Meanderings 54

Wow...its been since July on the "meanderings" front. I guess I need to catch up. I am always jotting down my observations, but I guess I just never got them into a blog as of late. Too busy, plus no one reads this anymore. But I like it I guess....

1. I was going to take Amanda away for our anniversary on one of the windjammer cruises leaving from Camden. I went on the ships two summers in a row while I was in college, chaperoning for the Swiss exchange students. I went to go check the prices, and I noticed how much the prices have risen. I find this kind of funny, and I was begged to ask the question: Why? I mean, does the price of wind go up with inflation? How can sailboats charge more money? A ha! I mean, I guess food costs a little more, but where do they get off cashing in on the rising price of fuel?

2.You know what you never see anymore? Those fruit punch "machines" that used to be ubiquitous in diners and small restaurants. Do you remember those? They were clear plastic, and the fruit punch would mix all day long as it fountained continuously down the sides of the tank. Where did all of those go? Have we stopped caring for the quality of our punch??

3. I saw a sign the other day that read "FINE FOR LITTERING." So I said, "okay" and tossed a wrapper out the car window. Then, the following day, I saw a sign that read "$100 FINE FOR LITTERING," and I thought to myself, "I dont care WHAT they say....no one in their right mind should toss a hundred bucks out the window." Get it?

4. I would like to start an activist group that gives the Jews some ownership, stock options, or AT LEAST some credit when it comes to the Egyptian pyramids. "Oh those Egyptians were such geniuses," people will say. The Jews built the darn things. Where is OUR stake? All throughout history, the Egyptians get all the credit, and I dont think that is right. I demand reparations from the Egyptians. What's fair is fair, right? (Except 'my people' have class. They are too busy at their jobs each day to complain about getting free money they dont deserve).

5. Isnt it funny that we travel AWAY from home, down the street, and across town to go to restaurants that advertise "home cooking?" Why do restaurants advertise this? I think they are missing the point of restaurants

6.In Maine, like Mass and other states, it is the law that employees of restaurants must wash their hands before returning to work. But it is also a law that restaurants post official signs telling employees that they must wash their hands before returning to work. So, essentially, it is a LAW that they advertise that something else is a law. Hmm.......

7. Regarding number 6: Who is enforcing this law? Who could honestly tell if an employee has not washed his or her hands? "So what are you doin' time for?" "well, back in 87 I forgot to wash my hands at Denny's...."

8. Most of you who read this blog know that I may someday run for president with one platform, and one platform only: Tractor trailers are only allowed on the road between 10pm and 7am. This, as I have mentioned before, would solve most of the world's problems. However, I now have a second platform: It would illegal for any person, radio station, or any other entity to play that song "Walkin' on Sunshine" by whomever sings that piece of crap song. Anyone caught playing or listening to the song would be shot on site. Vote for me.

Six years, pumpkins, and roadrash

Mmmmm....this pum-deen tastes good! I'll take it!

If I ever had the guts to do something with my music and make a CD, I think I'd use this for an album cover. I love the "grace" of this photograph.....
Callum in the pumpkin patch, overwhelmed by all the pum-deens to choose from! Also, I love his new jacket

It was just like Charlie Brown! Callum carries his "meow" with him 96.2% of his waking hours....

Amanda and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary today; I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I do consider myself the most blessed man on the earth, as I have a beautiful, supportive, and compassionate woman with whom I share my life....and together we have a little walking bundle of personality. Life is good.

On Saturday, we took Callum out for breakfast at the Flatlanda' (of course!) and then over to former WHS teacher Fred Nasser's "Eagle View Farm" for some pumpkin picking. Fred has a great setup, complete with a "haunted trail" on which to walk en route to the pumpkin patch. Once you are down there, you've basically got your pick of about 500 pumpkins (he planted 1000 seeds, but the rain made it a bad year). Callum had a great time, as the pictures demonstrate. And after selecting his pum-deen (Callumish for pumpkin) Farmer Fred let him feed the chickens! Callum held an ear of corn up by the chicken wire, and the birds went to town. I'd have to say that right now, farm animals are by FAR Callum's favorite things in the world (even more so than Elmo....I think).

