Hobbit Land

Nothing super exciting today, Canaan had Karate, so I decided to post some photos from a recent hike I took in the Vaughan Woods in Hallowell.

The Vaughan woods is unique as there are basically two styles of trails.  One that runs along the stream and had beautiful seemingly randomly placed stone bridges and the other that goes through the woods and exits in a beautiful field.

The Stream Trail

The Wooded Trail

Today a friend clued me into a great musician by the name of J.D. McPherson.  He has a style that I would call Rockabilly!  Is albums is available to download on amazon.com for only $2.99! 

That's all for now!

Later readers

Mike

Manipulation of Joints & Bones

Yesterday was great day as I relax and got some odds and ends done that I'd been meaning to do and haven't taken to time to do so.  Also got some episodes of Bones in.  Netflix is fantastic!!

Today was a good day.  I had a much needed appointment at Manchester Osteopathic Healthcare.  My lower back has been destroyed because of this crappy twin bed I crash on every night.  And last week for a few days I was having shooting pains on the right side of my neck down to my shoulder blade area.

I donated blood today, apparently there is a critical need and I am a universal donor.  I've only been donating for a couple years and I look forward to it each time when I can.  If you donate whole blood you have to wait 56 days before you can again.  A double red cell donation is 112 day wait before you can donate either whole blood or double red cell again.

I took Canaan to Karate tonight.  He was very well behaved and did a gret job tonight.  I am so proud of him.  While we were there Addison had a question, "Dadda, what color are my eyes?"

Well, can't you tell?

I brought them to their mothers and was greeted with some wonderful birthday gifts from them.  Addison made me a bracelet.

Canaan gave me my WrestleMania XXIV frame that I apparently forgot in the move.  They also drew me a couple pictures and made me a lemon cake with lemon frosting.  The cake was fantastic!

Yup that's the 16 time World Heavyweight Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in what was, at that time, his retirement match.

That's all for tonight, I have to go continue a conversation that I'm having about horror movies.

Later Readers

Mike

Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi!

And it was a great birthday indeed! 

My buddy John and I have a tradition of spending a day together on or around our birthdays and treating the other one!  Today we went to Portland and had Five Guys.  The burgers were great, but the fires were meh, which was disappointing as the last time I went there they were awesome!!

After we walked the near 1 mile to Coast City Comics so I could get my pinball on!!  I love me some pinball!  Played three machines, won a few games...good times!!

Next we walked back to the vehicle and grabbed and Ice Cream on the way at the Mount Desert Island Ice Cream Company.  I got Cereal Milk, which is fantastic, and John got Hot Chili Chocolate. 

We then came across East End Cupcake which was apparently on Food Networks Cupcake Wars.

As it is my Birthday we decided we need a cake of some kind so we hooked ourselves up.  I got the Vanilla Cake with the Vanilla Buttercream frosting and John got the Chocolate Cake with Salted Carmel frosting.  They were both fantastic! 

We headed North with a quick stop at Trader Joe's for their own 24 month aged cheddar

We then hit Regal Cinemas in Augusta for the 4:40 screening of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  It was decent, a solid B rating from me.  Great action scenes, good story, but some not so great CGI effects. 

All in all it was a fantastic day and I can't thank John enough!!!

Later readers

Mike

Spins a web, any size, Catches thieves just like flies!

Not as hot today, but plenty warm.  Played hard with the kids all day, they had some relaxation time then we headed out, picked up John on the way to Sam's Italian Food in Augusta to meet

SPIDERMAN!!!

Of course my phone froze up so John had to grab a pic for me.  Canaan got ultra shy, Addison wouldn't stand still.  Jessica and Deegan met us there after this was taken.

The Spiderman was an official Marvel Character touring around to promote the upcoming Amazing Spider Man movie.  Spiderman was wicked nice and great with the kids.  Sam's had a great set up with watermelon and freezer pops, face painting, a toy prize drawing, and two very well made standee's they got someone to paint very well. 

They all had a really good time! 

Heard this song today watching Bones, great tune!  Running Up That Hill by Placebo

Later readers!

Mike

Orange belt with a white stripe!!

Today was another hot day!

Got plenty of Bones in on the netflix streaming today...damn it's a good show.

Canaan had an eye appointment today and he's got 20/20 vision and he's not color blind like I am so that all good.  He enjoyed his appointment and he said he's looking forward to going back again.  I should have let them dilate his eyes like they asked.

Later in the afternoon I took Canaan to karate where he apparently had belt testing.  I am proud to say that he tested perfect and was awarded is 3rd belt, Orange with a white stripe!!  He was so excited and so proud of himself.  He truly worked hard for this achievement!!

Finished off the evening with some taco's, Canaan's choice and I am watching some Bones.

It was a great day.

A couple weeks back I discovered the comedic talents of Jenna Marbles and if you haven't heard of her you should check her out.

That's all for today readers!

Mike

It was a hot one!

I hid out inside today, sitting in the dark with a fan blowing on me and watching multiple episodes of Bones streaming via netflix.  It was nice to relax for a change, and I only did because it was so freakin' hot!

Headed in town in the late afternoon for Canaan's final baseball game that was cancelled enroute.  So I spent some time with them at the ex's.  It was really nice to see them even for the hour I was there.

Checked out Rock of Ages tonight and it was fantastic!  First off, the soundtrack to that flick is amazing!  Tom Cruise was WAY better them i expected him to be, and he sang many songs very well.  Paradise City, Wanted Dead or Alive, Don't Stop Believing and more.  The broadway production is touring and coming to Maine next March at the Merrill Auditorium.  I'm going to have to check it out!

