New London Ledge Lighthouse, June 2008
First Lit: 1909
Lighthouse Friends
New England Lighthouses
Most Haunted (you tube)
Project Oceanology (tours)
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
New London Ledge Lighthouse
New London Ledge Lighthouse, June 2008
First Lit: 1909
Lighthouse Friends
New England Lighthouses
Most Haunted (you tube)
Project Oceanology (tours)
Staying Warm
Whenever we hear from friends in Alaska that it is extremely cold in Eagle or Fairbanks, we know that in a few days to a week, we, too, will be in the deep freeze. Robert was telling us about reports he'd heard that it was forty, and fifty, and sixty below zero in places that he has traveled to. For the record, he is still home with us right now, so he is not actually experiencing this firsthand. But he knows folks who are, and in his last two winters in Fairbanks, he saw the thermometer in places he hadn't seen it go before.
The weather forecast this week predicted the cold to arrive on Tuesday. Because our vehicles don't like to run in the those low temperatures, I decided to take a run to town on Monday to do some errands and replenish our pantry. We'd been enjoying leftovers from our New Year's feast for several days, but fresh vegetables were becoming a rare sight. While in town, I ran into a few people who would ask if I was there stocking up before the big chill. They were doing the same.
We loaded the wood rack, stoked the fire, and prepared for the cold. Yesterday morning, it was minus 26 when I looked at the thermometer. Today, I saw minus 31. I find it rather exciting to see how low it will go. During the day, we have warmed into the minus teens, and it really isn't too bad outside, as we don't have the strong winds that other areas are seeing. I was out to check on the cabins, and with only a few frozen spots, it will be easy enough to thaw them before the cabins are needed next. We're knocking on wood that it has not been too rough on our buildings yet. Having lots of snow helps, as the cabins have been banked with all that white stuff to insulate the foundations.
Banking cabins has always been a chore in these parts, I'm told. I recall seeing photos of trapper's shacks in Alaska, seemingly buried in snow and drifts. I used to think that happened naturally, and to some extent, it probably does. But around here, we go out and shovel the snow up against the logs, as it doesn't fall right next to the building where it is needed. After our big snowfall in early December, Addie and I tackled the task. Out and about we were with our shovels, digging into the fluff and hefting it to the cabins. I even took a photo of her, as I wanted to send it to Paul. He was still at school, and we were missing him dearly. It helps to have as many hands and shovels as possible when doing this job. The next day Paul called us, and I asked if they got the same snowstorm in Morris as the one we had. He reported that they had, and also that he had gone out that day to bank the rental house he lives in. I got a good chuckle out of that one....his is probably the only house in the town that is banked with snow! But I guess he realized that since he is paying his share of the heating bills now, it's a good idea to make use of what you've been given.
Robert's friends from Fairbanks called last night, and told him that it is now above zero there. And sure enough, our forecast is for a warm-up starting Saturday. I like that Alaska connection--just another piece of the weather puzzle here in the Northwoods.
The weather forecast this week predicted the cold to arrive on Tuesday. Because our vehicles don't like to run in the those low temperatures, I decided to take a run to town on Monday to do some errands and replenish our pantry. We'd been enjoying leftovers from our New Year's feast for several days, but fresh vegetables were becoming a rare sight. While in town, I ran into a few people who would ask if I was there stocking up before the big chill. They were doing the same.
We loaded the wood rack, stoked the fire, and prepared for the cold. Yesterday morning, it was minus 26 when I looked at the thermometer. Today, I saw minus 31. I find it rather exciting to see how low it will go. During the day, we have warmed into the minus teens, and it really isn't too bad outside, as we don't have the strong winds that other areas are seeing. I was out to check on the cabins, and with only a few frozen spots, it will be easy enough to thaw them before the cabins are needed next. We're knocking on wood that it has not been too rough on our buildings yet. Having lots of snow helps, as the cabins have been banked with all that white stuff to insulate the foundations.
