Bob Payette's Links & Photos

Settling in nicely here in Titusville..

2012-01-11T17:58:00.000-05:00

We've been in Florida for ten days now and are settling in nicely. Our site is the same one we had last year, but we parked "face out" rather than "face in", and it's a much nicer arrangement for privacy and livability. Last week we attended a concert in Melbourne; this weekend it's a play at the Titusville Playhouse downtown....and we're getting in a lot of relaxing and reading.

We arrived in Titusville Fl on January 2nd, 2012

2012-01-03T11:33:00.000-05:00

So, we left Preston on December 30^th for our trek to Florida and arrived here on January 2^nd. We were scheduled to arrive on January 1^st, but we had some mechanical issues that forced us to stay on the road for an additional day. Long story short is we had multiple tire blow-outs, a result of an inside duel that blew and we didn’t realize it thinking it was a truck backfiring as it passed us. This blown inside duel did not affect the handling in any way….there was no vibrations or shimmy’s and a cursory inspection after the loud bang did not reveal any issues. From there it all went downhill, that’s my story and I’m sticking to itJ.

We’re not ensconced at our wonderful campsite at Manatee Hammock in Titusville. It’s “chilly” but about to get warmer in the next week or so, so we’ll be taking our time setting up camp and unwinding from the travel-down adventures.

Starting to think about going South!

2011-12-09T06:07:00.001-05:00

When I find myself up at dawn looking at the weather on-line, the "things to do" and events in Titusville I know it's getting close to aim the rig South. It's currently 30 deg out, and 69 deg in Titusville where we'll be wintering as of the first of the year. Today we'll go out to the rig and start doing some preliminary packing. A lot of the stuff has to be loaded "last minute" because of the cold, but we can do some stuff now and at least start to get organized for the trip. You can click the Title on this post to visit the website of Manatee Hammock where we'll be wintering.

2011 Seaport Sams Christmas Party

2011-12-05T07:57:00.000-05:00

Click the title link to view a Picasa Album from the Seaport Sams 2011 Christmas Party held 0n 12/04/2011 at Ocean Beach Park in New London CT.

AT&T Customer Service can be good....

2011-11-18T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I'm in the Wal-Mart parking lot with Kincaid, waiting for Alice who is picking up some groceries, and I hit my Kindle app on the i-phone to sync my current read (11-22-63 by S.King) to my i-pad at home....and it won't load. So I tried to get the Hartford Courant, and when that didn't work any other website....and the bottom line is I couldn't get out the the 3G. Alice comes back quickly, so I forget about it...until this morning. Again, she's run into a store to pick up something and I'm waiting with Kincaid....and I can't get out with the phone. At home, the library, anyplace I have Wi-Fi the phone has been wonderful. So, long story short I call AT&T and within ten minutes they had me fixed right up. Apparently the phone had "locked" into one of the cell towers, which is why she worked on wi-fi and not 3G and just sent an on-line signal to clear it. My point is it was a quick, positive AT&T customer service experience and you don't always hear about the good things...just the negative ones.

Surprise visitor trick or treating on Halloween day!

2011-11-01T07:17:00.000-04:00

Alice and myself were surprised to look out the window and see this cute little one looking for treats in our front yard. She ate a bit, scampered around and joined her mother in the back yard before heading off into the wood.

A really nice Fish Stew Alice's mother cut out of the newspaper a long time ago.....

2011-10-18T21:17:00.000-04:00

Fish Stew

Preparation: 35 minutes

Total time, 35 minutes

Calories/serving: about 350 calories

Serving 6, - makes about 7 cups

Ingredients

3 slices bacon

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped red or green pepper

1 8 oz. bottle of clam juice

1/3 cup dry white wine

1/4 -1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/4 - 1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 bay leaf

1 lb. cod or other white fish, cut into 1” pieces

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups milk

1 8 oz. can cream-style corn

1/2 cup half and half

1/3 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. In 10” skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove; drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp.

fat from skillet. Add onion, carrots, celery and red or green pepper. Cook, stirring often, 8 minutes or until onion is

soft. Add clam juice, wine, salt, mustard, black pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add fish, Reduce heat; cover

and simmer 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork. Remove bay leaf.

2. Meanwhile, in a 3-quart sauce-pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually stir

in milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until thickened. Stir in corn and half and half;

heat through. Add fish mixture. Crumble bacon. Before serving, sprinkle soup with bacon and cheese.

