Tag Archives: photos

Tropical Storm Jonas.

January 25, 2016 – 12:31 pm

I have a non diabetes-related post today. A few photos of the winter storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast parts of the USA over the weekend.

We get storms like this every few years in my part of the world; some years, like last year, we get almost no snow at all. Then we’ll all of a sudden get a monster storm that dumps a couple of feet on us all at once. In this case, the official number was 29.8 inches of snow, in about 28 hours. This storm was also accompanied by tropical storm force winds that caused some major drifts, like around my truck. After I dug everything out, I had to pull my truck back in the driveway so I could shovel away all the snow that was blown under the chassis.

My glucose did not suffer from the storm… on Saturday, while it was all coming down, I went upstairs and put in a hard 50 minutes on my spin bike. On Sunday, I was out for literally hours shoveling things away from the driveway and the walk. We’re told we might get a snow plow down our street on Tuesday. Almost 72 hours after the storm is finished. Lots of roadways to plow, and lots of tired plow drivers out there. But cabin fever hasn’t sunk me yet. I still have coffee and enough food to get me by, and I’m lucky to have power, so I won’t freeze. Yes, I’m a lot luckier than some others out there right now.

So here, kind of randomly, are some photos from the storm and the shoveling. Wherever you are, I hope you’re warm and comfortable today.
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By StephenS | Posted in Non-D Day | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Photo Monday.

February 16, 2015 – 9:29 am

Click here to save children – Donate to Spare A Rose, Save a Child

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This is a (nearly) completely diabetes-free post featuring some photos from my recent business trip to London and my two and a half day stay in Brussels. I’m posting these for myself as much as anything, but I hope you enjoy at least some of them too.

Quickly, the diabetes part: Being in big cities often means a LOT of walking. A lot of walking is still exercise, and I was caught off guard by a couple of lows during the trip. By the way, you should see Sarah’s super blog post at Coffee and Insulin on traveling or living abroad. Otherwise, this was a great experience for me, especially in Brussels where I didn’t speak the language but still managed to keep from getting lost or going hungry.

Here they are… first, the London photos, then the ones from Brussels.

Thanks for looking in. Have a great week!
 
 
London

A panoramic view of Paddington station. I did not see any bears.

A panoramic view of Paddington station. I did not see any bears.

The Liverpool Street station. This is Sunday morning, about the slowest time all week. My hotel was very near here.

The Liverpool Street station. This is Sunday morning, about the slowest time all week. My hotel was very near here.

I actually ate Pheasant Curry... Seems pretentious, but it was also delicious.

I actually ate Pheasant Curry… Seems pretentious, but it was also delicious.

The Hippodrome Casino. I may have gone inside. I may have had scotch, neat.

The Hippodrome Casino. I may have gone inside. I may have had scotch, neat.

Picadilly Circus, about 11:00 p.m.

Picadilly Circus, about 11:00 p.m.

I stayed in a nice hotel. this was one of many paintings on the walls there, and it always caught my eye whenever I walked past.

I stayed in a nice hotel. this was one of many paintings on the walls there, and it always caught my eye whenever I walked past.

St. Paul's cathedral.

St. Paul’s cathedral.

Covent Garden.

Covent Garden.

I thought if they tried to give a place in the USA that name, there would be protests night and day and half of the rednecks in the south would have Dirty Dicks t-shirts.

I thought if they tried to give a place in the USA that name, there would be protests night and day and half of the rednecks in the south would have Dirty Dicks t-shirts.

On the same note, I thought the shape of this building was a little phallic. Beautiful, but phallic. Anybody want the office on the top floor?

On the same note, I thought the shape of this building was a little phallic. Beautiful, but phallic. Anybody want the office on the top floor?


 
 
Brussels

Looking down the Rue de la Regence, toward the Palais de Justice.

Looking down the Rue de la Regence, toward the Palais de Justice.

The Belgium parlaiment building. That's the Belgian flag on the left, and the European Union flag on the right.

The Belgium parlaiment building. That’s the Belgian flag on the left, and the European Union flag on the right.

The Parc de Bruxelles.

The Parc de Bruxelles.

There are city bike stands all over the city. When I saw this view, I just wanted to get on a bike and ride it all over.

There are city bike stands all over the city. When I saw this view, I just wanted to get on a bike and ride it all over.

Shoppers at Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Shoppers at Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

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Grand Place. This area is extremely touristy. But the archetecture is astounding.

Grand Place. This area is extremely touristy. But the archetecture is astounding.

The world famous Mannekin Pis. Meh.

The world famous Mannekin Pis. Meh.

Looking up through Mont des Arts toward the Palace Royale.

Looking up through Mont des Arts toward the Place Royale.

Looking in the opposite direction, from the palace side.

Looking in the opposite direction, from the palace side.

Place Royale

Place Royale

The fellow working on my delicious dinner one night. Even the Thai take-out food is awesome here.

The fellow working on my delicious dinner one night. Even the Thai take-out food is awesome here.

From my taxi to the train station, my one and only view of the EU general assembly building.

From my taxi to the train station, my one and only view of the EU general assembly building.


 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Travel | Also tagged , | Comments (3)

Christmas in NYC.

