tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13400683071336021452024-03-13T07:21:41.078-07:00Astral Nomadsgerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-3512443736371477342014-07-26T13:24:00.000-07:002014-07-26T13:24:12.055-07:00Astral Nomads II - Gone Ethereal <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Been a while since we've posted. We decided to take another adventure, this time sans van. The last winter in New Jersey was too much to bear so we moved to Florida. Orlando to be specific. To be honest, a move of that magnitude was pretty damn stressful. But, we're essentially settled in, living in downtown Orlando. Good things: my commute is a five minute walk, the weather is so consistent that the forecast is superfluous, and you never get sick of seeing an ibis. </div>
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Before we left New Jersey, I kept calling this adventure Astral Nomads II, No Van Required. Astral Wendy calls it Ethereal Nomads. You decide.</div>
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They call Orlando 'The City Beautiful'. Hard to disagree. Here's the </div>
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Lake Eola fountain at night. It's about a three block walk. This</div>
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shot is from our bedroom window.</div>
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The drive down was challenging for Otis but he's finally</div>
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able to get into the total rabbit relax zone. When the back legs</div>
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go out like this, it's a sign that he's completely at peace.</div>
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We're living high-rise, 19th floor. </div>
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Hello Mondrian!</div>
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Orlando is urban but mellow. </div>
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The is our building, The Solaire at the Plaza.</div>
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Great shot but not Orlando. This is up in Longwood, where</div>
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Astral Wendy has family. Not too far from us.</div>
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The Sunshine State? The weather changes fast.</div>
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Some Astral Wendy Nature shots at Lake Eola:</div>
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On the 4th of July, they had some killer fireworks</div>
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over Lake Eola. We watched from our bedroom window.</div>
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Yes Virginia, there is a super moon in Florida.</div>
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This is the view from our bedroom.</div>
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This was during World Cup fever.</div>
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Rainbows always follow the nomads.</div>
Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-31271224598452626052013-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:002013-10-27T12:18:04.225-07:00Sculpture Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Funny how you can live somewhere for most of your life and be oblivious to the wonders nearby. Our friends Sandy and Ron suggested we go to visit the <a href="http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/">Grounds for Sculpture</a>, which it not that far from where we live and which I had never even heard of. Wow. What a clever and magical place to wander about. It's on the grounds of the former Trenton State Fairgrounds and it's just this marvelous outdoor sculpture garden. And a paradise for the photography of Astral Wendy.<br />
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When nudes scale brick walls, count me in!</div>
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Oh yeah, the peahens roam too.</div>
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The observatory stairs.</div>
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I suggested to Sandy that these might be persimmons.</div>
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One bite proved otherwise.</div>
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The shackles of the Illuminati.</div>
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Great shot Astral Wendy.</div>
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Macbeth witches in cauldron steam.</div>
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Gene Simmons, eat your heart out.</div>
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The real <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrowland">Tomorrowland</a>.</div>
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A nice <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Segal_(artist)">George Segal</a>. Yeah, they have quality.</div>
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This table and everything on it is a sculpture.</div>
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Sandy and I are real. Or are we?</div>
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There are tons of 3D versions of Renoir.</div>
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Sneak peek at the employee's shower. Yowza!</div>
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Used to hate mirrors. Not so much now.</div>
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At the poker table.</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Waterhouse">Waterhouse</a> lives!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyz9Vde-QxQ/UmVyfij3QOI/AAAAAAAAchA/jzG6A1VwSV8/s1600/IMG_8143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyz9Vde-QxQ/UmVyfij3QOI/AAAAAAAAchA/jzG6A1VwSV8/s400/IMG_8143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So much depends upon the giraffe.</div>
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Find the heron and win a prize.</div>
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Sculpture.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvzfwMTkkIw/UmVyj3P8P5I/AAAAAAAAchc/yn2dS3gjmMo/s1600/IMG_8165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvzfwMTkkIw/UmVyj3P8P5I/AAAAAAAAchc/yn2dS3gjmMo/s400/IMG_8165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was meant for kids but I just had to bang a gong.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CByuEcz-vY/UmVymZ1uYlI/AAAAAAAAch4/I6ODkEm4m3Q/s1600/IMG_8174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CByuEcz-vY/UmVymZ1uYlI/AAAAAAAAch4/I6ODkEm4m3Q/s400/IMG_8174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The more intellectual a man is, the more he considers sheep.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu2GAnNb1Vk/UmVymOPP3KI/AAAAAAAAch0/dG493wSbHJw/s1600/IMG_8175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu2GAnNb1Vk/UmVymOPP3KI/AAAAAAAAch0/dG493wSbHJw/s400/IMG_8175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Going Miley</div>
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I got my head wedged in there too.</div>
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Astrals in a disk. </div>
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Ron and Sandy</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GXya_Z2tsIM/UmVyv2vSWRI/AAAAAAAAcjU/PGT98fAP5WY/s1600/IMG_8227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GXya_Z2tsIM/UmVyv2vSWRI/AAAAAAAAcjU/PGT98fAP5WY/s400/IMG_8227.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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No Gothic too small.</div>
Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-38284596601479010572013-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:002013-09-08T13:56:07.816-07:00Das Schmetterlingen!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When you run out of things to do with Hapsburg real estate, especially a nice green house, why not entice folks in with butterflies? Or as we say in German 'Das Schmetterlingen'. Sit back and enjoy some Astral Wendy photographs.</div>
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<br />gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-71599687277856164052013-08-31T10:46:00.000-07:002013-08-31T10:46:06.581-07:00Vienna - Monuments and ArtMuch like other major European capitals, Vienna is chockfull of monuments and monumental buildings. I guess when a dynasty like the Hapsburgs rules for hundreds of years, you run out of things to spend your money on. Seriously, the summer palace, which was only, I am guessing, a 45 minute horse drawn coach ride from the regular palace had a square footage equal to the Mall of America. Now a days, some still have an official purpose. The rest have become museums or just plain tourist attractions.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znsv01ppNz8/UiHkMIvJRYI/AAAAAAAACsM/4xtmKr9uEvY/s1600/IMG_6969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znsv01ppNz8/UiHkMIvJRYI/AAAAAAAACsM/4xtmKr9uEvY/s400/IMG_6969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's old Goethe. 'Sorrows of Young Werther?'</div>
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Not on a sunny day in Vienna.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-toWg3C67658/UiHkDvZYqxI/AAAAAAAACr8/NVTYtdSRlVk/s1600/IMG_7022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-toWg3C67658/UiHkDvZYqxI/AAAAAAAACr8/NVTYtdSRlVk/s400/IMG_7022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the Hapsburg empresses immortalized forever.</div>
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Funny, I can't remember her name.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj44FBFmvvo/UiHkJsVEgXI/AAAAAAAACsE/EOHBQV2tYFg/s1600/IMG_7027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj44FBFmvvo/UiHkJsVEgXI/AAAAAAAACsE/EOHBQV2tYFg/s400/IMG_7027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nothing says grandeur like an ocularis.</div>
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Yes, Astral Nomads, party of two. No, Otis will not</div>
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be joining. Pardon, where's the cloakroom and the loo?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU-1ynzCwpc/UiHkSLNqPuI/AAAAAAAACsc/OBYqRiyvY2k/s1600/IMG_7032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU-1ynzCwpc/UiHkSLNqPuI/AAAAAAAACsc/OBYqRiyvY2k/s400/IMG_7032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's always good to see some floating heads.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSfTlCWn-Hc/UiHkUMqD8EI/AAAAAAAACss/YXsq6FjBs4c/s1600/IMG_7039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSfTlCWn-Hc/UiHkUMqD8EI/AAAAAAAACss/YXsq6FjBs4c/s400/IMG_7039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not quite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Canova">Canova</a>'s <i>Venus Victrix,</i> but a good effort.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3xu1fG4DxM/UiHkTtIlF4I/AAAAAAAACsk/FefTSzR2BYw/s1600/IMG_7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3xu1fG4DxM/UiHkTtIlF4I/AAAAAAAACsk/FefTSzR2BYw/s640/IMG_7040.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
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Bad Satan, Good Angel.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0C-A9g7eiM/UiHkaLq4PTI/AAAAAAAACs0/w25LfiBfK48/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0C-A9g7eiM/UiHkaLq4PTI/AAAAAAAACs0/w25LfiBfK48/s400/IMG_7052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who could argue with this? The true definition</div>
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of Fascism is the merger of state and corporate power.</div>
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Sounds vaguely familiar.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--IG-MNflmvI/UiHke_ztA-I/AAAAAAAACtE/ObiUOJIhM2o/s1600/IMG_7090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--IG-MNflmvI/UiHke_ztA-I/AAAAAAAACtE/ObiUOJIhM2o/s400/IMG_7090.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>
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Nymph meets pachyderm . Pachyderm goes pie-eyed.</div>
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Wolfgang Amadeus, Astral Wendy's favorite.</div>
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Just seconds earlier, Astral Wendy was scaling the statue</div>
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trying to steal a smooch. Luckily the polizei arrived to</div>
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talk her down.</div>
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Posters about town advertising an exhibit featuring <a href="http://www.klimt.com/">Klimt</a>, <a href="http://www.egon-schiele.net/">Schiele</a>, and </div>
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others. You know the Astrals were all over that. We didn't really need the</div>
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ads, viewing Klimt and Schiele was one of main reasons for going to</div>
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Vienna in the first place. </div>
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History buffs may remember that Vienna was divided into zones</div>
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after World War II, with the Russians having a piece of the pie.</div>
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Here's a monument to the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_War_Memorial_(Vienna)"> Red Army</a>. I think part of the agreement</div>
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when they finally left was to keep this intact forever.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WjytRNsps6A/UiHk1QzMDeI/AAAAAAAACt0/L9Dt6527lRo/s1600/IMG_7153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WjytRNsps6A/UiHk1QzMDeI/AAAAAAAACt0/L9Dt6527lRo/s400/IMG_7153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Behind the monument seems to be a party place, judging from</div>
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the graffiti and empty bottles.</div>
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Doesn't exactly look like a smooth ride, if</div>
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it rides at all. But the gas tank appears to</div>
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insure an awesome range. First stop,Istanbul.</div>
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This is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belvedere,_Vienna">Belvedere</a>, a little place for Prince Eugene of Savoy.</div>
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He's generally credited with preventing the Ottoman</div>
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Turks from seizing Vienna and thereby, preventing</div>
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the fall of Europe to the Caliphate. Usually the Hapsburgs</div>
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were pretty strict about letting lesser nobles build structures</div>
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that rivaled their own, but I guess they owed him big</div>
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time and let him have a little fun. Today, the Belvedere </div>
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is mostly an art museum.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6hXWItT6iM/UiHk3zEYNfI/AAAAAAAACt8/6N0cAlKST-4/s1600/IMG_7158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6hXWItT6iM/UiHk3zEYNfI/AAAAAAAACt8/6N0cAlKST-4/s400/IMG_7158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ok to leave the Eurovan down by the stables?</div>
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Well, you couldn't take photographs in the galleries,</div>
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so I went ahead and grabbed some of the Klimt and Schiele</div>
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on display there:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNrtJPBUF0o/UiHlKxnhwXI/AAAAAAAACuk/o-I4Zy-4YRw/s1600/kiss_klimt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNrtJPBUF0o/UiHlKxnhwXI/AAAAAAAACuk/o-I4Zy-4YRw/s400/kiss_klimt.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
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Klimt's most famous <i>The Kiss</i>.</div>
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Way larger than I expected.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw3ip-ZbkZo/UiHlKUcq_4I/AAAAAAAACuc/5wok-DZvpEg/s1600/four-trees-1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw3ip-ZbkZo/UiHlKUcq_4I/AAAAAAAACuc/5wok-DZvpEg/s400/four-trees-1917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Schiele: <i>Four Trees</i></div>
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Astral Wendy's pick of the day.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFzZ7FyO4UA/UiHlMH9AvaI/AAAAAAAACuw/w4Y4JGmydro/s1600/klimt26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFzZ7FyO4UA/UiHlMH9AvaI/AAAAAAAACuw/w4Y4JGmydro/s320/klimt26.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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Klimt: <i>Portrait of Amalie Zuckerkandl</i></div>
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This was my favorite. I didn't realize it was</div>
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unfinished until I got home. I like it just the way it</div>
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is, especially with the squiggles on the lower sides.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uo6fd-ByJl0/UiHlMyW80qI/AAAAAAAACu8/gjQ0PUAXLUY/s1600/schiele_embrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uo6fd-ByJl0/UiHlMyW80qI/AAAAAAAACu8/gjQ0PUAXLUY/s400/schiele_embrace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Schiele: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Umarmung (Liebespaar II, Mann und Frau)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just incredible, almost cartoonish but so much more than that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Literally vibrates before you eyes.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noFCyOTgeh4/UiHlAIvk5hI/AAAAAAAACuM/cZjRs_hg9WY/s1600/IMG_7166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noFCyOTgeh4/UiHlAIvk5hI/AAAAAAAACuM/cZjRs_hg9WY/s400/IMG_7166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some nice gardens between the upper and lower palaces.</div>
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I forgot to mention that Prince Eugene needed two palaces.</div>
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The upper was so opulent, I would just stop there.</div>
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Not Prince Eugene.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73bx8EYbJ2A/UiHk9Rq7CmI/AAAAAAAACuE/b-RcF-7Wc5k/s1600/IMG_7162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73bx8EYbJ2A/UiHk9Rq7CmI/AAAAAAAACuE/b-RcF-7Wc5k/s400/IMG_7162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Female sphinxes were something of a motif,</div>
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not just here but in much of Vienna. Not sure why.</div>
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Left as an exercise for the reader.</div>
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The lower Belvedere.</div>
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Gardens, yes, but nothing to rival the Jardin de Luxembourg or</div>
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the Tullieries in my opinion.</div>
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Speaking of works of art....................</div>
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<br />gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-59922077763305740392013-08-25T10:56:00.000-07:002013-08-25T10:56:02.924-07:00Vienna - The Food Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The nomads love to eat. Love to cook too. Most of the year, we stick to a gluten-free organic diet. When we go to Europe, the gluten ban is lifted. The bread is just too damn good. And, of course, when in Vienna, we had to have the Wiener Schnitzel. It's required by state law. This post covers the glorious food we were able to have in Vienna. Bon Appetit!</div>
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On the flight over, Astral Wendy had a beef tenderloin</div>
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with snow peas and mashed potatoes. Not bad for</div>
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airline food.</div>
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It's pretty hard to be in Vienna and avoid the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachertorte">Sacher Torte</a>. Especially</div>
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when they keep leaving them in your hotel room. I think I ate at least</div>
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one a day. Don't think that will keep the doctor away. It's basically a</div>
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rich torte cake layered with apricot jam and enrobed in dark chocolate.</div>
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Actually, goes pretty well with a dry red wine.</div>
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Der Wiener Schnitzel and Austrian potato salad at the <a href="http://www.cafe-mozart.at/">Mozart Cafe</a>.</div>
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Thin pounded veal breaded and fried, served with lemon and lingon berry </div>
