I want to offer an apology to all the people I should be calling, or hanging out with, or otherwise spending time interacting with, because I have not done those things much lately.
For a few weeks now, most of what I have been concerned with is trying to get some rest.
No, not that season. The one we’re in right now. Autumn.
Somerville is celebrating the final SomerStreets of the year on Sunday October 19th with the Monster Mashed UP Festival. Major streets will be closed, ghosts and goblins will walk among us, and fun will be had by all. Also, there will be pumpkins, face painting, a parade, costume contests (for pets and their people) and, you’ve probably guessed it by now, craft vendors.
I’ll be there in my tent with all sorts of things to tempt you. Things that make great host gifts, things that make gifts for yourself, and yes, things that make great holiday gifts as well.
Details are here. Please come! It’s a rain or shine event. We’re hardy New Englanders after all, and this is only Autumn. Winter is, as they say, still coming.
See you there!
~Kelly
I know that there are a lot of people who follow this blog who understand this. I also know that there are a lot of people who follow this blog who might not. I’m asking you to read this post and try to understand before you ask the dreaded Holiday questions of one of us who works in the Service Industry, Retail, is in Food Service, or is a Professional Musician of some type.
Why I Can’t Spend the Holidays With You – A Guide
Continue reading “A Gentle Reminder as We Approach the Holiday Season”
So here’s a story about something that happened to us a while ago when the U.S. played Portugal in the World Cup.
Continue reading “The World Cup, Dinner and Wardrobe Choices”
Two gorgeous old historic ships are in the news this week. Both of them were built here in Massachusetts (although more than 40 years apart), both of them are among the last surviving examples of classic American wooden shipbuilding, and both of them are ships I have visited more than once over the years. One is the oldest vessel in the United States Navy, and the other is the last surviving wooden whaling ship in the world.
I had to go to our branch office in Bedford, New Hampshire on Friday, which gave me a chance to have dinner with my sister Liz and her family in Lee. It also allowed me to make a trip to Mt. Washington the next day to do some hiking for the Longest Day with coworker Jason Lynch and his team. I had never been to Mt. Washington before, but I have wanted to climb it for years. So I finally had my chance.
Continue reading “Quick trip to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire”
One of the things I have always enjoyed the most about our trips to Brimfield is the hunt for old books. In terms of what treasures we find, some years are better than others, and I would say that this year was pretty good in that regard. So Kelly took pictures and I will do my best to describe some of our finds.
Yesterday there was another tragedy in our fair city. A fire broke out in the Back Bay, one of the more tightly packed areas of the city, both architecturally and in terms of traffic. It quickly went to 9 alarms, sent 18 people to the hospital, destroyed the 4 story building where it started, and killed 2 firefighters.
9 city blocks were closed through this morning as 40+ mph winds whipped the fire into a frenzy. Backdraft type conditions made the fire merciless and the brave men and women kept fighting even when they knew that one of their comrades lay dead at the bottom of the building. Even when the fire leapt through the roof and reached for the sky, when floors collapsed and sprayed the surrounding houses with showers of embers, and when the smoke was so thick we could see it from Cambridge, they fought on for hours.
Rerun is home from Angell Animal Medical Center and we are glad to have him back. You should have seen Thumbelina react when Rerun came home. She danced a little circle around him and “kissed” him a lot. She’s so happy he is home. As are we all. I missed my furry little buddy. He has not fully recovered, and he has several medications that he has to take for a little while. But he is not vomiting anymore, and he has his appetite back.
-Geoff
Yesterday Rerun had his second bout in a little over a week of vomiting and listlessness. Last night was the worse of the two episodes and it was clear by bedtime that he wasn’t a happy dog. He didn’t want to eat anything and he was clearly uncomfortable. He woke us about every hour through the night heaving, vomiting, or whining. We were encouraging him to vomit because there was clearly something bothering him that he needed OUT.
Continue reading “Being a Stubborn Dachshund has Consequences”
The Books are Taking Over... 