Category Archives: Life

New Tradition?

Posted on December 28, 2015 | 2 comments

 
With recent events, my family wasn’t really feeling the “Christmas vibe” this year. We exchanged a few gifts on Christmas eve, as we always do, but on Christmas day, we were shocked by the weather. In my little corner of Maine, it was bright sun and temperatures in the 50s. Even the breeze was warm. It felt more like the end of spring, beginning of summer than Christmas Day.

 
So, my parents and I decided to take advantage of the weather and get out into the fresh air, perhaps starting a new tradition in the process.

 
We went hiking at Quoddy Head State Park, one of my favorite hiking spots. The road there was pretty much deserted with stores closed for Christmas and pretty much everyone else at home observing whatever traditions they observe on this holiday. We did meet two couples on the trails at Quoddy, wished them a Merry Christmas, and went on to enjoy our hike.

 
It seemed strange. Christmas day with no snow whatsoever, and the temperature in the upper 50s.

 
Weather permitting, we just might try to do this every year, hence starting a new tradition.

 
Here’s a photo I took during my Christmas hike. Enjoy…

 

 

 

Quoddy Head Light, Christmas 2015

 

 

 
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule, or whatever it is you celebrate at this time of the year.

 
As this is the last Monday in 2015, I wish you all a Happy New Year.

 

 

 
Until next time…

 
[^_^]

 
~A.M.

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Posted in Hiking, Life, Lighthouses, Photography

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When It Rains, It Pours…

Posted on November 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

 

Everyone’s heard that popular phrase describing unfortunate circumstances that seem to pile up one after another. Well, pile up they have.

 

I think I mentioned in a post a long time ago (I’m not sure when) that I have horrid luck when it comes to technology. That bad luck came around to bite me yet again. Shortly after last Monday’s post, the laptop I’d been using decided it wanted to give me a hard time. The laptop boots up normally, but all the screen shows is a mash of colored lines, effectively disabling me from accessing anything. Yeah. Such is my luck.

 

But, it gets worse. I did a little research in a few stores and even asked a few employees if I would still be able to connect to the internet via dial-up (that’s how old-school my town is, we only have dial-up) with the new laptop I was considering. I was assured that I could, so I bought the laptop. Strike number two. It didn’t work. That’s twice now that I was mislead by employees at a popular electronics store that shall remain nameless (let’s just say it wasn’t the “greatest purchase“). So, I won’t be shopping at that chain ever again.

I returned the useless laptop that turns out was only capable of a wifi connection (which isn’t available in my town or the surrounding area). So, my internet access will be spotty at best. I’m going to try to keep to my weekly blog postings but if I miss a week or two (and if posts are a bit lacking in new photographs like this post), you’ll know why.

 

Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Mine wasn’t so festive, but I covered the reason for that in last week’s post. And I also hope everyone didn’t fall into the Black Friday trap this year.

 

The Christmas season is quickly approaching with tomorrow being December 1st. I would urge everyone to not get swept up in the whole materialistic bull that stores have made the holiday into. It’s not about what new gadgets you get or who gives the best and most expensive gifts, it’s about being with family and friends, appreciating each other, and doing kind things for others instead of thinking about yourself. Giving gifts is all well and good, but try something different. Instead of buying something, make something. Instead of sending a generic card to a loved one, call them. Instead of texting, call. You get the idea.

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[-_-]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Gadgets, Life, Miscellaneous

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Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

 

This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US. A day when we gather with loved ones, be it family or friends or any combination thereof, and give thanks for what we have and what we’re fortunate enough to have had. I don’t know why the “giving of thanks” is only limited to one day a year. We should be thankful every day.

 

That being said, I would urge folks to not spoil the warm fuzzy feelings that Thanksgiving brings by going out the next day and participating in the havoc wreaking for pointless material gain called “Black Friday.” Trust me, no matter how exciting the latest gadget may seem, it’s really not worth it.

 

This particular Thanksgiving (and subsequently, Christmas next month) is going to be particularly difficult for me and my family as it will be our first holiday without a significant member of our little unit (those of you who follow my blog might remember me mentioning a tragedy that befell my family a few months ago…). So, folks, be extra thankful for family. You never know how much time you’ll have with them.

 

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. And remember, the holidays aren’t about anything material, they’re about…

 

 

 

Beach Art - Family

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[-_-]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Life, Loss, Nature, Other, Photography

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Tragedy

Posted on October 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

 

Greetings, folks. I’ve returned. I doubt many, if any, of you even noticed the absence of my weekly Monday blog posts. Those of you that did notice, congrats, you get a gold star for being observant.

 

I don’t want get into all the details as to why I went silent so suddenly, but I can tell you that it was due to a profound loss I and my family suffered the end of August (and if that wasn’t hard enough, that tragedy was followed by the loss of one of my cats two weeks later). I needed to take some time to…I don’t know… I was going to say “come to terms with it” but that hasn’t happened yet. I don’t think it’s going to happen for a while as it still doesn’t seem real.

 

But, you folks don’t read my blog to hear about my life or loss. You’re here for the photography, the stories about the photography, and maybe even the smatterings of humor (if you get my humor, or even call it “humor“) I inject into the posts. Well, there won’t be much humor for a while still, but I’m going to do my best to get back into the weekly routine of posting a new blog each Monday.

 

So, I’ll leave you folks with, literally, the last picture I took before tragedy struck.

 

Have a good week.

 

 

Birch Point Trail

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[-_-,]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Life, Loss, Nature, Photography

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Stuck In A Rut

Posted on August 10, 2015 | Leave a comment

 

 

I don’t know about any of you, my dear readers, but every now and then, I find myself stuck in a rut. Mostly it’s creativity related, but sometimes I look at my surroundings and think, “I need to change this s#!t around.” And by that I don’t mean getting out of the house for a “change of scenery,“ I mean, physically rearrange the furniture kind of change. So, recently, that’s what I did. I completely rearranged my space. And because I got into this mode (it actually took me several days to even figure out a new layout that would actually work), I didn’t really spend much time on my photography, or my writing. My writing has been suffering long before I got into this little “have to change my space” rut, but that’s a whole other headache of a story for never.

 

Anyway, I apologize that I don’t have any story or words of wisdom to share with you folks this week, but here’s a picture from my archives for you to enjoy… So… Enjoy!

 

Two Fawns that were in my front yard with their mother!

Two Fawns that were in my front yard with their mother!

 

 

 

Until next time…

 


[^_^]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Animals, Life, Miscellaneous, Photography, Wildlife, Writing

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