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jam. The potato salad was divine, in a light vinaigrette type sauce, topped </div>
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with baby spinach. Wunderbar! Served with a bottle of <b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%BCner_Veltliner">Grüner Veltliner</a></b>,</div>
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a nice crisp fruity Austrian white wine. </div>
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On to breakfast at the hotel. An omelette bar? Of course.</div>
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And the biggest spread of food I've seen in a while: every</div>
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fresh fruit on the planet, at least six types of yogurt, fourteen</div>
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types of jams and preserves, every cold cut made, a huge</div>
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selection of cheeses, smoked and pickled fish, at least ten</div>
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kinds of granola, champagne, a large assortment of breads</div>
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and rolls, and a bakeries worth of pastries.</div>
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I started with a selection of smoked mackerel, some pickled</div>
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salmon, a few ripe cheeses, some watermelon, and a roll.</div>
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For breakfast you say? Hey, I'm in Europe.</div>
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Then I came to my senses and had some scrambled eggs, bacon and a</div>
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couple of sausages. In Vienna (Wien in German), the hot dog type </div>
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sausage is called a Frankfurter, while in Frankfurt, it's called a Wiener. Go figure.</div>
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Always save room for pastries...</div>
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One day for lunch, we hit up <a href="http://www.crossfield.at/">Crossfields</a>, an</div>
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Australian pub. There are no kangaroos in Austria.</div>
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This was some old school fish and chips. Of course, with</div>
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malt vinegar. It's the only way to go. That and</div>
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a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.</div>
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There's a wide variety of cuisine in Vienna. We found</div>
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this Italian restaurant which served some righteous</div>
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homemade fresh pasta. Astral Wendy went with these</div>
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tortellini in meat sauce. Very good.</div>
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Brick oven baked lasagna. A nice chianti. They also</div>
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made brick oven pizza which we vowed to return and</div>
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try. (See below)</div>
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Fresh fruit daily in our hotel room. I had forgotten how</div>
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good a fresh apricot can be.</div>
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We found another Italian place which was good</div>
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too. Nice to sit outside. I went with the spaghetti</div>
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alla vongole. The pasta was cooked exactly right.</div>
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Think we went with a crisp Orvieto that night.</div>
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Astral Wendy went with the Rigatoni Carbonara.</div>
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Good choice!</div>
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As promised, we returned for the brick oven pizza.</div>
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Funghi for Astral Wendy</div>
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Anchovy for me and a nice bottle of Barolo.</div>
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One night we ate at the cafe attached to our hotel.</div>
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Gruner Wertliner again. We came to really like that</div>
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wine.</div>
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Astral Wendy went with this 'potato strudel' which</div>
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was potatoes and other root vegetables layered</div>
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into a spring roll wrapper, served with a demi-glace</div>
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drizzle and some pureed roasted red peppers and a salad.</div>
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Of course, I had to try it. For science!</div>
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I went with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafelspitz">der Tafelspitz</a>, another Austrian specialty.</div>
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Like sauerbraten without the sour. Served with the</div>
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largest latke ever made. Root vegetables and applesauce.</div>
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We discovered this cool place named the <a href="http://www.gulasch.at/">Goulash Museum</a>. They had around twenty varieties of goulash.<br />
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Tough to choose but I went with the pork and sauerkraut (left) and Astral</div>
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Wendy went with the veal and spinach spaetzle (right).</div>
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That's some righteous spaetzle.</div>
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The pork and sauerkraut goulash was so good I had</div>
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to make some when I got home. (see below)</div>
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The cold cut selection at the supermarket.</div>
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Various forms of schnitzels.</div>
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And, of course, pastries.</div>
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Back at the Mozart Cafe, Astral Wendy went with the perch.</div>
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She said it was good but she wouldn't let me have any.</div>
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Just kidding. I had only one thing on my mind: Wiener Schnitzel!</div>
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Ah, yes.</div>
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And the potato salad. We liked this so much, Astral Wendy</div>
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is in the kitchen right now whipping up a batch.</div>
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The Mozart Torte. Not as famous as the Sacher,</div>
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but still wonderful.</div>
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Two forks will do, bitte, this stuff is rich.</div>
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The next few shots are the airline meals on the return journey. Not too shabby. </div>
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Braised beef cheeks? Why not?</div>
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Here's my version of the pork and sauerkraut goulash<br />
with salt potatoes.</div>
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Bonus: Recipe</div>
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The potatoes were pretty simple. I had no idea what salt potatoes were so I peeled and chunked some potatoes and soaked them in salt water for a couple of hours and then rinsed them and steamed them for about 20 minutes. I used russets because that's what I could find at the market, but I think something like a Yukon Gold would be the better choice.</div>
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For the goulash, I used some pork shoulder blades cut into good sized chunks. I think some chunks of pork butt would be better but the market didn't have any. One thing I noticed at the restaurant was that the meat was very tender but not browned before the braising. At least it didn't seem to be pre-browned.</div>
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For the base of the sauce, I used a large jar of roasted red peppers, a cup of good paprika, 3 small chilis from my garden (de-seeded because the restaurant version was mild even though they threw in one whole red cherry pepper), one white onion, 5 diced plum tomatoes, and two cloves of garlic. I put all of that in a food processor and pureed it. Then I toasted a tablespoon of caraway seeds in a dry skillet and crushed them up pretty good with a mortar and pestle. Poured the puree and the caraway into a dutch oven, added about 3 cups of chicken stock and a cup of Orvieto. Probably not traditional but I was winging it. Brought this to a simmer, added the pork chunks, and put in it a pre-heated 275F oven for a few hours, checking every so often to get the pork to the right tenderness. Fork tender but not shredding.</div>
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Once the pork was right, I removed the pork to a separate plate and I added a 2lb pack of sauerkraut (well rinsed) and let that simmer low stove top for about a half hour. Then I added the pork back in to get it hot again.</div>
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To plate it, I put a mound of the pork and sauerkraut on a platter, surrounded it with the steamed potatoes, added a good dollop of sour cream on top and threw on some chopped parsley. It was pretty damn close to the original. I'll probably cheat now and look up a real recipe to see how it's really done.</div>
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MORE TO COME.....</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-78889763087824962352013-08-25T05:46:00.000-07:002013-08-25T05:46:50.577-07:00Vienna - Hotel Sacher Wien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Astral Wendy took so many photographs that I am forced to do multiple posts organized by category rather than trying to go in chronological order. This post will feature our outpost in Vienna, the Hotel Sacher Wien. Built in the late 19th century, it's the epitome of the grand European Hotel. It's located in the heart of the Inner Stadt, right across the street from the State Opera House. Pretty swanky for a couple of nomads.</div>
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Entering the main lobby.</div>
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The green room for breakfast? Of course! The breakfast was over</div>
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the top but we only did breakfast there once. I'll post more about that</div>
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spread in a later 'food' post. </div>
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Caffe Americano, Bitte.</div>
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The main sitting lounge. This was pretty opulent.</div>
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Photographs of all the swells who've stayed here over the</div>
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years. I was surprised they didn't ask for a shot of the nomads.</div>
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The entrance foyer.</div>
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Our room was so large, it had its own name.</div>
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The regal bathroom.</div>
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A nice handwritten letter from the manager welcoming</div>
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us and served up with fresh fruit, some chocolates,</div>
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and a couple of miniature Sacher Tortes. Wilkommen!</div>
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The view from our foyer into the main room. The foyer was so</div>
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spacious that I could have parked the Eurovan Camper inside. </div>
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With the top up.</div>
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Bedchamber with chandelier.</div>
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Some wine and fresh fruit? Ja.</div>
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All the comforts of home. </div>
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You could definitely stretch out in this palatial tub. Too</div>
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bad I'm more of a shower guy.</div>
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This chandelier was haunted by the ghost of guests past.</div>
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It would blaze full on in the middle of the night.</div>
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See the ghost?</div>
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Outside of the hotel at night.</div>
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When the housekeeper turned down the bed at night,</div>
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she always placed a foot pad down so that my</div>
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royal feet did not have to come in contact with the carpet.</div>
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Even the mini-bar was ensconced in an antique piece.</div>
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I would have spent some time reading here, but they</div>
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had no issues of MAD magazine.</div>
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Fresh fruit was delivered daily. They even threw in</div>
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a lychee. And another Sacher Torte for good measure.</div>
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The bathroom went on forever.</div>
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Astral Wendy, peacing out as usual.</div>
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Livin' large. </div>
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In the Blue Bar. We were sipping a quiet <a href="http://www.whisky.com/brands/lagavulin_brand.html">Lagavulin</a> when</div>
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forty loud Texans came in and starting ordering Jack</div>
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Daniels and Sprite. </div>
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Still, a lovely bar.</div>
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The television had a wide array of channels from Europe and the Middle</div>
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East. The one that fascinated me the most was the Saudi channel. For</div>
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the entire stay, any time day or night, the only thing on that channel was</div>
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hajjis circling the Kaaba. No news, no sitcoms, no dramas. Just the Kaaba.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-thRzym2mbI0/Uhnot1_eZ5I/AAAAAAAACmc/IPKxUgQNP-g/s1600/IMG_7533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-thRzym2mbI0/Uhnot1_eZ5I/AAAAAAAACmc/IPKxUgQNP-g/s400/IMG_7533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The entrance in day time.</div>
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Getting ready to leave.</div>
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Mr. and Mrs. Boyd, your limo is here.</div>
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Auf Wiedersehn Hotel Sacher Wien.</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-53056517245417963382013-08-24T06:33:00.000-07:002013-08-24T16:20:21.980-07:00Getting to Vienna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Just a teaser post for starters. Astral Wendy took over 600 photos so she's going to be in the photo lab for the better part of the weekend. I had enough airline miles to score a couple of business class round trips to Europe, so we figured, why not Vienna? I had a hankering for some Wiener Schnitzel. </div>
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Getting my fair share of wine in the Luftansa lounge.</div>
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Once on board, a little bubbly to lift the spirits.</div>
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Little Astral Wendy definitely had enough legroom.</div>
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The seats were like tilt-a-whirl reclining cocoons. I forgot to mention </div>
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the swing out foot rest, so by morning, a sleeping Astral Wendy</div>
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had slid almost to the floor.</div>
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Shoes off. Let's do some flying.</div>
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Peruse the menu, Yes, we'll have some of that. And more wine, danke.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf4P-ER8VSY/Uhis-wHi5dI/AAAAAAAACh0/mO-aF2WwCwQ/s1600/IMG_6919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf4P-ER8VSY/Uhis-wHi5dI/AAAAAAAACh0/mO-aF2WwCwQ/s400/IMG_6919.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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A large bag of almonds to let you know you're not in coach.</div>
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A little appetizer, the entree, and sleep if you can. Morning</div>
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comes fast.</div>
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Dawn over Germany.</div>
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Ja, all is in perfect order. Must be Austria.</div>
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Since the airfare was free, I decided to book a five star hotel,</div>
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the <a href="http://www.sacher.com/hotel-sacher-vienna/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=hotel%20sacher%20vienna&utm_campaign=Name+EN">Hotel Sacher Wien</a>. You may have heard of their famous</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachertorte">torte</a>. Our room was so big, it had a name: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_belle_H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne">La Belle Helene</a>. More on that later.</div>
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We arrived around 10.30 am and, luckily our room was ready.</div>
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Speaking of things 'belle', here's Astral Wendy relaxing</div>
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by the fireplace. It was 90F the day we arrived, so we didn't </div>
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need to use it.</div>
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When you fly overnight to Europe, the best thing to do is to try</div>
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to stay awake for as much of the day as possible. So, after checking in</div>
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we hit the streets for a walk about. Vienna is very mellow and seems</div>
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incredibly safe. Just a real cool vibe going on.</div>
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To be continued....with Food, Hapsburgs, Klimt, Schiele....and lot's more Wien.</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-23543232042597334052013-06-09T09:05:00.000-07:002013-06-09T09:05:51.272-07:00A Evening Stroll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Suddenly it's Summer. The tropical storm has passed and we decided to take a stroll on a beautiful warm evening. Of course, Astral Wendy had her camera. I won't intrude with words. Enjoy......</div>
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<br />Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-12815923047931412952013-05-27T06:10:00.000-07:002013-05-27T06:10:13.164-07:00Astrals Say No to GMOs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Astrals are up in arms over the resistance to food labeling by the major corporations, especially Monsanto. Maybe the science around this is a little ambiguous, but we just want the food labeled so we can make our own choice. Plus, Monsanto is a big, old evil enterprise so when we got the word that there was a globally coordinated protest against GMOs in our food supply, scheduled for May 25th, we were all in. Our local march was in New Brunswick, NJ and was pretty well attended. I estimate there was about 750 protesters from a very wide demographic set. It was chilly and windy but the march was peaceful and the NBPD was actually friendly, which was nice to see after seeing the NYPD in action when we marched with Occupy.</div>
