Sounds of Summer

I was hanging out on our back screened porch watching the kids playing in the new inflatable pool. As I was listening to their giggling and splashing, I thought to myself that summer is here. I began to think of all the other sounds that remind me of summer.

- The sounds of waves breaking on the beach and then flowing back to the sea.

- The wizzing noise of the fan as it creates a breeze to relieve the heat.

- The vibrating plastic casing on the air conditioner as it compresses and pushes the cooling liquid through all the cooling coils. The AC struggles to cool our bedroom at night.

- The screaming and laughing of the kids as they spray each other down with the garden hose.

- The buzzing sound of Cicadas on those really hot days. I had to search the web this evening to figure out the name of that bug.

- The ringing bell of the ice cream man as he drives through your neighborhood and the kids chase the truck!

Many of these sounds remind me of how much fun it was to be a kid in the summer. Do you have any sounds that remind you of summer? I hope all of you enjoy your summer!

Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's day to all the dads out there.

Traveling for work is fun when you get to see your family

I was traveling for work again this week. Fortunately for me, I was in Canada and I got to see TIA Ze and Tia Emelia and the cousins. It was so nice to see all of them. They all are doing well. And as usual they were so kind and invited me to stay for dinner. It was nice catching up since we had seen each other in over a year. Everyone wish nun's wife a happy birthday!!! I took a few pictures.

Reality Television

I was travelling this past week at a conference. We went out one evening to a theme park. The tour bus picked us up at the hotel and brought us to the park. On the way there I was reminded of the time I took a tour bus on a trip long ago. Shortly after I graduated college I visited Portugal in the month of June. I wanted to go to Paris to visit a college friend while I was on vacation. I went to the travel agent at the airport to book a round trip train ticket from Lisbon to Paris. The travel agent suggested that I simply book a one way train ticket to Paris and then book another to return. I said no. I preferred to buy a round trip ticket. She insisted I buy a one way ticket. She explained that it would provide me more flexibility when I returned. So I bought the one way ticket. A few days before I was to return to Portugal I went to the Paris train station to buy my return ticket. The travel agent told me that there weren't any train seats available to Portugal for the next 3 weeks in June because all of the Portuguese immigrants in France were returning to Portugal for their vacation. My only option was to take a 24 hour bus ride from Paris to Lisbon. Reality is sometime difficult to determine when travelling in Portugal. It certainly is a beautiful country with some beautiful people but just like other countries there are some dishonest people you have to watch out for. I took this shot with my old camera while travelling on the bus. I titled this photo "reality television". Notice everyone watching themselves on Television or at least their reflection.

20 Years later and we are still friends

I put together a little photo video gift (27 meg file) for all my college friends. We all need to get together soon for another reunion so that we can each recall some great memories. Please send the link to my blog to our other URI friends that are in the video and might enjoy seeing it. I hope all of you enjoy the video. I hope that it brings back some memories. If it does please leave me and others a comment on this post of what the memory was. Take care! Also if you have photos and want me to add them to the video send them along and I will update the video with them.

"We're Rhode Island born and we're Rhode Island bred and when we die we'll be Rhode Island dead.."

PS I couldn't upload the whole video (only chapter 1 of 4) so I will be sending out some dvds that I made for you guys. Thanks to Michael and Susan for contributing the photos.

More New Music

Tired of hearing the same old thing on the radio. Check out this great band. I stumbled on this band called Dengue Fever. Some characterize this as an Indie Band. I wish I had discovered all these Indie bands sooner. Check out my other post for another Indie band thatI like too Guided By Voices. Their sound reminds me a lot of the alternative bands of the late 80's like REM. A band that has long been disbanded is now my favoriate band. I wish I had discovered GBV when they were together. Here is my new favoriate song from them.

This one adds of the sounds of Indian music (whic I love) with the sounds of Vietnam or Thailand. I highly recommend you check them out. In particular my favoriate songs on their album titled "Escape From Dragon House" are "Sni Bong" & "Tip My Canoe" Another on the self titled album "Dengue Fever" is "Hold My Lips"
I hope you enjoy them to.