After this, Lynne and George came by to watch Callum, so Amanda and I could go out and celebrate our sixth by spending the day together. We decided to first go on a nice long bike ride. Needless to say, that will be my last ride for a while, since both my bike AND my body are in disrepair. I took a pretty nasty fall of my bike, after crossing some railroad tracks and having my back tire literally come out from underneath me. I didnt even know what hit me; I was on the ground like a sack of potatoes. Railroad tracks are often the bane of cyclist's existences, and today I met my match I guess--the bike tires have no tread on them, and tracks can be very dangerous. Hopefully the good people at Mathieu's can fix my Allez...but I am more concerned about my whole left side; I have some pretty nasty roadrash, as well as some "structural" stuff going on with my knee. 17 mph might not sound like a lot in a car, but when I coasted over the tracks at this speed, it was pretty effective at hurting me. Thank God Amanda was there! Oh well...we'll see what happens.

For dinner, we went to Graziano's La Casa Mia....which is the ULTIMATE in homemade, authentic Italian food (Thurstons take note!). The restaurant, in Lisbon, looks like a dive....but inside it is absolute bliss. Check them out on line (http://www.grazianoscasamia.com/) and see for yourself....only 40 minutes away, and blows the socks off of craparitas (New Jerseyans take note!)

Happy Anniversary Amanda. Here's to AT LEAST 6 more.......haha

which one?

Here is Amanda with her bike. again.

who this?

fourteen.

i pickle they.

T-Shirts Part II

Okay. Part 2 here. Test your "cultural literacy" and see if you can tell me from what movie, tv show, pop culture phenom these are. I will get some Callum pictures. I promise. But isnt this fun???

1. A great idea to put on a Valentine's day card.....
2. This was enjoyed on my dad's "Tandy."

3. I always wanted to be an architect.....

4. "And a new pair of shorts......."
5. And dont forget.....Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.......

6. Back when I used to wear gold plated diapers.....

7. I used to do a pretty good impression of this one.....

8. "Our pet's HEADS are fallin off!!!!!!!!!

Great T-shirts

There are so many great t-shirts out there. Some pay homage to great tv shows and movies of the past, some make fun of current political and social quagmires, and some are just beautiful in an artistic nature. Bustedtees.com, teefury.com, shirt.woot.com, and threadless.com are some of my favorites (thanks Brian for turning me on to these!). I wish I could buy all these shirts and just wear one each day. I could probably go for the whole year! There are a lot of lame shirts these days that I see kids wearing...things that say "only a moron would stand here and look at this shirt for as long as you are" and "i do what the voices in my head tell me to do." How about some originality? Here are some favorites I came across today....

Every college freshman hippy's "first cause" (as in first love)

Big stupid racist doo-doo head Kanye West......"imma let you finish...." HILARIOUS! If you know the movie from #3 here, post it as a comment! I had to think for a minute. You've all seen this!!!

HAVE MERRRRRRCY and tell me if you know #4!

I really do want to buy this t-shirt. Simple. Brilliant. The best kind.

If you havent gotten the other ones, see if you can "redeem" yourself and tell me which movie this is from.....

And yes Nannie, Aunt Carol, and Aunt June....I will post some Callum pictures soon. He gives kisses now! And actually--and we didnt teach him this--when you say "I love you" he leans in automatically to give you a kiss....

What we did this weekend

My first "gig" with a bagpiper. What fun! Father of our friend Krista, he played "Highland Cathedral" while Amy walked in with her father At the rehearsal he told me he was going to come all decked out in his regalia. I thought, kind of, that he was kidding. Obviously, you should never take an Irish/Scotsman lightly! He told me the whole getup ran about a thousand bucks. He had everything from the kilt to the shoes to the socks, etc. He even had a traditional dagger in his sock. That's what she said.

One of the camps on the lake....where our friends Glenn and Krista were staying. They have a certain "Adirondack" feel to them. Very rustic and beautiful, and, according to Glenn, very very reasonable. Hmmm.........
I dont know about all you folks in Mass, CT, Jersey, and Egypt, but here yesterday it was WINDY!!! Here's a shot of East pond with the "hills of Rome" in the background. East pond is one of the Belgrade Lakes. A beautiful place.

