Author: Nichole S.

A loss at the end of a tournament usually stings for a few minutes. This photo was taken during one of those moments. While I snapped it quickly….while juggling my coffee and my mittens and fumbling for my hotel key, I kind of treasure it because it speaks volumes about Finn and his childhood. That little left hand has dragged a hockey bag in and out of 100s of rinks….in so many states…and two countries. Those sticks in his right hand mean the world to him. He picks out sticks like an adult shops for a car…..and they become an extension of his body. There’s always one in his hand. The pompom hat on his head and the “Finn #21” on his arm will no doubt be how I picture him years from now when he’s all grown up (sigh) and I reflect on his childhood. Finn often needs a moment right after a game….this is that moment. While I love this photo, it does not, however, speak to the friendships, the laughs, and the memories that were just made…the milkshake out the nose moments, the knee hockey, the team dinners, the pranks…. Those mean just as much to Finn…..they are just as much of his uniform and gear….and while not visible….he carries those in and out of rinks just as sacredly. Fortunately, both the players and the parents are able to rebound quickly from the loss when they take pause to remember all that hockey adds to their lives. I’m so lucky for how hockey has enriched our lives. Finn got in the car this morning to head to school and said, “I miss Waterville already.” Me too, buddy.

Be sure to click on this post to see all of the promos being offered or to learn about Gift Cards! 15% off upholstery cleaning, 15% off carpet cleaning, buy one get one free area rug cleaning, and free area rug pick up and delivery! Visit CleanPro HERE to see all that they can do for you or your business.

My 12 year old, Finn, is not only quite the fisherman, but he also loves to cook what he catches. This time of year he’s not fishing …or catching… much, so he asked if we could buy some fish for him to cook last night. I was in a bit of a rush to meet a friend to head to the Bruins game so I asked Finn to call Turner’s Seafood Market to both see what time they closed and to see what types of fish they had available….to get his master chef wheels turning. I realize he’s 12 and not 5, but still…..listening to the mature conversation he had on the phone with whomever answered the other end was pretty awesome. He hung up and was totally giddy about how many choices he had. “They have so much fish! I can’t decide…I’ve narrowed it down to 3…maybe 4….well, 5. I don’t know! Maybe the local haddock, or they have haddock from Iceland, or the salmon would be awesome. Maybe the yellow fin….or the swordfish. I don’t know.” Shortly thereafter we arrived and he ran in. He was browsing the display when the gentleman said, “Can I help you?” to me. I told him, “Not me. I’m going to the Bruins game. This guy is in charge of dinner tonight. It’s totally up to him.” The conversation that ensued was perfection. They discussed fish, the couple of people in line behind Finn got a little involved, the Turner’s employee asked if dinner would just be for Finn….or if he was having company…. Finn answered that his grandmother was coming over, he might bring some to his grandfather tomorrow….but that his brother probably wouldn’t eat much after high school hockey tryouts. I let Finn choose two types of fish and he settled on the local haddock (with some extra for his lunchbox today) and a substantial piece of salmon. I paid (we’ll work on that once he gets a job), he thanked the guy, said goodbye to the other patrons, and we headed home.

I’ve been told dinner was delicious. I’m looking forward to it later tonight. Much thanks to Turner’s Seafood for helping Finn, treating him like the little adult he wanted to be in that moment, and for the delicious fish. Good stuff. Growing up salty.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

You’ve heard of Old Souls….I’ll call these swimmers at Niles Beach Cold Souls.

The Gloucester Education Foundation took time during Thanksgiving to thank and highlight some of its recent donors….such as Warren Waugh (and furry friends Willy + Jilly) of Lyon-Waugh Auto Group. They have made incredibly generous donations to Gloucester High School’s Auto Tech program annually for the past several years. Those donations have been instrumental in growing the program in many positive ways. It’s a good time for us to also express our thanks to GEF. The Gloucester Education Foundation is a wonderful asset to the school system. If you haven’t checked out their website and some of the important work they do, you should do so now. While browsing their site, be sure to take a look at some of the other donors who help support the GEF in very important ways.

https://thinkthebest.org/

 The Gloucester Education Foundation drives innovation, encourages creativity, expands student opportunities and empowers educators to strengthen teaching and learning in the Gloucester Public School District.

Jim Douglass recently sent me this photo. While I don’t recognize too many faces (please write in if you do!) I immediately got a good laugh at the absence of face shields, masks, or cages…..and the seemingly black eye/broken nose on the player in the front row second from the left. Old school hockey for sure. Their chin straps also look like our modern days masks.

