I started thinking about this post last Sunday while flying back from New Hampshire. That day was momentous for several reasons; perhaps most insignificantly, it marked four years since I graduated from Dartmouth (and thus the fourth birthday of this blog). More exciting was getting to watch Ellen receive her doctoral diploma at Dartmouth's Commencement earlier in the day. Even though she completed her degree last summer, Dartmouth only holds one ceremony a year and so Ellen had to wait until this June to receive her cap, hood, and diploma itself. It was quite a thrill to watch! Ellen got to spend the following week in New Hampshire, too, culminating in her
five-year reunion this weekend. Unfortunately, I had to return on account of work after only two days (for some reason they don't let paramedics telecommute).
Every year it seems like I know fewer and fewer people going through the (somewhat pompously named) "Commencement Exercises." This year, though, while I knew only a handful of undergrads receiving their diplomas, I did have a couple grad student friends who were completing their studies. It was exciting to cheer for them a second time for a second degree. Some are off to use their degrees right away; others have more schooling looming through the windshield. In both cases I am delighted and proud to see what they have accomplished so far.
It was wonderful being back in New Hampshire, however briefly. We had the chance to catch up with a number of friends, visit our old stomping grounds in Enfield, and get pretty close to a pair of loons. Perhaps the most striking thing, though, was how similar it was to the way we remembered it. People were a little bit older--and children seemed to have grown like weeds--but it was pretty much the same place we left. It felt like home.
About Me
- Robert
- I'm a 2009 graduate of Dartmouth College who loves Jesus, my wife and all things Northeast.
Showing posts with label New Hampshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Hampshire. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Road trip 2012
On Thursday, August 30, Ellen and I said goodbye to New Hampshire and
began our journey to Colorado. We had planned out a road trip that,
while not exactly the most direct route to the Rockies, gave us maximum
opportunity to see friends, family, and sights on the way west. And so
as we left behind the place that had been our physical, professional,
and spiritual home for a combined fourteen years, in front of us lay
eight days and 2,717 miles of the most beautiful, moving, and
bittersweet travel we may ever be privileged enough to do.
Day One: Massachusetts
Ellen and I gave ourselves an easy first day on the road; two and a half hours to the Boston suburb of Needham, MA to visit my grandmother. It's always a blast getting to see her; I hope I'm so vibrant and vital when I close in on my 90th birthday! She especially enjoyed getting to see the photos Ellen and I had taken of our recent trip to Cape Cod. We played a closely contested game of Scrabble (I'm deliberately omitting who won), and then it was early to bed and early to rise, for the next day we had New York in our sights.
Day Two: New York / New Jersey
We started our travels by visiting my mother and stepfather in Putnam County, where we had a nice brunch with them. My stepfather is an avid photographer, and Ellen and I enjoyed looking at the photos from their recently concluded European vacation. Then we stopped in to return the last of my gear to the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps and visit with captain Mike Tagg (whom I'd known since before he was an EMT!). I was delighted to see how the Corps has continued to grow and thrive in the three years since I stopped riding with them.
Next up was lunch at Mario's Pizza (still the best pizza I've ever tasted) with Jason and Briana, two good friends from high school. I've only kept up a few relationships from my high school days, but I'm glad that these two are among them. After lunch, Ellen and I braved the George Washington Bridge to get to Jersey City, NJ, where we were spending the night with Ellen's old roommate, Laura, and her boyfriend. We parked outside their place and took the train to New York City, where we were able to see Corey, another of Ellen's college friends, as well as my father and stepmother. Originally we'd made plans to see my brother, but unfortunately the timing just got too tight. Indeed, my biggest regret from the whole trip was that we were so rushed this day; it felt like we either missed or rushed too many of our visits.
We returned to New Jersey for dinner with yet another college friend, John, before heading back to Jersey City for a nightcap of peanut butter cookies and conversation with Laura and Pete. Modern technology has made it easier to keep in touch over long distances, but there's just no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Rushed or not, Ellen and I thoroughly enjoyed all our visits! And we were both pleased that despite not having any non-New England paper maps in the car, we never got badly lost, which probably had more to do with Ellen's common sense than with my phone's GPS app.
Day Three: Washington, D.C.
Fortified by a delicious breakfast of homemade banana waffles, we tackled I-95 en route to Washington, D.C. I appreciate I-95--north-south travel on the East Coast would be immeasurably more difficult without it--but it can still make for unpleasant driving. Suffice it to say nothing had changed since the last time I was on that road. Except perhaps the number of tolls (it didn't decrease). Driving through Delaware and northern Maryland reminded us of the last time we had seen those sights, from the window of a bus as we returned from the West Coast last August following Hurricane Irene.
One of my senior year roommates, Nathan, graciously hosted us for the night, and he was generous enough to share his talents as a tour guide upon our arrival, driving us around some of the sights that we would never have had time to see otherwise (I particularly enjoyed seeing John Philip Sousa's home and the Marine Commandant's barracks). After he dropped us off on the National Mall, Ellen and I spent the rest of the afternoon playing awed tourist, which wasn't a difficult affect to don.
Ellen collects brochures from National Parks and National Historic Sights she has visited, and by the end of the day we had managed to expand her holdings significantly (we gathered a brochure from each site that had them, although on her tally of parks visited she is fairly counting the National Mall and its environs as all one big site). We saw the White House, the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, Constitution Gardens, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the District of Columbia War Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Not bad for one afternoon! Ellen was also delighted to get to use her new camera (and make good use of it she did! What a talented photographer); selected photos have been posted to Facebook.
We had dinner with Nathan and his girlfriend, as well as another former roommate, Chris. I hadn't seen either one of them much in the ever-lengthening time since we graduated, so I was glad to have that opportunity. In addition, I was grateful that that evening's thunderstorm waited until we were finished sightseeing and safely indoors enjoying pizza before opening up!
Day Four: Washington, D.C. / Somerset, PA
It seemed criminal to me to pass through Washington, D.C. with a space physicist and not visit the National Air and Space Museum (which Ellen had never seen before). So we spent our few sightseeing hours on Sunday surrounded by aviation and aerospace history. My favorite artifacts were the Apollo 11 command module and The Spirit of St. Louis, to name but a few; Ellen liked those but also relished the circuitry and data exhibits. I'd been there once before, but it was a blast to see the museum through her eyes.
Once we left DC, we traveled to Somerset, PA to visit my old roommate / best man, Chris, and his wife Megan. There wasn't a lot of sightseeing to do in rural Pennsylvania, but we weren't there for the tourism! It was great to see them both, and they taught us a new board game called "Survive: Escape from Atlantis." Anytime you get to attack your competitors' pieces with a sea monster, you know you're onto something good. Ellen showed a natural aptitude for the game, but Megan managed to edge us all (as for my final showing ... don't ask). As always, we left encouraged but wishing we had more time to spend visiting.
Day Five: Chicago, IL
Ellen and I celebrated Labor Day with a laborious nine-hour drive from Pennsylvania to Chicago. I can't remember ever visiting Illinois before; Ellen has passed through its airports numerous times but has never ventured outside. Our recently married college friends Kristin and Cullen (for whom Ellen was the matron of honor; Kristin was also a bridesmaid in our wedding) played both host and tour guide for us. We really enjoyed getting to see Chicago; it has a number of charming qualities (not least of which is the river running right through downtown). The Chicago Tribune building was a highlight for us, as was the Hancock Center. We got to go to the lounge on the top of the latter and take in the panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan.
While I have yet to meet the city that can hold a candle to Manhattan in my estimation, I nevertheless have to admit that Chicago in early September is a very nice place to be. It is cleaner and more spacious (if not less crowded, people-wise) than NYC, and the double-decker train cars were novel. I also got to see the Chicago Fire Department Scuba Team's truck drive by, which was pretty cool.
After our sightseeing excursion, the four of us returned to our hosts' apartment for dinner and continued catching up. Wedding participation notwithstanding, it's hard for two graduate students and their irregular-hour keeping spouses to all stay in as close contact as we might like. The time we got to spend with them that evening was cherished.
Day Six: Sioux Falls, SD
We made a quick exit from Chicago--slowed only by morning rush hour traffic--and set sail for Sioux Falls, SD, where we would celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Funny story about that: Back in May, when I was making reservations for the trip, I found a restaurant I wanted to take Ellen to for our anniversary. The phone conversation went like this:
Me: Hi, how far out can I make a reservation?
Employee: There's no limit.
Me: Great. Can I make a reservation for two people at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 4?
Employee: Umm ... I guess you could ...
Me: You see, my wife and I are traveling cross-country, and we're going to be in Sioux Falls on our anniversary, and--
Employee: Oh! Certainly, I'll write you in. There's no one else down for that day yet.
Okay, digression over. The trip out to South Dakota went smoothly; there was virtually no traffic after we left the Chicago city limits. Crossing the Mississippi River was fun--it's a lot less impressive way up here--and there was a lot of scenery to take in. Plus, we were able to make the kinds of stops that give trips like these their unique character. For instance, imagine our surprise when we stopped for ice cream in Blue Earth, Minnesota and found a sixty-foot statue of the Jolly Green Giant next to the Dairy Queen!