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Young hippy, old hippy feel all right..</div>
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Got to have some Anonymous for atmosphere.</div>
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The local <a href="http://georgestreetcoop.com/">organic co-op</a> was the starting point and </div>
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we marched about two miles to <a href="http://newbrunswick.patch.com/listings/buccleuch-park">Buccleuch Park</a>.</div>
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Right on!</div>
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Astral Wendy made her own protest poster.</div>
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We passed this house on Easton Avenue and these three</div>
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young girls were chanting 'Say No to GMO."</div>
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Sometimes you have to hug a tree. The winds were howling</div>
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and I found $100.00 in the grass. Astral Wendy said it was a</div>
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gift from the tree so she gave the tree a hug.</div>
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Here's an extra video bonus:<br />
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Walking back we saw this car, proving once again</div>
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that Funny Things are Everywhere.</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-42726468979572487132013-05-19T11:05:00.000-07:002013-05-19T11:05:03.045-07:00Hands Across The Sands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday was the Astrals wedding anniversary from the legal point of view though we've been together for longer than that. Wendy heard about a Hands Across the Sands being promoted by the <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/">Sierra Club</a> down at <a href="http://www.islandbeachnj.org/">Island Beach State Park</a> so we figured we'd have a go. It doesn't take much to get the Astrals to the beach, even on a cool overcast day. I think Wendy thought this was going to be some big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_Across_America">Hands Across America</a> type gig. I wasn't sure but when the ranger at the gate looked kind of quizzical about the whole thing, I began to wonder. There were a few people there but I didn't feel like asking to hold hands with 10 perfect strangers. Still, we had some fun as we always do.</div>
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I began by pretending I was holding 7 million hands.</div>
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Admiral Halsey looking for a butter pie.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Below the thunders of the upper deep;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea, </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">About his shadowy sides: above him swell</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Huge sponges of millennial growth and height; </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">And far away into the sickly light, </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">From many a wondrous grot and secret cell</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Unnumbered and enormous polypi</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">There hath he lain for ages and will lie</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Battening upon huge sea-worms in his sleep,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Then once by man and angels to be seen,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica sans-serif'; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.</span></div>
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Volunteers have been planting some grass to help the dunes.</div>
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Secret writing is everywhere.</div>
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Our private Hands Across the Sands.</div>
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A fetish for fetishes is a hallmark of Astral Wendy.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0JjVCywwL4/UZkN2Q6PHZI/AAAAAAAACcw/BlNngbUE5UQ/s1600/IMG_5931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0JjVCywwL4/UZkN2Q6PHZI/AAAAAAAACcw/BlNngbUE5UQ/s400/IMG_5931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I found a shell that looked like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth">Coelacanth</a>.</div>
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Well, sorta.</div>
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Well, the beach was mostly clean.</div>
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Just in case you forgot we're in New Jersey,</div>
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here's a Dodge Challenger limo. Now you can</div>
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dig the situation.</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-36216559556998051602013-03-09T15:01:00.000-08:002013-03-09T15:01:36.323-08:00Florida Cold For Nomads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It seems so negative to call it "The Curse of the Astral Nomads" and it's always so hard to distinguish coincidence from the cold hard facts of scientific measurement but cold weather seems to track our wanderings like white on rice, (cf. our recent trip to San Diego). Well, late February and early March, when you're living in New Jersey, the winter starts to wear on the spirit, given the grey barren cold gist of it all. As a precursor to spring, the Nomads like to head down to Florida to visit our good friends Clark and Stacy. Here's the plan: flying down Friday, flying back Monday. Here's the weather in Eustis: Thursday 75F, Friday 59F, Saturday 56F, Sunday 57F, Monday 55F, Tuesday 75F. No need to mention the wind Friday through Monday. Curse? You be the judge. In the words of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IvG9_V4Pcg">Swiper</a>: Aw Man!</div>
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Islands in the Jet Stream. Pretty from the air but</div>
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the Northwest wind is the enemy. Blame Canada!</div>
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We were pretty hungry from the flight so Clark brought us to a great</div>
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BBQ place in Winter Park: <a href="http://www.harryandlarrys.com/">Harry & Larry's</a>. Awesome BBQ. So good</div>
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that Astral Wendy didn't even stop for a photo. We did find our </div>
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namesake street, though.</div>
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Chillin' with my man Dylan. He was home for break</div>
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from his Golf Management studies at <a href="http://www.fgcu.edu/">FGCU</a>.</div>
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He can strike a golf ball so well that Clark</div>
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and I just cry like little babies. Seriously, he's</div>
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close to scratch and I'm usually just in awe.</div>
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Clark and Stacey live on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Joanna">Lake Johanna</a>.</div>
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Despite the chill, we hung on the dock for morning</div>
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cigarettes and coffee.</div>
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The view back to the house.</div>
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Oh, yes, there is a bird.</div>
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Just for something to do, we hit the <a href="http://www.leesburgartfestival.com/">Leesburg Arts Festival.</a></div>
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Not bad, although cold and windy. Leesburg has some history,</div>
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like an <a href="http://www.leesburgoperahouse.com/">Opera House</a> from 1889. Who woulda thunk?</div>
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Here's Astral Wendy and Stacey pretending to be hags. As if.</div>
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Indeed.</div>
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When there's peeps, there's <a href="http://www.citrusas.com/">Model A's</a></div>
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On the way back from the Art's festival, we passed the local regional </div>
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airport where they had a small exhibition of some vintage WWII aircraft, </div>
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including a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress">B-17</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator">Liberator</a>, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-51_Mustang">P-51</a>. They were all still flight</div>
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worthy but we didn't stick around to watch or get aboard. A 30</div>
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minute flight on the the B-17 was $475.00. Yikes! More than my</div>
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round trip from Newark to Florida. Plus, the plane looked like it</div>
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might have seen better days, And tight inside. Clark and I crawled</div>
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through and almost got stuck in spots. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner</h3>
<blockquote style="text-align: start;">
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From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, </div>
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And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. </div>
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Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, </div>
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I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. </div>
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When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. </div>
</blockquote>
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Clark and Dylan hanging with the Mustang.</div>
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Side of the Liberator. </div>
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For lunch on Sunday, we headed over to Tavares to check out this new </div>
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Canjun restaurant <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/26/1710939/restaurant/Orlando/Tasso-Cajun-Kitchen-Tavares">Tasso</a>. The link goes to Stacy's review, which pretty well sums it up. </div>
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Great food, service so inept it was pretty much a comedy routine. The food</div>
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was really good though.</div>
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Hanging outside of Tasso.</div>
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Inside of Tasso. Industrial chic.</div>
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Ah, the fabulous Jambalaya!</div>
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Hello Mr. Allnut. Hello Mrs. Allnut.</div>
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On the way back from Tasso, along Lake Dora, we spotted a bald</div>
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eagle and these two sandhill cranes gettin' all jiggy with it.</div>
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Huh? Funny things are everywhere!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgkiiQ4_mNk/UTuk_HZFyXI/AAAAAAAACV0/fEBYKf1tzFQ/s1600/IMG_4699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgkiiQ4_mNk/UTuk_HZFyXI/AAAAAAAACV0/fEBYKf1tzFQ/s320/IMG_4699.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At Newark, there was pigeon that just flew in from Chicago,</div>
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<br /></div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-14323050401596566842013-02-09T10:32:00.002-08:002013-02-09T10:32:45.171-08:00Stormasnowmeggedon 2013Well, the media hype may have held for areas north of us (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Nemo">Little Nemo</a> can be so cute), but I think we were at the southern edge of the hysteria. Nice coating but nothing worthy of Jack London. Otis could have pulled a sled of carrots through this one. But, we haven't had any significant snow for a few years. Therefore, a frolic was in order.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Or63lfxjhig/URaIPBuxqOI/AAAAAAAACPw/4VGOEI1p5Ds/s1600/IMG_4374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Or63lfxjhig/URaIPBuxqOI/AAAAAAAACPw/4VGOEI1p5Ds/s400/IMG_4374.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<i>I like trees because they seem more resigned </i></div>
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<i>to the way they have to live than other things </i></div>
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<i>do. I feel as if this tree knows everything I </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>ever think of when I sit here. When I come back </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>to it, I never have to remind it of anything; </i></div>
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<i>I begin just where I left off. </i></div>
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Willa Cather</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3IuB4d_K3I/URaIPfO8QBI/AAAAAAAACP0/_1urTSefwgQ/s1600/IMG_4381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3IuB4d_K3I/URaIPfO8QBI/AAAAAAAACP0/_1urTSefwgQ/s400/IMG_4381.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While I was cleaning off the automobiles, Astral Wendy</div>
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was under a balcony following her muse.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHs9MRIt42A/URaIQCT0msI/AAAAAAAACQA/LiELB4MO8Vg/s1600/IMG_4376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHs9MRIt42A/URaIQCT0msI/AAAAAAAACQA/LiELB4MO8Vg/s400/IMG_4376.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, a good excuse to go totally <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BePFbDTqmfg">Yukon Cornelius</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I usually only wear this hat when I'm getting all gansta</div>
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home alone and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsta_Walking">jookin</a>'.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxJEd3VaQ1M/URaIRdVwkEI/AAAAAAAACQI/_4FhCORYApA/s1600/IMG_4389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxJEd3VaQ1M/URaIRdVwkEI/AAAAAAAACQI/_4FhCORYApA/s400/IMG_4389.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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Snow seems to bring out the kid in us. Not that </div>
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Astral Wendy needs an excuse.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taMCuCYuMhc/URaISt-4-xI/AAAAAAAACQU/37Qu-B94G40/s1600/IMG_4390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taMCuCYuMhc/URaISt-4-xI/AAAAAAAACQU/37Qu-B94G40/s400/IMG_4390.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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It's snow.....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg2Swb8Rh_o/URaITTeon3I/AAAAAAAACQg/eK37mhzgEU4/s1600/IMG_4391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg2Swb8Rh_o/URaITTeon3I/AAAAAAAACQg/eK37mhzgEU4/s400/IMG_4391.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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angel time!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LD2Xbmd6LEc/URaIUW-JTkI/AAAAAAAACQo/RoLeIIEfou0/s1600/IMG_4392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LD2Xbmd6LEc/URaIUW-JTkI/AAAAAAAACQo/RoLeIIEfou0/s400/IMG_4392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pretty heavenly.\</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4KMfyD-LnaQ/URaISCQNLwI/AAAAAAAACQQ/UJd09_mSy9o/s1600/IMG_4386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4KMfyD-LnaQ/URaISCQNLwI/AAAAAAAACQQ/UJd09_mSy9o/s400/IMG_4386.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWFaZgwerY">Set me free why dontcha babe...</a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-A3_PlB2JI/URaIWP4SdaI/AAAAAAAACQw/6HeX91RN3Rw/s1600/IMG_4400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-A3_PlB2JI/URaIWP4SdaI/AAAAAAAACQw/6HeX91RN3Rw/s400/IMG_4400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Stately Boyd Manor. Actually we only have one flat</div>
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but it's fun to pretend.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJxePsIdETM/URaIXEzBpMI/AAAAAAAACQ4/I_bBg4Uu67w/s1600/IMG_4403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJxePsIdETM/URaIXEzBpMI/AAAAAAAACQ4/I_bBg4Uu67w/s400/IMG_4403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are <a href="http://www.no-straight-lines.com/">no straight lines</a> in nature.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1QlYUfndtwc/URaIWqKDeeI/AAAAAAAACRA/jJNGhqTlkTc/s1600/IMG_4395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1QlYUfndtwc/URaIWqKDeeI/AAAAAAAACRA/jJNGhqTlkTc/s400/IMG_4395.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I think the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p307WSTFRE">purple haze</a> is kicking in..</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw9bYyvnMQo/URaIZbODm0I/AAAAAAAACRI/IhLNtS88gkk/s1600/IMG_4408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw9bYyvnMQo/URaIZbODm0I/AAAAAAAACRI/IhLNtS88gkk/s400/IMG_4408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thank you for shopping at Stop'n'Shop</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vr6hzcXek0/URaIZ0KVQfI/AAAAAAAACRM/I1DECyUCDsw/s1600/IMG_4411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vr6hzcXek0/URaIZ0KVQfI/AAAAAAAACRM/I1DECyUCDsw/s400/IMG_4411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When you got a theme going, stick with it.</div>
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(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI2IaJiZUTM">Red House</a>)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4rrUvPTlI4/URaIbUbPpnI/AAAAAAAACRY/le7tdl5n8jc/s1600/IMG_4415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4rrUvPTlI4/URaIbUbPpnI/AAAAAAAACRY/le7tdl5n8jc/s400/IMG_4415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Roland_to_the_Dark_Tower_Came">Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came.</a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2VJjp1pZTI/URaIeoDunvI/AAAAAAAACRg/Md2M5rO0Eys/s1600/IMG_4419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2VJjp1pZTI/URaIeoDunvI/AAAAAAAACRg/Md2M5rO0Eys/s400/IMG_4419.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Down by the River</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnFMAmM2Ln4/URaIfCgNcYI/AAAAAAAACRo/qpnQ9kNivsc/s1600/IMG_4426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnFMAmM2Ln4/URaIfCgNcYI/AAAAAAAACRo/qpnQ9kNivsc/s400/IMG_4426.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_zHyrj6uEQ/URaIgdLqbtI/AAAAAAAACRw/JZ0hXcF0f9Y/s1600/IMG_4427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_zHyrj6uEQ/URaIgdLqbtI/AAAAAAAACRw/JZ0hXcF0f9Y/s640/IMG_4427.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plIb4t2ckUs/URaIjSQd1OI/AAAAAAAACR4/8Y2hYmkpkqg/s1600/IMG_4435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plIb4t2ckUs/URaIjSQd1OI/AAAAAAAACR4/8Y2hYmkpkqg/s400/IMG_4435.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who knew the cotton was ready for picking? Astral Wendy,</div>
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fetch me the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_gin">gin</a>. (A little Eli Whitney humor for those with</div>
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a historical bend)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0kRr1WFzAQ/URaIjtMQxWI/AAAAAAAACSA/P6yJqTAp8zM/s1600/IMG_4434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0kRr1WFzAQ/URaIjtMQxWI/AAAAAAAACSA/P6yJqTAp8zM/s400/IMG_4434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Take that, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracen">Saracens</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusader_Rabbit">Crusader Rabbit</a> is on the case.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-_lm6Rx4uA/URaIlfsCUgI/AAAAAAAACSI/W8bE5ZBL2YI/s1600/IMG_4431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-_lm6Rx4uA/URaIlfsCUgI/AAAAAAAACSI/W8bE5ZBL2YI/s400/IMG_4431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=newjersey/nevius/">Nevius Street Bridge.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHbkkD03mYc/URaIlzybZqI/AAAAAAAACSM/itW1WZbYzcQ/s1600/IMG_4442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHbkkD03mYc/URaIlzybZqI/AAAAAAAACSM/itW1WZbYzcQ/s400/IMG_4442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Raritan River looking towards the bay. Of course, the bay is</div>
