The most boring blog post ever?

So yesterday I was thinking: is something automatically more interesting (or pseudo-interesting) just because it's on a blog? In order to put this to the test, Jen and I decided to blog about something completely "normal" that we did yesterday: a trip to Home Depot.

Come along with us as we purchase some silicone caulk and a package of furnace filters at America's Favorite Home Improvement Store!

Heading inside the store.

Welcome to Home Depot!

Moving quickly down the aisle to find our items.

So many choices! Which caulk should I pick?

Got one! GE 100% Silicone II for tubs, tile, windows and doors!

No, Tommy! Not in the oven! LOL

Wish the bathrooms had some more privacy. Har har.

Checking out: $10.57. Don't try to read my PIN.

Always check to see if you've grown on the way out.

Success!

Closing thoughts.

My opinion is that blogging is more interesting if you know the person. However, there is no proof to substantially back this up. Jen once read someone's year-long blog abouot how he was digging a hole in his backyard to shoot deer from. He was deadpan serious, even ran ethernet out to his hole so he could have internet! She loved it. And admittedly, most of the blogs I read are from people I don't even know, they're just well-written and with interesting topics. See list at right of page.

But anyway, what are your thoughts, readers? Is something more interesting just because it's on a blog? Can you take any of this into your "real life" experiences to make them seem more interesting? Try pretending your going to blog about something that is usually boring the next time you go out. It makes you notice the little things that you might normally overlook because you're in a hurry or something.

In essence, blogging about something forces you to slow down and really notice things and be in the moment more. It's very zen.

OR...

is all of this just B.S.? Maybe blogging is just our way of screaming for attention. ("Look at me! I went to Home Depot! Love me!") You be the judge and let me know what you think :) I'm curious...

5 Problem-Solving Questions.

Ever wake up in the morning thinking about all the stuff you have to get done today, or lay awake at night thinking about all the stuff you didn't get done today?

This list of 5 questions, created originally by Anthony Robbins, can help act as a guide to using your own intuition to help solve some of life's greatest challenges:

1) What is great about this problem?

Whoa. How can a problem be great, right? If you think about it, the only way to grow as a person, artist, athlete, whatever, is to challenge yourself to overcome obstacles and struggles to become the best you can be. Whatever situation you're in at the moment, you put yourself there just to "see" how you can handle it.

2) What is not perfect yet?

The emphasis is on the word "yet" because this then implies that things are going to be perfect at some point in the near future; as of right now things are simply on their way towards perfection.

3) What am I willing to do to make things the way I want them to be?

At this point, your mind will automatically start searching for solutions to whatever your problem will be -- it's essentially a bio-electric computer with a TON of information, data and logical computing power, so why not use it to the max? This is called "focusing on the solution instead of the problem", i.e. Solution-Based Thinking.

As Wayne Dyer says "The ability to make things float was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things." That's Solution-Based Thinking.

4) What am I willing to no longer do to make things the way I want them?

Yes, you may have to give up some bad habits that are causing problems in your life. Remember though, these habits are not THE cause -- that's you. They are simply the means by which you choose to create your own success or your own downfall. Take your pick.

5) How can I enjoy the process while I do what is necessary to make things the way I want them?

Most important: if you aren't having fun while you're plodding along through life, what's the point? Being in a state of happiness all the time, besides being fun and good for you, actually allows things to happen faster and easier because you are automatically in a state of allowing every day. Make it a game if you have to, and try not to take yourself so damn seriously! Laugh it off, run around, do a somersault, pour water on your head, or throw a pie in your own face once in awhile -- just for fun!


Conclusion:

Next time you have what some would consider to be a "problem", whether it's needing new tires, juggling too many commitments, disagreements with a loved one, or even losing a job, try to ask yourself these questions, with an open mind, and see if they don't at least help calm you down and be in the moment, where the solution to your challenge is always to be found.


I learned about these 5 questions from Tony Robbins on MorningCoach.com.

I start every morning by listening to the personal development podcast at MorningCoach.com, which is a free 11,000 member online community of inspiration, motivation and empowerment.

Check them out and add me as a friend if you decide to join ;)

The Target A/C Blast and the Smell of Popcorn.

Man, it's a hot one here in Lowell today -- we've hit 91ºF for our high, and although I love summer, getting used to this kind of heat again is sapping the life out of me, as I'm sure it is for many others as well.

I started thinking about what we used to do as kids to cool off: eating popsicles, running through sprinklers (Willy Waterbug was my favorite), pulling out the old "slip n'slide", etc., there was one thing we used to do that worked better than anything else: going to Target.