Day Seven: Badlands National Park / Rapid City, SD
This was the only day of the trip where we didn't cross a single state line (not bad considering we passed through sixteen states plus the District of Columbia!). We did get to cross over the Missouri River, though, which like the Mississippi is much less impressive this far north. The highlight of the day was our visit to Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
Badlands was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The sheer barrenness of the landscape was astonishing, and so was the beauty that it shrouded. Ellen and I went on a short hike while we were there, and at one point I asked her to stop and listen.
"What is it?" Ellen asked. She hadn't heard anything remarkable.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," I answered.
And it was so. When I stopped moving and held my breath, it was the most profound silence I had ever experienced. I knew then what Verlyn Klinkenborg meant when he wrote about "deafening silence" in the Siberian night. No photograph can ever capture the primal desolation I felt in that moment.
A few miles from the Badlands Visitor Center was the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which detailed the eponymous ballistic missiles the United States deployed during the Cold War. We got to see one of the decommissioned silos, complete with (training) missile, and we were even able to tour one of the underground control facilities. The park ranger who led the tour of the control center was extremely informative, and one of the things she said that struck me the most was that of all the electronics and computing equipment in the launch room, they paled in comparison to just one of our digital cameras or cell phones. Technological curiosity aside, it was sobering to see just how ordinary was the installation that could have participated in the end of civilization. I couldn't wrap my mind around it.
Day Eight: Mt. Rushmore / Arrival
On our final day, Ellen and I went to Mt. Rushmore on our way out of South Dakota. Honestly, it was one of my favorite sites from the entire trip. The scale of the undertaking, not to mention the incredible precision with which it was completed, is nothing short of spectacular. There was a display showing the scale model created by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, as well as the techniques they employed for measuring and directing their work. In particular, learning that 90% of the rock that was removed in the construction of the monument was done with dynamite just blew me away.
The only thing I did not like about Mt. Rushmore had nothing to do with the sculpture itself, but I found the literature and displays around the site to be excessively sanitized. For example, it remains a topic of debate whether or not the United States government has legitimate ownership of the land on which the monument is built. Some Native American tribes contend that the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 grants them ownership over the Black Hills, to include Mt. Rushmore itself, and the government's later seizure of the land violated the terms of the treaty. Furthermore, while Borglum was certainly a noted sculptor, he was also an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. These details, while perhaps unsavory, are nevertheless an important part of the overall history of the site and the nation whose history it memorializes. To ignore them seems dishonest.
After leaving the Black Hills, Ellen and I exited South Dakota and made our way across Wyoming (although exactly when we began the latter leg is somewhat unclear, since they don't seem to be big on putting up signs at state borders out here). As we passed through one small Wyoming town, we decided it was time to stop for lunch. Noticing a tour bus pulling into the parking lot behind us, we knew we had to act quickly to avoid getting stuck at the end of a long line. But where to go, Subway or Arby's? When we walked in and heard, "Welcome to Arby's. We're giving away free turkey sandwiches today," we knew we'd made the right choice.
Finally, at long last, we arrived at our destination in Louisville, CO. We knew that our work was not done--having reached our new home, we now had to begin the arduous task of unpacking and getting established in a new place--but we could reflect on our recently concluded journey with satisfaction. We have so many cherished memories of those days ... breathtaking scenery, historic sites, time with family and close friends. But the most treasured thing of all was the time we spent sitting in the car together. Whether we were discussing our future plans, reading to each other, playing "What's the coolest animal we're going to see from the car," or just speculating as to how long it would take an ambulance to reach us if we went off the road in rural Wyoming, I wouldn't trade a single moment of that trip for anything.
Day One: Massachusetts
Ellen and I gave ourselves an easy first day on the road; two and a half hours to the Boston suburb of Needham, MA to visit my grandmother. It's always a blast getting to see her; I hope I'm so vibrant and vital when I close in on my 90th birthday! She especially enjoyed getting to see the photos Ellen and I had taken of our recent trip to Cape Cod. We played a closely contested game of Scrabble (I'm deliberately omitting who won), and then it was early to bed and early to rise, for the next day we had New York in our sights.
Day Two: New York / New Jersey
We started our travels by visiting my mother and stepfather in Putnam County, where we had a nice brunch with them. My stepfather is an avid photographer, and Ellen and I enjoyed looking at the photos from their recently concluded European vacation. Then we stopped in to return the last of my gear to the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps and visit with captain Mike Tagg (whom I'd known since before he was an EMT!). I was delighted to see how the Corps has continued to grow and thrive in the three years since I stopped riding with them.
Next up was lunch at Mario's Pizza (still the best pizza I've ever tasted) with Jason and Briana, two good friends from high school. I've only kept up a few relationships from my high school days, but I'm glad that these two are among them. After lunch, Ellen and I braved the George Washington Bridge to get to Jersey City, NJ, where we were spending the night with Ellen's old roommate, Laura, and her boyfriend. We parked outside their place and took the train to New York City, where we were able to see Corey, another of Ellen's college friends, as well as my father and stepmother. Originally we'd made plans to see my brother, but unfortunately the timing just got too tight. Indeed, my biggest regret from the whole trip was that we were so rushed this day; it felt like we either missed or rushed too many of our visits.
We returned to New Jersey for dinner with yet another college friend, John, before heading back to Jersey City for a nightcap of peanut butter cookies and conversation with Laura and Pete. Modern technology has made it easier to keep in touch over long distances, but there's just no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Rushed or not, Ellen and I thoroughly enjoyed all our visits! And we were both pleased that despite not having any non-New England paper maps in the car, we never got badly lost, which probably had more to do with Ellen's common sense than with my phone's GPS app.
Day Three: Washington, D.C.
Fortified by a delicious breakfast of homemade banana waffles, we tackled I-95 en route to Washington, D.C. I appreciate I-95--north-south travel on the East Coast would be immeasurably more difficult without it--but it can still make for unpleasant driving. Suffice it to say nothing had changed since the last time I was on that road. Except perhaps the number of tolls (it didn't decrease). Driving through Delaware and northern Maryland reminded us of the last time we had seen those sights, from the window of a bus as we returned from the West Coast last August following Hurricane Irene.
One of my senior year roommates, Nathan, graciously hosted us for the night, and he was generous enough to share his talents as a tour guide upon our arrival, driving us around some of the sights that we would never have had time to see otherwise (I particularly enjoyed seeing John Philip Sousa's home and the Marine Commandant's barracks). After he dropped us off on the National Mall, Ellen and I spent the rest of the afternoon playing awed tourist, which wasn't a difficult affect to don.
Ellen collects brochures from National Parks and National Historic Sights she has visited, and by the end of the day we had managed to expand her holdings significantly (we gathered a brochure from each site that had them, although on her tally of parks visited she is fairly counting the National Mall and its environs as all one big site). We saw the White House, the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, Constitution Gardens, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the District of Columbia War Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Not bad for one afternoon! Ellen was also delighted to get to use her new camera (and make good use of it she did! What a talented photographer); selected photos have been posted to Facebook.
We had dinner with Nathan and his girlfriend, as well as another former roommate, Chris. I hadn't seen either one of them much in the ever-lengthening time since we graduated, so I was glad to have that opportunity. In addition, I was grateful that that evening's thunderstorm waited until we were finished sightseeing and safely indoors enjoying pizza before opening up!
Day Four: Washington, D.C. / Somerset, PA
It seemed criminal to me to pass through Washington, D.C. with a space physicist and not visit the National Air and Space Museum (which Ellen had never seen before). So we spent our few sightseeing hours on Sunday surrounded by aviation and aerospace history. My favorite artifacts were the Apollo 11 command module and The Spirit of St. Louis, to name but a few; Ellen liked those but also relished the circuitry and data exhibits. I'd been there once before, but it was a blast to see the museum through her eyes.
Once we left DC, we traveled to Somerset, PA to visit my old roommate / best man, Chris, and his wife Megan. There wasn't a lot of sightseeing to do in rural Pennsylvania, but we weren't there for the tourism! It was great to see them both, and they taught us a new board game called "Survive: Escape from Atlantis." Anytime you get to attack your competitors' pieces with a sea monster, you know you're onto something good. Ellen showed a natural aptitude for the game, but Megan managed to edge us all (as for my final showing ... don't ask). As always, we left encouraged but wishing we had more time to spend visiting.
Day Five: Chicago, IL
Ellen and I celebrated Labor Day with a laborious nine-hour drive from Pennsylvania to Chicago. I can't remember ever visiting Illinois before; Ellen has passed through its airports numerous times but has never ventured outside. Our recently married college friends Kristin and Cullen (for whom Ellen was the matron of honor; Kristin was also a bridesmaid in our wedding) played both host and tour guide for us. We really enjoyed getting to see Chicago; it has a number of charming qualities (not least of which is the river running right through downtown). The Chicago Tribune building was a highlight for us, as was the Hancock Center. We got to go to the lounge on the top of the latter and take in the panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan.
