I spent the better part of what proved to be a very rainy day indoors working on renovations to our downstairs powder room/bathroom.  I installed a new faucet set and drain in brushed nickel to replace the now tarnished gold set I previously installed some 14 years ago.  Connecting the drain inside the sinks support column proved to be a most frustrating exercise given almost zero space to operate.  Later, I added a new triple-sconce light fixture over the future location of an oval mirror that is next on my list to install.

When they were first announced more than 4 months ago, I immediately placed orders for two new cordless DeWalt tools. A router and barrel grip jig saw.  This week after numerous delays, they finally arrived.  If ever there was a tool that wanted to be cordless it is a trim router and I am surprised it has taken this long for DeWalt to introduce one.  Immediately after ordering the barrel grip jigsaw, I sold my “D” grip jigsaw on Craig’s list.  I prefer the handling of the former by far.  Now, if only DeWalt would offer a cordless biscuit joiner, I could replace my final corded tool with an untethered version.

We mourn with the French.  Kyle is in the foreground during our trip to France in 2000.

I was very busy at work today. Too much so to participate in a campus-wide Easter Egg Hunt. As I was leaving for the day, I ran into the CEO and his wife who were on their way to Hoppy Labs.
I had not planned to attend because a beer party (hoppy) is not really my thing. When I learned that the event would also feature baby bunnies (hoppy) and goats I had to stick around.  Next year I will invite Maya who would have surely smuggled out some furry friends.

Spring has arrived and with it rowers on the Charles River.

Monday’s are always very busy for me at work.  Even so, I was able to find 90 minutes shortly after lunch, between meetings and the rain, to take in a bit of the Boston Marathon.   The four mile round trip walk took 80 minutes leaving me only 10 minutes to shoot. While spectating from a bridge over Commonwealth Avenue, I was standing next to a man with one child on his shoulders and another by his side. He was checking on a phone app telling his young kids that mommy was getting close.  When she appeared they began yelling and she spotted them.  I captured a nice sequence and gave the dad my contact info and told him I would send the photos.  This evening I made good on that promise and was happy to provide this family from Asheville, NC a happy souvenir from their visit to Boston. 

The kids were all home this afternoon for a family celebration of Jeanine’s birthday as was our niece Rachel.  Jeanine had requested that here children prepare a meal together as her birthday gift.  Kyle expertly prepared a lamb dish, Nicolai roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and Maya was in charge of the cake (not sure who made the rice).   Jeanine was thrilled to be surrounded by family and to witness her children sharing her gift for cooking.  Unfortunately, I had procrastinated on preparing income taxes and had to spend a good portion of the day involved with that less than enjoyable activity.  My mood was not enhanced by my soccer game this morning which resulted in a 0-0 tie.  Our opponents did not make a single serious shot on our net but managed to pack the box with defenders throughout the game frustrating our many attempts to score.  I may have had our best opportunity with a header that just missed the lower corner.

Once a year, spouses are invited to the book group to which Jeanine belongs.  This year, for the first time, we met at a restaurant, the Forge and Vine in Groton. Reservations must be obtained months in advance and this was reflected in the quality of the food.  Our group of ten enjoyed a quiet semi-private room which lent itself to conversation.  As I have suspected for many years, the book group is really a cover for monthly social gatherings. I was one of only two participants who actually completed the assigned book, Michelle Obama’s, Becoming.  For the record, Jeanine was not the other.  As is her habit and right, Jeanine is stretching her birthday into something of a week-long event which made for a very delicious end to the evening. Tomorrow we are celebrating again, this time with the kids.

Our little Jeanine is all grown up.  Today she celebrates her 56th birthday.  Seems to me she becomes more lovely each year.

Many of my recent posts feature new buildings going up in Cambridge or Somerville. For better or worse I have exhausted most other photographically interesting subjects within walking distance from my office. For every new building that goes up, there are old ones coming down. Today I walked passed the pictured construction site and watched for several minutes as this excavator made quick work of its demolition task. I think the water is to keep dust down rather than fire prevention.

Boston is well known for our fleet of Duck Boats. These military surplus amphibious vehicles are used to give tours of the city from both land and water. Our whole family took one when we first moved to the area and enjoyed it immensely. In addition to the driver/captain being a very funny guy, he let the kids skipper the duck while on the water. In Boston, Duck Boats are also used for “rolling rallies” to celebrate national sports championships, eleven in total since 2002. Pictured above is one of the fleet in front of the Boston Science Museum.

Located a few blocks from Formlabs, the Zinc Apartments building seems to carry some kind of cryptic message on its exterior.  When time permits I may try to solve the puzzle.  Monthly rents range from $2500 to $10,000.  

I just learned that Mark Krauss, a former Concord United soccer teammate of mine, passed away yesterday at the age of 56. He was afflicted with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and ALS, possibly a consequence of Lyme’s disease which he also suffered from. He leaves behind his wife, a school teacher, and their five children, three of them in college. It is a heart breaking situation and our soccer community is coming together to support the family. His nickname on the pitch was “Mouse” but he played with the heart of a lion. He was a true gentleman on and off the field. We are all extremely saddened to lose one of our own and reminded to live life to the fullest each day.

His daughter, Jessie, organized a fundraising 5K run to benefit the Massachusetts General Hospital FTD Unit. It was scheduled for yesterday which only seems to amplify the sense of loss. Pictured below with our Concord United squad.  He is the one with my arm over his shoulder.

Nicolai has been accepted to Lesley University’s graduate degree program.  High school teachers in Massachusetts require a Master’s Degree in Education in order to gain certification.  He is currently living with us but is actively looking to find a friend to share an apartment with.  Even so, we rarely see him.  This evening he was home and we enjoyed a nice Sunday dinner with him before he left to hang out with friends.

“Before kickoff I said I wanted the game to be over by half-time. For the first 20 minutes some shambolic defending meant that without a few superb saves from Rob we would have been sunk. After that we sorted ourselves out… Carl under a lot of pressure and moving away from goal outside the box curled one top corner 1-0.  Tony made a run down the wing and a pinpoint cross onto Bob’s head, 2-0 at half-time. In the second half we buried them in the first 5 minutes…   A dazzling dribble from Jamie resulted in a ball across the box and Joe hammered it home. A corner from Joe found Frank two feet in the air and he headed it top corner, 4-0 and their heads went down. We kept going with some great team work resulting in Jeno and Tony both scoring.  6-0 and no cards a perfect start to the season!”