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Chiaroscuro of Clutteropolis
Jan. 31st, 2010 02:39 pm
It isn't 3:00 yet, but I like this snapshot. A pothos rescued from Drumlin Farm, a redwood burl sprouting with glee, a bonsai juniper from my mom's memorial, a volunteer scholar tree out the window, and the bric-a-brac of our lives in shadow all around.
So long, Luanne.
Hammond Pond Reservation, in the morning
Nov. 7th, 2009 04:26 pm
After dropping Rebecca off to take the SATs, we took advantage of the early hour and headed to Hammond Pond Reservation.
( More photographs, including moderately gory dead animal )
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Alexis' pics
Feb. 8th, 2009 08:30 pmIf anyone is interested in pictures from my mom's memorial they are here.
The memorial was surreal, but a good experience. The only thing that the pictures really don't capture is how many people came to say goodbye and support the family. We are truly blessed. There were people who came from as far as Maine (not counting family members who came from Pennsylvania) and people that we hadn't seen in 30 years. The most emotional people were those who knew her from the nursing home. Most of the others hadn't seen her in decades; even those of us who saw her often hadn't really seen her in many years. But to the nursing home staff, she was a different person, still special and full of light. They are really going to miss her. In a way, I'd said goodbye to her for good a long time ago.
It was really nice to see my mom's sister again, as well as her husband and my awesome cousin Joanna. It was also great to see my old buddy mike--hadn't seen him in over 5 years I think--and his all growed up daughter. It's an odd event that it should bring so many together. My mom was so shy, she would have been embarrassed to be the center of attention.
Thanks for all your kind words over my past few posts. I haven't said much in return, but I really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of bugs and mushrooms again, and using facebook to look at pictures of drunk friends of friends again.
Life goes on.
The memorial was surreal, but a good experience. The only thing that the pictures really don't capture is how many people came to say goodbye and support the family. We are truly blessed. There were people who came from as far as Maine (not counting family members who came from Pennsylvania) and people that we hadn't seen in 30 years. The most emotional people were those who knew her from the nursing home. Most of the others hadn't seen her in decades; even those of us who saw her often hadn't really seen her in many years. But to the nursing home staff, she was a different person, still special and full of light. They are really going to miss her. In a way, I'd said goodbye to her for good a long time ago.
It was really nice to see my mom's sister again, as well as her husband and my awesome cousin Joanna. It was also great to see my old buddy mike--hadn't seen him in over 5 years I think--and his all growed up daughter. It's an odd event that it should bring so many together. My mom was so shy, she would have been embarrassed to be the center of attention.
Thanks for all your kind words over my past few posts. I haven't said much in return, but I really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of bugs and mushrooms again, and using facebook to look at pictures of drunk friends of friends again.
Life goes on.
My Mom's Obituary
Feb. 6th, 2009 05:11 pmJust in case anyone is looking for it:
http://www.legacy.com/hartfordcourant/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=123790307
http://www.legacy.com/hartfordcourant/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=123790307
My mother has been leaving us for a long time. Fifteen years ago she became too sick to live at home, and she had been slowly moving further from us until this moment, and now she is at peace.
I want to thank my mother for the many gifts she gave me while she was with us. Not only for life, her first and greatest gift to me, but for the spirit and strength and love she put into every gift she gave following that. Her attitude toward raising my brother and I was to treat us like people; as people that she adored and protected, but also as people she liked, and respected. We were all passengers on a trip through life together, learning and experiencing, and sharing adventures.
My mom gave us the gift of true sight: to see the world as it is, and to judge it using evidence. Sometimes we don't know what the explanation for certain things is, but she made me understand that there are explanations if we look for them. That nature's mysteries are there to be studied and contemplated. That plants and birds and insects all have names and roles in the universe, and that studying them is worthwhile and fulfilling. The deep awe for nature that she felt is part of who I am, and I can see it living in myself, and in my brother, and in my brother's children.
She gave us the gift of not taking things too seriously. My friends and cousins all remember the home of my childhood as being full of laughter. My mother laughed at our jokes, and at the funny situations we created. She was full of joy and whimsy; it was so much a part of her that as other parts of her were claimed by sickness, she still laughed. We don't know what she found funny, but I bet it was good.
And she didn't hide from us the fact that the world isn't always positive; that others don't always have the best intentions; We had a placard on our wall that read in Latin, Nill illigitimi carborundum: "Don't let the Bastards Get you Down." That's a motto to live by.
Perhaps most importantly, she gave us the gift of love. Our home was above all a place with people who loved each other. She gave me the courage to open my heart to love. The most honest thing you can do in this world is to truly, fearlessly love the people in your life who are worthy of your love. And if you can extend your love past that, all the better.
Thanks mom, for all of this. I hope I said it enough while you were able to hear it. I miss you very much, but I am very grateful you are at peace.
