Tag Archives: Cape Cod

Today: A Woods Hole afternoon.

15 August 2011

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After picking up our race packets on Saturday afternoon and a failed trip to Pee Town (better known as the child and creepy adult-infested hotel pool), Nick and I took a quick drive down to Woods Hole for lunch on the waterfront and a bit of strolling.  I hadn’t been down that way in ages, but it wasn’t long before I had my bearings, remembering all the trips to the Vineyard we took as children, from the Steamship Authority in Woods Hole.

Rules to live by.

I don't give (half) a ship.

Even the post office is cute.

We walked past building after building belonging to the oceanographic institute and I couldn’t help but wonder if any of the old Voyage of the Mimi cast members were out and about, tracking humpback whales or collecting water samples or whatever it was they were doing back in the early 80′s.  Did anyone else watch that PBS series in fourth grade?  Remember Ben Affleck and the episode on hypothermia?  Brilliant.

We grabbed lunch at Shuckers and browsed at the co-op across the street, and paid a quick visit to the harbor seals at the aquarium.  What a vast improvement from the morning’s 30 second visit to the over-chlorinated pool area, complete with a strange man videotaping a game of Marco Polo.  I still don’t know why I thought that was a good use of the afternoon.  (Note to self: As my sister so perfectly put it, people who go to pools at the Cape are not beach people.  We are beach people.)

Perfect spot for a quick lunch.

The seal of approval.

Woods Hole is the perfect place to spend an afternoon (or longer, obviously).  It felt good to get some fresh air and stretch my legs a bit before heading back to Falmouth High School to watch the mile invitational races.  Watching people run a sub-4:00 mile was both mind-boggling and the perfect juxtaposition to a slow day of strolling by the sea.

Also On Tap for Today:

What does your perfect Saturday afternoon involve?

Today: A quick escape to the Cape.

8 August 2011

5 Comments

A brief guide for your next trip over the bridge…

1. One thing you should always bring to the beach? Snacks.

Spider crabs for dinnah!

2. Matching isn’t mandatory at the Cape, but some pink petals alongside a pink chair does make life a bit lovelier.

This is the life.

3. Make at least one stop on your way back to the city.

Easy summer dinner.

4. (This is the most important one, so pay attention.) Repeat as soon as humanly…or caninely?… possible.

Enjoying the view!

Also On Tap for Today:

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Today: The vacation before the vacation.

6 July 2011

9 Comments

In Jersey Shore speak, this week feels a lot like the vacation before the vacation.  Next week is tee shirt time, and this week is the tee shirt before the (even more gaudy) tee shirt.  Even though I am working like a maniac this week (so that I can be a Maine-iac next week), I feel like I may as well be sippin’ a fruity mocktail and wearing my favorite Snooki shades.

 

I think I have all the sun and fun I had this past weekend– between a glorious 2nd of July on the Cape with my family, people watching at Chowderfest, and a fabulous 4th of July 10k and relaxing with friends– to thank for this frame of mind.  Seriously, I love summer.  I never want it to end.  Before you suggest I move to Florida though, I am talking specifically about summer in New England.  It can’t be beat.  The city comes alive as we all adopt our warm weather personalities.  I’m a complete pill 9 or 10 months out of the year, but when summer hits… bam!  I come out of hibernation and am ready to party.  Sort of.

This is what a page of Oprah Magazine (yes, really) looks like through the lens of an iPhone.

I have more energy to work out and less desire to wear black-on-black, I smile at strangers (but not in a creepy way), I crave fruit instead of cheese doodles, my hair could star in a series call Curls Gone Wild and I don’t even care, I feel more social and less like a hermit crab, and generally speaking… I’m just more fun to be around during the summer.

I read somewhere (probably wikipedia, let’s be serious) that Americans not only get fewer vacation days from employers, but we’re also less likely to use them than our European counterparts.  While I rarely use all of my vacation days, just knowing I am going to be in a land where my phone will basically work only for Snood purposes for an entire week, makes me feel pretty awesome (this begs the question– why did I have better AT&T service in Haiti than I do in Maine?).  No email, no phone calls, no Dropbox.  There was a time not so long ago that this scenario would send me into a spiraling freak-out.  I am not entirely sure what changed, but this much I know for sure:

  • My work will be here when I come back.
  • Fresh air breeds fresh ideas.
  • My office likely will not implode while I am gone.
  • Getting burnt out serves no one.
  • I look better with a few extra freckles (don’t worry, I wear 50+SPF).