Banking cabins has always been a chore in these parts, I'm told. I recall seeing photos of trapper's shacks in Alaska, seemingly buried in snow and drifts. I used to think that happened naturally, and to some extent, it probably does. But around here, we go out and shovel the snow up against the logs, as it doesn't fall right next to the building where it is needed. After our big snowfall in early December, Addie and I tackled the task. Out and about we were with our shovels, digging into the fluff and hefting it to the cabins. I even took a photo of her, as I wanted to send it to Paul. He was still at school, and we were missing him dearly. It helps to have as many hands and shovels as possible when doing this job. The next day Paul called us, and I asked if they got the same snowstorm in Morris as the one we had. He reported that they had, and also that he had gone out that day to bank the rental house he lives in. I got a good chuckle out of that one....his is probably the only house in the town that is banked with snow! But I guess he realized that since he is paying his share of the heating bills now, it's a good idea to make use of what you've been given.
Robert's friends from Fairbanks called last night, and told him that it is now above zero there. And sure enough, our forecast is for a warm-up starting Saturday. I like that Alaska connection--just another piece of the weather puzzle here in the Northwoods.
It's Time To Visit The Most Cold City In The World
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Yakutsk. If you want to visit the most cold city in the world you have to understand the peculiarities of the place. The tempersture can reach -50�C (-70�C seems to me was the record) there, but winter is the best time to make this journey. Why? Look at these photos:
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But it's a normal modern city with many interesting places, people and things that you will never see elsewhere...
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...and spectacular virgin nature
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Tuesday, 13 January 2009
A Pantsload of Pictures From Colorado
I thought that it would be a good idea to finally put up some pictures from Colorado, because if I don't do it now, I'll procrastinate until the next time we go there for Christmas. I'm hoping to put up a whole collection of my favorite pictures from 2008 on ryansitzman.com, but we'll see if/when that actually happens. Anyhow, on our trip Angela and I both took a ton of pictures, but here are some of my favorites that I took:
Julien "The Catch" Katchinoff looks on as Angela prepares to down some Georgian firewater during the famous Pierogi Sunday, back in December. Yeah, that's the Georgia from Asia, folks.
A table loaded up with delicious pierogies at the Wawro household. My friend--and Julien's wife--Martha Wawro's family celebrates Pierogi Sunday every year, and I've had the priveledge to attend and gorge myself on delicious Polish food on three separate occasions.
Our friend Dustin, with his cat Elvis. He and his wife Sam are pretty big into humiliating their cats to bring their egos down a bit. Just another reason why we're all such good friends, I guess.
"Whooodamn!" says Angela as she exhales the firey fumes from a delicious basket of Jim's Wings.
Angela and I by the tree.
My dad Clarence, my sister Di, and my brother Paul, all waiting for a train at Union Station in Denver. We all went up to Glenwood Springs for a few nights after New Year's.
Glenwood Springs: A gondola took us up the mountain to go on a tour of some caves.
My dad and Angela, on her first gondola ride. She's scared of heights, so of course my dad shook the gondola. I comforted Angela by telling her that if the gondola got stuck and we were forced to resort to cannibalism, we would be sure to eat my dad first.
On the gondola.
At the top of the mountain.
My dad riding a sort of rollercoaster down the mountain. It looked pretty fun, but I'd forgotten my hat at the hotel.
Angela with her dream booty.
Our faces become permanently disfigured due to a quick transition from hot springs water into the cold mountain air!For example, Angela once yelled at me for taking off my shoes and socks, and then putting my bare feet on the tile. Also, it's been claimed that a woman cannot open a refrigerator for the last three months of her pregnancy, especially not if she was just near a stove. Or was it the three months after the pregnancy?
Oh well, bottom line is, Angela was a good sport, and she even suggested we take this picture to show to her family back home.
The hot springs in front of the Hotel Colorado.
A nice view on the train ride home.
Another view. Sure, the train is slower, but it's really comfortable, it serves wine, and you get views like this from your coach seat!
Another train shot: Colorado is nice.
Angela nearly derails the train with her patented Sonic Scream!
Some more crap.
Nature, etc. Train fun.
Union Station in Denver.
Angela came back to Costa Rica with a little surprise! A nice, soft pillow for traveling!
Angela in the Miami airport, with the pillow once again (Thank God; That's enough booty to gag a donkey!)
We had about nine hours--from midnight to 9 am--to kill in Miami's airport. Nine hours of loud, shitty, Dentist's-Office Jazz and TSA announcements blared over the PA system. Miami International Airport: Your Cuban food is tasty and your carpets are plush and available for sleeping, but your music and repetitive safety announcements suck balls.
Something weird: A can of sweet yerba mat�, the weird grass/tea drink that I like from South America. �Che! �Boludo!
