How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I spent a week with Karen and the girls at The Tyler Place, at Highgate Springs, Vermont. The Tyler Place is about two miles south of the Canadian Border, on Missisquoi Bay in Lake Champlain.


One can spend much of the week by the pool, sitting in the shade or floating in the sun. We also love to swim in the Lake.

The Tyler Place is set up as a combination of summer camp and family resort. The kids have organized activities, by age group and with very talented counselors. They are with their groups from breakfast through lunch. There is family time in the afternoon and they go back into their groups for dinner and evening activities.

The adults have activities too. For Karen and I there are freelance volleyball (Karen) and golfing (me). We also took part in a bike ride around Isle La Motte and a kayak float down the Missisquoi River.

We did a few things on our own, too. Karen took advantage of a chance for a facial and joined in a tennis round-robin. I indulged in some massage therapy and a hike up a mountain.

The mountain hike is a personal favorite. It's a moderately difficult walk up Burnt Mountain. I spent part of the walk up chatting with an older gentleman who had worked at the Tyler Place in the 1960's and met his wife there. They named their eldest son Tyler. Two of their kids have worked there too; one also met his wife on staff at the Tyler Place. The hike ends at Window Rock, featuring this view.

The descent is followed by a plunge into The Three Holes at Montgomery, Vermont.


The Three Holes is a town Natural Area; it's a favorite swimming hole and a lovely site. Vermonters love their swimming holes; they should, they are great.

There's also plenty to do at the waterfront. We slid down the lake-slide. We bounced on the lake-tramp. We went for a Banana Boat ride. We took rank-beginner water-skiing lessons one afternoon.


The waterfront staff were most helpful. We all four managed to get up on the skis and ride for at least a short way. We all also took some spectacular face-plants.

That's just a few of the things we did on vacation. We had fine food, and fine friends. We saw mountains, rivers and lakes. We had sunshine, and sunsets.

Tyler Place Photoset

I have selected 51 photos from some 250 or so that I took at the Tyler Place and around Vermont last week and created a Tyler Place Photoset on Flickr. I've annotated a few of them with notes and comments.

Over the next few days I will pull some into more detailed blog entries on our time up north.

I have a few others from our flying visit to Smuggler's Notch on the way home to pull off the camera and post.

...And, We're Back

Lake Champlain II
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

We're just back from our week at the northern end of Vermont. We had a great time. More pictures, and details, over the next few days. For now, the car's unpacked and I'm off to bed.

Heading North

Skytop Compass
Originally uploaded by bikeracer.

We're heading out again. This time to Vermont. We'll spend a week on the shores of Lake Champlain.

When we vacation, I like to go "luddite." So, no blogging for the next week-and-a-day-or-so.

But I'll be taking pictures.

Water: Beautiful

grandfolks bird bubbler
Originally uploaded by shwa.

Once in a while in my wanderings through Flickr, I find perfect moments of beauty.

Is It Still a "Blue Crab?"

Molly Murray has a story in the News Journal today that a commercial crabber has pulled an Albino blue crab out of Delaware waters. This is reportedly rare, but not unheard-of. I was intrigued to read that the fellow is thinking he might introduce the white crab -- a male -- "to some of the females in the shedding tank as an experiment to see whether they might breed more white crabs."

I hope Molly checks back on this story.

Meet Nick

Nick
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

Nick is the alpha male among the many cats at the Milton Equestrian Center. He's a stocky, tough-looking cat. By all accounts he's a good mouser. But he's a sweet cat, too. Likes people. Likes hanging out with horses.

Truer Words Were Never Posted

Truer Words Were Never...
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

This actually refers to fundraiser held by one of the offices in my building, but it struck me as I first got on the elevator this morning as a wonderful koan-like thought.

This is indeed today. I hope to see you there too.

Sixth Golf Game of 2005

On Bethany Bay Golf Course
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

Andy Southmayd and I played 18 holes at Bethany Bay Golf Course this morning. We wanted a tune-up prior to our two families' joint trip to northern Vermont where we like to play the mountainous courses.

I'd never played Bethany Bay before. It's an executive length, 9-hole course with eight par-3 holes and one par-4. A pleasant little course with some nice challenges.

