The Big Season Closer

Finally, the Labor Day Festival of noise
... (with the down-stairs neighbors) has begun!

They got here Wednesday, to gain a jump in the activities.

After my very long n physically taxing work-week, today (on my day off) I still only got a couple hours of sleep due to the slamming door downstairs n the barking husky dog tied outside my door. They took a boat-ride to P-town today, n the abandoned dog barked non-stop the entire time they were out.


Well, they do have a real nice boat there in the driveway.

Then they all park on the narrow road making it impossible to back out without going back n forth 3 times, n driving on part of the lawn, which is now only possible one direction. So, to stop by at my friend's right down the street I had to go all the way around the block. It's pretty annoying!
They have tons of company sleeping over with loud talking, drinkin, n laughing. It's all expected here, n normal for them. The side "R" neighbors will no doubt be here soon, packing the extended family in for the last summer fling also.
...
The saving grace maintaining my cool about it all, is knowing after this week, the noise will dissappear, n only be very occassional hereafter until next Memorial Day week-end. Orders at work will also slow way down. Whew-
I just need to make it through one more crazily busy holiday week-end full of summer residents n tourist out-of-towners,
n it's back to the way I like it here.
Hope I can hang in here all bruised up n not enough sleep
just a few more days...
...
Looks like it may get cloudy n rainy for Sun n Mon, due to tropical storm Ernesto leftovers headin this direction, which'll also help folks leave early.
...
Have a good last of summer fling, everyone! I'll be workin it-

Ocean NewsWeek

The strange ocean news locally is smellin pretty fishy...





...
A large Floridian Manatee has been spotted n photographed off the coast of Massachusetts n Rhode Island this week, a first! The appearance may be due to the very warm local water temps, which have been averaging over 60 degrees F (according to the local paper last week).
...
York Beach n Wells Beach (Busy tourist meccas) on the southern Maine coastline have both put knee-high wading restrictions in effect because of numerous shark sightings. One shark was reported on Channel 5 to be 20-feet long!
We're not talkin 6-foot sand-sharks n Dog-fish here!
...
Last week, I saw footage on the largest Leatherback SeaTurtle ever seen off the coast of Nantucket Island (Cape Cod- South), Which had to be freed from a fishing net.
It was almost the size of the rescue boat!
...
It seems the tropics are sending up the larger troops on vaca up on the Carribean Gulf Stream Current, all the way to the Gulf of Maine in honor of the new Pirates of the Carribean Dep film this summer.
So now, I gather, that the locally visiting Portugeuse Man-O-War told their friends n they told two friends... n so on!
...

...

Time Off Finally

Quote of the day n for all the ages:
...

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire."
...
- Aristotle
384 BC - 322 BC

...
I think he left out "stupidity" n "the ability to move n speak" ...
...
The stupid thing I did this week was let a manager talk me into coming in for a late half-day on my day off, for an eighth day in a row (split pay-week) because some one had quit. I ended up getting involuntarily roped into another nine-hour-shift without having brought my second water bottle or any food. I finally got out at five am., too fried to do anything during daylight hours on this (would've been my second) day off. Then I got screwed out of overtime pay for the day by being told I already had too much for the week n have to take a different previously scheduled day off. GGggrrrh!
...
It's bad enough they keep switching which days I get off every week, so I can't make any plans with anyone, but I can't even count on the scheduled days they give me on paper which are received only one day prior to the begining of the next week!
...
It'll prob be awhile before I give in to that particular plea for help again.
It was one of my most frustrating days there yet. The topper was nothing needed was where it belonged in order to do the job efficiently, cause I didn't get to set-up the work area n came in later on, n at the end I had to clean up a huge mess I didn't make, which had I been on that position, wouldn't have been so bad. The new people there who were supposed to clean that area just left, obliviously assuming they were done without asking.
...
Not remotely the easy, short, day I was talked into!
...
This evening there was a red-ball gorgeous sunset goin on. I drove down to the Maritime Academy after errands to take some new pretty shotz, then I realized the instant-cam's auto-flash kept going off n don't know if any of them will come out! I wasn't trying to turn the button on, so guess that's why it was so cheap... next time I'll tape something over the bulb- but I bemoan missed great photo ops!
Never mind the wasted time n energy issues.
...
I hope your week is goin way better than mine,
(n mine starts gettin better) !

Mischief

Kitty Mischief sends happy wishes to the special blogger dude of the day, Cody's Dad.

Happy Day!

