Tiers of Tears

Don't we already hate tiered cable tv services enough? I just read an article at CNN.com about the plans of the telecom giants to develop a tiered internet. Owners of websites who pay additional fees will receive greater bandwidth, allowing their sites to load faster and deliver smoother streaming content. Those who do not pay up will become the slow drones we all remember from our dial-up days.

The article notes that wealthy, established companies will have the advantage over start-ups with this type of system. The potential impact on the public in general and bloggers in particular is also noted:

"Google and Amazon and Yahoo are not going to slice those payments out of their profit margins and eat them," says Ben Scott, policy director for Free Press, a nonprofit group that monitors media-related legislation. "They're going to pass them on to the consumer. So I'll end up paying twice. I'm going to pay my $29.99 a month for access, and then I'm going to pay higher prices for consumer goods all across the economy because these Internet companies will charge more for online advertising."

Worse still,Scott argues, the plan stands to sour your Web experience. If, for instance, your favorite blogger refused to ante up, her pages would load more slowly on your computer than would content from Web sites that had paid the fees.

Under this system, surfing the web might go something like this: check the news at cnn.com, check the scores at msnbc.com, stop over at weather.com to plan for the morning commute - no problem, you cruise on through, since the wealthy parent companies of these sites have paid for top-tier delivery. Next, try to stop over at your favorite blog, or visit your neighbor's fledgling online cottage industry. Suddenly, you're back to the days of the World Wide Wait.

It seems to me that a tiered system would allow the telecoms to charge for their services twice. It would allow them to charge the consumer for faster access, but only to sites owned by corporations or individuals who had also paid for faster delivery. Pretty sweet deal for the telecom giants, if you ask me.

Personally, I see this as an affront to those of us who pay through the nose for broadband. The selling point with broadband is faster access to the internet, not to select, highly commercial parts of the internet. This is not the web as we know it now, and tiered service is not something I'd take kindly to. No thanks. I'd opt out.

They're Here

Each year when the tourists return to the shore area, the locals give one another a significant look and, through clenched teeth, utter the well-known quote from the movie Poltergeist:

They're Here.

Here we are again, we've tapped the keg on another Memorial Day Weekend. I'm not sure that anyone remembers the true reason for Memorial Day anymore. Isn't it simply a three day weekend to kick off the summer spending frenzy? Look at the newspaper inserts this weekend : pools, beach towels, garden supplies, hotdogs, hamburgers, ice chests and patio umbrellas. The message is clear: this is a time to celebrate - to start the tan, to show off the new swimsuit, to barbeque and drink beer. Did I hear someone say something about remembering those who have died in our nation's service? Surely not, that would be too grave, too somber a thought to interject into our national playtime!

Driving home from work yesterday, I found myself in a modern wagon train of SUV's, RV's and travel trailers, all headed for the shore resorts. High fuel prices have not slowed gasoline consumption one iota. That would be Un-American.

So from behind clenched teeth and a with an oh-so-fake smile, let me tell you that THEY'RE HERE. While we have plans for the weekend, they in no way involve beaches or restaurants or touristy things. Good Americans that we are, we have a party to go to tonight and a barbeque tomorrow. Monday will be a quiet, stay-at-home kind of a day. I promise to take some time out to say a prayer for those who have died to ensure our freedom.

Delinquent!

I received a Notice of Delinquency today from the Grand Pooh-Bah of the World Wide Web (subcategory: blogosphere). I risk revocation of my blogging license, and A Room Somewhere will be dismantled and the furnishings sold at auction to the highest bidder, if I do not produce a post forthwith, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. (I always hear Yul Brynner's voice, in character as King Mongkut in The King and I, when I encounter the word "etcetera," especially when it's presented in triplicate. But I digress.)

I wish I could claim that my life has been so eventful, romantic and intriguing that there has been no time of late for mere blog composition. Well, I suppose I could say it, but it would be a sorry lie. Make that the sorriest of lies. No, life has been so mundane and uneventful lately that I have not been able to come up with a single original idea to drive me to put figurative pen to virtual paper. Life is not bad right now, just ordinary and lacking in inspiration.

The highlights of the last week or so include:

Highlight One - Dinner out at the Tuscan Tavern (I think that's the name of the place) over the weekend with my husband and his sister in celebration of her birthday. OK, in all honesty, the stars of the meal were the 2 Tuscatinis I had with my dinner.

(Aside to Maidink: I highly recommend a potent variety of martini, or even just shot or two of vodka, in situations like your recent Mother's Day fiasco.)

With a nod to my at-risk blogging license (gotta toe the line for awhile), and in honor of the Truth-in-Fiction Act (10-46:167a), I should note that I am not a common tippler by any means. No, wait, that didn't come out quite as planned. I am not commonly caught tippling. No-no-no, that makes me sound like a closet drinker. OK,OK - I don't drink much and I don't drink often, how's that? But there's no denying that a well-timed glass of vino or a delightful little cosmo can take the edge off of a stressful outing.

Highlight Two - Watching the Stephen King TV movie last night. The company (my hubby) made all of the difference. It was like a date.

OK, so now that you've seen what really makes Jane a dull girl, I'll sign off and get some beauty sleep, in preparation for more creative blogging ahead!

On Spontaneity

On Thursday afternoon at about 3pm, I was sitting quietly at my desk at the office, diligently attacking a pile of paper to be processed. The phone rang. It was my husband. The conversation was pretty much one-sided:

Him: Hi, how are you? J-- has tickets for the Phillies tonight.
Me: OK, you're going with him? (Why else would he be calling me at work to tell me his friend has tickets?)
Him: No, his daughter has a game tonight, so he can't go. (That's why...uh-oh).
Me: (Hopefully) OK, so, you're gonna ask L--- or G---?
Him: It's too late to ask them. Can you get home a little early? If we could eat a fast sandwich and get out of the house by about 5:30, we could make it on time...
Me: But it's going to rain tonight. Heavy, flooding rains. (Again with the hopefulness) Won't they cancel the game?
Him: If we get there and it's cancelled, we can just go home. I'll do all of the driving. (Oh, yeah, that's comforting.)

And so began an exercise in spontaneity. Can you hear me thinking, "Oh, joy - drive an hour home from work, then an hour and a half to Philly, so that we can turn around and come home when Accuweather gets it right?"

