Margery Niblock

Heading into Summer

My Secret Boom Boom Room

Just about everyone loves summer. I do too, although there's one aspect of it that I do not like, and I'm going to share my silly little secret with you.

I detest bad thunderstorms! And I also hate it when the newspaper's weather page has its nasty little icon for those events. We may have 15 or so thunderstorms during the summer months, but I think that the newspaper and Internet weather sites know how vulnerable I am to hearing about this type of weather being expected. Because they are in collusion and are determined to frighten me as much as they can beforehand, there is one of these events predicted several times a week. That causes me to suffer great angst.

 

Believe it or not, I have my own "Boom Boom Room," which is a walk-in closet. It's a wonderful cocoon for those occasions when a storm is directly overhead, menacing and loud.

Here's what the inside looks like.

It's quite roomy for my purposes. I'm able to pull in this chair, which normally is in front of the desk I have in the dining room.

There are a couple of lights in the closet, so I'm able to occupy myself by reading. I usually work on crossword puzzles. And I've discovered something very interesting when I've been engaged in this activity. I can solve the most difficult puzzles in there because my concentration is so intense and absolute under those circumstances that I find so intolerable.

I'm also able to see my west-facing window in the dining room when I open the door. Then I can check out the sky and see whether the storm's intensity is lessening. It all works quite well for me.

And here's another secret. I'm definitely a puzzle snob! Even though I usually work all three puzzles that appear in my local daily newspaper, that crossword puzzle doesn't count for much.

I'm only interested and challenged by the puzzles in The New York Times. This is possibly my only snobby fault. And who cares? I subscribe to the online puzzle, and it's worth every penny as far as I'm concerned. I print out the puzzles every day of the year, which I think is quite a bargain. I do not finish every puzzle, I'm sorry to say. Some weeks I'm not able to finish a Friday or Saturday puzzle. When I do complete an entire week's worth of puzzles, I'm pleased. And many weeks that happens. Although I don't think it will happen this week.

I barely got a start on yesterday's Saturday puzzle. The Sunday puzzle is available online at six o'clock Saturday evening. That's kind of the Times folks to accommodate my needs in that regard. Doing Sunday's puzzle is part of my Saturday night fun.

Joe's Stunning Garden Design

I've used Joe's beautiful garden previously. He planted this dwarf Japanese maple tree last summer, and was anxiously awaiting spring's arrival to see whether it would make it through the harsh Maine winter.

As you can see, the little tree is thriving. The garden is a memorial to Joe's daughter Roan, who died 16 years ago when only a teenager. It's a fitting tribute to her memory.

The neighborhood takes great pleasure in this garden, which is right next to the sidewalk, making it accessible to everyone walking by.

Many people with children stop there for long periods of time because this year something has been added to the water: goldfish!

There are also several different types of water plants, and the recirculating water is such a pleasant, relaxing sound.

Joe's cat Sammy hangs out near the pond a lot, but he doesn't try to do any fishing in there. At least not that I've noticed. He's a very friendly cat who interacts with people and does quite a bit of talking (meowing). He also likes being petted and spoken to, and I'm always happy to accommodate his needs.

 

This last photo is a different view of the garden, from inside the fence. There's a wooden bench in the corner that's not visible here, where you are able to sit and enjoy the peaceful quality of the setting, without being seen by anyone walking past on the sidewalk.

It's a pretty amazing little city garden. A true work of outdoor artistry.

 

 

 

Gay Pride Parade in Portland

For a day that had rain predicted on and off, the people who spent so much energy planning the events connected to Gay Pride Week definitely "lucked out." There was no rain!

This was taken as the participants in the parade were lining up before its start.

There were lots of people along the entire route on Congress Street and also along High Street, where the parade turned to head down to Deering Oaks.

Here's a rear view of the same two "girls" as the parade moved along Congress Street. Their headdresses were fantastic.

Participants in the parade threw candy, bubble gum, and Frisbees to people along the route who were watching, so there was a lot of interaction between the crowd and the marchers.

