Got Dracula?

St. Mary's Cemetery- Whitby, England

Whitby is a central location in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

He vacationed there while writing the novel- Clearly a place full of inspiration.

When we visited there six years ago I was more worried about being done in by the 199 steps I had to climb to get to St. Mary's church than I was about being bit on the neck.

Boston Blues Challenge

Braintree, Massachusetts

For many years I was on the board of directors of the Boston Blues Society and helped produce the annual "Boston Blues Challenge". The band that wins this competition gets to go to Memphis to compete in the international compeition against blues bands from all over the world.

In years past some of our Boston representatives have done pretty well. Susan Tedeschi and Michelle Willson were both Boston winners and have gone on to be signed by major record labels.

I retired from that volunteer position a few years ago- But the folks who produce the competition these days are always nice enough to invite me back to be a judge.

I snuck away from my judgerly duties long enough to snap this photo of a roadie watching her band perform from the wings.

Slaughterhouse Escapee

The Sacred Cow Animal Rights Memorial- The Peace Abbey- Sherborn, Massachusetts

At The Red Light

Natick, Massachusetts

Shot through my passenger side window at a red light.

I take my own dog for a 1.5 mile walk every morning. We walk past many commuters sitting in cars at the traffic light near our house. Over the years I've had clients, friends and even my own husband tell me that they spotted us and beeped and waved...even called my name. Without fail, I NEVER notice but folks say my dog Bonita always makes eye contact and acknowledges them!

Katrina Transplant

Johnny Ds- Somerville, Massachusetts

Jeremy Lyons lived for many years in New Orleans.

Katrina pushed him back up to Boston.

The Wombat Bass

Johnny Ds- Somerville, Massachusetts

This is "Washtub" Robbie Phillips playing his homemade "Wombat" bass. Robbie is a fixture in the Boston roots music scene. We are lucky to have him here. He's toured with the likes of Spider John Koerner and G. Love and Special Sauce.

Beautiful Guitars Part II

Blues legend Paul Rishell at Johnny Ds in Somerville, Massachusetts

I took all of these photos without a flash or tripod. I smushed the camera into my face, held my breath and was pretty happy with the gritty outcome.

Beautiful Guitars

Bill McQuaid at Johnny Ds in Somerville, Massachusetts

We attended a blues benefit for the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

DJ Rich Hughes organized the event and gathered together some of the best acoustic blues musicians in Boston to perform.

The guitars looked as beautiful as they sounded.

This is Bill with his National Steel guitar built in 1931.

Bait & Switch?

Wayland, Massachusetts

Buyer beware!

Show Off!

Wellesley Town Hall- Wellesley, Massachusetts

As usual, Daisy is the biggest show-off in her waterfowl yoga class.

Synchronicity?

St. Francis Cathedral- Santa Fe, New Mexico

Window Of Opportunity

Canyon Road- Santa Fe, New Mexico

I bet there are chiles inside this place.

I Have A Problem

Near The Plaza- Santa Fe, New Mexico

OK- So I had some difficulty NOT taking photos of chiles.

I admit I have a problem....but I can quit them anytime I want.

I have it under control.

Ristras

Near The Plaza- Santa Fe, New Mexico

Heaven on earth.

Capsaicin is my drug of choice.

Columbus Day

Institute of American Indian Arts
Museum Art Park- Santa Fe, New Mexico

A fitting photo for today.

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/indian/

A Little Bit Of Turquoise

Institute of American Indian Arts
Museum Art Park- Santa Fe, New Mexico

indigenous?

Institute of American Indian Arts
Museum Art Park- Santa Fe, New Mexico

This place really opened my eyes to contemporary Native American art.

I love Bob Haozous' "Indian Speak"

We saw some great short films by Trevino Brings Plenty

Spend a little time this long weekend checking out the Native American art scene on line. There is a lot going on—

Despite the best efforts of Christopher Columbus.

I Promise!

Canyon Road- Santa Fe, New Mexico

I promise never, ever again to make eye contact and nod thoughtfully while secretly compiling our dinner menu and grocery list in my head as you are waxing eloquently in regard to the how superior Unix is compared to Microsoft (again). ...Or when you explain in great detail the pros and cons (along with the country of origin) of the dozens of (free!) operating systems available on Unix…or something. How does that all work again? I WILL pay attention this time.

I promise never, ever again complain that the grass is taller than the dog in the back yard as you spend an entire weekend trying to tweak the above mentioned operating system into do something that any other “normal” computer does right out of the box.

Why??

Because, techno-man of my dreams, you performed CPR on my laptop and breathed just enough life back into it to be able to retrieve my Santa Fe photos. You worked your IT magic and plucked the photos from my computer’s scrambled mind right before the brain transplant- even though others said it couldn't be done.

ExtraSpecialBitter you totally rock!

On The Dance Floor

Chicken Bone Saloon- Framingham, Massachusetts

Some Blues Guitar In The Background Please...

"The Chicken Bone Saloon" Framingham, Massachusetts

Back from Santa Fe. Very much full of the blues.

I took a few shots that had some nice potential...

-Beautiful red chiles.

-The incredible texture of adobe in the setting sun.

-Insane people under the influence of too much tequila ;-)

Was so careful to download them every day to my laptop to free up space on my digital camera.

Oh so organized.

Got home last night to find my laptop hard drive (and all my photos on it) has crashed and blown away like a New Mexican tumbleweed.

I'm very sad.

PS- This is our friend Joey Pappas from The Paramounts-

An excellent / underrated Boston blues band.

We saw them a few nights before we left.