Things got a bit crowded on our second time around the 9 holes, so we teamed up for the last few with two gents -- Jerry and Ahmet -- who have vacation homes at Bethany Bay. We were visited a Deer and by a Great Blue Heron.

I'm proud to say I carded an 88 for 18 holes. It is a short course, of course. Still, I cut strokes from the first 9 to the second 9 and Andy, who is a much better golfer than I , only beat me by two strokes.

Another round of golf in 2005.

AgriPhotos

Tractor and Field
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

As you may know, I spend a fair amount of time at the Milton Equestrian Center where Colleen rides and looks after her horse Jazzy. It's an interesting place to take pictures. I've started a collection.

Language that Makes Me Think

In a column by Al Mascitti in the News Journal this morning, there's a quote that gave me a moment's pause.

The column (It's racing interests vs. expanded gambling, and the purse is huge) is about the long-term effort to expand gambling's footprint in Delaware. What caught my eye, though, was part of quote from the executive director of the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems.

She spoke about the state having "an obligation to fund programs for the victims of public policy."

There's a notion that we should think about: "victims of public policy."

Another Form of History

cincinnati 1915
Originally uploaded by Least Wanted.

A Flickr member, Least Wanted, collects old photos discarded from law enforcement archives.

This one struck me because it looks oddly like my friend David Pedersen, of Georgetown. David with darker hair, a hat, facial hair, and a fancy collar.

Least Wanted's collection is a fascinating look back at fashion, hairstyles, and the faces of America over time. Remarkable.

Til Purnell Honored by the Sierra Club

A woman I have great respect for, Til Purnell, has won the National 2005 Special Services Award from the Sierra Club.

Til is part of a wonderful couple that returned to Sussex County from service abroad and has helped shape who we are. While she has championed environmental issues, her husband Skipper has been a voice in improving and modernizing state government. I had occasion to mention Skipper back in December.

Til Purnell is who I think of when I think of the word "forthright." She has convictions, and she stands for them. I have covered her as a reporter, worked with her in community theatre, sat with her in the audience at County Council, interviewed her and profiled her for Outdoor Delaware magazine, and argued with her as a state employee.

The woman is who we should all aspire to be.

Fourth of July at Bethany Beach

We spent the fourth with my folks, one of my brothers, and some family friends at Bethany Beach. We went to the Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade, where I took a mess of photos. We spent the afternoon on the beach at North Bethany. We had a traditional meal of Burgers and Dogs, and eventually went down to the beach to watch the fireworks.

The Bethany Beach parade is one of our favorites. It's long. It attracts a decent number of politicians. It includes kids on decorated bicycles. And it brings out a healthy goofiness.

It was a pleasant afternoon on the beach. We swam, we sunned, we watched the kids dig for sand crabs, we sat around and talked politics.

After dinner, we planned to head down to the beach to watch the Bethany fireworks show about a mile south of us. We do this each year; we have the added fun of the fireworks shot off by all the groups up and down the beach around us.

Interestingly, this year here was some sort of cloud bank between us and Bethany and we really only could hear the town's fireworks show. There was some reflection off the ocean, but we were shut out visually. None of us could ever remember that happening.

The free-lance fireworks were still fun. We also traditionally distribute glowsticks to the kids. We put them on lengths of string for twirling, and throwing, and catching, and dropping.

It made for some interesting pictures.

Fifth Golf Game of 2005

An Island Green
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

I played 18 holes, poorly, this morning; again at the Heritage Course.

I had planned to go early and play a fast, solo, practice round. But the place was packed and it took longer than I had planned.

In fact, it was so crowded that, after a few holes, I joined up with a threesome to finish the round.

They were Chip, an assistant manager at the Heritage Course and the attached hotel, and his neighbors June and Tammy.

All three were very nice folks, at about my level of golf or a tad better. We had a good time, shared some laughs, and cheered each other on. It's a nice way to play.

I wish I'd played better. I did have a par on the 12th hole we played. But I'd also blown-up on a couple of holes.

In the end I carded a 123 for the 18 holes.

This is How We Get Grid-Lock

Note to folks coming to visit Coastal Sussex County: When you get into heavy traffic in an area with traffic lights, please don't enter an intersection unless you can go all the way through that intersection, regardless of whether or not you have the green light.

