Here in the northeast, it’s HOT. My favorite season and I can take it. But I’m smart enough (finally) to be careful with the heat. I just read this morning that it was the hottest June on record in North America. To my liking but disconcerting still at the same time.

Speaking of hot, it’s so nice to go out to eat and get a hot meal from the kitchen on plates instead of carry-out plastic. To have someone wait on you and take the order and bring you a drink. All the things we took for granted for so long no longer are. But for how long before we start to think we did before the pandemic.

I for one won’t forget that and hopefully, we won’t have to experience that again. Actually, I’m thankful for every meal I have be it being served to me, or carry-out or fixing it ourselves. So many people without the ability to eat well or regularly. This reminds me it’s time for a donation to the Maryland food bank.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Children are like learning sponges.
• Weather comes and comes, whether you like it or not.
• Ah the first tropical storm of the season, Free car wash.
• I haven’t met a nap I haven’t liked.

Sorry about the absence but I took a couple of days for some outside work, a grandchild and also some fun. I get to see my granddaughter once a week and I can’t tell you the recharge that gives me. I also got time to spend with my closest friends and their better halves on beautiful Kent Island yesterday. Days like that have been a long time in coming. It’s like a sign of returning to the past times that made life special.

It also begins a new chapter in our lives. One couple is retiring in short order and is a bit apprehensive. One couple just got what I think will be their forever home and I’m so happy for them except it does change one dynamic. We all have lived fairly close to each other for decades. And by we, I mean my best friends. (except for our brother in Florida). And when I say close 10-20 minutes max. Now we have over an hour’s ride to one of the group. But things like that don’t stop us. We will just have to plan better and adjust. We always do.

The more I ride bicycles on the flatlands of the Eastern Shore the more I like it. I’ve always enjoyed riding bikes. From my days when I could first ride and then having a paper route, and to riding to a real job in high school just before I got my own 4 wheels. Riding in Howard County used to be fun when I was much younger. Traffic now prevents the kind of freedom and you either have to cart your bikes to areas that are also getting increasingly crowded.

Riding a bike around a coastal town or boardwalk and along a bay are some of the most relaxing and enjoyable experiences. It’s the beautiful views, sounds, and smells. It’s peacefulness, mostly found in the offseason but you can also get it in season if you’re up early or late at night. But yesterday the 10-mile jaunt to the south end of the island was great.

The more I go across the bridge the more it feels like another world. And by a bridge, I mean this span below. It’s just a more relaxed life across the bridge.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• I feel like I’m using each day better.
• The smell of salt air is refreshing.
• If you both appreciate your significant other more each day, life is easy.
• This pollen season seems heavier than some past. Maybe because it’s been so dry this month.

That rainy day allowed for some good sleeping yesterday. Longest I’ve been out in a while. And even though I rose late, I remembered it was a Giving Day for the Red Cross and American Cancer Society. So I pried my wallet open and gave some to each. They were doing a matching funds day. So the day was a success before the workday even started.

My best days are always when I can help someone else. Giving money is the least of them. Not everyone can afford to, but everyone has time. The giving of time is the most precious gift of all. Well, I guess blood and organ donation might be up there also. But I need to do better with my time in helping others.

Anyway it felt good to help a bit.

Of course, I could not let the day pass without acknowledging that it is Maryland Day. Too bad all the events were this past weekend according to this Maryland link. Well, the state doesn’t have a corner on the market for celebrations and events. I can have my own because I love this state. Plus it’s the start of my weekend so let the party begin.

Yes, it’s probably going to be expensive to retire here. Yes, it’s way too crowded now. Yes, we have problems like every other state. But we have Maryland blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning and a great flag to start with. We have some really cool highways if you like driving at 3am. Otherwise, we have a lot of parking lots.

We have some great people and some idiots. We have oceans and mountains and bays, rivers and lakes. We have history and historic sights. We have all 4 seasons. There are big cities and large farms. Beautiful state parks to bustling industry. Anyway, I like it despite its few flaws.

I’ve finished the workday and caught a few ZZZ’s, it’s time to shower and throw on my Maryland tee shirt and hat and kick off the festivities.

