The first cell phone pictured is a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X brick released in 1983. It weighed 2.5 lbs, had about 30 minutes of talk time, and took 10 hours to fully charge. Cost? $3,995.
The last cell phone pictured is the first generation iPhone released in 2007. Revolutionary then… with its 2megapixel camera, internet communicator and accelerometer… but considered a relic today.
My first cell phone was #7. A Nokia something or other that I think I bought in 1998 or 1999. It didn’t do much of anything except (gasp!) act as a phone… back in the day when we used to have actual auditory conversations… but I thought it was pretty damn slick all the same.
Ironically I just stumbled across my second ever cell phone the other day.
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It was buried in a drawer under some sweaters and for the life of me I have no idea why I kept it.
Flip phones!
Geesh… texting was an absolute nightmare with those things.
They show Maine’s favorite fast food as Long John Silvers. Now, the husband and I travel our state pretty regularly and I don’t remember ever seeing that chain. Turns out there’s a reason…
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Bad map.
Baaaaad.
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Who knew Kansas was so popular in Germany?
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I was born in New Jersey.
I say waw- (as in saw) -der.
Wawder.
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This one they got right.
We have the world’s largest globe and her name is Eartha.
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Eartha is the world’s largest rotating globe, located in the former DeLorme headquarters (now Garmin) in Yarmouth, Maine, and is a free, public attraction open on weekdays. This massive, 41-foot-diameter globe rotates weighs 5,600 pounds and revolves on a 23.5-degree tilt, mimicking Earth’s movements, It offers detailed views of the planet from multiple levels in a three-story glass atrium.
We’ve visited, and it is pretty cool. In a geography nerd sort of way.
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Father jamas for me.
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I’d add a few more to the extremely tricky list. Nebraska and Kansas for sure.
Since I recently posted about the good shows I’ve been watching, I thought I’d be fair and blog about the shows I tried watching but didn’t like well enough to continue.
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I liked Breaking Bad years ago so I figured this series would be right up my alley. Prequel/sequel, whatever… I was here for it. Maybe there was too much time between viewings but I just couldn’t catch the vibe of this show. To be honest I found it more than a little annoying.
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I loved Yellowstone, 1883, 1923 and The Madison – so clearly I’m team Taylor Sheridan. And when I heard he was spinning off a show for Kayce Dutton? I was totally on board … until I saw the first two episodes and realized Marshals had none of the gravitas of its predecessors. Too much bang bang machismo action, not enough character development. I lamented the fact Taylor had let me down, until I read he didn’t write this show after problems with the new management of the Paramount/CBS merger. All I can say is… it shows. Hard pass.
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A friend recommended this comedy to me a while back and after the three stupid episodes I forced myself to watch? I might have to reexamine our friendship. It was that bad.
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I know a lot of people love Ozark but I’m afraid I’m not one of them. We sat through five episodes hoping it would click but all I can say is… meh. It just didn’t hold my interest.
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This is a show I was dying to watch when it debuted. So much hype. So much great press. But we had slow internet then and couldn’t stream. Now that I can? My disappointment was palpable. Yes, the retro vibe was fun but I found it rather boring and honestly… post Me Too movement? The treatment of women was hard to swallow. I stuck it out for 7 episodes but just couldn’t.
Watch Jon Hamm in AppleTV’s Your Friends and Neighbors. That’s so much better.
Sometimes I can’t help but share funny cat things.
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And while that made me smile, this next one might actually help Mark whose cats have taken a sudden dislike of each other.
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Odd, but I figure it’s worth a try.
The next photo belongs to a friend who has horses. She got a few goats as stablemates and then a few mini trampolines because goats like to jump.
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Seems they also like to lay in the sun on individual bouncy beds.
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I do remember that. And curse myself for getting rid of the almond Montgomery Ward refrigerator that dominated our kitchen when we moved in. There was nothing wrong with that vintage fridge, I just wanted something newer and prettier.
It’s been over twenty years now and we’ve had to buy an expensive new replacement every 5 years.
Somewhere in Maine… that ugly Montgomery Ward is laughing. And probably still running like a fine Swiss watch.
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Another one for Mark because summer is right around the corner.
Our grey squirrels are determined fellows. As evidenced by the never give up attitude of this little guy during a recent rainy morning attempt at reaching the bird feeder.
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Wet poles be slippery.
🤣
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If you like shrimp?
Give this recipe a try.
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In a large stainless steel skillet over medium heat, melt 1 Tbsp. butter. Pat shrimp dry; season all over with Old Bay.
Arrange shrimp in a single layer in skillet and cook, turning halfway through, until translucent, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate.
In same skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 1 Tbsp. butter. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes .
Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add wine to deglaze skillet, scraping up any browned bits, and cook, stirring, until liquid is almost completely evaporated,
Stir in broth and bring to a boil over high heat.
Stir in orzo and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until orzo has absorbed most of the broth and is almost cooked through,
Add cream and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened and reduced,
Return shrimp to skillet along with any accumulated juices.
Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice; season with salt. Top with parsley.
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My tweaks – I didn’t have vegetable broth but used low sodium chicken broth and it was lovely. I used salted butter, so I left off the salt at the end. And since my husband isn’t a spicy food lover, I ignored the red pepper flakes. There was plenty of flavor so I think that was overkill anyway.
Use large or jumbo shrimp. You won’t be disappointed.
Yum!
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Mother Chuck is back and her runt from last year’s litter is still here.
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Though not for lack of trying to kick him to the curb.
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There are daily squabbles over food and squealing arguments over bolt holes.
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Momma isn’t subtle, but Junior refuses to take the hint.
It is said music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. No, it’s not beast, that’s a common misquote. But I think ole William Congreve knew what he was talking about in 1697.
(If you’re interested, the original line is as follows –
“Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak”)
And while music can indeed soothe it can also elicit other emotional responses… joy, sadness, nostalgia, triumph etc.
And when asked what songs move me? The first one that pops into my head is Eric Clapton’s “My Father’s Eyes” from this album.
I lost my dad when I was 15 years old and to be honest, I still haven’t gotten over it. To this day I can’t talk about him… or listen to that song… without crying.
So yes, music can bring me to tears.
What song moves you, and why?
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 