

Yesterday we went to the second day of the Feast of the Three Saints in Lawrence. It was me and the Mrs and her mother and step father. Jen and her mom lived in Lawrence years ago but never went to this festival. It was a first for all of us.

It was fun, but not quite as authentic an experience as we had hoped for. I think the Korean restaurant booth might have killed some of the Italian buzz for us. Still, we had a lot of fun wandering around the festival and Tripoli Bakery makes some damn good stuff.

Here are a few of the pictures I took...

My sweetie at the Robert Frost Fountain on the Lawrence Common.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 006

I had exactly one goal for this festival. Gellato. Lots of it. Success!
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 034

My wife loves the gellato too.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 040

My wife also loves shopping for hand bags.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 057

The turtle races were awesome! This little guy was the winner.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 106

This is the reason for the season. Outside of Holy Rosary Church.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 126

Next to the church was a cool little archway.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 114

Inside Holy Rosary.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 125

We were supposed to go back for a copy of that cook book but we forgot to.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 140

The headquarters for the festival?
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 145

Lots of fire crackers. We didn't stay for the explosion though. Sorry about that.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 163

The Italian flag flying alongside old glory.
2009-09-05 - Feast of the Three Saints Lawrence, MA 156

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Kimballs FTW

Looooong lines for perfect ice cream.

iPhone astrophotography

You know you've been missing this awesome recurring feature... Here
you go!

The moon over Newbury Comics' parking lot in Salem, NH. Also, the little spec in the moon-free image might be Jupiter... I think.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Border Cafe Chips

WIN

Does This Make Me "Published?"

Yesterday I posted a bunch of pictures I took while wandering along the Spicket River in Methuen.

Today I see this. Do those look familiar? Do you see a familiar link in the sidebar?

If you look at the post from yesterday with all the pictures there is a comment saying I have been linked to on http://methuencommon.com/.

I like the site a lot. A hyper local news site for my town. Granted I am far from up on current events in Methuen. I've been living there for a bit over a year. I lived in town once before for about 10-11 months many years ago. I am slowly learning my way around but there are tons of things I have no idea about. Like, did you know there is a residents only beach on a pond in town? I had no clue. I believe there is also a railroad trail. Who knew?

Last Christmas Santa got me a nice little book on the history of Methuen... I can't recall the title or the author. When I get home I'll check the book and add an addendum at the end of this post. It had a section on historically interesting things to see in town. I have been meaning to check some of them out and take a picture or two but I really haven't gotten around to it. Both busyness and laziness are the culprits there. The dam was the spot that interested me the most, and a large part of that interest was due to the fact that there is a public parking lot right next to it.

I'll get to some of the other places when I can. Some of them I've seen while driving around. Like, what the heck are those tower things in that funeral home parking lot (I know and some day I'll share), and have you noticed half of the town is surrounded by castle walls? (I have and some day I'll share). There is also the library and the music hall that are obvious targets for me.

As for this site being linked from another site, it's not something I've ever given any thought to. I just do this for fun. I have no agenda or anything like that. Hell, I don't even have a topic most of the time. I have had a few pictures from my Flickr account that were used without my permission and I squashed that very quickly thank you very much. I take my copyrights very seriously and no one will use my stuff without my say so. In this case I feel different though. Methuencommon.com can link to me if they want, I'd just like to know about it. I actually added them to my RSS reader so I'll probably catch anything if they do. I'm happy about this. I don't contribute much to the town other than pay sales tax at the Loop and such. This might be a fun way to get involved a little.

Now I just have to get out and take more pictures of my town!


hmmm one added thought... does this mean I have to start proof reading? (shudder in fear)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Phil Kessel

This is intriguing. The New England Hockey Journal website has a page up right now under Boston Bruins that has a headline but no story. The headline is:

Bruins trade Kessel to Blues
By Douglas Flynn
Sep 03 2009 3:33 PM

The story however is blank. There's nothing there.

Are they messing with us? Are they jumping the gun? Do they know something we don't know and are just getting ready to release it?

So my weak little mind starts speculating... who could we get in return for Kessel? (on a side note, trading Phil Kessel is a HUGE mistake on the Bruins part. The only way I would accept that as a solution to the Kessel-is-a-restricted-free-agent issue is if he has told them point blank that he will never ever sign in Boston again. I don't see that happening though. Trading a 30+ goal scorer will be devastating to the Bruins in the 09-10 season.)

How about perenial trading deadline victim Keith Tkachuk?
How about young super defenseman/very poor golf cart driver Erik Johnson?
How about Brad Boyes? (Robert pauses a moment to let that one sink in... )

No matter who we get, this has got to suck for Phil Kessel. First cancer, now hockey in St Louis? You have to feel for the poor guy.

Don't trade him, sign him. I want our 30 goals back.

Spicket River Walk Pictures

This is going to be a long one kids, get your yawning and bitching out of your system now because I don't wanna hear it.

As mentioned yesterday I did a little photo exploring along the Spicket river in Methuen. I started at the dam and worked my way along the river walk that I didn't know was there. Then I went up around the block past the town's oldest fire station and into the town center before calling it a morning and going home.

Here are a bunch of pictures taken in wicked bright sunlight with a lens that was just dirty enough to distort the images a little. Nice!

