Sigh...

The sun sets on my summer vacation...it's hard to believe a whole week has passed here on Block Island, and another week before that. Tomorrow, I'm scheduled on the 8am ferry back to the mainland - and reality. I promise to post pictures from Fenway, Boston, the Block - I got some good stuff! Until next time - when I'll be be posting back in the Scenic City!

On to Fenway!

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
I wonder - is Manny describing his phone call from the Green Monster? Or imploring the Mariners to call him if his option isn't picked up? Whatever, Manny sure seems to be enjoying his captive audience! And I sure enjoyed the victory last night - the first since the All Star Break. Jon Lester looked awesome - really commanding. Without a doubt, he is our #2 pitcher right now.

Meanwhile, according to the Seattle Times, Manny ran into a little trouble leaving Safeco last night --

Seems that Boston slugger Manny Ramirez was leaving the ballpark, with headphones on trying to look inconspicuous and quickly get away from the crowds still leaving the stadium. He started to cross South Royal Brougham Way, against the signals of a traffic cop who was directing pedestrians. The police officer demanded that Ramirez open his wallet and show identification. He warned him that he could face a $500 fine and possible arrest for disobeying a police officer.

It became clear to those watching that the policeman had no idea who Ramirez was. He didn't ask for an autograph or anything, but did ask Ramirez if he'd attended the game. After the brief lecture, and no argument from Ramirez, the police officer let him go with no further trouble.

I love that the cop asked Manny if he'd been to the game! Yeah, kind of...

So, I've just finished closing the last suitcase. Don't ask how many I've filled for my trip northward - that's the great part about driving. You can bring TONS of stuff. I just hope my wonderful sisters - with whom I am crashing at various times over the next weeks - don't have heart attacks when they see how much I've packed. And you just know that I will have forgotten something!

On Friday, I'll be seeing this scene:
I'll be at the Yankees-Red Sox game Friday night (thanks to my sister Meg!), then the three games vs. the Angels Monday thru Wednesday. Here's hoping we can return the favor and sweep them!

Then it's off for a few days on that little slice of heaven we call Block Island:


There's nothing like spending a long day at the beach, reading a trashy novel, returning to the house and using the outdoor shower (!), then heading to the Oar for a Mudslide. Mmmm...

I'll probably not be doing much blogging (unless I make use of the Boston Public Library again!), so see you on the other side!

Home at last...

I've returned from my second trip of the summer. A great four days in Boston - starting with the second concert at Fenway by the Police. The concert was awesome (I heard the Saturday night wasn't as good - and I think that's the performance upon which many reviews were based). I thought the trio sounded fantastic. In many ways, Sting still outshines the others in the charisma department (he looked incredibly hot!) - but the show reminded me that there were THREE talented musicians in the group. Their signature sound is not just Sting's voice, but also Andy Summers' guitar work and Stewart Copeland's driving percussion. The audience was totally into the show - singing along on every song. We even provided the backup vocals on "King of Pain"!

Other non-Red Sox highlights were seeing the Edward Hopper exhibit at the MFA; doing the Samuel Adams Brewery tour (hic!); and finally getting my Red Sox charity wines. And of course, three great games vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Photos to follow.

Following that was a relaxing, fun time on Block Island with my family. For the most part great weather - except for the day we were stuck in the middle of a fog bank. Again - photos coming.

Got back to town last night - after a 991 mile drive over two days. So to relax and let my mind soar, I took in the last day of an exhibit called Grandma Moses: Grandmother to a Nation. A great collection of the works of Anna Mary Robertson Moses. She taught herself to paint at age 73, and continued painting her "primitive" works until her death at age 101. Here' s one of her more famous works, "Sugaring Off."

Her works contain such minute details about life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during which time she lived in upstate New York. She became an icon in the 1950s and 1960s - her face appearing on hundreds of magazine covers and her works reproduced for the masses. A wonderful tribute to an amazing woman.