I’m so smart.  Now if only I could land a reality television show that pays me $30k per episode to go to the gym, sun tan (responsibly, aka… not at all), and fold laundry…

Also On Tap for Today:

What is your personality’s favorite season?

Today: Royal tea.

29 April 2011

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I was one of the freak-os up early enough to see Princess Kate in all her glory.  Except that I was up to go to a conference, not observe a royal wedding.  Boring.  Had I not been otherwise committed, I’d have been enjoying tea on the Cape. At 4:30 AM.

Maybe Prince Harry will consult my Outlook calendar before walking down the aisle.  One can only hope.

In other news, the Sibling Rivarly/Eversave winner is… Halle!

My sister and I are complete opposites which has led to many an argument. We fight like cats and dogs especially since we’re very close in age. However, for that exact same reason, we make an unstoppable team when we work together. We are rivals and best friends for sure.

Congratulations, William, Kate and Halle. :)

Also On Tap for Today:

Royal wedding: love it or leave it?

Today: Gone to pot.

20 April 2011

1 Comment

4/20 seems to have something to do with weed.  I don’t have much to add on the subject, but the Arabic word for grass is hasheesh, and our entire class of college juniors and seniors giggled our way through that chapter (which was about neighborhoods, and likely written for second graders).  Incidentally, one of the few expressions I remember (and can write) is small house.  Oh, and small pencil.  I think I can still write the alphabet.  I should double check.

 Anyway, I’ve got nothing interesting to say about pot, but I do have a story to share from this past weekend about pots.  In case you were one of the two people (my mom being the first) who noticed I posted nary a sentence this weekend, I was leading a weekend retreat on the Cape for fellow graduates of Jesuit universities (and other people who love St. Ignatius).  Yes, I know.  Sound the nerd alert.  On Saturday night, one of my co-leaders read a story about a cracked pot.  The story reminds us that what we perceive to be a flaw, may actually be a gift.

Breaking pots is fun.

The parable goes like this:



Cracked_potA water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

“Why?” asked the bearer.  “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path and this cheered it some. But at the end of tile trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side?  That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.  I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them.

For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table.  Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Nice, right?  I’m not sure who to credit, but this story is allegedly a Chinese parable..  so, um, thank you, People’s Republic of China.

Also On Tap for Today:

  • Baking (which is different than getting baked)
  • Time to start a new Fitbook!
  • Planning a Pampered Chef party
Do you have a favorite parable?  Or fable?  Or pirate joke?  

Today: When Thursday equals Friday.

7 April 2011

3 Comments

 You know you’ve been living in a cave your office (with no time to Google around) for too long when your sister mentions something about a potential government shut down and you’re all, Huhhhh? The fact you’re going through three times the normal amount of under-eye concealer is a pretty good tip off, too.  After a few weeks of burning the proverbial candle at both proverbial ends (and looking like a house-trained raccoon), I am pleased to report that today is my Friday.  Even though it’s only Thursday.  That’s right people.  This little lady is taking a vacation day tomorrow.  Can I get a Hallelujah?  Or maybe low five (I don’t have the energy for much more)?

I have a habit of writing out the following day’s To Do list the night before.  It helps keep me focused, so I don’t go off the reservation and eat cheese doodles all day.  I almost just died of excitement when I finished tomorrow’s list. But instead, I stayed alive.  Aren’t you lucky.

1.  Burn the candle at only one end.

2.  Pack some snacks.

3. Float around (in the tub).  And yes, I am wearing a bathing suit.  No nudies On Tap, people.

4.  Nap.

5.  Get outside.

6. Enjoy a little Turtle Time.

7. Be thankful for what (and who!) I have.

8. And focus on what’s really important.

I’m off to the Cape for the day with my mom and aunts.  Toodles, my friends!

Also On Tap for Today:

What’s on the agenda for your next day off?

 

Today: Charmed, I’m sure.

2 February 2011

2 Comments

 Charm bracelets have been around in some form or fashion (according to Wikipedia, obviously) for 75,000 years.  That means they’re almost as old as the jar of mustard I found in the back of my refrigerator this morning.  My parents bought me my charm bracelet when I was in eight grade, I think.  I (that is to say, the bracelet) had just two charms at the time: a tennis racquet and a soccer ball.  Totally ballin’.

I don't advise wearing this through security at Logan.

Next came the music staff.  Inspired by President William Jefferson Clinton, I played the saxophone, but had the wherewithal to quit before we were required to play in the marching band.  Polyester does not agree with my sensitive skin.  Nor does social ostracism.  Just kidding.  I also sang in the Chamber and Jazz Choirs.  Judge freely.

Charms make brilliant souvenirs.  They don’t take up any room in your suitcase, and they’re always right on your wrist when you’re in the mood for a mental vacation or a trip down memory lane.  From our summers on the Cape, I have a lobster trap (complete with a trapped lobster), a Nantucket basket (Nick thought this one was an NFL helmet… he might have concussion), a whale’s tail, a lighthouse and a scallop shell.  From my parents’ adventures, I have a buffalo (I think this is from Arizona, but I’m not sure if they have buffalos there, so I could be wrong), and sandals from Sanibel and Captiva.

Vista House (in miniature).

Nick bought me this miniature Vista House.  He was in Portland, Oregon for work a few summers ago, so I went out to visit for a weekend.  We drove out to the Columbia Gorge, climbed a bunch of waterfalls, and enjoyed breathtaking views at Vista House.  Then I deleted all of the pictures on my camera… so we retraced our footsteps and did it everything over again.  Everything, except for the deleting part.

Vista House (in real life).

I tend to think it was worth going back for photographs and memories like this.

Let’s see, what else is on here?  I have a thistle–the emblem of Scotland– for my grandfather, who wasn’t prickly, but he was Scottish.  Similarly, I have a pineapple, which reminds me of my parents’ house and is the symbol of hospitality and welcoming (and fruity beverages).  I also have a vintage charm that I found on Etsy, a tiny silver key with the Virgin Mary on one side and Our Lady of Guadeloupe on the other.  It’s really cute, in a holy way.

When my younger brother and I visited our older brother at the UVA Law, we visited Montecello.  I wasn’t feeling well and nearly fainted in Thomas Jefferson’s bed (where he, coincidentally, had died many years earlier).  To commemorate the trip, and my survival, I picked up a quill pen and ink charm, with TJ’s signature on the inkwell, in the gift shop.  Next to that is a ferocious looking eagle, which soared onto my bracelet after I graduated from BC.  And by soared, I mean it was attached by one of those melting tool things the jeweler uses.

My newest charm has extra special meaning.  It arrived in the mail a few days ago from my friend Kristine, and is in the shape of Cinderella’s castle to celebrate completing my first marathon.  It’s a great reminder not only of what I can accomplish through hard work, but how blessed I am to have such incredible friends and family.

If I ever forget for a second how lucky I am, all I have to do is look down at my charms.  They’re magically delicious. You saw that coming.

Also On Tap for Today:

Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?

Today: Step away from the dune.

2 June 2010

3 Comments

Erosion is no laughing matter, people.  As I read on the front page of this Sunday’s Boston Globe, one of my favorite beaches is closed for the next two weeks as the stairs (which are insane, and totally unsafe when crowded by tourists and their umbrellas and inflatable alligators) are rebuilt.  Marconi and the rest of the Cape’s National Seashore, which includes Nauset and Coast Guard, have been hit by some major erosion due to this winter’s storms.  Welp, storms… and years of dune-climbing by misbehaved children and misinformed adults.

