PLACES---------BRISTOL CONNECTICUT.. HEY!! IT'S MY HOMETOWN!!

 

I DON’T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF WHAT ONE WOULD CONSIDER ‘FREE TIME’, BUT ON THE OTHER
HAND I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SET ASIDE A FEW HOURS IN THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKENDS TO GET SOME FISHING DONE AND OF COURSE SOME MOTORCYCLE RIDING..WELL-THAT’S NOT 100% TRUE..ACTUALLY I AM GUILTY OF PUTTING OFF STUFF THAT SHOULD BE DONE AND OTHER STUFF THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE LONG AGO..CONSEQUENTLY I FIND MYSELF FEELING A LITTLE BIT GUILTY AS I LOAD UP MY JEEP TO HEAD FOR THE RIVER OR SAFETY-CHECKING MY MOTORCYCLE BEFORE HEADING OUT FOR A CRUISE..BUT TOMORROW’S ANOTHER DAY AND AFTER A SHORT WHILE ON THE RIVER OR ON THE BIKE, THAT GUILT MELTS AWAY LIKE AN ICE-CREAM CONE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY..THEN, OF COURSE, WINTER IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN MAYBE-JUST MAYBE-I’LL GET CAUGHT UP ON SOME OF THE TASKS THAT I HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF DURING THE SUMMER..

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO ON A SOMEWHAT REGULAR BASIS IS CHECK OUT A BLOG THAT A CHILDHOOD FRIEND CREATED..(NEW YORK DAILY PHOTO)..CHECK IT OUT SOMETIME (NOT RIGHT NOW THOUGH) PRETTY INTERESTING SITE..LIKE I SAID, WE WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS-HE DEVELOPED INTO A GOOD, SMART KID, WHILE I TRACKED OFF IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND GREW UP KIND OF ANGRY AND WAS PRONE TO GETTING INTO TROUBLE..GUESS I WAS WHAT WOULD BE CALLED A JUVENILE DELINQUENT, MAYBE EVEN A PUNK..MY FRIEND BRIAN WAS A STRAIGHT ‘A’ STUDENT AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE—I WENT INTO THE MARINES AND GOT STRAIGHTENED OUT REAL FAST..HE MOVED TO NEW YORK, AND OTHER THAN ONE BRIEF ENCOUNTER, I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN UNTIL THANKSGIVING OF LAST YEAR..AS SOME OF YOU KNOW I HAVE A BOOK OUT AND ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO BE SURE TO PUT A COPY IN HIS HANDS..I FELT COMPELLED TO DO SO BECAUSE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WAS OF BRIAN AND ME WATCHING THE ORIGINAL ‘TIME MACHINE’ ONE RAINY AFTERNOON AT HIS HOUSE..AFTER THE MOVIE WE DECIDED WE WOULD BUILD OUR OWN TIME MACHINE AND GO OFF INTO THE FUTURE SEEKING ADVENTURE..I COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THAT EPISODE IN OUR CHILDHOOD AS I WORKED MY WAY THROUGH THE STORY..WHEN IT WAS DONE I REMEMBER THINKING, ‘WELL, BRIAN, IT’S THE CLOSEST I COULD COME TO BUILDING A TIME MACHINE.’ AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT I DID MANAGE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH HIM AND I WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO FIND HE HAD DONE VERY WELL FOR HIMSELF..

SORRY, I’M RAMBLING..ABOUT HIS BLOG-IF YOU DO CHECK IT OUT LOOK UP HIS STORY- “MY PLEASURE” IT WAS POSTED ON WED. SEPTEMBER 14.. AFTER READING IT I FELT LIKE I HAD TO WRITE JUST A SMALL BIT ABOUT MY LITTLE HOME TOWN OF BRISTOL, CT.. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO READ HIS BLOG WILL ALSO VISIT HERE AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT ALL CLOSE-MINDED, BORING AND UNSOPHISTICATED COUNTRY BUMPKINS..

