Supermarket over the turnpike?

Shaws supermarket is like the west-coast equivalent of Vons or Ralphs. Although more expensive than Market Basket they do carry items other stores do not. Like the extra churned version of Country Crock margarine... only found at Shaws. For staple items like bread, milk and eggs Market Basket rules and you can always spot a bargain elsewhere throughout the isles. I drive under this Shaws everyday on my way out to Westborough.

But here is something you will not see in Salem supermarkets:


That's right! No alcohol is sold in Salem supermarkets. You have to drive to a special Beer and Liquor store for these forsaken pleasures. We have even driven to New Hampshire to buy beer where there is no sales tax, but they get you at the border toll roads as you enter and leave the state. New Hampshire - Live Free or Die!

More from Saint Anthony's Feast Day

All the food!!!!

New way to view the Virtual Earth

Although I just started this new job we are at end of month so we have no computers to refresh. So we sit around and surf the web! One of the techies told me about this mapping site. Click on the picture to check it out! This is really awesome! X marks the spot we live at in Salem. Notice we are right up against a forest.

Check out where I grew up here in Yorba Linda, CA. You can count the cars and trailer in the driveway!

This calls for another website!!

Saint Anthony's Feast Festival

The Saint Anthony's Feast Festival was today so we took the train into Boston. Lots of great food and fun loaded the street. Little Italy hosted the festival and everyone seemed to have a great time!

The new job is working out great!

Aside from the drive the new job is right up my professional alley. CompuCom is a well respected company in the area handling many jobs in Boston and its outer townships. Everyday I pass Fenway Park going through Boston...



When I arrive closer to PFPC in Westborough, Massachusetts the scenery to the right of the road is breathtaking....





The entrance to PFPC Global Fund Service.





The office I work in consists of 4 other technicians. If we install 2 new computer refreshes per day we will keep up with the PCs in use as their leases expire. Some clients have two PCs!!

Canobie Lake Park WebPage Coming Soon...

Sneak Preview!!!

Can't Stay Up Late to watch Conan O'Brian

No more staying up late and waking at 5:00am!!! Sorry Conan.
I recorded this with my camera last week.

It's not so much the workload as it is the drive that is quickly wearing me out.
Today I installed a new PC in a different office only 10 miles from Salem!

CONGRATULATIONS Jared & Lizzy!!

Mr. and Mrs. Jared Norlander

Canobie Lake Park Flyer

Click Flyer to Enlarge

Canobie Lake Park

This amusement park is the second best in the area with Six Flags New England taking first place. Canobie Lake Park is in Salem, New Hampshire, which is only 30 miles from Salem, Massachusetts. The 1902 refers to the year it was built. None of the rides were that old but the park featured an excellent "out and back" rollercoaster built in 1936. Surprisingly it was the best ride at the park!

With over 500 photos taken I will need to create a web page.

Samuel Adams at Faneuli Hall

Samuel Adams Statue stands behind Faneuil Hall on Congress Street. A trip to Boston is not complete without visiting Faneuil Hall. Pronounced Daniel with an F this sort of shopping mall features a multitude of shops and fine and fast dining establishments.

One dining establishment that I remember and have eaten at is Dick's Last Resort. The waiters purposely are short and trite with you but later are nice and friendly sitting down with you to enjoy your meal as they sit at your table. Dad bought me a shirt from this establishment from many years ago when he must have visited this restaurant.

$2.61

Gas is much cheaper here on the east coast. I heard the west cost is still paying over $3.00 a gallon!! Ouch!

Pizza in the Park!

Salem had its Heritage Days last week and we thought we'd attend the Pizza in the Park function. You pay $5 and they hand you a paper plate and napkin and you sample pizzas from the various Salem Pizza vendors. When we arrived twenty minutes into the event the entrance line stretched from Salem Commons across the street over to the Hawthorne Hotel. I decided to check out the stands where the pizza was being distributed from and to my surprise half of the vendors had no pizza and the lines for the other pizza vendors were about half as long as the entrance line. We shook our heads in disgust and drove back home. Apparently everyone else in town thought this was also the best of the Heritage Days events.

Why is Randy in traffic?

Randy is in traffic because he has a new job! Starting this last Monday I have been hired by CompuCom Systems Incorporated to install software on PFPC Global Fund Services's computers. It's called a "refresh". The CompuCom team of 4 members, including me, installs a fresh XP operating system on brand new HP dual-core 4Ghz computers and replaces the existing antiquated PCs throughout the PFPC building. After the second day it is clear we have enough refreshes to do through December. After that CompuCom will place me in another job.

PFPC is waaaay out in Westborough which is 50 miles from Salem. Going there early in the morning is free from traffic but does require that I drive through Boston to get to the Massachusetts Turnpike also known as the "Mass Pike" or 90. The Mass Pike stretches clear across the state. Just to get to Westborough I pass through 3 toll booths totaling $5.50. On the way back they nab you for another $1.50.

And here is the best part, PFPC is located at 4400 Computer Drive!! Such a fitting street name. So far I like the new job and the diverse team members...of which I am the oldest.

The bridge featured in this traffic shot (above) is beside my route and is named the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. The bridge appears to lead right into the famous Boston Garden, now called the TD BankNorth Garden. It also appears to lead right into North Station. A train leaves from a T station in Salem and ends up right here. (below) From here you can walk into downtown Boston and the Boston Commons.

Franklin Park Zoo in Boston

Franklin Park Zoo in Boston

Marblehead - Not Just A Town, But A State of Mind

When we are not interested in dollar sliders and shrimp at Swampscott's Red Rock Bistro we go to Marblehead. Their city (or Township) slogan is "Not Just A Town, But A State of Mind" and they are right. I have so many pictures of Marblehead I had to create a couple web pages exposing the beauty of where the land meets the sea.

There are two parks off the right edge of Marblehead we like to relax at. Fort Sewall is at the tip of Marblehead's edge (see picture above) and Crocker Park offers a great view of the harbor. After relaxing for the day and as the sun begins its late afternoon decline we end up at another of our favorite watering holes, "The Landing." Great atmosphere and even a place to eat and drink outside. Boats dock right in front of you as you enjoy a fine seafood meal.

Hear an approaching storm!!

I recorded this a couple weeks ago.
For your own safety here is a breakdown (by seconds):

0 - 28 seconds - Birdies flying ahead of the dark clouds (very faint)
28 - 50 seconds - Shocking Thunder Roars (WARNING!! VERY LOUD!!)
50 - 80 seconds - Jet plane flying overhead (very faint)

Notice there is no pitter patter of rain. The rain usually comes a few minutes afterwards. Surprisingly we have only lost power twice from lightning. Another storm cell is due to hit today at 4pm. Just in time to cool down the weekend. This weekend starts a week of celebrating the Salem Heritage Days!

Was that another month ?

Contrasting dark storm cell clouds overtaking nice blue fluffy clouds.

For the last 4 months every week and a half we have been receiving these storm cells. I see them coming off in the distance where rumbles can be heard. As they get close the lightning brightens the dark clouds. Some move fast and some move slow depending on the winds that precede them. Usually birds can be seen getting out of the storms way.

As they pass the thunder and lightning is spectacular, then the rain comes. It rains for about 2-6 minutes just enough to soak everything, and then it moves away allowing the sunlight to return. In its wake though the temperature drops 5-10 degrees and it stays cool for a few days until the the heat returns, then the whole process starts over again.

I kid you not, it has been doing this for 4 months now!