My View of Life on the Dock
I’ve had lens lust for a while now for the Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8. I couldn’t justify paying $500 for it, so I checked out the auctions on Ebay and found several of these lenses. I watched the bidding, and they seemed to go for around $275. I knew that my limit was $250. After getting outbid on four auctions, I persevered and won last night for $236.50! Happy girl!!!!
Click on the photo for more info on this lens.
Michael Zaitchik played to the crowd last Saturday night. He definitely entertained the listeners. The two couples in the video who were singing along were in Gloucester from NH by chance and were singing in a choral group on Sunday.
Note: My videoing(not sure that’s a word) still pretty much sucks. But at least it’s not sidewards. Working on getting it right!! 🙂 —Sharon
Hey everyone!
Well just a recap of what’s going on for the August 29th 2010 upcoming event called “The End of Summer Splash”. We are scheduled to open the Gates around 12-12:30 PM to offer the live music and events from 1-6PM. The Weather is looking to be around 88 degrees and sunny so bring your bathing suit and a towel for the pool! There will be two lifeguards on duty. The picnic tables will fill up fast, so please feel free to bring a chair or a blanket to throw out on the ground to enjoy the festivities. People have been asking about can they bring food or snacks even though the barbecue is provided, and we say “Sure!” The Barbecue is just the basics, burgers, dogs, and soda.
We also have heard back from a few of the vendors and local merchants, and it looks like there will be at least 10 or more showing up for those who might have missed the sidewalk bizarre and wanted to break up their afternoon browsing and buying the wares they have to offer. We definitely have a few clothing, jewelry, and bag vendors coming, as well as a massage therapist (5 dollar massages & a chance to win a 90 minute massage!), as well as a character artist, and the Slush people! We are hoping that Dan the Sand Art vendor will confirm as well. I had hoped to have the class of 2013 Gloucester high school girls come and face paint, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Anyone Like to face paint?..lol
We have also been informed today that Camp Spindrift will allow those people with their pooches in the festival, but they have to be leashed at all times, and they must be picked up after. We hope to see as many of you there this weekend!
Remember this event is designed to be an event to have a great sober time, but it is also in support of Camp Spindrift, as well as our own cause to help meet our goal of raising funds to start the much needed Non-Profit status we seek. Below is what we sent out to the different supporters and local media outlets in order to spread the word for those who are not on Sober Connections or in Cape Ann.
Ok enough said. Our venue for August 29, 2010 incorporate the following
• Local live bands and music from 1-6pm
• A barbecue included in the ticket pricing
• Children’s activities and games
• The use of Camp Spindrift’s pool with lifeguards
• And we will also have vendor and organization information stations, set up around the event grounds, to help the parents and kids break up the afternoon and do some worthwhile shopping or organizational awareness!
Some of the local merchants and organizations that have contributed or are sponsoring us currently without the benefit of us having a Non-Profit status yet are:
The Common Crow – Gloucester MA, The Lone Gull Coffee House – Gloucester MA
Sunbanque Tanning Salon – Gloucester MA, GimmeSound.com (Internet – Music)
Jalepeneos Restaurant – Gloucester MA, Fatima’s Hair Design – Gloucester MA
7 Seas Whale Watch – Gloucester MA Eric’s Place – Restaurant Gloucester MA
Many other helpful contributions of direction, insight, and encouragement from Cape Ann’s Merchants and Organizations have helped us to get this far.
Sober Connections & Cape Ann YMCA Camp Spindrift’s Summer Splash!
Location: Camp Spindrift – 13 Atlantic Avenue, Gloucester Massachusetts 01930
Start date: Sun, Aug 29, 2010 1:00 PM Duration: 5 hours
Come Join us for an End of Summer Live Music and Barbecue at Camp Spindrift in Gloucester MA.
This Event will feature live local bands, a barbecue (which is included in the ticket price), Full use of the campground facilities, use of the Camp Pool with Lifeguards, Activities for the Kids, as well as some vendors coming to show some of their wares. We have two admission prices to help cover the costs and to support Camp Spindrift.