I want to thank my mother for the many gifts she gave me while she was with us. Not only for life, her first and greatest gift to me, but for the spirit and strength and love she put into every gift she gave following that. Her attitude toward raising my brother and I was to treat us like people; as people that she adored and protected, but also as people she liked, and respected. We were all passengers on a trip through life together, learning and experiencing, and sharing adventures.
My mom gave us the gift of true sight: to see the world as it is, and to judge it using evidence. Sometimes we don't know what the explanation for certain things is, but she made me understand that there are explanations if we look for them. That nature's mysteries are there to be studied and contemplated. That plants and birds and insects all have names and roles in the universe, and that studying them is worthwhile and fulfilling. The deep awe for nature that she felt is part of who I am, and I can see it living in myself, and in my brother, and in my brother's children.
She gave us the gift of not taking things too seriously. My friends and cousins all remember the home of my childhood as being full of laughter. My mother laughed at our jokes, and at the funny situations we created. She was full of joy and whimsy; it was so much a part of her that as other parts of her were claimed by sickness, she still laughed. We don't know what she found funny, but I bet it was good.
And she didn't hide from us the fact that the world isn't always positive; that others don't always have the best intentions; We had a placard on our wall that read in Latin, Nill illigitimi carborundum: "Don't let the Bastards Get you Down." That's a motto to live by.
Perhaps most importantly, she gave us the gift of love. Our home was above all a place with people who loved each other. She gave me the courage to open my heart to love. The most honest thing you can do in this world is to truly, fearlessly love the people in your life who are worthy of your love. And if you can extend your love past that, all the better.
Thanks mom, for all of this. I hope I said it enough while you were able to hear it. I miss you very much, but I am very grateful you are at peace.
Forest Hills Cemetery
Oct. 13th, 2008 04:37 am
Alexis, Alex and I took the dogs to Forest Hills Cemetery yesterday, to take advantage of the fantastic fall weather.
( Read more... )
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Day off at the shore
Jun. 29th, 2008 07:11 pm
This past Tuesday Alexis and I had a rare day off work together. We went to Webb State Park in Weymouth.
( Read more... )
When I was about 12 or 13 years old, my parents decided to take me to a George Carlin concert. They called the venue ahead of time to see if I was allowed to go. I think the person on the other end of the phone asked my Dad if he was aware of Carlin's material, and that it wasn't exactly kid-friendly. My Dad said something like "It's nothing he hasn't heard before; we own all of George Carlin's records." The only joke I still remember from the concert (because it wasn't on any of the records we owned) was "Did you ever notice that the kind of women who are against abortion are women you wouldn't want to fuck anyway?" He perfected the observational question as joke; Seinfeld neutered and marketed it.
Last week I decided that I'm going to play the seven words you can't say on television bit for Alexis' daughter. Partly because I think he is, sorry, was a genius, and changed comedy, humor, and society irrevocably, partly because I think his love of, and precise use of language will appeal to her, and partly because it's interesting to me that the bit isn't true any more. About ten years ago Grampa Simpson said 'I'm full of piss and vinegar! I used to just be full of vinegar.' That blew my mind--Grampa said one of the seven words! Then south park said 'shit' over a hundred times in one episode, and made fun of the fact that it didn't seem like a swear anymore; that probably doesn't really count, because it's cable, but it's a start. I think 'tits' is probably next--as Carlin said, it's such a cute, harmless sounding word, like a snack food brand name. But it'll have to be said idiomatically first, like some color commentator on the x games saying 'that 360 fakie was the tits!'
I don't know that any one can pick up the baton from Carlin; he grabbed it from Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor held the other end of it; Bill Hicks held onto it for a moment before falling--Denis Leary looked at it but decided to collect a paycheck instead. The next great groundbreaking comic will probably be a woman, or gay, or both. S/he'll need to be really great to be compared to George Carlin, and no one compares today, not yet.
Last week I decided that I'm going to play the seven words you can't say on television bit for Alexis' daughter. Partly because I think he is, sorry, was a genius, and changed comedy, humor, and society irrevocably, partly because I think his love of, and precise use of language will appeal to her, and partly because it's interesting to me that the bit isn't true any more. About ten years ago Grampa Simpson said 'I'm full of piss and vinegar! I used to just be full of vinegar.' That blew my mind--Grampa said one of the seven words! Then south park said 'shit' over a hundred times in one episode, and made fun of the fact that it didn't seem like a swear anymore; that probably doesn't really count, because it's cable, but it's a start. I think 'tits' is probably next--as Carlin said, it's such a cute, harmless sounding word, like a snack food brand name. But it'll have to be said idiomatically first, like some color commentator on the x games saying 'that 360 fakie was the tits!'