As kids, we used to go to target when it was so hot in the summer. we'd have all the curtains closed at home, fans blasting (the wind machine), and we'd still be hot. Mom would sometimes make frozen grapes or cantaloupe and honeydew balls to cool us off, plus orange juice popsicles and kool aid pops. but we loved it most when she'd say "Let's go to Target!" and me and my little sis would go YAY! and we'd hop in the little red 2-door car (also with no A/C) and head across town to the one Target we had at the time.

upon arriving, we'd be greeted with that ultra-refreshing blast of the coldest A/C we'd ever felt, combined with the smell of popcorn and retail store. We'd immediately get an Icee and some popcorn, put little sis in the cart, and mosey around the store, allowing our body temperatures to cool considerably, sometimes even hanging out in the snack bar. Mom would usually allow us to get some sort of "prize", maybe small like a put-together-yourself airplane, or a parachuting GI Joe guy, or bubbles, or sometimes something larger like a nintendo game if it was "on sale" or something.

After the sun had dipped below the rocky mountains, we'd venture back outside and cruise home with the windows open, sometimes even stopping by Sonic on the way home for a slushy ("Pick up a Lime one for dad") or a 25-cent ice cream cone.

Ah, thos ewere the day, eh? When simply cooling off was enough to inspire a day-long adventure, and success was acheived simply by the taste of some cherry-flavored ice slowly sliding across your tongue and a blast of arctic air hitting you in the face?

Thank you, Target, and thank you, Mom, for always being willing to lug 2 kids across town just to keep them cool :)

A day in Newburyport.

This past weekend, we went to check out the Newburyport Literary Festival. Well, to be honest, we only went because Cheryl Richardson, who we were fans of from Hay House, was going to be speaking about "The Writer's Life". This included topics such as setting up a special writing space, allowing yourself time to write, how to get past writer's block, etc. It was a fantastic discussion between us, as the audience, and her being on stage. After the talk, we got one of her books, which she signed, and we had a chance to chat for a few minutes about writing, spirituality, and friendships, as well as making sure to take time out for yourself every day. This also happens to be the topic of her latest book, which you can learn more about here.

We didn't know she was also a Massachusetts local, which was a surprise. After visiting Newburyport for the day, I can definitely see why. It's an adorable little New England town located at the mouth of the Merrimack River, at precisely the spot where it empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean. Lots of boutiques, restaurants, bars (not dives), ice cream shops and, yes, bookstores, line the streets of this charming village.

It's close, but still a bit of a jaunt to get there for us. Less than an hour, but lots of little Routes and towny roads when you're not on 495. Anyway, if you live in the area and haven't been there, or it's been awhile, I highly suggest you go. Make double sure to visit the used bookstore as well, as it's owned by a real "flower child" from the 60s! She is awesome to talk with if you need respite from the heat of the day.

There's also a great little kitchen shoppe where I got an unusual item which I had ironically been searching for for some time: a tiny, portable, one-handed pepper grinder to take with me whenever we go out. Strange, I know, but the fact that they had one for me to buy in Newburyport is even stranger.

After spending the day exploring the town, we headed for the beach - Salisbury Preserve, to be precise. It's a nice, wide beach with great views, plus it was low tide so it was even wider. After a couple hours, we wanted to head back but we had passed 2 MILES of trffic coming in - no doubt all the beachgoers heading back to town for the night. So we turned north instead of south and ended up in a town called Salisbury, which is kind of like a little boardwalk half-assed beach town with arcades, dive bars, calm huts and Elvis impersonators. Oh. My. Gosh. Please take my suggestion and avoid at all costs. This was the absolute dirtiest town I've ever seen. Tons and tons of overflowing garbage cans cascaded into the streets and on the sidewalks. Everything was either broken or close to it. NO public restrooms anywhere - what are they thinking? Before I go into a tirade, let's just leave it at that and move on to the rest of the story...

We then headed back to town and went to an AWEsome pizza place I'd seen earlier called "Oregano", where we had fantastic service and delicious hand-tossed brick oven pizza. You can read my review here. On a funny note, I ended up selling the hat I was wearing to a 3-wheeled bike taxi guy. He was riding by, staring, and then he dismounted and ran inside the restaurant, offering cash for the very hat I was wearing! He loved it, we negotiated, and in the end we didn't have to pay for dinner thanks to the hat! Good stuff.

We would definitely enjoy living in Newburyport for a time, if it weren't for the fact that it's rather secluded from any other large cities. It's nice to be on the beach, but the water was SO cold I don't think I could ever get in. A highlight was doing our famous "beach walk", like we used to do in Florida. Every day after work, we'd go down to Gulf Stream or Boynton Public Beach (Ocean Ridge) and walk 30 minutes one way, then 30 minutes back. This is where we would discuss the greater mysteries of life, as well as solicit solutions to our own problems from the power of nature.

NBPT harbor: see the Atlantic Ocean way in the distance?

This is the public library.

Awesome flower trees are everywhere.

Yes! A real bookstore, plus a used store down the street :)

Salisbury Point or something like that, just north of Newburyport.