IN 2010 BRISTOL WAS RANKED #84 IN MONEY MAGAZINE’S LIST OF THE BEST 100 PLACES TO LIVE..IT IS HOME TO ESPN, AND IS HOME TO LAKE COMPOUNCE-THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING AMUSEMENT PARK IN NORTH AMERICA (ESTABLISHED IN 1846)..CHER PERFORMED HERE AS WELL AS ELVIS COSTELLO, BENNY GOODMAN, TOMMY DORSEY, BARRY MANILOW, JIMMY BUFFETT AND FRANK SINATRA (I DON’T HAVE THE SPACE IN THIS BLOG TO LIST ALL THE PERFORMERS).

ONE OF TWO ESPN FACILITIES RIGHT HERE IN BRISTOL

OTIS ELEVATOR POSSESSES THE LARGEST TEST TOWER IN THE UNITED STATES (383 FEET HIGH) AND THEY HAVE SEEN FIT TO ESTABLISH THIS IMPOSING STRUCTURE RIGHT HERE IN BRISTOL AMONG US POOR UNSOPHISTICATED BRISTOLITES.. WE HAVE MANUFACTURING PLANTS THAT SUPPLY EVERYTHING FROM PARTS FOR THE CARRIAGES OF THE GOOD AMISH PEOPLE TO SUBMARINES, TO THE SPACE EXPLORATION INDUSTRY, MEDICAL DEVICES, MILITARY HARDWARE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. THE THIRD LARGEST VOLUME HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALSHIP IN THE U.S. IS JUST A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME (CHECK OUT AUGUST ARCHIVES-YANKEE HARLEY).   

BRISTOL HAS TWO HOMETOWN NEWSPAPERS-ONE DAILY-ONE WEEKLY, AND IS HOME TO THE “TATTOO” TEEN NEWSPAPER WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ON-LINE PAPERS..IN THE 19^TH CENTURY BRISTOL WAS KNOWN AS THE CLOCK-MAKING CITY (SEVERAL PROMINENT FAMILIES STILL RESIDE) AND IS HOME TO THE “AMERICAN CLOCK AND WATCH MUSEUM”(IN A BUILDING THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1801)..AMONG OTHER THINGS BRISTOL WAS A LEADER IN CHRYSANTHEMUM PRODUCTION AND IS STILL CALLED THE “MUM CITY”..THE ANNUAL “MUM FESTIVAL” AND PARADE WERE HELD THIS PAST WEEKEND (24^TH AND 25^TH OF SEPT). I REGRET I WAS NOT PRESENT TO TAKE PHOTOS FOR THIS POST. 



HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING LORI FROM TORRINGTON ON SUNDAY WHILE WAITING
FOR A POTENTIAL RIDING PARTNER.
LORI HAS BEEN ON BIKES FOR TWO YEARS--VERY PRETTY BIKE-VERY PRETTY LADY 

 EVEN AMONG ALL THE INDUSTRY, CITIZENS OF BRISTOL STILL TAKE TIME TO HOST THE “NEW ENGLAND AND MID-ATLANTIC” REGIONAL PLAYOFFS FOR LITTLE LEAGUE.. STEVEN KING HAS SEEN FIT TO INTERRUPT HIS SCHEDULE AND ATTEND THESE IMPORTANT GAMES AND IN ONE OF HIS BOOKS WROTE THAT “FEW CITIES TAKE LITTLE LEAGUE AS IMPORTANTLY AS BRISTOL CONNECTICUT.” THERE ARE OVER 25 PARKS, PAGE PARK-ROCKWELL-BRACKET-BARNS NATURE CENTER (OVER 70 ACRES)-INDIAN ROCK-JUST TO NAME A FEW.  

THE CAROUSEL MUSEUM DRAWS VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR WITH ITS EXQUISITE WORKS OF CARVING ARTISTRY AND MEMORABILIA..

