65 days

Another summer of water skiing in New Hampshire, 65 days this year, is past. Maybe another day or so for the odd "Indian summer". Click for a YouTube Playlist of some of the videos from the pond this year.

Watching Turkeys

As summer winds down, a familiar northern goshawk has been keeping an eye on the gang of wild turkeys on the hill.

Chickie

I found a few frames of old Super-8 film from 1974 of what appear to show MaryAnn being blown about in the backseat of Cathy's yellow Galaxy 500 convertible, Chickie. I love these historical gems and when I have some time I'll go digging for more.

Bisco 2012

Camp Bisco 2012 was great. More than just the music, again, it was the cool kids: Mario and Sam, Lewis and Steph, Sara, Devon, Coxon, and the rest. I'd like to think that's how we kicked it back in the Bushkill; one solid tribe almost effortlessly looking out for each other. Respect!

End of Manitou

I suppose I'm in just a little bit of denial. Memorial day 2012 has come and gone in a flash, like Manitou and pig pen visions of the past, the truth and memories don't fade; perhaps they get stronger, even distorted in a good way. But I think I'm blocking something out. I ritually spent the long weekend in the water, my temple, doing what little else can: focusing all attention in one place for 16 blissful seconds. Soundtrack: Gillan Welch, Attitude: Johnny Walker, Outlook: Hopeful

Skier's Point-of-View

The skier's POV thing has apparently caught on. I've started dumping the minimally edited bits in my Dubes 2012 playlist. Go fullscreen and crank the audio: The audio is as interesting as the video!

Thick Skull

As the 2012 waterski season ramps up; I contemplate the sagacity of a skull mounted B-camera.

Cut and Dry

Patti Rothberg is a goddess: I don't think I'm overstating things, I checked Wikipedia and everything. I know because I woke today with "Cut and Dry" from "Overnight Sensation" (iTunes) playing in blissful auto-repeat from the goop in between my ears. On further, more objective, assessment (like playing the whole work this evening); this is one of the finest musical dishes served up in recent memory. Seriously, over a year in our own heavy-rotation. Thanks Patti! (selfishly, now more please).

Supermoon 2012 (2011 redux)

Telluride Interstitial

Every so often a year comes along when life, work really, gets in the way of life. I saw a post this morning where some childhood friends and family were at KTEX. Why am I not there? How can lift 9 run without me; surely its most avid, if tragically turisto, fan?! A blog trip down memory lane helped; and the season is not over yet.

The recent past:

• Telluride 2011
• Telluride 2010 (a no-show)
• Telluride 2009
• Telluride 2008
• Telluride 2007
• Telluride 2006
• Telluride 2005

Snow Tank Fish Cake

We watched two great, if not widely known, movies last week: Snow Cake (2006), and Fish Tank (2009). Both were terrific. In a difficult to describe way, they remind me of my own unexpected life arcs.

Andy and Marjie (1974)

Words are Cool

I feel extraordinarily blessed that I have lived a life with unencumbered access to books. Growing up in NY, Annie Bosworth would point out more interesting reads than what our class had been assigned. I distinctly recall thinking "The Odyssey" and "Beowulf" were decidedly less cool than "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". I read them all. In West Shokan, Rosalie Burgher opened up the Olive Free Library not only to new books, but to showing the early SLS Cine Productions that would be a precursor to our pigpen adventures. I hope the intertubes haven't ruined all that for kids.

Yesterday, I read my first essay on a Kindle (ok, the Kindle app for iPad). It was "The Queens of Montague Street" by Nancy Rommelmann. What a treat. A must read. Words are cool!

Massabesic Ice In

Normally both Massabesic and Dubes have iced over by late December. Jan 2012, not so fast. Both have substantial ice; but also larges patches of open water. With New Year's day temps in the low 40s, we won't be ice skating there any time soon. Just three months until ice out!

Mellow Holiday 2011

The winter solstice passes and the days start getting longer. Another trip around the sun. Another year of wisdom behind. Another year of magic ahead. Cold here in New England; but no real snow on the ground, so time for a walk with the dogs.

Bushkill Sleigh Trip (Redux)

This worked well last year and the past hasn't changed yet. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving 2011

Every year there seems to be this exponential acceleration that begins around October, soars through the holidays, then (thankfully) returns to normal in January. I don't feel it's either good or bad; it just is. And as I get better in deceleration of mind time - the whole infinite nowness thing; I'm just fine with it!

Friends and Holidays

Season Cycle - Fall 2011

Three weeks ago we were under a foot-deep blanket of wet snow. Now, the snow has melted and it's looking a lot more like fall. A trip South to visit family in New Jersey set the season back another few weeks; giving me a second look at fall's color. Still, I have strong feelings of a powerful, monochromatic past, etched in the 1970s above the Bushkill: Plus-X visions in panchromatic resonance whose intensity etched neural benchmarks I'll never forget.


2011 versus 1972

I found a VHS tape from 1978 with oxide falling off of it. I salvaged a clip of the Manitou House Bowling Alley Demolition; as well as the longish 16 minute biopic "Big Jim".

Snowtober Cyclogenesis

Five days on, most of the foot of snow has melted and we've had utility power for over a day. But last weekend's October snowstorm left a low-level anxiety that will take some time to settle out. The mess to clean up. The supplies to replenish. The time lost. But it's all good; except that just a little bit of fall, my favorite season, seems to have been stolen.


Mine Hill Fall 2011

Lone Dragonfly

A lone dragonfly lands on the picnic table on the dock. It's cool and windy, a sure prelude of frosty nights ahead. But the dragonfly seems content and true.

Fall Dragonfly

Eigthy Days 2011

For two consecutive years I managed to find 80 days to ski on Dubes Pond. It had been a week of rain, the water temperature falling from 72 to 52, I'm sore as heck; but I'll take it.


Brooke, Wendy, Dave, (and Summer)

Sunny and Smiles

Smiles on the pond today with food, family and friends. There is nothing wrong with that; and I believe, a great deal of good.

Smiles times Two