what about the plastic animals?

Arlington Patriot's Day Parade

Firetruck

Old cars

Patriots

Kids marching

Kids watching

The Arlington Patriot's Day parade had most of the elements of a good parade.  Not pictured but also essential to a good parade were politicians riding in convertibles, bagpipers, shiny dump trucks, a librarian book cart precision drill team and the stash of candy I managed to gather. 

Disappointingly missing from the parade were the local high school marching band and the Shriners. 

Luckily missing from the parade?  Clowns.

Minuteman

The weekend I was in Boston was Patriot's Day weekend - the anniversary of Paul Revere's ride and the start of the Revolutionary War.  This is the statue of John Parker, captain of the Lexington militia, on Lexington Green.  I missed battle re-enactment on the green as it was conducted at the historically accurate time of 5:45 a.m. 

Different Reactions to a Camera

Day and Night Diner, Palmer MA

One Stop Beer Wine Liquors, Palmer MA

Palmer, Massachusetts is an old railroad town that had a few interesting storefronts along Main Street.  I stopped to walk around and take a few pictures.  Just after I photographed the liquor store the owner practically ran outside and asked me if everything was all right.  I assured him that everything was okay and that he should remain calm.  Actually, I think I said "Nice day isn't it?" and kept walking.

Further up the street a very enthusiastic guy wanted to know what kind of camera I had.  He had just taken his 5D to Israel and taken over 700 pictures.  I owe that guy an apology.  I tried to be nice and have a conversation but I was so winded from the bronchitis that I could barely get a word out.  Sorry!

The Day and Night Diner is Worcester Lunch Car #781 and was delivered on May 31st, 1944.

Half Roasted

There's nothing tastier than chicken that's half roasted.  Hot on the outside, cold on the inside.   Mmmm, yum!

The Homestead

The Homestead, Amherst MA

Often when I drive between New York and Boston I'll take a short detour to either Northampton or Amherst, usually Northampton.  Since I stopped to see the Friendly Giant of Chicopee, Amherst was easier to get to on this trip.

One highlight of Amherst is the Homestead, the house Emily Dickinson lived in for almost her entire life.  The house is modest-looking from the front but it is a mansion that's a lot deeper than it is wide.  It is a short walk down Main Street from the center of town, where I had parked.

That was the longest two-block walk I had ever taken.  By the time I got to the house I was gasping for air.  This was the low point of not feeling well and I spent a long lunch debating whether to find an urgent care facility, return to New York, or continue on to Boston.

I saw my doctor a couple of days ago and I'm either allergic to tree pollen or have bronchitis.  He diagnosed the latter when I went into a violent coughing fit in the examining room.  I'm pleased to say I went for a five-mile walk today with no coughing episodes.

Anyway, Amherst is a picturesque college town, and I wish I had taken more pictures, but I mostly just sat at the Black Sheep Deli and contemplated what to do next and also wondered why Amherstians (Amherstites?  Amherstipuddlians?) flock to the Black Sheep as the two times I've been there my sandwiches have been mediocre at best.

Spring at the Market

Asparagus

Ramps

Jayhawk

Fresh green things are starting to appear at the farmer's market.  I bought a bunch of asparagus, apples, cider, cheese and mushrooms.

 

Welcome to Chicopee!

You don't know how many times I've driven by this guy off Exit 6 of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Chicopee and not taken his picture.  Finally, I had good light and wasn't in a hurry.  He has been welcoming travelers to the Plantation Inn "Southern Hospitality in New England" for about ten years.  Before that he worked at a Ford dealership in Springfield for thirty years.

Newtown, Connecticut

Edmund Town Hall, Newtown CT

Meeting House, Newtown CT

I stopped in Newtown looking for a doughnut.  I didn't find one but the general store did have a really tasty homemade crumb cake. 

The town hall pulls double-duty as the village's movie theater.  I liked that.  According to Wikipedia, the theater is the only $2 theater in Connecticut.

The rooster weather vane on top of the meeting house was used as target practice by French troops before they headed toward Yorktown in 1781. 

At the intersection between the town hall and meeting house is a 100-foot tall flag pole erected in 1876 to celebrate the nation's centennial.  I didn't take a photo so you'll have to take my word that it is impressive.

Other fascinating facts about Newtown:  The game of Scrabble was invented here;  the town was a stop on the Underground Railroad; Charles Goodyear was born here; and decathlete Bruce Jenner and actor Anthony Edwards were raised in Newtown.

Please Use Straw Hole

Every time I get one of these little juice containers I am amused by the contradictory messages.  There's the traditional "Open" at the top of the container.  Yet there's also the "Please use straw hole" admonishment just below.  Does Tropicana not see the opposing messages?

I also have to ask why Tropicana would care how anybody opens their container.  Does it matter to them whether someone opens the top, uses the straw hole, or punctures the container with a rusty nail?

I have returned from Boston.  I am still sick, but not as sick as when I left.  I have a doctor's appointment early Thursday morning.  No photos from Boston proper, but there are some entertaining ones from the trip there and back.

Ughh

I've been sick the last couple of days and haven't been in the mood to sit at the computer.  I'm feeling a little better today but I'm still more sluggish than a turtle.

Work takes me to Boston all next week.  That sounds like a good opportunity to give this blog a rest.