While I have yet to meet the city that can hold a candle to Manhattan in my estimation, I nevertheless have to admit that Chicago in early September is a very nice place to be. It is cleaner and more spacious (if not less crowded, people-wise) than NYC, and the double-decker train cars were novel. I also got to see the Chicago Fire Department Scuba Team's truck drive by, which was pretty cool.
After our sightseeing excursion, the four of us returned to our hosts' apartment for dinner and continued catching up. Wedding participation notwithstanding, it's hard for two graduate students and their irregular-hour keeping spouses to all stay in as close contact as we might like. The time we got to spend with them that evening was cherished.
Day Six: Sioux Falls, SD
We made a quick exit from Chicago--slowed only by morning rush hour traffic--and set sail for Sioux Falls, SD, where we would celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Funny story about that: Back in May, when I was making reservations for the trip, I found a restaurant I wanted to take Ellen to for our anniversary. The phone conversation went like this:
Me: Hi, how far out can I make a reservation?
Employee: There's no limit.
Me: Great. Can I make a reservation for two people at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 4?
Employee: Umm ... I guess you could ...
Me: You see, my wife and I are traveling cross-country, and we're going to be in Sioux Falls on our anniversary, and--
Employee: Oh! Certainly, I'll write you in. There's no one else down for that day yet.
Okay, digression over. The trip out to South Dakota went smoothly; there was virtually no traffic after we left the Chicago city limits. Crossing the Mississippi River was fun--it's a lot less impressive way up here--and there was a lot of scenery to take in. Plus, we were able to make the kinds of stops that give trips like these their unique character. For instance, imagine our surprise when we stopped for ice cream in Blue Earth, Minnesota and found a sixty-foot statue of the Jolly Green Giant next to the Dairy Queen!
Day Seven: Badlands National Park / Rapid City, SD
This was the only day of the trip where we didn't cross a single state line (not bad considering we passed through sixteen states plus the District of Columbia!). We did get to cross over the Missouri River, though, which like the Mississippi is much less impressive this far north. The highlight of the day was our visit to Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
Badlands was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The sheer barrenness of the landscape was astonishing, and so was the beauty that it shrouded. Ellen and I went on a short hike while we were there, and at one point I asked her to stop and listen.
"What is it?" Ellen asked. She hadn't heard anything remarkable.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," I answered.
And it was so. When I stopped moving and held my breath, it was the most profound silence I had ever experienced. I knew then what Verlyn Klinkenborg meant when he wrote about "deafening silence" in the Siberian night. No photograph can ever capture the primal desolation I felt in that moment.
A few miles from the Badlands Visitor Center was the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which detailed the eponymous ballistic missiles the United States deployed during the Cold War. We got to see one of the decommissioned silos, complete with (training) missile, and we were even able to tour one of the underground control facilities. The park ranger who led the tour of the control center was extremely informative, and one of the things she said that struck me the most was that of all the electronics and computing equipment in the launch room, they paled in comparison to just one of our digital cameras or cell phones. Technological curiosity aside, it was sobering to see just how ordinary was the installation that could have participated in the end of civilization. I couldn't wrap my mind around it.
Day Eight: Mt. Rushmore / Arrival
On our final day, Ellen and I went to Mt. Rushmore on our way out of South Dakota. Honestly, it was one of my favorite sites from the entire trip. The scale of the undertaking, not to mention the incredible precision with which it was completed, is nothing short of spectacular. There was a display showing the scale model created by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, as well as the techniques they employed for measuring and directing their work. In particular, learning that 90% of the rock that was removed in the construction of the monument was done with dynamite just blew me away.
The only thing I did not like about Mt. Rushmore had nothing to do with the sculpture itself, but I found the literature and displays around the site to be excessively sanitized. For example, it remains a topic of debate whether or not the United States government has legitimate ownership of the land on which the monument is built. Some Native American tribes contend that the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 grants them ownership over the Black Hills, to include Mt. Rushmore itself, and the government's later seizure of the land violated the terms of the treaty. Furthermore, while Borglum was certainly a noted sculptor, he was also an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. These details, while perhaps unsavory, are nevertheless an important part of the overall history of the site and the nation whose history it memorializes. To ignore them seems dishonest.
After leaving the Black Hills, Ellen and I exited South Dakota and made our way across Wyoming (although exactly when we began the latter leg is somewhat unclear, since they don't seem to be big on putting up signs at state borders out here). As we passed through one small Wyoming town, we decided it was time to stop for lunch. Noticing a tour bus pulling into the parking lot behind us, we knew we had to act quickly to avoid getting stuck at the end of a long line. But where to go, Subway or Arby's? When we walked in and heard, "Welcome to Arby's. We're giving away free turkey sandwiches today," we knew we'd made the right choice.
Finally, at long last, we arrived at our destination in Louisville, CO. We knew that our work was not done--having reached our new home, we now had to begin the arduous task of unpacking and getting established in a new place--but we could reflect on our recently concluded journey with satisfaction. We have so many cherished memories of those days ... breathtaking scenery, historic sites, time with family and close friends. But the most treasured thing of all was the time we spent sitting in the car together. Whether we were discussing our future plans, reading to each other, playing "What's the coolest animal we're going to see from the car," or just speculating as to how long it would take an ambulance to reach us if we went off the road in rural Wyoming, I wouldn't trade a single moment of that trip for anything.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Upper Valley "Best of"
I meant to publish this post before leaving New Hampshire, but the timing just didn't work out. So, without further delay and roughly grouped food-services-activities, I present my "Best of the Upper Valley," as determined by six years of living there. May you find it useful and entertaining! And as always, please leave a comment if you think I overlooked something or committed an injustice by omitting your favorite.
Best ice cream: Mickey's Roadside Tavern (Enfield, NH)
There are surprisingly few ice cream outlets in the Upper Valley. I give Mickey's the edge over Fore-U (Lebanon, NH) largely on the strength of its cotton candy and peppermint stick flavors and the Brobdingnagian dimensions of a "small." Being within walking distance of our apartment and situated next to a stream often occupied by fish or ducks didn't hurt either.
Best pizza: Ramunto's (Hanover, NH)
Every Dartmouth grad has a soft spot for EBA's (Hanover, NH), but delivery hours notwithstanding, Ramunto's just makes better pizza (although I highly recommend the EBA's pepperoni-and-bacon pizza during their Wacky Wednesday promotion). Besides, EBA's once served me a quart of caffeinated root beer. Not that I'm holding a grudge.
Best all-around restaurant: Molly's (Hanover, NH)
Any of the three former Blue Sky Restaurant Group members (Molly's, Lui Lui's [Lebanon, NH], and Jesse's [Hanover, NH]) would have been worthy recipients. In fact, Ellen and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Lui Lui's. In terms of menu diversity, atmosphere, service, and college-town setting, though, Molly's gets the nod.
Best breakfast: Lou's (Hanover, NH)
This one was easy. I mean, have you ever eaten there??
Best ethnic (or "ethnic," if you prefer) food: Golden Ming (Canaan, NH)
Ellen might have preferred Mai Thai or Jewel of India (both Hanover, NH), and I enjoyed both restaurants ... but it's my list and I prefer Chinese food to Thai or Indian, so Golden Ming it is. The lunch special combination plates are a particularly good value (less so the dinner specials).
Best mechanic: Doug's Sunoco (Lebanon, NH)
Another easy choice. Knowledgeable, honest, and fairly priced. In our experience they always helped us make the best decision, even if it weren't what they could bill the most for. HIGHLY recommended.
Best dentist: James Brackett (Hanover, NH)
It's tough to title this category "best," since Ellen and I only tried two different Upper Valley dentists in our combined fourteen years, but we both had excellent experiences with Dr. Brackett. He is extremely knowledgeable and takes a "hands-off" approach to interventions; you get the definite feeling that you and he are partners rather than having your care dictated to you.
Best oral surgeon: Craig Cohen (Lebanon, NH)
Once again, the only provider I've been to in the region, but he did a phenomenal job with my wisdom teeth extraction last October. I highly recommend him to anyone in need of oral surgery services in the Upper Valley.
Best hospital:
Given my occupation, I think it would be unfair of me to offer a public opinion on this topic (feel free to ask me off-line for my thoughts, though). But I will say that whenever I needed emergency care, I went to DHMC (Lebanon, NH).
Best hike: Mt. Washington (Sargent's Purchase, NH)
Technically not in the Upper Valley, but it's the tallest mountain in the Northeast. The feeling of accomplishment alone makes it worth it. The views from near the top aren't bad either (just don't expect to see anything except clouds and fog from the summit itself!).
Best hike actually in the Upper Valley: Gile Mountain (Norwich, VT)
Accessible rain, shine, or snow, the summit has a fire tower that offers a wonderful panoramic view. Gile boasts easily the best view-to-effort ratio in the Upper Valley, which gives it the nod over Mt. Cardigan. You can make it up in thirteen minutes if you're hustling after lost sunglasses or down in even less time if you're being chased by a thunderstorm (done both, would recommend neither).
