Thursday, March 29, 2007
March 29, 2007 Maintaining a Stiff Upper Lip
There comes a time in every man's life when the mustache has to go. In my case today was that day. I mean, I think this 'stache makes me look like Josef Stalin's long-lost Irish nephew. Or perhaps,with the sideburns, I appear to be a producer of 1970's B-grade movies.
ZAP!! .........'stache gone!
ZAP!! .........'stache gone!
Labels: Ridiculous Stuff
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
March 27, 2007 Look Out !.....the Gangsta's back!
Hey Gangsta Rock returned to the woods today after a 2- month hiatus. We parked at Rocky Pond and hiked up to the top of Birch Hill, where there is a tower. Then we descended to the Southwestern ridge where these photos were taken. The view is to Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Ma.
As you can see above, I carry a lot of stuff around on these hikes. That's only the contents of two pockets. It was ridiculous in the woods today, 63 Degrees F. with melting snow in the hills forming little streams everywhere. We wore our huge Sorel boots to make it through the streams, and snow, and mud.
Hey, it's good to have Governor Rock back out here....Look Out ! The Gangsta's back!
Labels: Hollis
Sunday, March 25, 2007
March 25, 2007 My Usual Hollis Program
My usual program in Hollis, about twice a week, is to drive out to Christopher's Pizza and Subs in Hollis and have a Sub. Chuck IV joined me today, for Christopher's anyway. Then I park somewhere, and hike around out in the woods for about 2 hours. Today, I decided to explore new territory off of Federal Hill Road, so I parked here (see photo below) and started East. I use a compass now. East brought me to a bunch of houses, so i headed west instead. I ended up hiking mostly northwest through the woods, with the final 20 minutes walking southeast down Federal Hill Road.
After a couple of hours, I get back to the Explorer, and chill for a little while. Mainly because it's so nice out, i kind of hate to just get right in the car and drive away. So, I usually enjoy an apple or banana or something and take my YakTrax off, and enjoy some water or something. Then I drive home.
After a couple of hours, I get back to the Explorer, and chill for a little while. Mainly because it's so nice out, i kind of hate to just get right in the car and drive away. So, I usually enjoy an apple or banana or something and take my YakTrax off, and enjoy some water or something. Then I drive home.
Labels: Hollis
March 24, 2007 Hello Cowgirls
Dave and I were chillin Saturday night, when suddenly a couple of cowgirls walked in. It was Jackie and Stacey.
Dave took this photo of Chuck IV and me goofing around with the Cowgirls.
Then they left.
Dave took this photo of Chuck IV and me goofing around with the Cowgirls.
Then they left.
Labels: Family
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
March 21, 2007 Spring Has Sprung !
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
March 17, 2007 A Night at the Opera
What? You guys went to see a German Opera on St. Patrick's Day?? Yes we did. At Harvard, I am affiliated with Lowell House. Lowell has run an annual opera for 69 years. This year, the opera was Der Rosenkavalier.
Before the show, we went to dinner at Le's, an awesome Vietnamese restaurant in Cambridge. 
Above, you can see Deb Stone, Carmen Saleta, and Blai Saleta. Below it's Deb and me.
Below, you can see Blai, Carmen, and me on the Red Line heading home, well at least as far as Alewife Station.
Friday, March 16, 2007
March 15, 2007 Seating Capacity Rocks Nashua North High
Seating Capacity is New Hampshire's hottest young band. They rocked Nashua High North on March 15, 2007.
l.to r. Dave LeBlanc, Danny Pipilas, Nick Laquerre, Evin Baird
In the photo below, Nick rocks out on bass guitar. Nick also plays keyboards.
Here's Danny with his cool hat and hot licks
Evin, below, singing. Evin also plays guitar in the band.
Dave L. with the cool shades laying down a solid beat on drums.
Below is the whole band - click on the photo to enlarge.
2 of Seating Capacity's biggest fans!
l.to r. Dave LeBlanc, Danny Pipilas, Nick Laquerre, Evin Baird
In the photo below, Nick rocks out on bass guitar. Nick also plays keyboards.
Here's Danny with his cool hat and hot licks
Evin, below, singing. Evin also plays guitar in the band.
Dave L. with the cool shades laying down a solid beat on drums.
Below is the whole band - click on the photo to enlarge.
2 of Seating Capacity's biggest fans!
Labels: LeBlanc
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
March 7, 2007 Another One of Those Large Rocks that Fascinates Me. Especially When the Large Rock is Just All by Itself for No Apparent Reason
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
March 3, 2007 The Secret Lives of Bibliophiles
Are you a bibliophile? I am. The signs include the constant inspection, discussion, collection, and reading of books, as well as books about books. Well my friends Jodi Simpson and Pete O'Malley are bibliophiles, too and we indulged ourselves last Saturday, March 3. First, we hung around my home library, known as the Vermont Library. Hey, that's Jodi up on the ladder (predictably, she's in the European fiction and literature section).