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about 30 miles away. Just saying...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clB99qANAHM/URaIo4ioWXI/AAAAAAAACSg/-_4iWHzh3JI/s1600/IMG_4450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clB99qANAHM/URaIo4ioWXI/AAAAAAAACSg/-_4iWHzh3JI/s400/IMG_4450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Coming back, we strolled through downtown Raritan. Some</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
slackers were a little slow with the snow removal.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9TsteGxN4B4/URaIqfWLewI/AAAAAAAACSs/8LcGMRjWGeU/s1600/IMG_4454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9TsteGxN4B4/URaIqfWLewI/AAAAAAAACSs/8LcGMRjWGeU/s400/IMG_4454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got my eye on the Ibanez in the foreground. That cherry Les</div>
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Paul is pretty damn sweet too.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dLe-HgTityk/URaIqbEU4SI/AAAAAAAACSo/tTsZgQh3d_Y/s1600/IMG_4456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dLe-HgTityk/URaIqbEU4SI/AAAAAAAACSo/tTsZgQh3d_Y/s400/IMG_4456.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Eat your heart out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream">Edvard Munch</a>. Astral Wendy</div>
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is all over you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPaSddpRgK4/URaIq6-Jo9I/AAAAAAAACS0/jmSDpEeDubs/s1600/IMG_4458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPaSddpRgK4/URaIq6-Jo9I/AAAAAAAACS0/jmSDpEeDubs/s400/IMG_4458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Punxsutawney Phil did predict an early spring. I spy melting.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc3JMeVnU0g/URaIstsxyYI/AAAAAAAACTA/oF6uQtWeOqg/s1600/IMG_4462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc3JMeVnU0g/URaIstsxyYI/AAAAAAAACTA/oF6uQtWeOqg/s400/IMG_4462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You again?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BPDH2YbCdc/URaItAvH_nI/AAAAAAAACTI/pKv7qaSnS5s/s1600/IMG_4460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BPDH2YbCdc/URaItAvH_nI/AAAAAAAACTI/pKv7qaSnS5s/s400/IMG_4460.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey St Joseph's! Catholicism does not absolve you</div>
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of the snow clearing ordinance. Jesus will NOT shovel your walk.</div>
</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-2508192927065971742013-01-20T09:45:00.000-08:002013-01-20T09:45:31.439-08:00Back to Ocean BeachLast time the Nomads were in Ocean Beach, it was at the terminus of our long road trip. We hung out there for a few weeks, trying to recharge after getting beaten down by the desert. We never really did recharge, so we drove back to New Jersey and reintegrated into society. But our son Colin and his lovely girlfriend Jenn still live in OB, so we figured we would fly out for a little post-Christmas quality time in SoCal. Funny thing was, it was colder in SoCal that weekend than it was in New Jersey. The Astral Nomad curse is powerful. By the way, cold in SoCal means high 50's/low 60's so this was nothing too tragic. Besides, I love California!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LBUtdOkwj4/UPvoTL26JZI/AAAAAAAACJQ/o0YqdC5ZaJk/s1600/IMG_4068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LBUtdOkwj4/UPvoTL26JZI/AAAAAAAACJQ/o0YqdC5ZaJk/s400/IMG_4068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The standard Ocean Beach vista. No too hard to take.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4FWgliQcTZw/UPvoS9swZEI/AAAAAAAACJM/zC8vNuwxzJY/s1600/IMG_4066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4FWgliQcTZw/UPvoS9swZEI/AAAAAAAACJM/zC8vNuwxzJY/s400/IMG_4066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OB is kinda quirky and nothing says quirky like a decent sized</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
protest by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idle_No_More">Idle No More</a>. The Nomads say Right On!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdgLMreqgQE/UPvoUSlIi_I/AAAAAAAACJo/Qqn9qJAsM_Q/s1600/IMG_4077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdgLMreqgQE/UPvoUSlIi_I/AAAAAAAACJo/Qqn9qJAsM_Q/s400/IMG_4077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's Colin and Jenn looking over the menu at this</div>
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hip Sushi/Tapas pace in OB called <a href="http://www.thejointob.com/">The Joint</a>. The</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
food was really good. Seems like a weird combination</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it really rocked. Pro Tip: The mushroom and goat cheese</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
polenta. So good that Astral Wendy didn't even stop to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
photograph it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIFmyaC_e6Q/UPvoUl2io2I/AAAAAAAACJs/MPsA573Y72Y/s1600/IMG_4075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIFmyaC_e6Q/UPvoUl2io2I/AAAAAAAACJs/MPsA573Y72Y/s400/IMG_4075.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our hotel balcony. I can assure you I was not</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thinking about work. In fact, I was in the state which</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is the pinnacle of human existence: thinking of nothing at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qfXuXTiCR0/UPvoUvfhUUI/AAAAAAAACJw/AOntkwtgZ00/s1600/IMG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qfXuXTiCR0/UPvoUvfhUUI/AAAAAAAACJw/AOntkwtgZ00/s400/IMG_4083.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When in OB the Astrals always stay at the <a href="http://obhotel.com/">Ocean Beach Hotel</a>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a little old school place right on the beach and about two blocks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from Colin's apartment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jK4V0wSaObM/UPvoUx-RxJI/AAAAAAAACJ0/7alH81W1wfk/s1600/IMG_4089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jK4V0wSaObM/UPvoUx-RxJI/AAAAAAAACJ0/7alH81W1wfk/s400/IMG_4089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You'll be Neptune and I'll be Poseiden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we shall play all day below the sea.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j9cvfSsctk/UPvoVNXEa3I/AAAAAAAACKA/qvBCV4GOmkk/s1600/IMG_4094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j9cvfSsctk/UPvoVNXEa3I/AAAAAAAACKA/qvBCV4GOmkk/s400/IMG_4094.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A pecking order of one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WBdFUR4qpVM/UPvoV5Ckr-I/AAAAAAAACKI/QPiXOmvf0Rw/s1600/IMG_4101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WBdFUR4qpVM/UPvoV5Ckr-I/AAAAAAAACKI/QPiXOmvf0Rw/s400/IMG_4101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking out towards Mission Beach. There are three beaches just</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
north of San Diego: Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach or</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as they are known locally PB, MB, and OB. The joke is that this</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
stands for Probably Bums, Mostly Bums, and Only Bums. There are</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
definitely street people in OB, but they are very mellow. Hey, man,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's California.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Pyhwmsbhk8/UPvoWz7ejTI/AAAAAAAACKU/m-g4adIJPIU/s1600/IMG_4112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Pyhwmsbhk8/UPvoWz7ejTI/AAAAAAAACKU/m-g4adIJPIU/s400/IMG_4112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A more elaborate pecking order.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLdpSxzO2zU/UPvoWzmxegI/AAAAAAAACKY/0y7mSzRupjg/s1600/IMG_4102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLdpSxzO2zU/UPvoWzmxegI/AAAAAAAACKY/0y7mSzRupjg/s400/IMG_4102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The pacific sea vegetation is pretty wild. This bulb is about 8 inches</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in diameter. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On-V4_IKyF8/UPvoXFaqlTI/AAAAAAAACKc/YgBMRvLoi5w/s1600/IMG_4109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On-V4_IKyF8/UPvoXFaqlTI/AAAAAAAACKc/YgBMRvLoi5w/s400/IMG_4109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First day we had to hit the Dog Beach. Faithful readers of this blog</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
will probably remember my hit single <i>At the Dog Beach. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please feel free to sing along at home:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"At the Dog Beach, Oh yeah! Dog Beach"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qghEqzXqhp4/UPvoXxi_w2I/AAAAAAAACKk/qoc_9USongE/s1600/IMG_4115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qghEqzXqhp4/UPvoXxi_w2I/AAAAAAAACKk/qoc_9USongE/s400/IMG_4115.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJpjiMbyMME/UPvoYN2qFEI/AAAAAAAACKs/uxLOyUVD-kI/s1600/IMG_4117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJpjiMbyMME/UPvoYN2qFEI/AAAAAAAACKs/uxLOyUVD-kI/s400/IMG_4117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The sun was nice and warm but the baby head must be protected </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at all costs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HukGaZxi1G4/UPvoYR5yEAI/AAAAAAAACKw/lH-Z5-ONDJI/s1600/IMG_4118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HukGaZxi1G4/UPvoYR5yEAI/AAAAAAAACKw/lH-Z5-ONDJI/s640/IMG_4118.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Astral Wendy never lost her hippie cred.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tie-dye? Check.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peace sign? Check.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fetish necklace? Check.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wFUHvf4bgo/UPvoYz2Fs9I/AAAAAAAACK4/YUI0LBBBGzM/s1600/IMG_4128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wFUHvf4bgo/UPvoYz2Fs9I/AAAAAAAACK4/YUI0LBBBGzM/s400/IMG_4128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We took a drive down to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm">Cabrillo National Monument</a>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an elevated peninsula south of OB and west of downtown San Diego.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A pretty spectacular landscape indeed. Hard to believe it's so</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
close to a major urban area.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbFOVgQlx04/UPvoZQXdToI/AAAAAAAACK8/EQtBwWvXyHk/s1600/IMG_4131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbFOVgQlx04/UPvoZQXdToI/AAAAAAAACK8/EQtBwWvXyHk/s640/IMG_4131.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Colin and I hanging out at the tide pools.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEV3yE-N89U/UPvoaJb9RvI/AAAAAAAACLM/sqEP3Y9KA1o/s1600/IMG_4136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEV3yE-N89U/UPvoaJb9RvI/AAAAAAAACLM/sqEP3Y9KA1o/s400/IMG_4136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRtKs2OwQVk/UPvoby9uWpI/AAAAAAAACLk/IE-rCGXTaUU/s1600/IMG_4145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRtKs2OwQVk/UPvoby9uWpI/AAAAAAAACLk/IE-rCGXTaUU/s400/IMG_4145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVAAUa_nv6I/UPvocKpdzzI/AAAAAAAACLo/xb6IUfldNLI/s1600/IMG_4148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVAAUa_nv6I/UPvocKpdzzI/AAAAAAAACLo/xb6IUfldNLI/s400/IMG_4148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYzgvcjh_9c/UPvocKkWaVI/AAAAAAAACLs/baCf3qxJzeo/s1600/IMG_4149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYzgvcjh_9c/UPvocKkWaVI/AAAAAAAACLs/baCf3qxJzeo/s400/IMG_4149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Downtown San Diego from the top of Cabrillo, with Coronado </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the foreground.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCQsZizNK2Y/UPvoc2JqzOI/AAAAAAAACL0/oVG3Rx3sQCk/s1600/IMG_4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCQsZizNK2Y/UPvoc2JqzOI/AAAAAAAACL0/oVG3Rx3sQCk/s640/IMG_4156.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Colin and Jenn.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQp1HZB7p9g/UPvodRqkZGI/AAAAAAAACL8/lM5dRyMwd8o/s1600/IMG_4162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQp1HZB7p9g/UPvodRqkZGI/AAAAAAAACL8/lM5dRyMwd8o/s400/IMG_4162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In Vino Veritas</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0aarnTYeow/UPvodgNmRFI/AAAAAAAACME/gpesIv357rw/s1600/IMG_4166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0aarnTYeow/UPvodgNmRFI/AAAAAAAACME/gpesIv357rw/s400/IMG_4166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From out on the OB pier. Lot's of people were surfing. And it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was pretty damn cold just being on the pier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WG4zGDtiNK8/UPvoebVqFsI/AAAAAAAACMM/k7X4T37CW2U/s1600/IMG_4169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WG4zGDtiNK8/UPvoebVqFsI/AAAAAAAACMM/k7X4T37CW2U/s400/IMG_4169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sea cliff apartments just south of the pier. Every time we look</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at these, we are quite tempted to just go sign a lease. Balcony sitting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is a favorite Astral Nomad pastime but our view in New Jersey falls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
immeasurably short of this.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJqOSCxvpLI/UPvoeTLVzKI/AAAAAAAACMQ/7dI2spucmds/s1600/IMG_4165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJqOSCxvpLI/UPvoeTLVzKI/AAAAAAAACMQ/7dI2spucmds/s400/IMG_4165.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello Commander. Yes, everything is in order.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usya7BOi-jI/UPvofAeZykI/AAAAAAAACMY/HurCTcP-rUI/s1600/IMG_4172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usya7BOi-jI/UPvofAeZykI/AAAAAAAACMY/HurCTcP-rUI/s400/IMG_4172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From out on the pier, we caught a glimpse of a seal. Dude was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
messing with Astral Wendy's head as he dove every time she tried</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to get a shot. She finally bagged him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7OIt9rlTkI/UPvofPgxmDI/AAAAAAAACMc/K9K6gsky3ao/s1600/IMG_4175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7OIt9rlTkI/UPvofPgxmDI/AAAAAAAACMc/K9K6gsky3ao/s400/IMG_4175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Steady_Go!">Ready! Steady! Go!</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_I0sGC5rzGY/UPvog6Awc3I/AAAAAAAACM0/xGyQwE4nO0g/s1600/IMG_4185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_I0sGC5rzGY/UPvog6Awc3I/AAAAAAAACM0/xGyQwE4nO0g/s400/IMG_4185.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEOeTX1LqM">Flipper</a>! Is that you?</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tEgEmuiH8jw/UPvohF925GI/AAAAAAAACM4/8R4i23qjcaU/s1600/IMG_4191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tEgEmuiH8jw/UPvohF925GI/AAAAAAAACM4/8R4i23qjcaU/s400/IMG_4191.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Colin's friends in San Diego come from all over but quite a few</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
come from the great state of Massachusetts. It was </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
play-off season so we to catch the Patriots.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's Dan and Cole playing the Super Fan Brady Bunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hot10usUoAM/UPvohDMMd8I/AAAAAAAACM8/epL4Cfvkhc4/s1600/IMG_4190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hot10usUoAM/UPvohDMMd8I/AAAAAAAACM8/epL4Cfvkhc4/s400/IMG_4190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yummy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z-vStpowPM/UPvoiMdS6hI/AAAAAAAACNM/Pl-1vn511oA/s1600/IMG_4194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z-vStpowPM/UPvoiMdS6hI/AAAAAAAACNM/Pl-1vn511oA/s400/IMG_4194.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speaking of yummy, I grilled up some nice hot Italian</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sausages at half-time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2a5ny-SzSYE/UPvoin2f4CI/AAAAAAAACNQ/Wa_aQ0M1S74/s1600/IMG_4201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2a5ny-SzSYE/UPvoin2f4CI/AAAAAAAACNQ/Wa_aQ0M1S74/s400/IMG_4201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The other side of the super fans Cole and Dan.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4To4GAL2XA/UPvoiwPKkbI/AAAAAAAACNU/dlCLXy0l5LI/s1600/IMG_4210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4To4GAL2XA/UPvoiwPKkbI/AAAAAAAACNU/dlCLXy0l5LI/s400/IMG_4210.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Coming home after the game we caught this great western sunset.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This really never gets old.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
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</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axkWyUtS9to/UPvoa4uo6TI/AAAAAAAACLU/5LkZq11l7m0/s1600/IMG_4140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axkWyUtS9to/UPvoa4uo6TI/AAAAAAAACLU/5LkZq11l7m0/s400/IMG_4140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/19784-from-there-to-here-from-here-to-there-funny-things">From there to here, from here to there, </a></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/19784-from-there-to-here-from-here-to-there-funny-things">funny things are everywhere!</a></h1>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-60598104216869126122012-09-03T13:50:00.000-07:002012-09-03T13:50:47.130-07:00Oui, even more Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, there's more....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UjfbJozucQ/UETc0--MxbI/AAAAAAAAB74/TSFMH48xaLs/s1600/IMG_1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UjfbJozucQ/UETc0--MxbI/AAAAAAAAB74/TSFMH48xaLs/s400/IMG_1207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another day, another beautiful blue sky over the Seine.</div>
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What can I say? Paradise!</div>
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One of four Egyptian man-headed lions spitting water.</div>
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There are so many fountains in Paris that I guess</div>
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they started to go crazy in search of originality.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orChqH8AZ8o/UETdArzjvqI/AAAAAAAAB8I/Az8_m8M2ycw/s1600/IMG_1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orChqH8AZ8o/UETdArzjvqI/AAAAAAAAB8I/Az8_m8M2ycw/s640/IMG_1213.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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The runes on the columns reveal all.</div>
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If you can translate, please let me know.</div>
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Let's not forget the Patisseries!</div>
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<i>Un Petit Joie de Vivre</i></div>
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When it's summer in the Tuilleries</div>
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life is, indeed, a carousel.</div>
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This was the day we decided to go to the Louvre. Since the</div>
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Astrals don't excel at planning, the Louvre was closed. Oh, well.</div>
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Might as well truck over and see what's going on with the Eiffel</div>
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Tower. We took the Metro part of the way. I found the Metro to be a tad</div>
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confusing at first, but somehow we muddled through.</div>
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Another palatial public space.</div>
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I think we're getting closer.</div>
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How can one city have so many identical streets?</div>
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Voila! We have arrived.</div>
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Just another gorgeous garden.</div>
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Since we were in the area, figured we should check out the </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe">Arc de Triomphe</a>.</div>
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Here's our hotel again, from another perspective.<br />
Good Grief! Is that a minivan?<br />
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Back at the Brasserie, time for some braised bouef!
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And some pork loin with coulis.