While I don't mind going to the ballpark once in awhile, I'm not exactly a fan. I took a magazine with me, to read in the rain. And it did rain. There was a light, misty rain off and on throughout the first four innings. The hardy folks in front of us kept their umbrellas up most of the time, which meant that I couldn't see the field at all. You pay for good seats, then you can't see the game because the folks in front of you will melt like the Wicked Witch of the West if the slightest bit of moisture touches them. The LLBean waterproof anoraks they wore weren't enough to protect them from the mist, oh no.

The most dramatic moment came early in the first inning, when Aaron Rowand took on a fence to make an amazing catch. It wasn't raining at that moment, but the folks in front of us stood up as soon as the ball was airborn, so I still couldn't see a thing. I saw the replay, and I watched him walk off of the field with a towel over his face.

In the 4th inning, my husband points out that the game can be called after the 5th and still count. If the Phillies are still leading after the opposing team bats in the top of the 5th, then the game can end at that point as a win for the Phils.

It so happened that the Mets were still behind after the top of the 5th. This conversation ensued:

Him: I want a hotdog. I'm gonna go get a hotdog. I have to have one.
Me: But what if they call the game? I won't be able to find you?
Him: I'll come right back here if they call it.
Me: But, but...
Him: It's only drizzling. They won't call it for drizzle. I'm gonna get a hotdog.

Translation: If I want a hotdog, I better get it now. They might call the game, then it'll be too late!

He walks away. The sky opens up and it pours. The field crew pulls out the tarp. Fortunately, I have the umbrella, as I stand there in the rain, watching the stands empty and waiting for my husband to return. And waiting and waiting and waiting. I give up and head for the concession area to look for him. When I finally find him:

Me (grabbing his sleeve): I'm soaked, we're going home.
Him: But I still haven't had a hotdog! And it might stop raining. This is just a delay. J-- was here last year when they had a 2 hour delay.

(2 hours???)
Me: Please! One of us has to work tomorrow, and it isn't you! And I'm soaked. Wawa sells hotdogs.
Him: It's not the same. I want a hotdog. C'mon, lets get one, then we can go...

In the end, I'm glad I went. It took an effort to be spontaneous, but, between the raindrops, we managed to have a good time. Personally, I prefer to visit the ballpark during a May rainshower to visiting during the dog days of August. There is no escaping the Philly heat and humidity at Citizen's Bank Park on a brutal August evening. Philly didn't install air conditioning in the concession area, as Baltimore so sensibly did at Camden Yards. So maybe I've paid the spontaneity toll for this year, and I won't have to go back when things heat up late in the summer.

Yeah, right.

Once Upon a Time...

The first popular song I remember from my childhood is, These Boots Were Made for Walkin', by Nancy Sinatra. Interesting song for a young 'un to listen to, wouldn't you say? I had a 45 rpm single play record of this song - the kind that needed the adapter pictured on the left in order to be played on the hi-fi.

I also had the single of, Those Were the Days, My Friend, by Mary Hopkins, on the Apple lable. You know the song (if you're old enough) - it started out, "Once upon a time, there was a tavern, Where we used to raise a glass or two." Again, odd musical choice for a toddler. That yellow adapter looked pretty funny right smack dab in the middle of that green granny smith apple!

Another song I remember from that era is, Little Becky's Christmas Wish. It was a tearjerker about a little girl who wanted her big brother to come home from Viet Nam for Christmas. I don't think he made it.

I took a musical trip down memory lane at You Tube last night and looked up the following songs:

Hooked on a Feeling - This one was originally by Blue Swede; the version at You Tube is by David Hasselhoff (what's up with that?), but it sounded pretty much the same, and the video had dachshunds in it!

Bohemian Rhapsody - by Queen. I still love the tight harmonies and the rock opera presentation.

I Started a Joke - by the Bee Gees. I still only partly get the joke.

Surrender and The Dream Police - by Cheap Trick

I even visited my least favorite song of all time. It gave me a frisson of nostalgic repulsion right from the very first strains: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I used to cringe when they played it at a dance - it went on forever and ever, and it was virtually impossible for anyone to dance to it.They always requested it, though, with cries from the crowd of, "Play Freebird! Play Freebird!" Ugh. Sorry to all of the Skynyrd fans out there. Just hated this one. It grated on me from the very first time I heard it. Sweet Home Alabama was much easier to take.

I could never quite bring myself to like Stairway to Heaven, either. I know, I know, I'm a traitor to my generation. Another awful song: The Girl is Mine by Michael Jackson.

I couldn't find anything by The Cars at You Tube, but I went through a distinct Cars phase.

I was able to find the first music video I remember watching - Don't Stand So Close To Me by The Police. I checked out a little Blondie (Call Me!) and the Eurythmics (Annie Lennox singing Sweet Dreams). I even listened to a short version of Macarthur Park (hey, it beats Freebird any day in my book).

To give credit to the late 80's, I looked up Simply Red's, If You Don't Know Me By Now (it was big when I was dating my husband). I kept trying to remember Don Henley's, The End of the Innocence - it sat at the back of my mind like a shadow or a ghost that disappeared when I tried to look directly at it. If finally popped into my head tonight, when I least expected it.

There was a song by John Cougar Mellencamp that was big in the late 80's, too - I can see a bit of the video in my mind, but I can't quite remember it. Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

When I speak of today's music, I have begun to echo the things my mother said to me a couple of decades (or so) ago:

1. They don't make music like the did in my day, and

2. It all sounds the same.

I could go on for hours, picking out tunes from the past and reliving moments of my life to them. What were your favorites, and which one gets your vote for worst song of all time?

Question of the Week

If you knew the world was going to end before the next billing cycle, how would you max out your credit cards?

A Room With a View, the novel

No, the title of this post does not imply that I intend to compose another long missive about the view of the natural world from the window of A Room Somewhere. What I plan to discuss, briefly, is the novel I finished reading this week, A Room With A View by EM Forster.

Forster uses the tale of Lucy Honeychurch, a British young woman on the brink of maturity, to explore issues of social class and propriety. There is a hint of an Austen-like tension between common sense and folly, though Forster does not quite have Austen's light touch or subtle wit. Still, his characters, who start out seeming like stylized caricatures, develop unexpected complexity and insight by the final pages of the book.