It was a colorful parade and an appreciative crowd along the route. A man marching alongside a float from the Frannie Peabody Center gave me a red necklace, a "love" necklace.

I was holding my camera and the necklace in my hand when my upstairs neighbors came downstairs, and I opened the door to speak to them. I'd seen Geep when I was leaving to attend the parade so he knew I'd gone to the event, and wanted to know whether I'd gotten any pictures.

I showed him the necklace and mentioned I'd just taken a picture of it for the blog, and then went on to tell him about what had been attached to the metal ring on the necklace: a red condom! It was beautiful. Geep said "You've used it already?" He was impressed at what a fast worker I was.

I hated to destroy my mystique and ruin his image of me as a "hot chick" (which I am), but I told him that I'd given it to a friend of mine who had recently thrown her husband out of their home. I said to her: "Just put this away, and take it out when it's the right time. It's red and it's very pretty." She got a big laugh out of that and she took it. I hope she doesn't have to wait too long to use it.

This man had a snazzy outfit on and he was happy to stand still so I could snap a photo of him.

These people were watching the parade in front of the art school. As onlookers, they were more decorated than many of those participating in the actual parade.

This bright and jolly float deserves to be taken note of.

Here's Officer Karl Geib, with the "long arm of the law," directing traffic at the street where the parade turned down to head toward Deering Oaks. He had to divert traffic off Congress Street, which he did with his usual aplomb.

Karl is one of our famous "bike cops." Take note of those legs, gals!

Outside Joys

Local Postings

People just can't leave signs alone, can they?

And here's a rather charming thank-you note that was posted on a car parked on North Street. This warning is much better than having the air let out of your tires, as would have been the case in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.

 

 

Stuck in the Street

As I was crossing Cumberland Avenue, I noticed something that appeared to be silver in the middle of the street.

It was silver! An ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life. But alas, I wasn't able to pick it up and bring it home to place it with my other found objects and money. It was embedded in the tar.

It's quite attractive, isn't it? I don't think I'll be going back to pry it up. But I will enjoy looking at it whenever I cross the street at that particular spot.

A Lovely Gift

When my friend Megan took a little trip back to New Jersey to visit her folks and attend a reunion a couple of weeks ago, she returned with this decorated shell that she gave to me.

Both the inside and outside surfaces of the shells have been painted. It's the work of Wendy A. Morrison, who happens to be a friend of Megan's sister Tara. So that was a nice connection to the gift.

Since I had a business selling sea glass jewelry for many years, I am fond of things found on beaches. As a matter of fact, the beaches I prefer are not the ones where people are basking in the sun. I'm attracted to the rocky areas where people used to dump their unwanted possessions before trash was collected by municipalities. For me, those areas are pure treasure troves. Mm. Makes me want to take a trip to the beach right now. I wonder what level the tide is at.

I still purchase a tide calendar each year, so I know when low tides are. They're my favorites, of course! And minus tides are the very best of all. That's when I used to find antique bottles stuck in the mud. I think I got all of the worthwhile ones from the one beach that had all the treasures.

The World's Longest Lobstah Roll!

Only in Maine would this happen. The West End Neighborhood Association decided to have a fund-raiser, and at the same time to get into the Guinness World Records for creating the longest lobster roll in the world.

 

That's the roll being carried down Commercial Street to the very long table in front of Portland Lobster Company, where it was put together by members of the neighborhood group. The cute costumed lobster is a hardworking young man employed by Three Sons Lobster & Fish. My editor, Ed King, of The West End NEWS had given me an assignment to take a photograph for the event that would have "a little action and be a bit different."

That was a stumper, since there were dozens of people with cameras at the assembly table, waiting for the long roll to arrive. I started walking toward India Street, where I knew the roll would be coming around the corner for its final leg of the trip. When I came to the dressed-up lobster, I thought "This is it!"

 

With a lot of hard work, organization, and volunteers, capped off by a perfect day of weather, a 61 foot 9 1/2 inch roll was filled with 45 pounds of luscious lobster meat, cut into four-inch pieces and sold to an eager crowd.