If there was one piece of advice I'd give to anyone reading this (ok, I probably couldn't pick just one, but this is a good one) it would be this: go out into nature EVERY DAY for at least 15-30 minutes. Get barefoot. If you have a beach nearby, there you go. If not, go to a large, grassy park and walk around or sit on a blanket under a tree. Got mountains? Perfect. Go into them. In a city? Look for a riverwalk, a canal, or a city park. There are national forests and state parks everywhere, so no matter your locale you can find someplace to connect with nature on a daily basis. You will find answers, inspiration, energy and more if you do this consistantly and allow your mind to download the days congestion at this time.

Reminds us of our last home, Boynton Beach!

The bugs were angry that day, my friend!

Here is Salisbury, a "quaint" beach town north of NBPT on 1A. Egad, they need the Hospitality Department to come in and do a clean sweep.

Overall, we had a really fun time, although we learned that if you don't get right on 495 to come back to Lowell, you end up on these 20 mph country roads all the way to Lawrence. GPS was not an ally that night. Just good old maps. For some reason, it was refusing to take us to 495! We made it on there eventually, but not before Jen almost fell asleep at the wheel and I had to take over! Made it back safe and sound though, and we can't wait to go back and visit a lot this summer.

CTI Fundraiser: "Margaritaville"

Last night we went to a fundraiser for Community Teamwork, Inc.'s prevent homelessness campaign. There was a great island buffet, full bar, live music, dancing and lots of suctions. Items up for bid included trips, sports tickets, even one hour of radio time on a local station. All proceeds went to help CTI prevent homelessness through education and assistance to families and individuals. The auditorium was packed. There was also a raffle for $10K, which we didn't win this time, and several smaller raffles as well. We stayed for about 3 hours, then headed over to Ole for some pitchers of sangria. Good tiimes were had by all, and all profits went to a good cause. Win-win situation for everyone.

Here are a few pics of the event. I thought they did a really nice job decorating, all things considered:

Pitarys Farm: a little green oasis in New Hampshire.

The other day we went for a classic "country drive" through the...um, countryside. It was getting long in the afternoon, weather was nice, we were coming home from somewhere and decided to just keep going past our usual Lowell exit. We drove on and on, out of Lowell , eventually meandering our way westward until we noticed a little table of plants on the side of the road, with several greenhouses behind a small farmhouse.

Jen had been wanting some herbs for a little indoor garden she's starting, so upon passing the house, we turned around and headed back. As we pulled in, I noticed the car we had been following had already pulled in to the little lot and was examining the table. We parked, got out and started walking towards the house, trying to determine if this was a local country "store", or if was indeed just someone's house.

The woman we'd been inadvertantly following introduced herself as a frequent customer, and took us to the front door where she knocked and said loudly "Anyone hooome?". In a moment, an older woman came to the door, hunched towards us on the porch and asked what we were looking for. Our guide said Pansies, and we said herbs. She didn't have any ready for potting yet.

We were getting ready to continue on with our scenic drive, until we were hit with a dose of New England hospitality. Our guide said she knew of another place "just up the road a ways" and would we like to follow. We said sure, jumped back in the car, and took off.

Winding, twisting and turning our way through the woods of north-central Massachusetts, we unknowingly crossed the border into New Hampshire. "A little ways" means different things to different people, obviously. Anyway, after about another 15 minutes of driving, we were rewarded with one of the coolest little hidden gems I've seen since we moved out here: Pitarys Farm, located in Nashua.

Located next to a convenience store (conveniently), Pitarys is literally an oasis of plants, herbs, small trees, flowers and veggies, all ready for planting. The owner will be glad to show you around and answer any questions you may have with unending patience. Great prices, plus they take credit/debit cards, which is more than I can say for some of the local establishments here in Lowell. Tell me -- how can a bar not take credit cards, but a random tiny farm in the woods of NH does??

I digress -- in business since 1936, Pitarys is the best place by far to purchase or learn about flowers, plants or anything that grows in the ground. The next time you need some greenery, please check them out and help spread the word. Advertising is non-existent, and you can't even really look them up online. Hard to believe, I know, but true. Following the pictures below is the address and GPS coordinates so you can find it on your own. It's about 20 minutes from Lowell, depending on your route. I recommend taking the scenic route for added enjoyment, not Route 3.








Jen got several types of herbs for her indoor garden, like eucalyptus, oregano, basil, thyme and others. Plus a huge bag of soil that I had to carry to the car. 60 lbs or more. Geesh!





This place is really hard to find. It won't show up on any map or Google search. However, the convenience store, Fontene's Market, is, so that's how I found the information below:

Pitarys Farm / 719 West Hollis St. / Nashua, NH
GPS coordinates: N 42° 44.386 W 071° 31.019

Searching for Jack Kerouac.