Workers installed a section of a new staircase being built at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet. (Photo by John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

It seems like every summer we watch at least one person shamefully being escorted from the beach by Park Rangers after attempting to or succeeding in sliding down the giant dunes at Marconi. The worst are the people who randomly appear atop the dunes, several hundred yards from the proper beach entrance, throw their beach chairs and coolers down before them and start to slide… only to be lodged halfway between top and beachdom.  Where the heck are these people coming from?  I will personally fork over the $40 for a season’s parking pass if that’s what will prevent you from ruining the Earth.

Spoken (Tweeted?) like a true ambassador of the Earth and enforcer of the dunes.

Side bar: I’m no scientist, but if I had to guess, I am pretty sure the erosion process speeds up if you’re wearing a Yankees hat on the Cape.

It’s all fun and games until the stairs collapse and the fragile ecosystem hangs in peril and not-so-suddenly our beloved beach is closed. Dingbats.

Source: www.best-of-cape-cod.com

We may not be able to control Mother Nature and her stormy winters, but we can control our behavior and that of our dependents.  So please, people, step away from the dune. And, if you’re venturing to Marconi this summer and want to avoid looking like a rookie, leave your aforementioned umbrella and alligator at home.  All you need is sunscreen and a boogie board to catch the wave of your life.  Or whatever.

If you’re less curious about naughty dune sliders, and wonder about nature, please read on.  Otherwise, thank you for your attention.  I’ll let you off with a warning.  This time.

For Your Information:

Do you think I can trick Under Armour into outfitting the Dune Police?  I’d sell my soul to see Katie on television shouting, “Protect this Dune!”

Also On Tap for Today:

What steps (get it… like the broken stairs… uh) do you take to protect Mother Nature’s house?

Today: Forever young.

27 May 2010

6 Comments

Shot from the shore in Brewster a few years ago.

Last summer, we were enjoying a day at the beach with my parents when I overheard quite the conversation. One little girl yelled to her little girl friend, as they splashed at the shoreline,

“If we drink the magic potion, we can be baby mermaids foreverrrrr.”

I’ve adopted this as a mantra of sorts.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to be baby mermaids forever?  My magic potion is a blend of daily vitamins, 3 peanut M&M’s, some spinach, and two drops of anti-wrinkle cream.

Speaking of being forever young, I sort of love that Forever Young (Youth Group’s version played during Napoleon Dynamite’s dance scene) found its way onto a Jay-Z album.  I’m a bit obsessed with the video.

…especially those last few seconds.

Also On Tap for Today:

How do you stay young?

Today: Get lost.

24 May 2010

3 Comments

After the two and a half hours of sleep I LOST last night (get it?), I’m feeling like a holey Dharma Initiative jumpsuit.    I’m worn out.

In case…

  • a) you haven’t yet watched last night’s series finale bonanzarama or
  • b)  if you hear one more thing about that dang show, you’re just going to scream

…I will keep my ramblings on the topic short and sweet.  I went to bed extremely confused, but upon further consideration, I really loved how LOST ended.  I especially appreciated the balance of Jack’s opening and closing eyes at the series start and end.

According to Twitter, last night’s episode brought people to tears.  I believe it, but Stonewall Jackson here did not cry.  I thought about it, though.  Especially when Vincent bobbed and weaved through the bamboo forest one last time.  When I peace it, I hope that, instead of plopping down next to me, Clark embraces his new-found freedom and heads to the nearest Polkadog Bakery and pigs out (on something other than the low-cal treats I insist the chunky monkey eats).

Now that the best show on Earth (besides the Red Sox, and the nightly news with Brian Williams) is no more, I have… welp, even more time on my hands to waste.  With Memorial Day Weekend just days away, I am fully embracing the start of a new season (of life, not television).  Technically summer doesn’t begin until June 21st, but technically, I don’t care.

I am most looking forward to:

  • Our week at the beach in Deleware with friends :)
  • Swimming! (I may even sneak in a dip tonight)
  • Races, races, and more races
  • Relaxing at the Cape with the family and the Frenchie
  • Summer reading!

Sure, we grown-ups may not get a summer-long vacation, but we do get to write our own summer reading lists.  And we can sip fruity cocktails.  If we want.

Also On Tap for Today:

What are you most looking forward to this summer?  And if you’re LOST-obsessed too, what will you miss most?