Vacation photoblog 3

I played with my camera and took literally hundreds of hummingbird pictures, but only ended up with a few decent ones. I've never seen so many hummingbirds in one place before.
The red squirrel was cute and not at all shy about coming right into the feeder just on ther side of the window from two dogs and four cats.




We visited a friend's ginormous garden








We picked some veggies for dinnner


and saw flowers, too


Including Queen Ann's lace, which always reminds me of my grandmother.

Vacation photoblog 2

We went to the fair...

Where we saw chickens and sheep (this one was being shorn)


And rode rides on the midway




And played games


And saw Galaxy Girl do insane tricks on top of a VERY TALL pole--here she's swaying in the breeze...


And here she's on another platform being pulled around by the motorcycle


But it gets crazier...


Meanwhile a tamer act--50 hula-hoops


After eating yummy fair food (sorry, no pix of that) we went back to the midway








And then, very tired, we went home.

Like sands through the hourglass..

Today as I was running an errand at lunch time, I noticed how much it looks like September already -- something about the angle of the sun or the color of the sky or the just-beginning-to-fade green of the leaves. Where has the summer gone. Time is going by so fast, and a number of things have conspired lately to make me feel old(er)--well, sort of, because I swear inside I'm not a day over 35.

~While I was on vacation, my mother turned 80. 80. Amazing. My grandparents lived into their 80s, but my father didn't make it. There's just something about realizing your parent is 80 that makes you feel a bit more....well, older.

~I went to pick up the Kid's bus pass this afternoon (yes, school starts tomorrow) and as I walked out it hit me that I will only have to do that one more time. Next year he will graduate. This is startling enough (didn't he just start kindergarten?) but when you consider that because there are almost 16 years between Elder Son and the Kid, I've had a child in school every year for (if I count right) the last 27 years. So when the Kid graduates, it will be a major milestone for ME. I won't know how to act come September. Yeah, I know: He's only a junior this year, so I still have two more years, but the impact of his graduation really hit me today.

~If you've read NSLS's announcement, you'll know that I'm going to be a grandmother. I'm thrilled and excited and all that, but really, me? A grandmother? Couldn't be possible, could it? Truth is, I'm old enough and my kids are old enough that I could've been a grandmother years ago, but as I said, inside I'm not a day over 35.

~When my dad was my age, he was getting ready to retire; I, on the other hand, have barely started this career. I can't imagine retirning, but I suppose others my age are thinking about it. Too weird.

~Could we slow things down here, please?

Vacation photoblog 1

We went to a boat show....

where we saw some incredible wooden boats





and saw a "dogs and water trial" that included dogs swimming to fetch


and running across lobster traps


and dancing on the dock


Then we went to the Transportation Museum...

where we saw an ornithoptor


a car designed for Maine winters


a car with training wheels


a very early helicopter


and took a ride in a (rebuilt) Model T woody

Another one falls

Another one of Bush's cronies has resigned!
And not a moment too soon.

Could we hope for more?

ETA: The President accepted the resignation "grudgingly"? Another sign of his complete idiocy.

End of vacation blogging

~Tomorrow morning we head back home after two great weeks in Maine with our friends. Saturday I go back to work, and Wednesday the Kid starts his junior year of high school. Summer, where have you gone?

~The weather here has been a foretaste of the fall to come--cool, brisk nights and days just warm enough to be pleasant. There are apples falling from apple trees around, and a maple on the way into town is beginning to show fall colors.

~Despite two very full weeks (bird watching, kitten finding, boat show, golfing, a fair, more golfing, hanging out, movies, cook-outs and picnics, board games) there are still things we didn't get around to doing. Isn't that always the way with vacations? The good part of that is all the things we can look forward to next time.

~It's funny how thoughts of work start creeping back in as vacation winds down. I woke up this morning thinking of details that needed to be attended to for the funeral I'm officiating at on Saturday, and spent part of this evening working on my sermon for Saturday night and Sunday.

~I still have more vacation blogs--and pictures!--to come. D and J's niece is visiting from England, and she asked me to write a post about her, too. But all that will have to wait until we're home and the sermon is finished.

~Thanks, D and J, for a great time!

Back to normal

~Internet service was restored about 20 minutes ago. Two of us are now busily checking blogs and email. YAY!!