Here's the empty bandshell on the Bluff across the road from the Pier.
...
Saturday was the village's annual Blues Festival, n there were tons of folks everywhere! I just sat out on my deck all afternoon before work, soaked up some rays, n n listened to a few cool blues tunes out on my deck. I've written a several blues tunes, myself - such as "Job-hunter's Blues."
...
I've played at shows there a few times many years ago. "Warnin," about smokin ciggarrettes, was the original tune that got the best response at one talent contest. It's a pretty silly tune n a long storyline. Someday the rest of the planet will get to hear it.
Then I had a guitar group called "Triad" with 2 other girls who mostly did their originals. We were great at harmony. The group only gigged the village here one summer.
...

Ah, the good old daze...
...
One day I'll get me a new job that spares the handz so I can play again, but not today, darn it!

Bluff Corner Garden

A lil pic in honor of a fav Blogger's special Day, even If they're outta town n havin fun (I hope)!

You know who you are...

This little bit of landscaping is on the street corner right next to Marc Antony's Pizzeria, leading onto the bluffs. The Gazeebo is visable in the BG.

Life is a Beach

Lotsa wave action!


Two weeks left to the Summer season here on the Cape, n I finally made it to my fav Beach spot within two hours of high tide- Yay! It was late in the day after 3 pm, so the lot attendant who usually collects $2 for residents parking left for the day as I arrived. Score!
I used up my film n decided to get it done on the way home for ya all to see what I've been tryin to get to all year.
...
BTW- This spot is directly across the waterway where Ellen's Grandmother's cottage is located. It's also very close to the spot Ellen visits on her "Mini-vacations."
...
This was the first Cape beach I used to walk the shoreline to as a teen-ager of fifteen, even on my first week-end trip here from the city with my friends. They had a "Cape House" right down the beach from here.
The beach at their house was so rocky, I broke my toes many times....Ya had to go down the bluff cliff on these horribly un-even ricketty wood and sometimes rock steps, about three flights high. It was pretty dangerous back in the day when ya consider we were chugging lotsa alchohol n trying not to fall off. I remember having to crawl up them loaded in the dark from the beach once, too (only tried that one time) It was pretty scary!
Wish those were my biggest worries now...
...
I loved this town so much I decided to move here when I was 18, n haven't lived outside the town limits yet. I've so far managed to make it to this Fav beach a minimum of once per summer all these years.
I'm sure ya can see why.
...
I don't stay the entire day at the beach like other people. I get there, sit a few minutes, go swimming about a half-hour, get out, dry off a little in the sun n breeze, then leave. Usually about an hour spent there. I see no sense in baking all day, n never have that kind of time anyway.
...
I've got many more pics of other stuff to post up later, so stay tuned.
...
I hope you all get a quiet hour somewhere you can rejoice in the beauty of nature n unwind very soon...

Ides of Aug

" ... Bubble, bubble, boil n trouble, Fire burn n Cauldrin Bubble... "
Oh that's the witch's spell intro from Shakespeare's MacBeth.
Shakespeare reminds us to "Beware the Ides (15th) of March".
...
What about cookin in humid August, eh?






Polar Bear's appear repeatedly in my dreams. Some day I expect to find out some strange, grand, symbolic significance for this.
...
Today I'll just relay what happened this week, which was strange!
...
One morning, (Saturday, I believe), I was dreaming, when In the dream I saw a huge, polar bear near the new "Dummy Bridge" approach on the other side of the trees near my house. The area appeared lush n vivid green. The bear who had been facing the bridge-way looked up at me , turned n began coming toward me. I felt spooked as I was walking down the road next to the tree-line, realizing the polar bear was curious, about to come after, n probably attack me. (This feeling rarely happens with animals in my dreamscapes) Without a glance back, I ran back toward my house as fast as I could, when
...
"BrinngG! ... B-ring!" in real life my phone rang!
...
I suddenly woke up, jumped up n answered it. I thanked my daughter for calling n interrupting the bad dream I was having. Whew!
...
I was so off-center that day I was running late to leave for work. On my way out on the road I wanted to hurry.
...
Right at the dream bear's spot before the bridge, a maroon sedan skipped the stop-sign, n cut out in front of me moving at a slow pace, all the way up the road to the highway lights. The car slowed my trip way down, n I was having an impatient time,
... until I noticed the little Beanie-Baby polar bear staring at me out the back dash-board the whole way!
...
Hmmm... (How significant is that?)

