The Retired Nomad

New Flag

2009-07-12T16:57:00.005-04:00

We Finally changed the American flag and had a really nice gathering for the ceremoney You can read the article by clicking on the title. It was a very nice occasion and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The USMC honor guard lowered the old taterd and worn out old flag and the raised the new one. The place where I live is known as The Mill in Waltham Ma it is a very historical building here in Waltham and also a great place to live.

My Review

2009-06-19T07:03:00.001-04:00

Brylane Home

I am always very happy no matter what product I buy from you

Bill Waltham Ma 02453 6/19/2009

I have had a Brylane Home account for several years and I have always been happy with their service.

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Passed Away

2008-11-09T20:56:00.003-05:00

I am sorry to inform everyone my wife passed away from her lung cancer and is finally at rest and not enduring anymore pain. I feel relived somewhat but also at the same time feel so sad and lost for she was my better half and we did everything togather. I really do not know what else to say for I also do not know when I will post another blog .Goodbye for now and please take care . For information on just how she passed away and how fast just click on the Title Passed Away.

Lung Cancer is Back

2008-10-09T17:48:00.004-04:00

I have not been in the mood to keep posting to my blog lately for my wife's lung cancer came back and this time it is not so good for they can not treat it with chemo or radiation they say she is to weak and would not be able to go thru it. They are trying a new pill she will take everyday and just wait till whenever.

Its Up To You

2008-08-31T12:46:00.014-04:00

Barack Obama named Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues Biden, who has served in the Senate since being elected at the age of 29, is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. To Obama's aides, the selection of Joe Biden as the veep candidate represents less of a turnaround than a complement to the candidate both in the presidential election and beyond. One of things we know is that you've got to have people who can bring about change, said one senior Obama aide. Unfortunately change is going to have to go through Capitol Hill, and you've got to have somebody who is knowledgeable about Capitol Hill. The difference between John McCain and Joe Biden is that one is on the side of change, and one isn't. Obama's inner circle started the VP process convinced that they would be looking for someone who would reinforce the candidate's brand, underscoring the theme of change and post partisan Politics.

The Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, was facing a backlash from his party last night over the appointment of Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate after it emerged that he had met her only once before offering her the job.

His choice of Palin, a 44-year-old, gun-toting, moose-burger-eating mother-of-five, confirmed his maverick reputation but also caused some leading Republicans to question his judgment.

Shannen Coffin, a former White House counsel to Dick Cheney, the vice-president, said choosing Palin seemed “desperate” and that it would be difficult to attack Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, on the grounds of inexperience. “It is hard to imagine Palin playing the same sort of role that modern vice-presidents like Gore, Bush, Cheney or Mondale played,” he said.

Anti-abortion conservative Republicans applauded the choice as daring and modern, but others criticised her lack of foreign policy expertise and inexperience in a national election.

I am sure we will be hearing more about each of these candidates in the days to come some of it will be good and some bad.--- Politics as usual.

I have set up a page link on the Title Its Up To You at the top of this post just click on it. You may find it very interesting.

Sand Sculptors 2008

2008-07-26T12:06:00.010-04:00

1st Place entry Revere, MA - June 26, 2008 - Congratulations to Carl Jara of Cleveland, Ohio! First Place winner again, back to back! With this year’s sculptures still in place, our artists are already mulling ideas to meet the even greater challenge that next year will bring. This year’s theme is “Heroes”, and there are a total of eleven artists competing for five places. First Place wins $3,500...all the way down to $200 for Fifth Place, with a few extras thrown in. Coordinator of this year’s Sand Sculpturing, Sean Fitzpatrick of “Fitzy Snowman” is a local from Saugus, Massachusetts. The sand was delivered last week from Hudson, New Hampshire, and the local Department of Public Works and state park Department of Conservation and Recreation moved the tonnage with two front-end loaders over a two-day period. Quite an achievement in and of itself! Sand sculpting has always been a thought provoking form of art attracting thousands of spectators. Thanks to all our volunteers, Lillian Guido and the Revere Beach Partnership, husband Jim Guido and the Revere Police Department, Revere’s Auxiliary Police, Department of Conservation and Recreation and Department of Public Works, the Massachusetts State Police, whatever other Departments I’m missing, our sculptors, artists and competitors, and most importantly, all of you…the Fifth Annual New England Sand Sculpturing Festival at Revere Beach was a huge success! Though turnout seemed iffy for some time, the thunderstorms that lurked in the distance steered clear, and didn’t seem to keep too many people away! One great addition to this year’s event was a carriage and wheelchair accessible mat that allowed for safety, and a chance for all to get a closer look. The impermanence of the medium provides a compelling factor drawing entire families to the sand sculpting festival with their cameras. Record-sized crowds, overwhelming levels of talent, famous vendors; Nantucket Nectars, Fuse, and 93.7 FM radio, and many more came to Revere Beach. With the music accompanied fireworks display that could knock your sandals off, we have become quite a success and have earned nationwide recognition! More and more families and friends from all over join us in the festivities each year, and the event continues to grow! Let’s reserve your spot in the sand for next year! Thousands of people came to Revere Beach to see the works of art sculpurted in the sand and to enjoy a great fire works display on Saturday night. Despite the huge crowd no arrests were made and the several minor medical aide calls were easily handled thanks to the combined efforts of the Mass State Police, Revere Police, Revere Auxiliary Police, Revere Fire Dept., and the DCR Park Rangers and staff. A special thanks to Cataldo Ambulance Service for their continued support to the City of Revere and public safety. I hope everyone will enjoy these photo's as much as I

NBA Champs 2008

2008-06-20T13:01:00.005-04:00

The 131-92 win of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night ended a 22-year championship drought for Boston. But “drought” is a relative term here. On Thursday, they were treated like royalty in Boston, complete with the now obligatory Duck Boat tour and parade through the meandering downtown streets to celebrate their 17th NBA championship. (L-R) Legend Bill Russell, Ray Allen #20, Head Coach Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett #5,and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics pose for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Go Celtics

2008-06-09T09:18:00.006-04:00

2 down and 2 more to go for the sweep will they do it ? Paul Pierce's knee wasn't 100 percent. But he sure played like it was. Pierce fired off 28 points, including two key free throws with 22.8 seconds left as the Celtics held off a late comeback from the Lakers for a 108-102 Game 2 home win Sunday and a 2-0 series lead. For Pierce, you'd have never guessed he couldn't bend his knee all the way just two days prior. The good vibes from Game 1 kept flowing as he shot 9-of-16 and 4-of-4 from downtown on his way to a team leading 28 points. Since many of Pierce's outside shots were catch-and-shoots, the verdict is still out on his ability to physically elevate off the knee. Leon Powe, the Celtics' second-year power forward, scored 21 points in 15 minutes off the bench, pushing his team to a 108-102 victory over the Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Powe nailed six of seven shots from the low post and garnered 13 free throws from his repeated assaults upon the basket. Over the course of the fourth quarter, with Bryant egging his team on, the Lakers slowly chipped away at the Celtics' sizable advantage, reducing it to single digits by the two-minute mark. The lead dropped to four with a minute remaining, but the Celtics had possession and time to draw up their next play. The best laid plans fell through, however, as Rajon Rondo subsequently launched an off-target jumper with the shot clock winding down. Bryant collected the rebound, and, drawing a foul from Paul Pierce on the other end, cut the lead to 104-102. Pierce then put the Celtics back up by four with two clutch freebies of his own. I can't help but wonder if Red Auerbach is watching from above and he is proud as he's ever been of his team. (Go Celtics)

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T19:54:00.007-04:00

Please take a moment to reflect on this day and remember all these brave men and women who gave up so much for this country. A patriotic ceremony honoring the service and sacrifice of America's military members is scheduled for May 26 at 11 A.M. in Arlington National Cemetery. This year's event, which marks the 140th observance of Memorial Day on these hallowed grounds, will be hosted by Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr., Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region. A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a remembrance ceremony in the Memorial Amphiteater. The event will commence with a prelude concert by the U.S. Army Band at 10:20 a.m. inside the amphiteater. Both ceremonies are free and open to the military community and general public. No tickets are needed to attend this event. For people interested in observing the wreath ceremony, space is limited to standing room only. Inside the amphitheater, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The amphitheater can accommodate 5,500 people, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early to ensure access to the event. At 8 A.M. the cemetery gates open and a free shuttle service will begin transporting people from the visitors' center to the amphitheater. Attendees will be admitted into the ceremony site at about 8:30 A.M. "If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind. Major Michael Davis O'Donnell 1 January 1970 Dak To, Vietnam Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

Boston Marathon 2008

2008-04-22T10:08:00.008-04:00

Kenyan great Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot etched his name into the record book of the fabled Boston Marathon yesterday with his epic fourth victory.

Cheruiyot, who won this race for the first time in 2003 before adding wins in each of the past two years, cemented a three-peat with a gutsy first-place time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 46 seconds.

Running into a head wind, Cheruiyot finished 32 seconds off the course record he set in 2006. It wasn’t for lack of trying: He reached the 20-mile mark in 1:36:10, seven seconds under record pace, but running alone can often be the cruelest of foes.

Boston is very different from the other marathons, Cheruiyot said. As usual, the course was very difficult. Last year, we ran 2:14, and I tried to push harder this year to achieve my personal goal of running 2:07 or faster.

Dire Tune made a single definitive surge in the closest women’s race in Boston Marathon history.

The dynamic Ethiopian newcomer outkicked Russian veteran Alevtina Biktimirova across a 50-yard stretch of Boylston Street to win the women’s division of the 112th running of the 26-mile, 385-yard race.

The 22-year-old Tune broke the tape in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 25 seconds, just three strides ahead of Biktimirova, who crossed at 2:25:27. Tune’s finishing burst settled a grueling battle of wills that began 6.2 miles earlier at the base of Heartbreak Hill.

Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, who won the Boston Marathon in 2006, was third (2:26:34) while two-time runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka (2:28:12) of Latvia was fourth.

Even before I came to Boston, I was confident I could win the Boston Marathon, Tune said through her interpreter.

From the beginning to the end of the race, my training and performance helped me finish strong. Once I saw the finish line, I was certain I would finish first.

There was little need for Ernst Van Dyk to change the strategy he’s used in winning six wheelchair titles entering yesterday’s 112th Boston Marathon.

With clear, dry conditions, the only challenge the 35-year-old South African faced was the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston Street in downtown Boston. Van Dyk never faltered as he reclaimed his position as the most dominant male wheelchair competitor in event history.

The powerful Van Dyk more than made up for last year’s disappointing third-place finish with his seventh title yesterday, finishing in 1 hour, 26 minutes, 49 seconds. Countryman Krige Schabort was a distant second in 1:30:39, while defending champion Masazumi Soejima of Japan finished third in 1:33:00.

Van Dyk, who owned the division with six consecutive wins between 2001-06, collected $15,000 for the victory. His win leaves him one short of female competitor Jean Driscoll’s wheelchair record of eight.

Wakako Tsuchida grabbed the lead early in Ashland and posted an easy victory in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 32 seconds in dry conditions. After third- and fourth-place finishes in 2002 and ’03,respectively, Tsuchida has suddenly become the woman to beat on the fabled 26.2-mile course.

I’ve always seen Boston as a very historic marathon, and that’s why I come,” said Tsuchida, a two-time winner of the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii. “It was windy, but there were a lot more people cheering. It was fantastic.

Much like Ernst Van Dyk’s victory on the men’s side, Tsuchida’s win never was in question. She led at every checkpoint, increasing her lead as the race progressed. She finished an amazing 7:46 ahead of runner-up Diane Roy of Canada (1:56.18). Cheri Blauwet, 27, of Palo Alto, Calif., was third (2:00:48).

There wasn’t one specific point where I knew I’d win,” she said. “I didn’t look back until I crossed the finish line. I didn’t worry about anybody else. I set my pace and stuck with it. I’ll definitely be back next year.

Charles River Museum

2008-04-15T19:33:00.008-04:00

I wanted to share a little history about my home town of Waltham Ma and maybe someone may want to see it if and when they are in Massachusetts.

In 1976, the Bicentennial issue of Life magazine declared that Francis Cabot Lowell's factory in Waltham was the fourth most important development to shape America.

Unfortunately, Lowell's factory was virtually dead when it received the honor. After 150 years of production, the historic facility was shuttered, neglected, and perilously close to demolition.

Luckily, the mill's fortunes soon turned. The site was granted status on the National Register of Historic Places. Waltham received a $10 million urban revitalization grant, which allowed the site to be renovated and preserved.

As part of the site's renovation, a group of cultural, civic, and business leaders created the Charles River Museum of Industry in what had been the mill's massive steam-powered engine and boiler rooms. Following a monumental campaign of fundraising, cleaning, building, planning, and installation, the museum opened its doors in 1980

The following important events took place here, and are the reasons this complex is a National Historic Landmark and important to the entire nation.

The FIRST time in the world that spinning and weaving were done in one operation under the same roof.

The FIRST power loom to be used in the United States.

The FIRST time in the United States young women were employed as the predominant workforce and paid cash for their labor.

The FIRST company-sponsored housing provided for employees.

The FIRST textile mill to be made of brick.

The Boston Manufacturing Company was the FIRST large successful manufacturing company in the United States. It raised more than $400,000 from investors to develop buildings and machinery. The BMC was the prototype of the modern corporation.

The FIRST industrial labor strike in the United States was in this mill in 1821. The protesters were women, and the issue was wages.

The FIRST time silk was woven by machine was in the 1890s in this mill.

If you are ever in the area this is a good place to spend a few hours and soak up a little history and also check out moody st. for it has many international restaurants.