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bq56MFAEL3w/UETdh5EZ6NI/AAAAAAAAB9I/DoPRyu5XS_g/s1600/IMG_1229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bq56MFAEL3w/UETdh5EZ6NI/AAAAAAAAB9I/DoPRyu5XS_g/s640/IMG_1229.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And back to the room for some relaxation.</div>
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Check out those curtains! Oh, the decadence.</div>
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Our home cocktail lounge. Not too shabby.</div>
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Down the rabbit hole. Or should I say the "<i>Terrier du Lapin</i>?"</div>
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Otis, you've been on our minds. </div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-83929010036546459702012-08-20T14:11:00.000-07:002012-08-20T14:11:10.683-07:00A little more Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, the City of Lights looks pretty damn sweet in the daytime too. The Astrals prefer to walk a city and walk we did. It's nice in Paris to stroll along the Quais and see what you can see. Of course, by day five my dogs were barking. But that's a story for a subsequent post.</div>
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The Seine is scenic from any vantage point.</div>
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Our first full day in Paris we started strolling and sort of accidently </div>
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on purpose made our way to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Chapelle">La Sainte-Chappelle.</a> From 1248,</div>
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it's the oldest church on the Ile-de-France and it's pretty spectacular.</div>
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The downstairs is beautiful but the upper chapel, with floor-to-ceiling</div>
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stained glass is breath-taking.</div>
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Almost made me hungry for a wafer. Of course, I'm<br />
always thirsty for a glass of wine but it was 10am, which<br />
is a little early, even for a lush like me.</div>
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Amazing. They should call Paris the 'City of Angels'</div>
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Even vandalism is beautiful in Paris.</div>
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A chic Astral Wendy in front of Notre Dame. In Paris, I'm<br />
pretty sure you are required by law to wear a scarf.</div>
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Some groovy graffiti on the base of the statue of Charlemagne.</div>
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Charlemagne and his cohorts had some crazy facial hair.</div>
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I was thinking 'Looks kinda Germanic for a Frank."<br />
Of course, the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy<br />
nor Roman nor an Empire. Discuss.</div>
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The main vault of Notre Dame. Seemed a little narrow.<br />
What's the point of the Flying Buttresses, really?</div>
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No Sainte-Chapelle but some pretty</div>
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nice stained glass. </div>
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So many flowers, so little time.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aduWvfceioM/UDEnc_jRovI/AAAAAAAAB6U/q-xJagSIc5U/s1600/IMG_1173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aduWvfceioM/UDEnc_jRovI/AAAAAAAAB6U/q-xJagSIc5U/s640/IMG_1173.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Old Notre Dame looks pretty good from the back too.</div>
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This is this cool <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2012/04/the-love-locks-of-paris-pont-des-arts/">footbridge</a> over the Seine where lovers affix</div>
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padlocks with their names inscribed. <i>Tres Romantique! </i>I was reading </div>
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that the City of Paris cleaned this up once (with bolt-cutters) but</div>
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then a new set of locks appeared. Last I heard, they're just</div>
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letting it be. </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_and_Company_(bookstore)">Shakespeare & Company</a>. Had to pose here and pretend I was</div>
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part of the Lost Generation. </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardin_du_Luxembourg">Jardin du Luxembourg</a></div>
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What can I say? Paris has incredible public spaces. This</div>
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used to be royals only. <i>Viva la Revolucion! </i></div>
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Here's a creepy statue.</div>
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Now for the good stuff. Another Brasserie, another great meal.</div>
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I went with Ceviche and Pomme Frites. </div>
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Astral Wendy, in another stroke of menu genius, went Salad Nicosie.</div>
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Of course, I had some. The herring were divine. You just</div>
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can't get good herring in the States. I think they keep all</div>
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the good ones in Europe. Can't blame them really.</div>
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Yes, more to come......</div>
gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-37569276239584004162012-08-12T11:54:00.001-07:002012-08-12T11:54:51.304-07:00Paris, Finally. Et Viva la France!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a bit of history to the Astrals and Paris. I had planned a trip a few years back for Astral Wendy's birthday and the morning of our scheduled departure, as I was attempting to download our boarding passes, I realized that my passport was expired. Ooops! So I owed this trip to Wendy big time.</div>
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Paris is so beautiful that it's difficult to put into words, but I will try: It has this uniform palatial grandiosity that is unlike any city I have ever seen. The architecture is united in its sense of being over the top with gold-leaf and statuary and friezes and monuments everywhere. Add to that the river Seine winding through the city over ancient bridges and the cerulean blue skies overhead and you've got yourself a masterpiece.</div>
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I am a huge fan of Marcel Proust, too, so that added to my sense of wonder. And the gardens and public spaces are unequaled in any other city that I've been in. </div>
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We stayed at the Hotel du Lourve, a five star hotel</div>
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right across the street from the famous museum. A slight</div>
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upgrade from the Eurovan camper. Our lobby had a</div>
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copy of the Venus de Milo. I don't know why people say</div>
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the Parisians are rude. We found them to be pretty friendly.</div>
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Of course, we're used to New York City, where rudeness</div>
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is an art form.</div>
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Here's the hotel. Pretty swank for a couple of nomad bumpkins.</div>
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In the courtyard next to our hotel, this guy created a chalk masterpiece </div>
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every day. I love the celebration of the ephemeral.</div>
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The Louvre is gigantic. That is not an understatement. It's also crazy </div>
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crowded and mostly focused on older art. The <a href="http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html">Musee D'Orsay</a> is </div>
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a better go in my opinion in terms of the quality of the collection but</div>
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the Louvre does have a couple of must sees: Mona, Venus, and Nike.</div>
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Since we never plan anything, the Louvre was closed the day we walked</div>
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over so look for interior photos in a subsequent post</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ev4nEMrhuA/UCe_TTZMSeI/AAAAAAAAB1g/zC58y8usySg/s1600/IMG_1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ev4nEMrhuA/UCe_TTZMSeI/AAAAAAAAB1g/zC58y8usySg/s400/IMG_1101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This type of facade is everywhere.</div>
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Speaking of gardens, this shot is from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuileries_Garden">Tuileries</a>. Central Park,</div>
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hang your head in shame.</div>
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Just a little arch in the Tuileries. And it's pretty damn big.</div>
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And over the top, The Arc de Triomph is yet to come.</div>
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The controversial I.M. Pei pyramid in the Louvre courtyard.</div>
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Typical and mind-blowing. </div>
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A view down the Seine with Notre Dame towers in the background.</div>
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Sanctuary!</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardin_du_Luxembourg">Jardin du Luxembourg</a></div>
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From the excesses of the royals back to the people!</div>
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How can one city have so many monumental streets?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8smvFMBBZfM/UCe_1g9-YdI/AAAAAAAAB2g/sUuxHAzM4Lw/s1600/IMG_1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8smvFMBBZfM/UCe_1g9-YdI/AAAAAAAAB2g/sUuxHAzM4Lw/s400/IMG_1118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Show me a NYC subway entrance even remotely close to this Metro entrance.</div>
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Viva la difference! A very chic Astral Wendy.</div>
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After the original birthday snafu, I think I've been forgiven,</div>
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This was our first day in Paris so we just dined at the hotel</div>
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brasserie. This is my braised pork short ribs. Yummy. Since we're </div>
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gluten-free, we didn't touch the bread that night. More about the</div>
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baguette and croissant break-down in a later post.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pttwsXQW448/UCfADnS3W8I/AAAAAAAAB3A/Y_3yLoPdNfE/s1600/IMG_1127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pttwsXQW448/UCfADnS3W8I/AAAAAAAAB3A/Y_3yLoPdNfE/s400/IMG_1127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In an insightful move, Astral Wendy went for the chicken draped</div>
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with mushrooms, tarragon and a white sauce. I grabbed some and,</div>
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as good as my pork was, I think Wendy won the night.</div>
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This is my quizzical look at the monster chocolate dessert</div>
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(foreground) that Astral Wendy went for. And she never eats dessert.</div>
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Of course I shared. It was the gentlemanly thing to do.</div>
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I forgot that it did rain a little. Just made Paris more beautiful in my opinion.</div>
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Interior of our hotel.</div>
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We never drink spirits but after that meal, it seemed like</div>
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a spot of Armagnac was in order.</div>
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This is right outside the front of our hotel looking up the Avenue de l'Opera.</div>
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This is our view when we stood outside to smoke. Unlike in America, you</div>
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don't feel like a pariah in Paris when you light up. Seems like everybody smokes.</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89dith_Piaf">Edith Piaf </a>lives!</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-67709083019745222042012-08-11T14:25:00.000-07:002012-08-11T14:25:17.170-07:00Astrals Go London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Been a while since the Astrals have been on the road. Over a year since we returned from the epic journey that was the genesis of this blog. Quick summary: we came off the road, sold the Eurovan and resumed a less nomadic lifestyle. I'm back at work, Astral Wendy is back at grad school, and Otis is back to being a lay-about in his luxury hutch, a stationary haymunch. I had to go to the UK on business, so I figured I would import Astral Wendy after my week of work and head over to Paris for a little jaunt. Since I came in through Heathrow, the plan was to have Astral Wendy come in Friday night, spend Saturday in London to get used to the timezone change, and take the <a href="http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp">Eurostar</a> to Paris on Sunday. So here's some shots of London.</div>
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It was completely coincidental that Astral Wendy arrived the </div>
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night of the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics. </div>
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Surprisingly to us, Central London was dead.</div>
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We usually stay at the <a href="http://www.radissonblu-edwardian.com/london-hotel-gb-wc2h-7hl/gbpastor/home">Radisson Blu</a> right off Leicester Square. </div>
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I watched some of the opening ceremonies on the telly and popped out to </div>
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<a href="http://www.allbarone.co.uk/allbaroneleicestersquare/">All Bar One</a> for a glass of wine, thinking Astral Wendy would be tied up </div>
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getting through Heathrow immigration. As I was sneaking back to</div>
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the room, I ran into her walking down the street. </div>
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A sweet sight for sore eyes.</div>
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Rule Brittania!</div>
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Astral Wendy discovers coolness everywhere. This is in the hotel stairwell.</div>
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Admiral Nelson I presume?</div>
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Ah! Summertime in England. It had rained every day for 2 months before </div>
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I arrived and stopped the day I arrived a week ago. Didn't rain at all up in </div>
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Kettering where I was all week. </div>
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London was eerily empty.</div>
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I'll say one thing for the royals, they know how to order a gate.</div>
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<i>Stepping lightly</i></div>
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<i>Just like a ballerina</i></div>
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<i>Ooo-we baby, take off your shoes</i></div>
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<i>Working on</i></div>
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<i>Just like a ballerina*</i></div>
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One Saturday, we walked over to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Britain">Tate</a>. Not only were the streets empty,</div>
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the entire museum had around 20 visitors.</div>
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When it comes to British art, with exception of Lucien Freud, I'm </div>
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going Pre-Raphaelite all the way. </div>
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Glass rotunda at the Tate.</div>
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Archangel Michael + Cranky Queen </div>
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They had these creepy cyclopic things all over London for the Olympics.</div>
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Do Not Climb? No worries mate! </div>
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The obligatory shot of Big Ben.</div>
