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Lake Superior- Near Munising, Michigan

I moved to Boston from a remote town of 1300 people in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan exactly 26 years ago last week. (Think: 45 minute drive to go to a movie…on a road that gets closed a lot during the winter due to storms off the lake.)

I still subscribe to my home town newspaper. There in a photo on the front page of the latest edition is: my junior prom date. He has loaned the library his collections of rocks and minerals and this is really, really big front page news.

I need to find time to walk along a beach and look for pretty rocks again.

Where Are Our Experienced Patriots?

Samuel Adams said:

"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."

Sam, where are you now that we REALLY need you?

Faneuil Hall- Boston, Massachusetts

(And in the beer cooler at your corner store.)

Smoke Break

Boston, Massachusetts

The guys from the fife and drum corp take a smoke break in the alley.

More From Bean Town

Boston, Massachusetts

More scenes from downtown Boston during the Independence Day celebration.

PS- Only tourists ever call it "Bean Town."

Red, White & Blue

I've been taking a bunch of photos over the July 4th holiday in and around Boston.

Here are some of the most red, white and bluey-est.

Boston, Massachusetts

The patriotic cow in Downtown Crossing. She looks a little angry.

Boston, Massachusetts

A chain link fence in Government Center.

Cochituate, Massachusetts

The gigantic flag that always flies in the center of our village.

Don't Be A Dummy

Central Square- Cambridge, Massachusetts

It isn't too late to pick up some tasteful accessories to wear to the 4th of July cook-out.

Theme Night

Waltham, Massachusetts
Never a good sign to have firemen on the roof of the restaurant.

It started out as a typically pleasant Friday night. Dinner and a movie with Mr. ExtraSpecialBitter. We noticed the hook and ladder at an Italian restaurant as we walked by. The firemen were heading down off the roof, so I snapped a photo. Nothing special, but I liked how he looked up there on the ladder in the setting sun. As we turned and walked away I made a wise-crack about "blackened" chicken fettuccini being the night's special on their menu.

My karmic payback for this remark was not far away...

At the brewpub around the corner we were seated in the front window. I set my camera on the ledge and took this shot through the glass. Continuing with theme night, he is smoking while leaning against a fire alarm.

About 45 minutes later with about 3 bites of my dinner and half a pint of ale left, karmic payback kicked in, the theme of the evening continued, and the fire alarm screamed to life in the brewpub. We were escorted out to the sidewalk with a couple dozen other patrons and wait-staff. Many people brought their beer with them (to prevent it from evaporating in the fire, I'm sure). Because the a/c in the place hadn't been working and it was actually much cooler outside, the crowd on the sidewalk became "intoxicated with the lovely evening air" and everyone got a little silly. Above is the firefighter who must have drawn the short straw- He was assigned to stand by the truck and watch the crowd in front of the brewpub. His buddies were luckier...they got to enter into the smoke-filled, overheated kitchen and climb up into the ventilation shaft.

PS- No one was injured in the making of this blog entry and I'm not sure there were any actual flames at either establishment.

Buy Our CD!

Boston, Massachusetts

As you might expect Independence Day is a big deal here in Boston.

(Think: Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, etc.)

We have tons of reenactments happening all over town, plus people dressed like Ben Franklin and Paul Revere wandering about answering lots of touristy type questions.

The above photo was taken after being catapulted back to 1776 by a fife and drum corp...

and then shocked back into reality when they finished performing and their manager grabbed a microphone and started peddling their CDs.

Good Morning Bonita

Cochituate, Massachusetts

How lucky I am to have subject matter to shoot, even on a rainy Sunday morning.

All I have to do is wake up and open my eyes.

What A Load of Garbage!

Framingham, Massachusetts

I stood on this railroad bridge while dozens of open railroad cars of garbage slowly rolled to the west underneath me. Where was it all going? Are we the only family that recycles around here?

I was shooting between the wires of a tall chain link fence- clearly put there to curb my urge to do a perfect arching swan dive off the bridge into the garbage....but also annoying because I couldn't get any close up shots.

I saw some interesting items pass below me in those cars- including a mostly deflated soccer ball next to a lamp shade. Had to be trash from some wild World Cup party.

First Day Of Summer

Cochituate, Massachusetts
And I thought we lived close to Starbucks! Mr. Extraspecialbitter and I literally have a Starbucks in our back yard. He never goes there but I occasionally embrace the overpriced caffeinated beverage lifestyle and today enjoyed an iced tea (venti-black-unsweetened-vanilla-shot for those of you who speak Starbucks esperanto) while hanging out on their patio with the house sparrow.

Got Sheep?

Natick, Massachusetts
Another border collie looking for sheep in all the wrong places.

This time in the parking lot of the local suburban mega-supermarket.

I think the loose carriages all over the parking lot were really calling out to him to be herded neatly back together.