This weekend is hopefully the final weekend--in a string of the five past weekends--where we have true commitments. Ever since the middle of August, we've had something going on each Saturday and Sunday, and now I think we have a respite until the holidays start up....

My commitment this weekend involved playing in a friend's wedding Saturday night. I wrote them their wedding song, but they decided to(--for the ceremony's sake, and because they got married outside where there were no places to hook up speakers and mics--) have me play some instrumental stuff while people were seated, play some more stuff while the mothers were all being seated, and then play a special piece I wrote while the moms lit the unity candle. I had a blast, because I got to just chill out and have fun and not have to worry about being in the "spotlight" which is usually the case when I sing. People dont pay as much attention when you are just doing instrumental, and that is fine with me!

The wedding was at the Alden Camps in Oakland. The Alden Camps are right on East Pond, and they are beautiful. The reception was in a refurbished carriage house, which added a lot of charm. And the groom (eat your heart out Thurston!) is the head chef at "The Last Unicorn," which is a fancy restaurant in Waterville. He cooked the food for his own wedding (!) and we had lobster/crab salad sandwiches, prime rib with cucumber sauce, lots of fancy meats on sticks, fancy shrimp things, and many many chutneys....and much much more. EXCELLENT food. I also sat with WHS's very own school resource officer, Josh, and his family. The highlight of the evening had to be when this other random guy at our table started introducing himself and his girlfriend, asking where everyone was from. When I said how I was originally from Mass, he says "oh yeah...I knew a kid from Mass...I went to college with him.....you dont by any chance know Jay Ponticelli do you??" Wicked small world, and for the next several hours we reminisced our favorite Jay Ponticelli moments. I really miss Jay since he died.

On the Amanda and Callum front: Yesterday they went with 'ampy and mee-mee down to Freeport where Callum got new sneakers, a snow suit from LL Bean (which means we'll have to return it after the first flurry) and enough clothes from Carters and Osh Kosh to fill a UHaul. We'll have to post some pictures just of that.

Today we went to church, came home, watched half of the Pats game (the half when they were winning) and then worked outside while Callum slept. I did a bunch of firewood, Amanda cleared flower beds, we both planted a bush, and we just had a good old time working in our yard.

Blog Superlatives

My buds and I have been doing these over email lately....about all the people with whom we went to high school (and are now on facebook). It is fun. So, I decided to "stir the pot" a little and do some superlatives on people who usually read this blog. As usual, feel free to add. And lighten up.....

Most likely to warn EVERYONE, FOREVER about all the things in the world that are "hot": Callum

Biggest fan of MET's posts: Ortiz

Most likely to bash ANYTHING that Obama ever says, does, or thinks, or excretes: Aunt June

Most likely to "should have" bought stock in Hannaford: George

Most likely person to be "anonymous": Actually, I have figured out who it is! But I'll wait for their next comment to expose them....

Most likely to have a physiological disorder that causes one's age to unexplainably go from 30 to 87 in the span of one year: Jared OR Amanda

Most likely 2030 Tour de France winner: Callum Goldsmith

Most likley to be 2030 world champion staring contest winner: Jackson Favry

Most likely to post the same exact comment two or three times in a row: Nannie

Most likely to update their blog at some point BEFORE 2030: Melathan

Most likely to win 2010 " International British TV Show Trivia Challenge": Jared

Least likely to get a driver's license: Lynne

Least likely to forget to bring a stool when travelling: Ortiz

Most likely to have parasocial relationships with stuffed animals: Mel

Most likely to get made fun of for AT LEAST the next 2 years for wearing "ENYCE" hip hop clothing at the last family get-together: Ortiz

Most likely to "start running Monday": Jonathan

Least likely to finish knitting a sweater: Sorry hon....

Most likely to have the false allusion to that he is some type of "farmer" even though he lives on .25 acres: Jared

Least likely to keep classroom the way it is for the next .5 week: Michelle

Most disdain for organic chemistry: Chhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrisssss

Most likely to use personal grooming products containing the same name as the person using said products: Anthony

Least likely to be able to fix anything around the house: Jared

Most Eddie Bauer sweatshirts: Bob

Most clubhouse visits (with the exception of the immediate family): TIE-Jay and Timmy

Most likley to return clothes to Chicos this week: Nannie

501st Post!!!!!