Best walk: Enfield Rail Trail (Enfield, NH)
Honorable mention goes to circling Occom Pond (Hanover, NH), but there's just no beating the views of Lake Mascoma. Not worrying about getting run over by golfers running late for their tee time is a plus too, as is the wild raspberries growing along the trail. Great for running, biking, and even horse riding, too.
Can't-miss annual event: Dartmouth Night (Hanover, NH)
You don't have to go to Dartmouth to appreciate a thirty-foot bonfire!
Best ice cream: Mickey's Roadside Tavern (Enfield, NH)
There are surprisingly few ice cream outlets in the Upper Valley. I give Mickey's the edge over Fore-U (Lebanon, NH) largely on the strength of its cotton candy and peppermint stick flavors and the Brobdingnagian dimensions of a "small." Being within walking distance of our apartment and situated next to a stream often occupied by fish or ducks didn't hurt either.
Best pizza: Ramunto's (Hanover, NH)
Every Dartmouth grad has a soft spot for EBA's (Hanover, NH), but delivery hours notwithstanding, Ramunto's just makes better pizza (although I highly recommend the EBA's pepperoni-and-bacon pizza during their Wacky Wednesday promotion). Besides, EBA's once served me a quart of caffeinated root beer. Not that I'm holding a grudge.
Best all-around restaurant: Molly's (Hanover, NH)
Any of the three former Blue Sky Restaurant Group members (Molly's, Lui Lui's [Lebanon, NH], and Jesse's [Hanover, NH]) would have been worthy recipients. In fact, Ellen and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Lui Lui's. In terms of menu diversity, atmosphere, service, and college-town setting, though, Molly's gets the nod.
Best breakfast: Lou's (Hanover, NH)
This one was easy. I mean, have you ever eaten there??
Best ethnic (or "ethnic," if you prefer) food: Golden Ming (Canaan, NH)
Ellen might have preferred Mai Thai or Jewel of India (both Hanover, NH), and I enjoyed both restaurants ... but it's my list and I prefer Chinese food to Thai or Indian, so Golden Ming it is. The lunch special combination plates are a particularly good value (less so the dinner specials).
Best mechanic: Doug's Sunoco (Lebanon, NH)
Another easy choice. Knowledgeable, honest, and fairly priced. In our experience they always helped us make the best decision, even if it weren't what they could bill the most for. HIGHLY recommended.
Best dentist: James Brackett (Hanover, NH)
It's tough to title this category "best," since Ellen and I only tried two different Upper Valley dentists in our combined fourteen years, but we both had excellent experiences with Dr. Brackett. He is extremely knowledgeable and takes a "hands-off" approach to interventions; you get the definite feeling that you and he are partners rather than having your care dictated to you.
Best oral surgeon: Craig Cohen (Lebanon, NH)
Once again, the only provider I've been to in the region, but he did a phenomenal job with my wisdom teeth extraction last October. I highly recommend him to anyone in need of oral surgery services in the Upper Valley.
Best hospital:
Given my occupation, I think it would be unfair of me to offer a public opinion on this topic (feel free to ask me off-line for my thoughts, though). But I will say that whenever I needed emergency care, I went to DHMC (Lebanon, NH).
Best hike: Mt. Washington (Sargent's Purchase, NH)
Technically not in the Upper Valley, but it's the tallest mountain in the Northeast. The feeling of accomplishment alone makes it worth it. The views from near the top aren't bad either (just don't expect to see anything except clouds and fog from the summit itself!).
Best hike actually in the Upper Valley: Gile Mountain (Norwich, VT)
Accessible rain, shine, or snow, the summit has a fire tower that offers a wonderful panoramic view. Gile boasts easily the best view-to-effort ratio in the Upper Valley, which gives it the nod over Mt. Cardigan. You can make it up in thirteen minutes if you're hustling after lost sunglasses or down in even less time if you're being chased by a thunderstorm (done both, would recommend neither).
Best walk: Enfield Rail Trail (Enfield, NH)
Honorable mention goes to circling Occom Pond (Hanover, NH), but there's just no beating the views of Lake Mascoma. Not worrying about getting run over by golfers running late for their tee time is a plus too, as is the wild raspberries growing along the trail. Great for running, biking, and even horse riding, too.
Can't-miss annual event: Dartmouth Night (Hanover, NH)
You don't have to go to Dartmouth to appreciate a thirty-foot bonfire!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
New Hampshire Open
This past weekend was the New Hampshire Open chess tournament. Held in Manchester, NH and open to players from all states, the tournament doubles as the New Hampshire state chess championship. Grandmaster Alex Ivanov and International Master Jonathan Yedidia, both from Massachusetts, shared first place; the top NH finishers were International Master Joe Fang and FIDE Master Brad Bournival. Except for 2009, either Fang or Bournival has at least tied for the NH state champion title every year since 1998 (ties are not broken; players who finish with the same score are considered co-state champions). Congratulations to New Hampshire's new champions for a hard-earned victory!
My own performance was disappointing. I got off to a good start, defeating Class A player (and 2004 co-state champion) Erin Dame and drawing against National Master Hal Terrie (who was the NH Amateur Champion in 1974 and 1976). Going into the final day of play, I was half a point off of the lead. Unfortunately, I lost a topsy-turvy game against Vermont's #2-rated player, Haizhou Xu and then made a series of mistakes against NH expert Sherif Khater to lose despite being a piece up. I finished with 2/5 points, good only for a tie for twelfth place. Poor result or not, I had a lot of fun playing, I enjoyed my games, and I particularly enjoyed catching up with the cadre of NH, VT, and MA chess players that I only get to see at tournaments.
My next tournament is the Nashua Open in July, and I may play another match against my friend Dave Carter, the state champion and top-rated player in Vermont. After that, I will have to start looking for chess tournaments in Colorado!
My own performance was disappointing. I got off to a good start, defeating Class A player (and 2004 co-state champion) Erin Dame and drawing against National Master Hal Terrie (who was the NH Amateur Champion in 1974 and 1976). Going into the final day of play, I was half a point off of the lead. Unfortunately, I lost a topsy-turvy game against Vermont's #2-rated player, Haizhou Xu and then made a series of mistakes against NH expert Sherif Khater to lose despite being a piece up. I finished with 2/5 points, good only for a tie for twelfth place. Poor result or not, I had a lot of fun playing, I enjoyed my games, and I particularly enjoyed catching up with the cadre of NH, VT, and MA chess players that I only get to see at tournaments.
My next tournament is the Nashua Open in July, and I may play another match against my friend Dave Carter, the state champion and top-rated player in Vermont. After that, I will have to start looking for chess tournaments in Colorado!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Go west, young man!
Thus famously spake Horace Greeley (whose statue in my hometown of Chappaqua, NY ironically faces east), encouraging the new generation of hungry young Americans to seek their fortunes in the rapidly evolving frontier. The frontier has settled in the last 150+ years, but evidently there is still room enough for two more Yankees out there, because Ellen and I are moving to Boulder, CO at the end of August. Ellen has accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship at a government lab starting in September, and I am hoping to continue working as a paramedic (I'm in the process of applying for a CO license now). We are looking forward to this new adventure!
It's going to be a busy few months! In addition to trying to find housing and make moving arrangements (not to mention the small matter of finishing and defending a doctoral dissertation), we are also trying to make sure we experience everything New Hampshire has to offer in our last summer here. We've already planned a hike up Mt. Washington and a trip to the Quechee Balloon Festival (which is technically in Vermont); if anyone has any other suggestions for can't-miss activities/attractions, please let me know!
In other news, Dartmouth graduated the Class of 2012 last Sunday. Congratulations to all the graduates! I can't believe it was three years ago that I was in their place ... time sure does fly, but at the same time, I feel like I've lived ten years' worth of experiences in that time. Hoping for many more years just like them!
It's going to be a busy few months! In addition to trying to find housing and make moving arrangements (not to mention the small matter of finishing and defending a doctoral dissertation), we are also trying to make sure we experience everything New Hampshire has to offer in our last summer here. We've already planned a hike up Mt. Washington and a trip to the Quechee Balloon Festival (which is technically in Vermont); if anyone has any other suggestions for can't-miss activities/attractions, please let me know!
In other news, Dartmouth graduated the Class of 2012 last Sunday. Congratulations to all the graduates! I can't believe it was three years ago that I was in their place ... time sure does fly, but at the same time, I feel like I've lived ten years' worth of experiences in that time. Hoping for many more years just like them!
Friday, October 28, 2011
What's in a name?
I couldn't help but notice the release of Roland Emmerich's new film, Anonymous. The movie, which opens today, deals with the question of authorship of Shakespeare's plays and posits that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, is the true playwright. This theory is almost universally acknowledged as nonsense, and more than a few scholars and critics have pointed out that the film is so unbelievable that it actually serves to undermine its purported champion's cause.
As I understand it, the assumption underlying the so-called Oxfordian theory is that an uneducated man like William Shakespeare could never have written such dizzyingly complex plays as are attributed to him. Notwithstanding the flimsiness of that argument in the first place, I find it far more compelling to ask how Edward de Vere, who died in 1604, could have written more than half a dozen of Shakespeare's plays from beyond the grave.
