Big Blue & Beautiful Swimmer

The scientific/latin name for the Maryland Blue Crab translates to beautiful swimmer. There is a book written same name Beautiful Swimmers and it's amazing if you like science, history, or biographies.

The Night I Painted the Sky

I realize it's not a popular stance with many of my peers but I've used Jimmy Buffett as a crutch for the better part of my life. . .

Long before that crazy-popular-with-the-masses song screaming about "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" and long after the novelty of "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw?" wore off. . .I discovered his wild imagination. . .He writes beautifully. . .

He's not exactly the best technical musician or singer you'll ever encounter but he is one hell of a story teller and that goes a long way with me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't listen to him every day. I don't read him every day.

But he is my fall back release valve. If I have a horrific week at work, I put on a little "Hot Water" and read a few dog-earred pages from one of his books.

I know it seems ridiculous as I'm supposed to be a hedonistic child of the 80s and I'm def not a Boomer. . .Still Buffett as a story teller provides a sufficient amount of escapism.

So it seems fitting that on the 5th of July, prob after everyone else has nearly forgotten what this holiday is all about, when I'm fretting about how I can do more, better I'm listening to Buffett. . .

The Night I Painted the Sky #35

Oh the mortars they roar in anticipation
Preceeding the sigh of the uplifted eyes
It showers us all in sulfuric sensation
The colors shine in a firey rhyme tonight. . .

I am but a child when it comes to something wild. . .
That was the night I painted the sky

Jimmy Buffett

The Night I Painted the Sky #34

I dug in the sand like a boy on a mission
And there in my hands a pyro's delight
A bombardier, a nighttime magician
I spark the sky as the rockets fly from view

The rockets in the air
And the people everywhere
Put away their differences for a while
I am still a child when it comes to something wild
That was the night I painted the sky

Jimmy Buffett

The Night I Painted the Sky #49

The Night I Painted the Sky #47

The Night I Painted the Sky #25

I came from the north escaping convention
The modern invention that won't let me be
To the shores of St. Maarten with my fiction addiction
To restart the fire a dreamer's
remedy
> >Independence day and all I remember
Was a midnight rainbow
that fell from the sky
As I stand on the beach I slowly surrender
To the child in me who can't say good-bye

The rockets in the air
And the people everywhere
Put away their differences for a while
Oh I am still a child when it comes to something wild
That was the night I painted the sky

Jimmy Buffett


Sometimes a song just won't leave your head. . .

The Night I Painted the Sky #20

Pink sky at night sailor's delight

Red sky at morning, sailor's warning. . .

Delight mode on Rock Creek earlier this evening.

Edison tucked in

He alsmost always tucks himself in before he sleeps.

Happy Fourth of July!!!

From C, d and the pets. . .Enjoy your picnics and parties and fireworks. Also take a few moments to remember the vetrans, visionaries, and revolutionaries that helped shape our country.

No matter your politics I think we can all agree the US is a pretty special place. Sure, we still have important and difficult work to do to make it even better. I have faith that the American spirit is still very much alive, well, and willing to work.

Let's do it! Write a politician (you can even email), get involved with a grass roots organization or send a small donation to a cause you are passionate about. Send a care package to someone stationed overseas, help your neighbor with a project, childcare, or bake them some cookies. Write a letter to the editor, post your ideas on a blog (comments anyone?).

It's important to participate. Too often I think we become complacant observers in our own world. That's certainly not my idea of the collective American spirit. Engage!

Of Eff Part 2

When you call the HVAC tech for help here's what he suggests to unclog it. I. Am. Dead. Serious.

Oh Eff!!

Its July. In Baltimore. Sounds about right that the central air would go on the fritz.

Pelican #110

Art begins to imitate life. . .Dad said he has become infatuated with pelicans. . .I've had this little "gem" hiding in the bathroom linen closet for nearly a year. It's basically a tangled mess of heavy bodied latex paint and my creative insanity.

It didn't get rave reviews from C but I always kinda' liked it. It's thick, and messy, and inyourface!

This pelican is ready to gather heaven only knows what in that remarkable bill. . .and carry it for who knows how long and how far?!

He's my kind of pelican. I think he's my Father's kind of pelican too. Strong, compact, able to carry a considerable weight, across a considerable distance. . .Quiet and close. . .With you always.

Set a course and fly right.

Wholly unrelated:

Is anyone else re-loving Michael Jackson as much as I am? I feel like I can finally come out! They're playing it on local radio like they play Christmas music. I guess it's my dirty little secret that he was already on my iPod. Big puffy heart have always loved him.

Ducks, Debris, & #103

" I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hand. . .I had flashes. But you saw the plan. . .I saw the crescent. You saw the whole of the moon. . ."

The Waterboys - Whole of the Moon

See the whole of the moon every day. Don't dare stop fighting for what you love, believe in, believe you are, for another, for a cause, just because. . .

Do it now. Don't dare wait.

"Every precious dream and vision underneath the stars. . ."

Now. NOW!! I implore you, NOW DAMN IT!!!! Don't dare wait.

Whatever you want, dream, hope, dare achieve. . .do it now. One step at a time. Starting on this beautiful day. It's never too late.

Dreaming costs nothing. Achieving your dreams costs dearly.

In a world where people are scared of the news, politics, their retirement, health care, and environmental consequences - be brave!

Do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons. . .For yourself, your family, your community.

Let's make the upcoming Independence Day holiday more than fireworks and BBQ. Lets work harder to do what's "right."

EVERY DAY.

Nicks Fish House - Hanover St. Bridge - Pink! #97

Love how the insides of the arches look pink. Love pink. Love Hanover St. Bridge. Love Nick's Fish House. Love Marinas - anywhere, anytime . . .full of characters and stories.

Sat at Nick's Fish House #96

Sometimes Baltimore doesn't feel like Baltimore to me. This pic is reminscient of Crisfield and the way Eastern Shore.

Funny how a sunset can do that. . .

Here's to the light. And the shadow that defines it. . .A fitting hurrah for my mood; My city - the one that embraces E.A. Poe -

. . . . prehaps just simply a beautiful sunset.

Sat at Nick's Fish House #109

Hanover Street dressed in all it's sunset best.

Sat at Nick's Fish House #106

Look how clever. . .They have boats tucked under the Hanover St. Bridge!

Humans and their Trash

Warning!!!!Shameless Soapbox Moment of the Day!!!

Notice the trash bag in the water. C is convinced there are body parts in it. I think its a safe assumption its just trash.

Please, please try to be a little more aware of your consumption and disposal habits. The Earth can't sustain thoughtless and selfish consumption and abuse forever.

Consider helping to clean up a beach or other waterway this summer. Consider purchasing less packaging or using natural cleaning products. Consider eating vegetarian 1 day a week. Consider taking your own bags to the market. Consider composting or recycling. Consider paperless statements and electronic bill pay.

You don't have to spend much more on products or completely change your lifestyle - little acts can add up and make you and your family healthier too!

Nicks Fish House

Sunset over the Hanover Street Bridge - about 8:30 last evening. Busy weekend and we had a little time to relax at dinner last evening. We had our first crabs of the season. $90 a dozen but we don't have them often so it was ok. Suspect they were not local but they were heavy and flavorful. What really is better than sitting on a deck, sipping a cold beer or lemonade, picking crabs at sunset?