TWO FRIENDS FROM BACK IN TOWN--ANDY (ON THE LEFT) HAS BEEN ON BIKES FOR 52 YEARS
AND LIVES JUST A COUPLE HOUSES UP THE STREET FROM ME.
CARL HAS BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR 20 YEARS AND IS A U.S. ARMY VET

 IN BRIAN’S POST ONE IS LED TO THINK WE ARE A CITY OF MINDLESS COUNTRY BUMPKINS WITH LITTLE OR NO DESIRE TO ADVANCE OR BETTER OUR LIVES..WELL, JUST A FEW NAMES-GARY BURGHOFF ‘RADAR’ ON MASH SERIES AS WELL AS THE MOVIE--BOB CRANE ‘HOGAN’S HEROES' WORKED AT WBIS (BRISTOL'S RADIO STATION)-AARON HERNANDEZ, BRISTOL NATIVE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS--KAREN AND SARAH JOSEPHSON, BRISTOL NATIVES WHO WON THE SILVER MEDALS IN THE 1988 OLYMPICS AND GOLD MEDALS IN THE 1992 OLYMPICS—JUST TO MENTION A VERY FEW—AND I WILL NOT EVEN TRY TO PRESENT A LIST OF THE MANY AVERAGE MEN AND WOMEN WHO STRUCK OUT WITH AMBITIONS AND DREAMS AND MADE A GOOD RESPECTABLE LIVING FOR THEMSELVES IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING..

ONE CAN'T COMPARE NEW YORK TO BRISTOL, COMPARE IT TO L.A.—SAN FRANCISCO, CLEVELAND, MAYBE DALLAS..WE ARE JUST A TOWN OF 61,000 SPREAD OUT OVER 27 SQUARE MILES, RATHER THAN A HANDFUL OF CITY BLOCKS.. WE ARE ALL PEOPLE WITH OUR OWN DREAMS, DESIRES AND AMBITIONS..MAYBE IT IS TRUE THAT NEW YORKERS ARE DIFFERENT—BUT WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT..A GOOD MAN THAT I VALUE AS A FRIEND ONCE SAID, “IT’S OKAY TO THINK YOUR DIFFERENT—IT’S NOT OKAY TO THINK YOUR BETTER..”

 THE FOLLOWING VIEWS ARE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF MY HOUSE—GOOD PEOPLE—GREAT SCENERY— I WOULDN’T TRADE IT FOR ANY  N.Y. CITY PENTHOUSE VIEW..

P.S. YOU CAN GET A GREAT BAKED POTATOE AT JUST ABOUT ANY RESTAURANT IN BRISTOL

 

NEXT WEEK--I HOPE TO BRING YOU SOME PHOTOS AND A LITTLE ABOUT THE 'PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION' AND THE SECOND ANNUAL 'RIDE FOR JUSTICE' RALLY..
                   *************ALL GOOD THINGS TO YOU AND YOURS**********
                                                                           JIM

SO--LONG SUMMER : - (

         A FEW PHOTOS OF THE SCENERY THAT PUTS MY MIND BACK IN PLACE

I'VE SEEN MANY DEER AND WILD TURKEYS ON THIS FIELD-NONE TODAY-SORRY



BEEN ONE OF THOSE WEEKS THAT WE ALL HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME…LOT’S OF STUFF GOING ON…WE HAD JUST RECEIVED THE BILL FOR OUR BASEMENT CLEAN-UP AFTER IRENE DID HER THING AND NOT EVEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS LATER WE HAD TO CALL UP THE GUYS AND TELL THEM  TO COME BACK AND DO EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN AFTER THE REMAINS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE CAME THROUGH..SO NOW, AFTER THREE INCIDENTS OF WATER IN THE BASEMENT WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO DO SOME MAJOR WORK AROUND THE PLACE..