I don't know that any one can pick up the baton from Carlin; he grabbed it from Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor held the other end of it; Bill Hicks held onto it for a moment before falling--Denis Leary looked at it but decided to collect a paycheck instead. The next great groundbreaking comic will probably be a woman, or gay, or both. S/he'll need to be really great to be compared to George Carlin, and no one compares today, not yet.
Images of the Fenway in February
Feb. 10th, 2008 12:51 pm
The Fens are former salt marsh in the center of what is now Boston. Cut off from the ocean by a dam across the Charles River, protected and landscaped by city fathers and Edward Law Olmsted, it's a quiet swamp park surrounded by museums, universities, busy neighborhoods, and the nation's oldest ball park. The Muddy River winds slowly through it.
( Read more... )
Pearl Harbor Day
Dec. 7th, 2007 06:18 amIn case anyone missed it, and is interested, here is my post from this summer, about my visit to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Kokee State Park
Aug. 2nd, 2007 10:27 amWaimea canyon is the most conspicuous feature of Kokee State Park. Here are some other features, big and small:
Crocosmia.I never did identify this wildflower--anyone know it? It was common in the higher elevations of the park, along paths and roadsides.( Read more... )
Crocosmia.
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Pearl Harbor
Jul. 11th, 2007 03:06 amI'm starting to fall behind in my postings! This post is about yesterday's trip to Pearl Harbor. Getting there was an adventure.
We were aware that we needed to get started early in order to avoid the long delay. We were on a tour leaving at 8:30 (relatively late) and were told that we would be back no later than 2:00. That seemed like a long time, but what the hey, when are we ever going to have the chance again. When we got to Pearl Harbor, we were told that we were in a queue to see the monument (and the compulsory film before the monument) scheduled at 2:00, meaning we wouldn't get back until after 4:00. All the other people on the tour (23 of us total) were told the same as us: we'd be back by 2. Suddenly there was a mutiny, and everyone was demanding to be taken back to their hotels to try to salvage their vacations. We thought, well, if there's a chance to get the day back we'll take it; but once the dust settled, it seemed that the others just wanted a chance to make a scene, and they would stay for the whole program. In the end, only one person was taken back to her hotel. Hopefully the tour operators aren't telling people that they will be back at 2:00 any more.
The visitor's center, with its tiny museum and tinier snack bar is pretty well done, but crowded almost by design. There are some things to see outside--a submarine and a monument to lost submarines for example, and some good interpretive exhibits. Apparently they are working on building a new one, and are fundraising and trying hard to sell audio tours narrated by Ernest Borgnine. I actually learned a lot about the attack on Pearl Harbor, which considering my dad is a history teacher, is pretty embarrassing. Apparently the Japanese attacked an American naval base, drawing the US into the second world war. Just kidding--that was about the only thing I knew before.
( On to the pictures! )
We were aware that we needed to get started early in order to avoid the long delay. We were on a tour leaving at 8:30 (relatively late) and were told that we would be back no later than 2:00. That seemed like a long time, but what the hey, when are we ever going to have the chance again. When we got to Pearl Harbor, we were told that we were in a queue to see the monument (and the compulsory film before the monument) scheduled at 2:00, meaning we wouldn't get back until after 4:00. All the other people on the tour (23 of us total) were told the same as us: we'd be back by 2. Suddenly there was a mutiny, and everyone was demanding to be taken back to their hotels to try to salvage their vacations. We thought, well, if there's a chance to get the day back we'll take it; but once the dust settled, it seemed that the others just wanted a chance to make a scene, and they would stay for the whole program. In the end, only one person was taken back to her hotel. Hopefully the tour operators aren't telling people that they will be back at 2:00 any more.
The visitor's center, with its tiny museum and tinier snack bar is pretty well done, but crowded almost by design. There are some things to see outside--a submarine and a monument to lost submarines for example, and some good interpretive exhibits. Apparently they are working on building a new one, and are fundraising and trying hard to sell audio tours narrated by Ernest Borgnine. I actually learned a lot about the attack on Pearl Harbor, which considering my dad is a history teacher, is pretty embarrassing. Apparently the Japanese attacked an American naval base, drawing the US into the second world war. Just kidding--that was about the only thing I knew before.
( On to the pictures! )
(no subject)
Feb. 22nd, 2005 05:23 pmI wonder:
Is my brother more affected by Hunter S. Thompson's death, or Dr. Gene Scott's? http://www.drgenescott.com/home.htm
And is his editorial cartoon
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2005/MERC-Feb-17-Thu-2005/25876498.html
going to feature both of them this week?
Is my brother more affected by Hunter S. Thompson's death, or Dr. Gene Scott's? http://www.drgenescott.com/home.htm
And is his editorial cartoon
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2005/MERC-Feb-17-Thu-2005/25876498.html
going to feature both of them this week?
