Omnium-gatherum
Matt Hanson’s Brain Archive
July 30, 2005
Summertime
So far it’s a been a very nice summer after a rainy spring. The weather and the pool water warmed up wonderfully. Here’s some misclleaneous summer pictures, with lots around the pool.
July 24, 2005
I love my Karate Monkey
The family was at the beach for the day so I made full use of my free time at Massabesic. The single-track there is some of the best in the state and very well maintained by FOMBA. A-dog, Stumpy, Joe, Two-sheds and myself started at 8 AM with Lady Slipper but it wasn’t until half way through we noticed Two-sheds wasn’t wearing a helmet! The two of us headed back to get it from his car and met with the others at the end of Lady Slipper. Then it was Deer Run, Red Pine (4 times down the Log Roll), Sampler, Moose Track, then Hemlock Loop. The other three headed home and Two-sheds and I checked out the new Fire Line (one of the best trails now) and the infamous Long Trail. When Two-sheds left I felt I was so close to finishing all the trails which I’ve never done…so I hit Fisher Cat, the second half of Lady Slipper up to Fox Tail. 5+ hours in all, rough on the kiester and arms due to the fully rigid frame. I think it may be time to invest in a White Brothers suspension fork for the Karate Monkey.
It was fantastic.
Bear Brook, then the Beach
This was our fourth year camping at Bear Brook and this year we decided to go for a week instead of just a few days. With a two and a half year old and a 6 month old it was fairly difficult, but mostly due to Kaley being sick with an intestinal virus. We came home yesterday, a day early. Most of the days consisted of the same stuff, swimming, playing on the beach, cooking food, doing dishes, feeding the baby, resolving fights between Kaley and her cousin Lyndon, and having Smorittos at the fire. Bear Brook has some of the best mountain bike trails in the area and I got to go twice. We always camp at the same time as some of Kim’s family, Aunt Terri and Gloria, and the Flanagans.
It was a hard week, we had enough yesterday and came home a day early. We’ll still go back next year.
I’ve also tagged on the following weekend’s visit to Camp Ellis, Maine where we visited the Flanagan’s.
July 17, 2005
Lost on Lost Trail
It was a good epic-style ride with all the components - 3+ hours, mud, bruises, and plenty of carrying the bike while finding the trail again. I turned my Karate Monkey from a single speed to a 9 speed this year and it was a good match for Bear Brook. A-dog and I attempted Bear Brook’s Lost Trail, the longest and farthest trail in the 40 mile system. We started off with some great uphill rocky double track, rode by the expansive Hayes Marsh and picked up the beginning of Lost Trail. However at one end we must have taken a wrong turn and ended up on a skidder road, unrideable and filled with cut trees. After avoiding sprained ankles and carrying our bikes over the slash we eventually came upon a clear trail and rode north. Where did we find ourselves? Perhaps it was a rip in the space time continuum but we found ourselves where we started on Lost Trail. We found the first half, but the second half is still lost. Perhaps next year.
July 9, 2005
The Rise and Fall of Green Animals
I was introduced to Green Animals in Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control, a superb documentary film about a wild animal trainer, a naked mole rat expert, a roboticist, and the topiary gardener at Green Animals in Portsmouth, RI. George Mendonca, the gardener, took over Green Animals in 1940 from his father in law and fought the elements and made beautiful gardens until his retirement in 1985. The animals presented in the film were breathtaking and awe inspiring, showcasing the meticulous detail that was the result of the skill of George Mendonca. The upkeep of the animals was obviously a very difficult and time consuming job.
We were in town for the White-Carney wedding and the topiary gardens from the film were nearby. I had to see these gardens that enthralled me in one my favorite documentary films. Unfortunately I suspect that with George’s retirement the gardens no longer saw the dedication and talent that it took to keep them up. The gardens are still neat to see but I was surprised at sections of the garden that were starting to become overgrown with weeds and the poor condition of the boxwood hedges that make up much of the formal garden.
Hey little sister who’s your superman
July 8, 2005 The bride was beautiful and the groom wore a dress. So did I. (Editor’s Note: No insults intended to anyone of Scottish heritage). Mount Hope was a great spot and the wedding was very nicely done. Despite the rain a good time was had by all.