GOT THE BACK YARD DUG UP (SOME STRATEGIC LANDSCAPING AND SLOPING)…A FOUR INCH CONCRETE CAP GOING OVER THE EXISTING PATIO—ANOTHER FOUR INCH SLAB IS GOING TO COVER AN OLD EXTENSION OF THE PATIO (WITH AN AGGRESSIVE PITCH AWAY FROM THE HOUSE)—THEN SOME ELECTRICAL WORK BEING DONE TO ACCOMMODATE A GENERATOR—AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, SOME PLUMBING WORK HAS TO BE SCHEDULED FOR A BACK-WASH PREVENTER..MONEY TALKS—MINE SAYS “GOOD-BYE..”  OF COURSE, AFTER ALL THIS IS DONE WE WILL PROBABLY ENTER A PERIOD OF DROUGHT THAT WILL LAST A DECADE OR SO..I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT’S ALL A WASTE OF MONEY BECAUSE THE WORLD IS SUPPOSED TO END NEXT YEAR ANYWAY..

ALL THIS CRUD JUST KIND OF MAKES FOR A RUPTURED ROUTINE—TRYING TO ARRANGE FOR ESTIMATES—MOVING THINGS AROUND—AND CALLING HERE AND THERE FOR THIS AND THAT..AND ALL THE WHILE MONEY IS SLIPPING AWAY LIKE CRAP THROUGH A GOOSE..ALL THAT BEING SAID, THE TIME THAT I SET ASIDE FOR WORKING ON THE BLOG WAS LIMITED,, AND I WAS MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE PREOCCUPIED.. CONSEQUENTLY YOU, MY VERY VALUED READERS ARE PRESENTED WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY INSIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS..IT IS A SAFE BET MANY OF YOU HAVE FAR MORE PRESSING ISSUES.. HOWEVER, I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO VENT A BIT..

THE FARMER RESTED THIS FIELD THIS YEAR
LAST YEAR IT WAS FULL OF PUMPKINS

I  NEEDED SOME TIME ON THE TRUSTY LOW-RIDER TO CLEAR MY HEAD AND RESET ALL MY PROBLEM SOLVING SYSTEMS..SO AFTER TAKING CARE OF A FEW ‘HAVE TO BE DONE’ THINGS I DID MANAGE TO GET UP ON TWO WHEELS AND COVER A LITTLE BIT OF GROUND..NOTHING SPECTACULAR BUT I DID MANAGE TO GET A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES TO SHARE WITH YOU..THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE FRIENDLY SIGHTS THAT SET MY MIND BACK ON TRACK WHEN I FEEL MYSELF STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT ON THE UNPLEASANT SIDE OF MYSELF..OF COURSE—BEING ON THE MOTORCYCLE ALWAYS GOES A LONG-LONG WAY IN MY MOOD IMPROVEMENT..  

THIS OLD FRIEND LOADS UP WITH COLOR AND THEN GOES INTO HIS WINTER SLEEP
I'VE ADMIRED THIS OLD TIMER FOR YEARS.
I'LL SHOW HIM TO YOU AGAIN

ON SEPTEMBER 23th (AT 5:05 AM-EST) OUR GOOD EARTH REACHES AN IMAGINARY POINT IN IT’S ORBIT AROUND THE SUN THAT SIGNALS AUTUMNS ARRIVAL..NO MORE MOTORCYCLE RIDES WEARING JEANS AND A TEE-SHIRT, AND ALREADY, GLOVES ARE A NECESSITY..PRETTY SOON MY WINDSHIELD GOES ON AND NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, THE HELMET. CHAPS AND HEAT PADS BECOME MANDATORY IF I INTEND TO SURVIVE AT 55 TO 75 MPH IN 20 OR 30 DEGREE TEMPS..YEA, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER LOONEYS  OUT THERE BESIDES ME, AND AS I MEET THEM, I’LL INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU..

                                                  *******SEE YOU NEXT WEEK---STAY WELL*******



THOUGHT I'D SHARE THE LOVELY VIEW FROM OUR KITCHEN WINDOW
NICE,, HUH??
THINK I NEED TO GO FOR A RIDE!!
SO LONG TILL NEXT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.
TILL THEN
**BE GOOD OR BE CAREFUL**
 JIM 

                                                                           

PLACES-----------------VANILLA BEAN CAFE-----------POMFRET CT.