ZZZ

I had a second day off to get some of the gazillion things checked off my 2-Do list, prioritizing with the closing times of businesses for errand-runs. Being awake until dawn after nightfall has it's drawbacks when banking-hour-business needs doing.
...
I'd planned to awaken earlier than my usual n get a running start. But the town messed with my plan to get as much done as possible before work builds upon the list backlog yet again.
...
A loud, large bucket truck with an attached wood-chipper manned by three deaf guys wearing ear-phone protectors parked right in front of my place from 6 am until after 9:30. They proceeded to chop off all the branches hanging over the road, n killing many of the newly sprouted leaf branches near my deck! Now when I look out the window, all I see are the light-colored, sawed-off-circles of the x-branches...
It was so loud, despite the 80 degrees F building up here, I closed the windows n still couldn't fall asleep. I heard years ago when cops said to turn down the music, there's a town noise ordinance stating no loud noise in residential zones except from 9am to 9 pm that we citizens all have to follow or risk police action.
Apparently, town employees are exempt from town Law, due to the heat conditions. It was time to call Town Hall, but it wasn't even open yet!
...
I shouted at them to stop n about having the only hours I have to sleep ruined, but no one could hear a thing I was yelling! I was so tired n ticked off I threw a tizzy-fit for a half-hour to no avail. I just got hotter in the closed-up space, more grouchy, n managed to slam the TV remote down too hard, so it stopped working again. (Usually I attribute it's sudden mal-function to my Dad's ghost), I finally slept from about 10 to noon, n got up as a zombie trying to get my important things done, n grouchy as a bear. "GGgrrrrhhH!"
...
Got the truck's oil change, n while there managed to find an article that ticked me off more in a small local publication. There's no name on it, n I hope it's a crazy joke, but it's written in the style of a news article, n I was tired enough to be pretty irked by it. After getting out of the laundrymat at dusk I finally had something to eat n started losing ambition, so I got in more phone calls n a friend visit,
now I'm toast n half the list is left hangin! ~Yawn~
....
Here it is after 3 am. I'm ready for another nap - with no noise! That Chipper better stay clear at 6 am Weds this time! Thank Goodness it's finally cooled off here to the 60's tonight, better for zzz's.
The local water temps in the water zone of Buzzard's Bay has risen an average of 5 degrees F this week, almost up to the air temp, or what we refer to as "Bath-water" at the beach around here.
...
They're ground-spraying for mosquitos with "Anvil" in Lakeville, Middleboro, Plymouth, n Carver (off-Cape near here) today, because a horse died from Triple E last week. Hopefully it slows down the spread potential, n saves Equine plus Human lives from fatal Sceeter-bites. I'm glad I don't still have to drive through Carver n Plmouth for work anymore, as I was doing until this past June...
They recommend pets stay inside for two days,
(what about people?).
I did get a sceeter-squewer right on the butt-cheek today!
Let's hope the needle wasn't infected...
...
Oh yeah, n after I got home tonight, I tried the remote, n it magically began working again!
...
Now, off for another round of working too hard for peanuts...
while overtired... zzz ...

Hazard a Guess?

Special announcement from ESR Headquarters
...
At times images are displayed here which can be somewhat ambigious to the eye depending on your monitor, brain, n state of mind.
...
The photo recently in question posted below, contained such an item. One Blogger correctly inspected n commented the item's true identity. The answer has been officially verified.
The mystery has been solved!
...
I am pleased to present this award
to a person who has been a regular commenting visitor to this blog for almost a year. He's an independent artisan builder who just aquired his first sailboat. Recently, he posted about being in love with his chainsaw, with which he was able to help a family to do what they could to save their home from a monster fire.
I especially enjoyed the recent Parisian model fashions be borrowed from Jayleigh's blog, n also his fire-fighting helicopter pics over on his photo-blog.
...
Truelly a wonder n a great blogger!
...

Breeze n Seeds

BLB

The following entries are back-log-blog.
...
They were written previously, when internet access was being denied despite the bills having been paid, because of circumstances beyond my control.
Please forgive my days long reading n comment absence from your great blogs...
I really missed you all!
...
The good news is, the puter's still working, n (whew)
... NOW I"M FINALLY BACK!

Where's Snag?

July 31
Absence Makes the Blogger Stronger
... or something like that...

Nothing like being involuntarily cut-off from your main sources of human communication!

Apparently, while I was out at work Saturday The phones in part of my village went dead due to a cable problem. I realized there was a problem after getting back about 3 am. (It was actually Sunday early am). Funny that I received messages on my Answering machine, but could get no dial tone to call out.
...
I realized this after my modem failed to connect. So my whole routine, readin n sendin emails, n tryin to keep up with my fav blogs plan went right out the Window-Xp! It was a long, aggrivating dawn going over all the phone-line connections, unplugging the wall-jack to reset for ten minutes, asking why.... I was trying to figure out how the cats might've gotten to the buried wire system I have here.
...
When I called the phone company on my limited-minutes-few-left cell, after explaining it was a cable issue, the nice lady explained the problem isn't scheduled to be repaired until Wednesday. I'd need to have an acute medical isuue to get my dial-tone back any quicker. So if I had no cell n had a sudden medical issue, (like a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction say to a bee sting or jelly-fish sting), I guess I'd die without even being able to call 911!
That's comforting!
...
Now after waiting over two weeks for two days off in a row to get all kinds of things done n calls made, I have Mon n Tues off, WITH NO PHONE! (repair Weds)!No calling the kids , or my sister, or friends, or the bank,
No online contacts, all put off again for another whole week!
Can my life get a little more inconvenient, here?
...
I'm so frustrated!
...
How long will it take folks to realize I'm out to lunch awhile?

