Kayak

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I lack

A kayak

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Dawn cracks

Smell Lilac

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Ducky quack

Pick-up slack

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Fast track

Chips stack

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Hi-Jack

Lip smack

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Head back

Fade black

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..........................Poem by SnaggleTooth today

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Time Limit

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Pier parking in the summer is very costly, so Little Truck used a desigated one-hour space on the main road. They've beefed up chalking tires n dishing tix out to help with town finances this year. There was a cop standing near my spot, so I had a somewhat hurried hike.
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These folks were parked in a one-hour spot too, on the Short Pier. I'd like to have a pretty sailing vessel like that to hang out on sometime, myself! Such a charmed life they must have... Some folks there I spoke to today had sailed all the way from Washington DC to visit up here.
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The pace has picked up around the village at the height of Summertime. There's plenty of folks from all over around, n the harbor water is chock full of parked watercraft. There's festivals, weekly concerts, n movie night. I avoid most of the crowd tho-

Even late in the afternoon the place is bustling with folks lining up for cruises n fishing on the main pier.
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I walked over halfway to the point down the main beach swimming zone with my feet in the water before turning to head back, so my hour wouldn't run out... That's where I took this pic of almost empty beach. Without the parking restriction n fear of a ticket bill, I could've continued all the way down.

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Well, my feet are sore from work anyhow, n at least I got out in the sunshine n air. I need to soak the warmth up while I can, 'cause I know it's limited...

Midsummer Vegetation

I've been having alot of fun with Blogger Errors on my browser. I would've posted alot sooner, but again, I'm wasting all my free time crashing out in the editor. Guess it'll wait another day...
Post Pre-dated:
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The marsh grass across the parking lot from fav beach is tall n beautiful, this year full of the wild HogWeed blooms.
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I finally have a red root resembling an edible beet out on the deck! Don't know how much longer I should wait to pick it. The seed envelope states they grow 3 inches across. It's half that size. Even tho it's covered with hardware wire next to the white turnips, I'm paraniod the critters will get it before me!
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The squirrels chewed up half of my Brown-Eyed Susans this morning. (Before munching pic here). Earlier this week they killed off the Canterbury Bells perrenials I've had untouched for years (same container). So today I wasted another fresh garlic clove to cut-up out there to slow them down.
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If I hadn't chicken wire n hardware wired most of the containers- I bet most would be all dug up by now...
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I'm glad they're leaving the pretty petunias alone at least...
(So Far- ** Knock on the wooden deck...)

Other

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I like the way this several times altered image came out- On the right I can see a white n grey Picasso-esk face with odd eyes eating up a golf-course pie with sand-traps! The cartoon-ish Thought-Cloud attached to the blue-eyed character is strangely blank of dialogue, but suggests the taste is golden.
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Due to the size of the nose n chin shadow side, I'd also venture to guess some one lies like Pinocheo. Three spoons may not be enough to shovel it all in! The alien's name is Shleb, n so many golf pros are about to be very dissappointed! (I hope Tiger isin't watching!)
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I'm often accused of having a vivid imagination...

Got any more to add?

Swoosh

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Today wasn't particularly hot, as the past week has been. After a hurried dump run before it closed, n a few store errands, the sun finally came out of the clouds. It was just after high tide, n I made it to fav beach for the first time this month after five pm.

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Before five there's danger of encountering a town parking attendant asking for a sticker, proof of residency, n a fee to park... Only during the summer season- This place is designated for town residents, n well hidden too.

When I arrived there were only a few cars, only one group of folks lounging on the beach, n just a couple folks out in the water.

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The bay water n wind was pretty calm for this place. I actually prefer a bit more wind to keep down the flying insect attacks. I brought a beach chair n lounged in the sunshine with the gulls for a bit before finally going into the water, n diving in finally! The water temp is currently in the 70F range here, very warm. My first swim was a short duration, take it easy- one. My arms n legs are very sore n bruised from the past few weeks of heavy work.

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It would've been really peaceful except that one guy out in the water standing still with a friend was talking work stories non-stop the entire time. I went back n forth avoiding their zone, submerged n floated alot, then headed back to the beach.

