Stream of Thought observations, images, and more
A while ago, I came across this curious gemstone-like proto-sand grain, lying by the ocean on Island Beach State Park in NJ.
Last week …I saw something that reminded of this while lying on the couch at home!
Orientated correctly, below, it is seen as one of the ceiling accent lights.
If nothing else, this exercise simply brought to my attention that I need to repaint the ceiling …soon! 😦
As usual, thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome M 🙂
As usual, zoom in for a closer look, thanks for viewing and comments are always welcome. M 🙂
In response to the comment by fellow contributor Disperser, I’ve added the original image below, which has been my screen-saver for the past few snowy weeks:
Last week, we cruised to Bermuda from NYC on the 145,000 gross ton Norwegian Breakaway. Day six of this family vacation brought us to St. George via the ferry and a short walk to Tobacco Bay, on the far north shore for swimming, snorkling and exploring,
As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
Eleven years ago this week, returning to New Jersey from a business trip to Rhode Island, I stopped by this charming little 19th century coastal community known as Watch Hill, RI. Among the shuttered and closed buildings was this Book and Tackle shop …
At the time, I wrote of the town’s story and the unique practice of the shop, its signage asking patrons to simply take what thay want… and leave a payment under the door.
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🙂 Thanks to Gina for the framed gift. 🙂
..As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
Last week, already nearly a week into autum, we had our last visit to the beach just before days of rains and near 50 mph winds raked the area. A brief ride across the bay here brought us to Island Beach State Park, the New Jersey barrier island with its boardwalk to the ocean.
Except for the banner, these are captured from my i-phone.
As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
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The Perseid meteor shower occurs around August 12th every year. EVERY YEAR.
Above, a so so “capture” from the NJ Pinelands of a Perseid meteor last year (8/13/15 – 18mm ISO 4000, 15″, f/4, enlarged)
This morning, while watching for and seeing a few impressive Perseid meteors, I tried thinking of the first time I ever saw a meteor. My memory brought me back to a family vacation in Barnegat Light, New Jersey – a rental property near the beach with a flat roof accessible by outside stairs. Years later, while scanning old B&W pictures, I failed to establish an accurate date for that particulal week, but at 4:30 AM this morning, out there in the night, I recalled as a young boy being “scared” at the frequent fast moving streaks in the dark sky during that vacation. Dad was introducing my brother and me to ‘meteors.’
I pondered that memory and the timely annual recurrence of meteor showers… and realized (as an aside,) that I finally had an accurate date frame for that early Jersey Shore vacation! All in all pretty insignificant, but…how neat!
Above, Dad on the roof – town of Barnegat Light, NJ.
Below, my older brother and me on the beach, with Barnegat Lighthouse beyond.
As usual, comments and inquiries are welcomed. Thanks for viewing. M 🙂
About three weeks ago Jeanne and I and some friends took a brief break to this tropical island, a mere 18 miles off the Venezuela (S.A) coast.
Short on time?… just view the twelve images, and CLICK ON for higher resolution.
Greeted by these MONSTERS at the resort, whom we quickly grew fond of, the iguanas proved friendly, interesting, and to be all over the place.
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The “Occidental Grand Aruba Resort” featured, among many other amenities, its swim-up pool bar.
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Steps away was the beachfront with thatched-roof covered lounges, and tiki bar. I see a pattern here!
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The soft, sandy beach proved to be a pleasure to walk along, and the leeward shore of the southern Caribbean Sea beckoned as a calm, iridescent water playground.
Above, the California Lighthouse was visible from the beach, looking picturesque enough for me to include it as a photo-op visit for the following day.
But what the short cab ride brought me to was anything but picturesque. In fact, this day, scaffolding was being erected for a long-term restoration project of the admittedly neglected beacon built in 1915 and named for a steamer wrecked off the point 24 years earlier. Note: there was no scaffolding in the previous day’s image!
With camera in hand, my obvious dis-satisfaction apparently proved humorous to the (mockingly) waving workmen, as I hastily retreated to my cab. On the way back, I did manage to get a glimpse (not the kind the Beach Boys were likely implying in their ode to Kokomo,) of the arid, primitive north-east shore of Aruba, seen in the featured image on top of this post.
To ease the disappointment of the lighthouse fiasco, we caught this pretty view of the setting sun behind the beach front tiki hut, back at our resort. (Click for closer look)
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The night-life in this tropical oasis stretches among the numerous resorts, offering great food, tropical drinks, and soft warm breezes on what would normally be a cold December night back home.
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Aruba is located a little less than 2000 miles (3200 km) south of New Jersey, as seen at the lower left in this Google Maps image.
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Thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome. M 🙂
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