Wow! Can you believe it!? This is the 501st time I've sat down to write a blog about our life here in Maine. If this blog were a sitcom, reaching 501 would be absolutely awesome.....but for a blog it is pretty cool too! I wanted to include a few pictures from the Jordan Pond House, which is another small adventure from our camping trip a couple of weeks ago. It has been hard to keep up with everything lately....we've been busy, busy, busy. We've had something going on for the last four weekends, and this weekend will be no different as I will be performing at a friend's wedding on Saturday. After that, it will hopefully slow down a bit!

The Jordan Pond House--even though I (kind of) hate the actual "house" is probably my favorite part of Acadia National Park. Isnt that funny? I mean, it is tremendously overcrowded, overrated, and overpriced....but the "idea" of the whole thing, as well as the physical setting are beautifully stunning. There are lush fields, carriage road trailheads, and one of the most picturesque views in all the park. Callum loved it there. Do yourself a favor and not only look at the next three pictures like a "strip," but also blow them up so you can see Callum's facial expressions. He was running around like a mad man, laughing so hard it was making him fall down. People sitting at their tables up the hill were having a great time watching the kid....I took these three pictures one right after another.....

YEAY!!! NUMBER 24!!!

And this might be my new favorite family photo. Amanda, can you order one of these for me from snapfish? I want it for school. The lush field at the bottom of the outdoor dining area....in the immediate background is a carriage road, and the "back" background there is Jordan pond, with Bubble mountain looking over everyone and everything....

It doesnt get more touristy than "tea and popovers" at the JPH....but it was all good. It was definitely worth driving an hour for a cup of coffee and a roll (wah wah wah). No, like I said, the experience is very worthwhile. Me, Sally, George, Lynne on one side, and Mel, Jon, and Ensign on the other. Callum presides at the head of the table. See that picture of Ensign?? That is about the happiest he was all weekend (wah wah wah!!!). It was a beautiful end to a beautiful day.

Here's to 501 more posts........

What will Callum look like at post 1002??????

Grandparent's Day '09

Apologies in advance for this being a short blog (or, for many, you are probably happy...haha). We just got in, it is late, we are tired....but we wanted to put a few pictures from this weekend down in Mass. It isnt often that the cousins get to see each other, so when they do it is a reason for celebration....and celebrate we did! Yesterday we took either a 20 minute, 30 minute, 35 minute, or 50 minute ride (inside joke) to meet Kris and Jackson somewhere in RI at Texas Roadhouse for lunch. I am so excited we are getting one in Disgusta, because I love that restaurant! Here's auntie with the two boys.....as you can see, Callum is quite the little "toy thief" from his "helpless" five month old cousin! What a bully! But that is okay...because Jackson is almost bigger than Callum already, and he'll be able to stand up for himself soon! Haha

Today at my mom's, there was a brunch, and in addition to the Goldsmith family, we had my dad and Barbara, Kris, Anthony, and Jackson, Joanne, my mom, and Bob. It was great getting everyone together, and the boys had a great time with their grandparents! Here, Callum and Jackson find themselves stuck in between two Goldsmith men!
Santa Claus practice.....

Callum has such a good memory, constantly saying "Puh-puh" and "Na-Na" to....well....Nana and Papa. Again, he is showing his toy theft skills, while poor Jackson looks in, in despair....

The food was awesome.....you knew I had to mention that. We had an egg bake, hash-brown casserole, TWO dozen bagels from Back Bay Bagel Co., an amazing beef tenderloin, pepperoni bread, cupcakes, and a million other things. Amanda and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with Jackson, and tried to get as much time as we could with him. I worked on two things today: Teaching him to sit up by himself, and tickling his neck with my kisses, in an attempt to make him laugh. I had success with both! Here's Auntie with Jackson.....

And here I am....one proud and happy father and uncle. Meanwhile, the kids could give two craps, as they are to into their toys.....

