My girlfriend was in Miami and sent me this picture … when have you ever seen one bird (or duck, or goose) use another as a landing pad in the water? The term “sitting duck” can be applied to this passive goose who is providing a dry landing for his or her friend. Or maybe … Read more
I’m using a public restroom in Mystic, CT, and see the face of a bearded man under the Sloan flush button. I know, this sounds creepy, but it’s really just a case of pareidolia creeping in again. Do you see the face in the image above? Perhaps not, so I’ll help to illustrate it. Here’s … Read more
I love going to the beach, enjoying the ocean, both from an observer’s vantage point (relaxing on the beach watching the waves come in), but also being in the water, riding the waves, and feeling the cool relief of the ocean on a hot summer day. I’ve had a season pass at Ocean Grove the … Read more
I’ve long had an interest in the Florida Keys, the idea of a series of islands connected by a highway has intrigued me. I didn’t know much about the Florida Keys in advance of going, other than three basic concepts: 1, it’s where the Netflix drama “Bloodline” is set; 2, it’s where a former in-law’s … Read more
I was on a day trip, exploring Beacon, NY, when I noticed this funny sign in the front window of the Beacon Library. It reads: “Dinosaurs Didn’t Read and now They’re Extinct. Coincidence?” A pretty funny idea from the local librarian to use some humor to get people inside their doors. The idea of a … Read more
On my travels walking around Pittsburgh, I noticed some brown pods laying in the street, and while I’ve seen these things before, I didn’t know what they were called or what they were from. A little research tells me that they’re “honey locust pods.” The honey locust tree (scientific name “gleditsia triacanthos”), is a deciduous … Read more
I was on a day trip exploring various parts of western New Jersey when I rolled into Frenchtown, NJ. I parked the car and started to wander, when a store sign caught my attention: “Casa Bizarro.” Who can ignore a name like that? I went in to see what inhabited this location that inspired a … Read more
I was visiting Princeton, NJ and walking around campus when I noticed this bas-relief sculpture of a young man reading a book. He’s got a preppy look, with his collared shirt tucked under a sweater, khaki pants and penny loafers. This clean-cut young man is deep in thought as he reads a book. But who … Read more
I saw these two wooden carved figures on a shelf at the Rhinebeck Antique Emporium, and found them interesting. A look at the accompanying tag had them labeled as “19th Century carved Punch + Juds puppets,” and not knowing what that meant, did a search for “Punch and Juds.” It would seem either poor handwriting … Read more
I was looking around in Marion Royael Gallery in Beacon, NY, when I noticed this table with an ocean and island scene on top. My first thought was: wouldn’t this be a great dining table, so that I could eat my meals with my plate providing me with views of a deserted island? It turns … Read more