Grafitti

Recently, I happened upon a breathtaking photo on one of the most fashionable blogs [photo to right]. This grafitto (is that singular right? Or is it another bastardized bit of phaux Italian like panini, which apparently has no singular, or maybe I just don't get Italian and why should I?] reminded me of the depression I have felt while cruising on trains in other parts of the world, namely France, where you can go miles and see tag after tag and all they are is names, names, names, no art. This is true as you come into Paris from CDG, and just as true in the Midi, on the train from Beziers to Toulouse. No imagination, no art. I'm pretty sure that our GOP friends (both of them) would claim that this lack of brio is a result of socialism. Nah - it's gotta be climate change, which my friends assure me would never happen in the U S of A. Now look more closely at the image above. It's not just great art, it is a friendly guide to saving the planet by cutting paper use. Let's hear it for the Philly taggers! Credit: http://nabober.blogspot.com/ .

Hello, Columbus

Little publicized, replicas of the Nina and Pinta came "sailing" into Potts Harbor this afternoon, docking at the Dolphin. Happily, Grandma and Papa had been informed of this, and lunched well beforehand at the restaurant there. The grilled salmon BLT is a fine item.
The last couple of days have been glorious, and with a northwest wind, it has been almost hot here at the Crotch. Summer feels very good.
We have transplanted some lilacs. Good luck with that. And the chipmunks keep reproducing, although there has been some subtraction in their number.

Out to sea

Having popped Autumn into the drink on Friday, we took advantage of a beautiful Sunday to boat to Boothbay. As Grandma wanted to spectate the collapsed dock at Bay Point, we headed slowly downriver. The dock had been hoisted in pieces from the river. The swells were large but not troublesome and the air was brisk and clear. At Kaler's the fish sandwich was tasty but slippery. Kudos to the Bait Bag IPA. Not too many boats out today, despite the great weather. Lots of folks haven't got their floats out yet. Maybe this year is just plain slow. For the next four months this would be just dandy.

Achilles passes the test

Our annual trip to Bar Harbor was a joy as always. This year we stayed at the Highbrook Motel, which was very satisfactory. Dinner at the Chart Room and Poor Boy's Gourmet, both good. For me the best part was 2 1/2 hours of rock trail up St. Sauveur Mtn, which we had first climbed years ago and got lost. Not this time, and the test of my remanufactured achilles tendon went off without a hitch. Nice trip.

Nawlins

Hoorah! Hoo hah! Our favorite TV series is now available (except for the short final year) on Amazon Prime. We are enjoying watching it all over again.

This year we missed going to New Orleans but will try not to let it happen again.

Forget me not

These things are all over the place, a sea of blue. Last year I tried to keep them out of the driveway, but this year just let 'em rip. Soon they will be all over everywhere and mowing will be a thing of the past. Lately it is fashionable in Maine to have wildflowers instead of a lawn. Too bad they didn't tell me 40 years ago.
Anyway, it is a sign of spring, and the mosquitoes are out, too, so I guess it is for real.

Overdue Upgrade

We have a ramp and float! This morning Herb Freeman's crew came and in an hour they revolutionized our waterfront. The picture shows Koofis Isl. at left rear. The ramp comes off a rock to the right of where we sit. The float is 8X12 and beautifully made.
The plan is to put the Whaler there as a tender.
Soon it will be boating season...

A little fatter, a little happier

We returned last Wednesday from two weeks in southwest France, including a 10-day cruise on the Canal du Midi with John and Betsy. It was quite a trip. As we set off, and for the first couple of days, we were beset by high winds, rain, and chill. But by the end the weather was glorious and the bad stuff far in the rear-view. The gastronomy was tremendous. This video is about 14 minutes long.

First of the season

Welcome back to life. The good weather took a long time to arrive this year, but it is here now. The lawn has been mowed, the sap has flowed, and on Mothers' Day we went to Five Islands for the first lobster of the year. The first lobster always tastes the best ... possibly because they are all hard-shelled and stuffed with meat. Anyway, "the Dock" opened this weekend, and that means summer will really come.
After the lobster we met Em and Gregg at the DQ for the finishing touches.
Much better now.

Blast

Oh, blast. It's sunny. But it will get cold, that's for sure. So I roll over in my lair. Meanwhile, you might amuse yourself with this blast from the past!

Hibernation

Enough. Like my friend below, this blogger is hibernating for the rest of the winter. Perhaps the spring will bring an awakening. Perhaps not....

Football Follies

It's playoff season and the announcers seem worse than ever. A few of their semantic indelicacies have been around for a while, though. For example:
After further review - no, you stupid jerk. It was the first review. The referee who used this term is a lawyer. You, the broadcaster, have attended Quinnipiac and should know better.
Patrick Chung struggled out there - no, he didn't struggle. If he had struggled, perhaps he might have made a play or two. What you mean is that Patrick Chung sucks. Or was that Connie Chung out there?
It Is What It Is - but what IS it, anyway? This magnificent piece of obfuscation comes, I believe, from a Bill Belichick press conference. It means "I' m not going to comment on that." However, for broadcasters, the phrase is apparently significant. But of what?

Last winter post (maybe)

A Poem for Cold Weather

The Poobah of Aruba

When it's seven below
And the wind whips the snow
And icicles crack from the cold,
I think of him.
Caftan flowing, arms akimbo,
He scrutinizes the sea,
Eyeing the dancing dolphins and the deep horizon
For any sign of sail or spout.
Silently he stands and stares.
The sand warms his toes,
The sun is a sheen on his luxuriant hair.
Call to me, Poobah!
I will come!

The Wonder of Winter

There's something so special about winter, don't you think? The crunch of snow underfoot, the cheerful WHUUMP as the foot slips and you fall hard on your ass; the sense of communion with the earth that you feel when your back tells you DON'T STRAIGHTEN UP after shoveling mountains of snow; the delight when those mountains turn to slush and freeze; the wondrous obscurity that overcomes the car as it sweeps up generous helpings of salt and sand;  the cheerful CRAACK as you touch something metal; the colorful flutter of lights before the electricity dies altogether. Ah, winter in Arrowsic!