In Forster's writing, as in Austen's, people of good sense reign themselves in from mindless adherence to fashionable views and practices. Self-worth and lifelong happiness are valued over social climbing. The novel might seem senseless or odd to those unfamiliar with the mores of the period when it was written (1908). I found in it to be a surprisingly enlightened view of women and their capabilities, considering that it was penned by a male author in the Edwardian era. The story line takes a pleasantly unexpected turn or two, as well.

I saw the Merchant-Ivory movie version of this tale (starring Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands and Maggie Smith) when it was released on video several years ago. To the best of my recollection, the screenplay, was faithful to the novel, though some of the nuances of character might not have made it onto the big screen. I plan to rent the DVD sometime soon for a renewed comparison.

This, That, 'n' Other Things

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, so, of course, there will be yet another food fest at work. Ay Carumba!

Ever since the doctor told me a couple of months back that my sugar level is creeping up (yes, there is diabetes in my family, so I have to be careful), it seems like there has been nothing but one pig-out after another around the office. I'm going to contribute something to the fete, in the spirit of the day, but I might not stick around the office for lunch.

I had a bit of a Mexican gastronomic cheat tonight. We ate out, and I partook of the chips and salsa, so I really must behave myself tomorrow. At least salsa has some redeeming nutritional value.

Putting my plans to abstain into print helps, since some of the folks at work drop by my blog from time to time. In the spirit of love and generosity (haha) they'll be more than glad to remind me if I should be caught with a taco or a piece of cake.

Between the sugar thing and some other stuff (mostly the other stuff), I've been feeling pretty lousy lately. There has been improvement, though, and I don't have headaches every day anymore.

Still, I felt bad enough to stay home on Tuesday. Every morning this week has been a struggle, and I'll be glad when Saturday arrives. Guess this is why my posting has slowed down a bit lately. I've been pretty tired, and my memory isn't what it should be. I keep putting the wrong dates on stuff, and I just plain forget things.

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I posted about the wild dogwoods last Saturday. They grow in the woods around my home. They're still blooming, and they're still lovely. I know how pretty the Washington DC area can be in the spring, and I wonder if Random Kath and Virginia Gal are experiencing as much beauty right now.

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I'm thinking of changing my blog template. I want to do more than mess with the color scheme and decor, I want to set up a different style. I would like to have only one sidebar, and I want it to be on the right side, so that my posts have a stronger presence on the page and are easier to read. If I do change templates, I guess I'll have to start all over again with the blogroll, etc, and I'll have to learn my way around the new template. Seems a bit daunting. Well, I guess it'll be OK if I save a copy of my current template so that I can go back if I make a muddle of things. Has anyone tried this? If so, how'd it go?

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How 'bout those gas prices? Yes, the length of my commute increased sixfold this year, and I continue to be punished for it. Not only do I get a lot less sleep (I also go in earlier now) and have a long drive every day, but life conspires to add out of control gas prices to my lot. I know, it's not personal, and it's affecting everyone right now. But it feels personal when I pull out of the gas station a couple of times a week...

Still, the environmentalist in me thinks that the gas prices could have a silver lining. We have to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and we have to stop sending CO2 and other toxins into the atmosphere. Maybe higher fuel prices will make us see the light.

The Search

We watched a movie on Turner Classic Movies last night called The Search. The movie starred Montgomery Clift as Steve, an American soldier post WWII. A little boy named Ivan Jandl played Karel Malik, a Czechoslovakian child separated from his family during the war and imprisoned at Auschwitz. Jandl is the true star of this film.

Karel is rounded up with other kids and taken to an orphanage or camp created by the Americans to help the children. He has amnesia and cannot remember his name or any information about his life or his family. When questioned, he will only answer, "I don't know," in the Czech tongue.

The depiction of the traumatic reactions of the children (most of whom do not speak English) to the no-nonsense military personnel and environment is moving. They find it difficult to trust the soldiers, who seem a lot like the German army to them. They are afraid of military transport and red cross ambulances because they were often used to take people away to concentration camps and gas chambers.

During one poignant scene, the children in an ambulance smell the exhaust from the vehicle and come to believe that they are being gassed. They break out of the ambulance and run away. Karel and another boy are not caught. The other boy drowns, and Karel is believed to have drowned as well. Only his knit hat is found.

Karel's mother has survived the war, though his father and sister have been killed. She begins a search for him on foot. Meanwhile, Karel is taken in by Steve (Clift), who dubs him,"Jim," because he cannot remember his name. Steve teaches Jim English and begins a search for his family. He is told that Karel's family must be dead, so he begins making arrangements to take him back to the US.

Jim gradually remembers some details about his mother and his traumatic separation from her. He runs away to search for her, but he is found by Steve and told that she is dead. Meanwhile, Karel's mother is told by the Americans that he is dead, and given the hat found in the river as proof. Both search for the strength to go on in the belief that they have lost everything, and they begin to heal.

The film's title becomes a recurring theme throughout this beautifully wrought movie, with searches both corporeal and spiritual depicted dramatically and effectively by all of the characters. Ivan Jandl's performance is especially remarkable. At only 11 years of age, he was already an accomplished actor. He won a junior Oscar for this performance in 1948.

This film was banned in Communist countries for 40 years. According to IMDB (as well as various other sites):

Ivan Jandl's performance in the movie The Search (1948) gave so much hope to the people of Czechoslovakia that the Russian Govt. took him out of school and put him to work in a rock quarry. He was forced to work there for a long time and never full recovered from the strains put on him at the time. He lived the rest of his life in a sickly state, and died relatively young.

Ivan Jandl died in 1987 at age 50. His life is a testament to the atrocities of repressive governments.

Dogwoods

Dogwoods grow wild in the woods around here. Their slender boughs spread delicately as if painted into a japanese watercolor rendered on fine silk, and their white blossoms form lacy clouds amongst the nascent greenery of the other woodland trees. They line the roadways like a bridal arch, celebrating the purity of early spring as it prepares to yield to the fertility of deep spring, and later the fecundity of summer.

Celestial Dining

I had a sumptuous lunch with a heavenly pair today. Lunch with Pax Romano and Princess Angel Child was a wonderful time. The fare was beyond compare, and the company was exceptional!

Princess Angel is a credit to Clan Romano. She is lovely and smart, and it seems likely that she will follow in Pax's footsteps as a maven of pop culture.

Thanks, Pax and Princess, for a lovely dejeuner.