The Spicket Falls Dam
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Based on a lot of these pictures I would guess that the water level is really low. I would like to see it when the dam is open.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

The river heading away from the dam.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

The Osgood Street bridge. I don't know if that's the official name of the bridge, I just know that that is Osgood Street.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I like to take pictures of signs that will help me figure out what the hell the other pictures are.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Methuen wildlife: Pigeons.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I've driven past this a few times but never stopped to read it. Imagine my surprise when it was just the sort of thing I was hoping to see. A Riverwalk along the mighty Spicket.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Now we're on the other side of Osgood street.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

There is a footbridge across the river. The Riverwalk only went so far on this side of the water but it goes a little further on the other side.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

There is a gazebo and everything. There was also a very small playground area.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Man that sun was wrecking havoc on my dirty camera lens. I should really look into learning a safe way to clean that thing.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Here is the dedication on the footbridge.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I would guess that the water level covers the rocks on the right when the dam is open.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Looking back at Osgood Street.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

After crossing the river I continued along the path.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

This is my favorite spot. Most of the path was raised quite a bit above the water's edge. At the end you could walk down right onto the rocks at the edge and wander around a little. There was also a turn in the river accompanied by what looked like an increase in the downhill grade. The current picked up quite a bit.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Click on this one, then click the all sizes button, then click original. That blows it up to full size. You can see the water bugs pretty clearly. More Methuen wildlife. Okay, so you can't see them that clearly, but you can see them.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Looking back at the start of the bend.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Don't ask me why, but I thought this tree was cool.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I like taking blurry pictures of light reflecting off water. If you don't like it, tough.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

The stone wall is kind of cool too.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Leaving the water behind I thought I'd take a shot of the picnic area just in case a certain wife and step kid or two might have interest in a Sunday afternoon picnic at some point this fall. Just in case.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Looking back toward the bandstand.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I kinda like this one.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

I couldn't resist including an old mill building. I think this one is condos or apartments now.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

This was taken from the road near the top of the dam. I couldn't find a walk way to get me to the foot bridge right over the dam. Maybe another day.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

This was in the fire station parking lot.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

And we end this endless post with the clock downtown. The building across route 28 on the right is The John Hancock Masonic Lodge.
2009-09-02 - Spicket River Walk - Downtown Methuen

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Day Off

Well today is the first day of school for two awesome kids. I got to
go along for the first grade orientation. I'm honored to have been a
part of the big day.

I took a vacation day today so after school I went to take a picture
or two of a dam near our house. Turns out there was a nice little
river walk too. Pictures will be posted soon.

Now I am killing a little time before heading to what will hopefully
be my new dentist's office to hopefully learn the ins and outs of
sedation dentistry.

Wish me luck!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Rythm Section of the Gods

I mentioned this in passing the other day.

New band: Them Crooked Vultures
Drummer: Dave Grohl
Bassist: John Paul Jones

This may be the rhythm section of the gods. (granted, Jones was already in one of those and Grohl's been in a pretty good one too)

Monday, August 31, 2009

Projects

Is it because this week is everyone's first week or school of is it something weather related? I don't know, but I am in a project starting kinda mood. (note I did not say project starting and finishing kinda mood... I'm one of those people)

Jen and I have already started working on a programming project, even if we're not actually sure what the project is going to be yet. Work has commenced at the Rob-needs-to-learn-how-to-write-in-C#-and-use-Visual-Studio-.net level.

Last night Jen was out with some friends and I was up kinda late waiting for her and I did something I haven't often done... I used our playstation 3 to play an actual game. Star Wars the Force Unleashed. I now have this drive to play the game all the way through. That will probably go away once I get to a level that is the least bit difficult, but for now it has me looking at walk throughs and strategy guides.

I also have this sudden interested in learning how to use Apple's Garageband software. I'm thinking I might try to use Jenny's Macbook to record the next RPM challenge and it might be fun to write a tune or two and record them as practice. Granted I haven't touched my guitar since mid-July, but that doesn't change the sudden project desire.

Odd how this happens to me at this time of year.

The kids have their pre-back-to-school carnival today. Tomorrow they are off, and then on Wednesday they go back to school for real. One lucky son-of-my-wife will be starting first grade. He's nervous and excited at the same time. I am super excited. I can't wait for him to show off that brainiac like intellect of his. He's a smart one. His sister is starting third grade and will continue her dominance of the elementary school smarties.

I took the day off from work and will get to join in on the bringing of the kiddies to school. I also am lucky enough to be the lucky guy who gets to pick them up after school and bring them to their after school program's orientation. I am triple lucky! (I also get to go to the dentist, which sort of reduces the effect of the overall luckiness)

So the great start of the school year fun/end of the summer blues begins for real on Wednesday. Until then, enjoy this trailer for what can only be called a cinematic masterpiece. (have I posted this one before?)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Errand Sunday

Nothing special going on today. Laundry, dishes, Jen went food shopping and is now out sneaker shopping with one of the kids while I am home with the other. She is also hoping to get her iPhone repaired at the Apple store later today.

We watched the Disney Channel's Wizard of Waverly Place movie earlier today and have spent lots of time trying to figure out how the spells work.

Later tonight might be another movie, but for now I have to get back to the laundry.

Good Day

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Rock and Roll Creation

Spinal Tap's Rock and Roll Creation, along with some what-does-this-song mean. Absolutely Brilliant.







This is What You Asked for, Isn't It?