THE HUMAN RACE IS ESSENTIALLY A GREGARIOUS SPECIES-THIS MUCH BEING SAID, WE ALL MAINTAIN A CERTAIN CIRCLE OF PRIVACY AROUND US. OTHER THAN A FRIENDLY NOD OR A ‘THANK YOU’ WHEN A DOOR IS HELD OPEN, WE ARE NOT PRONE TO ENGAGE A PERFECT STRANGER IN ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION (FOR THE MOST PART). HOWEVER, CONVERSATION USUALLY FLOWS FREELY AMONG THOSE WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS—BUT THOSE INTERESTS ARE USUALLY NOT READILY APPARENT.

IMAGINE A RARE STAMP OR COIN COLLECTOR GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR AND WALKING BY ANOTHER COLLECTOR WHO HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT INTO THE HOBBY THAT THEY BOTH ENJOY. PERHAPS ONE OF THESE TWO COLLECTORS MAY EVEN HAVE A SPECIMEN OR TWO FOR SALE. THE ODDS ARE OVERWHELMING THAT THEY WILL PASS EACH OTHER IN SILENCE AND A CONVERSATION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUTUALLY ENJOYED NEVER EVEN HAS A CHANCE TO BEGIN, MUCH LESS FLOURISH AND LEAD TO FRIENDSHIP.

WITHOUT A DOUBT WE HAVE ALL PASSED STRANGERS WHO COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ONE OR MORE OF OUR INTERESTS. UNLESS A BUMPER STICKER OR A TEE-SHIRT LOGO REVEALS A MUTUAL INTEREST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARED KNOWLEDGE FADES AWAY LIKE THE GLOW OF A FALLING STAR. 

SOME FRIENDS ENJOYING THE DAY IN THE WIND-AND A CHOW STOP AT VANILLA BEAN
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT---HIDING IN THAT SUPER COOL SILVER COUPE IS--RON L. NEXT ON THAT AWESOME MACHINE IS ROGER B.--THEN RICHARD V.---NEXT IS MIKE M.--SAL E. IS THE LONG TIME RIDER OF THE CREW WITH 44 YEARS ON BIKES--THEN BOB L..---GREAT MEETING YOU GUYS..



FORTUNATELY FOR SOME, THEIR INTERESTS MAKE THEMSELVES OBVIOUS – A CANOE OR KAYAK STRAPPED ON TOP OF A VEHICLE—A TRUCK TOWING A FISHING BOAT—A VINTAGE VEHICLE AND OF COURSE HAVING A MOTORCYCLE PULL UP NEXT TO YOUR BIKE…..NO DOUBT—SIMILAR INTEREST---CONVERSATION FLOWS FREELY…..



ROGER AND HIS ONE OF A KIND HARLEY--LOOKS LIKE IT'S FLYING EVEN SITTING STILL



IT WAS IN THIS FASHION THAT I MET ARMOND AND DIANE..(YOU CAN MEET THEM IN THE JULY ARCHIVES—‘PERFECT STRANGERS’). AS WE SPOKE OF ‘NICE RIDES’ AND DESTINATIONS HE AND DIANE BROUGHT UP THE ‘VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ’. I HAD HEARD OF IT BUT HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE PLACE. “GOOD CHOW AND A BIKER FAVORITE,” HE SAID, “IT MIGHT MAKE A GOOD POST FOR YOUR BLOG.”

SO ON SATURDAY (THE 10^TH) THE SKY WAS BLUE, THE SUN WAS OUT, THE LAWN WAS TOO WET TO MOW SO OFF I WENT – IN THE WIND ON MY WAY TO ‘VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ’.



