A photo a day this leap year

Just for fun I'm taking a photo each day in 2012. Apparently, it's a leap year, so it'll be 366.

So far it's been a fun creative outlet and an easy way to chronicle daily life in Massachusetts. The photos have to be from my smartphone to make uploading easy enough to complete each day; so picture quality is sometimes suspect. And I'm using a Polaroid-type filter, which I might end up loving or hating in the end.

Anyway, here's what I've got so far...



What creative projects are you planning on 2012?

One family from Hudson's 2011

Thought some of you might enjoy this. We took a stab at the annual holiday letter this year in the cards we mailed out...

Season’s greetings everyone!

Another year has gone by and because I’m not as good as I should be at keeping in touch, here is a family update...

Will spent his terrible twos not being quite as terrible as he could have been. His top phrases of 2011 included “Will you play with me?” and “No Levi.” Each of which was uttered several dozen times per day. His favorite activities in 2011 included play dough, puzzles, blocks, toy cars - and throwing rocks in bodies of water. He does like being a big brother, so far, but still does not like eating more than a dozen foods, 11 if you don't include juice pops. He likes to set up his trains in the bathroom and believes wearing shoes is a punishment. For Christmas he told Santa he wanted “Diesel.” Not action star Vin Diesel from the movie Fast and Furious, but a curmudgeonly character on the Thomas the Train show.

Laura spent 2011 in the hardest role of all: living with three males. She spent the first half of the year as uncomfortable as you might expect and the second half more comfortable, but also more tired. She’s looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep when she retires. I honestly don’t know how the moms of the world do it. Recently, she said this revealing quote with her characteristic wit: “I sometimes think you boys are all conspiring against me.” I’m sure it’s sometimes tough for her to discern which of the males in her house whine the most; my guess is the 32-year-old. But Laura does her best to balance it all: breadwinner, bread maker, baby soother, boss lady, Star Wars hater.

In many ways my 2011 was a lot like previous years. I spent a considerable amount of time on highways after I missed my correct exit. I deliberated until December to spend money I got for my birthday in July. I continued a love/hate relationship with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Will and I eat almost every day for lunch. The highlight of my year, besides the birth of my second son of course, has been trying to start a community garden in town. The irony is I don't have much of a green thumb. So I'll probably just let Will run our plot in the spring. When I’m not working various part-time journalism jobs, I’m taking care of the cherubs a few days a week, crashing stay-at-home mom playgroups and story times.

Levi spent half of 2011 in a comfortably warm and peaceful semi-darkness where everything was perfect and quiet. And the other half of the year he spent wondering who he wronged in a previous life to be stuck with such a wacky dad and even wackier brother. Levi enjoys messing with anything Will is playing with and chewing on anything that will fit in his mouth, including his own shoes. He is a curious introvert who makes you think he’s harmless, but if you turn your back for a second, he’ll scoot across the house and climb up some piece of furniture looking for trouble. His goofy grin confirms how proud he is of himself for achieving such feats. For Christmas he asked for world peace, but instead he’s getting more bibs for his unrelenting drool.

Wishing you tidings of great joy, Bobb

Just a few hours left to 2011. Forgive me if the ubiquitous family photo slideshow of the year is a bit trite. We just can't help ourselves.



If you'd like some theme music while you watch, our family enjoyed this tune in 2011. Just press play simultaneously on the slideshow and the song for the full effect.



Wishing you joy, love, and peace in 2012. Safe travels!

MA351 featured on BostInno.com

Here's a nice profile story of our little Project. A reporter for a start-up known as BostInno.com called and put the article together. We're very grateful for the chance to spread the word about Bay State adventures.

Forming the Massachusetts 351 Club

UPDATED: I need to reschedule this event. We could try a different date this spring or wait until next year. I'm up for people's suggestions.

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Perhaps it is time for Massachusetts 351ers to unite.

One of the best parts of this experience - attempting to visit and photo every municipality in the state - has been hearing about other people's similar missions.

Vermonters have the Vermont 251 Club (active since 1954). I think its time we Bay Staters do something similar.

Here's the idea: to be a member of the Massachusetts 351 Club you have to "enjoy traveling the main streets and back roads of the Bay State."

That's it. No dues. No application. No test. Though most members will be thinking about, in the middle of, or finished with a quest to visit every town in the state.

What's the benefit? One day each year, every willing Club member will come together at a predetermined location and hang out. We can share stories, photos, tips. And food.

Maybe down the line we could invite a special speaker each year. Wonder if Doris Kearns Goodwin is available. Or Gov. Patrick. Or Matt Damon.

But I digress.

I declare the best place to meet would be the geographic center of the state, a town called Rutland. And what better establishment to patronize than one named Tavern On The Common?

When? In honor of the anniversary of our fair state's statehood, I suggest the annual gathering of the Massachusetts 351 Club should happen at lunchtime on the Saturday following the date the state joined the union, Feb. 6, 1788.

So the first annual meeting of the Massachusetts 351 Club should happen:

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at high noon.
At the Tavern On The Common, 249 Main Street, Rutland, MA 01543.

Who's with me?! If you think you can make it, please shoot me an e-mail at massachusetts351@gmail.com.

Peabody

Hatfield

Goshen

Colrain

Whately

Sorting out the towns

OK, after much sorting and double-checking and formatting, I believe our official town count is 182 193. If I am not mistaken, Laura and I have visited 182 193 of 351 municipalities (that's cities and towns but not villages) in Massachusetts.

Over the years, some pictures got misplaced on various computer folders. A handful of the snapshots were so terrible that we're not going to count them - we'll have to return for more legit photos in those towns.

Laura and I spent this weekend without the kids in Western Massachusetts and were actually able to make some MA351 progress. We stayed in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast in Colrain called High Pocket. And we managed to get four more towns (Goshen, Colrain, Whatley, and Hatfield) before rushing home to pick up the boys from their grandparents' house.

The takeaway from the trip: There is so much farmland out in northwestern Massachusetts. It really is amazingly quaint, quiet, and beautiful out there.

When I got home, I got right to work determining what our town count is officially at. I think I finally got the list accurate, in a Flickr set, alphabetically. So here it is:


If you'd like some musical accompaniment while watching the slideshow, play the video below simultaneously.



Enjoy!

Shopping on the edge of Hudson, Berlin

Wherever you go, there you are. But where exactly is here when you're sitting in a parking spot with a town sign next to you?

It's not some version of limbo. It's a parking spot in front of the BJ's in Hudson ... or Berlin ... or both. I pick in this particular spot just to amuse myself - even though there are often spaces closer to the entrance.

If I angle the car just right, I can be in Berlin sitting in the front seat, while the boys are in Hudson in the back seat.


Read more of this blog post at telegram.com/hudson

Growing a mustache for charity in Hudson

This is the lesson I take away from my six-day experiment: Never underestimate the generosity of family and friends.

Last November I heard about Movember.org, and ever since I had been debating whether I too should grow a mustache to raise money for the fight against prostate cancer.

Pro: Raising money for a good cause is rewarding.

Con: I look ridiculous with a mustache.



Read more at my Hudson Living blog.

The case against the Wegmans (in Northborough) hype

Let's get this out of the way up front: I don't have anything against Wegmanshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif. It is probably a nice store. I bet I will shop there someday. My wife has been eager to get to the Northborough location since Opening Day.

What I take issue with is the hype surrounding Wegmans.

Which media organization talked to small business owners in Northborough and surrounding towns to ask what they thought about the arrival of Wegmans? Is there only one side to this story?

Read more at my Telegram.com/Hudson blog.