Single Admission is $15.00 and a Family Admission is $25.00 The Family admission is for two adults and children under 16 (bring em’ all!) Tickets are on sale online as well as at the door!
Feel free to contact Dan Driscoll at 508-468-7556 or call Rick at Camp Spindrift for more information!
Ticket Sales:
http://www.ticketriver.com/event/462-sober-connections-camp-spindrift%27s-summer-splash!/
Sincerely,
Daniel R Driscoll
To read more, click here.
Richard’s window dressing at Bananas always offers great photo ops!
I find myself drawn to the beauty of West Gloucester when I’m wandering around Cape Ann.
This week’s Where’s Zat? location is the Dress Code consignment shop owned by one of my favorite people, Barbara Koen. Others guessed Gloucester Music.
So this week’s winner (the first correct answer) is Gina Curcuru! Congratulations, Gina!
Thanks for playing! Watch for next week’s Where Zat? on Monday at 9 a.m.!
After a long break, Where Zat? is back! Every Monday at 9:00 am, there will be a new contest. The photos are a bit of Cape Ann – sometimes very easy to identify and then the bigger challenges! But it’s always fun, and often there are prizes donated by a GMG reader or contributor.
Here is this week’s Where’s Zat?
Good luck!!
Lunch today – Tomatoes right from my garden with fresh mozzarella and basil growing on the window sill, EVOO, and summer squash and zucchini from the Farmers Market sprinkled with dill. Yum!
The best of summer is here! Celebrate with us at the market and online with our summer sale!
15% off EVERYTHING in our shop through August 19, 2010. Simply enter summer15 at checkout.
this offer is only good in our online shop at www.ripegoods.bigcartel.com.
Dear Potential Vendors and Organizations!
Subject: SoberConnections.net & Cape Ann YMCA Camp Spindrift Event
I’m writing you since you showed an express interest in participating in our August 29 2010 upcoming
event called “End of Summer Splash”. We are scheduled to open the Gates around 12-12:30 PM and
the live music and events will be from 1-6PM. This is a Rain or Shine Event.
This is totally FREE to you the vendor, just set up and good luck! Since this is our first large event,
we cannot promise what our turnout is going to be, it could be 50 or 500. That being the case, we felt
that we couldn’t charge for vendor or organization booths.
This Event is the vision of SoberConnections.net being hosted at Cape Ann’s YMCA Camp Spindrift, 13 Atlantic Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930.
We at Sober Connections are striving to create events for the sober communities here on the North
Shore, and hopefully expand across the state. Our Social Website, http://www.SoberConnections.net has
started picking up people from all across the country! Our goal is to bring to the sober community a true
sense community awareness that there are fun things to do without the use and abuse of alcohol and
or drugs, and with our website, a forum for people to find or share these events whether it be just a
group of people heading to the movies, or a large event like we are pulling together for this venue.
We have been creating smaller venue events now for about 8 months, mostly local bands and dances,
but are stretching our wings to do this outdoor Bands and Barbeque Family Time event in the hopes of
raising monies not only for Camp Spindrift, but also for our quest to become nonprofit.
Ok enough said. Our venue for August 12, 2010 incorporate the following
*Local live bands and music from 1-6pm
*A barbeque that is included in the ticket pricing
*Children’s activities and games
*The use of Camp Spindrift’s Pool with lifeguards
*And hopefully you, the vendors and organizations, to help the parents and kids break up the
afternoon and do some worthwhile shopping or organization awareness!
What we would like from you if you’re interested in setting up, is to just answer the following questions
and contact info, and e-mail it (or snail mail with a quick telephone confirmation) back to us at
Danield@SoberConnections.net. Please let us know as well if you cannot so I don’t send out an annoying follow up e-mail.. lol.
VENDOR INFO NEEDED:
•Vendor Organization Name?
•Vendor Organization info?
•Type of Goods or Organizational program?
•Setup Space needed?
Thanks for responding back to us, and we hope you have a Profitable (in sales or
knowledge) and Fun time with us!