Iraq War Going For 5

2008-03-16T19:00:00.013-04:00

A US military study officially acknowledged for the first time yesterday that Saddam Hussein had no direct ties to al-Qaida, undercutting the Bush administration's central case for war with Iraq. The Pentagon study based on more than 600,000 documents recovered after US and UK troops toppled Hussein in 2003, discovered "no 'smoking gun' (ie, direct connection) between Saddam's Iraq and al-Qaida", its authors wrote. George Bush and his senior aides have made numerous attempts to link Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda terror in their justification for waging war against Iraq. Wary of embarrassing press coverage noting that the new study debunks those claims, the US defence department attempted to bury the release of the report yesterday. The Pentagon cancelled a planned briefing on the study and scrapped plans to post its findings on the internet, ABC news reported. Unclassified copies of the study would be sent to interested individuals in the mail, military officials told the network. Another Pentagon official told ABC that initial press reports on the study made it too politically sensitive. Five years after the United States invaded Iraq, plenty of people believe that the war was waged chiefly to secure U.S. petroleum supplies and to make Iraq safe -- and lucrative -- for the U.S. oil industry. We may not know the real motivations behind the Iraq war for years, but it remains difficult to distill oil from all the possibilities. That's because our society and economy have been nursed on cheap oil, and the idea that oil security is a right as well as a necessity has become part of our foreign policy DNA, handed down from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter to George H.W. Bush. And the war and its untidy aftermath have, in fact, swelled the coffers of the world's biggest oil companies. But it hasn't happened in the way anyone might have imagined. Instead of making Iraq an open economy fueled by a thriving oil sector, the war has failed to boost the flow of oil from Iraq's giant well-mapped reservoirs, which oil experts say could rival Saudi Arabia's and produce 6 million barrels a day, if not more. Thanks to insurgents' sabotage of pipelines and pumping stations, and foreign companies' fears about safety and contract risks in Iraq, the country is still struggling in vain to raise oil output to its prewar levels of about 2.5 million barrels a day. As it turns out, that has kept oil off the international market at just the moment when the world desperately needs a cushion of supplies to keep prices down. Demand from China is booming, and political strife has limited oil production in Nigeria and Venezuela. In the absence of Iraqi supplies, prices have soared three-and-a-half-fold since the U.S. invasion on March 20, 2003. (Last week, they shattered all previous records, even after adjusting for inflation.) The profits of the five biggest Western oil companies have jumped from $40 billion to $121 billion over the same period. While the United States has rid itself of Saddam Hussein and whatever threat he might have posed, oil revenues have filled the treasuries of petro-autocrats in Iran, Venezuela and Russia, emboldening those regimes and complicating U.S. diplomacy in new ways. American consumers are paying for this turmoil at the pump. If the overthrow of Hussein was supposed to be a silver bullet for the American consumer, it turned out to be one that ricocheted and tore a hole through his wallet. If we went to war for oil, we did it as clumsily as anyone could do. And we spent more on the war than we could ever conceivably have gotten out of Iraq's oil fields even if we had particular control over them, says Anthony Cordesman, an expert on U.S. strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who rejects the idea that the war was designed on behalf of oil companies. But that doesn't mean that oil had nothing to do with the invasion. In his recent memoir, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said: "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: The Iraq war is largely about oil. After I read this story I could not believe it but after more research I sure do now.

Spoiler? Who Knows?

2008-02-24T18:41:00.019-05:00

Ralph Nader said he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will shift the power from the few to the many.

Nader, 73, said most people are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties due to a prolonged Iraq war and a shaky economy. The consumer advocate also blamed tax and other corporate-friendly policies under the Bush administration that he said have left many lower- and middle-class people in debt.

Nader also criticized Republican candidate John McCain and Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton for failing to support full Medicare for all or cracking down on Pentagon waste and the bloated military budget. He blamed that on corporate lobbyists and special interests, which he said dominate Washington, D.C., and pledged in his third-party campaign to accept donations only from individuals.

The issue is do they have the moral courage, do they have the fortitude to stand up to corporate powers and get things done for the American people, Nader said. We have to shift the power from the few to the many.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, speaking shortly before Nader's announcement, said Nader's past runs have shown that he usually pulls votes from the Democrat. So naturally, Republicans would welcome his entry into the race, the former Arkansas governor said on CNN.

Nader vociferously disputes the spoiler claim, saying only Democrats are to blame for losing the race to George W. Bush. He said Sunday there could be no chance of him tipping the election to Republicans because the electorate will not vote for a pro-war John McCain.

He will at least rock the boat some so it may change the outcome. Hopefully for the better because the way things have been going I really have not felt good about any candidates so far. I feel anything would be better than what we have had the past 8 years.

On the other hand God forbid, history just might repeat itself and the letter above could be from the Republican John McCain and I can't help but feel that would not be a good thing because everything will stay the same and we the people will not have the change we are seeking.

I have set up a link for anyone who wants to know more about why Ralph Nader is going for his 3rd try just click on the Title (Spoiler? Who Knows?) at the top of this posting.

Can't Win Them All!

2008-02-04T15:20:00.000-05:00

The Giants Win 17-14 and did almost exactly what they sought out to do with the opening kickoff, using up nearly 10 minutes to go 63 yards. Almost exactly, but not quite, because they settled for a 32-yard field goal after converting four third downs on the 16-play series. The 9:59 drive was the longest in Super Bowl history.

The upset also could be viewed as a source of revenge not only for the Giants, but for the other NFL teams over Spygate back in September. That cheating scandal made headlines again late in Super Bowl week, and could have placed an infinite cloud over New England's perfection.

The Patriots were done in not so much by the pressure of the first unbeaten season in 35 years as by the pressure of a smothering Giants pass rush. Brady, winner of his first three Super Bowls, was sacked five times, hurried a dozen more and at one point wound up on his knees, his hands on his hips following one of many poor throws in New England's lowest scoring game of the season.

Every team is beatable, you never know, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. The right moment, the right time, every team is beatable.

It was the first time the Patriots tasted defeat in more than a year.

Defensively, the Giants accomplished the goal that all teams preach but precious few can execute: Tormenting Brady to the point where the game's best quarterback is rattled and out of rhythm. New York sacked Brady a season-high five times and, according to the unofficial stats kept by the team, hit him on 23 occasions.

Brady (29 of 48, 266 yards) produced just 14 points – 21.7 less than the Pats' average coming in and failed to complete a pass of 20 yards or more. We never saw that glazed look in his eyes that so many other quarterbacks get, said defensive end (Justin Tuck )who had a pair of sacks and forced a Brady fumble

Still, when Brady got the ball on his own 20-yard line with 7:54 remaining and the Giants up 10-7, the quarterback coolly put together a go-ahead scoring drive that ended with his six-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss. It was 14-10 Pats with 2:42 to go, and Brady and Bill Belichick and the rest of the NFL's bullies seemed to have retained the upper hand.

But in the end the Patriots just were simply out played by the NY Giants. I have the game stats if anyone wants to see them just click on the Title at the top of this post (Can't Win Them All!).

Still Undecided?

2008-01-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

I wanted to do something a little different this time and hopes it will to get a few laughs, because I really am disgusted with this election and all the fighting and bickering that is going on between all the candidates if only one of them could just step up and be honest and answer a question straight up.

The battles for both the Democratic and Republican nominations have focused more and more on the economy, which polls suggest now rivals the war in Iraq as the issue concerning most Americans.

The stakes are high, and Clinton and Obama have been clashing in increasingly acrimonious terms.

Obama would become the first black president if nominated and elected; Clinton could be the first woman president.

The Clinton campaign released two new 30-second ads it will run in those states emphasizing the senator's tactics for dealing with a flagging economy. One features a plunging skydiver as an announcer proclaims "our economy could be heading into free fall." The other shows her proclaiming a "can-do spirit" and vowing to "turn our economy around and build a new age of prosperity."

Barack Obama raised a staggering $32 million in January, cash aplenty to advertise all through the expensive Super Tuesday states and beyond. He was also running ads in more states than rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as the last two Democrats standing braced for Thursday night's face-to-face debate in California.

Obama and Clinton were facing off in Los Angeles' Kodak Theater, home to the Academy Awards, in the first Democratic debate of the season to feature only two candidates.

McCain is planning to rely on momentum and "free" news coverage that comes with it by holding rallies and news conferences in California and big winner-take-all delegates states, including New York. McCain picked up the endorsement of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday, an event sure to garner loads of publicity.

With winner-take-all states his first priority, McCain's tentative travel schedule calls for him to travel coast to coast for general-election style rallies in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

Romney's strategy calls for seeking votes in states with heavy concentrations of Romney's fellow Mormons: California, Arizona, and Utah, home of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Romney, trying to become the first Mormon elected president, will attend the funeral of the church President Gordon B. Hinckley on Saturday in Utah. He will also campaign Friday in Colorado, followed by visits to Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, key midwestern battlegrounds. In Missouri, a classic swing state, Romney enjoys the strong support of Gov. Matt Blunt.

Romney's home state of Massachusetts also votes Tuesday. His campaign tentatively planned to receive the Super Tuesday returns there. If he were to fail, Boston would be the most likely sight of his campaign goodbye.

It sure would be great to have this system of ours change for the better like they are all talking about but I can't help but feel it is just talk. So far not one of them can seem to be straight forward, this is just the way I feel.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani ended his GOP presidential race and endorsed rival Sen. John McCain of Arizona on Wednesday. And sources say California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger might endorse McCain on Thursday.

"I am very proud to endorse my friend and fellow Republican a hero John McCain," Giuliani said at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley California, two hours before the Republican presidential candidates were to face each other in their final debate before the Super Tuesday contests next week.

Giuliani said McCain gives the Republican Party the best chance to hold onto the presidency.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards bowed out Wednesday without endorsing either of his former rivals.

The Big Game

2008-01-26T23:45:00.000-05:00

I found some interesting information about previous Super Bowl Games to share with everyone.

The team that has won the coin toss is 19 and lost is 22 in the Super Bowl, and has lost the past four straight and nine of the last 11 games. The Patriots lost the coin toss in each of their three Super Bowl wins. They won the coin toss for Super Bowl XXXI and lost the game; they lost the coin toss for Super Bowl XX vs. the Bears and also lost that game. The Giants won the coin toss in Super Bowl XXXV and lost that game; they lost the coin toss in both Super Bowls XX and XXV and won those games.

Who do you think will win this years Super Bowl ?. You can see my choice if you click on the Title (the Big Game) at the top of this post

The Patriots have 20 players with Super Bowl experience on their current roster; the Giants have three.

The Giants-Patriots Super Bowl is only the second time that the two Super Bowl participants have met in the final regular season game; the other occurrence was in 1977 when the Cowboys and Broncos met in Week 14 and then in Super Bowl XII. The Cowboys won both games. The Giants and Patriots also met in the final game of this year's preseason; The Patriots won that game 27-20.

The Patriots are the 17th team to lead the NFL in scoring and reach the Super Bowl. The previous 16 teams are 9-7 in the Super Bowl last two the ’05 Seahawks and ’01 Rams have lost. The last team to lead the NFL in scoring and win the Super Bowl was the ’99 Rams in XXXIV.

This is the second straight season in which the NFC quarterback in the Super Bowl threw 20 interceptions in the regular season last year, Rex Grossman threw 20 interceptions, and threw three in the playoffs, two in the Super Bowl. The other to throw 20 interceptions during the regular season and then reach the Super Bowl are Kurt Warner (22 in 2001), Phil Simms (22 in 1986), Terry Bradshaw (25 in 1979 and 20 in 1978) and Darryl Lamonica (20 in 1967). The only two Super Bowl quarterbacks to throw 20 interceptions during the regular season and not throw one in the playoffs were Boomer Esiason in 1990 and Simms in 1986.

Who Will It Be ?

2008-01-09T10:55:00.000-05:00

This 2008 Presidential election is going to be a long and crazy roller coaster ride so get ready and if you have not registered to vote Please do, you can make a difference if you choose to. The opening rounds behind them in a five-day flash, the presidential contenders leave New Hampshire with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. John McCain firmly back in contention and with the candidates weary from a wild ride that leaves the field back where it started more than a year ago. In trading two upstarts for two stalwarts, Granite Staters sent a much different message than their Hawkeye State brethren. They also stripped from the race any notion of anointed frontrunners, leaving the contest to a crush of other states through Feb. 5 and very possibly well beyond. This campaign has been all about who offers change; the first five days that included voting have shown us that everything we think we know is subject to, well, change. With the two states that have consumed maybe 90 percent of the candidates' attention and energy now done, any campaign that claims to be fully prepared for what's to come isn't spinning it's lying. Both former senator John Edwards and former governor Mitt Romney now face serious threats to their viability. They are under tight pressure to start delivering victories; Edwards was counting on Obama to knock out Clinton, and Romney wanted to win Iowa and New Hampshire but wound up with neither.

Who will be the 44th President of the United States of America. No one really knows for sure. All the talk about change sounds like some kind of a fairytale, because in the past nothing has ever changed except the rich get richer and the middle class find it harder to live each day by working longer hours and sometimes 2 jobs just to make ends meet. I personally feel to have a real change we must do something drastic to make a difference and putting a Woman or a person of Color in the White House just might do it this time around and if we don't it will be to late. The way things are going now with the war in Iraq and maybe Iran next in line the future looks really dismal. Anyway whatever happens we can only hope for the best and take one day at a time.I have set up a link that may be of interest on the history of all the US Presidents past and present, just click on the Title (Who Will It Be ?) at the top of the post.