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Since we were heading to Paris in the morning,</div>
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we decided to warm up with a nice</div>
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bottle of Chablis.</div>
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Saturday afternoon we strolled over to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covent_Garden">Covent Garden</a>. London was festooned.</div>
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We popped into the upstairs of <a href="http://www.thewhiteswanlondon.com/">The White Swan </a>to grab a bite. I'll grant it was on the early side, but </div>
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we didn't exactly have to fight for a table.</div>
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Astral Wendy went duck. An Excellent Choice.</div>
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Leicester Square in summer glory.</div>
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A bunch of Paris posts to follow. The best is yet to come......</div>
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*Ballerina, Van Morrison</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-69542636083361280752011-10-15T15:03:00.000-07:002011-10-15T15:03:37.577-07:00duke, duke, duke of island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><i>As I walk through this world<br />
Nothing can stop me now I'm the duke of earl*</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">We live right next to Duke Estate. So forgive my bad pun and simply enjoy the awesomeness of Astral Wendy's photography. That being said, I am the Duke of Earl. And nobody can stop me now.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPtHhjOI6-w/Tpn_Xo0VBbI/AAAAAAAABdA/89C_eelx9So/s1600/IMG_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPtHhjOI6-w/Tpn_Xo0VBbI/AAAAAAAABdA/89C_eelx9So/s400/IMG_1920.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*<i>Duke of Earl,</i> Gene Chandler</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-52860560663157623342011-09-25T17:28:00.000-07:002011-09-25T17:28:27.522-07:00The Astrals Love a Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This weekend in Raritan NJ was the the annual celebration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Basilone">John Basilone</a>, a local hero who was the first US Marine to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Since Raritan has a pretty strong Italian heritage, it's sort of a a big deal. The highlight of the festivities is a parade, which was a lot longer than we had guessed. Raritan also has some great Italian restaurants and bakeries. The Astrals have no complaints with that since they are all within walking distance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYBhWr98quk/Tn-Ex7tpWHI/AAAAAAAABYE/_NIyAtCNBgU/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYBhWr98quk/Tn-Ex7tpWHI/AAAAAAAABYE/_NIyAtCNBgU/s400/IMG_1382.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We spotted this guy on the floor of our elevator. I named it</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Aborigine with Silver Torch Running towards the Vent".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmzqwQbYOe8/Tn-E5tHsSSI/AAAAAAAABYI/EIB6l8RGLaY/s1600/IMG_1386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmzqwQbYOe8/Tn-E5tHsSSI/AAAAAAAABYI/EIB6l8RGLaY/s400/IMG_1386.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Autumn has begun although it was 77F and very humid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oj3c1D9_Y50/Tn-HNbEo-gI/AAAAAAAABZQ/H_36GZy-FGg/s1600/IMG_1447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oj3c1D9_Y50/Tn-HNbEo-gI/AAAAAAAABZQ/H_36GZy-FGg/s400/IMG_1447.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of Italian restaurants, we walk over to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&rlz=1G1SMSN_ENUS407&gs_upl=2529603l2534852l0l2537486l7l7l0l0l0l0l272l1225l0.4.3l7l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=espo+raritan+nj&fb=1&gl=us&hq=espo&hnear=0x89c3f15afc587b25:0xd2fb5b1e3f4bc38e,Raritan,+NJ&cid=12744254377593004830">Espo's</a> three or four</div><div style="text-align: center;">times a month. It's a little hole-in-the-wall with a limited menu, but</div><div style="text-align: center;">it totally rocks. They have the best marinara sauce evar. Last night Astral</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wendy went with the Eggplant Parmigiana and I had the Manicotti.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Awesome! She didn't have her camera so we only have shots of</div><div style="text-align: center;">the leftovers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxhk57zJLWA/Tn-FAtDiT4I/AAAAAAAABYM/fb5Z8yDAd6U/s1600/IMG_1389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxhk57zJLWA/Tn-FAtDiT4I/AAAAAAAABYM/fb5Z8yDAd6U/s400/IMG_1389.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are always leftovers from Espo's! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXhJa2ukBc8/Tn-FG77s2DI/AAAAAAAABYQ/efHwvbi_7U4/s1600/IMG_1390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXhJa2ukBc8/Tn-FG77s2DI/AAAAAAAABYQ/efHwvbi_7U4/s400/IMG_1390.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you have grandchildren, painted pumpkins are suddenly in vogue.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YlgHeoRtmD8/Tn-FI1q5pDI/AAAAAAAABYU/RQbDgOokj-U/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YlgHeoRtmD8/Tn-FI1q5pDI/AAAAAAAABYU/RQbDgOokj-U/s640/IMG_1392.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Basilone</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BL5jSx-ws/Tn-FSs8f_CI/AAAAAAAABYY/ydFsZTjVZXo/s1600/IMG_1395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BL5jSx-ws/Tn-FSs8f_CI/AAAAAAAABYY/ydFsZTjVZXo/s400/IMG_1395.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The parade was very Marine oriented.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58NZeZ0O_9g/Tn-Fdm9oetI/AAAAAAAABYc/eUkYD_cOKyw/s1600/IMG_1396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58NZeZ0O_9g/Tn-Fdm9oetI/AAAAAAAABYc/eUkYD_cOKyw/s400/IMG_1396.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One helluva model American.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpbBMGcvhNs/Tn-FlqISWUI/AAAAAAAABYg/N83z51Q3yQs/s1600/IMG_1397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpbBMGcvhNs/Tn-FlqISWUI/AAAAAAAABYg/N83z51Q3yQs/s400/IMG_1397.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a grand ole flag.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2PjVmzLq6E/Tn-FvLM_V2I/AAAAAAAABYk/Qkn6t1IvWT4/s1600/IMG_1398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2PjVmzLq6E/Tn-FvLM_V2I/AAAAAAAABYk/Qkn6t1IvWT4/s400/IMG_1398.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgUj2M41n60/Tn-F4tpr_vI/AAAAAAAABYo/ZRmt1Ah-XJo/s1600/IMG_1403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgUj2M41n60/Tn-F4tpr_vI/AAAAAAAABYo/ZRmt1Ah-XJo/s400/IMG_1403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The USMC Band from Quantico. They were incredible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu2JZ0UB6ss/Tn-GBsC3OQI/AAAAAAAABYs/iPXyCgLAEKs/s1600/IMG_1405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu2JZ0UB6ss/Tn-GBsC3OQI/AAAAAAAABYs/iPXyCgLAEKs/s400/IMG_1405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since we have two bulldogs in the family, we kinda dug this character.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glad they didn't make him walk. Ten Hut!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zuQ8k4AAh4/Tn-GH-ZCVYI/AAAAAAAABYw/sPe-bSoJyxo/s1600/IMG_1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zuQ8k4AAh4/Tn-GH-ZCVYI/AAAAAAAABYw/sPe-bSoJyxo/s400/IMG_1408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I really wanted me a pimp hat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-megFnqGZNvY/Tn-GRr5EVAI/AAAAAAAABY0/d-tri5kTcHU/s1600/IMG_1416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-megFnqGZNvY/Tn-GRr5EVAI/AAAAAAAABY0/d-tri5kTcHU/s400/IMG_1416.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Astral Wendy digs the kilt. 'Nuff said.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZmIZte4Zc0/Tn-GdPzlieI/AAAAAAAABY4/kjVxHFVh-Vc/s1600/IMG_1427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZmIZte4Zc0/Tn-GdPzlieI/AAAAAAAABY4/kjVxHFVh-Vc/s400/IMG_1427.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksbw_2nhPPg/Tn-Gnr0PyMI/AAAAAAAABY8/MXRNJ4nJq_E/s1600/IMG_1431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksbw_2nhPPg/Tn-Gnr0PyMI/AAAAAAAABY8/MXRNJ4nJq_E/s400/IMG_1431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHgzMZEzczI/Tn-Gt9YO75I/AAAAAAAABZA/8OVk-tZaDZs/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHgzMZEzczI/Tn-Gt9YO75I/AAAAAAAABZA/8OVk-tZaDZs/s400/IMG_1433.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A bit of fife and drums.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lF6tRUZCW10/Tn-G1ndJcZI/AAAAAAAABZE/ORRux_f9yF4/s1600/IMG_1436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lF6tRUZCW10/Tn-G1ndJcZI/AAAAAAAABZE/ORRux_f9yF4/s400/IMG_1436.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ya gotta love anything named the Devil Pups. Satan never</div><div style="text-align: center;">sounded cuter. I, therefore, cannot reject all of his works.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwAd-U8Jufw/Tn-G-7r2L7I/AAAAAAAABZI/ut4dVP_7x_A/s1600/IMG_1440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwAd-U8Jufw/Tn-G-7r2L7I/AAAAAAAABZI/ut4dVP_7x_A/s400/IMG_1440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not everyday you see a top-fuel dragster idling down Somerset Street.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIyh_SBg0-c/Tn-HH9R7LMI/AAAAAAAABZM/r6-ItLeUiv0/s1600/IMG_1443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIyh_SBg0-c/Tn-HH9R7LMI/AAAAAAAABZM/r6-ItLeUiv0/s400/IMG_1443.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of pimp hats.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp8GKjGsQwI/Tn-HZPv6sfI/AAAAAAAABZU/jWujiM_W_RE/s1600/IMG_1452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp8GKjGsQwI/Tn-HZPv6sfI/AAAAAAAABZU/jWujiM_W_RE/s640/IMG_1452.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The littlest piper. Cute overload.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ4WnXrUrZE/Tn-Hjb--F3I/AAAAAAAABZY/nZbmnl9qbeM/s1600/IMG_1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ4WnXrUrZE/Tn-Hjb--F3I/AAAAAAAABZY/nZbmnl9qbeM/s400/IMG_1453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which way is the beer?</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-67483676156637414992011-09-18T17:01:00.000-07:002011-09-18T17:01:57.043-07:00Down By the River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a hint of autumn in the air in New Jersey right now. It still remains to be seen if we're going to charge right into the cold weather or whether we'll get a reprieve. In any event, you get the hint that winter is coming. A mellow Sunday with nothing much on the docket so the Astrals decided to cruise over to New Brunswick to check out a river festival, sponsored by the <a href="http://www.beezfoundation.org/">Beez Foundation</a>, where our oldest son, Dale, was working as a volunteer. The Beez Foundation benefits kids with brain cancer and they have an annual rubber duck race on the Raritan River. We weren't planning to stay long enough for the race but we figured we'd sneak up on Dale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYIV8noVDoM/TnZjXfI2kPI/AAAAAAAABWs/ZcH3Jn0Ys8o/s1600/IMG_1198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYIV8noVDoM/TnZjXfI2kPI/AAAAAAAABWs/ZcH3Jn0Ys8o/s400/IMG_1198.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>Many years have passed since those summer days<br />
Among the fields of barley<br />
See the children run as the sun goes down<br />
Among the fields of gold<br />
You'll remember me when the west wind moves<br />
Upon the fields of barley<br />
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky<br />
When we walked in the fields of gold*</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPgBXqZmAKs/TnZj4fcinYI/AAAAAAAABWw/cd-nCuroP6U/s1600/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPgBXqZmAKs/TnZj4fcinYI/AAAAAAAABWw/cd-nCuroP6U/s400/IMG_1200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you look close, you can see bigfoot. Psyche!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMaR6B1YG4Q/TnZkHXGKFOI/AAAAAAAABW0/TX7aAhM2O-E/s1600/IMG_1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMaR6B1YG4Q/TnZkHXGKFOI/AAAAAAAABW0/TX7aAhM2O-E/s400/IMG_1205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The festival was held at Boyd Park. You can't make this stuff up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fITo-XaS3yc/TnZkgspqERI/AAAAAAAABW4/NDN97J5XaC4/s1600/IMG_1208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fITo-XaS3yc/TnZkgspqERI/AAAAAAAABW4/NDN97J5XaC4/s400/IMG_1208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since I was a boy, I've ridden by this park hundreds of times</div><div style="text-align: center;">but was never there until today. There are some nice views of</div><div style="text-align: center;">the river.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iG8Ho-kdjYc/TnZk10CPEkI/AAAAAAAABW8/uIQ0DCipoa4/s1600/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iG8Ho-kdjYc/TnZk10CPEkI/AAAAAAAABW8/uIQ0DCipoa4/s400/IMG_1210.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This the pod that is craned over the river to release the ducks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBzoKzug4TM/TnZlPIqPPcI/AAAAAAAABXA/ZUgkUO2IN40/s1600/IMG_1212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBzoKzug4TM/TnZlPIqPPcI/AAAAAAAABXA/ZUgkUO2IN40/s400/IMG_1212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sun was trying to come out but the clouds</div><div style="text-align: center;">pretty much prevailed today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJlLxmDYAiQ/TnZlmDcK1AI/AAAAAAAABXE/wnBC-VH-ueE/s1600/IMG_1214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJlLxmDYAiQ/TnZlmDcK1AI/AAAAAAAABXE/wnBC-VH-ueE/s400/IMG_1214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was cool. The Raritan River is tidal so this was the river flowing </div><div style="text-align: center;">upstream into the locks where the rubber duckies will be later to race.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wd2uBBoLf-U/TnZltrqC1OI/AAAAAAAABXI/giWeMq-Adkk/s1600/IMG_1221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wd2uBBoLf-U/TnZltrqC1OI/AAAAAAAABXI/giWeMq-Adkk/s400/IMG_1221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Incoming!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-rV60oS5LM/TnZmAHp3d1I/AAAAAAAABXM/LYIOOgn1bko/s1600/IMG_1231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-rV60oS5LM/TnZmAHp3d1I/AAAAAAAABXM/LYIOOgn1bko/s400/IMG_1231.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there ARE Raritan River Keepers! Who knew?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVYPM22JYFY/TnZmTuiKRJI/AAAAAAAABXQ/MsCEy3V564s/s1600/IMG_1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVYPM22JYFY/TnZmTuiKRJI/AAAAAAAABXQ/MsCEy3V564s/s400/IMG_1235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qes01h5qZ-M/TnZmi4EwC3I/AAAAAAAABXU/OYKAUzPJ0yU/s1600/IMG_1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qes01h5qZ-M/TnZmi4EwC3I/AAAAAAAABXU/OYKAUzPJ0yU/s400/IMG_1236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have come to worship at the shrine of the Rubber Ducky.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJps-7kygIs/TnZmtn54WvI/AAAAAAAABXY/EK8lT188oOI/s1600/IMG_1240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJps-7kygIs/TnZmtn54WvI/AAAAAAAABXY/EK8lT188oOI/s400/IMG_1240.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the early music was in our zone. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Jackie Wilson Said.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N8JzVKKJC5w/TnZm96R2OpI/AAAAAAAABXc/zykBaR9UETI/s1600/IMG_1241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N8JzVKKJC5w/TnZm96R2OpI/AAAAAAAABXc/zykBaR9UETI/s400/IMG_1241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's Dale on the right. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1036XwcX28/TnZnbU04YCI/AAAAAAAABXg/PxUih7tdfs8/s1600/IMG_1242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1036XwcX28/TnZnbU04YCI/AAAAAAAABXg/PxUih7tdfs8/s400/IMG_1242.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Watchin' the River Flow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOMmUY_QaN4/TnZntClU5OI/AAAAAAAABXk/dKcIuf8z-9k/s1600/IMG_1246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOMmUY_QaN4/TnZntClU5OI/AAAAAAAABXk/dKcIuf8z-9k/s400/IMG_1246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Class of 1914? I'd like to see that crew now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4u9d5ZdqxvI/TnZoGPyR1zI/AAAAAAAABXo/cgeZzgC7dvA/s1600/IMG_1250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4u9d5ZdqxvI/TnZoGPyR1zI/AAAAAAAABXo/cgeZzgC7dvA/s400/IMG_1250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This ain't no Banksy. In fact, it's kinda freakin' me out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I took the brown acid. A mistake, of course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SFRZMCJVpU/TnZoavGBoiI/AAAAAAAABXs/CRA_ynycqUc/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SFRZMCJVpU/TnZoavGBoiI/AAAAAAAABXs/CRA_ynycqUc/s400/IMG_1251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to skip the river fest menu and went to <a href="http://www.tumultys.com/">Tumulty's Tavern</a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a New Brunswick institution.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYJ7pULD4Pw/TnZovrQLm6I/AAAAAAAABXw/I9EMMcYhIxU/s1600/IMG_1252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYJ7pULD4Pw/TnZovrQLm6I/AAAAAAAABXw/I9EMMcYhIxU/s400/IMG_1252.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of their signature items is a huge wedge of iceberg lettuce. No</div><div style="text-align: center;">matter what you order, you get one of these these.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPcUG9Ztl5c/TnZpEp07CqI/AAAAAAAABX0/9aXeXlFUWHk/s1600/IMG_1254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPcUG9Ztl5c/TnZpEp07CqI/AAAAAAAABX0/9aXeXlFUWHk/s400/IMG_1254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Astrals just went for the burgers. At 10oz, it was impossible to finish.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Faht6Fch40/TnZplqh2TAI/AAAAAAAABX4/NMd7l5GIIJA/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Faht6Fch40/TnZplqh2TAI/AAAAAAAABX4/NMd7l5GIIJA/s400/IMG_1255.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure how old this building is, but it seems pretty dated.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KW89GAH1_j0/TnZqJF6FgUI/AAAAAAAABX8/BSwfl9yctJ4/s1600/IMG_1256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KW89GAH1_j0/TnZqJF6FgUI/AAAAAAAABX8/BSwfl9yctJ4/s400/IMG_1256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I see a ghost rising. Do you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRoToDMzzQo/TnZqYre7vfI/AAAAAAAABYA/N7BBVHXIH54/s1600/IMG_1261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRoToDMzzQo/TnZqYre7vfI/AAAAAAAABYA/N7BBVHXIH54/s400/IMG_1261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look into my eyes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*'Fields of Gold' - Sting</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-84056112020031607352011-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:002011-09-10T15:54:48.256-07:00Down the Shore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've been pretty much playing the role of slugs lately but today we decided to do a little road trip. In New Jersey, the idiom for describing a visit to beach is "Goin' down the shore". Hard to believe it's been five months since the Astrals have seen the ocean. And that was that cold, cold Pacific out in San Diego. Today </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we went totally Atlantic. And the sea air made us crave cod. Act now before the extinction!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVg7EoYH6dw/TmvHXGw0p9I/AAAAAAAABVQ/_UQA9oMqULI/s1600/IMG_1003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVg7EoYH6dw/TmvHXGw0p9I/AAAAAAAABVQ/_UQA9oMqULI/s400/IMG_1003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The day started beautifully so we figured we'd head down the shore. </div><div style="text-align: center;">On the drive down, ( about an hour) we started to second guess our<br />
