Category: Northampton

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Sunday Bells

Fifty years since MLK’s Dream. Let Freedom. As the country becomes more khaki with every generation, it may be achieved. Meanwhile, there’s a tea party faction chiming in on impeaching the first Black President. For what reason?!

Perfect weather as a wedding carillon sang out at Helen Hills Hills chapel in Northampton. Love & laughter for R&JB. Birthday wishes ringing for sister CindyJo. Golfing queen. Julie Harris, “The Belle of Amherst” sadly gone. Mount Holyoke College and Emily Dickinson extoll her perennial portrayal.

Pristine scene as Lady Liberty looms over every green at the Barclays. Manhattan skyline beyond clear as a … well.   Bon weekend.

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Trek Stir

JeanJean won $30 at the Saratoga track. Birthday horse came in.
Ogilvy got the ETrade account. Happier babies now. Congrats.
Motown’s Jesse Nager hugged NYGiant-Strahan. Upset JoeyPa(n)ts.
Lucky little Prince has a Grandma Carole. Like mAdBen and his cuzins.
Hope BoyGeorge won’t stutter. No matter. He’ll still give a good speech.
Carlos’ weiner not so dangerous it seems. Still won’t leave the hot dog stand. Moose loose in next town, Easthampton. Sweet squash from Merry’s Mum garden. Zucchinetti Colitti  tomorrow.

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Gorge-ous Trek

Monday summer trek. Along General Lafayette Trail, Route 143 West, up hills and down vales to Ireland Street in Chesterfield, Mass. Take a right toward the Westfield River and then… a natural wonderment surprise. Chesterfield Gorge. More photos on TravelTreks.

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Hitching Post

Good day for getting hitched. So say the Supremes. The Defense of Marriage Act dumped. Mostly. 5-4. A different mix of Justices say Prop 8 in California is also ditched. Mostly. 5-4. Stars of the day. Ted Olson, David Boies & Co. Congrats! Champion of equal rights for every American. Anthony Kennedy.

In Massachusetts, Pats have untethered the reins from Hernandez. Arrested in North Attleboro. Ed Markey, a Democrat, goes to the Senate to take Kerry’s post. In Northampton, it’s a happy gay day. And, we get to pay more property taxes.

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In A Blink

Tiger and Stevie together again. At least for 2 days at the U.S. Open. Seems like yesterday they were winning majors every week. Not one since… Tebow newly signed with Pats. On one knee. Why? And after a Blue Heron wedding in Sunderland 3 years ago, Jane Lynch and her wife are done with a wink.

Game of Thrones marathon complete. Red Wedding carnage. Lorca would be proud. Dragons are cool. Kids rule. MadMen6 almost done. Series began just a blink ago. But, before the NY advertising world was a twinkle in mAdBen’s eye.

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PrinTemps

Springtime weekend. Masters class. Tiger, Sergio, Phil navigating azaleas and pine straw. A fourteen-year old phenom from China. Lindsey Vonn wearing a Megan hat. Speaking of whom, Matt Creamer’s MadMen premiere recap is here. Agree, death is the theme, but not enough emphasis on the juxtaposition of Vietnam doom and gloom against tacky Hawaiian tourist escape. More ad biz, less location shots. And, am I the only person who missed the Sylvia Rosen tryst?

Check out this great Brooklyn via Northampton folk-rock band. The Sun Parade. A musical Girls-esque video. Great strings, production. Beautiful young talent.

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Side Bar

Talk to the judge. Every time she says “approach” we go to commercial break. Sidebar obsession. Jodi Arias’s court show has consumed my brain. O.J. trial was tame by comparison. Or, I’m just hallucinating, anesthetized by a polyurethane haze. Fumes aloft are feeding my stupor. When Dr.Husband gets “19th Century Authors” answer in Final Jeopardy and I don’t, synapses are not connecting. Hope it’s a temporary phase. But, hardwood floors do look better.

Sister JeanJean came to my rescue and dragged me into the fresh air at Chesterfield Gorge  yesterday. Gorge-ous early Spring glistening white water flow. So, can’t even blame stop at a real bar for this butt post.

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Color Break

A few brave purple crocuses have emerged. Otherwise sky and earth are blurred into April gray on our Vermont foray. The economy has taken its toll as stalwart sandwich shops in Wilmington and Dover have gone away. Boarded businesses up and down the byways. But, thriving treasures are still to be found.

DunberryHillDesigns was our primary destination for this side trek. Recalling a beloved artwork from Fillamento in San Francisco, I searched for a similar painting to adorn our newly refurbished hardwood. Cameron Howard’s studio is filled with breathtaking color and artistry. Sratton Mountain vistas where vibrant hues live year-round. Can’t wait to create masterpieces for our floors.

Finished MadMen5 marathon. Still say MadEnd. MadMen6 begins. Yay.

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Stuffington Post Scripts

Happy 175th Birthday to Mount Holyoke College. First and still all-women’s liberal arts school in the United States. Mary Lyon rocks. Speaking of women shaking, excitement in Springfield’s strip club scene. Explosive. Lucky no one seriously injured. G-strings only slightly tattered. Poles pulverized.

In keeping with consumption theme of the weekend, new flat-screen and Mac-Pro purchases achieved. Red Saturday. Great to have mAdBen home again. 

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Paradise Lost

Once a glittering mecca, Northampton is called “Paradise City”. It’s the latest title and setting of Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther detective series. Gunther uncovers a stolen jewelry ring, and encounters some unsavory sorts. I’ve run into a few real-life residents portrayed in this book over the years. And, it’d be wise to be wary. Mayor hails from Brattleboro, Vermont, up the road.

K9Queen loves a good mystery series. I’m looking forward to Joe McGinnis’ local crime exposé. He’s the guy who moved next door to Sarah Palin and has been hunkered down in our Hampshire County Courthouse, at “15 Gothic Street”.