Boston 1st Night 2008

2007-12-21T18:13:00.000-05:00

The First Night celebration serves as a showcase for Boston’s cultural and artistic communities through over 250 exhibitions and performances by both local and internationally recognized artists. First Night attracts a total audience of more than 1 million people annually. The unique concept that originated in Boston 30 years ago has served as a model for more than 200 similar celebrations worldwide. First Night has truly become a cherished Boston tradition. First Night New Year's Eve activities take place from 1pm to midnight on December 31st at over 40 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston. The purchase of a First Night Button grants admission to venues featuring the best in theatre, dance, music, visual arts and film. Museums, theaters, churches and performance centers open their doors to First Night Button holders throughout the entire day. Popular attractions include the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center with its interactive activities for all ages, gigantic ice sculptures on Copley Square and the Boston Common, two glittering fireworks display, and a Mardi Gras-style Grand Procession that sweeps through the streets of Boston. First Night is a very special event that brings families and friends together to celebrate. It’s a signature event that is one of the things that makes Boston a wonderful place to live and visit. Judy and I wish everyone a Happy New Year and thank you for all the prayers and help thru her Chemo treatments, she had her final treatment the other day and she was told that she can look forward to feeling some what normal in 6 to 8 weeks, she will have to be checked out every 6 months with cat scans to keep a close watch on being cancer free. God willing this new year will be much better than the last.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-02T12:55:00.000-05:00

I want to start off by saying Happy Holidays wishing the best of health to all, and may each and everyone get what you wish for. Thank You to everyone for sharing your thoughts and prayers for Judy while she is going thru her Chemotherapy treatments, she has completed her 3rd session and Tuesday the 11th will be her 4th and hopefully her last. I must say it has not been easy you never know from day to day what it will be like. The treatment center we go to and all the Doctors and Nurses are the best they do a great job and you can really feel that they care, without them it would be a nightmare. God Bless them all. I have something for everyone especially if you can remember the 50's I have set up a link at the top of the post just click on the Title "Happy Holidays" have fun in the past. I intend to do my next posting as soon as the last Chemo session is completed. Thanks again to all and please take care.

Veterans Day 2007

2007-11-11T11:55:00.000-05:00

I wanted to do something in Honor of all Veterans and ask each and everyone of you to Please take just 1 minute of your day to reflect on what this day is all about. I set up a link on how and when Veterans Day 1st started just click on the post Title I found it to be a very interesting story I hope you will to. Throughout our history, America has been protected by patriots who cherished liberty and made great sacrifices to advance the cause of freedom. The brave members of the United States Armed Forces have answered the call to serve our Nation, ready to give all for their country. On Veterans Day, we honor these extraordinary Americans for their service and sacrifice, and we pay tribute to the legacy of freedom and peace that they have given our great Nation. Veterans Day Proclamation In times of war and of peace, our men and women in uniform stepped forward to defend their fellow citizens and the country they love. They shouldered great responsibility and lived up to the highest standards of duty and honor. Our veterans held fast against determined and ruthless enemies and helped save the world from tyranny and terror. They ensured that America remained what our founders meant her to be: a light to the nations, spreading the good news of human freedom to the darkest corners of the earth. Like the heroes before them, today a new generation of men and women are fighting for freedom around the globe. Their determination, courage, and sacrifice are laying the foundation for a more secure and peaceful world. Veterans Day is dedicated to the extraordinary Americans who protected our freedom in years past, and to those who protect it today. They represent the very best of our Nation. Every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman has earned the lasting gratitude of the American people, and their service and sacrifice will be remembered forever. In the words of Abraham Lincoln: " . . . let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the Nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle . . . ." On this Veterans Day, I ask all Americans to express their appreciation to our Nation's veterans. With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service men and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2007, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 11 through November 17, 2007, as National Veterans Awareness Week. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to support and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Chemo # 2

2007-10-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

This post is to share information on what Chemo is all about and hopes that it may give someone help in the future. Friends Boutique Dana Farber Cancer Center Judy's 1st chemo was a tuff one to get thru the 1st 2days were ok but the 3rd day to the 12th were hell there were days when she just wanted to give up and say the Hell with this, but she hung in there and I am so glad she did. Day 13 thru to the 2oth were so so some days better than others but always the tiredness and fatigue and a weird tingling in the finger tips that never seems to go away. This effects picking things up and writing and is very aggravating, the Doctor said this may last months or could be permanent. Day 20 her hair started falling out big time this was expected but still a shock when it actually happened. A few days before the 2nd Chemo I took Judy into Boston to the Friends Boutique at the Dana Farber Cancer Center on the 9th floor and she was fitted for and picked out a wig and also picked up several bandannas and scarfs and a few hats, this turned out better than we expected because they had the perfect wig for her and we were in and out in no time at all . The Boutique has a great selection of hats to choose from. Day 21,- 9:00am the 2nd Chemo session started which took 5 1/2 hrs. and we set up an appointment with Judy's hairdresser and she had what was left of her hair cut off. I know how hard this was for her but she knew it was for the best and had to be done. Day 23 Judy started the day feeling feeling good this morning. I hope this is a good sign on how the rest of the day will be. I had to remind her that she is at the half way mark and has only 2 more sessions to go and her treatment is finished. I know it is easy for me to say because I am not the one going thru it. I can only hope and pray that it will maybe get a little easier for her from day to day. I want so much for this to be over and she can say in the end I am a survivor.

Side Effects of Chemo

2007-10-07T18:31:00.000-04:00

Because chemotherapy drugs can affect healthy cells, one of their disadvantages is that you may experience chemotherapy side effects, some temporary and some longer term. Not every drug will cause every side effect. Your doctor can tell you what to expect from the drugs you're receiving.

Temporary side effects might include:

Hair loss

Dry mouth

Mouth sores (stomatitis)

Difficult or painful swallowing (esophagitis) * Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Constipation

Fatigue

Bleeding

Susceptibility to infection

Infertility

Loss of appetite

Changes in the way food tastes

Cognitive impairment, sometimes referred to as "chemo brain"

Liver damage

Heart damage

Nerve damage

Lung damage

It has been 7 days now from the 1st Chemo treatment session and Judy my Fiancee has been having a rough time with some of the side effects. Lack of sleep and no appetite and the joint pain seem to be the hardest for her to deal with. I try to help her as much as I can but at times I can't help feeling I am not doing enough, I wish I could do the treatment for her. I keep telling myself the 1st one is done and only 3 more to go but is is not an easy thing to go thru. I hope and pray that she can be strong enough to go thru the whole treatment plan the Doctor has set up for her and in the end she will be cancer free.

This tuesday on the 9th she has an appointment with Friends Boutique at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for a wig fitting. It is a really wonderful place to see for they have just about anything and everything that is needed for cancer paitents and going thru Chemo.

Please check it out I have set up a link at the top of this post just click on the Title Side Effects of Chemo. They help so many people and I want to thank them for all they have done for me and my family.

How long these temporary side effects last depends on what drug or combination of drugs you're taking and for how long. Most chemotherapy side effects will subside shortly after you stop your treatments. And most short-term side effects can be minimized with medication. For example, your doctor can give you medications to help relieve nausea or build up your blood counts. If side effects make you uncomfortable, tell your doctor. If you find that the side effects are more than you're willing to endure, you can change treatments.

Long-term or late chemotherapy side effects

As people with cancer live longer after treatment, doctors are discovering that some treatments cause long-lasting side effects or side effects that become apparent long after treatment ends. These long-term side effects are rare. Before you begin treatment, discuss with your doctor what long-term effects you might experience. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause:

Organ damage, including problems with your heart, lungs and kidneys

Nerve damage

Blood in your urine (hemorrhagic cystitis)

Another cancer, including Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and some tumors

Your doctor can tell you what signs and symptoms to watch for after treatment. Knowing what long-term side effects to watch for can help you stay healthy after treatment.

Starting Chemo

2007-09-22T17:39:00.000-04:00

Now that all the cancer they found has been taken out my Fiancee has to go thru Chemo treatments which will start on the 1st of October. Her schedule consists of 4 separate treatments each 3 weeks apart and if all goes as planned will be over the 3rd of December. I have done a lot of research and found quite a bit of information which has helped me to understand what the next few months dealing with this will be like. I pray that there will be no complications or surprises and she will be cancer free as the end result.

Many people fear chemotherapy because they have heard that it can have uncomfortable side effects. But side-effect management has come a long way over the last few decades. Today, many side effects once associated with chemotherapy can be prevented or controlled. With some types of chemotherapy, you may experience only minimal side effects. And chemotherapy may be your best option for a successful outcome.

Chemotherapy Side Effects

* Low white blood cell count * Low red blood cell count * Low platelet count * Nausea * Vomiting * Hair loss * Fatigue

More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. For millions of people chemotherapy helps treat their cancer effectively, enabling them to enjoy full, productive lives.

Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill, depending on which drug is used.

Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells. So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.

Some cancer cells grow slowly while others grow rapidly. As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs target the growth patterns of specific types of cancer cells. Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time in the life cycle of the cell it targets. Your doctor will determine the chemotherapy drug that is right for you.

I have set up a really good help web page for anyone who may want more information about cancer treatment and it really has helped me just click on the Title at the top of this post Starting Chemo.

Dealing With Cancer

2007-09-02T11:46:00.001-04:00

I have not posted these past few weeks like I planned due to an illness to the most important member of my family. The 1st week of Auguest my Fiancee found out she had lung cancer and was told to they had to schedule an operation a.s.a.p. and 2 weeks later on the 17th of Auguest she had 1/3 of her right lung removed and the Doctor informed us that they removed it all but had to send samples of the lung and Lymph nodes to a lab for more testing and she would find out the results in a few weeks when she has her 1st follow up appointment with the Doctor. I hope and pray that this is the extent of this and she will not have to endure anymore pain and suffering. I believe it is in GODS hands now. The thing that I find hard to understand is she was a smoker for over 40 years and quit 6 years ago and had been checked out each year by her Doctor and had been told she was healthy and her lungs looked and sounded good, and then the cancer just shows up. For now all we can do is wait and do everything that the Doctor says and go thru the healing process. I am planing to write more on this in the future after I do some research and learn more about this. Cancer is a really bad disease but they have come a long way in the past few years and it is no longer a death sentence. Please help me in your prayers if you can. Thank You and take care.

Past History

2007-08-04T19:11:00.000-04:00

THE HOWDY DOODY SHOW

I have found myself thinking about the past quite a bit lately and it gave me the idea for this post. I wonder just how many others out there will remember this. The Howdy Doody Show was one of the first and easily the most popular children's television show in the 1950s and a reflection of the wonder, technical fascination, and business realities associated with early television. While Howdy and his friends entertained American children, they also sold television sets to American parents and demonstrated the potential of the new medium to advertisers. The Howdy, Doody Show premiered in March 1948 he was an all-American boy with red hair, forty-eight freckles (one for each state in the Union), and a permanent smile. Howdy's face symbolized the youthful energy of the new medium and appeared on the NBC color test pattern beginning in 1954. Smith treated the marionettes as if they were real, and as a result, so did the children of America. Among the many unusual marionettes on the show was Phineas T. Bluster, Doodyville's entrepreneurial mayor. Howdy's grumpy nemesis, Bluster had eyebrows that shot straight up when he was surprised. Bluster's naive, high-school-aged accomplice, was Dilly Dally, who wiggled his ears when he was frustrated. Flub-a-dub was a whimsical character who was a combination of eight animals. In Howdy and Me, Smith notes, "Howdy, Mr. Bluster, Dilly, and the Flub-a-Dub gave the impression that they could cut their strings, saunter off the stage, and do as they pleased." Although the live characters, particularly the native Americans Chief Thunderthud and Princess Summerfall Winterspring, were by modern standards stereotypical and often clownish, each had a rich heritage interwoven into the stories. These were prepared by Eddie Kean, who wrote the scripts and the songs until 1954, and Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock, who wrote scripts and song lyrics thereafter. For example, Smith (born in Buffalo, New York) was transformed into Buffalo Bob when he took his place in the story as the great white leader of the Sigafoose tribe. Chief Thunderthud (played by Bill LeCornec) of the mythical Ooragnak tribe ("Kangaroo" spelled backward) introduced the word "Kawabonga," an expression of surprise and frustration, into the English language. One of the few female characters in the cast was the beloved Princess Summerfall Winterspring of the Tinka Tonka tribe, who was first introduced as a puppet, then transformed into a real, live princess, played by Judy Tyler. The Howdy Doody Show also reflected America's fascination with technology. Part of the fun and fantasy of Doodyville were crazy machines such as the Electromindomizer that read minds and the Honkadoodle that translated Mother Goose's honks into English. Television's technical innovations were also incorporated into the show. On 23 June 1949 split-screen capabilities were used to join Howdy in Chicago with Buffalo Bob in New York, one of the first instances of a cross-country connection. Howdy also ushered in NBC's daily color programming in 1955. The Howdy Doody Show was immediately successful and was NBC's first daily show to be extended to five days a week. In 1952 NBC launched a network radio program featuring Howdy, and in 1954 Howdy Doody became an international television hit with a Cuban and a Canadian show, using duplicate puppets and local talent, including Robert Goulet as Canadian host, Timber Tom. As amazing as it may now seem, there were published concerns over violent content in Howdy Doody, but though the action in Doodyville generally involved slapstick, parents generally supported the show. Much of the mayhem was perpetrated by a lovable, mischievous clown named Clarabell Hornblow. Clarabell was played by Bob Keeshan who later become Captain Kangaroo. His pratfalls were generally accidents, and the most lethal weapon on the show was his seltzer bottle. Moreover, educational material was consciously incorporated both into the songs and the stories; for example young viewers received a lesson in government when Howdy ran for President of the kids of America in 1948. The educational features of the program made the Doodyville characters attractive personal promoters both for the show and for the sale of television sets. And even before the advent of the Nielsen ratings, Howdy Doody demonstrated its ability to draw an audience both for NBC and for possible advertisers. In 1948, children's shows were often provided as a public service either by the networks or the stations. When Howdy ran for President of all the kids, Muir suggested that they offer free campaign buttons. They received 60,000 requests, representing one-third of the American homes with television sets. Within a week their advertising time was sold out to major advertisers, such as Colgate Palmolive Peat Company. Although the producers were careful about what they advertised, they were very aggressive about marketing products they selected, incorporating product messages into songs and skits. The producers also recognized the potential for merchandising. In 1949 the first Howdy Doody comic book was published by Dell and the first Howdy Doody record was released, selling 30,000 copies in its first week. There were also Howdy Doody wind-up toys, a humming lariat, a beanie, and T-shirts, among other licensed products. Although extremely popular, the demise of The Howdy Doody Show demonstrated the financial realities of the new medium. In 1956 the early evening time slot became more attractive to older consumers, and the show was moved to Saturday morning. Although it continued to receive high ratings, the expense was eventually its downfall, and it was taken off the air on 24 September 1960, after 2,343 programs. The most famous moment in the history of The Howdy Doody Show came during the closing seconds of the final show when Clarabell, who did not speak but communicated through pantomime and honking his horns, surprised the audience by saying, "Good-bye, kids." The reality continues to be that the rich, live-action performances that filled early children's programming are too costly for modern, commercial television. I have to Thank The Museum Of Broadcast Communication for all the research and information that I found for this Post.