decision because the early sunshine gave way to mostly</div><div style="text-align: center;">overcast skies. When we got to <a href="http://www.pointpleasantbeach.com/">Point Pleasant</a>, though, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the sun came out and stayed out for most of our visit. Cool. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Point Pleasant is kind of a weird place since the beach is actually</div><div style="text-align: center;">owned by a commercial enterprise, <a href="http://www.jenkinsons.com/">Jenkinson's</a>. I think </div><div style="text-align: center;">New Jersey is the only state where the beach</div><div style="text-align: center;"> is not free in most places. So much for </div><div style="text-align: center;">my illusions of <a href="http://www.jenkinsons.com/">Quadrophenia.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gCsarR_OsA/TmvHd8DEV-I/AAAAAAAABVU/0LXMCvROg8I/s1600/IMG_1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gCsarR_OsA/TmvHd8DEV-I/AAAAAAAABVU/0LXMCvROg8I/s640/IMG_1011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astral Wendy got right to work.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDP8FrhxJLc/TmvHitQ154I/AAAAAAAABVY/BK9A_-61M4E/s1600/IMG_1012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDP8FrhxJLc/TmvHitQ154I/AAAAAAAABVY/BK9A_-61M4E/s400/IMG_1012.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I do need to go on a diet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0v5KUzgzN0/TmvHkpwuivI/AAAAAAAABVc/g-kCywTIxVg/s1600/IMG_1017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0v5KUzgzN0/TmvHkpwuivI/AAAAAAAABVc/g-kCywTIxVg/s400/IMG_1017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gulls, of course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9dpXFgo3nY/TmvHqv1VJPI/AAAAAAAABVg/T-0kJTynYng/s1600/IMG_1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9dpXFgo3nY/TmvHqv1VJPI/AAAAAAAABVg/T-0kJTynYng/s400/IMG_1022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure that palm trees are not indigenous to New Jersey.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let go into the illusion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JylHyun37VU/TmvHztWEd5I/AAAAAAAABVk/gcawFUNvubE/s1600/IMG_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JylHyun37VU/TmvHztWEd5I/AAAAAAAABVk/gcawFUNvubE/s400/IMG_1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's been a few hurricanes and tropical storms passing through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think this was a hunk of flotsam (or perhaps jetsom) collected</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by the local authorites.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RedN2DZ0Ug4/TmvH23wN1uI/AAAAAAAABVo/ftggV8NJVlU/s1600/IMG_1026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RedN2DZ0Ug4/TmvH23wN1uI/AAAAAAAABVo/ftggV8NJVlU/s640/IMG_1026.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, there's a kitschy boardwalk. Who would want</div><div style="text-align: center;">to take this home? And then live with the unnameable</div><div style="text-align: center;">fear?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQQRruATOVA/TmvH9qJAC2I/AAAAAAAABVs/K1VTxuXcm0M/s1600/IMG_1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQQRruATOVA/TmvH9qJAC2I/AAAAAAAABVs/K1VTxuXcm0M/s400/IMG_1027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ditto for clowny.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l1n3CN7vQe0/TmvIBw9iLCI/AAAAAAAABVw/1GK5r8Isznk/s1600/IMG_1035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l1n3CN7vQe0/TmvIBw9iLCI/AAAAAAAABVw/1GK5r8Isznk/s400/IMG_1035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Close enough for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MLp7YNTznE">Ozzie</a> fans.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQLxbvanw8s/TmvIC6TR7EI/AAAAAAAABV0/EGP5o9MElX8/s1600/IMG_1036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQLxbvanw8s/TmvIC6TR7EI/AAAAAAAABV0/EGP5o9MElX8/s400/IMG_1036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hurtricane Katia was offshore so the surf did a little bit of pounding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhEFsB4AE7Q/TmvIMJomRWI/AAAAAAAABV4/_qJ54jI-GL4/s1600/IMG_1037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhEFsB4AE7Q/TmvIMJomRWI/AAAAAAAABV4/_qJ54jI-GL4/s400/IMG_1037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swimming was banned. OK for us, since we weren't prepared.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qNAkXjlbcU0/TmvISXLhmQI/AAAAAAAABV8/LwuiaxhQDD0/s1600/IMG_1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qNAkXjlbcU0/TmvISXLhmQI/AAAAAAAABV8/LwuiaxhQDD0/s400/IMG_1038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGovKGVQ16I/TmvIaRPFfcI/AAAAAAAABWA/qlNJRJ-1pk8/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGovKGVQ16I/TmvIaRPFfcI/AAAAAAAABWA/qlNJRJ-1pk8/s400/IMG_1041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Ever since I was a young boy,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">I've played the silver ball.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">From Soho down to Brighton</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">I must have played them all.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">But I ain't seen nothing like him</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">In any amusement hall.*</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: magenta; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7BG1SSuNGg/TmvIlKsQWAI/AAAAAAAABWE/DLT91Mrz7cA/s1600/IMG_1042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7BG1SSuNGg/TmvIlKsQWAI/AAAAAAAABWE/DLT91Mrz7cA/s400/IMG_1042.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Step right up, step right up, step right up<br />
Everyone's a winner, bargains galore<br />
That's right, you too can be the proud owner<br />
Of the quality goes in before the name goes on<br />
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar, we got service after sales<br />
You need perfume? we got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring?<br />
Something for the little lady, something for the little lady<br />
Something for the little lady, hmm<br />
Three for a dollar**</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu8AzY63l0g/TmvIyI_dGuI/AAAAAAAABWI/-QE0FKYqLxs/s1600/IMG_1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu8AzY63l0g/TmvIyI_dGuI/AAAAAAAABWI/-QE0FKYqLxs/s400/IMG_1045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The nice thing about semi-off season New Jersey shore is the lack of crowds.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k4bsBEQ0NQ/TmvIz4rTu8I/AAAAAAAABWM/imMA3QIuI4w/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k4bsBEQ0NQ/TmvIz4rTu8I/AAAAAAAABWM/imMA3QIuI4w/s400/IMG_1046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheesecake boat's acomin'...We'll party tonight.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-583cNrKndbA/TmvI2nzzjvI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Jvfe33IOix8/s1600/IMG_1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-583cNrKndbA/TmvI2nzzjvI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Jvfe33IOix8/s400/IMG_1047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh! The humanity!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0glujuVrwdo/TmvI-MSnLRI/AAAAAAAABWU/XlhLQwYN6yo/s1600/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0glujuVrwdo/TmvI-MSnLRI/AAAAAAAABWU/XlhLQwYN6yo/s640/IMG_1062.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you know the way to Staten Island? Just talkin' 'bout Snooki. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That cat Snooki is a mean mutha-f---. Shut yer mouth. Just talkin' 'bout Snooki!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7Q-egoIzB0/TmvJFTr0hcI/AAAAAAAABWY/UkQ89-uti3Q/s1600/IMG_1064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7Q-egoIzB0/TmvJFTr0hcI/AAAAAAAABWY/UkQ89-uti3Q/s400/IMG_1064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Astrals love a<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow"> rainbow</a>. You should too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFC2moneIcg/TmvJPR1sfYI/AAAAAAAABWc/jKoFTvJgvpE/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFC2moneIcg/TmvJPR1sfYI/AAAAAAAABWc/jKoFTvJgvpE/s400/IMG_1066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I could type with a Scottish accent, <i> </i>I would.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TRiDIPk_5lA/TmvmF1DK2zI/AAAAAAAABWg/AEw743VZdr8/s1600/IMG_1086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TRiDIPk_5lA/TmvmF1DK2zI/AAAAAAAABWg/AEw743VZdr8/s400/IMG_1086.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back at home. Gonna cook me some cod and</div><div style="text-align: center;">cauliflower. Alliteration works in the kitchen too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezVMfR_RZWk/TmvmI2gWzzI/AAAAAAAABWk/SqfGBIpkO5o/s1600/IMG_1087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezVMfR_RZWk/TmvmI2gWzzI/AAAAAAAABWk/SqfGBIpkO5o/s400/IMG_1087.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A partially neglected coney chaws some cauliflower greens.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9V0VO8cDuYc/TmvmOgY0kMI/AAAAAAAABWo/VqmI8V_XCVQ/s1600/IMG_1090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9V0VO8cDuYc/TmvmOgY0kMI/AAAAAAAABWo/VqmI8V_XCVQ/s400/IMG_1090.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh Yes! Baked cod with roasted tomatoes and panko.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roasted cauliflower tossed with garlic, roasted peppers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">capers, and crushed red pepper. Yowzers! Cotes du Rhone</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you say? Yes, the Astrals are red wine people, regardless of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">menu. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*The Who, Pinball Wizard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">**Tom Waits. Step Right up</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-31517033455548322102011-09-04T12:52:00.000-07:002011-09-04T12:52:07.955-07:00Irene Stops By to Say Hello<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes you don't have to be nomading to find high adventure. Sometimes the high adventure comes to you. New Jersey has been wild lately, first with an earthquake, then with hurricane Irene. The earthquake was almost laughable by West Coast standards but it was still pretty wild for New Jersey. The media frenzy over the little rattle had just about subsided when we heard Irene was a-bearing down on the Garden State. Don't know if I believe in global warming, but I sure do believe in Global Weirding. Strange things are afoot at the Circle K, my friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bAMoTdavF0/TmOWJKlVXpI/AAAAAAAABT0/F7lydVBwzK4/s1600/IMG_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bAMoTdavF0/TmOWJKlVXpI/AAAAAAAABT0/F7lydVBwzK4/s400/IMG_0516.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, the New York media went absolutely and breathlessly bonkers</div><div style="text-align: center;">over Irene, so the nomads built a hurricane preparedness center. Then,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got to work making a big pot of chili con carne. After the disaster</div><div style="text-align: center;">unfolded, we lost power for 72 hours. So we wound up having many meals</div><div style="text-align: center;">of cold chili by candelight. <i>Tres Romantique...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd0rK1gdPYI/TmOWRVGXTlI/AAAAAAAABT4/0EkDy1BwU70/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd0rK1gdPYI/TmOWRVGXTlI/AAAAAAAABT4/0EkDy1BwU70/s400/IMG_0528.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As if the earthquake and hurricane weren't enough, we also had a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mini-meteor shower right in our own dining room. Weird, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cornbread was decimated.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-pxSCSRv_Y/TmOWaEmYHsI/AAAAAAAABT8/PwJB0E4rE4U/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-pxSCSRv_Y/TmOWaEmYHsI/AAAAAAAABT8/PwJB0E4rE4U/s400/IMG_0549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Over night, the winds howled and the rain poured. Next morning</div><div style="text-align: center;">the water started to rise. This is in the early stages when you could</div><div style="text-align: center;">still see part of the tennis court net. The water was rising at about a </div><div style="text-align: center;">foot an hour at this point.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXN88ZC70Sg/TmOWg3vCVCI/AAAAAAAABUA/nUXY5C5J3ps/s1600/IMG_0579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXN88ZC70Sg/TmOWg3vCVCI/AAAAAAAABUA/nUXY5C5J3ps/s400/IMG_0579.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Net's all gone and the water, she's still a-risin'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H90jQPJg_es/TmOWpJ2UjeI/AAAAAAAABUE/lfCByj4JriU/s1600/IMG_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H90jQPJg_es/TmOWpJ2UjeI/AAAAAAAABUE/lfCByj4JriU/s400/IMG_0586.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">At this point we're asking ourselves: Should we move our cars or </div><div style="text-align: center;">have another glass of wine? The wine prevailed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JU4Tdgj2uY0/TmOWue16ROI/AAAAAAAABUI/6DQoYqH8UmI/s1600/IMG_0600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JU4Tdgj2uY0/TmOWue16ROI/AAAAAAAABUI/6DQoYqH8UmI/s400/IMG_0600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Down at the end of scenic Busky Lane, it was almost game over.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think this was about the high-water mark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8blS6JNTJw/TmOW8CuA3BI/AAAAAAAABUQ/PA_QWWvXjok/s1600/IMG_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8blS6JNTJw/TmOW8CuA3BI/AAAAAAAABUQ/PA_QWWvXjok/s400/IMG_0618.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FHPL9fZv64/TmOXKCICkRI/AAAAAAAABUY/K1mHHrRGf0k/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FHPL9fZv64/TmOXKCICkRI/AAAAAAAABUY/K1mHHrRGf0k/s400/IMG_0623.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The water stopped rising and we saw this great rainbow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope abounds.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_xlqR_KAZY/TmOXSTQflII/AAAAAAAABUc/RIasFXkYTh4/s1600/IMG_0631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_xlqR_KAZY/TmOXSTQflII/AAAAAAAABUc/RIasFXkYTh4/s400/IMG_0631.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've always dreamed of riverfront property.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAhigeV9EEw/TmOXXG0z5PI/AAAAAAAABUg/Mc_zy5aIseA/s1600/IMG_0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAhigeV9EEw/TmOXXG0z5PI/AAAAAAAABUg/Mc_zy5aIseA/s400/IMG_0636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Otis finally came out and said "WTF?"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHmJ4h28RR8/TmOXhVHns0I/AAAAAAAABUk/3T_Geh1Y4lg/s1600/IMG_0691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHmJ4h28RR8/TmOXhVHns0I/AAAAAAAABUk/3T_Geh1Y4lg/s400/IMG_0691.