Oh, I can’t go without mentioning the Lady Terps in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. That is one well-coached and well-run program and we are lucky to have the consistency and excellence they have shown. And I think they have a great chance of going all the way. I go to Maryland games with my Son. Maybe I should start taking my Daughter to see the Lady Terps next year. I can’t wait to get back in that stadium and hear the roar and see the Maryland flag come down through the stands. of the student section.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• If a majority of people hate having to cut grass why do we buy so many products to make it grow more?
• An old friend just retired. I’m jealous.
• I’m also dreading the day if I ever have to return to the office.
• I used to enjoy the sound of a clock ticking. Not so much as I age now.
• The search for a shot begins.

It was a good morning to catch up on some rest so that is what I did on Thursday. Friday was a burl. Now starts another weekend that I’m both looking forward to and apprehensive about. So I’m going to hope for the best.

Patience – So I’m relaxed when I got up the other day and then I saw Governor Hogan said he wants schools open on March 1st. But I thought I heard him say last week how difficult it was to get the needed doses of vaccine and getting them to the people when they were in hand. And we are in phase 1 right? I thought it was going to be late summer at best before 75-80% of the people had the vaccine. So for the sake of having the kids in school for 3 months and not having to listen to some parent’s bitch, you’re going to risk more sickness and death.

I’m trying to be patient but I get these conflicting messages and I wonder about safety. Yes, I know all the reasons to get kids back in school. Yes, I know it has an impact on the economy complicating care/work. But what is a life worth? Be it a child, teacher, administrator, bus driver, cafeteria server, what cost are you willing to pay personally. I have two children who are teachers. I hope both get their vaccine and second shot in time but what if that doesn’t happen? Neither has happened to date. I’m sure I don’t want the Gov playing Russian roulette with my children and their family’s health.

He says there is no public health reason for schools not to reopen. And he sounds like he’s going to be a hardass about it. Well, that kind of pushes a few of my buttons so let’s rock. Let me ask you something Gov, your stats don’t back up your statements of no risk. Either that or the logic in the spring was all F’ed up or now you have a different set of standards. We are averaging double the number of cases we had in the spring and the number of deaths per day as of today and the highest peaks in May is only slightly lower than the spring 43 to 56 per day average. Not to mention the more contagious form of the Virus now starting to circulate in this country and has been found in Maryland. So who’s backside did you pull that statement of no public health reason for schools not to reopen from? Really I’d like to know because both of you need to be rethinking threatening people like this.

And let me give you something to ponder Gov. If you do pull this off and someone or many people pass, who do you think will be blamed for these deaths? And who do you think will be held accountable? I know the answer to those questions and if you think the answer is someone else, think again. And if you’re just grandstanding for a bunch of parents who march in Annapolis, then shame on you also.

Governor, in my opinion, you would have been smarter to say “Obviously we are looking at schools and having kids and teachers back in them asap. We are assessing this week by week along with the risk and possible phased plans. But it all depends on the risk to the community, availability of the vaccine, and our ability to prepare the facilities. We will keep you updated weekly with our findings and reasonings because the situation fluctuates so fast we have to be responding the same way. All school systems or communities’ availability of the vaccine might not be equal. The virus has mutated and new risks are coming to light that also has to factor in. To base decisions off one week’s statistics and then have a spike and have to shut down doesn’t make any sense. We are working with the facilities to make sure they can be maintained safely. We are working with the teachers union on protocols and safety and guidelines. We are making sure everyone from the person serving your child a meal or cleaning the school to the bus driver and everyone in between has been fully vaccinated. Also, it has not been determined even if you are vaccinated that you can’t carry the virus so it is important even when the return to school facilities happens that safety protocols in place are still followed. Obviously, I have no control over individual county’s school systems but as the Governor of the state of Maryland, we are deploying all resources in helping communities best determine when schools open safely with as much information and financial support needed. Thank you for your patience.”

But NOOOOO, you start with threats. For someone who does a lot of things right, when you screw up you don’t fool around. Of course the same can be said about me, so we are bedfellows who don’t use our best judgment from time to time.

Good luck with your next decision/action. Remember, live and learn.

Vacations don’t have to be exotic locals to be great. Not that we don’t have a lot of exotic locals here in the great state of Maryland, we do and the Eastern shore is one of them.

And when in Rome, eat like the Romans. So I had a crabcake sandwich for lunch in the middle of our walk around the town in St Michaels yesterday.