How we went bird watching and came home with a kitten

Here is the story of the found kitten seen in the previous post:

~Last Saturday, we set out to go bird watching to see migrating shore birds. As it turned out, however we were unprepared for the marsh mud and cut our expedition short, although we did manage to see a few birds--yellow-legged marsh birds, an ibis, and a merlin (a small hawk). Driving off we were debating on what we should do next when J realized the map she wanted was in the back of the car. We pulled off the side of the road, J retrieved the map, and was just getting back into the car when she paused and said, "Shhhh.......I just heard the strangest bird call." The sound came again, a slight "meewwwww"

~"That sounds like a kitten." And at just that moment a small velvety gray kitten emerged from the weeds, damp and rumpled. J swept her up and cuddled her. Guessing that she had been abandoned, and checking at the only two houses close by, J and D determined that there was nothing to do but take her home.

~The new kitten is a lovely velvety gray manx with a spunk personality. After a little over a week she is becoming fully incorporated into a household of three other cats and two dogs, cared for by two loving humans. Little did she know what a lucky day it was for her when she mewed in the bushes and was taken for a bird!

~Still posting from the internet cafe; this afternoon, the fair!

In which we discover just HOW addicted to the internet we are

~So we're staying with our friends D and J in Maine and having a wonderful time. There is one small hitch, however. Their internet access went down four days ago, and we're talking a household in which there are four internet addicted people currently in residence and in which you will often find two or three people hovering over their computers at any given moment.

~ The first day we checked our computers every few hours, ever hopeful that the satellite link would soon be restored. The second day we rebooted the router periodically, still hopeful. By the third day we were twitching. What's the weather going to be? We don't know--can't check the internet. What's on at the movies? We don't know--can't check the internet. Did X email? Don't know--can't check the internet.

~Yesterday afternoon D and I went to the public library for a quick internet fix. And this morning, D, J and I are in a local coffee shop with free wifi because we JUST COULDN'T STAND IT ANY MORE! Really, it's absurd--speaking for myself, anyway--just how dependent I am on internet access. It is astounding how often one of us will say, "Just google it" or "Go look it up on the internet" or "Email so and so and ask them..."

~At this point, we have given up hope of quick resolution to the internet crisis. So while the vacation is providing many good, bloggable moments, they may or may not be posted.

~But while I'm on I'll leave a few pictures:


Hungry, hungry caterpillar


Found kitten




On the golf course

Vacation blogging light

~We arrived in Maine Friday afternoon, after a day of beastly traffic, and we've been on the go ever since. And although I have internet access and we've had bloggable adventures, there's been little blogging time. Pictures and stories later!

Playing with the camera

More is not better

One of the books on my to-read-on-vacation list is Bill McKibben's Deep Economy. Truthfully, I don't know anything about economics, but the premise of this book is that we cannot continue to sustain an economy (and concomitant lifestyle) that requires constant and ever-increasing growth. Since wondering how we could do that is something that has long puzzled me, given my naive understanding of capitalism, I am intrigued. I've only read a few pages but one of the things McKibben says right off is that despite what almost everything our culture tells us, more is not better.

I thought of this when I read Corndog's comment about 57 channels and nothing on (and it could be 157 or 957 depending on your cable package). I thought about it when I was in the grocery store trying to choose from the eleventy-seven different kinds of orange juice Tropicana puts out now. And I thought about it when I read this article in today's NYTimes.

I know all things are relative, but as someone who will never make a million dollars in her ENTIRE lifetime, the idea that people can be worth several million and still feel like they don't have enough is a bit mind boggling, and well, troubling. A big part of the American dream has been having more--more than our parents, more than our neighbors, more than we had last year. The drive to have more has contributed to innovation and technology and education and my ability to lead the comfortable life that I have. But when is enough enough?

Of course there are times when more is better: For a person making minimum wage, more is definitely better. For a person just beginning a career, more is better. For a growing family, more may be better. But what is the breaking point? When do we get to that place where we have enough?

I pride myself on living a pretty simple life. I drive a small car, I don't own expensive jewelry or clothes, I don't have cable or even a TV; I don't want a big house (in fact, I was really happy in my 700 sq. ft. apt. in NYC). But I still fall into the same "more is better" trap. I already lust for another lens for my new camera, and a new computer for the Kid, and I often think "if I just made X more dollars a year, life would be so much easier." But would it? I'm not so sure.