Conspiracy theorists will exist no matter where you turn, and I'm not deeply offended on intellectual grounds by Anonymous (which, incidentally, I have no plans to see). But I just can't quite see the appeal of making a movie like this one; who would want to go see it? Wouldn't it be far more satisfying to spend time in the real Shakespeare than speculating about who else might have (but didn't) pen the works? I have enjoyed many of Emmerich's other offerings--especially Independence Day and The Patriot--and I suppose only time and box office receipts will tell if his directorial star power will outweigh such a ridiculous premise. As my college Shakespeare professor put it, "New evidence can always surface. But until it does, who wrote Shakespeare's plays? William Shakespeare."
In other news, we had our first snowfall yesterday here in Enfield (and across the Twin States, it seems). It didn't snow much--maybe an inch and a half--but I'm sure there will be plenty more where that came from. The next storm is already predicted for tomorrow. I'm just not sure I'm ready for summer to be over yet, let alone fall!
As I understand it, the assumption underlying the so-called Oxfordian theory is that an uneducated man like William Shakespeare could never have written such dizzyingly complex plays as are attributed to him. Notwithstanding the flimsiness of that argument in the first place, I find it far more compelling to ask how Edward de Vere, who died in 1604, could have written more than half a dozen of Shakespeare's plays from beyond the grave.
Conspiracy theorists will exist no matter where you turn, and I'm not deeply offended on intellectual grounds by Anonymous (which, incidentally, I have no plans to see). But I just can't quite see the appeal of making a movie like this one; who would want to go see it? Wouldn't it be far more satisfying to spend time in the real Shakespeare than speculating about who else might have (but didn't) pen the works? I have enjoyed many of Emmerich's other offerings--especially Independence Day and The Patriot--and I suppose only time and box office receipts will tell if his directorial star power will outweigh such a ridiculous premise. As my college Shakespeare professor put it, "New evidence can always surface. But until it does, who wrote Shakespeare's plays? William Shakespeare."
In other news, we had our first snowfall yesterday here in Enfield (and across the Twin States, it seems). It didn't snow much--maybe an inch and a half--but I'm sure there will be plenty more where that came from. The next storm is already predicted for tomorrow. I'm just not sure I'm ready for summer to be over yet, let alone fall!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
New Hampshire Marathon
Ellen ran in the New Hampshire Marathon in Bristol, N.H. this past Saturday. She turned in a phenomenal time of 3:59:55, which eclipsed her pre-race goal of a sub-four hour finish. The race was the culmination of months of training and preparation, and I am extraordinarily proud of Ellen for doing so well. I took the following video of Ellen crossing the finish line:
One of Ellen's officemates--herself an avid runner--and I made the journey out to Bristol to cheer on Ellen. I was coming from work and unfortunately got a late call that meant I arrived after the race had begun. We had a detailed course map, however, so we would drive ahead to various spots on the course and cheer as Ellen passed by. It was a lot of fun!
After the race, Ellen was predictably sore; the rest of the weekend was spent doing as little walking as possible (going up and especially down stairs was particularly challenging). Ellen is more or less back to full strength now, though, which I credit to her diligent training and superior physical condition. The better shape you're in, the less excessively traumatic the race, and the quicker your recovery. Or so I reason. In any event, I'm extremely impressed at how well she is handling everything. Assuming I even finished a marathon (this is less an assumption than a fantasy), I would probably be on the couch the better part of a week before even attempting to get back on my feet.
Way to go, Ellen!!
One of Ellen's officemates--herself an avid runner--and I made the journey out to Bristol to cheer on Ellen. I was coming from work and unfortunately got a late call that meant I arrived after the race had begun. We had a detailed course map, however, so we would drive ahead to various spots on the course and cheer as Ellen passed by. It was a lot of fun!
After the race, Ellen was predictably sore; the rest of the weekend was spent doing as little walking as possible (going up and especially down stairs was particularly challenging). Ellen is more or less back to full strength now, though, which I credit to her diligent training and superior physical condition. The better shape you're in, the less excessively traumatic the race, and the quicker your recovery. Or so I reason. In any event, I'm extremely impressed at how well she is handling everything. Assuming I even finished a marathon (this is less an assumption than a fantasy), I would probably be on the couch the better part of a week before even attempting to get back on my feet.
Way to go, Ellen!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Tunbridge World's Fair
Ellen and I decided that no one who lives in New Hampshire should go without visiting the Tunbridge World's Fair at least once. The fair, which is in its 140th year, is held in Tunbridge, VT and while I can't figure out where the "world" part came from, it's not definitely not small. Ellen and I enjoyed the livestock and crop exhibits in particular. I, for one, had never before seen a 700 pound pumpkin! (Nor, for that matter, a fifteen-pound zucchini.) Unfortunately the timing didn't work out for us to see the Antique Tractor Pull, but we were able to catch the first heat of the pig races. In case you're wondering what exactly transpires during pig races, it's precisely what it sounds like. Pigs run (surprisingly quickly) around a miniature track and the first one to cross the finish line is the winner. Coming soon to an OTB near you.
Earlier this week, Ellen and I visited Henniker, New Hampshire, a charming town on the Contoocook River. Henniker has two major claims to fame: It is home to New England College and it is, to quote what is evidently the town motto, "The Only Henniker on Earth." The weather held out beautifully, and we really enjoyed our time there. A special shout-out to the Henniker House B&B, which was our first exposure to a bed-and-breakfast and will no doubt set the bar for all others to come.
In other news, the U.S. Chess League season is well underway, and the New York Knights are tied for second place along with the Manhattan Applesauce. The Boston Blitz, fresh off their Week 3 victory over the Knights, currently enjoy a half-point lead in the standings. Next up for the Knights are the Carolina Cobras; I predict a return to form. Go Knights!
Earlier this week, Ellen and I visited Henniker, New Hampshire, a charming town on the Contoocook River. Henniker has two major claims to fame: It is home to New England College and it is, to quote what is evidently the town motto, "The Only Henniker on Earth." The weather held out beautifully, and we really enjoyed our time there. A special shout-out to the Henniker House B&B, which was our first exposure to a bed-and-breakfast and will no doubt set the bar for all others to come.
In other news, the U.S. Chess League season is well underway, and the New York Knights are tied for second place along with the Manhattan Applesauce. The Boston Blitz, fresh off their Week 3 victory over the Knights, currently enjoy a half-point lead in the standings. Next up for the Knights are the Carolina Cobras; I predict a return to form. Go Knights!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Border Battle
New Hampshire defended its chess honor against Maine yesterday in a ten-board, twenty-game match held at the Portsmouth Public Library in Portsmouth, NH. This event was held for two years in the late 1970s before beginning a thirty-five year hiatus. It was resurrected last year (New Hampshire won 12-8) and the organizers are hoping it will become an annual event. This year's edition saw New Hampshire field a slightly stronger team than in 2010, and when the dust settled, the Granite State retained bragging rights by a score of 14-6. Maine managed to save face, however, by scoring two second-round upsets; International Master Joe Fang lost to David Oshana and yours truly went down in a topsy-turvy game against Adam Schaff. I had an absolute blast playing, and I hope I will still be in New Hampshire for the 2012 edition!
I recently finished Closing Time by Joseph Heller. This 1994 novel is the sequel to his seminal work, Catch-22, and several characters return. I wanted to like Closing Time, I really did. As much as it occasionally irritated me, I found Catch-22 hilarious. Closing Time, unfortunately, just didn't make sense. I finished it half out of a sense of obligation and half in the hope that Heller would explain it all in the end (he didn't). If you enjoyed Catch-22, you may want to read Closing Time if only to see where all the characters' stories end. But if you decide not to, I wouldn't blame you a bit.
Now that the weather is turning cooler and the leaves are beginning to lose their verdancy, back to school is not far from mind. My schooling is, for the time being, complete, and as a graduate student Ellen works year-round. But DOC Freshman Trips is well underway, and Move-In Day for the Dartmouth freshmen is this coming Tuesday. Ellen and I strolled through campus this morning, and I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia. It's hard to believe that it was only six years ago that I was in their shoes.
And of course, no post published on this day would be complete without a mention of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Every generation has a day that comes to define it--November 22, 1963 for some, December 7, 1941 for others--and I think September 11, 2001 will be ours.
I recently finished Closing Time by Joseph Heller. This 1994 novel is the sequel to his seminal work, Catch-22, and several characters return. I wanted to like Closing Time, I really did. As much as it occasionally irritated me, I found Catch-22 hilarious. Closing Time, unfortunately, just didn't make sense. I finished it half out of a sense of obligation and half in the hope that Heller would explain it all in the end (he didn't). If you enjoyed Catch-22, you may want to read Closing Time if only to see where all the characters' stories end. But if you decide not to, I wouldn't blame you a bit.