A Fox in His Pocket

And I'm not talking about the George Clooney kind of fox.

CNN is reporting that President Bush has offered the post of White House press secretary to Tony Snow, a Fox Network anchor. Mr. Snow is expected to accept.

I know there was never any doubt that Fox is in bed with the White House gang (and vice versa), but this puts the final evidentiary nail in the coffin. It also shows us that Mr. Bush does not have any plans to change direction, despite the fact that US Americans are clamoring for an alteration in course.

Mr. Snow may be well qualified for the job, but the message sent by selecting a Fox anchor is equivalent to the thumbing of a nose at the president's critics. Mr. Bush, your critics are not just your political nemeses anymore, they are the majority of the American public. A little respect for us would be appreciated.

Earth Day

I didn't realize that today is Earth Day until I opened the Google search page and saw the graphic:

I recently posted about the expected effects of climate change here in the Northeastern US. I watched a Nova segment this week called Dimming the Sun. You can read a synopsis of this program here. Essentially, global dimming is a backhanded effect of pollution. Smog (including vapor trails from air traffic) creates a mirror effect, causing the earth to reflect sunlight back into space. This has actually slowed the impact of global warming.

Because smog contributes greatly to diseases of the lungs, governments worldwide have been taking steps to reduce it, and they are having a good deal of success. Smog reduction could lead to the acceleration of global warming. Some scientists say that we are close to a point of no return. We could reach that point within 5 - 10 years, with significant changes to coastlines, living conditions, and food supplies by mid-century. This theory is relatively new and, of course, controversial. The Nova program about how scientists developed the theory is compelling, however, and the information in it should be given consideration.

The US government has been denying the significance of climate change since the advent of the Bush Administration, beginning with the failure to participate in the Kyoto Protocol. The government's Earth Day website celebrates our purported successes and tries to paint the administration in a positive light. This is laughable, and it is an embarrassment to our nation.

The earthday.net website I linked to at the beginning of this post provides information about things we can do right now to make a difference, without waiting for the government to act. It is clear that US citizens will have to take steps to stabilize the environment without the government's assistance or leadership. We can't afford to wait until Bush leaves office to act. It might be too late.

Morning

Good Morning, all.

Took one of the hounds out about half an hour ago. It was just barely daylight, still half dark out there. A robin flew over to the the dry birdbath and sat there pointedly, as if reminding me that I was failing in my duty. I obliged him, and the birds have water for this morning.

There'll be no need to fill the birdbath this weekend, by all accounts. Heavy rains are expected in these parts, starting later this afternoon.

And me, I feel kind of lousy, and not so wide awake. I'm headed back to bed. Ahhh, the luxury of vacation.

Hope everyone has a happy Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Looking for a Room

I'm looking for an image of a room to use in my blog header. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery? Links appreciated. Maybe I should turn this into a contest. Hmmm...

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, everyone! I only had a few minutes to throw this color scheme together, since blogger kept giving me a hard time about uploading images, but you get the idea.

Enjoy this beautiful day, and don't eat too much chocolate or too many hard boiled eggs.

A Trip to India

I thought about Virginia Gal as I made a quick trip to India today. Virginia Gal would be the most qualified person I know to tell you that a quick trip to India from the US could only be possible in the sense of virtual travel, or as a flight of fancy. I took the latter, inspired by, what else, FOOD! At the grocery store late last night, I picked up a couple of Tasty Bite dishes. I couldn't wait to try them, so I tucked into the Jaipur Vegetables for lunch today.

Mr. Merci joined me in the taste test. This dish gets 2 thumbs up in the Beaucoup household. Jaipur Vegetables is a wonderful vegetarian concoction with the consistency of a stew. It's just spicy enough to tingle your tongue without the need call the firehall. It would be great over rice, which I must avoid, so it was consumed a la carte. As with all spicy dishes, a bit of vanilla ice cream as an afterthought would have been quite nice. Sadly, ice cream is on my forbidden list, as well. No matter, Jaipur vegetables is truly delicious.

I can't vouch for it's authenticity, and I certainly cannot compare it to other Indian dishes, since my experience of the cuisine is limited (something I plan to rectify soon), but it stood on its own as quite a Tasty Bite.

Favorite New Show

I'm really getting hooked on Big Love, the new show about polygamy. It's set, where else? in Utah. I've watched it since the first episode. It's kind of tough to shift gears for another HBO drama right after The Sopranos on Sunday night, but I'm managing. Finally found a couple of folks at work who are watching it, too, so now I can chat about it and mull it over with friends (hi, Joey B.).

Looking forward to work today. I have a lot to accomplish, and when it's over: VACATION! 10 beautiful days off in a row. Not going anywhere special, and that's just fine with me! I need the R&R.

Hope those of you who celebrate Easter have a lovely one. Those of you who do not, hope you enjoy the extra day off (if you've got one). If not, then hope you get something special out of the weekend - good weather, a nice dinner out or a new pair of shoes. Nothing like new shoes to make you feel great.

OK, I'm getting punchy. Gotta go to bed. I stayed up late waiting for some clothes to finish in the dryer. Forgot to put them in right after the wash cycle was done. I'm such a nimwit sometimes. I'll be very tired all day tomorrow. But that's OK, 'cuz when tomorrow's over, I'm on vacation!!!!

We Need a Little Christmas (shopping)...Already???

I'm watching CNN this morning, and I just saw the first Christmas ad of 2006. Apparently, QVC felt that it was necessary to remind us of the benefits of shopping early for Christmas gifts, and they want us to mark our calendars so that we won't miss their big Christmas shopping bonanza in November.

I hope it was just an error, but I'm skeptical. Bad enough that we have Christmas ads before Halloween, but before EASTER??? What's a Bunny gotta do to stay employed under all of this holiday pressure?

To Miss Magnolia

In a comment on my post below, Miss Magnolia Thunderpussy offered the following:

"I've always wanted to take dear Pax for an outing at the bitch but we've abandoned the idea, I can't walk in the sand, in heels and the wheels of Pax's chair would get tangled in all the seaweed."