**Note:

Cheddar cheese ranges in flavor from mild to extra-sharp. If recipe calls for shredded cheese, the cheese can be

purchased in 4-oz. pack, but it is more economical to buy it in a wedge or stick and shred it yourself. Cheese keeps

best when refrigerated, but can also be frozen. Wrap pieces no larger than 1/2 lb. in moisture and vapor-resistant

wrap and store a 0°F. Frozen cheese will retain its flavor but may become crumbly.

From the kitchen of Alice & Bob P.

Country Aire Campout with Seaport Sams Camping Club

2011-10-11T21:16:00.001-04:00

Click the TITLE LINK above to view a Picasa Photo Album from this event.

Deer Haven Turkey Pot Luck October 2nd, 2011

2011-10-02T14:49:00.000-04:00

JEANNETTE MARQUIS Obituary: View JEANNETTE MARQUIS's Obituary by Daytona Beach News-Journal

2011-09-25T18:14:00.000-04:00

JEANNETTE MARQUIS Obituary: View JEANNETTE MARQUIS's Obituary by Daytona Beach News-Journal

A very nice lady passed away on September 21st, 2011...Jeanette Marquis

2011-09-22T16:26:00.001-04:00

I posted this on my Facebook account....it's terrible not knowing how to adequately respond :(.

Robert R. Payette
My mother's brother Raymond's wife Jeanette Marquis died yesterday, in her mid-ninety's. A full life lived does not lessen the sorrow of losing her....but the memories live on with a smile for a life well lived.
Light a Candle
By Kathy Holler
(Contact: Kathy.Holler@gov.ab.ca)

Light a candle, it'll help to remind you
Of your time together on earth,
and as the flame flickers, remember
Her kindness, her goodness, her worth.
So, glow little candle, that briefly,
You'll know that her memory can't die,
As you see her sweet face in the glowing,
Shed a tear, say a prayer, then goodbye.

Collage from the just completed Seaport Sams Camping Club Lobster Cookout at Deer Haven Campground

2011-09-12T07:20:00.001-04:00

Click Image for an enlargement!

We just came back from our Deer Haven Lobster Cook-out in Lisbon CT....

2011-09-11T15:32:00.000-04:00

We just came back from our Lobster Cook-out at Deer Haven in Lisbon CT. Click the title link to transport to a Picasa On-Line Photo Album from this event.....once in, click "Slideshow" to see the snaps.

UploadTestonMarkO'sCartoonStrips

2011-09-11T15:23:00.002-04:00

We lost power Sunday at 6:15am

2011-08-29T16:58:00.002-04:00

Camping in the motor home in the back of the house - could be worst - no clew when we'll get power back...

Friday sept 2nd: still no power :(. Thank God for the motor home!!

Sunday, Sept 4th - Power restored in the afternoon -- we're at Deer Haven CG for the week.

Well, Irene is on its way for better or worst!

2011-08-27T11:27:00.000-04:00

We've lived in this area a long time but have never seen the windows at the local Wal-Mart boarded up...I'd say they are taking it seriously!

Outside stuff in or stored
Groceries, water, pet supplies all set
Electronics charged, motor home tanks filled, ice being made....

We'll see how it all works out...

A cartoon from Mark O'Neill

2011-08-26T14:59:00.001-04:00

Thoughts on Steve Jobs resignation from Apple....

2011-08-25T07:54:00.001-04:00

Way "back in the day" my first computer (one that I owned and was not work related) was an Apple IIe. That was in the day of the IBM Personal Computer, and it was a conscious choice to go the Apple route. I loved it, learned to tinker a bit with it....learned to do things with it that seemed like miracles at the time. From the IIe I purchased a IIc, and my final foray was for into the Applie IIGS (graphics-sound). When Apple developed the Mac and discontinued the Apple II series my choice than was to go to the Mac or switch over the PC. Because of work I went the PC route, as that was the route the Company was going. At the office we went from 386's to 486's to the very powerful AS400 mini-computer from which (through an emulation card) I could run PC software without having an additional computer and monitor on my desk. Interesting days!! I never got into I pods, but jumped back to Apple with the I-phone and the I-pads and have loved my rekindling of a relationship with Apple. They make wonderful hardware-software machines that do what they're supposed to do....they DO just do it.
My old IIe was "signed" by Steve Jobs and Woz....I sure wish I still had it! Steve will be missed by Apple fans for sure...he's kept personal computers a lot more interesting then they would have been without him.

Governor Malloy tours the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston CT...