Happy Father's Day

Along the Freedom Trail- Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Mayor James Michael Curley had 9 children.

Clearly he has another admirer as well.

ZZZZZZZZZZ

Medfield, Massachusetts

This pit bull pup snoozes in the sun as the dog rescue festival winds down to a close.

(If you look closely at his collar you can tell he must be dreaming of the next Red Sox win!)

Don't Try This At Home

Medfield, Massachusetts

What happens to border collies when they run out of sheep to herd...

Bad Hair Day?

Medfield, Massachusetts

We had a blast at the annual Save-A-Dog dog rescue fair.

This handsome guy is single, available and looking for a new home.

Rocks & Salt?

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Where the ocean, desert and margaritas all meet.

Bold Sparrows

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The sparrows were bolder than the iguanas.

But not as bold as the time share salespeople.

Breakfast With Iggy

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

We met each morning at the outdoor all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet...

Veterans Day

Boston, Massachusetts

A homeless veteran asks for spare change on the steets of Boston.

Dead End

Cochituate, Massachusetts

The spider likes the idea of our dead end street.

Rain Delay

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

I dug into the archives for another photo from Red Sox Nation.

Red Sox Nation

Maynard, Massachusetts

Even though I'm not a sports fan, I still have to love the rabid Red Sox fans who inhabit the environment around here. Here is Ronnie Earl, a wonderful, tasteful Boston musician...so soulful, decked out in his African garb...yet he still can't bear to change out of his Red Sox t-shirt before he goes on stage.

Happy Mother's Day

Beale Street, Memphis TN

She resides in the back corner of A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store.

I probably should have bought her a hat for Mother's Day.

Boston Contrast

Boston, Massachusetts

Doggie Dental Care

Cochituate, Massachusetts

I actually know someone who flosses her dog's teeth.

No need to in our house- Bonita uses the sprinkler like a Water Pik!

Under The Dogwood Tree

Cochituate, Massachusetts

This time of year I thank the people who lived here before us for planting the wonderful dogwood tree next to the 2nd story deck. We sit at the table right under the blossoms that shade us.

Eye Contact

Under Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Investing for those Golden Years?

NY/NY

He Loves Cheryl

Near North Station, Boston Massachusetts

He must love Cheryl an awful lot to tattoo her name on his neck.

He was petting a pit bull when I took the photo. I'd like to think her name is Cheryl.

Surprise In The Brush Pile

Cochituate, Massachusetts

Shadowed

Cochituate, Massachusetts

In "Dog-lish", Bonita's personality is described as "velcro". She is constantly at my side....stuck to me like velcro. I haven't gone to the bathroom alone in 4 years. Every time I get up to get a beer from the 'fridge she treats the situation like a gigantic adventure that must not be missed. I know this drives some people crazy...but I love being shadowed!

Outside Starbucks

Cochituate, Massachusetts

Guess which car belongs to the Starbucks employee?

The Bee's Knees

Cochituate, Massachusetts
Normally I don't do much nature photography.

But on a beautiful day like today even I can't resist!

Lady In The Alley

Near Government Center- Boston, Massachusetts

"I Heart My Dog"

Cochituate, Massachusetts
More dog part photos today.

Bonita has a wonderful heart-shaped patch of black fur on her hip.

Spring In The Square

Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
You know spring has sprung when the street performers return to Harvard Square. This is my friend lloyd Thayer who likes to play blues renditions of Run DMC and Devo songs on his dobro and harmonica.

Spring Storm

Downtown Crossing, Boston, Massachusetts

Hanging out in the subway station during the downpour.

Skeletons In The Closet

Weston, Massachusetts

This is a scene I dramatically pointed out to a well dressed, impeccably behaved 6 year old at a recent open house I attended. This skeleton was left in the barn attic window a year and a half ago when the owners moved.

I pointed it out because the house for sale was built by my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather...the house and land are exactly what we have been searching for but the asking price is twice what we can afford. The child's parents could clearly afford the property...but hopefully moved on to fall in love with a place that had skeletons in the closet that belong to someone other than me.

Home Alone

Cochituate, Massachusetts
Home alone on Saturday night.

Just me and my dog with her perfect feet.

Spring Time Frustration

Cochituate Ball Field, Cochituate, Massachusetts

Q. What could possibly be worse than your brand new toy stuck high up in a tree?

A. Getting the big stick you used to get it down stuck up there too.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Framingham, Massachusetts
This snowy winter-wonderlandish photo was taken today from a ladies room I desperately needed to use during the freak storm.

The Long Commute Home II

The Red Line, Somewhere under Boston, Massachusetts
OK- Maybe this isn't as strange as the pigeon taking the subway home but you have to admit that it is a bit odd, if not a fashion faux pas, that he left his helmet on in the subway.

Contrast

Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts