Oh Canada, My First Trip North (East)

Shane and I did a day trip today and crossed the border into Campobello, New Brunswick, Canada.  This was my first time in Canada.  We visited Roosevelt Campobello International Park, which features Franklin Roosevelt's summer "cottage."  We toured the restored home with its numerous interpreters throughout.  We were surprised how few visitors were there, but it was very interesting and a beautiful place.  It is easy to understand why the Roosevelts treasured it.

Our only complaint about the day was the weather.  It was HOT.  We were hoping to enjoy a break from the heat of DC, but it was hotter in Maine (and Canada) than in Florida.  What up with that?

After the tour of the FDR home, we drove to the far end of the island to see East Quoddy Light and were skeptical about seeing whales, as we were told the area was a feeding ground and they could be spotted.  To our amazement, we actually saw several whales.  It was unbelievable.  We saw them blowing air out their blow holes and surfacing off-shore.  We've gone on several whale watches in our lives and have never seen whales and we happen upon several by chance.  Others around told us they were minks and finbacks.  They were big, but too far away for a photo.  We also saw porpoises and a seal while there.  Very cool.

We crossed back into the US and walked around Lubec, ME, a bit.  We bought some candy and ate at a pub.  Shane then drove back to our beloved Moose and Squirrel in time for the sunset.  It was a great day!

Franklin Roosevelt's 34-room "Cottage" on Campobello

Shane on the dock.

Me on the dock in front of Campobello.

View of the water from the "cottage."

The formal dining room.

Franklin and Eleanor's Bedroom

East Quoddy Light

We saw numerous whales here. 

You can walk to the island with the

lighthouse during low tide, but you 

better hurry back before the tide turns.

We got back in time for the sunset and wine on the porch.

Eastern-Most Point in the Continental US

Shane and I did a day trip today to Canada and Lubec, Maine.  Lubec is the eastern-most city in the continental United States and West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is located at the the eastern-most point in the continental  U.S.  If the lighthouse looks familiar, it is often depicted on calendars and in art.  It was about a 2 and a half hour drive from Little Deer Isle, ME, where we are staying.

When this was taken, I was the eastern-most

person in the continental United States.

Photo of Pumpkin Island Lighthouse

This is a photo we took of the lighthouse (see below) from a kayak from last year.  This is, obviously, the other side.

Painting of Pumpkin Island Lighthouse

This is a painting of the lighthouse near our vacation home done by Jerry Rose. We saw it in a gallery today in Blue Hill, ME. If I had an extra few thosand, I would have picked it up.

Boating On Sunday In Maine

Our friends, Leif and Christina, took us out on their boat on Sunday.  It was a perfect day to be out on the water.  It got up to 90 degrees, which is very warm for Maine this time of year, but it was cool and breezy on the boat.  We started at Buck's Harbor and went to North Haven and Stonington.  Here are some photos I took and a very short video from the boat.

Buck's Harbor

Leif and Christina in North Haven

Me on the boat.

Shane on the boat.

Christina and Shane looking very breezy.

Christina and Shane back on land.

Stonington view from the boat.

 Another beautiful scene from the boat.

North Haven harbor

Our future home when we strike it rich.

Captain Leif at the helm.

Flowers in Stonington.

Back at Moose & Squirrel

Moose and Squirrel is the name of the house we stay at on Little Deer
Isle, ME. This is the sunset as seen from the porch taken at 7:14
tonight. It looks even better in person! The long trip was worth it
now we get a week of heaven.

Driving to Maine - Passing NYC

We just drove past New York City as we're driving to Maine. This
photo doesn't compare to how amazing the moon looked as we drove past
on the New Jersey Turnpike. The moon was huge, yellow and very low on
the horizon. We're going as far as Conneticut tonight and arriving at
Little Deer Isle tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to be relaxing on the
porch!

Apparently President Obama Dresses in Muslin

One in five people think that President Obama is a Muslim, but he actually dresses in muslin.  It is an understandable error and in no way an indication that a fifth of the nation are morons.

Friday in New York

We had a wonderful day in NYC yesterday. We slept in and got goin
around noon. We visited the rooftop pool deck of our hotel and
enjoyed the views. We spent the afternoon walking around the
neighborhoods around Central Park, trying yo decide the best area to
move to.

We ate at a coffeehouse in the East Side and came back to the hotel to
crash gor a while. Before we knew it, it was time to go to our show--
La Cage Aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer. We loved it! We highly
recommend it.

After the show, we found a small piano bar that was right up our
alley. We had a blast. I can't see how it could have been a better
day.

Next to Normal Night in NY C

To celebrate Shane's birthday yesterday, we traveled to New York City,
ate at a very nice restaurant (Il Mulino in the Village) and then saw
Next to Normal on Broadway. It was the third time we saw the show and
is our favorite. There is now new people playing the main characters,
so it was different. Nobody can match Tony-winner Alice Ripley's
performance, but the new cast was also amazing. The show itself is
amazing and I highly recommend it. Both the music and story are very
good. I think Shane had a good day. I know I did. My wallet--not so
much.

NYC Trip--Filming Gossip Girl In Our Hotel

Happy Birthday Shane!

Shane turns 40 today, and to celebrate we're taking the train to New
York City! This was taken just as we were arriving in Wilmington, DE.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #251

Gary Coleman is still waiting on his tailor fitting.

This is my submission for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #251.  Let me know if you come up with a doozy. 

