Bowles Blog

Bobby Law tours Washington DC... sort of

Bobby Law has been traveling fairly frequently for work once again.  Rather than one or two day trips, it seems more often he's been gone for three or four days at a time.  Fortunately, technology makes it fairly easy to keep in touch no matter how many miles apart we are...

I think it was during his first trip to California this spring that Bobby Law started taking  selfies and texting them to me.  Um, get your mind out of the gutter! The reversible camera on the iPhone makes it so easy. I repeat, mind out of the gutter!  Here's one of the first photos he sent:

He was near Half Moon Bay, CA and ventured down onto the beach to snap this.  Well, apparently Ebby commented on his teeth or his expression or something because a few trips later, we started getting pictures like this:

It's genius really, no silly grin or crazy eyes.  Just the top of his head--which I thought was a porcupine (or hedgehog) more than once.  On his last trip to DC a couple of weeks ago, he went full-on tourist around the city.  Check out his zany adventure, he hit all the popular spots...

 

Speaking of President Lincoln...

No big surprise that he stopped here:

But here, really?

At some point, Bobby Law 1. got tired of walking and/or 2. saw the shiny bikes in the Capital Bikeshare rack.  They were having a special, $50 to join for a year and the membership is good at their partner locations including the Hubway in Boston. 

He joined.  He got a bike.  He rode.   

Disclaimer: He did not have a helmet.

Bad Bobby Law!

Disclaimer #2:  There's a reason he's one half of the Idiot Brothers duo

Of course it just makes this video all the more outrageous. 

It's Bobby Law on a bike, Helmetless in Washington DC, the selfie video!

{Make sure you have your volume on, the commentary is priceless}

 

He did indeed live to tell the tale (and text the video).

Imagine my surprise when he sent this photo the next day from the posh shuttle to the airport:

Bobby Law, that's the wrong end of you!

Until next time, stay safe,

Beach Trip #4

Going to the beach was written on the kitchen chalkboard to-do list last weekend so of course we had to go.

Even if Bobby Law "tweaked his back" and had to stay home.  He was grimacing in pain very convincingly as he helped me pack the car...

Ridin' solo, that's me.  Solo plus 4 kids:  Ebby, Katherine, Will and Cuyler.

Usually when we go to the beach any foul moods, grumpiness and/or whiny-ness that has surfaced ahead of our departure disipates once we get there.  Usually.

This time we had issues right up until we were packing  to head home.  Then everyone was happy--all at the same time. 

No major meltdowns or anything, just a nagging buzz of discontent (texting drama, wanting to read in the car, Mommy crankiness, etc.).  Still, we managed to have a pretty good time.  And I've got the pictures to prove it...

The sand was extra soft and deep.  Even the Harbormaster on his ATV stayed clear of the deep ruts.

It wasn't too crowded but it was windy so we set up beside the car.

A variety of amusements were unpacked

The boys unearthed a treasure

Cuyler wanted to take it home so I could use it in my junk garden, but alas, it didn't fit too well in Dad's car.  I couldn't imagine how I'd explain that a rusty metal fence post ripped a tear in his leather upholstery...so we left the pole at the beach.

We did bring this rock home.  Cuyler found it and it looks like it's been painted with black watercolor.  Very cool.

After successfully grilling 4 hamburgers and 2 hotdogs, it was time for s'mores. 

I am such a master marshmallow toaster.

I brought along a new addition to the fixins.

Ebby and Katherine approved.

After dinner Cuyler did a scientific demonstration involving rocks inside a sand bucket.

{Spoiler:  The rocks didn't fall out of the bucket}

The beach was very rocky and seaweed abounded, likely due to the nor'easter earlier in the week. That meant there wasn't much swimming, although all 4 of them went down to the water at one point.  

My peace lasted about 3 minutes before they came back.

Soon afterward, Ebby and Katherine went for a walk.  I still can't believe they found this:

First of all, who leaves a huge bunch of balloons on the beach??  Second of all, what a great photo prop! 

Third of all, we're environmentally responsible so we popped all the balloons and picked up all the debris and put it in our trash.  No birds will choke because of our negligence.

Ok, all but one balloon.  Cuyler took this little one home.

As we packed up and headed out we were treated to the remains of a beautiful sunset.

