Homemade Fried Rice

This is not the best fried rice I've ever had; I think the fried rice at Great Chow is better. But it's close. And homemade ! I cooked some Uncle Ben's and put it in the 'fridge. The next night, a little canola oil, some diced ham, a little onion, a handful of frozen peas and carrots, and there you have it ! Made in my brand-new (yard sale) aluminum wok.

Beautiful start to the day

The park ranger lady was cleaning up trash at Wollaston Beach. She agreed with me that it's pretty amazing that there's trash on the ground 10 feet from either of the 2 barrels near this bench. I guess it's the product of poor upbringing (yes, Mom, that's a compliment !).

The bumper stickers say "I'd rather be fishing". This looks to me like it could be improved by a portable fold-up canvas chair, but what do I know about fishing ? I love to sit in the boat, and I would hang out here with a cooler, but my favorite fish has already been caught and cleaned.

I was talking to a guy who was walking the beach at the end of Squantum Point. He walks every morning with his dog and picks up the broken glass that the kids leave behind. The dog always finds something to play with (a crushed piece of PVC pipe this time). He says it's easier than playing with the dog himself !

Quincy Center Project

This is where Alba's Trattoria and The Holy Ground were. I'm hoping this is the beginning of the one billion dollar Quincy Center development project and not just another guy coming in to make a quick buck (like the owner of Alba's did; he opened the place knowing it was going to be razed when the project began, then, unbelievably, moved down the street where his new building will also be razed).

May 31, 2009

I imagine it's awfully tough to get off of this boat and onto the dock. Ha ha, even a landlubber like myself knows this is low tide (note that the boat is aground).

Sometime I want to try kayaking. The ocean was as calm as a millpond this morning.

Memorial Day

This is the site of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home near Wollaston Beach. It was a farm and home for Civil War veterans. It closed in 1931. It is very quiet and peaceful here. Furnace Brook is in the background.

I went over to Moswetuset and found this flower in the middle of the wood. If I knew more about flowers I would tell you what it was. Maybe a daffodil ?

Old House

My friend's former home (divorce, etc.). This was the office and showroom of the Quincy Lumber Company (?). Every floor in every room is finished with a different wood. It was pretty cool to see.

Cemetery Statuary

I went to Mt. Wollaston Cemetery this morning. I ran into a guy with a tripod, photographing this statue of an elk (raised by the Quincy Elks). I said "it's nice to know I'm not the only crazy person taking pictures in a cemetery". He laughed (a sure sign of dementia !); I laughed back (an even surer sign of dementia !).

Now we are looking at an impressive piece of masonry. Was he famous ? Or did his family have a lot of money to spend ? What will mine look like ? I have already requested burial in a dumpster, but I don't think my family will comply.

This is a particularly sad story, if you enlarge the photo. Five children. One made it to the age of eight, and he drowned (last name at the bottom). I have never been a parent, but I can't imagine 5 more kids would erase those kind of memories. I guess it really illustrates the differences between the 1850s-60s and today, with our doctors and hospitals.

50 Birthday Beers, part 5 (done !)

Peak Organic Beer and Czechwar Premium Czech Lager

Franziskaner Weissbier and Wachusett IPA

Lakefront Cherry Lager and Avery Karma Ale

Victory Sunrise Weissbier and SkullSplitter Orkney Ale

Dogfish Head and Bavik Belgian

As I have said, I should have kept notes. There were too many varieties to keep it all straight in my head. 50 of these unusual beers, ales, and stouts are too much to expect every year, so I don't think I'll be doing this again for a while ( maybe 60th ? ).

Public Library

The Thomas Crane Library in Quincy is the second-largest public library in the state. The money to build the first (oldest) section was donated by Crane. The design was by H. H. Richardson, who I believe did Trinity Church in Copley Square. Crane, for some reason, never visited his library.

50 Beers, Part 4

More from the 50 birthday beers I received as a present . . .

Pranqster Belgian Golden Ale and Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Victory Prima Pils and Mackeson's Triple Stout

Anchor Porter and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale and Stone Pale Ale

New Orleans Dixie Beer and Warsteiner Premium Verum