And when the light turns yellow. Stop. You won't beat it. Unless it would be un-safe to do so, just stop at the intersection.

Otherwise, you may get caught still in the middle of the intersection when the light changes, like these damn fools.

Luckily, no one needed to make the left from the side road I was on last night. When the light went green for us to go straight, though, the cars ahead of me were left to try to weave around some turkey that was further back in the intersection.

That, plus the very short duration of the green light for side-roads in this area, meant that I had to wait another cycle to get through. Turkeys.

Look. You are welcome to visit our area. We're glad to see you. But don't you people have heavy traffic back home? Don't you know how to handle this sort of thing?

Is there something about being on vacation that makes you forget common sense and common courtesy?

Golf in 2005

Let's let this serve as an aggregation of posts about golf played in 2005. I hope it will be a long list.

March 25, 2005 -- Lighthouse Sound, Ocean City, Maryland. With Andy Southmayd, Sandy Schenck and Rich Catonese. 126 for 18 holes. (Rainy. Cold)

April 24, 2005 -- The Heritage, Midway, Delaware. Father/daughter fun game, with Christina.

May 22, 2005 -- The Heritage, Midway, Delaware. Practice game. Alone. 54 for 9 holes.

June 19, 2005 -- Marsh Island, Angola, Delaware. With Andy Southmayd. 112 for 18 holes.

July 3, 2005 -- The Heritage, Midway, Delaware. Practice game, joined with three strangers. 123 for 18 holes.

July 10, 2005 -- Bethany Bay, Millville, Delaware. With Andy Southmayd. 88 for 18 holes on an executive length course.

July 18 and 22, 2005 -- North Country Golf Club, Rouses Point, New York. Richford Country Club, Richford, Vermont. Vacation golf. No scores.

August 21, 2005 -- The Heritage, Midway, Delaware. With Andy Southmayd. I'd post my score, but it's too depressing.

September 18, 2005 -- Marsh Island, Angola, Delaware. Epworth United Methodist Church fellowship scramble.

October 10, 2005 -- The Rookery, Milton, Delaware. With Andy Southmayd. In the not-rain.

A Photo Project: Water Towers

At Town Hall, Bridgeville
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.It was an accident. I swear. However, it seems I've started collecting digital images of water towers from around Delaware.

I blame this shot of the Bridgeville water tower. I was going for the contrast with the blue sky, but it got me thinking about trying to get shots of water towers from all 57 Delaware cities and towns.

This could take a while.

Are You Part of the Charles Darwin Posse?

Grass-roots marketing: Charles Darwin has a posse -- free bookmarks and stickers. I get a kick out of this sort of thing.

And, while you're there....

Evolution Outreach Projects

I Have the Teeth of a Greek God

Well ... a statue of a Greek God.

Okay. A statue of a Greek God that's been lying on the floor of the Aegean Sea for several centuries. Lying there among the broken amphorae and rotting timbers of a wrecked trireme.

Never mind.

I had my mid-year dental check-up today and I'm thrilled to report that it didn't go nearly as badly as I was certain it would go. In fact, for a 43-year-old guy with a lifetime of questionable dental hygiene habits in his past, my teeth are in fairly good shape.

I have a fear of the Dentist. I know it is irrational.

My Dentists are very nice young guys; I've been to a Dead show with Dr. Barnhart. They do great work without a lot of pain.

But the reality for me is that the several days before a Dental appointment are a trial. It is true that the anticipation is worse than the reality. I project all sorts of unpleasant possible outcomes.

The worst part? The knowledge that any Dental problems found will reflect badly on me and my discipline. It bugs me that cavities, gum disease, and other possible problems could be my fault.

But my teeth are okay. My gums looked pretty good. My brushing and flossing have been effective.

As I walk away from the chair and out to pay my bill, I always feel this incredible wash of tension out of my neck and shoulders. As much as I try to go in relaxed, as much as I manage tension by getting into the cool new technology they now have, as much as I tell myself it'll be cool, I still have that tension.

But here's my secret: I try to stay aware of the fact of that tension. I remind myself that it will seem worse ahead of time. In fact, that's why I wrote this.