The group pulled in a total of about $7,000, which will be used for a swim scholarship program. Approximately 200 children will be taught to swim at no charge thanks to the good work of everyone involved in the event.

After I spoke to the lobster guy, asking him if he'd grant me the wish of taking his photo near the roll as it passed down the street, he went to speak to his boss, who gave him permission to follow the roll bearers to the tables where the lobster roll was going to be put together. He was able to hang out in front of the table while the event continued.

 

 

Outdoor Still Lifes

I liked the little sign saying "WATCH YOUR STEP." Looking at the shoes left out there, it sort of becomes a small story of its own.

I have giant hostas in my side yard along the driveway. When I planted them 20 years ago I had no idea how huge they would eventually grow. It was a stroke of luck they wound up in the right place, with enough room for expansion. They looked quite lovely the other day, with raindrops still sitting on them.

 

Exciting Changes in Portland's PD

Chief James E. Craig

On May 4, a new man took over the helm of the Portland Police Department. James E. Craig was chosen after a nationwide search.

He brings a wealth of experience garnered from his 28 years of service with the LAPD. Craig began his law enforcement career in Detroit, moving to the Los Angeles Police Department three years later.

He jokingly makes reference to his knowledge of snowy winters, from his time living in Michigan, so Maine's cold weather is not something he will be unfamiliar with.

In Los Angeles, Craig served as Area Commanding Officer (CO) of the West Los Angeles Area, with the rank of Police Captain III. His responsibilities included heading up a diverse community of approximately 190,000 residents, comprising a 12-square-mile area, commanding over 390 sworn and civilian personnel. Portland's department has 160 sworn officers and the city's population is 65,000. Included in the LA figures were over 8,000 gang members, a concept people from Portland find hard to comprehend.

Craig believes in a proactive approach between the community and the police. He uses the word "partnership" often, stating "I want the community to feel they are a partner." To further this concept and to enhance the community policing philosophy that he favors, he's planning to implement a new initiative, the Chief's Community Police Advisory Board, "a work in progress" right now, to augment the concept of people "working in partnership with the Portland Police Department."

Still in the planning stage, the Board will most likely meet on a monthly basis, and will comprise key areas and stakeholders in the various communities. Craig wants to have "a diverse group of people who represent Portland." A good cross section of the city is what he's after, and getting feedback is also important.

All meetings will be open to the public, so that "anyone who might be interested in participating in a meeting will be able to come." The meetings will be announced publicly to make people aware of dates and locations. Craig says "Community Police Advisory Boards are effective at carrying messages out to the larger community. It reinforces the partnership." 

It seems like Portlanders are ready to embrace the partnership that Craig is envisioning. Craig speaks of being "humbled" by the warm welcome this city has extended to him. And it's no wonder that he's being embraced by the community: He's a warm, outgoing man, with an expansive personality that is hard to resist. His sense of humor is also a major plus.

Craig also has other departmental initiatives that he's planning to implement. Because he knows the importance of working with the youth in a community, a Police Athletic League (PAL) will be one of the programs he wants to start. He also is interested in having a PPD Explorer Post that will enable young people to be able to get more involved with the Police Department.

Changes to the police work schedule are also planned. Craig plans to restructure the present allocation of officers by dividing the city into neighborhood districts staffed by a Senior Lead Officer (SLO) who will be a point of contact for residents. The SLO will be an integral part of the community policing efforts and will play a key role coordinating policing strategies, including addressing quality-of-life concerns. The new schedule will also provide PD employees a more balanced work schedule, giving them time off without compromising the level of service to the community, according to Craig.

Portlanders are looking forward to seeing the new changes put into effect and to lending a hand to Chief Craig and his ambitious plans for improving the police-community partnership.

Look Who's on a Segway !

The Portland Police Department has its first Segway PT (personal transporter) out on the street. Chief James E. Craig thought the unique form of transport would be a good option for Portland's department. He was familiar with their use by police in Los Angeles, where he worked before coming to Maine's largest city.

