Let’s just say 2019 was an unusual year, with probably the least amount of RV travel in many years. The year started with us financially supporting the medical community. Between a skiing accident and broken bone, shoulder surgery and a hip replacement for my bride, I believe we were wildly successful. Please feel free to… Read More 2019 in Review – Dec 2019
Chock up another year of neighborhood caroling! Yes, the Carol Caravan made it through the hood unscathed, with much joy, many laughs and some great singing! Like any year we have done this, we start with the basics… a trailer with hay, lights (as gaudy as possible), a heavy marketing campaign (a sign), carolers, parental… Read More Christmas Caroling – Dec 2019
Oh boy – back in the hood… and for Halloween! Talk about magical… or would that be black magic. Whatever it was, we must have had 100 kids show up at our door to trick or treat. First off, it is hard to be a photographer memorializing this sacred event when you are an active… Read More Halloween – Oct 2019
Spoiler alert – there is no big reveal – no “money” shot. After spending about 22 hours actively attending this cook, I flat out forgot to take pictures after making the first, beautiful, moist, tender, and flavorful cut. I am calling this smoked brisket my personal best. It is SOOOO good! Just no finished pics. … Read More Smoked Brisket – Oct 2019
You know life has gone moderately well when you spend a week in Bardstown, KY (the bourbon capitol of the world) to attend the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. What do you get when you mix good friends and bourbon? In my experience, typically an arrest warrant. Not this time. We were on our very best… Read More Kentucky Bourbon Festival – Sept 2019
Unlike my usual drivel, this post might actually add value! I am asking for a wee bit of your time in helping a friend. You may have seen previous posts about our friend, Rob Pope, who we met on the road, and was raising money for a couple of worthwhile charities while recreating the run… Read More Run Rob Run! – Sept 2019
Ah yes, back in the hood. At the risk of offending our NH brethren, it feels great being back in the hood. By now, you know the drill. This year’s annual block party was amazing, despite 95 degree temps, led by the Honorable Reza, and his trusty sidekicks DJ and Matt. For those uninitiated, Reza… Read More Block Party – Aug 2019
“Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! (Hamlet) I have told my wife and kids that the next time I move out of this house there will… Read More Honey, I’m Home! – Aug 2019
It does not get better than driving with my good friends Raoul and Dr. Gonzo (“Don’t worry – I’ll remember your face”) down to the Cape (Cape Cod for you non-New Englanders). Our goal was to attend the annual Michael McGuire Gallery “Opening” (https://michaelmcguire.net) in P’town (Provincetown) this past weekend. Michael McGuire, a life-long friend… Read More Fear and Loathing on Cape Cod – July 2019
This may be our swan song post from New England while living here. With our house for sale but under contract, we have a lot of moving parts in our lives at the moment. We have, though, been able to travel with friends from the Massachusetts coast in Salem, MA, into sea coastal NH, and along… Read More Coastal Maine – July 2019
And so castles made of sand fall in the sea eventually Jimi Hendrix Technically, they will be removed by a bulldozer. But not just yet. And I guess technically they are not sandcastles. Alright, have your way. Check out these sculptures from this year’s Hampton Beach (NH) Master Sand Sculpting Classic! We continue our Northeast… Read More Castles Made of Sand – June 2019
We descended on Salem, Cape Ann and Boston (MA) for what we have alternately called Our Most Fabulous Trip, or our Northeast Trip. I think Our Most Fabulous Trip conjures up Wayne’s World. Party on, Garth. When I say “we”, I don’t mean the proverbial Brad and Karen. This time we are actually traveling with… Read More North Shore Boston – June 2019
Can I get an amen? We attended Gospel Night at the Pops inside Boston’s Symphony Hall last night. Let me just say Hallelujah! After meeting with friends and enjoying an unbelievable dinner in Eataly at La Pizza e La Pasta (let me just say – this was SUPERB!), we walked the short distance from the… Read More Gospel Night at the Pops – June 2019
We hoisted one yesterday for a guy named Bob. Maybe we all know someone named Bob. The Bob I’m talking about was special in that, in many ways – he wasn’t special. He was unassuming, quick to share a story or two from growing up in Maine, quicker with a smile, and under any scenario, would… Read More This Guy Named Bob – June 2019
A special thanks goes to Dr. Josh Siegel and the entire team (surgical center, physical therapy, tanning salon, latte bar) at Access Sports Medicine in Exeter, NH for the great work they did repairing and rehabilitating my left rotator cuff. Way to go! With every day, I’m feeling more and more like my old self,… Read More Shoulder Surgery Update – June 2019
Many people are not aware New Hampshire has a seacoast. I mean, let’s face it – on a map some people would be as challenged to point out New Hampshire as they would the Sudan. It’s kind of like me and Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska… it always takes me a little orientation to figure out… Read More New Hampshire Seacoast – May 2019
Best of luck to the runners in tomorrow’s 123rd running of the Boston Marathon! There is lots of history and tradition in the Boston area on this Patriots’ Day, a day in New England that commemorates the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Activities include parades and battle reenactments in places like Lexington and Concord. More widely… Read More Boston Marathon – Apr 2019
It doesn’t seem possible, but at the end of this month (technically a month later for Karen) we will have been retired for 5 years! What the hell have we done? Retirement, for those uninitiated, is when you shovel your driveway down to bare pavement two hours after a major storm. Being anal retentive helps. Retirement is… Read More 5 Years Post Retirement – Mar 2019
OK, I won’t lie – it has been a long time since I was an active Boston Celtics fan, but the chance to go into town to a live game at TD Garden was compelling. And awesome! There were many heady times back in the day in the old Garden, when both the Celtics and the… Read More Boston Celtics – Mar 2019
For those of you who have wasted the last four years as a result of reading this blog, you know that I previously went under the knife and had shoulder surgery. I am doing it again in a week. I’m doing it with a real doctor this time – no more hair stylist interns performing surgery on… Read More Shoulder Surgery, Again! – Feb 2019
Whether you are driving down the blue highways or sitting in your family room, I went through a few of my albums and picked out a bunch (in no order) that totally ring my bell – maybe they might ring yours. Top-name artists aside, I tried to pick a few artists and albums that may… Read More A Few Good Albums – Feb 2019
Like mentioned in a post previously, if you are talking about your baseball team in November, that is goodness. And if you are talking about your football team in February, that too is sweet. Sorry, did I not mention the 2019 Superbowl Champions are the New England Patriots? If you know anything about New Englanders, there are… Read More The Day Bill Belichick Smiled – Feb 2019
What comes to mind when you hear Hampton Beach (New Hampshire)? If you are familiar with Hampton Beach, you’ll probably say the beach, the boardwalk, casinos, bars, night clubs, food stands, miniature golf, water slides, concerts, and maybe a roller coaster. If you don’t know Hampton Beach, then maybe you think… ahhh… I don’t know, a beach,… Read More Hampton Beach – Jan 2019
We took a road trip (20 minutes for us) to Portsmouth, NH earlier today. Portsmouth is a port city, one of about a half dozen sea coastal towns on the less than 20 miles of New Hampshire’s Atlantic seacoast, and we had a blast!. This is just a taste of Portsmouth – our couple of hours… Read More Taste of Portsmouth – Jan 2019
Queue Rod Serling’s voice: You are casually driving down the highway. Traffic is light to medium, your pulse rate is barely above resting state. Your wife is sitting contentedly next to you, the dog is sound asleep in the back, skies are clear – it is a great day to be out on the road. In the distance,… Read More Merge – Jan 2019