WhiteCaps

Last week's toe-dipping was so warm, it could've been bath water. Our beaches are in the water region known as Buzzard's Bay, which faces southerly in the Atlantic. The famous "Gulf-Stream Current" feeds directly into our bay bringing some of the warmest water temperatures available for ocean swimming.

.

My fav place here is one of the warmest in town, directly hit with the current. It must've been close to 75F that particular visit.

.

Typing the title here made me miss my old, musical friend Bruce Marshall. He n Buddy McClelland (the drummer- not the same as Buddy the Doxie) first started out together in a band called "The WhiteCaps." I haven't been to any gigs at all since I've been working nights at my current job.

.

I had a bizarre dream the other night, in which Mark Pollock, former member of BMG band, now of the Expenders, (Big Spenders) was crying that I didn't need him anymore- In truth I miss them all terribly, as well as miss having time off in general. It's true tho that I can hear their tunes any time I want, now that I have the CDs... n Mark, if you're out there somewhere-reading... I do miss hangin' with you. I'll never forget that Boston Harbor boat gig when you made the "Wow, what a huge ashtray!" joke- which still cracks me up-

.

Well, I'm finding staying entertained a challenge lately- I could really use more sleep n a night out anytime now- Work day on the docket. Maybe I'll look up the gig schedules anyhow- in case I can make one. It's been too long...

Riding It Out

What a deluge we've had here today. I drenched every available hood in my attempt to get the minimum errands done. I had to go out n clear the drain of run-over, wilted bamboo with the rake before the puddle got ankle-deep at the start of it, too. Good thing I was paying attention.

.

Apparently, there were several funnel clouds reported around the New England in the past few days. A tornado is probably what ripped Epson New Hampshire to bits today. A grandmother was reported killed by a collapsed home in Deerfield on the news. Twisters n the unpredictability of their sudden appearance is a scary fact of life.

.

Here on the Cape we tend to worry more about hurricanes, altho it's rare that one have a direct hit with alot of Damage. "Bob" was the last one that directly hit my area in the early '90's. It seems stupid to give such a thing a friendly name. If your friends were like this, you'd ditch them!

.

The news on Dolly indicated the storms duration of about 15 hours at landfall is what will make it memorable, n caused more damage. Not what you'd put up with from a party guest. Still, after all the weather turmoil proven to keep surprising us in the USA, you'd think people would stop thinking complacently, n respect natural events.

Hell-o Dolly

We had some torrential thunder n lightening storms tonight while I was at work. The power only went out twice. Working in the dark is always fun, never mind messing up the night's schedule so that I get to be more sore than usual. Now it's supposed to rain for my Day Off. It's been awhile since I was subjected to a day of rain here on the Cape. It's been quite a dry summer, except for the humidity.
.
A hurricane named Dolly wasn't too nice to South-coastal Texas today, according to "World News Now" this early am. Governor Rick Perry declared 14 counties disaster areas already. Water n power are out for many communities. They got alot of wind damage as well as flooding, n many levees were put to the test. Dolly was only a category 2 hurricane...
.
I liked the shot they had of a "Hello Dolly" hotel marque knocked over. The director's cut-away started playing the old stage-show theme signature song. Then I had to sing it out loud to myself all the way thru. I know all the words like the back of my hand.
.
Alot of folks may not realize I played a supporting role in that production, "Minnie Fay", who is Dolly's friend, back in 8th grade school play of "Hello Dolly." I do know that tune word for word (n "Elegance"), permanently etched into my brain, thanks to director Mr. Murphy. I don't remember all my lines now... The old script is still packed away here somewhere.
.
In the backroom there's a four-foot long, "Livery Stable" sign I painted with a horse-head on it for that set. The main thing I took away from that experience, besides the sign, n befriending the other actors, was a feeling of adulthood. It was a big responsibility for a young age, n I felt old! Were were all playing adults, after all. People actually had to pay for tickets, too! That was one of two plays I was in that school year. The other was called "The Happiest Days of Your Life." a farce (comedy) about a school, for which I had to memorize 75 chunks of live speech.
.
Of course it wasn't as much fun as the high School plays I was in... like doing choreography for "Fiddler on the Roof" was a blast during my folk-dancing phase. Then Senior Year there was an original "Broadway Review" including a slew of show-tunes in which I got to play "Laurie" in "Oklahoma" n got to kiss "Curly" at the end of "People Will Say We're in Love." We endured massive amounts of ribbing from the student body for that one. It's nuts how school is so good at embarrassing you.
.
Classmates just don't let anything go unnoticed n un-made-fun-of... N just hearing about today's hurricane brought all that back- clear as day. I remember I saw a funnel cloud on the way into work today before that local storm wreaked havok with my duties. We don't get those often around here. Luckily, no wind damage was realized aside from the power out-age.
.
Day Off is here n it's time to snooze.
~"I feel the room swayin', for the band's playin' one of your old favorite songs from way back when, so..."

Heat Wave 2

Eye Stimuli

I'm so relieved to have stimulated the economy a little this week. All the household supplies were run out. Now I can do so many put-offs. I just regret that the money won't stretch as far as I'd like, due to the inflation of goods recently. of course, most of the Government incentive will pay bills.
.

With some fuel in the gas tank, I got out on my errand run with new batteries n a a new memory Card in my digi-cam. I stopped along the way at all my water-spots working on creating a few good summer shots.

.

It seems most of my fav pics end up being of the Short Pier from the main pier in the harbor. Here's yet another keeper from today. Notice the guy looking out near the end of the slips. One of the best things about living here is the people n how nice they are when meeting in our travels about town.