I recently saw this pie chart (lol) photo……of people’s favorite pies according to some totally random study out west somewhere. So, let’s do our own GMG version. Take the poll below and tell us your favorite pie to enjoy on Thanksgiving.

I love catching glimpses of City Hall from all around town.

Does anyone have one of these? I wonder if they’re cute for a few small items….or completely useless? This may be the toughest year yet to think of things that my two boys (now 14 and 12) need/want for the holidays. I’m all about experiences and tickets and quick trips, but I also want some boxes under the tree. This is, in fact, the first Christmas in my house where there will be no Santa (sigh…yay…sigh…not sure how I really feel about that….but more on that in another post) so gift giving will look very different. Both boys have, at one point or another, said that having a small refrigerator in their rooms would be “cool”, but I’m not about to do that. I’m definitely not in the market for keeping them holed up in their boy caves unnecessarily with a stocked fridge (also, look for a post on the logic of “Fridge” vs. “Refrigerator) but, these little ones hold a few waters, seltzers, sodas and some tiny snacks. Maybe just cute enough for a little gift? Anyone?

Catching splashes is like a sport when living on the coast.

College hockey. You’ve heard me say how amazing minor league baseball games and parks are for families and now I’m going to say the same thing about college hockey. While, sure, we all love to go to the Red Sox and the Bruins….or the Celtics (or any other professional level team)…… minor leagues and college are where it’s at if you want your child to experience the game and the enthusiasm a bit more personally. Thanks to one of his coaches and a wonderful connection with Billy Riley, Jr (UMass Lowell Legend with a 20+ year coaching career and some Championship seasons on his resume) Finn and a few teammates had the amazing opportunity to skate with the team, stand on the blue line during the National Anthem, sit on the bench, and have a meet-and-great post game with the entire team at the UMass Lowell vs. Boston College game at the Tsongas Center. My boys have also had the opportunity to play games at the TD Garden before and during Bruins games, but they player interaction couldn’t compare. It was so special for these kids to have the chance to chat with college level players, get their autographs, meet their parents, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder (well, ok….shoulder to waist maybe) on the line with them. It is something that they definitely will remember for years to come and I’m super thankful that my PeeWee had the chance to hang with some really phenomenal skaters who are in the midst of making their dreams come true. Good stuff.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I always laugh when I see these around. This one is in Gloucester. It obviously doesn’t work. I wonder how many are actually on Cape Ann….if one were to look.

Someday I’m going to pull my sailboat up to my houseboat.

Walmart has started to use driverless delivery trucks. My mom lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas for a few years. It was quite beautiful…and it was also right next door to Bentonville….home to Walmart Corporate Headquarters. Yesterday Arkansas Online announced that a driverless truck delivery company that Walmart Inc. works with in Bentonville has been operating vehicles without a driver behind the wheel since August. Yikes.

The trucks run on a single delivery route several times daily on public roads between a Neighborhood Market and a Walmart “dark store,” or store that is now being used solely as a fulfillment center, the companies said in a joint news release.

Walmart did not immediately respond to questions including how many trucks it’s using or whether it owns a stake in the company as it does with another driverless vehicle firm.

The Arkansas Highway Commission gave approval for the company, Gatik, and Walmart, in December to use the box trucks without a safety driver after they had successfully operated in the city for 18 months.

The companies said that the commission’s approval makes Gatik the first autonomous trucking company allowed to remove the safety driver from a commercial delivery middle-mile route “anywhere in the world.”

Middle mile refers to the part of the supply chain in which items are transported between warehouses or from warehouses to stores. In comparison, last-mile deliveries are made from stores or fulfillment centers directly to customers’ homes.

Autonomous delivery helps Walmart fill online orders faster, the companies said.

The new and improved indoor bar and dining area at the Gloucester House is open for business. We stopped by quickly on Friday night. I had one Shipyard Pumpkin beer and tried the brussels sprouts wrapped in bacon. Really good…especially the sriracha glaze.

The color of sky and its reflection on the water and sand changed every minute the other night from the deck at the Cape Ann Motor Inn.

I happened to be driving through Concord the other day and couldn’t help but take a photo of this beautiful property.

These awesome player cut-outs helped cheer on the GYF A-Team this past weekend.

No matter the weather, the season, the surf, or the tide, the view of twin lights and Long Beach from the Cape Ann Motor Inn is always tremendous!

CleanPro is offering 20% off Air Duct cleaning if you book by November 30th. Must mention ad when booking!