In Edson Cemetery, there's the cool and modest grave of beat poet Jack Kerouac, the famous son of overtly proud Lowell. There are usually gifts still lying there, lighters, joints, wine, etc. Once inside the gates, the site is on Lincoln Ave, between 7th and 8th St.

We heard about this and had to go see it and feel it for ourselves.

We originally drove to the cemetary with only the directions TO the cemetary -- not realizing how huge the place actually is, and not realizing that it would seem to be impossible to stumble upon Jack's marker by accident...

We drove around for awhile, reading tombstones and getting the lay of the land, until we drove past an area that had a certain feeling, to me, that seemed different than the rest of the place. Jen was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and as we passed a particular plot of land, I sat up straight in my seat, leaned out the rolled down window, and said "I bet that's it." I could see little things sticking out of the ground, though I didn't know what they were. Many graves had lots of flowers, flags, little toys and various items. I was looking for one with books, whiskey bottles and packs of cigarettes.

Though I saw none of these items from the car, I did sense that there was some kind of presence as we passed that spot, thouogh it was so subtle we didn't actually stop the car. Moments later, after circling some more, we called a friend to ask her to look up the exact location for us, since we're the last people NOT to have an iPhone. She gave us directions, and we headed towards his final resting place.

We parked in the same spot where I'd had the feeling earlier, and as I was getting out of the car, I said to Jen "If that's the grave right there, I'm flipping out." She walked over to the one with what turned out to be pens and pencils sticking out of the ground and said "You can flip out now." Turns out that was it, though there was no way to tell from the road just driving by.


Anyway, we stood for awhile, reflecting on this man's incredibly creative albeit succinct life. I've been reading his first novel, The Town and the City, about his boyhood in Lowell (though it's categorized as fiction), and have been inspired as well as entertained while doing so. His writing captures his time on this planet so sharply and eloquently, you are literally right there with him while you're reading.



After a few minutes there (and dropping off a gift for Jack: a wrist mala-sized set of Buddhist meditation beads), we walked around the area for a bit, examining more tombs and thinking of our own lives as juxtaposed with those who were now lacking such below our very feet.

What's sad is not the fact that his life was so short - length does not necessarily make something better - it's that he basically drank himself to death, choosing one of the most drawn-out, painful methods of suicide you could imagine. Painful on both the body and those who loved him. It seems that although he was fascinated by the tenets of Eastern Buddhism, it wasn't enough to protect him from the suffering he witnessed and vicariously experienced throughout his own country. Sad also, selfishly, because we would have loved to have another 40 years of his writings to read and ponder and study



This cemetary, though, is an incredible scene for photography. Not just a feast for the eyes, there is a sense of heavy paranormality in the air that, in my opinion, is captured even in the still images we shot while there. Have a look:








We plan on going back at night some time for some night vision shots. Stay tuned...

What could be more romantic than kissing in a cemetary at sunset?
We think that's what Jack would prefer us do while visiting him.
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R.I.P. John L. "Jack" Kerouac: 3/12/22 - 10/21/69

Great Brook Farm State Park

Last weekend, we really needed to get outside. It had been raining for days, and the weather finally cleared enough on Saturday that we could go out and do something. We opted for hiking in an as-yet-unexplored-by-the-mohards state park, referred to us by a local friend here in Lowell.

For starters, it's a beautifully scenis, rustic and rural drive just to get there. The road through the park is a nice drive by itself, too, if you don't feel like walking much. Even though none of the trees and shrubbery are really blooming yet, we were still taken back by the beauty of the forest and landscape. It's something like 1,000 acres of "wilderness", which makes it one of the best places around here to really immerse yourself in nature. The drawback is that, since it is surrounded by humans, you can hear highway and airplane noises much of the time.

We wore ourselves out by hiking 9 miles over a 5 hour period, exploring trails, bridges, boardwalks over swamps, hills, old stone walls, collapsing cabins and other ruins of ancient civilizations. Then we topped it off with a visit to the on-site petting farm and ice cream shop. The best bubble gum ice cream i've had outside of Baskin-Robbins. I got a pint to take home. They also have local honey and food you can buy for 25 cents to feed the tame farm animals outside.

All in all, it's a great place to hike and spend an afternoon or all day. The terrain isn't necessarily challenging in and of itself, but the sheer length of the trail system is what will sneak up on you in the end, then you realize "Wow, my legs are sore." On the flip side, it made me really appreciate the mountain trails of Colorado that I left behind some 2 years ago when I started traveling the country. That state, for all it's lacking on the urban side, has an unbelievable amount of rugged, intense hiking that I took for granted having grown up in the mountains.

Great Brook Farm gave me a little taste of home, and we look forward to searching out even more challenging hikes (see previous post) over the next few short months of Summer.












Here are some more useful links related to the park:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/great-brook-farm-state-park-carlisle

http://www.greatbrookski.com/

http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=1293