Here is my reply:

Miss Magnolia-

It's hard enough to walk in the sand, let alone to push one of those rolling chairs through it. Perhaps a trip to the Wildwood Boardwalk would be a better alternative. You could ride up and down the boards in the luxury of the tram. No need to fear for the safety of the pedestrians, since they play the recorded message, "Watch the tram car please, watch the tram car please." In fact, they play it over and over and over, ad infinitum.

http://www.limericky.com/funtram.html

The Atlantic City boardwalk offers rolling chairs pushed (for a fee) by entrepreneurial types. The rolling chairs give you more freedom to choose your destination, and they offer a bit more privacy.

Failing both of the above, Mr. M and I could power a surrey on the Ocean City Boardwalk that would enable the two of you to tour in style. The model at the top of the page has enough room for crinolines and oxygen tanks, but the model pictured here is available if you desire the romance of the pretty little surrey with the fringe on top.

So you see, the Jersey Shore can accomodate ladies and gentleman of leisure. There is no need ever to dip so much as a little toe into the sand or the ocean.

Sea Isle Sunday

Our plans to stay home and relax yesterday were thwarted by the gorgeous weather. We just had to get out and enjoy the day. There are only so many spectacular days in any given year, and we couldn't let the perfect weather go to waste. We decided to take a spin into Sea Isle City for a walk on the boards. Great choice! And it came on the heels of a trip to the boards in Ocean City on Saturday.

We love this time of year because the height of the tourism season hasn't struck. We can find parking spots on the barrier islands, and we can actually walk down the boardwalk (as opposed to being jostled down the boards by the crowds).

It's always a bit cooler on the islands, of course, which is the reason they became such popular tourist spots in the days before air conditioning. The air seemed chilly when we first got out of the car, but we warmed up quickly as we began to walk in the sun. We didn't think it was warm enough for shorts and tees and bare feet, but there were a few people who disagreed with us. I found my warm up suit to be just about the right thing to wear.

Here are some pics of SIC:

Last Fall I wrote a post called, "Sidewinders and Tombstones." In the post I described the benches that line the Sea Isle City boardwalk as tombstones, their epitaphs serving as eerie captions to a dark, deserted, Autumn night. I didn't have any photos to post at the time, so here are a few:

Here's one last scenic pic as a closing thought:

Strange Events

It's been a strange couple of days here at the Room. It all started on Thurdsay night, when the Old Hounds refused to settle down and go to sleep. If you know anything about old dogs, you know that they sleep about 99% of the time. This was an odd night.

After restlessly roaming the house for about an hour, starting at midnight, the young hound (age 14) started to growl in a low tone. The old hound (age 15) soon joined the chorus, which quickly evolved into a theatrical production of the most gosh-awful howling you can imagine. I'm always amazed by the ability of these small creatures to bellow out such big, deep sounds.

We realized that this would be an entirely sleepless night if we did not take action. Were the neighbor's cats creeping around the foundation of our home again in their endless search for voles and moles? Was a possum climbing the gutters? Was a skunk family trying to take up residence under the deck ? (I shudder at the thought of skunks under the deck.)

We armed ourselves with the most powerful flashlight we have. A candle might have given off more light, but at least the flashlight would stay lit in the breeze. We left by the front door, locking it behind us so that nobody could gain entry to our home while we were creeping around the property.

We slowly and quietly made our way around the house. As we rounded the corner by the family room, we heard a rustling noise in the woods. Could it be a deer? We haven't seen any since hunting season last fall, but they could be making a comeback. But a deer in the woods should not be enough to disturb the dogs to this extent. Was the Jersey Devil taking up residence? We trained the flashlight beam on the woods, but it was not strong enough to penetrate past brushy the outer edge. The rustling sound picked up in pace, and the creature could be heard moving off toward our neighbor's home.

We finished the circuit of the property, and, finding nothing else amiss, we went back inside. The dogs were unsettled for another half hour or so, but they finally went to sleep. We gladly followed suit.

Fast forward to last night (Friday). The same cycle of events began. This time, we were prepared with a much more powerful flashlight - something much more like a search light. Once again, we crept around the house, and we heard noise in the woods directly behind our home. As we shone the light into the murky woodland, the noise once again intensified. We were shocked and speechless (well, nearly speechless; I won't repeat our actual comments here) to see the back of a retreating black bear!

Black bear have been sighted in a state park not far from here, and one was seen (and captured) in a neighborhood one county over. I don't know that any have actually been seen here before last night, but I guess it was inevitable.

So here we are, stunned in bearland, making plans to secure our trash and add extra lighting to the exterior of our home, in hopes of discouraging bears from foraging too close to the house. Our neighbors seem to have had a similar experience. For the account of their bear sighting, complete with some amazing photos, check out their site.

Room With A View, Fast Forward

The lead story at cnn.com earlier today was about the acceleration of climate change. It seems that we may be approaching, or may have passed, a tipping point. A tipping point is something like the straw that broke the camel's back. Once you hit it, a cascade of rapid changes begins, and the trend is difficult to reverse.

If our climate continues to warm at the current rate, then many of the world's coastlines as we know them today will be under water by the year 2100. Sea levels could rise by 2-3 feet. The map below (taken from cnn.com) shows the projected impact on the region where I live. My house is situated firmly in the red zone.

In fact, my home is situated far enough into the red zone to make me wonder if it will take a full century for me to feel the effects of global climate change. After all, it cannot be expected that the seas will suddenly rise by 24" exactly 100 years from today. A gradual rise is the more likely scenario, and it has already begun. The polar ice caps and mountain glaciers of the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. As the icefields (which reflect sunlight out of the atmosphere) dissipate, we absorb even more solar energy, increasing the rate of warming. The oceans absorb heat. As the oceans grow in size due to the melting icefields, we absorb more heat. Quite a cascade.

So I wonder, what will I see in my lifetime? If I stay in New Jersey, in my present home, what will I see through my back window? Whenever we have heavy rain, or a coastal storm threatens, those of us who live on the southern New Jersey mainland (the oceanside beaches of South Jersey are located on barrier islands, not on the mainland) joke about having beachfront property when "the big one" hits. Is there more truth in that old joke than we want to acknowledge? Will the woodland that is my back yard die off as salt water seeps upward, killing first the easternmost trees, and gradually creeping up on my home?

