shark or cows

2013-04-30 003I dreamt of the 28-foot shark last night.  By 6 AM I was awake and ready to head to the beach, but I’d had a dream that Banjo Man told me we couldn’t go until it stopped raining.  It took me a little while to wake up and realize the sun was shining.

I talked Banjo Man into going for a drive at 7 AM.  I grabbed a coffee mug and we pretended we were on a road trip and complimented each other on getting such an early start.

We’re silly.

Anyway, the shark had been removed by DEM (damn it!!!), but we enjoyed the drive to the beach.  And I took some pictures to show you what it looks like around here.

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On the way home we saw cows.

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And that’s about as exciting as it gets.

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Posted in rhode island | 2 Comments

ocean monster!

shark on misquamicut

photo by Mystic Aquarium

This 28-foot basking shark washed up on a nearby beach yesterday.  I’m hoping to talk Banjo Man into going down there and taking photos with me tomorrow.  Wow!!!!

To read more about it, click HERE.

 

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camera play

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I have a new camera, having dropped my old one in Texas.  It wasn’t the first time I dropped it, but it was the last.

I was so sad.

I went to Best Buy and tried out different cameras recommended by those of you who read this blog, but the smaller cameras were hard for my gnarled fingers to manage.  I settled on a Canon Power Shot SX500 IS.  It had a great grip and wasn’t enormous.   The reviews were good.

Now I’m trying to learn how to use it.  And trying to decide whether or not to send it back.  The auto-focus is tricky.  I am reading the manual over and over again.  But I have a book to finish and reading camera manuals is way down on my List of Things To Do.

Opinions?

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Posted in personal female whining, rhode island | 2 Comments

seize the day

When I finish writing this book, I’m going to clean this rock.

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When I finish writing this book, I’m going to rake up this leaf.

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When I finish writing this book, I’m going to take this post-it note off my monitor.

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the wedding turtle

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Yep, the ol’ wedding turtle is still hanging out by the water fountain.  He can’t believe the wedding was almost a year ago.  He’s been wearing that bow since June 16th and it’s still lookin’ good.

Maybe the turtle isn’t a “he” but a “she”.  Maybe pink is her favorite color.

Maybe she’s hoping there will be another wedding.

Uh……..no.  Neither Sarge nor Son #2 is dating anyone special right now.

But I think I’ll let the turtle leave her bow on.  Everyone knows turtles like to dress up and party hearty.

Stylin’.

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patience

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There is no such thing as Spring in Rhode Island.  I remember a few from my distant childhood, but in the past thirty years or so? No Spring.  It will be cold until one morning we will wake up and it will be summer, with 90% humidity and a little fog thrown in for good measure.

Yes, these are pictures of my tulips.  And yes, they will bloom eventually, despite the cold weather.

I am losing what little patience I have waiting for them, though.

Hurry up, tulips!  I need color!  And sunshine!  I need to pack up the winter clothes and paint my toenails hot pink!

Posted in rhode island | 2 Comments

the darkling

Guess what I just ordered!  My good friend Carolyn Haines has a new book out.  Hurray!  Carolyn writes very scary books…and very funny books (the “Bones” series)…rescues animals…teaches writing…and is one of the most interesting and kind women I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.carolyn

THE DARKLING

You can read more about it  HERE.  From Amazon:

R.B. Chesterton is the pseudonym for Carolyn Haines, who was the 2010 recipient of the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the 2009 recipient of the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, and the 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. She is the author of more than sixty books in a number of genres. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of South Alabama where she teaches fiction writing.

For more info on Carolyn’s animal rescue organization, click Good Fortune Farm Refuge.

Carolyn and I met at a writers conference in San Antonio over twenty years ago.  We joined a day trip of horseback riding, bbq lunch and a roping show outside of Austin, and then the two of us visited the Alamo.  We’ve had some good times in Alabama, New York, New Orleans, Mississippi, Boston, Concord, Colorado and Rhode Island…including a memorable evening at the House of Blues and a weekend at a metaphysical conference in upstate New York.

One of these days I’ll talk her into joining me in Austin for a little tequila and a lot of music.

Soon, I hope.

Posted in books & music, friends, lake | Tagged , | 2 Comments

new episode of river monsters tonight!

I can’t wait for another fishy mystery.

My French Friend Janou sent me this picture:

Erik Johansson photography/Impossible Images

Erik Johansson photography/Impossible Images

Thank you, Janou. I absolutely love this!

Posted in lake, River Monsters | 2 Comments

a yoga pose a day…

I came across this series recently and thought I’d share.

http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/meditation-yoga

I’ve been reading a lot about anxiety–especially “creative anxiety”–lately and have vowed to fight it with meditation, walking and any other stress relievers I can find.

Here’s the book*** that is helping me meet my next book deadline:

mastering creative anxiety

To read more, click Mastering Creative Anxiety, by Eric Maisel

***recommended by my Writer Friend Sharon, of the pink-socks-lawnmower blog post, the same woman whose plane was hit by another plane while she was waiting to take off from Boston and go to Scotland, and whose chocolate addiction is the stuff of legends.

Posted in writing | 3 Comments

prayers for boston

photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

Boston is less than a two hour drive from us, and even faster by train–a quick trip from the nearby Kingston Station to downtown.   Monday was Patriot’s Day, a huge holiday in Massachusetts and, with the Boston Marathon, an especially festive time in Boston.  It’s a big family day, something special.  And right next door.

My heart goes out to all of those affected.  I can’t imagine the grief and pain and shock.  I see the images on television and I can’t believe this has happened once again in our country.

I pray they get the bastards who did this.

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