Trip to Boston

We had a great walking tour of Boston's North End and down to the waterfront while the sun was still sparkling and just before sunset yesterday.

After stumbling down the old narrow cobblestoned roads of Boston's "Little Italy", we came upon one of our destinations -
"Pizzeria Regina" - a place for Boston's tastiest and original pizza pies...since 1926.

We weren't the only ones who had this idea as we waited outside in line for about 20 minutes. Every time the door opened to let in the next party a wonderful aroma drifted out to remind us all why we were standing out there and not giving up for something less than the best!

We were coached to be prepared to place our order quickly and ask no questions, as the brusque waitresses had no time to dally around in the tight quarters where they spend their workday. A couple large pizzas, beers and only one waitress sneer of inconvenience later, we were more than satisfied and headed out the door for the rest of our impromptu walking tour of Boston.

Off through the Paul Revere Park with the spire of the Old North Church peeking through the newly budding trees. Then down to the Waterfront where we slipped over to the New England Aquarium for a visit with the seals frolicking in the outside tank.

A brisk and delightful hour+long walking tour of this part of the city. Thanks to our friends Jeannie and Wade!

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Funny, people come from all over the world to visit here. We live in the area and never take the time to do little day trips like this...glad we did.

I Love a Parade!

I never knew the fun of a hometown parade until I moved up to this part of New England.

Something about celebrating Patriot's Day right in the heart of where the "shot heard around the world" happened.

People from all over the world flock to see the Old North Bridge and love to don the tri-corner hats that the Minutemen of old wore as they fought the Redcoats for their independence from England.

Sometimes I think the importance of all of that history is lost on people and even I get caught up in enjoying just the pure beauty of watching all sorts of people --- "be the parade!"

Kids on their bicycles come zooming by to let us know that the parade is coming...young teenage girls cluster together, sharing tunes, earbuds hanging between them and self-consciously giggling at some boys oogling them in the crowd...flags waving...young kids standing on the side of the road waiting eagerly for "The Parade!"....vendors, loving the warm sunny day that brought out a good crowd who are hopefully ready to buy, buy, buy...armed with inflatable Dora the Explorers, SpongeBobs, balloons, flags, plastic horns tooting, and pop-guns...lots of horns tooting and pop-guns popping...mothers pushing baby carriages in a flank of 5, chatting away, not realizing that they are now the parade for those of us on the sidewalk watching...old folks coming up to the edge of the curb with their chairs ready to get a front row seat. The sun is sparkling and in the distance we hear the rat-a-tat-tat of the drums and a faint trill of the fife flutes a-piping.

Here comes the parade!

Motorcycle-flashing police lead the way....

Local Minutemen with muskets in arm follow...

Boy scouts, Girls scouts....

US Navy Band members...

Special town dignitaries...

Militia troops from Wisconsin, New York and Virginia - no less?!

Bagpipers...

and, oh yes....the Redcoats...

"The British are Coming!"

The sun is shining...

Horns tooting and

pop guns popping...

Dora and SpongeBob float overhead...

the parade continues on...

and

Life is good....

: )

Mating Calls

There was finally a hint of spring in the air so I decided to walk to town to take care of my weekend errands. The sun was out, but that was about it for the "hint" of spring - the temp was only 40 degrees and there was a sharp breeze at my back.

I pulled my black beret down over my ears and forehead as far as it would go as I walked briskly about my business. I did stop for a brief moment to watch a pair of newly arrived robins flit about with each other in the still bare-leafed trees. A couple of grey squirrels were at the same business on the other side of the wooded area - one chasing the other, tails flashing as they jumped from limb to limb.

Ah, the mating rituals of springtime...even with the wind cutting down my neck, I had to smile at the thought that this long winter was finally looking like it was behind us!

Deep in my own thoughts I really wasn't aware of the character walking on the opposite side of the street. I heard something, but didn't pay much attention. When I heard a second loud whistle and a sort of "Yip!" I looked over and saw the guy whom Ace calls Rocky Raccoon and I call the Mongolian Dishwasher. We don't know him, but he looks Nepalese or Mongolian and often wears a turban-like towel around his head as he walks to and from his apartment and his job as a dishwasher at the local diner.

Today he had a dark beret-like hat pulled down low over his ears, sunglasses and a black coat and he was looking right at me as he stopped walking and once again whistled, following it up with his funny "Yip!" sound. As there was no one else around that he could be communicating with, I figured he must be acknowledging me, so I mildly smiled and nodded as I moved on with my errands.

It wasn't until I got home and told Ace the story, complete with details of how the guy was dressed. Ace started to laugh and said, "Well, look at you. Rocky Raccoon thought you were his long-lost twin - black beret pulled down, sunglasses on, black coat and boots...!"

And, that's when I realized that indeed I was dressed almost exactly like this guy and maybe that's what his whistling and "Yips!" were all about...either that, or remembering the robins and squirrels frisking around on my walk, maybe it's some sort of Mongolian mating call!!
Rocky you met your match!?