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I walked around with Digi-Cam while waiting to dry off a bit more, before sitting again a few more minutes, n chased little bugs off my legs. Total beach time about an hour, leaving about one hour before sundown. (The bugs would only get worse-)

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After rinsing off there was plenty of time to get to the D-bridge between the two coves very near home to take in yet another beautiful sunset, before continuing errands n chores. (You'll see more of these later-)
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After a drought of July pics since that first week, I made up for it today by getting tons! Cam batts are dead again...

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So finally three weeks into July, we got some rain here, I got to swim, n I took more pics to help share my day...
(I smell an ice cream break coming on...)

Glitch

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.(written early am Monday, posted later but pre-dated)

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Bogus Bloggus Interruptus:

Strangeness upon trying to connect tonight, swiping away my regular afterwork routine. Recently in a post, writer "G" asked if anything happened lately to majorly interrupt your routine.

"I wish it wasn't this!" is my first thought.

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One workshift left to go before quality Time Off can be unrushed n sites leisurely perused.

But today I'm wasting my very limited, two-hour interval, just trying to connect!

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My server's computer isin't communicating, n I'm stranded without all my pals! This interrupts my reading schedule to stay current, I'll undoubtedly fall behind somewhere...

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This totally figures, because yesterday, I had the easiest time all month loading what are usually slow pages for my puter to show. I commented all over BlogLand. Now I'm missing the fun, in the relaxed way I usually want to just unwind my day before shower n sleep.

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Mischief interrupted my before work schedule today too, so I was a few minutes late, n then caught heavy traffic in the off-Cape direction as is usual for summertime, adding on more late.

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I let her out on the deck for about one-half hour while I'm getting my lunch n supplies together, as on most days, but today when I went to bring her in, she was on the roof outside the rails. She's so good she'll usually come right back in, for petting- but not this time. After being repeatedly asked, n her refusing, I got the plant water squirt bottle. She just walked around to the far end corner. So I went crazy to hurry n move plants out of the way, reach through the bars, pick her up, lifting to the top of the rail, n over it while switching hands, careful not to drop her or get clawed- a feat of magic that I pulled it off!

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Now she'll be grounded awhile until she gets the "You'd better listen!" message. I can't afford to let her mess up my day like that-

N she hasn't very often.

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Now I'm about out of blogging time n nowhere near where my tired brain wants to be...

Well, off to do something else requiring more energy-

Flying Pipers

Abstract, simplified, layer look...

Fuzzy, obscure, n cold...

Saturated, rich, glowing...

Actual, sunset color, the original-

Water

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My area is finally getting some rain for my Days Off, after a very dry June n July so far. All the plants across the road, in the yard, n the lawn too are wilted, n growth has slowed from the initial spurt in June.
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The air has been moist n humid along with the heat, so that work has almost drained me completely of energy. I've been so thirsty for cold beverages it seems I'm endlessly guzzeling in my free time. Even this pic is getting me thirsty...
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During July I've actually taken very few new pics so far. I really like the qualities of this one, the light, the movement, the color. This water shot, along with the past two poem's pics, ( Hidden Light , Soothing ) were all different stages from that same sunset at fav beach back in June.
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Last week when I was at the boat ramp beach with the Little Ones, it would've been a good high tide week to go swimming at the better beach. Because of extended work hours, sores, n lack of funds tho- I was too out of it to make the trip at the best time.
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Toe dipping has been taken advantage of on numerous occassions this season, but I still haven't dived in n submerged, which is my definition of swimming- I actually prefer treading water over my head, n try not to touch down my toes on the bottom when I'm not in deep water. Of course part of that is avoiding crab pinches. The other reason for that is: I can! I can tread salt water with ease. Also I can float, n even pretend to nap sometimes, with my feet crossed at the ankle, n hands clasped behind my head. (All you need to do to float is breath deeply, n relax)
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Fresh water treading n swimming usually requires more effort, due to less bouyancy without the salt. But it's better for diving n swimming under water longer distances. I used to pride myself going all the way from the diving board to the low end of the public pool with one breath. There was a large, three-section pool in walking distance of where I grew up, with three diving boards at one end.
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When I was a teen I used to straight dive, swan dive, pike, n try somersaults, along with the occassional cannonballs of course. I even braved the high-dive on occassion. It used to give me head-aches after just a few landings tho... Back when I was ten, after about twenty backwards somersaults in the six-foot section, launched off of the cement pool edge, I finally missed- n ended up with a whopping head-ache plus ten stitches on my head, keeping me out of the pool for weeks that summer. I hate not swimming...
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I was a swimming baby. I scared the bejebaz out of my mother at the tender age of eighteen months, learning to swim underwater. I was really good at distance even then. Stamina has always been one of my strong suits.