Because I'm an idealist I long for a world where everyone has enough to live comfortably and everyone has equal access to things like education and health care. Achieving such a world would require a radical rethinking of what "enough" means, however. Despite some local grassroots efforts to live simpler and more sustainable lives, lives that don't depend on "more," I'm not sure we as a society are up for that challenge.

Church garden

Unknown flower

City this morning, home tonight

I'm taking the bus home early this afternoon, and barring too much traffic, I'll be home by early evening. I wanted to go out and take some pictures this morning but it's very damp and misty, but I may try in a few minutes.

When I was planning this trip I didn't think I would have time for blogger meet-ups, but as it turned out, I did. Yesterday afternoon I met up with two local bloggers whose identity I won't reveal here, but if they want to, they can. We sat on the lawn and ended up talking for four hours! I was amazed when I looked at my watch and realized how long we had been there.

This morning I went to my favorite coffee shop and sat and looked out the window while I had breakfast, just like I used to do when I lived here. I don't know why that seems like such a restful place to be, but it always has for me. I did a lot of studying there, too.

I really miss this city. I keep telling myself it wouldn't be the same if I moved back, but still...There are no jobs here for me, so it's a pipe dream anyway.

More pictures later.

So I did it

(this of course taken with Photo Booth)

After reading a bazillion reviews and a final consultation at the camera store, I bought the Canon XT. Instead of the kit lens I got a Canon 24-85 mm, which put me over my budget a bit and I hope will be worth it. The staff person who helped me also suggested a moderately priced telephoto lens when I am ready to get one (which I would do now if I thought I could afford it).

The camera store was nuts today. I would guess that Sunday may be their busiest day since they are closed on Friday evening and Saturday for Shabbat. But they are nothing if not organized and I've never been any place with so many staff people trying to assist customers in every possible way, including handing out snacks!

I've taken a few pictures but I need to spend some time figuring out how everything works. I will be playing with it a lot during the rest of my vacation!








ETA this night picture was enhanced with Photoshop, but the others weren't. I just couldn't get this one to come out right--lots of learning to come!

Aaaacck!

Halloween decorations in Rite Aide's window.

On August 5.

It was fine

The engagement party was fine. LFDiL (Lovely Future Daughter in Law) is really lovely and she and Elder Son seem very happy together. Her family likes him.

What is it about my kids marrying into large Italian families though?

I arrived safely back here about 2:30 am. Slept too late for church, but as clergy on vacation, I guess a Sunday sleep in is a rare indulgence. Off to the camera store and other delights of the city now.

More later.

Random bits of being in the City

~I arrived in the city about 4 pm, after being stuck in traffic for a while. The easiest, although not fastest, way for me to get here from home is by bus. But when we hit upper Manhattan I just want to say, "Let me off here, I'll take the subway or walk the rest of the way." And it would be faster, but of course they can't do that. But at least I got here; NSLS's flight was canceled because of "possible" thunderstorms, and she couldn't get another one that was affordable and would get her here in time. So I am bummed not to get to see her and because I have to go to this party alone. And if you looked at my Myers-Briggs score, you'll understand why I'm not so looking forward to this.

~The party in question is of course Elder Son's engagement party. I will be meeting his fiancee for the first time, as well as all of her large family. I'm sure they are all lovely and it will be fine, but it is still a lot of people who know each other and me who knows only Elder Son.

~But I will go with a smile on my face, and have a good time. I've already inadvertently ruffled Elder Son's feathers about this party (I didn't mean to, really I didn't) and I know it is important to him.

~It's amazing how quickly I slip right back into the city--in some ways it feels like I never left. As I was coming up from the subway I was thinking that I wouldn't run into anyone I knew since it's been 2 years since I graduated, but I hadn't gone half a block before I ran into someone who graduated a year before me and still lives in the greater metro area.

~Some things have changed but many are just the same. The scaffolding has moved of course--there's ALWAYS scaffolding somewhere around here--it just seems to move from place to place;I used to joke with the Kid that we ought to invest in a scaffolding company. There are more fancy new apartments, and a couple of familiar places are gone (including one of my favorite shoe stores!) but for the most part it feels the same.