Contest Winners 2007

2007-07-21T14:08:00.000-04:00

This top photo show the main attraction. Local artists and volunteers transformed 250 tons of special sand into a massive demonstration sculpture titled "Pirates of Revere". Click on the Title Contest Winners 2007 at the top of this posting to see more great photo's. This was the 2nd year I came to Revere Beach to see this event and I hope to be here for next years also. It is a really good way to spend the day with your family and have a good time.

Here are the contest winners 1st place to 5th place

1st Place Winner

2nd Place Winner

3rd Place Winner

4th Place Winner

5th Place Winner

Judgment Day At The Beach

2007-07-15T19:17:00.000-04:00

Today was the final day for the New England Sand Sculpting Festival and the judges will choose the winner tonight. I am posting a few pictures that I think you may like and I will do another post with more photo's along with this years winner within the next week or so.

I am always amazed at just how great these works of art look when they are finished. I just had to show this picture. I am a Harley man myself but this new Indian looks just awesome. This is good way to spend the day at the beach I felt that the very large amount of people also felt the same way.

I have set up a link at the top of this post that will show a lot more along with all the artists involved in the shows just click on the Title at top Judgment Day At The Beach.

Hope you enjoy! I Will have more soon.

Holocaust Memorial

2007-06-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

Today was a good day to go to Boston and enjoy the day just taking in the sites and have lunch. We decided to take the train from Waltham to the North End Station in Boston it was the 1st time for either one of us. We always drove our car in and paid an outrageous parking fee. It was really a good idea for we saved some money and also relaxed for a change I found it to be fun and I will do it more often in the future. We had to see this Monument and take these photos.

Placed just outside the hustle and bustle of Faneuil Hall, this haunting monument, is designed to educate as well as commemorate this 20th-century tragedy.

At night, its six 50-foot-high glass-and-steel towers glow like ghosts. During the day the monument seems at odds with the 18th-century streetscape of Blackstone Square behind it. Shoehorned into the north end of Union Park, the Holocaust Memorial is the work of Stanley Saitowitz, whose design was selected through an international competition; the finished memorial was dedicated in 1995. Recollections by Holocaust survivors are set into the glass-and-granite walls; the upper levels of the towers are etched with 6 million numbers in random sequence, symbolizing the Jewish victims of the Nazi horror. Manufactured steam from grates in the granite base makes for a particularly haunting scene after dark.

I was surprised to see how just how much planning and work went into this Monument.

Its a must see for anyone visiting Boston Ma. I set up a link for much more information just click on the title Holocaust Memorial at the top of this posting.

Address: Union St. near Hanover St., Boston, MA, USA Across from City Hall

Sand Sculpting 2007

2007-06-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

This information is for all who may be in the New England area that would like to see the Sand Sculpting Festival 2007. The photo's posted will give you some idea of what to expect .

The dates have been announced for the 4th Annual New England Sand Sculpting Invitational at Revere Beach. This July 12th - 15th, Ten Master sand sculptors from around the world will compete for over $15,000 in purse and entry awards as well as the coveted peoples choice award. Included in the list of competitors are stars from the Travel Channels smash hit " Sand Blasters" airing March. check your local listings.

350 tons of special imported sand will again be trucked into Revere to transform the beach into a museum of masterpieces. Master Sculptors, local artists and volunteers will transform 250 tons of that special sand into a massive demonstration sculpture thanks to the support of our event sponsors. Work on this amazing sculpture will start July 9th and continue through July 14th.

As usual I set up a link for all the information needed about this event for anyone interested just click on to Title Sand Sculpting 2007 at the top of this posting.

Stonehurst

2007-05-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

The post I have today is about the Robert Treat Paine Estate in the City of Waltham Massachusetts, a nice place to visit for anyone who is into old houses with alot of history.

Born in 1835 , the great grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He acquired a large fortune early in life through his legal practice and also Railroad and Mining investments.

Designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and Frederick Law Olmsted, Stonehurst the Robert Treat Paine Estate, is the only museum devoted to these two pioneering figures in American architectural and landscape design history. At Stonehurst, these close friends and collaborators forged a uniquely American architecture by focusing on the intimate, almost seamless integration of the natural and man-made worlds. Richardson and Olmsted, like Winslow Homer, Emily Dickinson and Mark Twain, were among the great artists of the post-Civil War era who asserted cultural independence from Europe by cultivating an aesthetic deeply rooted in the American landscape.

In 1883, Robert Treat Paine, Jr. and his wife Lydia Lyman Paine commissioned Richardson and Olmsted to design a great addition to their summer house in Waltham, Mass. The Paines were a socially minded family. Robert Treat Paine founded building and loan associations and institutes to improve the quality of life of the working class. Stonehurst embodied the ideals the Paine family held dear and to which they believed every American had a right: an abundance of healthy, clean air and a spiritually uplifting and restorative environment. The Paine family grounds appropriately became a public park in 1974, when descendants donated the 109-acre estate to the City of Waltham

Boston Marathon 2007

2007-04-16T17:02:00.000-04:00

Dominance? Did I hear someone say "dominance"? That would be an improvement. What the Kenyans have done to the Boston Marathon, and a few other marathons, is establish a tyranny that certainly should be a very big embarrassment to the rest of the running world. Boston Marathon men's division winner Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya at the finish line at the 111th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 16, 2007.

Cheruiyot won for the 2nd year in a row and third time overall in an official time of 2 hrs, 14 mins and 13 secs to lead an all-Kenyan podium but was well shy of the race record he set last year of 2:07:14.

James Kwambai was 2nd, 20 seconds behind, with 2006 New York Marathon runner-up Stephen Kiagoro third in 2:14:47.

I was confident, Cheruiyot said. I was very strong. I had trained enough. I didn't fear anybody. Also the race was too slow. We were very cautious not to go too fast.

Lidiya Grigoryeva won in an official time of 2:29:18. Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka was 2nd for the 2nd year in a row, losing by 40 seconds, with Mexico's Madai Perez 3rd, exactly one minute behind the winner.

Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, the 2006 Boston winner, was 4th in 2:33:08 with 2006 London Marathon winner Deena Kastor, hoping to be the 1st US man or woman to win at Boston since 1985, taking fifth in 2:35:09.

Cheruiyot, who also won here in 2003, became the 15th Kenyan man to win in the past 17 editions of the epic 26-mile classic.

Cheruiyot and Kwambai battled for several miles together late in the race but at a final water stop, Cheruiyot surged ahead as Kwambai reached for water and was never caught again.

Japanese athletes won the wheelchair events with Masazumi Soejima taking the men's race and Wakako Tsuchida claiming the women's crown.

Each winner received 100,000 dollars from a total prize money pool of 575,000 dollars.

A lot has changed for the Boston Marathon since its first run in the spring of 1897. Today, what is certainly the oldest and most revered marathon in the country, perhaps the world, began as a vision by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) founders, after witnessing the first-of-its-kind race at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

18 men leaped from the starting line in front of Metcalf's Mill in Ashland . The starting official had no gun; he simply shouted "Go!" to start the BAA marathon.

In the early years, runners endured the narrow and dusty dirt roads winding their way to Boston. Today, of course, the roads are wide and paved.

The race sure has come a long way in all these years.

This medal is what the 1st place winner received in 1897. ----->

Harley Davidson

2007-04-09T13:23:00.000-04:00

1903 Harley Davidson

I have been a avid fan and rider of Harley Davidson for most of my life and I want to share a little history with all who may be Harley riders also. Arthur Davidson and William S. Harley were school friends who shared a mechanical passion and a strong desire to join the other motorcycle pioneers. They rekindled their relationship while working at the same factory in Milwaukee. Together they began to study mechanics focusing on motorcycle engines.

In 1901 they had four engines designed and ready to be fitted to bicycle frames. In 1903 the first Harley-Davidson motorcycles were built.

The brand name become very famous and appeared in ads and articles describing the motorcycle that would become a legend. Three motorcycles were produced between 1903 and 1904 and were sold before they were even built.

1928 Harley Davidson

During this time Walter C. Davidson Sr. and William A. Davidson joined Arthur Davidson and William S. Harley and the Harley Davidson Motor Company was officialy registered with the U.S. Trade and Company Register office on September 17th 1907. The management positions within the company were assigned at the registration with Walter C. Davidson as President, William A. Davidson as Vice-President and Works Manager, Arthur Davidson as Secretary and General Sales Manager, and William S. Harley to serve as Chief Engineer and Treasurer.

My new Harley Davidson (Birthday Gift)

In 1904 Harley-Davidson began participated in motorcycle racing and benefited from commercial implications of the numerous victories won by their bikes and in 1913 the company decided to establish an official racing team. Early racers such as Ralph Hepburn and Eddie Brink put Harley on the track and won races with these machines, later Joe Petreli and Red Parkhurst.

Joe Petreli first raced on an Indian motorcycle, and then made a name for himself by racing Harley-Davidson's. From 1926 untill 1931 Harley interrupted their racing and Petreli raced for the Excelsior Company, which was shut down in 1931. Petreli again raced for Harley when the company started their race teams back in 1931. Red Parkhurst became a big winner and had a long career of motorcycle racing for Harley. Participating in motorcycle racing gave Harley an edge on research and development of their motorcycles.

Harley Davidson motorcycle became the symbol of American individualism and ended up "KING OF THE ROAD", all in 100 years.

I set up a link at the top of this posting just click on the Title Harley Davidson and you will see a great web site about the history of how it all began and much more.

True or False?

2007-03-27T12:37:00.000-04:00

I know this is old news but I was shocked when I found out about this in an email from a friend of mine. I did some research on this and found like anything else there are two sides to every story. The question now is who is telling the truth? You decide for yourself.

ACLU say's No Crosses on Federal Property!

Have you seen or heard of this story in the news awhile back where the ACLU doesn't want any crosses on Federal property?

No Crosses on Federal Property? Let them try and remove these. What are these people thinking? Enough is Enough. This needs to stop. I really feel if there is any truth to this at all something is very wrong with our Government they have gone to far this time we have to draw a line and we the people should put a stop to it now before it is to late.

Separation of church and state, the result of a U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of the Constitution's First Amendment, has been a hotly contested issue for decades. How that separation should be interpreted and enforced has been at the heart of such issues as the Pledge of Allegiance in schools and the Ten Commandments in state courthouses. But does the separation mean that war dead buried in government owned cemeteries must be interred only with secular type headstones?

ACLU Says

Why does the ACLU want to remove crosses from federal cemeteries?

The ACLU is not pursuing, nor has it ever pursued, the removal of religious symbols from personal gravestones. Personal gravestones are the choice of the family members, not the choice of the government. The ACLU celebrates this freedom to choose the religious symbol of your choice. Read more about the ACLU's stance on religious freedom.

ACLU Upset At Marines

If you look closely at the picture above, you will note that all the Marines pictured are bowing their heads. That's because they're praying. The incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms.

These are federal employees, says Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU, on federal property and on federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and we must nip this in the bud immediately. When asked about the ACLU's charges, Colonel Jack Fessender, speaking for the Commandant of the Corps said Screw the ACLU.

In an email response to queries concerning the above anecdote, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) stated the following:

In regards to the latest urban legend that includes a picture of Marines praying and a quote from a supposed ACLU spokesperson, we have no knowledge of this event nor have we ever had a spokesperson by the name of Lucius Traveler. Nor, for that matter, does the Commandant of the Marine Corps have a spokesman named Colonel Jack Fessender. I couldn't find any evidence that the ACLU has ever taken a position against U.S. military personnel — or, indeed, federal employees in any branch of government engaging in prayer. This incident is a complete fabrication.

Niagara Falls

2007-03-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

This very rare photo was taken in the year 1911 when it was said Niagara Falls was completely frozen.

Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River in eastern North America, on the border between the United States and Canada. Niagara Falls (French: les Chutes du Niagara) comprises three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. The Falls are located 16 miles (26 km) away from the U.S. city of Buffalo and 43 miles (69 km) from the Canadian city of Toronto. The distance to downtown Toronto is 80 miles (123 km) when using roads.