December 19, 2014 – 9:31 am

In my continued effort to feel happier and more holiday-like this December, I went with a friend on the bus to New York last Friday. Overall, my diabetes played nice this day.

If you live in my part of the world, you have countless tour bus companies at your disposal who will ferry you back and forth to NYC for the day. In fact, there are two that leave less than five minutes from my house. We take off early in the morning, hit the Big Apple around 10:00, and do and see everything we can until we leave around 6:30 in the evening.

Here are a few photos from that trip. For those of you who haven’t made it to New York before, I’ll try to describe each one. If you live in New York, I know… this is all the touristy stuff. But it’s fun to do during the holiday season. However, I’ll be happy to take your recommendation for a good restaurant in Manhattan next time I visit:)

Here we go:

Ground floor at Macy's Herald Square. This floor had been done up in red for the holidays for a number of years. Now it's decked out in white.

Ground floor at Macy’s Herald Square. This floor had been done up in red for the holidays for a number of years. Now it’s decked out in white. Note the figurines in the glass ball hanging from the ceiling. These are all over the ground floor.

Ice skating in Bryant Park. That's the New York Public Library in the background. Surrounding all this are scores of gift kiosks and places to grab a quick bite to eat. No wonder it's such a gathering place.

Ice skating in Bryant Park. That’s the New York Public Library in the background. Surrounding all this are scores of gift kiosks and places to grab a quick bite to eat. No wonder it’s such a gathering place.

The Christmas tree in Bryant Park.

The Christmas tree in Bryant Park.

The Christmas tree at the front of the New York Public Library. The NYPL is a good place to go any time of year. In addition to their amazing collection, it's one of the few free places in the city that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The Christmas tree at the front of the New York Public Library. The NYPL is a good place to go any time of year. In addition to their amazing collection, it’s one of the few free places in the city that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

One of the famous lion statues in front of the library, dressed in a wreath.

One of the famous lion statues in front of the library, dressed in a wreath.

The outside of Saks Fifth Avenue. In the background (look for the yellow & white flag) you can just make out the front of St. Patrick's cathedral, which is in the middle of extensive renovations.

The outside of Saks Fifth Avenue. In the background (look for the yellow & white flag) you can just make out the front of St. Patrick’s cathedral, which is in the middle of extensive renovations.

More ice skaters! Oh, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

More ice skaters! Oh, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

I've walked past Radio City Music Hall countless times, but I've never been inside.

I’ve walked past Radio City Music Hall countless times, but I’ve never been inside.

Looking down toward Times Square from 49th Street. If you look up, you can see the crystal ball that will drop on New Year's (where it now says 2014).

Looking down toward Times Square from 49th Street. If you look up, you can see the crystal ball that will drop on New Year’s (where it now says 2014).

This trip did make me feel a little better, for a little while anyway. I hope these photos do the same for you.

Enjoy the weekend!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Travel | Also tagged , , , | Comments (5)

(Not quite) Wordless Wednesday.

June 11, 2014 – 9:52 am

It’s early June, and where I live that means the garden is starting to deliver on the hopes from early Spring.

Here are a few shots of my garden, an extra planter where we’re growing some greens and oregano, and some of the bounty we’ve harvested already. I’ve got a veggie garden with two kinds of tomatoes, jalopeno and poblano peppers, green beans, three kinds of lettuce, spinach, and red potatoes (growing under the lettuce). In the planter there is red leaf lettuce, radicchio, and oregano. There’s also a separate herb garden that includes some strawberry plants. Some of this, as you can see, has been harvested and eaten already. Included in the photos is Boomer the Dog who, like all the other dogs who have ever lived with us, absolutely loves green beans.

So far, everything is growing well. But something keeps eating my squash blooms! They’re in a separate garden not pictured here. As soon as they get blooms, something comes along at night and eats them before they can grow anything edible. If you have any ideas what it might be and what I might be able to do about it, let me know. And please excuse the weeds you see, which I haven’t been able to trim/pull/Roundup yet.

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Happy Wednesday!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Wordless Wednesday | Also tagged , , | Comments (6)

Happy Memorial Day! Sunday Snapshots.

May 26, 2014 – 12:15 pm

Today is the Memorial Day holiday here in the USA, a day set aside to honor the courageous men and women who have served, and are serving, in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. That includes my niece Jessica and my niece Beth, both currently serving in the United States Army.

In addition to solemn remembrances for those who have fallen in America’s conflicts, this weekend is the unofficial kickoff of Summer here in the States. Maureen and I and Boomer the dog spent Sunday morning at Fort McHenry, located on a point in Baltimore’s harbor. In addition to being the birthplace of The Star Spangled Banner (America’s national anthem), Fort McHenry is absolutely the best, least discovered picnic spot in the entire city. Lots of open space, great views of the harbor from three sides, and a walking/jogging/bike path around the whole thing.

Instead of boring you with even more words, I’m just going to let these photos roll, while wishing you a Happy Memorial Day. Enjoy!

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Finally… As we were driving away from the fort, we caught a glimpse of a cruise ship in the distance, getting ready for its next outing. Every time I see a ship like this sitting in port, I wonder where they’re heading next. Who knows? But they’ll probably have a great time.

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By StephenS | Posted in Non-D Day | Also tagged | Comments (2)
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