~NSLS and I had planned to have Thai food tonight, but since she didn't get here and I never had lunch , I just went to get a sandwich from my favorite neighborhood deli, a place which deserves its own post not because of the gourmet food (it's more like comfort food) but because of the wonderful person who runs it. Then I headed out to do some errands--to Rite Aid to buy a toothbrush, to Bed Bath and Beyond to get a gift card for Elder Son and fiancee (who need a pseudonym), and ended up just walking around for a while. I really miss that. Those same errands where I live now would mean getting in the car and driving to two separate shopping centers. It might have been quicker but it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.

~It always surprises me how many stores close at 8:00 in the city that never sleeps. Really.

~As I was walking home about 9:30 it occurred to me that I was very hungry, and that I was only a block from Whole Foods--another place that I miss mightily. So I stopped and got some humus and chips and some blueberries and yogurt, and to just admire all the great stuff Whole Foods has. I know that WF has its warts, but compared to where I normally shop, it is so wonderful.

~It's hot here--not unbearable but definitely sticky. There was a nice breeze stirring as I walked back, and now it is thundering--I think there will be a storm--in fact, even as I write that I hear raindrops starting to fall. Tomorrow will be a very long day, so I guess I should think about going to bed.

Vacation!

I am not much of a list maker usually, but this week I made a list of all the things I needed to get done, and by 4:15 this afternoon I had them all checked off. So I am officially ON VACATION for the next three weeks! Woo-hoo!

Tomorrow I head for the Big Apple where LD#2 will meet me. Saturday morning we'll take the train to the Philly/NJ area for Elder Son's engagement party and then take the train back. Sunday is my day in the city, and camera shopping is on my agenda. LD has to leave Sunday afternoon, and I'll head back home on Monday.

The Kid was invited on this trip but adamantly insisted that he'd rather stay here and work---until this afternoon when he heard me talking about where I might have dinner in the city. Sigh. Bus and train tickets are bought and I think it is too late for him to come along. But he's staying with a friend who has all the right video games, so I don't think he'll mind so much tomorrow.

I would love to have some blogger meet-ups, but my schedule is so tight that I haven't really tried to arrange any. Next time....

I'm so confused!

Or tales of a neurotic shopper....

When I shop, especially for something that is a major purchase, I have to see all the possibilities before I can make a decision. I may very well buy the very first thing I saw, but I cannot possibly do that until I've explored every last alternative. This make shopping with me very difficult unless you happen to be the same way.

The internet is really a good thing for people who shop like I do-I can explore all the options in the comfort of my home, and often I can purchase whatever I decide on online as well. Since I don't always enjoy shopping, especially if malls are involved this is a Very Good Thing.

So, as I mentioned, I'm thinking about buying a DSLR, and I've been soliciting opinions and doing some research. This afternoon, my brain already being somewhat on the vacation that really doesn't start until Friday, I read camera reviews online while I waited for a 5:30 meeting. Even though I've narrowed choices to three, the more I read the more confused I get!

Okay, I don't really need 10 megapixels, but if I only get 6.1 (the Nikon D40) will that matter? And does it matter that the Nikon only saves JPEGs in 'basic' format? If I buy the Olympus E500 I can get two lenses for the price I would pay for just one with the other cameras, but are they really any good? And when the reviewers mention that the view finder is too small, is that a fatal flaw? Do I want to spend the extra $100 and get the D40 with two lenses? Are they any better than the ones with the E500? And is image stabilization in the camera body (Nikon and Olympus) superior to image stabilization in the lens (Canon)? Should I just buy the one that is clearly the most popular (Canon)? Oy vey!*

I've made up my mind and changed it a dozen times already. But here is my current plan. Sunday afternoon I'm going to the camera store and hold each of these cameras in my hands, check out the things that have been mentioned to the extent I can, and ask for recommendations. Then hopefully I can make a rational choice. Or more likely, go with my gut, because as a good INFP, that's what I usually do.

Meanwhile, I'm still open to all comments or recommendations.

*I do realize that any of the three cameras I'm considering will be more than adequate for my needs, but that doesn't stop me from obsessing!