After I ran into Hannaford in Gardiner for some Diet Pepsi and the parking lot reeked of the Mary-J-wanna! It was also packed because of the fireworks display that Gardiner had tonight.  They are having more Saturday because apparently they just can't get enough.

Hope everyone had a good day and was able to beat the heat!

Later readers.


Mike

If it was only that easy Manfred Mann!

Today I wasn't going to leave the house at all.  But then I had to scan an application to e-mail so I had to go to Johns for that, then Kate texted and asked if I wanted to go for a hike.  I'm glad things worked out the way it did!!

Got my application, resume, & cover letter e-mail off the Delta Ambulance who is looking for a part time EMD, that would be perfect as I need to do something until I get full time, hopefully at DPS.

Thanks to Capital Walks we hit three trails today in the Gardiner Area totaling about 5 miles of hiking.  Even though I took quite the slow motion fall onto a giant rock (the ground just gave out underneath my right foot) and finding a tick on me, it was a great day.

First up was the Cobbessee Stream Conservation area running along side Cobbessee Stream near the two dams.  Nice little walk with tremendous views.

Then we hit the Gardiner Waterfront Trail that runs from the front street parking lot into the woods along the Kennebec River.  There are few benches on the way and the trail is maintained very well.

 Lastly we it the Old Narrow Gauge Railroad Trail in Randolph that starts by IGA travels into the woods crossing route 226 and continuing into the woods.  Great trail, well maintained and a very peaceful walk.

It was on this trail that for the second time in three day we busted out into random song, I guess random on Sunday not so random today.

Here is that great Manfred Mann tune Do Wah Diddy!

Canaan had Karate tonight, he now had all 6 black stripes on his belt so next week he can test for his next level belt! I'm positive he will get it.

Finished the evening watching the original Alien flick with John.  Sad as this is to admit, neither one of us had ever seen it before.  We both have seen parts 2, 3, & 4 numerous times but never this first.  Gotta say, we picked on the cheesy technology, the the flick over all stands up 33 year later.  It's pretty awesome!  Glad we finally saw it.

Streaming Bones on netflix while typing this.   Have a feeling that, that is all I'll be streaming over the next few weeks as it's an awesome show and I have over 100 episodes to go!

Later readers!

Mike

Bad Eyes

Today I had an eye exam, trying to get as much in as I can before I lose my insurance at the end of the month.  It's official, I need new glasses and the ones that I have are not strong enough in the right lens.  Also my left eye I'm experiencing "stretching" which is okay for now but I guess can lead to seeing spots and what not.  I've had the current pair for over 5 years so I got some life out of them.   Frames are expensive though and the insurance that I do have is terrible for frames and lenses. I'm probably going to check out http://www.eyemartexpress.com/ with convenient locations in Portland and Bangor!!

I hand delivered my application, resume, and cover letter to DPS today and actually got to speak to the person who receives them. The position doesn't close until June 29th.  Then they have to start the hiring process.  So even if I get the job, which I'm hoping for but not banking on, I wouldn't even start until August probably.

So in the mean time I need to find something, even part time to give me some cash and to find something to do, give me purpose and direction.

I started looking around at apartments and what not today.  Just to give me an idea of what is out there and what rent is going to be.  I'm hoping to be in my own place by the fall if not sooner.  The only thing I know for sure is that I want to stay in the area and don't want to live in Augusta. 

I was going to rag on dating sights tonight, but i think i will wait for another day to do that.

Watched an odd movie this morning on Netflix, Bloodlust Zombies.  It was actually pretty solid, full movie review coming soon.

Can't get this song out of my head: Down in the Valley by The Head and the Heart

Everyone have a great evening!

Mike

Clean Slate

So it's been  a very long time since I posted anything on this blog, and I truly can't believe that it's get any traffic at all but according to the stats I had six (6) page views yesterday alone.

I've decided to start posting here again because mainly I need some sort of hobby to help occupy my time as I seem to have plenty of it now a days.

So much has happened in the last year but to bring everyone up to speed in a quick and efficiently I can sum it up in a few quick statements:

I got divorced
I quit my job

Okay so two statements sums up the majority.  I've tried dating and to be honest, it doesn't seem to be working out for me very well, and I really don't care to try anymore at this time.  Tomorrow I'm dropping off an application to hopefully go work for DPS at the Regional Communications Center in Augusta.   

Went with a friend to Rockland Breakwater and Owls Head Lighthouse today.  They both were open for the public to tour.  I had been to the Breakwater before but not Owls Head so that was a lot of fun!  The weather was absolutely beautiful and the ocean air was refreshing.  Capped off the day with dinner and pie at Moody's Diner in Waldoboro.  I have been there in years and it as just as good as it always is! 

Owls Head's Fresnel Lens

 I've taken up going on nature walks and hikes, Viles Arboretum and Hobbit Land in the Vaughan Estate most recently.  I explored a couple websites tonight that have some really great information on some local trails and I look forward to checking them out soon. You should check them both out.
www.healthymainewalks.org/
and
http://capitalwalks.blogspot.com/


Check back tomorrow for another exciting blog!

Mike

What's Streaming on Netflix:
Earlier 
From 1977 Beast with a Gun
Psycho killer Nanni Vitali (a riveting Helmut Berger) busts out of the joint with three henchmen and hunts down cop Giulio Santini (Richard Harrison), the man who put him away. Vitali's brutal revenge also includes raping and kidnapping a beautiful woman (Marisa Mell) in cahoots with the police.

Now
Midnight Movie
Some grind house aficionados become the unwitting stars of an old slasher flick when the film's crazed killer leaps off the screen to hunt them down, drag them back into the movie and kill them.