Until next time DUX,

 

 

Beach Trip Cost Running Tally:

Non-resident oversand sticker price for 2012:   $295

Number of trips so far this year: 4

Price per trip: $73.75

 

 

 

Checking in on Juniper Road

It's summertime so you know what that means on Juniper Road, right?

A visit from one or more out of town siblings, of course.

This year Pa will be hosting Aunt Louise.  Tooky and Carolyn won't be making the trip from Hawaii.  Maybe we should be making a trip out there...

Back to Louise.  She hasn't seen the downstairs renovations yet.  New, open concept kitchen with new countertops and cabinets.  If you could only see them.  Unfortunately they're currently buried under a bit of clutter.

That's where I come in.

Yep, after a months long hiatus, I'm back on the job.

Because left to his own devices and chaotic schedule, this is what happens when Pa is in charge of keeping things tidy.  Pa's cleaning method can best be described as "pile and abandon".

Oh no, Aunt Louise, where are you going to sleep??

In his defense, he had some insulation work done  and had to move everything out of the way.   6 months ago...

No worries, this is what I do...

Ah, much better.

Next up:  the kitchen and dining room.  Louise arrives on the 20th so wish me luck!

Shades of Snow White...

I leave the kids alone for an hour or so and this is what I come home to:

 

(Not to worry, after a momentary collapse for effect our "victim" was fine. Though she did take a 3 hour nap shortly thereafter...)

Beach, Take 3

Remember how it was hot and humid on Saturday over Memorial Day weekend?  That's the day we decided to squeeze all of our exciting activities into for the entire weekend.

During the morning, we hit up the North River Arts Festival.

As usual, we bought items at the book sale and the consignment shop over the library. 

We admired the art and Cuyler went over to talk to the man who sold him a "Bruins bird" last year.  It's a carved wooden goldfinch and last year the artist had a sign that read 'To Ensure a Stanley Cup victory'.  Cuyler used his own $18 to buy one and he brought it to the family room to watch all of the games with us.  And sure enough, when the Bruins actually WON THE STANLEY CUP (I'm not over it), Cuyler's Bruins bird was there, whooping it up with the rest of us.  We thought it was sweet that he went over and told the man about it this year.  He said he was going to use the story as part of his sales pitch...

We also made a quick stop by the silent auction area to check out the lampshades.

  I had a vested interest--both Bubbe and I donated a lampshade.  At last peek on Saturday, her lampshade was up to $75 and mine was at $40. Yay us!

Now, what was I going to blog about...oh yes, the beach.

So, we invited 4 people to come to the beach with us.  Since there are 5 of us and Bobby Law's car only holds 8 people it was a good thing not everyone took us up on the offer.

Just after arrival...

The water was cold, but certain parties were not deterred.

Exhibit A:  Cuyler

Exhibit B:  Reilly
Yes, I did remind Cuyler to take off his shirt.  No, Ebby didn't quite catch it when he threw it back at her.  Which led to this, our human clothesline:

After some time by the cooking fire, the shirt was dry.  Enough.

So yes, the identity of one of our guests has been revealed...

And the other?  It's Nana!  (and Will)

We'll expect to see you next time, Bubbe & Uncle .

I was chastised for not bringing the bag of plastic checkers so I told them to improvise. They managed.

For dinner we had chicken and hotdogs. 
Remember that time Reilly tried cooking her own hotdog and she used a plastic spoon as a grill tool?   Yeeeeah, that didn't go so well.  So she switched to a regular fork.

You know what comes after dinner, right?

After s'mores the boys took to the sand to amuse themselves.

First with castle building...

Ooooh, random drippy castle alert.
  Not ours, but I'm an admirer.

Then with a game involving a small shovel and a tennis ball...

If you're thinking 'there's no way that could've ended well', you're wrong.  Well, unless you consider the two of them chasing each other with shovels full of sand 'not well'.  Then you'd be right.

We didn't bring a lot of wood (or sweatshirts) so we opted to pack up before the night settled in.  Until next time, Duxbury Beach...

 

Beach Trip Cost Running Tally:

Non-resident oversand sticker price for 2012:   $295

Number of trips so far this year: 3

Price per trip: $98.34