Now that the weather is turning cooler and the leaves are beginning to lose their verdancy, back to school is not far from mind. My schooling is, for the time being, complete, and as a graduate student Ellen works year-round. But DOC Freshman Trips is well underway, and Move-In Day for the Dartmouth freshmen is this coming Tuesday. Ellen and I strolled through campus this morning, and I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia. It's hard to believe that it was only six years ago that I was in their shoes.
And of course, no post published on this day would be complete without a mention of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Every generation has a day that comes to define it--November 22, 1963 for some, December 7, 1941 for others--and I think September 11, 2001 will be ours.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Oregon, Pt. 2
The travel hassles notwithstanding, Ellen and I actually had a delightful trip to the West Coast. We stayed with a childhood friend of my mother-in-law's in Vancouver, Washington, across the Columbia River from Oregon (the Portland Airport was actually visible from our hosts' driveway). They have a charming home, and all three of us (Ellen, her mother-in-law and me) were blessed by their friendliness and hospitality.
Unfortunately, our rapidly evolving travel plans meant that we arrived later and left earlier than we had planned, so we were unable to fit in everything we had planned to see and do. Nevertheless, we managed a full day and a half of sightseeing. On Friday, after our arrival, we took I-84 (which I was tickled to discover runs through Oregon, as I am more familiar with it as the road on which I traverse much of Connecticut) to the "Old Highway," which was an extremely scenic drive past a number of waterfalls and other hiking spots. One highlight was the Vista House on Crown Point, which offered a panoramic view of the Columbia River and the surrounding hills and mountains.
After lunch, we visited the Bonneville Dam, which is both a National Historic Site and a working dam and hydroelectric plant. There I was introduced to the concept of a fish ladder, which is essentially a way for fish to bypass the dam when returning to their breeding places in order to spawn. It's actually neater in real life than I'm making it sound. And in a tiny office off of the main underwater viewing area, the official Fish Counter was hard at work. Yes, this person's job is to count the fish that swim past her window.
Next up was a fish hatchery, which featured local legend Herman the Sturgeon. This seven-foot monstrosity has been the star resident for quite a number of years, according to the numerous signs surrounding the sturgeon habitat. A seven-foot fish is, actually, quite a striking sight, especially when the majority of the other fish there are extremely young (it is a hatchery, after all). There was also a simulated salmon run, and Ellen got a number of excellent photos of the fish trying to navigate the man-made locks.
On Saturday we ventured into downtown Portland, which is a nice little city. It's not New York, but then again, nothing is. We met Ellen's aunt, whose health is beginning to fail, and had a great visit with her. It's not clear when or if we'll get another chance to see her, and the whole trip was worth it for those few hours alone.
I'm not expecting to do any more significant traveling until early December, so now it's time to turn my attention to the rapidly approaching foliage season here in New Hampshire. I've begun to wonder if the brilliant colors of fall are an apology for the six months of winter that follow ...
Unfortunately, our rapidly evolving travel plans meant that we arrived later and left earlier than we had planned, so we were unable to fit in everything we had planned to see and do. Nevertheless, we managed a full day and a half of sightseeing. On Friday, after our arrival, we took I-84 (which I was tickled to discover runs through Oregon, as I am more familiar with it as the road on which I traverse much of Connecticut) to the "Old Highway," which was an extremely scenic drive past a number of waterfalls and other hiking spots. One highlight was the Vista House on Crown Point, which offered a panoramic view of the Columbia River and the surrounding hills and mountains.
After lunch, we visited the Bonneville Dam, which is both a National Historic Site and a working dam and hydroelectric plant. There I was introduced to the concept of a fish ladder, which is essentially a way for fish to bypass the dam when returning to their breeding places in order to spawn. It's actually neater in real life than I'm making it sound. And in a tiny office off of the main underwater viewing area, the official Fish Counter was hard at work. Yes, this person's job is to count the fish that swim past her window.
Next up was a fish hatchery, which featured local legend Herman the Sturgeon. This seven-foot monstrosity has been the star resident for quite a number of years, according to the numerous signs surrounding the sturgeon habitat. A seven-foot fish is, actually, quite a striking sight, especially when the majority of the other fish there are extremely young (it is a hatchery, after all). There was also a simulated salmon run, and Ellen got a number of excellent photos of the fish trying to navigate the man-made locks.
On Saturday we ventured into downtown Portland, which is a nice little city. It's not New York, but then again, nothing is. We met Ellen's aunt, whose health is beginning to fail, and had a great visit with her. It's not clear when or if we'll get another chance to see her, and the whole trip was worth it for those few hours alone.
I'm not expecting to do any more significant traveling until early December, so now it's time to turn my attention to the rapidly approaching foliage season here in New Hampshire. I've begun to wonder if the brilliant colors of fall are an apology for the six months of winter that follow ...
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Turning 24
I turned twenty four years old on Sunday. To celebrate, Ellen and I went down to Manchester for the New Hampshire Open chess tournament. Manchester plays host to several of New Hampshire's biggest chess tournaments throughout the year, and perhaps none is bigger than this. The tournament is open to any member of the U.S. Chess Federation, but the top-scoring New Hampshire resident in the Open section is crowned State Champion. In the final round I was paired with Black against five-time state champion FM Brad Bournival. Unfortunately, after a game filled with ups and downs, neither side could break through in the end. Our draw gave IM Joseph Fang his fifteenth (!) state title. All in all I was pleased with the way I played, and I had a great time! And it was especially nice having Ellen there with me. Maybe next time I can convince her to play!
Other than the birthday festivities, it has been pretty much business as usual around here. I am in the process of joining Enfield FAST (First Aid Stabilization Team); they are a paid-on-call transporting ambulance company serving, you guessed it, Enfield. The call volume is not high--last year they responded to 132 calls and this year is on pace to be even slower--but the equipment is fairly nice and most importantly it's a way for me to help out and give back to the community. Their biggest personnel need is daytime hours during the week, and that just happens to be when I'm home with nothing to do. I've been granted "ride-along" status currently and I'm looking forward to finishing the rest of the paperwork so I can become a full-fledged (or at least probationary) member.
Ellen is doing well; she has begun what will probably be the final year of her Ph.D. and is otherwise keeping busy training for her first marathon. I am proud of her and extremely impressed (but not in the least surprised) by all she has accomplished.
In other news, the space shuttle program officially came to an end today. I've been to Cape Canaveral, and it was an impressive site to visit. I wonder how this latest development will affect the area, tourism and all.
Other than the birthday festivities, it has been pretty much business as usual around here. I am in the process of joining Enfield FAST (First Aid Stabilization Team); they are a paid-on-call transporting ambulance company serving, you guessed it, Enfield. The call volume is not high--last year they responded to 132 calls and this year is on pace to be even slower--but the equipment is fairly nice and most importantly it's a way for me to help out and give back to the community. Their biggest personnel need is daytime hours during the week, and that just happens to be when I'm home with nothing to do. I've been granted "ride-along" status currently and I'm looking forward to finishing the rest of the paperwork so I can become a full-fledged (or at least probationary) member.
Ellen is doing well; she has begun what will probably be the final year of her Ph.D. and is otherwise keeping busy training for her first marathon. I am proud of her and extremely impressed (but not in the least surprised) by all she has accomplished.
In other news, the space shuttle program officially came to an end today. I've been to Cape Canaveral, and it was an impressive site to visit. I wonder how this latest development will affect the area, tourism and all.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Enfield Family Fair
The Enfield Family Fair was held this past weekend at Huse Park in, you guessed it, Enfield. Since it took place just up the street and admission was free, I really didn't have any excuse not to go. And as the annual fair is an institution that seems to have bypassed Chappaqua during my childhood, I was eager to see what it entailed. Unfortunately, our schedules didn't work out for Ellen and me to go together, so we each went separately (and I went again with a family from church) and compared notes. Ellen was interested to note that it was extraordinarily similar to the fair that had come to her hometown each year. She said all the rides and booths were identical, although the Enfield fair was held in a much smaller space and consequently had less to offer. While nothing really drew my attention as far as attractions were concerned, I was nevertheless pleased to see this little town placed on the map, if only for a few days.
Speaking of Enfield on the map, it recently received attention of a slightly less flattering nature. According to The Dartmouth, a researcher at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is investigating the link between the presence of a toxin in the algae of our very own Lake Mascoma and the unusually high rate of Lou Gehrig's disease in people who live near the lake. So much for our plans to go swimming this summer.
In other news, the Yankees are back on top of the American League East. Where they belong and where they'll stay.
Speaking of Enfield on the map, it recently received attention of a slightly less flattering nature. According to The Dartmouth, a researcher at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is investigating the link between the presence of a toxin in the algae of our very own Lake Mascoma and the unusually high rate of Lou Gehrig's disease in people who live near the lake. So much for our plans to go swimming this summer.
In other news, the Yankees are back on top of the American League East. Where they belong and where they'll stay.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I'm not wearing a speck of green today. Better fix that before I go outside next. Purple and blue are not a problem right now, but it's not St. Eggplant's Day, so that really doesn't count for much. As far as I can tell, Enfield, New Hampshire does not have a St. Patrick's Day parade on the order of New York City or Chicago (they actually don't seem to have one at all). Neighboring Lebanon is celebrating with a 5K race this weekend, though, and Ellen decided to enter. I'm looking forward to going and rooting her on!