Monday

July 31
...
After waiting two weeks for these two days off, I'm incredibly sore.
My arms, hands, n feet are so bruised n dinged from tired clumsiness, it hurts to do anything. The other day at work I dropped a heavy, large, flat steel screen off a pile four-feet up which landed edge down across my toes, now sporting a deep-blue bruise-line. (The middle one may be broken again). I've pinched n banged-up many of the fingees, n chipped the top-middle section off most of my nails. (This is why I need two days off, so I don't get so tired n clutsy). Still, I'm supposed to mow the lawn n get other chores done n use the time to heal somehow.
...
I wanted to get the floors washed, n get to the laundymat, but looks like that'll wait again - My hands are not co-operating. I thought I was gonna throw an "Ellen-esk Cleaning Party" in this off-line break, but not only do I have to consider the extreme local heat conditions, it'll be too painful.
...
I'm having the most trouble holding objects like pens n my hairbrush. The cats are begging to be brushed but gettin fewer comb-strokes. Even this typing is a bit uncomfortable, my knuckles are so bashed up. Playing instruments is out of the question.
...
Maybe the fingees'll feel better in the heat tomorrow, it tends to be easier to move after hot soaks, n that matches the weather report!
Tough to find that positive slant sometimes...
...
I'm very pleased to announce there is now some tree shade here. Those oak trees stripped bare of folliage across the street from my place this spring (reported with photos in earlier posts) have recently managed to sprout a smaller second-round of new leaves! Yay!
The trees are no longer naked!
I have Green, shade, n privacy, at last! Whew...
...
That happened at some unnoticed point during the past two weeks of my workathon. Also some Brown-eyed Susans n pink Poppies blooomed while I was oblivious. By the time I watered them all today, they were a bit wilted. Wonder how the plants'll do with the intense heat this week...
...
I know a wide area of the country has been victim to extreme heat conditions so far this summer season. Lets hope this doesn't become a regular yearly occurance for everyone.
...
Meanwhile, guess I'll have to take it easy awhile, like it or not...

Szzzzzzl!

melting!

The Heat is... Too Hot!

Tues, Aug 01

Eccessive Heat Warning has been issued for most of the state (and my apartment)! Of course the Cape isin't in that zone, because sea breezes keep it a few degrees cooler here. still, we're talkin between 90 - 100 F with high humidity levels. The heat index is over 105 (what it feels like) The last Boston High record for this date was 102 F in '75.
...
Here comes the hottest weather in these parts for years forecast for Tuesday n Wedsnesday. Boston has issued an official city emergency in advance. The largest problem, would of course be the power going out for all the AC spoiled people.
If the power (fan) goes out n I get desparate, I can always go for a ride in the truck AC, if I buy more fuel this week, that is.
...
One plan is to call a friend n see if I can talk 'em into going to the beach at the end of the cove with me. All my friends are taller, so can scout for nasty fishy-critters or call for help on a cell phone if I need help suddenly. Of course, there's always the hose over the head if there's no one home, but that isin't as much fun. The swimming plan's only good if I wake up in time for high-tide. Low tide means knee-high wading n crab-pinched toes. Not quite so refreshing.
...
I'm also assuming I won't melt walking around...
...
Where I work is a very hot place to be in, even though they did fix the AC after the last 90 degree hottest day, the products throw alot of heat n steam, n the dress code is long-pants required n no tank-tops, (cause it's not safe). I actually melted soles off a pair of shoes there already on that 90 degree hottest day... So I'm glad that I'm off for this day cause I'm sure it'll be hotter there than here!
...
Wedsnesday I have to wear all those heavy n hot clothes back to the workplace as the heat maxes out for me in my zone here.
...
Last night (Mon) wasn't too hot in here, so I cooked some pasta for a cold salad to eat this week. Cooking will be out of the equation until the air mass moves off-shore outa here... I'm sure that gettin home Weds nite after my upstairs apartment had been locked up all day collectin heat, it'll already be cookin in here, n hopefully doesn't roast the cats too badly. A couple of (inaccessable from outside) windows will be left open n I'll leave the fans on high for them, but this place is always hot when I get back, even at 3 am.
...
It's now Tuesday at 5:43 pm, n the Temp on the TV news corner says 89 F degrees. Springfield out in Western MA (near MB's place) is gonna be fryin eggs outside by tomorrow, they average 15 degrees hotter than here...
...
Don't Melt folkz!