Maude's Not Thrilled to See the Vet Again

I took Maude for another visit to the Vet this morning, and she was not very happy about it.  She had a "scooting" issue that we thought needed some follow-up.  This was taken while we were waiting to see the Vet in the examination room--I just caught her in mid-meow.  She isn't as upset as this photo makes her appear.  This doesn't compare with her disdain when she was actually having her butt examined.  I never heard such a yowl.  However, she survived and doesn't seem the worse for wear.  We got some worm pills as a precaution and an admonishment about her weight (15 lbs. 8 oz., she loves to eat).  Luckily, her butt health seems fine.

Mark Is Old, But Still In His Forties

Our friends Dick and Randy sent me this birthday greeting today.  They are very sweet to remember me.  The video is hilarious.  Thanks guys!

I turn 49 today--another year closer to death, but still not dead.  As Dylan Thomas said, "Do not go gently into that good night."  And I don't plan to lay down and die just yet.  As a matter of fact, I think I'll start another running streak today (but I think that every day).

Maude Squats in Bed

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #249

Accounting just isn't going to approve buying 20 tons of sand.

No running!  No horseplay!  Final warning!

Ergonomic said this type of chair would fix my neck pain, but every 

time I reach for the phone, I fall on my ass.  Now that's your job.  

These are my captions for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #249.  Use comments to suggest other captions or, you know, to make a comment.

Hot Hot Hot!!!

That is 103 on the car thermometer. It just went down from 104!

Tweet of the Day - Yoko Tweets

July 24, 2010: "Next time you meet a 'foreigner', remember it's only like a window with a different shape to it and the person who's sitting inside is you."  Gotta love the Yoko... 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #248

Sweetie, you don't always win by finishing first.

I need my oil checked. Where's your dip stick?

Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy night.

I never met anyone with a dual exhaust.  It's kind of gross.

Will you please stop calling them headlights?

This is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #248.  Above are my suggested captions.  Which one should I enter, if any?  Let me know if you have any captions too.

Waiting to See Idina Menzel at Wolf Trap

Shane and I are sitting on the lawn at The Wolf Trap National Park
for the Performing Arts to see stage, screen and TV star Idina Menzel
perform. She was the original Maureen in Rent and the wicked witch in
Wicked. She most recently played Lea Michaels mother on Glee. We
also have watched her in the concert version of Chess. She is going
to be joined by conductor Marvin Hamlisch. We just saw her playlist
in the program and it includes Roxanne (by Sting), two songs she
wrote, Defying Gravity and I'm Not That Girl from Wicked, No Day But
Today from Rent, and 5 other showtunes. It should be good!

Maude Goes to the Vet

Shane and I loaded Maude up in her carrier and walked the two blocks to the vet for her first trip to the doctor.  Things went very well.  She did not like all the dogs in the waiting room, but once we were in the examination room, she did very well.  Shane snapped this while we waited for the doctor.

She got a clean bill of health, except for the advice for her to lose some weight, and we're waiting for the verdict on her stool sample.  She weighed 14.9 lbs. when we got her, according to the shelter records.  Today she weighed 14.12 lbs.  She is already on the road to a more svelte figure.

What Ever Happened to Doris Day?

I recently (9/13/11) replaced the video above with an audio video (the previous version from a movie was a broken link) and added the video below.  The scene below is a great one from The Man Who Knew Too Much by Alfred Hitchcock.  Doris sings "Que Sera Sera" very loudly so her kidnapped son, who they suspect is in the house, will hear.  Gotta Love Doris!

Maude Laying in the Window

Apparently I am becoming one of those bloggers that constantly posts photos of his cat.  Isn't she adorable? 

Patty Griffin Sings "Tony"

Shane heard this song on Pandora Radio. It is called Tony, by Patty Griffin. It is about a gay boy committing suicide--not exactly a happy song, but very well done. Shane can become obsessed over songs and want to hear them over and over and over. This is one such song. Hearing this has solidified his love of Patty, so we'll be hearing LOTS more from her. Thank Jeebus he is over his Yentl phase.

Classic Mrs. Slocombe from "Are You Being Served"

These are the types of things I can say now that we have a kitty.

And Then There's Maude!

Maude relaxes on the ottoman in our living room. She hid under the chair at first and I think she spent most of last night under the guest room bed, but she has used the litter pan (praise Jeebus!). She has only used the litter pan once in 24 hours, but she hasn't appeared to go outside the litter pan. She is a great cat, and we have no regrets. She loves to be petted and rubs up against us all the time. Things couldn't have gone better.

Riding Home from the Shelter

We picked our new cat, Maude, up from the DC shelter last night. She meowed all the way home, but has been adjusting pretty well to home life.

Living In a Musical

We went to visit Shane's grandmother in an assisted-living facility and we had to "SING" in and out.  Above is a photo of the Guest Registery with what we found out later was a slight typo.  I wish we would have figured that out before the second verse of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #247

There is no "Y" in Monkees and Davy Jones looks dead.

This is my caption for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #247. Click the link to enter your own caption and also share it here by leaving a comment.

Yoko Ono Is Following Me on Twitter

I was playing around with Twitter over the holiday weekend and started following a bunch of people, including Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon.  I was very surprised when she followed me back.  Now, she will be closely monitoring all my important tweets.  I hope she doesn't try and break up Shane and I.

You also might notice that I added a Twitter gadget in the sidebar.  Follow me and I'll follow you!  Also, if you follow Yoko, she'll most likely follow you too.  But, be ready to get lots of messages about peace and ending war, etc.  She's crazy about the peace.

Lunch at the Mucky Duck

Shane and I drove out to Capitva and had a wonderful lunch at the Mucky Duck. I had the seafood platter and Shane had BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp. Yummy!!!

Shane On the Beach In Front of the Mucky Duck