I got back to DC late this afternoon. Daryl drove me to the new Harris Teeter for some groceries. My cupboard was bare. As always.
At some point during the 5 block drive to the Teeter, I glanced down at the dashboard. The time was 6:30pm. The temperature, even that late in the day, was still 100 DEGREES!
That was not the heat index. It was the straight up temperature. Triple digits. Ugh.
Was three long mountains and a wood.
I turned and looked the other way,
And saw three islands in a bay
Those are the first few lines of Renascence - one of my favorite poems. It is by Edna St. Vincent Millay - a woman who spent lots of time in Camden and on Mount Battie. Check her out - she is very interesting.
In fact, the view from the summit of Mount Battie was said to have inspired St. Vincent Millay's poem "Renascence" and those opening lines.
That is where we went today - Camden and Mount Battie. It is a favorite spot of mine in Maine, so I wanted Jean to see it. Here we are atop Mount Battie...
We started our afternoon with a drive to the summit with Mammie & Tut. The summit offers sweeping views of Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands.
On the entire Atlantic coastline there are only two places where the mountains meet the sea - one is in Camden and the other Mt. Desert. BOTH are in Maine.
Here is the view of Camden Harbor from the top of Mount Battie...
And here is the view closer up from our harborside lunch...
And here are Mammie, Tut, and Jean looking at the view at lunch...
The heart can push the sea and land
Farther away on either hand;
The soul can split the sky in two,
And let the face of God shine through.
More pics from Camden here.
There is actually more to see in my little hometown than I remembered.
Jean's visit to Augusta has given me the opportunity to rediscover the interesting and touristy parts of my little corner of Maine. Today Sarah and I took him all around 3 towns along the Kennebec River - Augusta, Gardiner, and Hallowell
We started the day with brunch at a diner by the river in Gardiner. We ended the day with fireworks over the river in Hallowell - to celebrate the city's birthday. In between we had a LOT of Augusta and even a lobster dinner (pronounced lobstah dinnah) at my brother's house.
Here are a few moments from the day...
Sarah and I at the beautiful old library in Gardiner.
The mighty Kennebec River running through downtown Augusta.
Augusta is the capital city of Maine.
Sarah and me in front of our alma mater - Cony High School.
My lobstah - prepared by Mike.
Jean and the clams (white) and mussels (black).
Food and fun on the Kennebec to celebrate Old Hallowell Days.
Old Hallowell Days fireworks.
Many more moments at my flickr account here.
I made my first visit to Tubby's in Wayne, Maine tonight. And I left in a pleasant and satisfied state. So did Mammie, Tut, and Sarah.
THIS is Summer. Or how it should be. Every day. Sitting in a small New England town, by the lake, on a warm evening at sunset, eating home made ice cream out of a waffle cone.
Here I am...
And here are Mammie and Sarah...
It just doesn't get any better.
I am watching the 2008 all-star game with my father. ZZZZZZZ.
Apparently it is a big deal cuz the game is being played at Yankee Stadium during this, its last year. The new one opens next year.
I have only been to Yankee Stadium once.
It was to see Patti LaBelle and Cyndi Lauper perform for 55,000 screaming fans at the closing ceremonies for Gay Games IV which were planned to coincide with Stonewall 25, the 25th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots in Greenwich Village in New York City, and the June 26th "International March on the United Nations to Affirm the Human rights of Lesbian and Gay People".
It was a memorable visit.
I guess this is part of an advertising campaign in London to promote tourism to 5 US cities and the state of South Carolina.
The posters were put in two Tube stations (Covent Garden and Leicester Square) that are heavily-trafficked by gays and lesbians. The campaign was timed to coincide with gay pride celebrations in London.
In coming up with this campaign, the tourism company (AMRO) partnered with five destination partners that would be attractive to the G&L market but not stereotype destinations (sorry SF and South Beach). Those five were Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Washington DC.
Oddly, AMRO later added South Carolina to the campaign. Not so oddly and unfortunately, the campaign in London has caused a bit of an uproar in South Carolina. A state employee has resigned and government officials have disavowed the international advertising campaign. There have been calls for an investigation.
Oh, brother.
I don't think there have been any problems in the other five cities. I am proud to call Washington home.
Who: With Sarah - my niece/god-daughter
What: Hmm. Still not sure. But I liked it. A little bit thriller. A little bit coming of age - or at least coming into one's own. A little too violent for me and Sarah though.
Where: Augusta (Maine) Regal 10
When: 7:35 pm Show - though as Sarah pointed out to me, it actually started at 7:53pm.
Why: Umm. See pic above. I am a big James McAvoy fan. I thought he was great in Becoming Jane - which I loved.
How: 15 rows back. Center. Three foreign camp counselors in front of us. Sharing Sour Patch Kids with Sarah.
And The Bottom-line:
Go out and see it? Qualified Yes. If you love James or Anglena Jolie and have a high tolerance for violence.
Wait til it hits Showtime?
Only worth seeing on an airplane?
That means 4 milks with the dessert of 3 milks.
I made a postre de las tres leches for my family tonight. I thought that me, the niece, nephew, and his gf all looked a bit milky ourselves.
I got the recipe in Colombia from Dr. David's sister. She made it for us and I loved it - so she wrote out the recipe. I am thrilled that it actually came out pretty good AND it was easy to make!
There is a tiny bit left in the fridge if anyone wants a bite.
Who: With Mammie & Tut and an older woman whose husband refused to go.
What: One of my favorite movies and now a favorite musical.
Where: Maine State Music Theater - at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
When: 2:00pm Matinee.
Why: The campiness. And Mel Brooks makes me laugh nonstop.
How: Loaded up on caffeine, smiling the whole time, and the only person there under 80.
And The Bottom-line:
Come up to Maine and see it? Yes!
See the national tour?
Just rent the movie again?
And here - an homage to one of my favorite scenes from the show - done all with Ken dolls. Gotta love Youtube...
I arrived in Maine tonight. Its beautfiul as always.
I am told there is a heatwave of sorts here. I heard people talking about it on the flight. My parents have the two AC units turned on and multiple fans out and plugged in. They are worried I won't be able to sleep in this heat.
I am laying on the couch under a blanket. I guess its all relative. It's nice to be home.