I've heard two different versions of the ultimate impact of global warming on climate in the future. Both seem to agree that the temperatures we experience will be extreme. It will either be brutally hot or the Gulf Stream will shift, ushering in an ice age. Robert Frost offers the best summary of my feelings about the possibilities:

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

This 'n' That

I've had to be out of the office unexpectedly several times this week. When someone who might fall under our agency's services is being referred for nursing care, I have to go out to see whether or not our services might offer a better alternative. There is a very limited window of time given by the regulations to accomplish this, and it was just an oddity that so many had to be completed in one single week. Either that, or the vernal equinox is at fault.

In any event, I now have a nice backlog of work waiting for me tomorrow, and several phone calls to return. Thankfully, the Mommanator went with me on these forays into the American healthcare system. Thank you, Nursie! There was one nice bonus today: I ended the day at a visit about 7 miles from home. I had a nice short drive at the end of the day, and I got home much earlier than usual.

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I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I desperately need my weekend break, and I'm taking Monday off. I have an early appointment on Monday, then the rest of the day is mine, all mine! Maybe I'll spend the afternoon in Cape May (I can hear the Pax Family Singers breaking out in song as I type (On the way to Cape May, I fell in love with you... )

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I'm mulling an idea for a post suggested by Pax. The idea has a sci-fi/Frankenstein element to it. Maybe early next week. We'll see if I'm up to developing it...

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When you have your health, you have everything...
That was one of my Mother-In-Law's favorite sayings. She was absolutely right. If you're poor, but healthy, you can work hard and improve your lot. If you're rich, but sickly, the money alone won't make you feel better. All of the money in the world can't cure some ailments. If you're poor and sick, you're in trouble!

If you feel well, you can get over most of the things life throws at you.

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I finished a book this week called The Queen of the Big Time, by Adriana Trigiani. It's a coming of age story about an Italian-American girl. The story begins when she is age 14, in 1924, and it follows the rest of her life. I enjoyed the book, though the end felt a bit rushed and a few of the elements introduced later in the story were a bit hackneyed.

I especially appreciated the descriptions of the hard-working immigrants and the life they built in a small Pennsylvania town. It was refreshing that the book never once mentioned the Mafia or organized crime.

Signs of Spring

A cluster of daffodils sprouted boldly in my garden a few weeks ago during a warm spell. They've paused, but not retreated, with the return of the cold weather. The tightly rounded ends of the flower stalks are in the first stages of pregnancy, preparing to bloom when the warmth returns.

One of my tulip bulbs has sent up a single broad leaf, only half emerged from the ground. It looks for all the world like a green rabbit's ear, cocked and listening for the robins and spring peepers to say it's OK to come out and play.

Last week I heard a woodpecker pounding on a dead tree in the woods behind my house, defining his turf and warning all of the other woodpeckers to stay away. The robins (who don't really leave in the winter, they just flock up and retreat quietly into the woods) are stirring and they're starting to pair off. Soon we'll see the first nests being built, and we'll hear them fending off the jays as they tend their eggs.

The spring peepers were calling one balmy evening last week, possibly the very first sound of spring each year. I heard them again on the way to work the next day. They're quiet tonight, the first official night of spring per the calendar - did I hear someone mention snow? Can't last long though, can it? Not with the days getting longer and longer. They'll be back soon (the peepers). Can't keep a good tree frog down.

As much as I like winter (I'm strange that way), I look forward to spring, to the greening up of the world. I love the luscious, wet verdure of the mosses and the spring grasses, so thick and rich and soft to the touch. I feel like I wake up with the flowerbeds and stretch my limbs with the trees. I'm Snow White awakening from a long foggy trance, or Proserpina emerging from the dark realm.

One spring several years ago, there was a woodpecker who took it upon himself to pound out a tattoo like a gatling gun on the metal gutter by our bedroom each morning - bright and early, of course. Nature's little alarm clock. He really was just a few feet from my bed, with nothing but a flimsy tract-home wall between us. He'd take off as soon as I opened the window, but he always came back the next day. Can't wait to see who sets up shop in my yard this spring. I think they're already hanging out their signs.

Cover Story

It's been more than a week since my last post. Here are some possible explanations for my absence. Choose your favorite, or come up with a new one for me!

• My husband and I flew off to Ireland to for St. Pat's. We stayed at one of our favorite haunts, Ashford Castle, which is the spot where we spent our 10th anniversary.

• We've been too busy preparing the hounds for an upcoming AKC show to spend much time on the net.
• We won the lottery and had to take time off to handle all of the legalities involved.
• We had an unexpected offer to buy the house (which was not on the market), and it was too good to refuse. We've been tied up with the details, and have had to start looking for a new home.
• My hard drive crashed.
• I've been working late on projects at work.
• Our cable service (including broadband) has been down for 5 days. I'm not happy with my ISP.
• Hangovers from too many green drinks.
• My sister got engaged and we've been planning her wedding.
• My husband has had the flu and I've had a sinus infection.
• Heavy winds along the coast felled one of the tall pine trees in our yard, and it landed on the house. Fortunately, no humans or hounds were harmed. There is a big blue tarp over the new family room as I speak, but the repairs should be completed this week.
• We've been helping Mom to prepare to move into our home.
• I've been working on the final draft of my first novel, due to be released this summer.

5 Weird Things

I was tagged by Virginia Gal to do the 5 Weird Things Meme. So here goes, 5 weird things about me:

ONE: I lived in the same house for the first 28 years of my life (excluding college dorms and an on-campus apartment). Since the age of 28 (no, I won’t say how long ago that was), I’ve moved 6 times.

TWO: I used to stay up late on weeknights to watch 2 Stupid Dogs.

THREE: My first car was a Plymouth Cricket. Hey, it was free. It also broke down the first time I tried to drive it more than 5 miles. I didn’t keep it very long. The Cricket was manufactured in the UK, where it was sold as the Hillman Avenger. For those of you who like Britcoms, the car rusting in Onslow’s driveway (his dog lives in it) in Keeping Up Appearances is a Hillman Avenger.

FOUR: I once jumped 25 feet from a rock into the Susquehanna River. I was the coward in the group; everyone else jumped (or dove) from, “Old 50 Foot.” This was a significant event for me because I am TERRIFIED of heights. It was also a near death experience because the current was strong and I had a very hard time climbing back onto the slippery rocks of the island. A friend helped, saving my life. OK, I exaggerated. But not by much.

FIVE: I hate the feel of most synthetic fabrics, and I especially hate nylon jackets (the fabric used for years in windbreakers and in those “parachute fabric” warm up suits). The noise they make is like nails on a blackboard to me, and the way they feel makes my skin crawl. I couldn’t stand to wear them for many years. I can tolerate them now, but I still don’t like them.

So that's it, 5 Weird Things. I won't tag anyone, do it if you wanna.

I <3 Saturday

Saturday, the perfect day. A day off, insulated by yet another day off to come. For these wonderful weekend hours, they can't get me. No, I'm not paranoid, just beleaguered and besieged.

I spent my Saturday engaged in one of my favorite activities. Actually, two of my favorite activities. Shopping and dining out. We went to Target and to Borders. We managed to spend a small fortune at my beloved Target, but the purchases at Borders were made with a gift card. I still have two dollars and change left on the card to spend. Excellent!

I bought a book (nothing special, just chick lit), and we picked up a Chopin CD. Our interest in Chopin was piqued by watching a movie about him last week. The film was a woefully inaccurate depiction of Chopin's life, but we didn't know that until we Googled him later (though I had my suspicions).

We had a late lunch at The Olive Garden. Yes, I like the place. It beats the food court at the mall, and you can actually have a libation with your meal. I had a nice berry sangria, just perfect for mid-afternoon: tasty but not strong. From the look of things, we're not alone in our opinion. The place is always busy, and we had to wait (just briefly) for a table.

Today's theme turned out to be liquid refreshment. We bought a replacement for our one-cup coffee maker. This time, we got the Senseo. I picked one up for my mom a year or so ago, and I really like it. The blue model now sits proudly on my counter, its first few cups having already been produced and consumed. It brews one or two cups of coffee right into the mug, with a nice crema on top. Wish the red model had been available, but, oh well.

We made one last stop to pick up some beer for the house. Sangria, coffee and beer: a perfect Saturday.

Odds 'n' Ends

Saw this over at Maidink's blog and had to check it out:

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

Of course, this doesn't ask about a few definitive words, like water (pronounced "wooder" in the Philly/South Jersey area), or sub vs. hoagie (I grew up saying hoagie, and sub really sounded alien to me. Sadly, sub is the word I use now - blame the move to the shore area and the influence of the husband). I know there are many more words that are important to this region, but it's late, and I can't think of them right now. Help me out here, folks, please! Pax, this is one of your specialties, so gimme a list, OK?

Just thought of another regionalism: down the shore. South Jerseyans and Southeastern Pennsylvanians go down the shore for their vacations. Contrary to common belief, however, people already at the shore do sometimes say that they are going to the beach. Example: "Last week we went down the shore for our vacation. We rented a place on Asbury in OC. It rained on Tuesday, so we didn't go to the beach or boards. We slept in, then went to Charlie's in Somers Point for lunch."

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If you haven't already visited Virginia Gal's blog, Gypsy Thoughts, check it out. Her series of posts called, "View from the 23rd Row," is an excellent resource for travelers. It's worth searching her blog for back issues of the series.

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Pax's Homemade Meme is circling the world at warp speed. Congrats, Pax, on achieving international renown!

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This might just possibly be the longest week at work ever on record. It feels like it, anyway. Will the weekend ever get here? Stay tuned for updates.

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I'm convinced that I have a barometer in my brain. I feel all of the high and low pressure systems that move through the area. And oh, those lows! Yesterday was pretty good, as was today, til a few hours ago. I can confirm the change in the weather that is expected to bring precipitation our way today.

'Night all!

Domesticity

Just taking a quick break between grocery shopping and making dinner. Tonight's menu:

Salad Course

Salad of Baby Red and Green Romaine

Main Course

German-Style Chicken

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

Organic Edamame

Hot Dinner Rolls

Dessert

Fruited Yogurt Brulee

Choice of Beverage

The recipes for the above menu were taken from my Better Homes and Gardens New Dieter's Cookbook. They are tasty and healthy, a real bonus. And the red cabbage is a cheat: straight out of a jar.

Preparation for tomorrow's dining experience will begin this evening, as well. Crockpot pot roast will be the house special. Side dishes to be determined; probably butternut squash and Brussels sprouts.

This evening will be all about laundry, since I was lazy during the day today, and didn't get it started. Perhaps Mr. M. will take care of most of the dinner clean-up.

With all of this domestic bliss going on around here, I think it's time to plan something to look forward to in the near future. We have a vacation coming up in April, but we aren't planning to go away. We're thinking about a bigger trip in the fall, but we're just not sure how we feel about traveling right now. Our oldest dog will be 16 in June. She didn't do so well when we went to Alaska in September of 2004, and I'm afraid to leave her for very long. Perhaps we'll plan a couple of short trips as bookends around a few days at home. Or even just one short, luxurious trip. Oh, the possibilities!

A Few Thoughts Before Now I Lay Me...

I'm getting a little tired of the nighttime snowfall theme here a the Room, but I'm too pooped tonight to do anyhthing about it. I'll spruce up a bit over the weekend. Hopefully I'll feel a bit more rested then, even thought we have to have my husband's car to the mechanic by 9:00 am. Heavy groan. All I want to do is stay home and rest. Oh well. Might have to make him take me out for breakfast.

I've been very tired lately. Maybe it's a winter thing, although I kind of like winter. Or maybe it's work. Whatever it is, it's keeping me from doing much in the way of posting. I come up with ideas throughout the day, but I can't seem to remember them at night, and I don't seem to be able to develop them. I have to do a lot of composing and typing at work these days. It's pretty intense stuff, so that might help to explain things. Maybe I should start to keep a notebook with me to jot down ideas as they occur to me, sort of like a dream journal. Dream journal, hmmm, that reminds me...

Goodnight, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you!

Room With a View

Updated the background on my header and on the body of my blog to reflect my mood today. Ironically, it has begun to snow for real here at the Room.

It's colder here today than it has been for most of the winter. Great day to be a polar bear.