Just outside the restaurant, the semi-frozen Contoocook River rushes by.
The anticipation is palpable ! Below is Peter and Jodi at the front door, about to enter a bibliophile's heaven on Earth.
Here's a photo of me up on the ladder in one of the aisles on the second floor.
Below, you can see the heating system for the book store: a wood stove.
A book -buying frenzy ensued, with Jodi and Peter scoffing up about 10 books, with a focus on classic literature.
Below, well, someone gave me a pulpit of sorts, so I'm pontificating about something...most likely some baffling tidbit of minutia. 
Yes, these are the secret lives of bibliophiles.
Below, Jodi and Peter are posing in front of the wall of books. I have about 1,000 books.
On Saturday afternoon, we drove from Nashua, NH up to Henniker, NH on back roads. It took almost an hour to get there. When we arrived in Henniker, we had an awesome lunch at Daniel's. Here's a photo below of Peter and me. Peter and I have lived in the same room (Wheeler 109 at Holy Cross College), 18 years apart. He works at Harvard now.
Look at this couple! Jodi and Peter got married in July 2005, on a boat on the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge.
Jodi is, arguably, a lucky woman. She's in the good hands of a couple of Crusaders. Jodi is really cool, plus she's from Australia, so she's even cooler.
Just outside the restaurant, the semi-frozen Contoocook River rushes by.
Ok, the photo below is the outside of one of the best book stores in the world. I kid you not, you are looking at the Old #6 Book Depot of Henniker, NH. Note the brown barn on the left side of the house. The barn contains 150,000+ good quality used books, all organized by subject.
The anticipation is palpable ! Below is Peter and Jodi at the front door, about to enter a bibliophile's heaven on Earth.
Here's a photo of me up on the ladder in one of the aisles on the second floor.
Below, you can see the heating system for the book store: a wood stove.
A book -buying frenzy ensued, with Jodi and Peter scoffing up about 10 books, with a focus on classic literature.
Below, well, someone gave me a pulpit of sorts, so I'm pontificating about something...most likely some baffling tidbit of minutia. 
Here are the three books that I bought. This first one is by a well known neuroscientist. Antonio Damasio explains how "emotions and feelings contribute to reason and to adaptive social behavior." This book was published in 1994.
This next one is by Arthur C. Clarke, my favorite science fiction author. This particular book was published in 1986, and arrived at The Old #6 Book Depot as a used book in 1987. Twenty years later, I walked in and bought it. It's a first edition hardcover in perfect condition. I can't wait to read it. Arthur C. Clarke is 89 now and lives in Sri Lanka. His 60+ books have sold over 50 million copies.
This last book is by Harvard professor Howard Gardner who introduced the theory of multiple intelligences with this 1983 book.
If you check out Jodi's bag in the photo below, you'll notice it's from Strand's bookstore in NYC, another amazing bookstore. Jodi and Peter were just there a few weeks ago. This photo, though, is at the "Old #6 Book Depot"
This next one is by Arthur C. Clarke, my favorite science fiction author. This particular book was published in 1986, and arrived at The Old #6 Book Depot as a used book in 1987. Twenty years later, I walked in and bought it. It's a first edition hardcover in perfect condition. I can't wait to read it. Arthur C. Clarke is 89 now and lives in Sri Lanka. His 60+ books have sold over 50 million copies.
This last book is by Harvard professor Howard Gardner who introduced the theory of multiple intelligences with this 1983 book.
If you check out Jodi's bag in the photo below, you'll notice it's from Strand's bookstore in NYC, another amazing bookstore. Jodi and Peter were just there a few weeks ago. This photo, though, is at the "Old #6 Book Depot"
Yes, these are the secret lives of bibliophiles.
Labels: Harvard, Jodi + Peter
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
February 17, 2007 Mensa Regional Gathering
Once a year, Mensa has a Regional Gathering (RG) here in New Hampshire. This year, it was held in Nashua.
L. to R.: Marghretta McBean, Blai Saleta, and moi
Had some fun performing with these guys. We did a bunch of tunes ranging from Neil Diamond to James Blunt.
L. to R.: Marghretta McBean, Blai Saleta, and moi
Had some fun performing with these guys. We did a bunch of tunes ranging from Neil Diamond to James Blunt. Labels: Mensa
February 17, 2007 My House is a very, very, very, fine house
Hey this is where I live. I've been here for 21 years. I guess I must like it. Best of all, Chuck IV and the Stacerama are around to keep an eye on me.
C iv and the Stacerama at Grady's Labels: Family