The Segway is an electric self-balancing transportation device with zero emissions, which was unveiled by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire at the end ot 2001, and first went on sale a year later. It is now used by over 1,000 police and security agencies worldwide for patrol operations.

The vehicles are being lent by the company for testing and evaluation as to their possible use here; they will be used for roughly a month before the department decides whether they want to purchase them for full-time use. A three-wheel Segway is also being tested. Those are being used by the LAPD.

Segways have the benefit of giving police high visibility and also allow officers to see well, due to their elevation on the vehicle. Two-wheel Segways can travel 25 miles on a single charge, go up to about 12.5 miles per hour, and may be used on all types of terrain. The three-wheeler gets up as high as 25 miles per hour. It's bigger and heavier, making it harder to maneuver, but it is safer because of its size, and has storage compartments. The price is approximately $6,000 to $10,000.

Officer Andjelko Napijalo, pictured below, was the first policeman to use the vehicle on the job. At a fraction under six feet four inches, he is already a towering figure before stepping onto the Segway.

Napijalo came to Portland nine years ago from Serbia, and he's been on the force for five years. He made his first arrest in the Bayside neighborhood on June 4, which was not even his second full day on the machine. Another officer was called to transport the prisoner to jail. Napijalo said "I went to the jail with the Segway and booked the guy."

Napijalo said the Segway has good maneuverability. "You can make quick turns and you can turn in small spaces." However, he feels a certain vulnerability in traffic. "You need to be careful going past driveways; someone might be pulling out." He doesn't see any problem as far as the time spent on a Segway. "I could easily ride eight hours on it," he said. It's fun to ride."

Public reaction to the Segway has been a real plus. "People have responded to it positively. It's much easier to communicate with people. And kids love it!"

Here's yours truly standing beside Napijalo. Don't I look tiny standing next to him? I'm five feet five inches, but I look like I'm about four feet tall next to "Nappi," which is what his fellow officers call him. He told me he doesn't like that name. He said "My name is Napijalo," but it's not used derisively, so I've included that bit of information in this article.

A few of my friends sometimes refer to me as "Nibbles," and when my son was small that name was ascribed to him also. Neither one of us ever took offense at that name.
 

                                                 [photo by Mary-Ellen Welch]

So all of you Portlanders should be on the lookout for Officer Napijalo and the other police you'll be seeing cruising around the downtown area on Segways. It's a friendly sight.

 

Glorious May

New Chick Joins Found Object Collection

Ain't she sweet? What a cute little blonde I found the other day. She's a perfect companion for Baby Claude, who's pictured in front of her. He's happy to have her living in the kitchen with him.

Perhaps at night they speak to one another. When I was a child I thought that my toys spoke and moved about my room as soon as I fell asleep. I used to try and trick them, by pretending I was asleep, to that I'd be able to see and hear what they were doing. They were too smart for me to catch them though. I won't try to catch these dolls cavorting at night. Whatever they care to do with one another is fine with me.

Real Live City Chicks

They are cute, aren't they? They live around the corner, and they're only a few days old so they have to have a heat lamp on to keep them warm enough.

There are six of them in the container altogether, three different types of chickens, and they will produce lots of eggs, hopefully. 

Portland has a new ordinance, allowing people in the city to have chickens. I now know of two people in the neighborhood that have availed themselves of this opportunity to have fresh eggs from their own backyards.

This picture was taken after they'd been in their new home for almost two weeks. It was a lovely day and they were outside, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air for a while in their carton. The sides of the container they're living in are now much higher because they're able to move about a lot more. We don't want them getting into any trouble before they move into their official outside quarters.

They will have a coop and a nice fenced-in area—with a spectacular view of Mount Washington. They're lucky.

An Orchid Plant!

My friend Manny gave me this beautiful orchid setup. I hope I can keep it alive. I was told it should be misted every day and I can put water into the tray where the pebbles are. 

I plan to be faithful about following these instructions. I also bought orchid food today. I've never had an orchid, but I do have a couple of friends who raise them very successfully. 

Wish me luck with this venture.

Gorgeous Colors Everywhere

When I turned a corner and came upon this view I was certainly glad that I chose this particular route.

Those two colors together are exciting to me. Forsythia are all over the neighborhood. It's such a wonderful bush and the color can't be beat.

I should plant one so I can have one in my own garden each year.

 
 Flowering cherry trees have been my favorites for many years.

I wish I had one in front of the home where I live, but there are quite a few in the neighborhood, so that enables me to walk around and soak in all of those gorgeous pink blossoms. It would be nice if they lasted a bit longer than they do.

 

Iggy (the iguana)

David Howe has just installed Iggy onto a wall in his hallway. What a welcome addition by this talented man.

 

 

Muddy Kids Having Fun

These two children know how to have a great time on a nice spring day. And it doesn't cost any money.

They're a joy to behold! They play together for long periods of time without fighting. They find ways to amuse one another quietly.

A bath and a few extra pieces of clothing in the next batch of laundry will bring everything back to cleanliness, which we have heard is next to godliness.

Does anyone subscribe to that theory these days?

Meanderings

I Can't Resist a Cute Guy!

He's tall, dark, and . . . white? Okay. He is quite handsome though, don't you agree? And very cute!

That's how we like them.

I'd gone to (forgive me) Wal-Mart to pick up something for my garden, and there was the Easter bunny, allowing people to pose with him. And it didn't cost a cent. That was a good thing.

I didn't feel like waiting around for an hour and a half, so I went back the following morning and picked up my photo.

I sent this to a friend of mine who lives on an island in Washington state, and he wrote back and said "Who's that guy with the Wonder Bread vest?"

A New Critter Joins My Menagerie

There's a new addition to the animals inhabiting my garden. An opossum! I'd never seen a live one, so that was quite a thrill for me. When you've grown up in New York City, it's exciting to have contact with nature, other than pigeons and squirrels.

This creature is a welcome addition to the yard. And he makes three wild animals I'm aware of that are living here. Woody the woodchuck made his first appearance this week, at least it was my first sighting of him. This will be our third season together. I haven't seen the skunk yet, but hope that he's still in residence. If so, it will also be his third season. I'll be able to relax after I see him and know that he's made it through the winter.

Woody's Back Again

Sorry for this poor photo of Woody's first showing. That's the top of his head peering out of the front door of his cozy home. I'm expecting he'll accommodate me later in the season by posing for my camera, as he's done so many times in the past. 

How Long Will This Last?

This building is really sagging badly. I have to wonder how many more Maine winters it will be able to tolerate before collapsing in on itself.  

More from "art of the month"

With the arrival of April, another mailing showed up from the wonderful "art of the month" folks, an eight-page little booklet about sugar, titled "Around the World."

Here are a few photos of the delightful drawings included.

 

They all pertain to sugar, or azúcar, en español.

 

 

There you have it. Someone goes to an extraordinary amount of effort to come up with these little gems. I can't imagine doing all of these drawings and then putting the wonderful things together. I'm quite lucky to be on this special list of recipients.

"My" Cardinal Returns

I was thrilled to hear the song of a cardinal, rushing to grab my camera in the hope that I could get a couple of shots. I knew from last year's experience, that if I tried to get out the back door he would fly off.

I had to take this shot through my kitchen window, which is not sparkling clean these days, but it did come out, luckily.

It's a thrill for me to have a beautiful visitor like this. I cannot wait until I get my annuals purchased and planted. All the pots are out there waiting to be filled. I'll be choosing my flowers in another week or so.

I know everyone always says to wait until Memorial Day, but that's way too far off for me. I'll take my chances around the fifteenth of May, which also will be my twentieth anniversary of living in Maine.

A New Season

Truck "Nuts"

A trip to the Maine Mall on a Sunday was enhanced by the shocking sight shown below. I'd never seen such a thing on an actual truck, although I had once come upon a Web site that had some for sale.