Pax's Homemade Meme

Pax Romano created a meme and tagged everyone who stops by his blog, so here goes:

1: Black and White or Color; how do you prefer your movies?
I like 'em all, but I always return to the classic B&W's.
2: What is the one single subject that bores you to near-death?
Sports statistics and replays.
3: MP3’s, CD’s, Tapes or Records: what is your favorite medium for prerecorded music?
CD's; I never thought it would happen, but I've finally reached an age where I don't care to mess much with new technology, so no iPod for me. Yet.
4: You are handed one first class trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world and ten million dollars cash. All of this is yours provided that you leave and not tell anyone where you are going … ever. This includes family, friends, everyone. Would you take the money and ticket and run?
Not without my husband and my dogs.
5: Seriously, what do you consider the world’s most pressing issue now?
Religious and political fundamentalism.
6: How would you rectify the world’s most pressing issue?
Eliminate weapons of every kind. OK, you didn't say it had to be possible.
7: You are given the chance to go back and change one thing in your life; what would that be?
College major/career choice.
8: You are given the chance to go back and change one event in world history, what would that be?
The Holocaust.
9: A night at the opera, or a night at the Grand Ole’ Opry – Which do you choose?
A night at the opera. I love classical music. Country is OK, but I need small doses.
10: What is the one great unsolved crime of all time you’d like to solve?
Who stiffed us on the bill at lunch yesterday?
11: One famous author can come to dinner with you. Who would that be, and what would you serve for the meal?
If dead authors may be chosen: Jane Austen, and I'd serve a smorgasbord of tasty modern food. For a living author, I'd choose Geraldine Brooks, and we'd eat out, at the restaurant of her choice. I wouldn't want to be distracted by serving food and clearing dishes.
12: You discover that John Lennon was right, that there is no hell below us, and above us there is only sky: what’s the first immoral thing you might do to celebrate this fact?
Is morality only a function of religious belief?

Old Fellow

Here's the snowman my husband created yesterday. He's a bit wizened after his day in the sunshine. He might have been born yesterday, but he's an old fellow now.

Delivery

Went to bed late last night to heavy rain and wind. Overnight, mother nature gave birth to a winter wonderland.

Hounds in the snow (not the real thing: too cold and windy to keep them out there just to take pics):

It's 10:00 am. We're still getting steady snow and a bit of wind. My husband searched for the snowman kit (all the fixins but the snow) for about 1/2 hour. It took me about a minute to find it. It was right where I told him it would be...

Expecting

Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun

Oops, not writing the lyrics to the Sopranos theme song here, let's start over.

I woke up this morning to a pregnant sky, heavy with impending precipitation, waiting for its water to break. Will it be snow or rain? Could go either way here, down the shore. The predictions for our area have been all over the place, and include rain, sleet and snow.

The consensus seems to be that we will get significant accumulation, but they've been wrong before. They being the forecasters of doom. In March of 2001, John Bolaris (then of Philly channel 10/WCAU) predicted the Storm of the Century for the Philly and South Jersey area. And he did it in a big, dramatic way. Schools were closed, as was the anonymous government office, in anticipation of the event. And we got nada. A whole lot of nothing. It was a lovely, serendipitous day off.

Not much chance of a day off from this storm, falling as it does on a three day weekend. Most of my coworkers appeared to accept the threat of a blizzard with equanimity. Seems we all secretly welcome a reason to stay home and rest for a change.

We made the short trip to the grocery store last night. It was not crowded (we went on the late side). While we did pick up water and PopTarts (standard fare around here when the electric service goes out), we really went to get a Valentine to mail to Mom, since the chances are pretty good that we won't get out to see her before Tuesday. The card is on its way as we speak, along with a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Why do I always hear Forrest Gump whenever I say those words?

Unfortunately, Mr. Merci took the chocolates to the post office to mail them, and he mailed the card separately. Maybe mom will think she has a secret admirer when she gets that anonymous box of chocolates (there goes that Forrest Gump line again). Maybe that's not a bad thing. She has a good sense of humor.

I've looked everywhere for those wonderful Hershey's Cordial Kisses, but they are nowhere to be found. I had one at work last week. My hubby loves cherry cordials, and I had hoped to pick some up for him. I found some cherry KitKats, but they are just too sweet. We're not exchanging gifts this year; no real need to do that. I just thought the cordial kisses, along with a card, would be a nice touch.

But I digress: back to the topic of the (alleged) Nor'easter. We don't often lose our electric service, but it's best to prepare for the possibility. We have a well - no city water (or sewer) available here. The pump can't run without electricity, so we can't get water when the power is out. I will fill the tub before the worst of the wind hits. This will enable us to continue to flush the toilet if we cannot get water from the well.

So here I am, waiting for the heavens to deliver a big bundle of joy. We're all safely at home (2 humans and 2 canines), we are well stocked with comfort food, and the nutritious kind, as well. We'll light the pilot light on the gas fireplace, which will ensure that we have heat if the power goes out (the heater needs an electric spark to start), and, oh yeah, gotta go fill the tub with water...

5 Excuses for Not Blogging

1. Fatigue and a disrupted sleep cycle
2. Headaches
3. Medical appointments (mostly routine)
4. The Stephen King book (my first) I borrowed from Pax
5. The dogs ate my post

I set out to come up with 10 reasons, but I'm just too lazy. The weekend (3 days off, hooray) should bring better things.

OC

Since I don't have much to say today, here are a few pics to keep the blahg from becoming too blah.

This is the beach in Ocean City this afternoon. The surf was really rough, almost Nor'easter rough. There will be some erosion today. The wind was not unusually strong. One of the worst Nor'easters I remember happened on a perfectly beautiful, sunny day. I headed into Ocean City late in the afternoon for a field visit. I was puzzled by flooding on Ocean Heights Avenue in Somers Point. When I crossed the 9th Street Bridge into Ocean City, I had to turn back because of the flooding on the island. All on a beautiful day. I believe that was the Perfect Storm of Halloween 1991.

This is the Boardwalk looking north from 11th Street this afternoon. You can't tell from the photo, but there were quite a few shoppers on the boards today, and some of the mainstay shops were open (Atlantic Books, Mack and Manco Pizza, The Fudge Kitchen and others).

Here's another beach shot, taken a bit later in the day. Still quite rough out there.

The Fishing Pier
This pier is privately owned by a fishing club and is off-limits to mere mortals.

The Music Pier.
Most of the entertainment on the Boardwalk takes place here. I remember attending services here when I was a teen. My youth group came to OC for a convention every year.

And here it is, the place I refer to as, "The Scene of the Crime." This is the Flanders Hotel, where my hubby and I said, "I Do," oh, so many years ago! She was a grand old dame, and beautiful inside. She's been through a lot - closed, reopened, partially converted to condos, and much more. Perhaps I'll tell my bit of that tale another day...