The Falls formed after the receding of the glaciers of the most recent Ice Age, as water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment enroute to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide. With more than 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falling over the crestline every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average, it is the most powerful waterfall in North America. The Falls are a valuable source of hydroelectric power for both Ontario and New York. Preserving this natural wonder from commercial overdevelopment, while allowing for the needs of the area's people, has been a challenging project for environmental preservationists since the nineteenth century. A popular tourist site for over a century, the Falls are shared between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. The original Niagara Falls were near the sites of present-day Queenston, Ontario, Canada, and Lewiston, New York, but erosion of their crest has caused the waterfalls to retreat several kilometres southward. Just upstream from the Falls' current location, Goat Island splits the course of the Niagara River, resulting in the separation of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls to the west from the American and Bridal Veil Falls to the east. Although erosion and recession have been slowed in this century by engineering, the falls will eventually recede far enough to drain most of Lake Erie, the bottom of which is higher than the bottom of the falls. Engineers are working to reduce the rate of erosion to retard this event as long as possible.

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls drop about 170 feet (52 m), although the American Falls have a clear drop of only 70 feet (21 m) before reaching a jumble of fallen rocks which were deposited by a massive rock slide in 1954. The larger Canadian Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (792 m) wide, while the American Falls are 1,060 feet (323 m) wide. The volume of water approaching the Falls during peak flow season is 202,000 cubic feet per second (5,720 m³/s). During the summer months, when maximum diversion of water for hydroelectric power occurs, 100,000 ft³/s (2,832 m³/s) of water actually traverses the Falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls. This volume is further halved at night, when most of the diversion to hydroelectric facilities occurs. This photo is the United States side of the falls. I got most of my info on this from Wikipedia. I also set up a link to the Niagara Falls web site Canada just click on the Title at the top of the post (Niagara Falls) Hope you all enjoy.

Mickey Addict

2007-02-26T14:03:00.000-05:00

My better half is quite addicted to the mouse and and I thought this kinda stuff was just for kids. I have been getting her gifts for many years and it has to be something Mickey Mouse everytime. I started fixing up a room just to put all the items in and I seem to have run out of space already what a dilemma???

There is a lot more that is still not unpacked yet. Anyone out there have any ideas I sure could use some help with this. I think I bit off more than I can chew I have more pictures of whats in this room but do not want to over do it I just might have to do another posting about this if I get a response to.

I set up the link for Disneyworld for anyone who would like to check it out I believe we all have a little kid in us. Just click the Title Mickey Addict on top of this posting. Go for it

More Snow & Ice

2007-02-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

I started surfing thru Flickr Photo this morning and checked out the Snow & Ice Sculpting section and found it to be full of some really great Pic's from around the world I have set up a link for everyone to see just click on the top of the page Title More Snow & Ice and you can see for yourself.

I wanted to show just a few pic's of what you can see surfing this amazing site and hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Its been more than 2 weeks since I have Posted and I try

not to go this long without posting but shit happens!

I finally got my Blog Mad Rating from Blog Mad I thought it took forever but it took 11 months. I expected to hear bells or see something change but nothing happened just same ole stuff. When you think about it 30,000 is a lot of blogs to look at. I can't help but feel that I have accomplished something its a good feeling.

Catnip Overdose

2007-01-29T19:59:00.000-05:00

I just had to share this photo of my cat Willy in this pose letting it all hang out. He has the run of the house as you can see. He will actually sit like that for quite some time while the tv is on. I think he feels he is a real person and not a cat sometimes.

This photo shows he had a little to much catnip the night before. What a life sometimes I wish I was a cat.

A friend sent me this great picture looks like a hitchhiker I don't know how this was done but it sure looks funny.

Mild Winter

2007-01-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

This winter has been very strange so far, here it is near the end of January and still no snow to speak of. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining I would prefer every winter to be like this one. I can't help but feel we will pay for all this somehow real soon, hope I am wrong.

I read a little on Greenhouse effect/ Global warming and how it has something or some feel everything to do with the change in the weather pattern throughout the world. It is amazing what some of the theory's are on this. The one that gives some of the best information is by Al Gore you can check it out on the link I set up at the top of this post click on the Title Mild Winter. There are so many that are for and against this subject and just what to do about it I find it hard to understand who is right and who is wrong? The fact is something must be done about this now or we will regret it.

So far this winter we may have gotten 1 inch of the white stuff

Hometown

2007-01-09T19:28:00.000-05:00

I want to start this first post of the year 2007 with the photo above. It is the city hall in my hometown of Waltham Ma just before they took the decorations down and put them away till next year. For anyone who may be interested in a bit of history. Waltham was Founded in 1636, incorporated into a town in 1738 and then into a city in 1884. Historically Waltham is probably best known as the home of the Waltham Watch Factory, a pioneer company of the Industrial Revolution. Today the city is the home to two major institutions of higher learning, Bentley College and Brandeis University. Also if you happen to be a basketball fan the Boston Celtics have their practice sessions at Brandeis University. For much more information about Waltham just click on the Title Hometown at the top of the page posting. This is a really good photo I got from a friend in a email It is a sunset from the north pole.

Thought this photo was a good enough to show.

Happy New Year 2007

2006-12-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

Ice&Snow Art

I wanted to show some of these great works of art for my last blog of 2006. I got the photos from several places, Sapporo snow festival Japan, Harbin China, and Iasos news, I also set up a link for Fitzy Snowman Sculpting just click the page Title Happy New Year 2007 at the top of the posting for much more art and any information you might be interested in I hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.

Amazing Ice and Snow Sculptures from China

Click on Title top of this post for more

We want to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2007

If you happen to be in the Boston area for the First Night New Years Eve activities you may want to purchase a First Night Button and join in all the fun. It is a great way to spend the whole day if you can. Check out my posting on this page and see all that is going on.

Merry Christmas To All

2006-12-16T10:51:00.000-05:00

The history of Santa Claus and his legendary toy factory is anything but well-documented, a result of the eccentric entrepreneur's carefully cultivated aura of mystery. (He is known for forcing elves to sign strict confidentiality agreements.) But some facts are known, among them that Claus, along with wife and business partner Mrs. Claus, set up shop in Turkey in the fourth century A.D. under the name St. Nicholas Toys & Candy Co.

The small operation quickly gained favor in the community for its charity works on behalf of poor children. Soon, the company had expanded throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It entered US markets in the 18th century when loyal Dutch customers of Sinterklaas B.V. (the company's Holland subsidiary) emigrated to New York. Shortly afterwards, St. Nicholas Toys & Candy changed its name to Santa's Workshop and relocated its headquarters to its current North Pole location.

In an 1823 exposé "A Visit from St. Nicholas," writer Clement Clarke Moore revealed previously unknown details of Santa Claus's Christmas Eve operations, including his method of product delivery (onto the roof and down the chimney) and the names of some key reindeer personnel (Donner, Blitzen, Comet, et al.). The existence of a red-nosed reindeer with advanced guidance capabilities was unknown until the mid-twentieth century.

With increasing competition in recent years from toy-making giants Mattel and Hasbro, as well as retailers (including discounter Wal-Mart and traditional Toys "R" Us stores), Santa's Workshop is not content with past success. Instead, it is looking to increase operating efficiencies and create growth in emerging markets, with twinkling eyes peeled for opportunities in India and China particularly. In many ways, however, the history of Santa is also its future: creating high quality products that are desired by children everywhere, and capitalizing on a unique brand that to most customers means holiday magic. I hope this information will be enjoyed by all, and I hope no one will be offended when I use the words Merry Christmas because I feel it should not be changed. Christmas really has come a long way thru the years and some how the true meaning has been lost along the way. Anyway we want to wish a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Bill&Judy.

Images courtesy of the Santalady

Firstnight 2007 Boston

2006-11-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

Boston's New Year's Eve Celebration of the Arts

Come one, come all to Boston's most celebrated party of the year! First Night 2007 offers many new and exciting performances and activities for the entire family!

First Night New Year's Eve activities take place from 1pm to midnight on Sunday, December 31st, 2006 at over 30 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston. With the purchase of a First Night button, revelers gain admission to performances featuring the very best in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and more.

Churches,theaters,museums,and performance centers open their doors to First Night Button holders throughout the entire day. Popular attractions include the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center featuring interactive activities for all ages, gigantic ice sculptures on Copley Square and the Boston Common, a glittering fireworks display, and a Mardi-Gras style Grand Procession that sweeps through the streets of Boston. I have set up a link at the top of the post just click on the Title "Firstnight 2007 Boston" for everything that is going on thruout the day and night.

Censored Hero's

2006-11-18T17:17:00.000-05:00

Here are three of the photographs that were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

With Veterans Day over for the year 2006 I can't help but wonder why all the news coverage about the war in Iraq has come to a stand still. I happened to find this story I am posting by accident along with the photographs of the american soldiers who have been killed that were censored by the Bush administration. So much for our right of freedom of the press. I can't think of any reason for this other than for political gain. They really think that if we the people do not see all the caskets of our dead soldiers as they come home we will not think about this war that will never end. I feel this is a big mistake and our soldiers deserve an honor guard and 21 gun salute as they return home to United States soil. Just ask yourself why are they hiding and covering up the fact that our soldiers have been killed. Its as if they are ashamed of them. All our soldiers are HERO's and must be treated as such. Every american has the right to question the reasoning behind this and find out why this is happening and change this policy A.S.A.P. The Pentagon tries to suppress the publication of photographs of coffins carrying the remains of troops killed in Iraq. The claim is that the Department of Defense is merely trying to protect the privacy of the families of the dead. However, since none of the dead are identified in the photographs, this claim seems fraudulent. More likely, the Pentagon acting on orders from its Commander in Chief (President Bush) is trying to keep the visual impact of the calamity of the war in Iraq away from the U.S. voters.

Coffins of U.S. military personnel are prepared to be offloaded at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware in this undated photo. President George W. Bush on April 23, 2004 stood by an order that no more photographs be released of flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq, a restriction critics say is aimed at sanitizing the war for the public.

Veterans Day

2006-11-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

November 11, 1918, was the day that brought to a close the most destructive, and far reaching war in human annals, establishing November 11 as a national holiday. The day marked the end of the Great War known as World War I.

In 1926 the U.S. Congress designated November 11 as Armistice Day to commemorate the resumption of the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed and to honor those soldiers both alive and fallen who served during the war.

Unfortunately this did not turn out to be so. After World War II and Korea, Congress changed the name of the day in 1954 to Veterans Day in order to include all soldiers who had served in combat. Since then other armed conflicts, from Vietnam to Iraq, have ensued, swelling the ranks of U.S. veterans into the millions.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

It is a sad time when an unknown soldier has died in a war. That means that he or she has no family to claim them and secure a proper burial. After the Great War in 1921, the very first unknown soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In England an unknown soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey. In France yet another unknown soldier was buried at the Arc de Triomphe. All burials took place on November 11th. These people have died for their country and each country obviously feels it’s important to recognize their sacrifice and make sure they rest in peace.

In the United States in 1958, two more unknown soldiers, one from World War II and one from the Korean War, were placed in Arlington next to the World War I soldier. In 1984 an unknown soldier from Vietnam was also placed there. It is now customary in the United States to place these soldiers next to their fallen comrades.

To honor these men and all Americans who gave their lives in each war, an Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry keeps a day and night vigil. Every November 11th, at 11 A.M. there is a ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater to honor them as well.

As the U.S. honors veterans of all its wars tomorrow, Veterans Day, the U.S. Library of Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs are working to make sure the nation never forgets their service. I have set up a link For more information just click on the Title Veterans Day at the top of the page .

Happy 231st Birthday

2006-11-07T13:24:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share some of the United States Marine Corps history with anyone who may be interested, and at the same time wish all past and present U S Marines a Happy 231st Birthday. I set a link up for much more. Just click on the Title Happy 231st Birthday top of post.

On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that "two battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This established the Continental Marines and marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and at sea, .including their first amphibious raid on foreign soil in the Bahamas in March 1776, under the command of the Corps’ first commandant, Capt. Samuel Nicholas. The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War and as the last of the Navy’s ships were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines disbanded.

Following the formal re-establishment of the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, Marines fought in conflicts with France, landed in Santo Domingo and conducted operations against the Barbary pirates along the "Shores of Tripoli."

Marines participated in numerous operations during the War of 1812, including the defense of Washington at Bladensburg, Md. They also fought alongside Andrew Jackson in the defeat of the British at New Orleans. Following the War of 1812, Marines protected American interests around the world in areas like the Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, Sumatra and off the coast of West Africa, and close to home in operations against the Seminole Indians in Florida.

During the Mexican War, Marines seized enemy seaports on both the Gulf and Pacific coasts. While landing parties of Marines and Sailors were seizing enemy ports, a battalion of Marines joined General Winfield Scott’s army at Pueblo and marched and fought all the way to the "Halls of Montezuma," Mexico City.

World War I, Marines distinguished themselves on the battlefields of France, as the 4th Marine Brigade earned the title of "Devil Dogs" for actions at Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. Michiel, Blanc Mont and the final Muesse-Argonne offensive.

The two decades before World War II, the Marine Corps began to develop its doctrine and organization for amphibious warfare. The success of this effort was proven at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, New Britain, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. By the war’s end in 1945, the Corps had grown to include six divisions, five air wings and supporting troops, about 485,000 Marines. Nearly 87,000 Marines were killed or wounded during WWII and 82 earned the Medal of Honor.