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Any other noted or not beret wearers to add to the list?!

Shel Silverstein

Did you grow up listening to and reading the stories and wacky poems of Shel Silverstein?
Remember "Where the Sidewalk Ends?" "The Giving Tree?" and "A Giraffe and a Half?"

Although Shel Silverstein died in 1999, they've put out a new publication of one of his earlier works. One great thing about this new/old work is his wonderful and wildly creative sketches are in color, not black and white as many of his works are. Silverstein's great humor and imaginative fun with twisting words and names around will delight you again in this new release - "Don't Bump the Gump."

Another great find that I'll bet you'll like is the Shel Silverstein website. It's animated, has audio and lots of fun things for readers of all ages to get a kick out of, turn a smile, and want to re-read again and again.

Click on the title above to get to that site and on the sidebar to find yourself back with Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out, and lots of other fun and funny characters you may remember!
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April is National Poetry Month...write a poem for yourself for the fun of it!

Mary A. Ellis

Mary A. (Arhondy) Ellis

Mrs. Mary A. (Arhondy) Ellis, 89, of Haverhill, MA passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2008, after a brief illness at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.

She was born in Haverhill on March 13, 1918, daughter of the late Aristos and Elpida (Miserlis) Arhondy.

She was a graduate of Haverhill High School, Class of 1936 and attended Burdett College in Boston. She was employed at Polaroid as a secretary to Edwin Land and later the Mobil Oil Corp as an administrative assistant. Mary was active in the Women’s Traffic Club of New England serving as its president from 1973-74.

Mary loved to travel. She was an avid anglophile who over the years took numerous trips throughout Europe, Greece, Turkey, and parts of Asia. She was the wife of the late Christopher Ellis and is survived by her son Arthur C. “Ace” Ellis of Concord, MA. She is lovingly remembered by all of her nieces and nephews, their spouses, and their children.

Mary was a member of the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Haverhill, MA. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral on Monday, March 17th at 10:00 at the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer St. Haverhill, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 in Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, Haverhill. Burial will follow in the Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill.

Fun in the Sun

I am so ready for some fun in the sun right now.

Ready for winter to pass on by and move into springtime.

Can't wait to see the buds fatten up, some little crocus and snowdrops pop up under the brown leaves, see some green all around and feel the warmth of the sun on my face.

And, who knows, we might even see Mermaids dancing the "Joy of Life" dance on the beach!

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Thanks to Mermaid Mari for the great picture...

http://www.sunrisegreetings.com/

Fleetwood Mac note - I remember meeting a guy who told us that he named his HS band - "Sands of Time"...

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is that right, Ric?!~

Phantom Plow Guy

After most of our snow finally melted this week, another storm blew in yesterday and we accumulated another 9-10 inches! Unbelievable!

But even more unbelievable to us is for the third storm in a row, while shovelling out from under the latest load, enjoying it but not exactly loving it for the seemingly hundredth time this winter...Phantom Plow Guy sweeps up to the end of our driveway, puts his plow down and scrapes away what would otherwise take a couple more back-aching hours of work for the two of us to take care of.

The amazing thing is, we have no idea who this guy is! I finally got a closer look today, because it looked like he was getting stuck and spinning his wheels while trying to make his get-away. I came around from the front of the house where I was shoveling to see if I could give him a hand. Awkwardly running through snow that was almost knee-high, I only could look up and wave at the tail end of his truck when his wheels finally caught some traction and he sailed off.

I shouted out a loud, "Thank you! You're the best!"

And, the old guy in the old truck gave a slight wave and smile, as he drove off.

Like I said, this is the third time that he's appeared and cleared out the end of our driveway. One time Ace tried to gesture to him that we'd like to give him some money, but he waved Ace off, again with a smile, as he drove away.

We realized that we've never seen him drive by our house on a regular basis. My theory is that he drives some other vehicle the rest of the time, but for storms he pulls out his old plow and truck and just drives around giving people a little boost in the otherwise drudge of the constant and steady shoveling that seems to have hit us this winter.

Another theory we've come up with is that this old-timer is "Old Concord." In his 70's, wearing one of those red and black wool hats with the ear flaps down and driving his old truck, a model from sometime in the early 1980's, we've entertained the idea that maybe he likes to drive around and give a helping hand to those of us who actually shovel out our own driveways. Unlike the many new-monied who have moved here and built their McMansions in this otherwise country town which Thoreau roamed and wrote about, we don't hire an arsenal of service people to help us survive here. We take care of our own lawn, laundry, gardens, snow-piled driveways, and assorted other life necessities.

Maybe this guy wants to let us know that he appreciates that?!

Whatever it is, it sure makes me appreciate that there are still some people out there in this day and age who willingly and easily lend a hand to a stranger. Makes me want to go out and do something that puts a smile on someone else's face like the one he left on mine!