KEVIN AND JILL FROM MASSACHUSETTS GETTING READY TO RIDE AFTER A CHOW STOP AT VANILLA BEAN



THE RIDE OUT  WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL (ARMOND AND DIANE WERE RIGHT).  IF I STOPPED TO PHOTO EVERY SCENE LIKE THIS ONE , I WOULD HAVE TAKEN HOURS TO GET THERE..

 WELL, I AM CERTAINLY NOT A FOOD CRITIC. FOR ME, EATING IS SOMETHING I DO TO KILL MY APPETITE AND KEEP GOING. MOST CHOW SUITS ME JUST FINE AND MY TASTES ARE ON THE SIMPLE SIDE (I REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO TO BED HUNGRY SO I'M EASILY SATISFIED). ANYWAY, I ORDERED UP A CHEESEBURGER AND A SODA, SAT OUTSIDE AND ENJOYED THE  ATMOSPHERE, THE PEOPLE AND CHECKING OUT THE BIKES. AS FAR AS CHEESEBURGERS GO IT WAS GOOD. IT CAME WITH A HANDFUL OF CHIPS AND A PICKLE AND A BIRCH BEER SODA. KINDA HIGH PRICED ($12.00). WOULD I GO BACK? YEA, BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR THE CHOW,  MORE FOR THE RIDE AND THEN THE CHOW. I LIKED THE WHOLE AMBIANCE OF THE PLACE (JUST A TOUCH OF PREPPY HERE AND THERE BUT NOT TOO BAD). ANYWAY, IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO KILL AND YOU HAVE A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN YOUR POCKET, IT'S A REAL SWEET RIDE OUT THERE--AND HEY, WE ALL HAVE TO KNOCK BACK OUR HUNGER. CHECK THE PLACE OUT. THEY ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN READ OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON THE PLACE..
                                                        ************************
                             MORE SCOOTERS FROM THE MIDDLETOWN RALLY
                          AS ALWAYS-CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR MORE DETAIL


LOOKS LIKE A MACHINE 'CAPTAIN AMERICA' WOULD HAVE ORDERED-SWEET BIKE



'HOW FAST WILL IT GO?'--NO ONE REALLY KNOWS

I HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT I HAD TO WEAR MY LEATHER JACKET ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE CAFE. OUR GOOD OLD EARTH IS MAKING IT'S WAY CLOSER TO THE SUN AND EVERYDAY IS GETTING A LITTLE SHORTER.(YEP,, THE EARTH IS CLOSER TO THE SUN IN THE WINTER THAN IT IS IN THE SUMMER)..NEXT I'LL BE FORCED TO PUT ON GLOVES, THEN COMES THE WINDSHIELD. ONCE THE HELMET AND CHAPS GO ON I GO INTO THE WINTER FUNK..BUT UNTIL THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME BRISK AUTUMN DAYS AND ALL THE BEAUTY THAT THE SEASON BRINGS WITH IT..HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK..SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.....STAY WELL..
                                                           ***********JIM*************

THINGS--CHESS--MINDS AT BATTLE

     

WELL TROPICAL STORM IRENE KICKED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF CONNECTICUT PRETTY BAD. MY DESTINATION LAST WEEKEND WAS GOING TO BE THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE, TO VISIT A PLACE THAT I WAS TOLD WOULD MAKE A PRETTY GOOD POST. AS IT TURNED OUT, THAT SECTION OF THE STATE STILL HAD A LOT OF IMPASSABLE ROADS AND PLACES WITHOUT POWER SO I FIGURED THE LAST THING I SHOULD DO IS SHOW UP AND FIND THE PLACE STILL BAILING OUT WATER AND TRASHING WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE FURNITURE. THEN THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS NOT PROMISING-POP UP THUNDERSTORMS ETC. ETC.. CONSEQUENTLY MY BIKE AND I STAYED WITHIN TWENTY OR SO MILES FROM THE HOUSE.