Landing at Inchon, Korea, in September 1950, Marines proved that the doctrine of amphibious assault was still viable and necessary. After the recapture of Seoul, the Marines advanced to the Chosin Reservoir only to see the Chinese Communists enter the war. In March, 1955, after five years of hard fighting, the last Marine ground forces were withdrawn. More than 25,000 Marines were killed or wounded during the Korean War.

The realities of the Korean War brought major changes in the basing and deployment of Marine Corps forces. The Corps strength ballooned to 192,000 men in June 1951, to 232,000 a year later and nearly 250,000 by June 1953. More than half the troops actually served in the operating forces, and the 1st Marine Division and 1st MAW, operationally employed in Korea, were kept up to strength.

The landing of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Da Nang in 1965 marked the beginning of a large-scale Marine involvement in Vietnam. By the summer of 1968, after the enemy’s Tet Offensive, Marine Corps strength in Vietnam rose to about 85,000. The Marine withdrawal began in 1969 as the South Vietnamese began to assume a larger role in the fighting. The last ground forces left Vietnam by June 1971. The Vietnam War, the longest in the history of the Marine Corps, exacted a high cost, with more than 13,000 Marines killed and 88,000 wounded.

The Vietnam War proved to be the ultimate test of the Corps’ basing and deployment decisions of the 1950s and early 1960s. From the March 1965 landing of Marine ground troops as Da Nang until the departure of the last large Marine units in June 1971, the war impacted drastically on all Marine forces within and outside the III Marine Amphibious Force. Peak Marine strength in Vietnam was reached in 1968 when more than 85,000 Marines were in Vietnam out of a Marine Corps numbering just over 300,000.

The Iraq War is still on going. Who knows how much longer it will be before it will come to an end. I feel the U S Marines are still needed in this world today we could never have come this far without them. Maybe some day they won't be needed. I hope to see that happen in my lifetime.

Pumpkin Art

2006-10-29T13:45:00.000-05:00

I wanted to show everyone some pretty neat art carving by Fitzy Snowman they do custom carved pumpkins that make a great addition to any party or event. They also do carved snow, ice, and sand. I set up a link for all the information about this company just click on the Title Pumpkin Art at the top of this post. It gives a lot of information about up and coming shows and displays

They can work with your florist to create dazzling centerpieces or larger displays. Pumpkins are not just for Halloween anymore. Fall weddings and anniversary parties are a perfect match for pumpkins. There master carvers will work with you to create a design that matches your theme perfectly. The fall schedule is rapidly filling up so contact them today to reserve a master carver for your special event.

There master sculptors can carve your corporate logo or slogan with unbelievable precision. They also offer foam pumpkins which can be displayed for years. Pumpkins also make great window displays for your business or just to display in the office. Foam pumpkins can be shipped anywhere in the world. Place your order today to insure timely shipping.

Let's face it sports fans need their gear. So at Fitzy Snowman Sculpting it's there duty to provide you with the best quality foam and natural pumpkins emblazoned with your favorite team logo. They can carve local and little league team logos as well. Just send us a 300 dpi copy of your logo and we will create a one of a kind pumpkin for your special team. You can Contact them by email at sean@fitzysnowman.com or by phone at 781-249-1494 for custom pricing information.

Boston Tea Party

2006-10-17T22:45:00.000-04:00

I'd like to share a little history about the Boston Tea Party. In 1773, Britain's East India Company was sitting on large stocks of tea that it could not sell in England. It was on the verge of bankruptcy. In an effort to save it, the government passed the Tea Act of 1773, which gave the company the right to export its merchandise directly to the colonies without paying any of the regular taxes that were imposed on the colonial merchants, who had traditionally served as the middlemen in such transactions. With these privileges, the company could undersell American merchants and monopolize the colonial tea trade. The act proved inflammatory for several reasons. First, it angered influential colonial merchants, who feared being replaced and bankrupted by a powerful monopoly. The East India Company's decision to grant franchises to certain American merchants for the sale of their tea created further resentments among those excluded from this lucrative trade. More important, however, the Tea Act revived American passions about the issue of taxation without representation. The law provided no new tax on tea.The colonists responded by boycotting tea. Unlike earlier protests, this boycott mobilized large segments of the population. It also helped link the colonies together in a common experience of mass popular protest. Particularly important to the movement were the activities of colonial women, who were one of the principal consumers of tea and now became the leaders of the effort to the boycott.

In ports other than Boston, agents of the company were persuaded to resign, and new shipments of tea were either returned to England or warehoused. In Boston, the agents refused to resign and, with the support of the royal governor, preparations were made to land incoming cargoes regardless of opposition. On the evening of December 16, 1773, three companies of fifty men each, masquerading as Mohawk Indians, passed through a tremendous crowd of spectators, went aboard the three ships, broke open the tea chests, and heaved them into the harbor.As the electrifying news of the Boston "tea party" spread, other seaports followed the example and staged similar acts of resistance of their own.

Tea Party site with financial district in the background

When the Bostonians refused to pay for the property they had destroyed, George III and Lord North decided on a policy of coercion, to be applied only against Massachusetts, the socalled Coercive Acts. In these four acts of 1774, Parliament closed the port of Boston, drastically reduced the powers of selfgovernment in the colony, permitted royal officers to be tried in other colonies or in England when accused of crimes, and provided for the quartering of troops in the colonists' barns and empty houses.

Boston Sites

2006-10-07T12:44:00.000-04:00

This photo above is The State Capitol Boston Ma

I thought I would show a little of Boston along with some of its history for all who would be interested.

The building below is Faneuil Hall and was given to the city by Peter Faneuil in 1742.It burned down in 1761, and was rebuilt again in 1763 and then enlarged in1805. The upper story was used as a meeting hall for the many gatherings during the Revolutionary movement.

It is where colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of "no taxation without representation." Firebrand Samuel Adams rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence from Great Britain in the hallowed Hall, and George Washington toasted the nation there on its first birthday. Through the years, Faneuil Hall has played host to many impassioned speakers, from Oliver Wendall Holmes and Susan B. Anthony to Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy, always living up to its nickname, "The Cradle of Liberty."

Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall was expanded in 1826 to include Quincy Market, and later dubbed for Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy. The market remained a vital business hub throughout the 1800's; but by the mid-1900's, the buildings had fallen into disrepair and stood empty. The once-thriving marketplace was tagged for demolition until a committed group of Bostonians sought to preserve it in the early 1970's. Through the vision of Jim Rouse, architect Benjamin Thompson and Mayor Kevin White, the dilapidated structures were revitalized, thoroughly changing the face of downtown Boston. The 1976 renovation was the first urban renewal project of its kind, one that spawned imitations in this country and abroad. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is still Boston's central meeting place, offering visitors and residents alike an unparalleled urban marketplace.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by. So by all means, stroll, shop, eat, laugh, wander, wonder and explore it all. For a lot more, click on the link I have provided at the top of the page Title Boston Sites. Hope everyone will enjoy.

A look inside Faneuil Hall

New Blog Mad exlinks

2006-09-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

Click Below

Just in from Blog Mad A new link sharing and/or exchange service. Get in on it Now

Try it out before the new Beta starts.

Prospect Hill Park

2006-09-24T19:35:00.000-04:00

The Early History of Prospect Hill Park

This Photo was taken from the very top of what is called Boston Rock because of the view. This was quite the surprise for I had never seen it nor did I know it was even here. and I was born and raised in this area, wonders never cease. I have gathered some information about this little bit of history for anyone interested. I also set up a link with the Title Prospect Hill Park at the top of the post where there is all the information about the City of Waltham Ma for all to check out.

The life history of humanity has proved nothing more clearly than that crowded populations, if they would live in health and happiness, must have space for air, for light, for exercise, for rest, and for the enjoyment of that peaceful beauty of nature which, because it is the opposite of the noisy ugliness of towns, is so wonderfully refreshing to the tired souls of townspeople.

Mr. Charles Eliot, Landscape Architect for the Metropolitan Park Commission, Boston 1893.

In Waltham, to the north-westward of the centre of the city's population, lies the noble eminence of Prospect Hill, the greatest elevation in the neighborhood of Boston after the Blue Hill.

Created in 1893, Prospect Hill Park covers 250 acres, entirely within the City of Waltham. At this size, it is a significant open space, and "perhaps the largest municipally-owned park inside the loop of Route 128." The park covers a ridge which features two significant peaks. At 485 feet above sea level, the higher of the two is the second highest point in the vicinity of Boston, only the Great Blue Hill stands taller. This peak has been called Great Prospect, but is more often referred to as Big Prospect, while its smaller associate, which stands at 435 feet, is known as Little Prospect. Both peaks provide excellent views of the Boston basin.

Check out this map click to enlarge

The Metropolitan Park Commissioners were Charles Francis Adams, Philip A. Chase, and William B. de las Casas. They hired Sylvester Baxter as a secretary interested in the subject and familiar with the ground to be covered, whose duty it would be also to collect documentary information along with Charles Eliot, an associate of Frederick Law Olmsted, as a professional landscape architect, to devise a practical scheme of development and prepare the maps, plans and report to explain it.

The Commissioners published their report in January of 1893. In it they stated their belief in the importance of a metropolitan park system: The provision of ample open spaces for public recreation and the promotion of public health is now universally regarded as an essential feature in the proper equipment of urban communities. In all parts of the civilized world the leading cities are recognizing this necessity. The younger cities are perceiving the wisdom of providing amply for the future in this respect by securing lands in suitable locations and in sufficient amount, to be developed with the growth of their population. The older cities, like London, Paris and Berlin, though long possessed of extensive reservations of this description, are to-day finding their amount of open spaces inadequate, and are taking measures for securing extensive areas in addition that will meet the needs of the future. This report reviewed the numerous suitable locations for parks within the metropolitan area, and included a map revealing both existing and proposed public open spaces. Among the proposed open spaces was a park which would have included both Prospect Hill and nearby Bear Hill. Despite their interest, the Metropolitan Park Commission chose not to involve themselves in the acquisition of Prospect Hill. This was in part due to the fact that Prospect and Bear Hills both lay entirely within the City of Waltham, and thus Waltham's own Park Commission, formed in 1892, was already making plans to acquire the land that would eventually form the park.

Picnic Area 1/2 way up the hill

Charles River Walkway

2006-09-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

I wanted to start off by asking what people think of the new look of my template. I decided to make a change from the all black it used to be, to the 3 shades of gray. I also switched to the new blogger beta and think I have made a mistake because I have not seen any new comments at all since I switched over. I sure could use some help by getting some comments to see if it is working, It will be greatly appreciated.

The weather this morning seemed really nice compared to this past week which has been lousy. So we took a walk around the Charles River Walkway for some much needed exercise and fresh air. I took several pictures on the way. I am glad we chose to check this walkway out because I really like it and find it to be a great change from the treadmill routine. I find I am starting to like being back home to where all my roots are and will have to make a point of going out exploring more often. I had started to feel hungry and then decided to go to a really good restaurant named Bertucci's which I always enjoy. I have a link set up at the Title of the post Charles River Walkway just click it for the menu and more information about Bertucci's. After our feast of Italian food I just sat there and realized just how lucky I am in this life to have someone to share all this with and that would be my better half Judy. I do not ever seem to let her know. How thoughtless of me I will make it a point to change this part of my way of thinking and doing things with the LOVE of my life.

Waterfalls under the moody street bridge Waltham Ma

View from other side of moody street bridge

This building used to be the Grover Cronins department store and was converted into condos and apartments for lease.

In Memory

2006-09-10T12:24:00.000-04:00

A Legacy Of Love Francisco Bourdier 1960 to 2001

I'm sure all who knew or even had the pleasure of meeting Francisco at #2 Twin Towers where he worked as a security guard for the Deutsche Bank will always remember how he greeted everyone with a friendly smile and a thoughtful good morning or good day. Best wishes and regards to his wife Erma and daughter Francesca. May God bless and keep you always. To view more tribute postings click on the Title at the top of this post In Memory.

Newburyport

2006-08-28T13:55:00.000-04:00

Friendship of Salem was docked at the Newburyport Boardwalk from Thursday, August 24th, thru Sunday, August 27th. 10 am to 4 pm. Free tours were available to the public. I have to say I really enjoyed my visit to Newburyport. The downtown and boardwalk area is a great place for all to see. I had no idea what I have missed all these years being so close only one hour away. I will have to come back again real soon. I have set up a link at the top of the post with all the information and history. Just click on the title Newburyport and you will be pleased to see Newburyport's Community Website. I hope you will enjoy this information enough to visit.

Many traces of the past can still be found and admired in the vibrant, modern city. Churches and cemeteries evoke remembrances of local personalities. The Tannery district, close to downtown, is an extension of old steam mills and tanneries of the past. All over town you can imagine the locations of former ropewalks and clammers’ shacks. You can see shipyards, as well as the saltbox and Victorian houses, Federal mansions and colonial houses that are today’s cherished homes. Today Newburyport draws visitors from around New England and the world, who flock year-round to this seaport rich in history and beauty. Enjoy a walking tour, by yourself or with a guide, around this beautiful and historic seaport.

Here is just a few of the sculptures around the boardwalk.

Concord Minute Man

2006-08-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we went for a drive to the town of Concord Ma to see some sights and a bit of history. The old North Bridge along with the Minute Man Monument proved to be just that. I actually found out things I did not know or I just wasn't paying attention in school when I was suppose to. For instance, I did not know about the gravesite monument for the british soldiers. I was amazed at how well it is taken care of after all these years. The bridge itself also suprised me because it has been rebuilt and it changed the look completly to modern time. I did a little reading up on the history and will leave you with the following information. As usual, I have a link for you to click at the Title of the post on top of the page Concord Minute Man and it will link to the Colonial Inn a really good place to eat if you are ever in the area of Concord Ma.We hope you enjoy the information and maybe come and visit sometime.

April 19th, 1775 is the day in history this all started. The decade long political feud between the British government and the American colonists, determined to retain their rights as British subjects, came to a devastating climax as British regulars clashed with colonial militia and minute men at Lexington, Concord's North Bridge and on the long, bloody road back to Boston. The fighting that began that day soon grew into a war for independence that lasted more than eight years. Many years later, Ralph Waldo Emerson used the phrase "the shot heard round the world" to describe the significance of this event.

The story of Minute Man is more than just the events that took place at the North Bridge and along the Battle Road in 1775. Minute Man is also the story of an evolution of the ideals of freedom and liberty, and new notions of cultural independence and citizen responsibility which led to a revolution in American literature the following century. The ideals of both revolutions continue today and serve as an inspiration to people throughout the world.

They should change the name to the new rebuilt old north bridge.

Monument in front of the bridge click to enlarge.

Gravesite on the left just before you get to the bridge.

1st sign you see from parking lot looks older than it really is.

Carving For A Cure

2006-08-10T10:40:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share my next post with those of you who may be interested in an upcoming, worthwhile event held in Saugus, MA (August 19, 2006) Fitzy Snowman Sculpting is proud to announce the first annual Carving for a Cure block party to benefit the Jimmy Fund. The focus of the fundraiser will revolve around the unveiling of a life size sand sculpture of Boston Red Sox Catcher Jason Varitek. I also want to let people know now that Halloween and winter is just around the corner, I will be doing more posts on Sculpting, showing Pumpkins, Snow, and Ice, along with information on contests and events whenever they are available. I sure would like people to respond so I can see if anyone will be intrested. So please give me your comment. As always, if you click on the Title of the post at the top of the page, Carving For A Cure, you will find much more information on the Sculptors and events.

Promoting custom carved pumpkins on NBC's Today show

This is just one of the Sculptors in Snow

Last Sand Sculptor Photos

2006-08-01T15:45:00.000-04:00

This is the last of the photos. We hope everyone enjoyed them.

I hope I have not over done it with all the sand sculptor photos with 3 posts in a row. I actually thought it would have been a bit too much with everything in 1 post. Anyway, this is the last of the photos I had taken of the event. I want to thank everyone who responded with their comments and I want to follow thru with more in the future. They have events through out the seasons with ice and snow and I intend to take photos and do more posts whenever I can. I have a link to click on for anyone who may want to checkout the other events. Just click on the title at the top of the post Last Sand Sculptor Photos and browse through the web site.

Sand Sculptors

2006-07-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

This is the 1st place winner of 2006 event. This photo is the only one I did not take with my camera. I want to Thank Fitzy Snowman sculpting for permission to use this and to also share their link.

I wanted to finish the post I started last week with more photos of the sand sculptors and the results of the contest so here is what happened. The 2006 New England Sand Sculpting Invitational was a resounding success. Revere beach was transformed into a museum of sand displays. Sculptures will still be on display thru the end of the month, that is if they are not destroyed by the wind and rain we have been getting these past few days. All the master sand sculptors competed for over $15,000.00 in prize money as well as the coveted people's choice award. This event is truly one of New England's largest master sand sculpting competitions, featuring the most talented sculptors in the world. Sponsors reaped the benefits of their entire investment by receiving media coverage from such outlets as The Boston Globe, WHDH channel 7 and The New York Times as well as national attention from ABC's Good Morning America . They also receive exposure from the many spectators that attend this unique event. I have set up a link at the top of the post for more information and photos just click on the Sand Sculptors Title on top. Again we hope you enjoy them as much as we have.

This was the largest entry. Click on the link I provided to see the entire sculptor collection.

Don't know what place this entry came in.

The title of this is Junk Yard Dog

This entry took 5th place in the contest

A Day At The Beach

2006-07-16T18:25:00.000-04:00

This is the one I liked best. Check out the eyes and features

New England Sand Sculpting Invitational Revere beach 2006. The largest master sand sculpting event in New England . This wonderful and unique event will run from Monday, 07/10/2006 thru Sunday, 07/16/2006 at Revere Beach, America's first public beach. The competition consists of three divisions; children’s, families, and open. They are always looking for new talent. My wife and I decided to go check it out and we both were glad we did because it really turned out to be a great day. I think most of the sculptures were just awesome. You can see for yourself in the few photos in this post. I do not know who won the contest as of yet because we left before the judges decided. I have set up a link on the Title of this post A DAY AT THE BEACH just click and it will have much more information for anyone who is interested. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did. I have more photos to show but I will put them on another post real soon.

This one was not finished yet but it still looks great.

The detail on this one is really something to see

Killer Move

2006-07-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

I find this a very strange place to crash but that's (Willy)

Well it has been a week now since we moved and it is just starting to look like we may start living a somewhat normal way of life again. This move was a really tough one, between the heat of the summer and just getting to old to be doing this kind of thing. Anyway, we did it and life goes on. I want tell a little story about moving with a cat in the family. Our cat, name is Willy, is very much a big part of our family, I feel any cat lover knows what I mean. This move was not a good thing for him. It has been a week now and he still is not back to being himself yet. He is getting used to his new home but it is so different from the house he had, I know it just will take time and he will adapt. I had to show a few pictures of him and you can see he is quite the cat. I want to thank everyone who left a comment or email while I was in the moving process, and I will try and get back to writing my posts as before only from now on the stories will be about my travels thru out all New England not just Cape Cod like before, I will leave you now and get back to finishing all the final stuff that needs to be done. I hope to get back to doing some good stories about some really interesting places to go for all to enjoy. I will leave with a good restaurant in the city where I moved to called The Chateau in Waltham, Ma as usually just click on the Title at the top of the page Killer Move and get the Chateau Restaurant.

Our cat Willy is checking everything out and getting in the way

Gone Fishing

2006-06-20T20:35:00.000-04:00

I am sorry to say this will be the last post I will write on my blog Old Cape Cod because I am in the process of moving and will start another blog with a new name very shortly. I will be all moved in my new place by the 1st of July and I will be back with a new post as soon as I am settled in. My wife and I felt it was time to move back closer to our roots and be around family and friends and it will also be more affordable. I know we will miss the Cape after living here 11 years but we have a lot of good memories and will always come back to visit. I am still thinking of what the name of my new blog will be and looking forward to getting it going, in the meantime I will share these photos of some good spots for fishing and also leave you with a link to click at the top of the page. Just click on the Title Gone Fishing and check out another really good restaurant you may want to try named Anthony's Cummaquid. I hope when I begin my next post everyone will enjoy viewing it and I will be back after the 4th of July

The Whale Trail

2006-06-12T18:03:00.000-04:00

Today I want to talk about an event that I hope everyone will enjoy. It is the Cape and Islands Whale Trail. It consists of 50 to 100 brightly colored whales 6 ft in length made from fiberglass. They will be skattered all around the Cape Cod area from May to October for everyone to enjoy. The presenting sponsor for the event is The Chatham Creative Arts Center and the educational sponsor is the International Fund For Animal Welfare. The purpose for the event is to celebrate the arts, and honor the area's whaling heritage and raise money for non profit organizations. A map was published providing the location of each whale. In the month of September, all the whales will be auctioned off to benefit charities chosen by the sponsor of each whale. I have set up a link as usual at the top of the post. Just click on the Title The Whale Trail and you can get the actual web page there you will have all the information in detail on the subject.

JFK Memorial

2006-06-06T15:25:00.000-04:00

The John F. Kennedy Memorial is one of the most visited sites in the Hyannis area. The grounds are beautiful and very well taken care of. Whether a bus tour, school field trips or just a family outing you can come and enjoy the beach and picnic area and have a good time. I think the memorial is a wonderful tribute for our 35th President and with all the visitors each day it makes it ever better. There is a Korean War Veterans Memorial on the grounds also for everyone to see. I have set up a link as usual at the top of the post just click on the Title JFK Memorial and you can check out a new restaurant that is very good and also affordable on rt.28 in West Yarmouth not far away.

The fountain is in front of the Memorial with the ocean view

This is just a part of what you will see at the JFK Memorial

Heritage Museums & Garden

2006-05-31T20:02:00.000-04:00

Today I want to talk about another great place for everyone who may be in the area of Sandwich on Cape Cod. The Heritage Museums and Garden. It is a place for the whole family with plenty of things to see with a lot of history. There is a large Automobile Collection and a Baseball and Art Collection The Gardens are a site for anyone to see. You can spend the whole day checking out everything, and they have a picnic area for eating or just resting if you like. There is so much to see, I have set up a link for the Museum web page to make it easier to see all they have to offer. Just go to the top of the page and click on the Title of the page Heritage Museums & Garden and you can decide for yourself on how to plan your day.I hope you will enjoy the Museums and Gardens as much as we have.

This round barn is where they keep a collection of Automobiles for

everyone to enjoy.

Cape Storm

2006-05-23T08:45:00.000-04:00

I found the difference between these two pictures to be very strange to say the least. It is Sunday evening 05/21/2006 7:45 pm and I have never seen the clouds in the sky change so fast. I almost feel as if I am in the movie the Ten Commandments that was made in the 1950's when the wrath of God fell upon everyone. The warm weather on Cape Cod seems to take longer to get here as each year goes by. I may be going crazy but I thought the end of April to the middle of May it always seemed to get into the warm summer weather pattern and now it is late June or middle July before it starts. It makes me wonder what is going on?. I am starting to believe what I have read about the Greenhouse effect and if things are not changed really fast it will only get worse in the future. Anyway that is enough of my babbling on about the weather pattern. I hope that someone will find these pictures as interesting as I did. I can't help but wonder if I am the only one who notices these changes in the weather. Please leave your comments if you have any on this subject. I am always in the habit of leaving a link to share at the top of the post on the page Title "Cape Storm". This link is of a really good affordable restaruant called Captain Parkers on rt. 28 West Yarmouth I am sure you will see what I mean when you check it out.

This Photo was taken just 2 min. before the one above I sure was surprised to see how fast it changed.

Hyannis Harbor

2006-05-18T18:31:00.000-04:00

I went to Hyannis today to run some errands and just walk around town to check out some of the shops with my wife.We had to kill some time because it was too early to go to lunch. I decided after lunch to go to Hyannis Harbor and see if I could get some good pictures while we were there.I have to say I really enjoy coming here to Hyannis Harbor because of the feeling I get each time I am here seeing all the people who come to visit for the first time. They all seem to have the same happy look and smile and you just know they are having a good time. There are quite a few resturants to choose from when you are in the harbor area. There is a really good one on the water next to the docks with a nice view called Spanky's Clam Shack and right accross the street there is the Black Cat for fine dining. There is plenty of things to choose from like the Harbor Cruise, or the Cat Boat sailing cruise, or sport fishing trips, along with the Ferry's that go to both Islands.You can let your children check out the Pirate ship cruise and you can be sure they will have fun,the ships crew will have them dress up like pirates and they have a lot of games to enjoy it can be a day they won't forget. There is always the Duckmobile to check out also. All there is left to say is have a great time and enjoy your stay when at Cape Cod. I set up a link at the top of this post just click the Title Hyannis Harbor and you will find the web page for Spanky's Clam Shack to check out their menu.

This restaurant is right on the water next to where all the boats come in and dock. Also there is a small park with benches to sit and relax and watch all the boat traffic.

A view of just some of the boats that are docked in the harbor.

Another good restaurant to check out when you get hungry across the street from the harbor called The Black Cat.

Main Street Hyannis

2006-05-17T06:48:00.000-04:00

I had to do this post over because I lost it trying to fix something. I felt it important to change it a little for those of you who may have notice a difference. I went for a drive today to downtown Hyannis it is about 8 miles from West Yarmouth where I live. I brought my camera with me because I wanted to take some pictures of some of the places most people visit when they come here. The 1st one is the entrance to what is called walkway to the sea it is quite nice in the spring and summer when they have concerts or just for a nice walk to the Hyannis harbor. The 2nd is the exit or the other end just before you get to the harbor it has a great view. The 3rd is the JFK museum it has alot to see when you go inside for those who can remember it will bring back many memories. The bottom one is a pub and really good place to eat or just relax it is just across the street. I am sure you will find all the shops and the whole area very interesting and fun place to visit. I have set up a link on the top of the post for more information for anyone who would like it. Just click the Title Main Street Hyannis and you will get all you need to know about the town of Hyannis. I hope you will enjoy your stay and come back again.

The end of the walkway to the sea just before the harbor

The JFK Museum.

This is the British Beer Company a great place to eat just across the street from the JFK museum

Aptucxet Trading Post

2006-05-16T20:01:00.000-04:00

Today I wanted to talk a little more about the town of Bourne and let you know about more sites of interest and the Aptucxet Trading PostMuseum came to mind. The windmill is on the grounds and is now a gift shop. It is located on the south side of the canal and is one mile from Rt. 6, off Shore Rd. The museum is a replica of a trading post built in 1627. Exhibits include 17th century furnishings, and Pilgrim, Dutch and Indian relics. President Grover Cleveland's private railroad station is also on the grounds a small fee is charged and picnicking is permitted and also the surroundings are nice and peaceful. The shop is open during the visitor season from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and 2:00 - 5:00pm on Sundays. Admission tickets for the museum complex are purchased here and parking is in the nearby lot. I have set up a link you can click for all the information on the town of Bourne at the top of this post just click the Title Aptucxet Trading Post and you will get the web page for the Town of Bourne Historical Society.