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These new trees survived. Overnight they were bent over sideways.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJO_-PYk5ng/TmOXuf3EWeI/AAAAAAAABUo/JFcygQlUbx0/s1600/IMG_0693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJO_-PYk5ng/TmOXuf3EWeI/AAAAAAAABUo/JFcygQlUbx0/s400/IMG_0693.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Raritan Driving Range was turned into one huge water hazard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9E8nLTe2TQs/TmOX1StYBtI/AAAAAAAABUs/34kSZoDT45A/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9E8nLTe2TQs/TmOX1StYBtI/AAAAAAAABUs/34kSZoDT45A/s400/IMG_0718.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The only light that night was the powered by the</div><div style="text-align: center;">generator at the back of the supermarket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8fc4-W_L3k/TmOX_cCQ0II/AAAAAAAABUw/l4ziKiY1tg8/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8fc4-W_L3k/TmOX_cCQ0II/AAAAAAAABUw/l4ziKiY1tg8/s400/IMG_0730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next day when we got up, our river was gone but we still had</div><div style="text-align: center;">no power so we took a stroll in search of coffee. This is one of the</div><div style="text-align: center;">country roads near where we live that was still flooded.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hk2WVSY3gkU/TmOYHYdTjcI/AAAAAAAABU0/bG4ZBBmnef4/s1600/IMG_0736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hk2WVSY3gkU/TmOYHYdTjcI/AAAAAAAABU0/bG4ZBBmnef4/s400/IMG_0736.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Astral Wendy finds beauty everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgcg7tMdKLs/TmOYLKrhFGI/AAAAAAAABU4/d4junPhB6eg/s1600/IMG_0739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgcg7tMdKLs/TmOYLKrhFGI/AAAAAAAABU4/d4junPhB6eg/s400/IMG_0739.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bridge near where we live was covered with</div><div style="text-align: center;">snails. Where's the butter and garlic when you need it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3xevtzYJWI/TmOYQyq4TPI/AAAAAAAABU8/0sTkaflXSNw/s1600/IMG_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3xevtzYJWI/TmOYQyq4TPI/AAAAAAAABU8/0sTkaflXSNw/s400/IMG_0741.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Irene definitely tired out this mantis. The guy looks bushed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6RSdIt8FMg/TmOYWDZFNWI/AAAAAAAABVA/D_TGwjNdo-k/s1600/IMG_0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6RSdIt8FMg/TmOYWDZFNWI/AAAAAAAABVA/D_TGwjNdo-k/s400/IMG_0784.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Day Two without power and this guy paid us a visit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyqe1_hoB1w/TmOYbG71XOI/AAAAAAAABVE/z6-8zhQlz50/s1600/IMG_0816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyqe1_hoB1w/TmOYbG71XOI/AAAAAAAABVE/z6-8zhQlz50/s400/IMG_0816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eye of Hurricane or Eye of Astral Gerry? You be the judge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5WBIQSD_MY/TmOYlbYV0aI/AAAAAAAABVI/9Z7o7beSpts/s1600/IMG_0896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5WBIQSD_MY/TmOYlbYV0aI/AAAAAAAABVI/9Z7o7beSpts/s400/IMG_0896.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beauty is everywhere.</div>gerry boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404762839765626232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-81097048912399956042011-08-13T07:43:00.000-07:002011-08-13T07:43:37.969-07:00A Little Local Nomading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not sure what got into us but we decided to make a another blog post. We're off the road for a bit, hanging stationary in Raritan NJ. We're both back to work for a bit, saving up so we can go nomading again. In a sense, nomading is a state of mind, so when we walked over to Somerville NJ (the next town over), Astral Wendy brought her camera and here we go. Every summer night Somerville hosts a classic car night so the streets are crowded, the restaurants are packed, and the parking spots are full of vintage hot rods. It's a way cool scene.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eiz1FeEi09U/TkZ1J4gg0ZI/AAAAAAAAZpo/3gf9p05Y7TE/s1600/IMG_9857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eiz1FeEi09U/TkZ1J4gg0ZI/AAAAAAAAZpo/3gf9p05Y7TE/s400/IMG_9857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">On the walk over, Astral Wendy was back to her photographic groove.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jiNKD5LPiLw/TkZ1O1L-76I/AAAAAAAAZps/vgAKwTnOrs8/s1600/IMG_9864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jiNKD5LPiLw/TkZ1O1L-76I/AAAAAAAAZps/vgAKwTnOrs8/s640/IMG_9864.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The is the Somerville town hall. Storm the ramparts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dg3uZ7cs4mw/TkZ1Uu3j5hI/AAAAAAAAZpw/gJLtCcGSq34/s1600/IMG_9866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dg3uZ7cs4mw/TkZ1Uu3j5hI/AAAAAAAAZpw/gJLtCcGSq34/s400/IMG_9866.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A teal 1957 Chevy. 1957 was a good year for Chevys and Astral Wendys.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plus, check out the lime green Gremlin in the background. What was AMC thinking?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pst_9g62STg/TkZ1bgc8SGI/AAAAAAAAZp4/C-q31dbDn5Q/s1600/IMG_9867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pst_9g62STg/TkZ1bgc8SGI/AAAAAAAAZp4/C-q31dbDn5Q/s400/IMG_9867.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">Clean shirt, new shoes<br />
And I don't know where I am goin' to<br />
Silk suit, black tie<br />
I don't need a reason why<br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">They come runnin' just as fast as they can<br />
'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yqu29JWCtJ0/TkZ1kHT6z9I/AAAAAAAAZp8/XOwfTsqv1u8/s1600/IMG_9869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yqu29JWCtJ0/TkZ1kHT6z9I/AAAAAAAAZp8/XOwfTsqv1u8/s400/IMG_9869.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">1965 Mustang.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RKIDQAk08b8/TkZ1q4H4reI/AAAAAAAAZqA/w-w4jZQlKbE/s1600/IMG_9872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RKIDQAk08b8/TkZ1q4H4reI/AAAAAAAAZqA/w-w4jZQlKbE/s400/IMG_9872.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Of course you know the Astrals always eat well. We stopped in at </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alfonsostrattoria.com/menus.html">Alphonso's</a> which is a local Italian eatery. I went for the special, </div><div style="text-align: center;">which was a Pork Loin stuffed with pears, gorgonzola, and </div><div style="text-align: center;">walnuts served on a bed of potatoes and applewood smoked</div><div style="text-align: center;">bacon. Outstanding!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMxPYn8_J2M/TkZ1xOWqjMI/AAAAAAAAZqE/A1mYcP1KLiQ/s1600/IMG_9874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMxPYn8_J2M/TkZ1xOWqjMI/AAAAAAAAZqE/A1mYcP1KLiQ/s400/IMG_9874.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Astral Wendy has been working her way through the </div><div style="text-align: center;">Italian food canon. Last week she had a</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Scungilli</i> salad. Tonight she went with the <i>Bacala. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">She'll probably draw the line at <i>Trippa</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCXDIg6plBI/TkZ1138DYyI/AAAAAAAAZqM/Krypo5xm5js/s1600/IMG_9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCXDIg6plBI/TkZ1138DYyI/AAAAAAAAZqM/Krypo5xm5js/s640/IMG_9875.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what this is and I do not wish to own it.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jz_QzZP52k0/TkZ1_A2ugnI/AAAAAAAAZqQ/S5cOS7OrFLw/s1600/IMG_9876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jz_QzZP52k0/TkZ1_A2ugnI/AAAAAAAAZqQ/S5cOS7OrFLw/s400/IMG_9876.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The entire street is lined with cool cars.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlFGo9sHf0w/TkZ2GsSShfI/AAAAAAAAZqU/7kNk-8Ne2LU/s1600/IMG_9879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlFGo9sHf0w/TkZ2GsSShfI/AAAAAAAAZqU/7kNk-8Ne2LU/s400/IMG_9879.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sweet 'Vette. Paging Brain Wilson.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Vh_7ZFlTwI/TkZ2PIziohI/AAAAAAAAZqc/H1HkuHWldgg/s1600/IMG_9886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Vh_7ZFlTwI/TkZ2PIziohI/AAAAAAAAZqc/H1HkuHWldgg/s640/IMG_9886.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYWLi5nnd08/TkZ2U941K3I/AAAAAAAAZqg/9eeI7bEjSPQ/s1600/IMG_9890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYWLi5nnd08/TkZ2U941K3I/AAAAAAAAZqg/9eeI7bEjSPQ/s400/IMG_9890.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A perfectly nomadic VW.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPJXTr500Mo/TkZ2aO1F6GI/AAAAAAAAZqk/9TDkWL4qAxE/s1600/IMG_9898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPJXTr500Mo/TkZ2aO1F6GI/AAAAAAAAZqk/9TDkWL4qAxE/s640/IMG_9898.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A little local color. This guy is a central Jersey fixture. He used to drive</div><div style="text-align: center;">a 60's station wagon that was completely covered with stuffed animals.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know his story but his ankles had more bling than his wrists.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Dd0sEEp_64/TkZ2eKUTnlI/AAAAAAAAZqo/A-TKm4BNB9g/s1600/IMG_9901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Dd0sEEp_64/TkZ2eKUTnlI/AAAAAAAAZqo/A-TKm4BNB9g/s400/IMG_9901.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">With the possible exception of a Rat Fink, nothing says cool like Fuzzy Dice.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HhkqRvtTPAk/TkZ2inIQ9wI/AAAAAAAAZqs/6xkEN9sJq6E/s1600/IMG_9911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HhkqRvtTPAk/TkZ2inIQ9wI/AAAAAAAAZqs/6xkEN9sJq6E/s400/IMG_9911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>We're going to have a strange life</i> - Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODl7ME6Nf-U/TkZ2oSL83NI/AAAAAAAAZqw/rd5qehykkCw/s1600/IMG_9913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODl7ME6Nf-U/TkZ2oSL83NI/AAAAAAAAZqw/rd5qehykkCw/s400/IMG_9913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Flame On!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kMgPjI0k_bc/TkZ2uUUnvxI/AAAAAAAAZq4/ysfZqtidtWk/s1600/IMG_9924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kMgPjI0k_bc/TkZ2uUUnvxI/AAAAAAAAZq4/ysfZqtidtWk/s400/IMG_9924.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dutch_Parsonage">Old Dutch Parsonage</a>. It just happens to be on the way.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABEfYugxlQs/TkZ20YG2CkI/AAAAAAAAZq8/a0JdWkiVNRg/s1600/IMG_9933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABEfYugxlQs/TkZ20YG2CkI/AAAAAAAAZq8/a0JdWkiVNRg/s400/IMG_9933.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Near where we live there's an overgrown and abandoned playground which is creepy</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the way that all overgrown and abandoned things are.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxy7jSjbDv8/TkZ26M52w1I/AAAAAAAAZrA/fl3XmcRE7ME/s1600/IMG_9935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxy7jSjbDv8/TkZ26M52w1I/AAAAAAAAZrA/fl3XmcRE7ME/s400/IMG_9935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moon over Stop-N-Shop. It's no City of Rocks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwH8AwVvlhY/TkZ3CFWk9AI/AAAAAAAAZrE/1y3lc-dnkA8/s1600/IMG_9939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwH8AwVvlhY/TkZ3CFWk9AI/AAAAAAAAZrE/1y3lc-dnkA8/s400/IMG_9939.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">End of the work week.</div>Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-32175303105202561212011-04-30T15:52:00.000-07:002011-04-30T15:52:33.112-07:00Nomads Touch Down Into Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's with mixed emotions that the Astral Nomads have to call this our last post for a while. We're back in New Jersey and getting settled into a less nomadic life-style. Our future plans include some more travel and when we do get around to it, we'll be sure to resume posting. Until then <i>Adios</i> and and a big thanks to all of you who followed along with us. We certainly had a blast and glad you could enjoy some of it with us. I haven't even begun to process all of the experiences and visual impressions. Not sure where or when we'll be traveling next: the plan continues to have no plan. We're going to sell the Eurovan so if any of you want to follow in our footsteps, shoot me an email. We happened to return to a glorious spring and finally found some of the warm weather we had been seeking all along. Go figure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's some shots from our hike today:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFv2Gm_DSME/TbyMP9bk_7I/AAAAAAAAY0A/KjYJ-1JU3pM/s1600/IMG_8628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFv2Gm_DSME/TbyMP9bk_7I/AAAAAAAAY0A/KjYJ-1JU3pM/s400/IMG_8628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIsj9-gcyYM/TbyMTc1hs1I/AAAAAAAAY0E/cv5sMaCnEZw/s1600/IMG_8636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIsj9-gcyYM/TbyMTc1hs1I/AAAAAAAAY0E/cv5sMaCnEZw/s400/IMG_8636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Y5yJ27nxiA/TbyMb7rUNiI/AAAAAAAAY0I/07cjMpn-yNw/s1600/IMG_8637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Y5yJ27nxiA/TbyMb7rUNiI/AAAAAAAAY0I/07cjMpn-yNw/s400/IMG_8637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6rI7TyusNUA/TbyMqgkLzQI/AAAAAAAAY0Q/544t7Xi9wt8/s1600/IMG_8639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6rI7TyusNUA/TbyMqgkLzQI/AAAAAAAAY0Q/544t7Xi9wt8/s400/IMG_8639.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TS3WJkPTjek/TbyM0xuxsXI/AAAAAAAAY0Y/B5Lx_NV5ib8/s1600/IMG_8658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TS3WJkPTjek/TbyM0xuxsXI/AAAAAAAAY0Y/B5Lx_NV5ib8/s400/IMG_8658.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFt9puc8L6Q/TbyNEroOSrI/AAAAAAAAY0c/3XBRIqYSu5I/s1600/IMG_8668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFt9puc8L6Q/TbyNEroOSrI/AAAAAAAAY0c/3XBRIqYSu5I/s400/IMG_8668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6BIS5UE-E2Q/TbyNcDUUa7I/AAAAAAAAY0o/4JPqsVKHFD8/s1600/IMG_8672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6BIS5UE-E2Q/TbyNcDUUa7I/AAAAAAAAY0o/4JPqsVKHFD8/s400/IMG_8672.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqFDEbMufgE/TbyNuv8D7fI/AAAAAAAAY08/1Ybwu2NS7qE/s1600/IMG_8680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqFDEbMufgE/TbyNuv8D7fI/AAAAAAAAY08/1Ybwu2NS7qE/s400/IMG_8680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The road goes ever onward...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqPgJDUTpak/TbyN14jVAvI/AAAAAAAAY1A/THus3C4gK6U/s1600/IMG_8682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqPgJDUTpak/TbyN14jVAvI/AAAAAAAAY1A/THus3C4gK6U/s400/IMG_8682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eZnAkPJZKg/TbyOB463_vI/AAAAAAAAY1I/1YMC8oaryII/s1600/IMG_8685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eZnAkPJZKg/TbyOB463_vI/AAAAAAAAY1I/1YMC8oaryII/s640/IMG_8685.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still on the road, at least metaphorically.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-0qr4ux4WM/TbyOJoBIRiI/AAAAAAAAY1M/QJc7Rwblqmo/s1600/IMG_8708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-0qr4ux4WM/TbyOJoBIRiI/AAAAAAAAY1M/QJc7Rwblqmo/s400/IMG_8708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, they got food in New Jersey too. This is <a href="http://www.25gourmetburgers.com/">25 Burgers</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wul4rrHE528/TbyOQK2bXlI/AAAAAAAAY1U/D1GRNb0WyZc/s1600/IMG_8709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wul4rrHE528/TbyOQK2bXlI/AAAAAAAAY1U/D1GRNb0WyZc/s400/IMG_8709.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I went Classic Cheeseburger. Astral Wendy BBQ Chicken.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdvkLrL7FmI/TbyOdO2NXbI/AAAAAAAAY1c/i75r9c8YrfU/s1600/IMG_8716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdvkLrL7FmI/TbyOdO2NXbI/AAAAAAAAY1c/i75r9c8YrfU/s640/IMG_8716.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Special Message from Astral Wendy: "We had a wonderful adventure but </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And anytime I go looking for my heart's desire,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I need only look upon the faces of my family".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See ya around the next bend.....</div>Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340068307133602145.post-41045914643362702082011-04-23T18:44:00.000-07:002011-04-23T18:44:12.086-07:00Cruising Through The Heartland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To fully dig this post I recommend blasting some Cheap Trick or Mellencamp. The Astrals have been blowing through the heartland (Nebraska, Iowa. Illinois. Indiana. Ohio), heading back east. Some people call it boring but we're not so sure. The West has more drama but there's some quiet beauty and regularity here. And a propensity for corn. <i>Mommy's all right. Daddy's all right, They just seem a little weird. Surrender, but don't give yourself away.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jU0NPpaPU1Q/TbN8jjN_tCI/AAAAAAAAYuU/7ovBM6JLG-w/s1600/IMG_8592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jU0NPpaPU1Q/TbN8jjN_tCI/AAAAAAAAYuU/7ovBM6JLG-w/s400/IMG_8592.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Wendileahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434441854457931445noreply@blogger.com4