Lately tho- I'm just exhausted. Too much lost sleep this year, too many high-movement marathons at work without enough breaks. Now I'm paraniod to go deep-sea swimming as I used to out in the bay. Well, there have been White Shark sightings off shore of the Cape in East Chatham again today- not in my village, but I suppose I do rather swim like a seal sometimes! (seals are sharks fave dinner).
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Funny n ironic:
I ate chicken for dinner today!

Hidden Light

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Behind the clouds

Sol readies for

Another day

On the opposite side of night.

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Dressing under shades

Silver edges glow

Bright radiates up

Reminder of the past light

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Time to settle down,

Call it a day

Gather your thoughts

As the light fades away...

......................... poem by SnaggleTooth today

Hot

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Day Off from Hell Week at Work arrived to greet the record-breaking heat wave in the NorthEast USA, n also the hottest day on the Cape so far. High 90's even at the shore- Almost 3 am now n still reported to be 75F!

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Mischief is still convinced I set the deck chair up for her, so I went n got another one so I could sit n read a bit. The house is stuffy to say the least. Even with six fans running, it hasn't cooled off yet. AC in Little Truck quit this week too...

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The deck flowers are becoming more abundant, tho some pansies were wilting in the heat. I really like those bargain burgandy velvet n pink petunias out there now.

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The late afternoon high tide was perfect for visiting the boat ramp beach several times. My limbs were all throbbing after my extended shift n it felt really good to have time to salt soak.

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Some of my fave Little Ones came to play. There was a crab adventure, minnow trapping, n net hunting along with the normal splashing about n tossing seaweed, sand, n rocks. Sometimes it's tough teaching three year olds to respect the ocean creatures, n the dangers of water play.
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Some friends found the hugest Hermit Crab any one of us has ever seen! Just like Sebastian in the little Mermaid with the big pole-eyes n antennae. The small ones are very abundant here, but this was the great grand-Daddy of them all, n had good size claws to pinch with.

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He gave an impressive show once coaxed out of his shell. Some folks got too crabby also n had to go home.

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The insects started to infiltrate. Finally I got bit on the leg by a green-head Horsefly which I'm allergic too, so I had to go back up the hill for ice to put on the welt, n take some benedryl. But I'm ok, not like the time I spent the 4th of July at the ER because of a similar fav beach bite close to my eye which got painfully swollen up like a tennis ball.

Windy days are better to avoid that, but who could resist cooling off in the water in this heat....

(not me)!

Stay Cool!

Happy 4th

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Approximately one year n 2000 digicam pics ago I took these when we went to the fireworks. This year I applied my custom effects.
Somewhere in that throng is a small baby in a stroller. Also, SpongeBob SquarePants has gone psychodelic. (Can you find him?) I don't know anyone shown, btw.
Original folks pic

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Sometimes you have to make your own fireworks-
I got home from work n found the party kids downstairs with a house load of guests. Other folks from fireworks are still out wandering back to their cars, still a bit of noise out there even after 2am...
Fireworks last year
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I am quite pooped, n working early third day in a row tomorrow- Will have fun catching up on your blogs later.
Have fun, stay safe!

It's THAT Time

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In three more days I'll miss the "OOoo-s" n "Aaahhs!" on the bluffs as the fireworks go off with out me. Day Off got changed, n so now I have to work n miss all the crying, frightened little ones, n the unbelievable, huge mob of folks invading my village all week-end, especially Saturday.
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Starting today all work orders will skyrocket, n I'll be working early n late hours to fill the huge numbers. It's the busiest tourist week of the year on the Cape.
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I'll be hard pressed to get around to my blog reads or to post, unless I can think of a quickie on the spot n find time to upload. It's likely I'll be over-tired n too pooped to pop here, instead choosing collapse in order to deal with the earlier start times I have to aim for... I need to try to sleep earlier too.
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Whatever here I don't get time for, fear not- I'll return in about a week of I can still read n move... And away we go- That's a pic of the reflection on B-cove from the boat ramp beach the other day.