NOW IT’S RAINING AGAIN AND ALL THE PREPARATIONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AROUND HERE STILL HAVEN’T BEEN DONE. FEELS LIKE THE EAST COAST HAS HAD SO MUCH RAIN THAT IN ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO WE JUST MIGHT BE PART OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. SOOOOO HERE’S ANOTHER POST THAT I HAD TO PULL OUT OF THE BLUE JUST TO TRY AND STAY ON A WEEKLY SCHEDULE. WHAT BETTER TO POST THAN ANOTHER OF MY INTERESTS??--CHESS



LONG TIME FRIEND AND CHESS PLAYER-DALE MARTZ
LOOKING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD



I AM NOT A MAN WHO ENJOYS SCRABBLE-CARD GAMES-GAMES OF CHANCE-NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS I’M NOT A GAME TYPE OF GUY, KIND OF LIKE TO BE DOING-MOVING-THINKING. IF I SIT DOWN TO WATCH A LITTLE TV WITH MY BETTER HALF (CAROL) I’M USUALLY ON THE BRINK OF EXHAUSTION AND END UP ASLEEP WITHIN A HALF HOUR. MY FAULT, I’VE BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES THAT I DON’T GET ENOUGH SLEEP (RELATES TO THE DOING-MOVING-THINKING HABIT). AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF I COULD, I WOULD ELIMINATE SLEEP FROM MY ROUTINE ENTIRELY. I GUESS IT’S PROBABLY A THING THAT GOD INSTALLED IN OUR SYSTEMS TO KEEP US FROM SPENDING A FULL 24 HOURS GETTING ON EACH OTHERS NERVES. BUT NOW I’M GETTING OFF TRACK..

CHESS IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A GAME TO ME (AND MANY OTHERS). IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A BATTLE BETWEEN TWO MINDS—TWO MINDS THAT HAVE ONE COMMON GOAL-VICTORY ON THE BATTLEFIELD. IT’S A BLEND OF MATH-GEOMETRY-STRATEGY. FOR ME IT IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION WITHOUT ACTUALLY HITTING SOMEONE. I’VE PLAYED THE GAME SINCE I WAS TEN THEN FORGOT ABOUT IT UNTIL I RETURNED HOME FROM THE MARINES. A LONG TIME FRIEND (JAY MORIN) CHALLENGED ME TO A GAME ONE NIGHT WHILE A BUNCH OF US WERE HANGING OUT. HE BEAT ME SEVERELY AND REKINDLED MY LONG DORMANT INTEREST IN THE GAME. IT WAS TO BE QUITE A WHILE BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BEAT HIM. I REMEMBER THE GAME-IT TOOK PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT OF A COFFEE SHOP HERE IN BRISTOL ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT. BACK IN THOSE DAYS WE WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP (AS LONG AS WE DRANK COFFEE) AND AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, WE DREW ANOTHER FRIEND INTO THE GAME (DALE MARTZ). DALE WANTED TO LEARN THE GAME AND IT WAS A PLEASURE TO TEACH HIM AND FAN HIS ENTHUSIASM. DALE HAS LONG SINCE STOPPED BEING THE STUDENT AND IS NOW A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT. WE TRY TO GET TOGETHER AS OFTEN AS WE CAN ON FRIDAYS AFTER WORK FOR A MATCH. 

DALE HAS BEATEN ME IN A BAD WAY--BROUGHT THE GAME TO AN END DEEP IN MY TERRITORY
SCORE SO FAR THIS YEAR ---DALE  7--ME  14