Winter Harbor Camping Part II: Blueberry Hill

We got to do a couple of outings during our trip downeast. Lynne and Mel watched Callum for a couple of hours one day so Jon, Amanda, and I could take an awesome bike ride around Schoodic Point. It was only a 15 miler, but it was stupendous! Amanda kicks butt on her bike, and I think she is going to be a "cat 2" in less than a year! She has a turbo light, and that makes all the difference....

On another afternoon, Lynne watched Callum for a bit so Amanda and I could do what is most definitely in my top three favorite hikes of all time: Blueberry Hill. I guess some call it Schoodic Head, but I am old school....haha. For its location, it is a VERY interesting hike with surprisingly technical terrain, steep ascents, beautiful alder meadows, and stunning views of the Atlantic. Also, the flora is impressive, as white birch and Jack pine compete for the sun's nutrients in an amazing test of plant endurance. Pretty neat, twisty growth to check out....Here is Amanda about halfway up....just enjoying the beautiful forests.... It is really hard to tell just how steep some of these sections are. We were going to bring Callum (carry him), and it is a good thing we didnt! I havent hiked Blueberry for like four years, and I guess I forget how steep it was! Check out nature's little staircase.....

"The pictures dont do it justice" sounds sickeningly cliche....but it is most definitely true. THe whole experience: Seabreeze, silence, and salt air all coalesce to bring together the whole "moment." Okay Michael Scott. Directly across Frenchmen's Bay is Cadillac Mountain. Off to the left and right are other Acadia Mountains like Dorr, etc. There are DOZENS of little islands out there, and all of them are places Amanda and I would like to live. Some are so tiny they can only fit one cottage on them. Sign me up.

One of our classic "self portraits" we havent taken in a long time.....

And when we got back to the campsite, Callum enjoyed every little boy/father coming of age experience: The driving of the car....haha! We drove from the Willard's campsite to ours, and Callum steered. I wish we had a more "responsive" camera so you could truly see the SMILE on this kids face as he steered the car and made "vroom vroooooom" sounds!

Winter Harbor Camping Part I: Callum at camp

Here is the campground......pretty nice, huh? Too bad its going to be big ostentatious houses soon. Oceanwood Campground is stunningly beautiful; there are about a dozen sites RIGHT on the ocean, and the rest of them are just a short walk through the shore-path. You are looking at the other side of Birch Harbor--directly to your right, across Frenchmen's bay, is Acadia National Park, and right in front of you is wide open ocean! If you blow the picture up, you can see Lynne walking along the rocks.

Callum LOVED camping. He thought the tent was like his little playhouse. He slept very well, all things considered. Napping was tough, since he just wanted to play. But I think the salt air made him sleepy. And he loved the ocean. He would point at the waves and just keep going "oooooohhhhh!!!" and stuff. Here are Amanda, Callum, and Jon on the rocks by the seawall at Oceanwood.

Callum must have admonished us at least a hundred times a day that the fire was indeed "hotttttttt!" The rest of the time, he spent chasing people around the site, navigating rugged campsite terrain of rocks and roots, eating his daddy's pickled sausage, and playing with his "diggers" (trucks, pail, shovel, rake) as he moved pine needles and rocks from pile to pile. He was a joy to be around!
Here he is on a walk with Uncle Jon across the campsite. I dont know from where they were coming. This is actually Lynne, George, and Grandpop's site. Our site was the one to the left....through the woods.

Here's my "Hells Kitchen" instructor, Grandpop, showing me the way he wanted the grate positioned for cooking huge thick chicken breasts over the open fire. WHAT A SURPRISE that they werent done all the way! Haha. We rearranged some rocks and had a nice makeshift "grill." I have to say I was really proud of myself for starting a charcoal fire without the aid of my chimney starter OR any lighter fluid. I used newspaper, some split pine, and a little help from the seabreeze. And we had a nice hot cooking fire.

I thought we got a picture of Grandpop's tent, but I guess we didnt. I think Robert E Lee used the same tent during the Civil War. Haha. A great campsite. We ate well (chicken, ham, eggs and such, cookies, pickled sausages, lots of great beer, etc). This post was just on our camping adventure. I will post a couple more on our separate outings while we were there. We cant wait to take Callum camping again!