Seaweed Chronicles

Nuts. Just . . . . nuts.

Tomorrow's the annual Special Olympics NJ Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside.  Last year I attended as a spectator/picture taker.  This year, I signed on as a plunger.   That means in exchange for the funds I raise, I get a wristband that allows me onto the beach legitimately, instead of sneaking on as I did last year.   It does NOT, however, mean I actually have to plunge.  Pul-eeeeze.  I have a heart condition **batting eyes and patting chest**  I'm so Fra-JEE-lay.   But I do have mad fund-raising skillz.  Pledged $500, earned $535.  Woot! 

Hopefully, more pics like these tomorrow. 

 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Ahh, a breath  of fresh air this weekend. We've generally been hibernating since late December, but with the football season behind us, we finally found good reason this weekend to venture out on a winter Sunday:  The Deep Cut Orchid Society show.  Slideshow of pictures here, and a few highlights below.  Enjoy; Spring is only five weeks away!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Blue Moon

Tonight's Blue Moon, at least according to one traditional definition. 

 
 Moon and Star:

 
 

Asbury Park Zombie Walk 2010

It was time for some levity yesterday. The 2010 Asbury Park (As Buried Park?) Zombie Walk was just the place to let loose and have some frighteningly good fun. 

Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were there.  So was Lady Gaga, Richard Simmons, Mario and Luigi, a good number of brides with and without grooms, a prom queen, Steve from Blue's Clues, and at least three Waldos.  Flight attendants, doctors, nurses, schoolgirls, punks, skaters, chefs, waitresses, moms, dads, and babies.  News reporters, hazmat workers, Scrooge and Marley's ghost, a unicyclist, Lucy & Rickie Ricardo, Tony the Tiger and the Lucky Charms leprechaun, many Misfits, an accordion player, and four members of the Zephyr Hills High School marching band.  A priest, a nun, and Jesus.  Some very scary clowns, and a couple of victims washed up from the S.S. Morro Castle.  Even Elvis was there for a while.   

There were some organized activities planned such as a group performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller routine, and we were all officially counted in a successful attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for largest Zombie event (who knew?).  But my favorite moments were the spontaneous ones where the crowd started whistling the tune "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (a la Monty Python's Life of Brian), and the brief YMCA routine, and the chorus of "Oh lay, ohlay ohlay ohlay . . . Oh lay, Oh lay."  Really, folks, I could hardly be more happy and proud than I am when I get involved in stuff like this.

If the sight of blood and decaying skin doesn't bother you (as it apparently didn't bother well over 5000 of us yesterday), here's a link to lots of fun photos (slideshow option at upper right is highly recommended).  If that kind of stuff DOES bother you, well, don't go there.  

Boo! 

 

 
 

Scotland Day 5

Day 5 was spent entirely in Old City Edinburgh.  Strolled around a bit, met up with some friends at The World's End for lunch, strolled up to Edinburgh Castle for a tour, Indian food for dinner, then back to the Castle for the Tattoo.  I really, really, really, love this city. 

Tomorrow, Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose, and a distillery. 

 

 

What some Shore-area residents do on Summer weekends

Head out of town.  We tend to do that frequently during tourist season.  If it's not band-related stuff, we find other adventures that take us to less-crowded locales.  Yesterday we did a huge loop around a good swath of the Pine Barrens, and discovered some pretty neat places.  Found a couple of wineries, a patriotic boulder, some waving dummies, a gathering of hotrods, a giant gorilla, and a crab shack.  No sign of the Jersey Devil, though.  Yet. 

Here are the photos we took; a few highlights are below. 

Not worth a thousand words but it's what I got right now.

Wow. I almost forgot how to log in.  Letting the dust gather here is never intentional, and it feels a bit like neglecting a pet.  Well, maybe a pet turtle.  Enough to cause slight pangs of guilt, but I know it's not exactly missing me, either.  

We've been crazy busy gearing up for several competitions this summer, and our Scotland trip which is now only three months away. (If you're in the Fair Hill, MD area on 5/15, come to the games!)  Between practice sessions and workshops and appearances, we rarely get a weekend with a chunk of free time anymore, but yesterday we managed to get to the Grounds for Scupture, truly a gem hidden well within the State of Corruption that is NJ.  The place is absolutely beautiful, the sculpture aweseome and diverse, and maybe the best feature . . . there are peacocks!

It was about as bad a day lighting-wise as it could be - hazy white sky, flat overhead sun, harsh shadows - but we persisted and took a bunch of photos regardless.  See here at the Flickr page.  Below, a few examples. 

 
 

  

NYC Parade 2010

Our band marched in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday.  The weather was awesome, warm enough that we left our uniform jackets on the bus and marched in shirtsleeves and vests.  It was my first time in this parade as a member of the band, and I couldn't have been prouder.   The only thing I don't like about being a drummer with them is that it means I have to leave the camera behind.  The pictures below were all taken by our unofficial band photographer, Paul West (aka "Paul the Brit" on Picasa).

Gathering in the ShopRite Parking lot before boarding our luxury limo bus:

Kevin explaining the wearin' o' kilts:

Offloading the bus somewhere around 48th and 6th:

Before stepping off Paul managed to round us all up for a group shot:

And one of the first-timers:

Taking an opportunity to try recruiting a new member:

 
Finally, about two hours later than scheduled, we step off and start down 5th Avenue:

Our Mary, Queen of Scots (also Grand Marshall of the Somerville Parade this year):

Our two Pipe Majors, Sergio and Jimmy:

Great formation:

Our flags:

 
Another marching shot along Central Park (you can see me all the way at the back, right, with the red face):

At the completion of the 2.1 miles, our reward:  Sergio's Green Sangria!

And this is just one example of the fun times we have on the bus (I happened to get this shot myself): 

A truly awesome day with some of the best people on this planet. 
 
 

 
  
  
 
 
 

Snow Day

OK, so chances are that, since it was a weekend day, I would have been at home most of the day anyway.  But the weather today was indeed frightful.  Sideways-blowing heavy snow most of the day, temps around 25.  There was no chance of going anywhere.  And I very much enjoyed that.  Am still enjoying it.  A few pics from around the house today:

Summer

It's been fun learning what flowers here in the new yard: