stars

It's been quite a month (and year). And it's almost over. Finally. As I walked down Lower Thames today doing a few of the inevitable gift returns — if only one could return or exchange imperfect/unwanted experiences in similar fashion — I was thinking about that: how I'm really rather glad to see 2011 slipping into the rear view mirror. Not to say it didn't have highlights. Bright spots. Stars, so to speak. A few. A good number, if I think about it hard enough. And I guess that's the essential issue at hand, i.e., it's all about what sorts of spots, bright or otherwise, one chooses to focus upon in defining any given year, season or day ...

afterthought

In describing our time aboard a pirate ship of sorts (whose history is really way more illustrious) the other day, I failed to mention that we checked out the captain's quarters. Quite the pad. Love the windows. Seriously cool waterfront real estate. And that reminded me — 'cause one thing always leads to another — of another Captain's quarters ...

That's Captain (right there ^^). He belongs to some friends ... though, in Captain's view, they most definitely belong to him. I take no credit for the image — thanks, A & K!

merry merry

The tree lighting in Washington Square took place earlier this evening ... and we missed it. Mr. Betty's out of town; I plum (plumb?) forgot.

We did, however, manage to take in the very first (at least I think it was the first) event of the holiday season last Friday, being Black Friday, which sounds way too sinister if you ask me, even if it makes good sense/cents in an accounting sort of way. Seriously, why not call it Green Friday? Green would connote money and profitability just as well as black, wouldn't it? And holiday cheer at the same time?

But back to the first event, being the illuminated boat parade around Newport Harbor on what turned out to be a PERFECT day and night, weather-wise. Everything-wise, really. Both Darling Daughter and Super Son were home for Thanksgiving. And both had friends head to the City by the Sea on Friday evening to join them for the well-lit affair and whatever activities arose afterward.

Which in this case included an after-party — after the parade, not after the bars closed (that'd be way too late for me & Mr. Betty) — aboard a pirate ship followed by burgers & beer at Pour Judgment.

Pretty cool that the vessel – the historic Sloop Providence, built as a replica for the occasion of Tall Ships '76 (something I remember well, which is rather alarming) — was featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. "Dead Man's Chest," in the interest of specificity. We had occasion to climb aboard and hang out with the crew at some point during the summer, too ...

And then today, almost a whole week later (where did it go?) and just a few hours prior to the official Christmas in Newport kickoff at the aforementioned tree-lighting ceremony, I saw a guy waist-deep and wading farther into the now-empty harbor off King Park with all his foul gear on. Must say, it was alarming, even moreso than forgetting the tree-lighting, and brought to mind extreme if not desperate poor judgment.

I finally called out (there was no one else in sight), "Everything OK?"

At which he turned, waved and said, "Yeah, it's just crabs."

Glad that's settled ....