.

This particular sunset was spend chatting with this dude in the pic, n as it turns out, he lives here year-round also. We both share the attitude that no matter how many times we see this place, we never get sick of it. The sights, the water, the sea-craft, n the colors.

.

People here are very tolerant of others, as we host all sorts of strangers as tourists every year. The kids in school go thru a bit of tension with their clicks, as most young people do in our culture, but the adults who live here, having migrated in from all over the place, we are all willing to share our spot n company in this pretty place. It's so much less stressful as everywhere else I've lived before I moved here in the '70's. Getting to live here, n experience this place is worth more to me than anything I could ever buy. I'm greatful I get to share some of it with my pics.

.

I bumped into a few folks I know already also in my pic travels today.

I've already got more than another hundred shots to sift thru from today. That's just from what I drive past doing regular errands. It'll be easy to fill up this new cam-card too...

n now the spending party is over, already.

Back to the simple things-

Waves

Sat the 12th I got my second Day Off of the past two weeks. I got woken up early, n altho tired, it was then possible to get alot done before businesses closed down.

.

I made the Dump run way across town, the pet store, paid some bills by delivery, then made my fav beach before the turn of high tide all before five. I'd planned way ahead by wearing the swimsuit under my clothes. The breeze was a bit gusty, which this residents beach has a notorious reputation for.

.

Several folks were in attendence, families young n old, kayaker, windsurfers, but late in the afternoon, the beach was by no means crowded. Much of the off-season seaweed was no doubt now removed n the waves were showing alot of action.

.

I took a few pics with my fading batteries n almost full sd card, then set out my chair, n jumped into the surf for my first swim of the year. Nothing feels so good after enduring the heat all these weeks! I sat in my chair just long enough to dry off for the ride home.

.

I'm fortunate to live near such places, but I wish I had more unhurried time to spend enjoying it.

.

Rinsing out, visiting, n store errands lasted until after 10:30, then putting away, laundry, cooking until after 2. Here I am back at bedtime, n wonder if the noise will let me get a few hours rest.

.

Luckily the summer rush doesn't last too much longer.

Pier

Indep

Crash! BOOM! Ssssssszzzzss... We have achieved loudness here on Saturday evening after dark. However, the town has postponed the big Fireworks at the main beach until tomorrow, due to rainy conditions earlier.
.
On the back-beaches tho- (this village is almost an island) -on M-cove n B-cove, folks have been setting off firecrackers of all descriptions non-stop.
.
At least all the new neighborhood pooches have ceased barking after their busy day. There are about ten visiting dogs on my street now, conducting "RoverAlerts" (Snigglet), at every walking canine n human in hearing range, in other words- barking constantly, until intimidated by the sudden, thunderous, flying lights n sounds.
.
Of course I have tonight off, n now get to miss the big show tomorrow. I'll also have to leave very early tomorrow for work, because the roads at my house will be jammed up until way after the fireworks. I was looking forward to attending this year, but again, my plans are foiled. I wanted to try fireworks pics, now it'll wait another year. My card space n battery power are low ontil the replacements are aquired, anyhow- but I just don't like being forced out of the opportunity.
.

During my short walk late this afternoon, the bluffs n village were crowded with milling folks with little to do. Aquinas (the native maiden statue) has alot of company sitting by the sea, n lines were formed at every available eatery spot. Sea craft fill the harbor waters, n altho the ground was still partially wet, I believe the show could've gone ahead alright.
.
Oh well, no use crying over missed fireworks I'll hear while I'm working across town. I'm down to one day off again, but that beats my record from last year of sixteen days in a row. After two entire years without enough sleep, I'm not up for that one again.
.
The people have arrived. The locals are very busy this week. Sometimes I almost get an hour of daytime sleep before the sounds wake me up again. My patience with outdoor powertools lasted only half-way thru the first day.
.
My Day Off planned activity n social event has been post-poned, n now I want to blast tunes or play instruments, but it's too late. They're allowed to keep me from resting, but if I return the non-favor, I'd get in trouble because of the hour. Yet, there goes another stray "Pop!"
.
I put in the Will Smith "Independence Day" film (from'96) again. I still shudder noticing the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in it- I'm still working on having enough money to gain independence from the night job which is stealing all my time n energy to visit my loved ones n have some hang-time. I'm just not a quitter... I'm a fighter, who's fighting to maintain my personal independence.
.
I would've fought against the Brittish in the 1770's. Some injustices just boil my blood. Firework shows give me a personal, inner, solemn feeling nothing else compares to- Heavy weight of lives lost. Gravity. War. Blood. Danger- Being bombed by artillery. It's different to me now than when I was "Ooo-Ahh-ing" as a younger me. It impresses a picture into my soul that I've carried along all these years n can't forget.
.
Independence is earned, not a priviledge.

Sure

Last Sunday there were a few more folks hangin' at the main beach, when me n some friends went toe-dipping. The weather's been pretty steamy n humid all week. Wild lightning storms have been appearing randomly throwing hail n causing damage around the New England area daily.

.

The downstairs n next door people tho- aren't here yet, n I'm surprised! I'm certain they'll all descend before Friday. By fireworks time, there won't be a spot of sand left open on this spot. That's where you sit to watch- Still haven't read the paper to see when the fireworks are, n if I'll have that night off- I have a few days left to my work marathon.

;

Meantime, I'd better get some hours of sleep because I'm sure the noise level will increase literally overnight here...