The whole town was hoping for a Monday. And with the weather in the mid-’90s and humid, it was a day I thought might be quiet. And it was probably quiet compared to a weekend.

This is one of the things I like about small towns. You can ride bikes around and really see the place and not get run over. That is what I love about Bethany Beach in September and October.

Of course if you can be pushed around there is nothing wrong with that mode of transport also.

I look at the shot above and remember the day we would push our own children around. Time has passed so fast. Now we push grandchildren.

Looking out over the water while having a nice lunch with the love of your life can make any day.

On the way to St Michael’s on Rt 33, we saw this cast of characters below saying Thanks for the Memories and Farewell. Of course, I had to come home and look up what it was related to and found this Nugget about it.

So after the fun of yesterday today it was back to the home projects on Tuesday. Much was accomplished. I hope to get out early Wednesday morning before daylight and grab some night photography and some early morning shots.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• There is a big difference in a push and riding mower on a hot day.
• Comedians are funny but they don’t replace laughs with friends.
• Time for a ride at night with the top down.

It seems like forever that I’ve seen this view. I can’t wait to see it again. A lot of people don’t like driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It is rather long and tall. I guess practice makes perfect. I remember riding my motorcycle over it and that open mesh part at the highest point where you could look straight down 186 feet through the metal grate and see the water. Of course, I would try to stay off that because it gave a wobble to the bike.

I can sense the morning coming up that I see a nice weather report and I just say screw it all and throw a beach towel and sunglasses in the car and head east. Just doing that reminds me of my youth. I hope I never lose that desire.

Instead of some shooting today I worked on getting a small studio set up in my basement. But I did run across an image from last week that I liked.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• There are few things as encouraging as seeing someone close to you getting better physically and mentally day by day.
• With Arlington National Cemetery closed it feels significantly different than when I’ve visited in the past. And I kind of like it that way but wouldn’t deny the country the opportunity to visit when this is over.
• This virus illustrates how lazy, selfish, and stupid this country can be.

I think I figured out why I can’t sleep. I can’t wait till I get to wake up each day. Early mornings and late nights are mostly my time. I never thought about that before but it’s nice to start and end a day that way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a loaner. I have a great number of people in between those times.

And I enjoy people greatly but I also like my time. Having a few minutes to create or just veg on the couch. Maybe a quick read or jot down a few ideas. Maybe clean the workroom or office a bit. Maybe make another print after changing inks again. Or pick up the camera for a few frames.

When I don’t get my time, I get out of sorts. Yes, usually I make the decision to sacrifice it for one reason or another, some good and some poor. But I’m finding those few minutes or an hour or two can make a huge difference. I’m thinking of slowing down and not sacrificing them as much in the coming days.

The mental health benefits are too great to ignore. Just like I’ve come to realize a good night’s sleep is worth its weight in gold. Another reason I’m so poor. But I’m working on these things.

Grief – I’m watching people go through it, and experienced some myself. I’m amazed at the strength of my mother-in-law. I’m also touched by the depth of her hurt. They say losing a child is the most painful event, but losing your lifelong partner/husband of almost 7 decades has to be a close second. I’m amazed at the strength and resiliency of my better half in dealing with both the loss and becoming a caregiver. I was impressed by how well most of the family pulled together.

The hurt sometimes lasts forever for some. Yes, you can also move on but there is a missing part of you. Those shared memories that only you have now. That special person missing to sometimes recall them and smile or laugh or cry upon hearing again.

As I get older myself, sometimes I sit back now and just listen intently to a best friend tell one of the many stories of our past. One we have probably shared many times before. And now I take it in, put it in a memory bank so if one day I’m recalling that story and nobody else is around that remembers it, I’ll replay the glory and zest my best friends tell it with now. But I’ll have to imagine the wink or laugh or shot to the gut or back of the head if I tell it right or mess any part of it up.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• I have so many lists I need a directory for them.
• We can change, we prove it to ourselves all the time. It’s just taking those final steps after that long walk.
• One day I will prove time moves faster on days off.
• United we stand said no one at the bar.
• You can love as much as your heart can give. Just try it, you will be surprised how deep that well is.