I'd definitely say that this guy "has balls."

The Well-Dressed Ape

A new book by Hannah Holmes has just been released, which is in effect a field guide to the human animal. Homo sapiens are compared to the biology and behavior of other creatures, and their unique characteristics are explored.

I've known Hannah for many years and am a big fan of her writing. I compiled the index for her first book, Dust, and was the proofreader for Suburban Safari. Last summer, when this book was in its final stages, Hannah sent an e-mail to several friends asking for people to read the chapters and give feedback. Since I had time to spare, I read all ten chapters as she was finishing them up. I couldn't stop myself from picking up my red pencil when necessary, and I remember saying to Hannah, "What are you trying to do—hyphenate the entire world?"

I was thrilled when Hannah stopped by the other day to bring me a signed copy of the new book. This is what she wrote in her inscription:

    "My Dear Marge, Hater of the hyphen, my debt is matched only by my admiration." And she added my favorite symbol afterward, "XO."

And forgive me for adding that she also included me in her acknowledgments.

If you want to read a fascinating book that turns scientific facts into fun, get a copy of this excellent book now.

                                        A What?

You never know what you might see when you look down while walking. This is one of the strangest sights I've ever seen in my travels.

  It's a bit hard to tell, because the colors are all so similar. But believe me when I say that the item on the left is a piece of brick in a sock. And it appeared that the sock had been on it for such a long time that they have been joined forever.

I can't imagine why someone would want to dress up a brick, but here's proof that this did happen. And I was lucky enough to find it right at the corner of my block. 

A Hideous Idea for Our Library!

 

This is a rendering of what the Portland Public Library will look like after its renovation. There is a thirty-foot screen on the front of the building. It will broadcast video and audio feeds onto Monument Square.  

As far as I'm concerned, that screen represents an assault, not a welcome addition to public space. It will be visual and aural urban pollution of the downtown area. Oh, yes, it's presented as something very hip and modern.

Stephen Podgajny, the library's executive director, says the urban screen will draw the eye with its changing content, according to an interview he had with the Portland Press Herald. I expect it to be a thirty-foot annoyance, and almost everyone I know whose opinions I asked all felt the same way.

On the Press Herald's Web site, a comment left pertaining to an article on the city budget said this: "I can't wait for the new 30 ft tv screen on the outside of the soon to be renovated library on Congress St.

"I hope the remote control works."

Amen!

A Sure Sign of Spring

Well, look at this! Joe and Scott
are already lounging on the chairs of Joe's roof.

As you can see, it's quite early in this new season. The trees aren't even budding yet during this first week of spring. But that didn't prevent the guys from sitting on the roof in the two chairs that have become permanent fixtures up there.

 

Slight Thaw in February!

Finally! I was able to take a wonderful long walk today. I walked in the street because many of the sidewalks are still unpassable. But they are improving.

I found this wonderful note around the corner. Can you imagine the pup with the battery in his mouth? I wonder if he took the battery out of the "draw" or whether they were placed in there after the event.

 

 I saw a man in shorts jogging. That was a welcome sight. I said "You're the first sign of spring!" and he gave me a thumbs-up signal. I also found two dimes and four pennies. The lack of walking has cut down on my found money big-time.

 

This is my great snow/ice cane. I wouldn't be able to leave my home in the winter without it. I see people walking on ice and it looks as though they're walking on a dry sidewalk. If I take a step, I slip and slide.

The metal attachment at the bottom of the cane has pointed prongs that are great for preventing slipping. What a klutz I am! But at least I know it, accept it, and take steps to deal with it.

 

We've had about 13 "plowable" storms this winter; that has amounted to a lot of snow!

This poor shovel had its last season, evidently.

****************************************************************************************
Latest "art of the month" mailing

 

This dainty envelope held a new surprise from the secret artist who sends me these marvelous monthly pick-me-ups. It's always exciting to see what's enclosed. The three hand-colored circles say "2009 in your pocket."

It's a tiny calendar with a page for each month.

 

And once again, as I've said so many times before, I have no idea who the sender of these delightful packets are. Mm. Will I ever know?

My Bedroom Door

 

This is my view when I'm sitting up and reading in bed at night. I think it's a jolly sight. It looks like it might be a kid's room, doesn't it? But it's not. I happen to believe that one of the best things about being an adult is that I'm able to buy any toy I want. I like toys!

I consider myself somewhat childlike, but definitely not childish. There's a big difference.

The latest addition to the door is one of the Valentine Day's cards I received this year (the most important one). I framed it; it's the red and white item in the center. I'd seen this card and had almost bought it for the person who sent it to me. So I was totally thrilled to receive the card that had been my favorite one in the entire store. How lucky can you be? The guy who sent the card to me is handsome, brilliant, and has a great sense of humor. He's a very special person, and he's also adorable. What a winning combination. 

The other day I was speaking to a friend about him, and she looked at me and said "Marge, you're twitterpated!" She then explained that was a term from Bambi. I'd never heard that term, although I must have when I saw the movie. It's quite a memorable word. 

Saint Lawrence Silent Art Auction

 

This is the distinguished editor/owner/publisher of The West End NEWS, Ed King. He's hosting the refreshment counter in the lobby of the Saint Lawrence Church on a lovely Saturday, during the auction.

The man does look snazzy, doesn't he? He was quite a charmer in that spot. He did a fine job for the fund-raiser.

Happy Valentine's Day to All!

February 14 Is a Special Day

For the past several years my friend Deb has hosted a Valentine's Day card-making party on the weekend before the big event. A couple of years ago I went with the intention of creating a few cards, and was surprised when I was totally overwhelmed by all of the wonderful supplies I was confronted by.

I wound up not making one decent piece, and from then on I attended with my camera in tow, content to take photos of everything without having the pressure of making something. It worked much better for me.

 

All of the special papers and stickers and "cutesy" little things were wonderful to me. I could spend hours looking at these items and not wanting to use them in any way.

I must admit I was immediately attracted to this book with the wonderful title of SEX. I browsed through it and enjoyed doing so very much.  

The hostess, (Is that word verboten now? I don't care if it is. Screw political correctness! It's fascism, as far as I'm concerned.) Deb, was planning to use this charming little butterfly girl on one of her cards. She cut away all of the white areas, which was quite a time-consuming job. I'd much prefer to watch her do the hard work while I snap a picture.

There were also some animals in attendance; resident cats and a visiting dog were moving around.

Roo lives in the charming house with her sister Bebe, whose photo I was not able to capture without it being blurred. Too bad, because Bebe is a beauty. She's a black cat with a large ruff around her neck. I'd never seen a cat with looks like that.

And then there was Ed, the pug from Massachusetts. He came for the entire weekend. He seemed to be quite taken by me, which is always enjoyable, having an animal like me. So I shouted to all present "Ed loves me!"

Look at that soulful expression. It certainly grabbed at my heartstrings. But then I was rudely corrected. "Ed's a girl!" I was told. Darn! I couldn't add another male to the list of those who love me. I like those curled tails on pugs. Very cute. They're even better on pigs though.

Just those words, "LOVE" and "KISSES," are uplifting to one's heart.

And look at all of those "XOXOXOXO"s. They're wonderful! I use them in e-mails to special people.

It makes me tired to think of putting all of those materials away. Deb should have a special Valentine's Day room to store these marvelous items. It should be a room where things might remain visible, where simply shutting a door would remove them from sight. I can't imagine having to pack all of these treasures away.

I think hearts are such a marvelous shape. Ya gotta love 'em.

I'll end with a couple of photos taken at Rite Aid. Of course as soon as Christmas was over, the Valentine's displays appeared. We are in such a damn rush in this country. Always.

 Don't forget! Saturday is the big day. Make sure you let someone know that you care.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day Sarge!  xoxoxo

 

 

Brrr!