Sandwich Boardwalk

2006-05-15T15:15:00.000-04:00

I am glad I finally got a chance to go see the Sandwich Boardwalk with my wife . She has been asking to go for quite some time. The Boardwalk crosses Mill Creek and beautiful marshes, leading to a lovely public beach on Cape Cod Bay. Stretching 1350 feet in length, the original wooden walkway was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Bob in 1991. Residents and supporters rebuilt the Boardwalk by selling over 1700 personalized planks. It remains one of Sandwich's unique treasures, offering scenic views from the Cape Cod Canal to Scorton Creek. To reach the Boardwalk, follow Route 6A to Jarves Street. The Boardwalk is located at the end of Jarves and Harbor Streets, ample parking is available. I understand you can still purchase planks if you are interested. The minimum donation is $70.00 for up to 15-letter/space/symbol and board and $150.00 for a sixteen to twenty five-letter/space symbol board. I have much more information if you check out the link I have set up at the top of the page. Just click on the page TITLE Sandwich Boardwalk and you will get the web page for the Town of Sandwich and there you can get all the information you will need on the boardwalk and much more on the whole Town. For anyone who gets to visit the boardwalk I hope you will enjoy it as much as we have. Also check out all the many other places of interest the town has to offer.

This is what the planks look like if you wish to donate and help with the upkeep and maintenance.

This is the view when you exit the beach going back to the

parking area.

Massachusetts National Cemetery

2006-05-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

With the forecast of another beautiful day we decided to take a trip to the upper Cape. One of our sites of interest was the Veterans National Cemetery in the town of Bourne. It is open to the public from dawn till dusk. It is located 5 mi. south of the Bourne Bridge. It was dedicated in Oct. 1976 and officially opened for burials in Oct. 1980. It consists of approximately 750 acres. It is estimated that it will be open for burials until the year 2030+ with a total of approximately 350,000 gravesites. After stopping at the front of the Administration Bldg. we found the grave of a friend recently buried there. After viewing several monuments in hushed respect, we left. I will treasure the feeling I felt while visiting this beautiful resting place for our Countries soldiers. For anyone who would like more information I set up a link at the top of this post just click the Title Massachuetts National Cemetery.

Smuggler's Beach

2006-05-05T16:12:00.000-04:00

After a long, cool, rainy spell, the weather finally turned nice enough to go take a walk on the beach. Now I remember why I love the Cape. To hear the lapping of the waves on the shore, the gulls crying in the sky, and feel the warmth of the sun was great.The hotel is right on Smuggler's Beach and offers time sharing as well as rooms. It's great to get up in the morning and go for a walk on the beach and again after dinner. It has an indoor and outdoor pool as well as the ocean for your swimming needs. To the left of the hotel you will see the fishing pier with benches to sit and relax, also you can see all the boats going to and coming from Nantucket Sound. This is just one of the many beaches you can see when you visit Cape Cod and it is also one of my favorites not to mention it is the closest from where I live . You will find a lot more information about the Hotel by clicking on the title at the top of this page Smuggler's Beach.

Chatham Fish Pier

2006-04-19T08:33:00.000-04:00

Today I wanted to show a few more pictures of the water from the Chatham Fish Pier and also talk about what you can see if you choose to check it out for yourself. You can take in the great views from the deck on the top of where the boats come in and unload their catch. I was impressed on just how clean and well taken care of the whole area is. While you are there, check out the fish market and see what they have on sale and check out all the fresh fish. Also, I am sure when you are coming or going to this area, you will notice all the beautiful homes with the awesome view of the ocean. It can give you a lasting memory you will keep for a long time to come. I hope everyone will enjoy their stay while they are here and get to see as much as you can and have a good time . I have set up a link on the title at the top of the page (Chatham Fish Pier) This will show you a lot more about the area and you can learn about the Chatham Bars Inn and lots more pictures. I hope this post will help you when you read it.

Monomoy Island

2006-04-15T18:04:00.000-04:00

Thought I would talk a little about the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge located in Chatham for anyone who may want to check it out while visiting. It stretches about 8 miles off the elbow of Cape Cod. It was established in the year 1944. It provides an important resting, nesting and feeding habitat for migratory birds, including the roseate tern and the piping plover which are federally protected. It is considered a sanctuary that supports a diversity of wildlife and plant species along with the seals. It is really a site to see and you can only get there by boat or use the ferry Rip Ryder from Morris Island or the ferry from Chatham fish pier. The seal cruises start in mid June. There is also an early shuttle service for fisherman and bird watchers. You can click on the TITLE at the top of this page Monomoy Island and you can get a lot more information. I hope you will enjoy seeing this wonderful special place while you are here.

At low tide you can walk a long way and get a

better look for bird watching and pictures but

watch out for the tide when it comes back in.

Photo of Seals Thanks to Cape Cod Photo's

View from Morris Island where you get the ferry

Trip To Chatham

2006-04-11T13:15:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day for a drive, so we decided to go to Chatham and see the sites and take a few pictures. We just had to take some of the Chatham Light and the beach since we were there. It was really close to lunch time so we went up and down main street checking out some of the shops before we had lunch, It is really a neat little town with lot's of shops that have really neat stuff. I always like browsing when I come here.We went to lunch at a place called The Chatham Squire. It's a really good restaurant and the prices are fair. You can check out the menu if you go to the title at the top of the page -->Trip To Chatham and just click on it . When we finished lunch, we went to the fish pier and took more pictures of the boats in the water. I will use them when I do more posts on Chatham probably within the next few weeks. Our day turned out really nice and when we got home, I started to post the pictures on on my blog and I forgot I wanted to change my template and I decided to just do it . I did remember to copy all the code from the original one which is a must if you want to change templates and not have any big problems. After several hours, I finally finished and everything works, it was really time consuming and I had to double check everything. But I feel it was worth it because I really like the change. If I can do it anyone can. Hope you can enjoy this great weather and have a good day.

WELCOME

2006-04-04T17:09:00.000-04:00

We went to the city this morning to take care of some business and have lunch with friends. It is a 90 minute drive one way from where we live in West Yarmouth. The drive was really cloudy and dismal up and back. I am glad I brought the camera though, because I have been wanting to take a Picture of the Cape Cod license plate and welcome sign you see. It is located about a mile before you get to the Sagamore bridge going south on Rt.3 I thought it would show the beginning and the end is of course Race point in Provincetown. If you wanted to go all the way from the sign to Race Point, it would take about 90 minutes to get there with a lot of beautiful sites along the way. If you get hungry, check out the Lobster Claw in the Town of Orleans of Rt. 6A. There is plenty of restaurants but the Lobster Claw happens to be one of our favorites in that area. Go to the top of the page and click on the title --> WELCOME and you will get all the information you may need on the menu. Whatever you choose to do we hope you have a great time taking in a lot of sites.

Provincetown Sites

2006-03-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke to a beautiful sunny day and thought it would be a perfect time for the wife and I to take a drive to Provincetown and spend the day just taking it easy while checking out some of the great sites around the area. We decided to check out the dunes and the moors area's rather than go right downtown because we planned to spend the day in P-Town another time. The weather and the time of the year could not have been any better for checking these places out. I hope everyone who sees the Pictures will enjoy them as much as I do . If you ever get a chance to come to Provincetown, try and make a point of seeing as much as you can. If you want to check out the Dunes and have a good time and find out the history of them at the same time, they have Art's Dune tours that leaves about every hour and takes about 90 minutes. You can find out everything you may need to know about it by clicking on the Title on top of the page (--> Provincetown Sites ). If you decide to go to the moors you can find it by checking out a map or just ask someone in the area. It is a site really worth seeing. My wife and I are going to do a lot more on Provincetown thru out the coming months and I hope everyone will be able to enjoy the posts when we complete them. In the mean time, have a great visit and take care.

Bass River Sports World

2006-03-23T08:46:00.000-05:00

Now that spring is here, the season is about to begin. I know a great place to tell everyone about where you can a really good time and spend the day with your family. There is a variety of things to choose from. You can try out the Golf driving range, or Soccer, Softball,and Baseball Cages, they also have in line Skating and Skateboarding, and of course the Adventure mini Golf Course is a really good way to have fun. There is a Papa Gino's right in front of the parking lot for those who may want to have lunch or even dinner. I recommend when you are in the South Yarmouth area to stop by and see for yourself. It is very easy to find, off of RT 28. I know when the weather during the day isn't that great for a day at the beach, it is always good to have a place to go and Bass River Sports World is one of the few that are at the top of my list. I hope you will have a great time when you visit Cape Cod and get a chance to enjoy everything you can.

Bass Hole Boardwalk

2006-03-12T14:49:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to go to a place called the Bass Hole Boardwalk for a long walk to exercise and breathe some good fresh ocean air. My fiancee showed me this beautiful place a few years ago and I have been coming here ever since. For those who don't know were it is located, you can find it in the town of Yarmouthport off of Rt. 6A to Grey's beach. The view of the water and marsh land together is really a site to see. The boardwalk is 868 Ft. long and if you walk up and back three times it will equal one mile. Also when you look down into the water you can see small fish and some fiddler and horseshoe crab. I took a few pictures so you could get some idea of just how great the view is. It's a good place to take the whole family for the day. There is a large picnic area and a trail to explorer were you may see the Osprey nesting in the large nest in the middle of the marsh. I consider this to be a place were you can capture a view with an everlasting memory. It is a must see when you are in the area.

Scargo Lake

2006-03-09T07:27:00.000-05:00

We have a lot of visitors who come to Cape Cod and never get to see some of the very special views like the one of Scargo lake in the town of Dennis. To get the best view, you have to go to Scargo tower and climb to the top and you will find it breathtaking. I know I did. If not from the area, it can be quite hard to find. I have a link setup at the top of the page. Just click on the --> Scargo Lake Title and you will get all the information you need from the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce webpage. Go to the town of Dennis, then to attractions and sites. There is also a tale about the lake from ages past. Once there was an indian Princess from the Bobuset tribe. One day she was walking and saw a young brave. When they first met, they fell in love. To show his feelings, the young brave hollowed out a pumpkin and filled it with water. He then put four fish inside and gave it to the Princess. He told her he had to go on a journey and would return before the fish were fully grown. The Princess loved her gift so much, she hollowed out a small pond in a field and returned each day. As the fish grew, the time apart from the young brave made her love start to fade. Then one morning she arrived at the small pond and found the pond was drying up from the hot summer weather. Three of the fish had died. She then cried for a long time and her tears are what kept the fourth fish alive. As the days went by, she grew sadder. Her father, who is the chief of the tribe, wanted to do something to make her happy again. He called his braves into a meeting and told them to shoot an arrow into the air. Wherever it landed, they would mark some boundaries and all the squaws, using large clam shells for shovels, dug a hole within the boundries. In a very short time, the rains came and filled it in. The fish seemed to survive in the lake and this made the Princess happy again. Now she could continue to wait for her lover. And, as he promised, he appeared before the fish had fully grown. Within the next few days, they were married and lived happily ever after and made Scargo lake their home. And some people say descendants of the fish are still swimming there. I really hope you enjoy the view of the lake if you have a chance to see it.

Martha's Vineyard

2006-03-05T20:17:00.000-05:00

Martha's Vineyard is a 100 sq.mile island and the only way to get there is by plane or by boat. Most visitors in Hyannis take the Hi-Line Ferry out of Hyannis harbor or they can choose to fly using Cape Air from the Cape Cod airport . For visitors in the Falmouth area you can take the ferry from Falmouth. I perfer taking the ferry myself because it is a lot of fun and the site of the land from the water is nice to see. You have two choices of ferry's the photo on the right is the fast ferry and it only takes 55 mins. from time of departure to arrival. The photo on the bottom left is the regular ferry and it takes about 1hr. 45mins. I have the schedules for times of departure and arrival along with a lot more information for anyone who may want to know more, all you have to do is click on the page title --> Martha's Vineyard located on the top of the page and the Hi-Line Ferry schedule will come up. When you do get to the island you can check out all the shops and resturants. If you have time to see some really good sites take the tour bus to the other side of the island to a must see spot called Gay Head. The photo on the top is just a small part of the beauty and another part is you being there to share it. If you can only go to the island for a day trip it is best to leave early so you can make it an all day affair that way you can get to see as much as you can. I really think everyone will enjoy the experience.

West Yarmouth

2006-03-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

We got our third snow storm yesterday afternoon and evening which amounted to about 8 to 9 inches. I hope it will be our last one for the year but one will never know about New England weather. Like the old saying that goes (if you don't like the weather just wait a minute). The pictures are of my deck and backyard I find a fresh coating of snow makes a good photo. I am going to do my next blogs on different towns and must see places of interest also I intend doing articles about Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Islands and the Ferry's that take you over to them, my reason for this it to make it easy and informative for people that have never experienced going over to the islands.

Cape Cod Mall

2006-02-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

I wanted to say to those who have never visited the Cape Cod Mall that it is a must place to see when you are in the Hyannis area and have a few hours to kill or you are just looking for a fun place to be. It has great food and too many great stores to name them all, you will just have to see for yourself . I like going on occasion just to walk around for exercise and window shopping.

Dusting of Snow

2006-02-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow its only the 2nd time so far this winter it has snowed. It didn't amount to much more than 1 inch not like the 1st snow of about 10 inches. I wanted to show the difference between the two, 1st storm on top I got to use my new snowblower, 2nd one on the right just about melted away from the sun. I feel the Cape really got lucky this year compared to last year when we got hit with one of the worst winters on record. Spring is just several weeks away and I can't wait, for it is the best time of the year for me.