We choose A/C, as this couple did yesterday to eat and drink. And it was the right choice even though the tables had umbrella’s and the shade had come over the dockside dining at Pusser’s, it was still hot as hell out there. Of course there were more than a few hearty soles outside. It was good to put in a few miles walking around town with my daughter. In and out of shops and down to the Market House for Storm Bros for Icee’s and Ice Cream.

Main Street Annapolis.
Photo by Mike Hartley

By the way it was a fine meal at Pusser’s. I will be out and about trying to squeeze in some more photos today because it’s a real treat for me to try my hand at this art. I’m so pissed at myself for not starting earlier in life.

Looking down Main St in Annapolis.
Photo by Mike Hartley

One would think it was cooler by the water. Only because of the breeze but it wasn’t enough. But nothing mattered to me because nothing can touch a day with your children.

Along Main Street.
Photo by Mike Hartley

My sweet tooth was itching something bad but I resisted. I find myself regretting that decision today. Next opportunity I’ll utter that phrase “Resistance is FUTILE” to myself.

Sweets
Photo by Mike Hartley

For those about to BAKE.

About to be dough.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I used to love candy apples when I was younger.

I love these but I like keeping my teeth a bit longer.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I can hear some 5-year-old yelling MOM when they see these.

The sign says it for me.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Nothing like a good sky and the flag.

Good to see the disabled enjoying our state capital.
Photo by Mike Hartley

An old staple of town.

Awning at Middleton Tavern.
Photo by Mike Hartley

As the summer sails away.

Mast
Photo by Mike Hartley

Young and in love it appeared.

Hearts beating
Photo by Mike Hartley

Nice toys.

Just a little to big for me.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I promise more side street shots the next visit.

Love the color in this town.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Maybe next time I’ll eat outside.

Save me a seat.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Thanks for a wonderful day.

I think I still may be relaxed from this lunch and view on Friday. The company of my better half, the outside dining, the view and comfortable temperatures made it a wonderful experience. We were heading to the Chart House to treat ourselves for some reason or another but that wasn’t open for lunch.

View from Carroll Creek Cafe in Annapolis.
Photo by Mike Hartley

So as we drove down we saw another restaurant as we crossed the bridge called Carrol’s Creek Cafe. So we backtracked from the Chart House parking lot to a pay lot (they will stamp your ticket 2 1/2 hrs) so do park there. It was a beautiful day and we wanted to sit outside where everyone else was. Sure enough a table for two right on the railing with a great view.

I need a boat to walk to.
Photo by Mike Hartley

We are very lucky and blessed to be able to do this once in a while. Yes its a lot of hard work and has been for decades but it is worth every bit of sweat when we can have a nice lunch and a day walking around town. Yeah we shopped but I think we got a coke and an iced coffee.

6th Street and Compromise Ave.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Don’t get me wrong. There is a ton of things I would buy in this town. There are stores I even like to go in and me and the word stores are like oil and water. They don’t mix well. And I’m dying to stay a night or two at that new Westin Hotel. I might save that for an off-season visit being they have an indoor heated pool.

Ready for a sail class along Spa Creek.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Whenever I’m in this town I find something new to shoot. Even spots I have shot before seem to be fresh each time I go. Maybe its a reflection or shadow or the constant change of people. Maybe the change of season. But I find it endless when it comes to a great place to photograph.

As the sign says.
Photo by Mike Hartley

So what will be my adventure this coming week? Maybe a trip across the bridge. Or should I head West. I’ve been thinking of visiting the Antietam Area and that Civil War battlefield. And as I see by visiting that website that its our National Parks Service 100th Birthday this year. So get out an celebrate our National Treasures.

With the weather in the 80’s this coming week I’m sure you will see more of these with sails up than docked.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Well, another weekend down. Time to prepare for the next one.

Each summer while my daughter is on break from being a teacher we spend a day or two together during the summer to just wander and talk, eat and explore, shop and sit and generally enjoy each others company and catch up just the two of us. Yesterday we picked Annapolis MD. There is nothing more gratifying to have your children want to spend time with you. There are few things better in life than to see your children happy. There are few better things than when they grow into young adults and they display traits and skills your proud of.

So below is just a few shots I got while wandering the town. What a wonderful day. Thank you Melissa.

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley

Annapolis MD Photo by Mike Hartley