I’m glad the decision to wear Kilts was made - I will likely not get the opportunity to wear a kilt again and it was fun to get dressed up in all the garb (Kilts were rented from Scottish Lion). However, a lack of directions or a picture made the actual dressing part somewhat complicated. Andy, Chuck, J.R. and myself were somewhat confounded at first. What were we supposed to do with the daggers, the pin, the chain and bag, the little flag football flags? Luckily J.R. is smarter then us and figured things out. Upon arriving at the wedding the bagpiper informed us were had done everything correctly. I felt like a real Scotsman!
It was wet, but felt like the right weather for the kilt. Luckily my Sporran held a flask of Jack Daniels which kept the heart warm and wet out. A second tent had been set up to house the ceremony which was nice and simple as the two recited their vows.
The reception was in the tent next door, dance floor, DJ, cool yellow cake with flowers, and the very important open bar. Fare was steak, veggie ravioli, or lobster, with cool Rhode Island, Maine, and lobster shaped cookies.
I took considerably fewer pictures then I normally would partly due to being in the wedding myself but also because Gibby was on the scene as the official photographer.
I wish Andy and Ellen the best in life.
July 7, 2005
Right Proper Charlie
4 pitchers at Gritty McDuff’s, a few sips of Jagermeister at the Holiday Inn, 7 shots in 6 bars, finished with slices of pizza after last call.
We arrived in Portland sore, tired and slightly sunburned after rafting the Kennebec and participated in classic Bachelor party fun, minus the strippers. It started when we headed to the Old Port for some drinks at 3 Dollar Dewey’s. Being a Wednesday, the Old Port was quite empty so we relaxed with brewskis and conversation. Once Brian D. arrived on the scene however things went into overdrive. Brian, owner of The Industry (and the brother of yours truly), immediately saw the dilemna of the evening…it was well past 11 and Maine had a 1 PM last call. The solution? A mad rush to several bars for some light, but quick, drinks before stop time.
Mission accomplished by 1 AM. It was fun, no one was sick and pizza seemed the next logical choice. A fellow patron (Joe) of the pizza joint however was unimpressed with my unsolicitated picture taking and I think I got threatened with finger amputation. Good times.
It was an unconventional bachelor party being that the man of honor was actually already several months married to the same woman he was about to get married to again. But forget that story.
Good luck buddy.
Big Momma and her Three Sisters
The first hit soaked the bow-sharks, the two paddlers at the front of the boat, and sprayed the rest of us as adrenaline surged and we dug our feet into the footholds. Over 7 miles of the Kennebec river we hit class II and III rapids and a class IV. Another 5 miles of flatter water also brought us much fun as we left the boat alternating between swimming and just floating the current downriver.
It was my first time whitewater rafting and it was a blast. North Country Rivers in Bingham, ME guided the 8 of us for Andy White’s bachelor party in a great experience that I hope to repeat in the future. Our guide Dana knew every nook and piece of the river and his handling of the craft was impressive. We didn’t lose anyone overboard but hit the rapids with force and surfed on some rapids. While the water was a bit cold the wetsuit bottoms kept us warm enough to stay in the water as we let the current take us downstream after the rapids were over.
I’m definitely doing this again. Next year I think a bigger group is in order for a major release day on the Kennebec.
July 3, 2005
A Mighty Wind
A very worhwhile film if you enjoy satire. Similar to This Is Spinal Tap (same writer), A Mighty Wind is a “mockumentary” about folk music.
It is a very subtle satire, perhaps even more so then Spinal Tap, so much in fact that if a viewer may very well take it seriously if they didn’t know ahead of time it was a spoof. It’s the details that make the movie so impressive - the music, the album cover art and the wide range of characters. Fred Williard takes the show as Mike LaFontaine.
Check out these bits:
July 2, 2005
Viva le Lance
The Tour de France started today, with Lance Armstrong finishing second in the first stage time trial. Another American, David Zabriskie, won the stage and took the yellow jersey but he is known to be good at time trials and unlikely to be an ongoing contender.
I wish the best of luck to Lance, he has said this is his last year and if he wins he will hold the record for most Tours won by any cyclist since it started in 1903.
July 1, 2005
The super most greatest band, ever!
The closest thing I have to a favorite band is Pink Floyd. Tommorow are the Live 8 concerts being held across the world and Pink Floyd is reuniting for this event. And I don’t mean A Momentary Lapse of Reason type of reuniting either (when Pink Floyd reformed without Roger Waters). This will be Roger Waters and David Gilmour, two musical geniuses who have been feuding for over a decade, together on stage again. It will be interesting to see what they decide to play.