Angela zonked out at Miami International Airport.So, that's it for now. Hope you liked the pictures. And a big thanks a hello to all our friends and family who we got to see during this trip home. If we missed you, I hope we'll get to see you next time!
Luggage You Travel With
One of the most important questions for traveller is his/her Luggage. Sometimes this problem becomes very serious. You will laugh, but I know persons that carry 5 meter long car full when they, these persons, have to go somewhere for a week. I tell you about my friend. Once they came to visit me on their way back home from Sicily and I wanted to gift them some books, some kg-s of our fruits and something else we grow, but they could not find place even for the books!
This year I noticed there are many persons that prefere to buy Designer Luggage for their travelling. It has different good sides, I think. Not only it is a nice looking object. They are made for maximum comfort of a traveller. From other, practical, side, if the company you travel with loses your luggage, the first thing they want to know what was the brand name of it.
I like to look at luggages of different brands lately. They have so many different forms and colors. It seems, the designers have fun, creating these incredible solutions. No, there are classic designs like Hartman Luggage for men, I think. But there are so many colorful, solar items like Vera Bradley Luggage and others. Maybe they could really make your trip more glad, specially if you have to wait many hours for your flight or something like this. The situations that happen relatively often this year.
This year I noticed there are many persons that prefere to buy Designer Luggage for their travelling. It has different good sides, I think. Not only it is a nice looking object. They are made for maximum comfort of a traveller. From other, practical, side, if the company you travel with loses your luggage, the first thing they want to know what was the brand name of it.
I like to look at luggages of different brands lately. They have so many different forms and colors. It seems, the designers have fun, creating these incredible solutions. No, there are classic designs like Hartman Luggage for men, I think. But there are so many colorful, solar items like Vera Bradley Luggage and others. Maybe they could really make your trip more glad, specially if you have to wait many hours for your flight or something like this. The situations that happen relatively often this year.
... And Excavatins Of Pompei
In my previous post I wrote about modern Pompei because many persons do not know that there are modern town over the antique Roman town today. The antique town is under 4 till 10 meters of earth and the excavations are not finished. It is difficult to continue them because modern persons built their houses and roads and villages over the antique settlings.
These villages and towns are different as Salerno, for example, because Salerno is built directly on the antique walls, modern houses grow from the antique as the roots.
The soil near Vesuvio was not in use for many times probably. Nobody remembered about Roman Pompei, about Roman Ercolano (there are 24 meters of earth after the eruption of 79 aC from that side where Ercolano is situated). On the right of the photo from Wikipedia. Pompei are about 10 km left-straight in the background from observer.
Today I wanted to show you some photos of antique Pompei made by it's visitors.
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These villages and towns are different as Salerno, for example, because Salerno is built directly on the antique walls, modern houses grow from the antique as the roots.The soil near Vesuvio was not in use for many times probably. Nobody remembered about Roman Pompei, about Roman Ercolano (there are 24 meters of earth after the eruption of 79 aC from that side where Ercolano is situated). On the right of the photo from Wikipedia. Pompei are about 10 km left-straight in the background from observer.
Today I wanted to show you some photos of antique Pompei made by it's visitors.
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The Fungus Among Us
I guess that one of the downsides of living in a really humid, damp, musty climate (besides a closet full of stinky, supposedly clean clothes that are almost moist to the touch) is apparently some sort of common fungus. And it would appear that I have this fungus on my chest, which causes me to get these pale little white circles, especially when I spend time in the sun. I'll spare you a picture of my chest, mainly because it's not so cool-looking, but also because it seems to be off-season for fungus, now that the daily downpours have stopped.In any case, when I was in Colorado I went to my friend McGrew, who is a Physician's Assistant, and he prescribed me these two little pills. Which cost $8.00. But he claims they work, and I hope he's right. I even carefully followed his comprehensive prescription instructions, which are:
"Take 2 tablets by mouth in the morning with orange juice then sweat at noon and shower in the evening."
The people at the pharmacy said it was the strangest instructions they'd seen. Anyhow, let's hope they work, and if you come visit Coast Tasty, be sure to apply a thick, protective coat of Lamisil underneath your sunblock!
The people at the pharmacy said it was the strangest instructions they'd seen. Anyhow, let's hope they work, and if you come visit Coast Tasty, be sure to apply a thick, protective coat of Lamisil underneath your sunblock!
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