Daniel R Driscoll
President/Creator
SoberConnections. net
We would like to have you onsite to setup before 11:30am so we may organize your vehicles and have
a nice clean festive look for the ticket holders when they start filtering in around 12:30ish.
Come Join us for an End of Summer Live Music and Barbecue.
Live local bands, a barbecue (which is included in the ticket price), Full use of the campground facilities, Pool with Lifeguards, & Activities for the Kids.
Ticket prices set to help cover the costs and to support Camp Spindrift.
Tickets are on sale online at Ticket River as well as at the door. read more
Click on Jimmy T.’s photo for the CBS interviewFrom Jimmy T’s Bio Page on CBS.com-
Name: James “Jimmy T” Tarantino (48)
Tribe: Espada
Current Residence: Gloucester, Mass.
Occupation: Commercial Fisherman
Personal Claim to Fame: My children
Inspiration in Life: Jim Ciaramitaro. He’s just a really good person.
Hobbies: Rowing, hiking, swimming.
Pet Peeves: Low tolerance for incompetence.
3 Words to Describe You: Charismatic, genuine, proud.
SURVIVOR Contestant You Are Most Like: Rupert. I’m just as lovable.
Reason for being on SURVIVOR: Pride in myself and my community. They helped me win the Sears Casting Call and I intend on doing them proud.
Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I’m resourceful and I have the ability to win.
So many kind words and hugs. Here is a rose from the beautiful flowers from our good friends Jan and Don. My mom’s spirit lives on in all our lives.
My mom died Tuesday night. She sang beautifully and loved music. She would accompany herself on our piano, often singing with my grandmother. She took me to the “King and I” when I was very young and then to “West Side Story”. She and my dad would take me to jazz jams when I was a baby. Music was her passion, and she passed it on to so many of us.
Thanks, Mom, for sharing it with me. I love you!
For more information about her life and the funeral arrangements, click here.
“Around the World in 80 Minutes” – 1957ish
In the midst of the sadness of our mother/Nana/Grammy slowly slipping away, we celebrated #2 grandkid’s GHS graduation. It was supposed to also be Chris’s good-bye party for his departure to the Army on Tuesday, but that part has been delayed due to his rite-of-passage bike ride off Magnolia Pier on a bicycle….20 stitches in his foot when he hit the gear thing!
So anyway, thunderstorms were predicted for yesterday. But we had gotten the permit for Stage Fort Park and all other preparations were made. My sister rented a huge tent just in case. Well, the day started out beautifully, and although we’ve all been on edge, we hoped for a relaxing day. Lots of food, friends, and family swimming and playing volleyball.
Then the dark clouds rolled in. We cooked the remaining chicken and watched the sky. Well, for any of us who thought the tent might not be necessary…. We grabbed the chairs, towels, shoes, and continued the party under shelter. This is when the fun got started. No amount of rain was going to stop the volleyball game! 
The rain was warm and no one minded being wet. We watched as a kid from a kayaking party played soccer from inside a trash can. A woman hurried to her car with an inverted umbrella (her version of a rain barrel??) A group of harmonica-playing teens paraded by us.
Our volleyball players all came back under the tent after a while for cake and more food. Soaking wet and happy. We started packing up. No easy task with dripping hair and puddles forming at our feet. The rain would not let up, and the tent had to come down. Well, I left with 2 shivering kids in my car. Five adults were left to deal with the huge task of the tent.
Generally mature, Bryan, the almost 40 year old dad, did what most of us would love to do – Plopped down and splashed in the mud! Without a second thought, Cindy, his wife (my daughter) happily joined him! I only wish I had been able to see it!!
After a little bit of fun, the five struggled to dismantle the tent. Well, from nowhere, a group of kids (trashcan soccer boy included)who were waiting for their ride, came running over to help. In no time, the tent was down. A HUGE thank you to the kids from Hollis, NH!
What a great day! And although the hard parts of life are still with us, it was one of the best days anyone could have!
DSC_0649, originally uploaded by sharon_lowe88.
Click on Laurel to see lots more parade photos!
Good Morning Gloucester 