Ellen and I recently discovered Netflix and we're enjoying it so far. It's nice having ready access to such a wide selection of movies. We don't have terribly esoteric tastes, but there have been a number of films Ellen or I enjoyed growing up that we've been wanting to share with each other that we haven't been able to obtain at the local video outlets. Most recently we watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which we both enjoyed. And I was pleased to learn that Butch Cassidy's real name is Robert.
I was reading recently that the discontinued production of sodium thiopental (also called pentothal), the first of three drugs used in the lethal injection "cocktail," has wreaked havoc with some states' lethal injection plans. Texas, for example, has hundreds of inmates on death row but a stockpile of pentothal that expires at the end of the month. Pentobarbital, another drug in the barbiturate family, is widely seen as the successor to pentothal. Ohio and Oklahoma both use it, and Texas has announced its intention to adopt it as well. Defense attorneys are vigilantly monitoring the proceedings to make sure that the rights of their clients are not infringed upon, but I don't expect the replacement of pentothal with pentobarbital to have any functional impact on the way death row inmates' cases play out. If the medical community has deemed pentobarbital safe when patients are intended to survive its use, presumably the legal community will not object to its use in an execution setting.
The 2011 U.S. Chess Championships start April 14 ... which means Fantasy Chess is almost here!
Ellen and I recently discovered Netflix and we're enjoying it so far. It's nice having ready access to such a wide selection of movies. We don't have terribly esoteric tastes, but there have been a number of films Ellen or I enjoyed growing up that we've been wanting to share with each other that we haven't been able to obtain at the local video outlets. Most recently we watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which we both enjoyed. And I was pleased to learn that Butch Cassidy's real name is Robert.
I was reading recently that the discontinued production of sodium thiopental (also called pentothal), the first of three drugs used in the lethal injection "cocktail," has wreaked havoc with some states' lethal injection plans. Texas, for example, has hundreds of inmates on death row but a stockpile of pentothal that expires at the end of the month. Pentobarbital, another drug in the barbiturate family, is widely seen as the successor to pentothal. Ohio and Oklahoma both use it, and Texas has announced its intention to adopt it as well. Defense attorneys are vigilantly monitoring the proceedings to make sure that the rights of their clients are not infringed upon, but I don't expect the replacement of pentothal with pentobarbital to have any functional impact on the way death row inmates' cases play out. If the medical community has deemed pentobarbital safe when patients are intended to survive its use, presumably the legal community will not object to its use in an execution setting.
The 2011 U.S. Chess Championships start April 14 ... which means Fantasy Chess is almost here!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Ice wars
I have recently been waging war against the ice and snow that have taken over our back deck. (We now know it is important to nip these things in the bud before they dig in their heels.) Two feet of snow is a manageable quantity to shovel ... twenty inches of snow underneath four inches of solid ice is a bit more formidable. After our plastic snow shovel suffered a career-ending injury, Ellen and I decided to stop messing around. Admittedly, I'm using it more as a chisel than as a shovel, but our new steel-tipped behemoth is working wonders. Just in time for the next snowstorm.
The winter edition of The Dartmouth Apologia was released on Friday. I had the privilege to work on this issue as an editorial consultant, and I will be reviewing the articles here over the coming days. Although the new issue is not yet online, I highly recommend their website, www.dartmouthapologia.org . This issue's cover article, by Emily DeBaun '12, examines the relationship between quantum mechanics and "nondeterministic divine action." Food for thought, to say the least.
In the chess world, two-time American champion Hikaru Nakamura was just crowned champion of the 2011 edition of the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee. This Dutch perennial featured fourteen top grandmasters, including the four highest-rated players in the world. Some chess fans have declared this the most exciting result by an American since Bobby Fischer won the World Championship in 1972. Congratulations Hikaru!
The winter edition of The Dartmouth Apologia was released on Friday. I had the privilege to work on this issue as an editorial consultant, and I will be reviewing the articles here over the coming days. Although the new issue is not yet online, I highly recommend their website, www.dartmouthapologia.org . This issue's cover article, by Emily DeBaun '12, examines the relationship between quantum mechanics and "nondeterministic divine action." Food for thought, to say the least.
In the chess world, two-time American champion Hikaru Nakamura was just crowned champion of the 2011 edition of the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee. This Dutch perennial featured fourteen top grandmasters, including the four highest-rated players in the world. Some chess fans have declared this the most exciting result by an American since Bobby Fischer won the World Championship in 1972. Congratulations Hikaru!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a peaceful holiday season and are as excited for the new year as I am. I was especially pleased to see the thermometer hit fifty degrees yesterday and today. At this rate, this could be my favorite New Hampshire winter yet. Clearing our porch of the last of the snow and ice from last week's blizzard is a lot easier now that the sun is doing most of the work for me. Something tells me that we'll be back to frigid temperatures before long, but I am resolutely enjoying the warmth while it lasts.
Speaking of last week's blizzard, Ellen and I made a whirlwind tour of New York and New England the two days after Christmas to see friends and family. Needless to say, this coincided with what has been somewhat melodramatically christened "Blizzard 2010." Our trip began with an early morning drive to Putnam County, New York, for brunch with my mother and stepfather. The drive down was uneventful, but snowflakes were beginning to fall by the time we got back in the car for the short trip to Chappaqua, where we had a chance to catch up with my father, brother, stepmother and a good friend from high school.
By now it was snowing purposefully, and Ellen and I still had a three-hour trip to Boston to spend the night with my grandmother. This was the diciest part of the trip, as the highways were becoming increasingly ... white. At least New York and Massachusetts made an effort to plow the roads, but Connecticut didn't even try. Shame on you, Connecticut. It ended up taking us just over five and a half hours to complete the trip, but we did make it safely to Boston and had a nice time with my grandmother (whose Wii Bowling skills are nothing short of legendary. How many people do you know who can bowl a 284?).
Monday saw a brief visit with one of Ellen's old roommates, who was also a bridesmaid in our wedding, and then a largely snow-free drive home. It was fun to get to see so many people--and exciting, if taxing, to make such a long journey in the snow--but we were glad to finally be home.
Speaking of last week's blizzard, Ellen and I made a whirlwind tour of New York and New England the two days after Christmas to see friends and family. Needless to say, this coincided with what has been somewhat melodramatically christened "Blizzard 2010." Our trip began with an early morning drive to Putnam County, New York, for brunch with my mother and stepfather. The drive down was uneventful, but snowflakes were beginning to fall by the time we got back in the car for the short trip to Chappaqua, where we had a chance to catch up with my father, brother, stepmother and a good friend from high school.
By now it was snowing purposefully, and Ellen and I still had a three-hour trip to Boston to spend the night with my grandmother. This was the diciest part of the trip, as the highways were becoming increasingly ... white. At least New York and Massachusetts made an effort to plow the roads, but Connecticut didn't even try. Shame on you, Connecticut. It ended up taking us just over five and a half hours to complete the trip, but we did make it safely to Boston and had a nice time with my grandmother (whose Wii Bowling skills are nothing short of legendary. How many people do you know who can bowl a 284?).
Monday saw a brief visit with one of Ellen's old roommates, who was also a bridesmaid in our wedding, and then a largely snow-free drive home. It was fun to get to see so many people--and exciting, if taxing, to make such a long journey in the snow--but we were glad to finally be home.
Monday, December 20, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
In our living room, anyway. Ellen and I cut down, named and decorated our Christmas tree on Saturday, to go along with our holiday window dressings. We found a cut-your-own tree farm a mile or so outside town, whereupon we trudged off into the dense copse of Christmas trees armed only with a hand saw and a hazy idea of the relevant dimensions of our apartment (doorway width, ceiling height, etc.). As it turned out, not only did we find a tree that fit perfectly, but a package arrived this morning from Ellen's mother containing a handful of ornaments. Talk about good timing!
We had a taste of the dark side of New Hampshire winters yesterday--literally--as there was a power outage in Enfield and some neighboring towns. No word on what caused the outage, but at least power was restored relatively quickly. Between flashlights, headlamps and candles, we were able to carry about our business with minimal disruption. Unfortunately, while our apartment is heated by propane, the heater itself runs on electricity. By the time the power was restored some two and a half hours later, the temperature inside had dropped six degrees. Dinner by candlelight was a definite silver lining to the whole episode, though.
Updating a previous item, I'm told that Lebanon, N.H. has restructured its budget so that the second fire station can remain open year-round. I haven't been able to confirm this information, but if it's accurate, I'll be pleased. Fire and EMS coverage are not things you want to opt not to pay for (or accept severe delays in delivery of service, as would likely have been the case here). Just ask Glenn Ordick.
In other news, tomorrow marks the winter solstice, which marks the official end of autumn and start of winter. That, in turn, means summer is only two seasons away. It's about time.