THE GAME IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN NORTHWEST INDIA IN THE SIXTH CENTURY AND HAD A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE RULES WERE CREATED THEN MODIFIED THEN REFINED TIME AND AGAIN. IN APPROXIMATELY 1475 THE GAME EVOLVED INTO ESSENTIALLY THE GAME WE KNOW TODAY. EACH PLAYER HAS TWO ROOKS-TWO KNIGHTS-TWO BISHOPS-EIGHT PAWNS-ONE QUEEN AND ONE KING. OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO TRAP THE OPPONENT’S KING. IT ALL SOUNDS RATHER MUNDANE BUT SINCE THE 15th CENTURY THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT CHESS THEORY, STRATEGY AND TACTICS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMOUS GAMES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED SO THAT THE INTERESTED PLAYER MIGHT REVIEW AND GET A GLIMPSE INTO THE STYLES AND THOUGHT PROCESSES OF THE MASTERS. GAMES HAVE EVEN BEEN NAMED-‘PETROV’S IMMORTAL-PEARL OF ZANDVOORT-BLUE BIRD-EVERGREEN’ JUST TO NAME A VERY FEW. IN MY YOUNGER YEARS I REMEMBERED HEARING STORIES OF ROMAN OFFICIALS PLAYING OUT THEIR MOVES USING SLAVES AS THEIR PIECES ON GIGANTIC BOARDS AND IF A PIECE WAS CAPTURED THE UNLUCKY SLAVE WAS KILLED (I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THOSE STORIES WEREN’T TRUE-BUT).THE GAME IS ALOT LIKE LIFE ITSELF-AN OPENING-A MIDDLE-AND AN END GAME. ONE LEARNS TO DEVELOP A DEGREE OF FORETHOUGHT. JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING SEEMS LIKE A TERRIFIC MOVE OR AN EASY GRAB DOESN’T MEAN YOU JUMP AT IT. YOU MIGHT VERY WELL DISCOVER THAT EASY PRIZE WAS A WELL DISGUISED TRAP THAT HAS COST YOU MUCH MORE THAN YOU HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT…THE OLD “WISH I HADN’T DONE THAT” SYNDROME. LIKE A CAVE, CHESS CAN STRIKE AN INDIVIDUAL AS BORING—JUST A HOLE IN THE GROUND—YOU CANNOT SEE THE REAL BEAUTY UNTIL YOU DESCEND INTO THE DEPTHS AND EXPLORE WHAT IS HIDDEN FROM YOU. SAME WITH CHESS, IT ISN’T UNTIL YOU SIT AT THE TABLE AND BRING YOUR THOUGHTS TO LIFE ON THE CHESSBOARD-STRUGGLE WITH YOUR OPPONENT’S MIND AS HIS ARMY BRINGS HIS THOUGHTS INTO BEING AND CONFLICT EVOLVES FROM THE MIND TO THE REALITY OF THE CHESSBOARD.

IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE WINTER IS BACK AND THE DAYS ARE SHORT AND THE NIGHTS ARE LONG. IF YOUR ONE OF THE ‘DOING-MOVING-THINKING’ TYPES THAT KIND OF WEATHER CAN WEIGH ON YOU. MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO PICK UP A BOOK-LEARN A FEW REALLY SIMPLE RULES THEN GO ON LINE AND KICK UP A GAME ON ONE OF THE MANY CHESS COMMUNITIES..MAYBE WE’LL EVEN PLAY A GAME OR TWO..

                            **************************************************

AS PROMISED--A FEW MORE PICTURES OF SOME EYE-POPPERS AT THE MIDDLETOWN RALLY



AN OLDIE-ANYBODY KNOW WHAT YEAR THIS IS??



YEP!!--THE ONE PICTURE YOU GUYS
WANT TO ENLARGE WON'T ENLARGE..
SORRY



ANOTHER BEAUTY -IF YOU CAN MAKE THIS RALLY NEXT YEAR-DO IT-LOTS OF GREAT PEOPLE--SOME REALLY AWESOME SCOOTERS AND JUST GREAT SAUSAGE BURGERS-FRIED DOUGH-JAMMIN GOOD TIME..WELL HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER IS GOING TO LET UP AND I'LL BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON MY TRUSTY LOW-RIDER THIS WEEKEND AND BRING YOU A STORY BACK FOR NEXT WEEK..TILL THEN--STAY DRY--STAY SAFE--HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU AND YOURS

                                                                 ********************

                                                                                 JIM