January in Maine is certainly a month that takes it toll on things; people; streets; and animals. We had 16 inches of snow on the eighteenth, and a couple of nights before that a blast of arctic air brought temperatures down to -16 degrees F. in Portland. That made me very glad I live in the city, and not in the country, where it dipped even lower.

"Penguins"

"Penguins" is the picture I did for this year's annual Christmas print, which I give to friends. It got me mentally prepared for the deep freeze we were going to be suffering in January.

This was done on scratchboard. The board is covered with a coating of India ink, and all of the white areas get scratched away. I use an X-acto knife to clear the black off.

It gives the same effect as a woodcut or wood engraving. Since I'd done woodcuts for many years, it's a comfortable medium for me to work in. I have many scratchboards and woodcuts at the eBay store.

 

 

West End Deli

I've just finished my first "portrait" of a business here in town. I'll be delivering it to the owner in a few days. It's also done on scratchboard, a favorite medium of mine.

 

Latest "art of the month" Mailing

Here's the latest art of the month envelope, which arrived recently. This is the first time I'd ever gotten a puffy envelope. I couldn't wait to see what the surprise was going to be: two gloves, but not a pair. Of course not! That would be so boring.

A hand-lettered card accompanied the gloves. It says:

    "this pair of gloves has been created from two found gloves. each glove was found on the streets of Portland, washed and paired for your wearing pleasure!

      "stay warm!

      "art of the month club"

 

I still haven't come any closer to finding out who sends these wonderful things to me each month. With all of my contacts at Police Headquarters, from writing the crime articles for The West End NEWS, you'd think I'd be able to solve this mystery. Perhaps I'll try to get a couple of top-notch detectives to give me some lessons.

Of course that wouldn't be very difficult, since there's a return address with a post office box number on it.

Police Create Special Calendar

Honoring a Fallen Comrade

 

Sergeant Rob Johnsey died in a tragic accident on May 5, 2008, when his service revolver accidentally discharged as he was preparing it for training to be held the following day.

Acting Chief Joseph K. Loughlin hosted a news conference on December 17 to announce the completion of a poetry and photography 2009 police calendar, a special project between members of the Portland Police Department and the Arts & Equity Initiative (AEI). AEI's mission is to improve municipal government and its relationship with the public through art projects with local artists and city employees.

Loughlin said this was a news conference bearing "good news," unlike many others that have been held at Police Headquarters recently. He stated he was "skeptical at the beginning of the project," but said of Mary Pottenger, the director: "She pulled it off." He went on to say that he felt the calendar was a way people might learn about officers as human beings. "It's a valuable and quality product that I'm proud to be part of."

Rachel Talbot Ross, Portland's Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs, said the AEI projects are a way to connect city employees to each other and to communities. It's also a way to "understand and express diversity in the city."

Ross stated "Marty has been a lightning rod. She's creating connections where none existed."

Lieutenant Michael Sauschuck, who was involved in helping coordinate the officers and artist teams, said "Marty put together a SWAT team of poets and photographers" to work on this project. He then read one of Rob Johnsey's poems, "The Forest," which is included in the calendar. Sauschuck said that Rob Johnsey "was a special guy." He was held in high esteem by those who worked with him.                                                                                          

AEI is a public/private partnership between the City of Portland and the arts nonprofit Terra Moto Incorporated. The three-year pilot project began in Portland in 2007, with Marty Pottenger as the director.

Pottenger is a theater artist/playwright/director who moved here from New York City to head up AEI.

Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will be shared with the Johnsey Fund, established in the memory of Rob Johnsey, and with AEI.

Officer Chris Mitchell, a member of Evening Directed Patrol, who has been a member of the force a little over two years, is seen here looking at pages from the calendar that were posted outside the conference room. Mitchell was a participant in the project, with some of his photographs appearing in the calendar.

The calendars are priced at $15 and will be available at all major bookstores in the area. The story of life and work within the police department is what the calendar tells about. It also addresses challenges faced by the department, improving the relationship between the public and the department, and improving departmental morale through the creation of art.