We had a taste of the dark side of New Hampshire winters yesterday--literally--as there was a power outage in Enfield and some neighboring towns. No word on what caused the outage, but at least power was restored relatively quickly. Between flashlights, headlamps and candles, we were able to carry about our business with minimal disruption. Unfortunately, while our apartment is heated by propane, the heater itself runs on electricity. By the time the power was restored some two and a half hours later, the temperature inside had dropped six degrees. Dinner by candlelight was a definite silver lining to the whole episode, though.
Updating a previous item, I'm told that Lebanon, N.H. has restructured its budget so that the second fire station can remain open year-round. I haven't been able to confirm this information, but if it's accurate, I'll be pleased. Fire and EMS coverage are not things you want to opt not to pay for (or accept severe delays in delivery of service, as would likely have been the case here). Just ask Glenn Ordick.
In other news, tomorrow marks the winter solstice, which marks the official end of autumn and start of winter. That, in turn, means summer is only two seasons away. It's about time.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Snow!
While I'm quick to single out winter as my least favorite season, I readily admit that December has a lot going for it (namely Christmas and often the first serious snowfall). And so I feel no shame reporting the glee I felt when I woke up to a steady snowfall this morning. Seeing as we're a week into December and snow is falling, I consider the Christmas season officially underway. Ellen and I have some Christmas tree and light shopping to do in the next couple weeks, which will be a lot of fun to do together.
I have opened December in New Hampshire for five of the past six years now, but this is the first time that the month was not ushered in by college finals. Definitely a change for the better. I am nevertheless reminded of one of my favorite seasonal videos, which sustained (distracted) me through many a late night preparing for final exams.
In other news, I read this morning about a proposed Noah's Ark-themed amusement park in Kentucky. No word yet on whether development will proceed ahead of possible constitutional challenges, nor on whether there will be any roller-coasters at the park.
I have opened December in New Hampshire for five of the past six years now, but this is the first time that the month was not ushered in by college finals. Definitely a change for the better. I am nevertheless reminded of one of my favorite seasonal videos, which sustained (distracted) me through many a late night preparing for final exams.
In other news, I read this morning about a proposed Noah's Ark-themed amusement park in Kentucky. No word yet on whether development will proceed ahead of possible constitutional challenges, nor on whether there will be any roller-coasters at the park.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
On the chopping block
The Lebanon, New Hampshire City Council appears to be moving ahead with a budget that will leave one of two city fire stations unmanned for approximately one hundred days per year. As is the case in many New Hampshire cities, the Lebanon Fire Department provides both fire and EMS services to residents and visitors. As reported in The Valley News on Wednesday, Fire Chief Chris Christopolous made his case against the proposed budget at a City Council meeting last week, but only one council member supported sparing the fire department of cuts altogether.
To be fair, LFD stands to receive approximately a two percent raise over last year's budget. The chief contends, however, that this money will go almost exclusively to salaries, benefits and retirement, leaving the department little to cover the rise in training, maintenance and other costs. For the City Council's part, they are reluctant to raise taxes on what they perceive as an overburdened population already. This objection comes not only in and of itself, but also because they fear raising taxes to support the fire department will force them to similarly support other public service institutions like the police department and library.
I do not work for LFD and I don't live in their district, so I don't have a direct stake in the outcome of the budget question. All the same, it is disheartening to see a population that is unwilling to support such an essential component of the public's safety and peace of mind. That said, I'm a big believer in "You get what you pay for." If the citizens are willing to abide the possibility of response times more than doubling (to some residential areas) or even increasing sixfold in some cases (such as to the elementary school), then so be it. I hope I'm wrong, but I think they're making a big mistake.
To be fair, LFD stands to receive approximately a two percent raise over last year's budget. The chief contends, however, that this money will go almost exclusively to salaries, benefits and retirement, leaving the department little to cover the rise in training, maintenance and other costs. For the City Council's part, they are reluctant to raise taxes on what they perceive as an overburdened population already. This objection comes not only in and of itself, but also because they fear raising taxes to support the fire department will force them to similarly support other public service institutions like the police department and library.
I do not work for LFD and I don't live in their district, so I don't have a direct stake in the outcome of the budget question. All the same, it is disheartening to see a population that is unwilling to support such an essential component of the public's safety and peace of mind. That said, I'm a big believer in "You get what you pay for." If the citizens are willing to abide the possibility of response times more than doubling (to some residential areas) or even increasing sixfold in some cases (such as to the elementary school), then so be it. I hope I'm wrong, but I think they're making a big mistake.
Monday, November 1, 2010
All Saints' Day
Martin Luther's "95 Theses" may be the most famous document ever posted on Halloween (in 1517), but the best headline I've seen in 2010 belongs to Saturday's edition of The New York Times. "World Series? Who Cares. Chess League Playoffs Are On," declared the legend atop Dylan Loeb McClain's weekly (chess) column. I enthusiastically echo and endorse this sentiment. And forget Monday Night Football: Tonight, my attention will be glued to the New England Nor'easters - New York Knights playoff match.
Yesterday was Halloween here in the Northeast (and everywhere else, I gather). Listening to the morning radio shows during the week, I learned that there were designated times for trick-or-treating. These times, which varied from one town to the next, ranged from late afternoon to early evening. It makes perfect sense to highlight certain hours of the day as "trick or treater friendly," for the purposes of controlling traffic, but I wonder what would happen to those nabbed asking for candy past approved hours?
The Dartmouth Homecoming was a mixed bag as far as sporting events go. There was one of the most impressive student and alumni turnouts I've ever seen for a Dartmouth football game ... if only the team had shown up too. The final score of Harvard 30, Dartmouth 14 reflected the occasionally stellar but mostly lackluster play by the Big Green. On the plus side, the men's and women's soccer teams downed their Harvard counterparts by scores of 2-1 and 3-2, respectively. The field hockey team also emerged on the winning end of a 1-0 decision against the Crimson.
Election Day is tomorrow. Make sure to vote!
Yesterday was Halloween here in the Northeast (and everywhere else, I gather). Listening to the morning radio shows during the week, I learned that there were designated times for trick-or-treating. These times, which varied from one town to the next, ranged from late afternoon to early evening. It makes perfect sense to highlight certain hours of the day as "trick or treater friendly," for the purposes of controlling traffic, but I wonder what would happen to those nabbed asking for candy past approved hours?
The Dartmouth Homecoming was a mixed bag as far as sporting events go. There was one of the most impressive student and alumni turnouts I've ever seen for a Dartmouth football game ... if only the team had shown up too. The final score of Harvard 30, Dartmouth 14 reflected the occasionally stellar but mostly lackluster play by the Big Green. On the plus side, the men's and women's soccer teams downed their Harvard counterparts by scores of 2-1 and 3-2, respectively. The field hockey team also emerged on the winning end of a 1-0 decision against the Crimson.
Election Day is tomorrow. Make sure to vote!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Connections
I was pleased to read yesterday that Annette Gordon-Reed, Dartmouth Class of 1981, has been awarded a $500,000 MacArthur "Genius" grant. As I've mentioned before, I had the privilege of working on her seminal book, the National Book Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning The Hemingses of Monticello, during my time at W.W. Norton. And since I was the one who sent out the advanced reader copies to the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize judges, I have long (facetiously) claimed credit for her success, which has now been increased by this most coveted of awards. But in all seriousness, a hearty congratulations to Professor Gordon-Reed!
October will see the launching of The Waterman Institute, a new center for faith and learning at Dartmouth. Named for early twentieth century minister Rev. Lucius Waterman, the center is not officially affiliated with the College, though it caters heavily to the Dartmouth and Hanover populations. A number of my former colleagues at The Dartmouth Apologia, now graduated, have administrative and other roles at the Institute. The first official event is a three-week series entitled "What's the Point of Education?" I'm excited to see the Institute get off the ground and look forward to its continued growth in the Dartmouth and surrounding communities.
Out in Siberia, the chess Olympiad is starting to come down to the wire. With two rounds to go, the U.S. men's team is in a three-way tie for fourth place, two points behind leader Ukraine. On the women's side, the U.S. team is in a ten-way tie for eleventh place and is in all likelihood out of medal contention. Go USA!
In other news, science has once again spent countless quantities of time and money proving what grandmothers the world over already knew: Gargling salt water can help alleviate cold symptoms.
October will see the launching of The Waterman Institute, a new center for faith and learning at Dartmouth. Named for early twentieth century minister Rev. Lucius Waterman, the center is not officially affiliated with the College, though it caters heavily to the Dartmouth and Hanover populations. A number of my former colleagues at The Dartmouth Apologia, now graduated, have administrative and other roles at the Institute. The first official event is a three-week series entitled "What's the Point of Education?" I'm excited to see the Institute get off the ground and look forward to its continued growth in the Dartmouth and surrounding communities.
Out in Siberia, the chess Olympiad is starting to come down to the wire. With two rounds to go, the U.S. men's team is in a three-way tie for fourth place, two points behind leader Ukraine. On the women's side, the U.S. team is in a ten-way tie for eleventh place and is in all likelihood out of medal contention. Go USA!
In other news, science has once again spent countless quantities of time and money proving what grandmothers the world over already knew: Gargling salt water can help alleviate cold symptoms.
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