2011-08-23T06:10:00.000-04:00

http://youtu.be/Y78vyH1txq4 On August 15, 2011 Gov. Malloy toured the former Norwich Hospital site in Preston CT. He is the first sitting Governor to have visited the property since the State abandoned the property twelve years ago. I was invited by the Preston Redevelopment Agency to accompany them and shoot some snaps and video, and this is the clip I produced. Click the link at the beginning or the Title link to see the YouTube video....approx. 15 minutes in length.

A great day ending with bad news :(....

2011-08-22T19:30:00.000-04:00

We spent the day with long-time old friends, mucking around on the Pawcatuck River in Westerly RI in their Whaler....had a great day re-connecting, having a nice picnic lunch.....enjoying the August perfect day.

On arriving home I called some of our camping friends to reconnect as she had a heart attack a month or so ago...and found out that in the interim she's home and doing well but that HE has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Bummer does not BEGIN to describe this turn of events :(.

We just came back from the Seaport Sam's August Camp-out at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds

2011-08-14T21:34:00.001-04:00

Click the title link to view some snaps and video (YouTube) from our weekend activities at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds where we camped with our camping group the Seaport Sams. The highlight of the weekend was the Buffalo Tour....

Click this link Picasa Web Album, Brooklyn Campout August 2011 to visit an album that will enable you to view the photo's as a slideshow or print them out in high resolution.

Just got in,and we have the rig cooling off to go out again :).

2011-08-10T16:53:00.000-04:00

LOVE these busy days of summer camping! We just got back last Sunday from the Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival in Campton, NH. We cleaned up the rig, did some hatch gear re-arranging, and have her in the "launch" position for our weekend Seaport Sams camp-out at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds. September will be busy with a Bluegrass Festival in central Vermont, a Seaport Sams Lobster Cook-Out and God knows what else. Of course if the market keeps sliding (or plummeting) I might just park the rig on the side of the road and weep!

Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival, August 2011

2011-08-09T07:38:00.001-04:00

Several members of the Quinnabaug Travelers and Seaport Sams Good Sam camping clubs attended the 19th Annual Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival in Campton NH from August 4th-7th. Click the title link on this post to see some snaps and video clips from this event.

Ginny-B Campout, July 14-17, 2011

2011-07-17T16:18:00.000-04:00

We just came back from a camp-out with Seaport Sams to Ginny-B CG in Foster RI. Click the colage above for an enlargement, and click title link to transport to the full Picasa Web Album of snapshots from this event.

Off the communications grid for a few days...

2011-07-14T06:40:00.000-04:00

We're heading out to Ginny-B Campground in Foster RI for the long weekend. It's a great campground BUT it's located in communications hell. Barely any cell coverage at all, regardless of who you're using. We go there once a year and it's kind of good to get unavailable for a few days:).... We'll eat well, swop lies and tales with good friends and get some reading in. What's not to like? :)

Summer and the living isn't always easy...

2011-06-27T20:48:00.000-04:00

So, I started out digging out the power washer from the shed...getting that running and stopping the hoses from leaking...it's amazing how things can go to hell in a basket just sitting there...

Long story short we've started power washing the house, and then I diverted to the awning and roof of the rig...thank God David took pity on the old man and helped out!

The problem with reading a really good book......

2011-06-25T07:31:00.000-04:00

The problem with reading a really good book is that it spoils you for a long time. It creates a bit of havoc in your routine in that you put off things that need doing, go to bed later than you should and get up earlier than you want to…ignore those around you and generally turn into a very un-social person for a period of time. Thank you very much Wally Lamb!

“I Know This Much Is True” by Wally Lamb is the book, the really good book, I refer to. It’s probably my favorite book ever, and I read a lot. The problem with having a favorite book that is 897 pages long is that you KNOW that every time you re-read it (and you will) you’re going to piss off your family, friends, and associates for a week as you turn inward. That having been said, knowing this book is on my bookshelf is like knowing you have money in the bank….it’s reassuring to know she’s there and she gets better with age. We’re planning on moving to Florida in the next few years, and its books like this that will force me to box up and ship the library. I can’t imagine NOT having them close by. Our family is into e-books (Kindle, I-Pad’s, I-Phone’s etc) but the physical books we have seem to connect us to our earlier days, our journey through life as our tastes in books and our interests expanded and contracted over time. Does that make any sense?

I’m sure some of the appeal of “I Know This Much Is True” is the location of the novel (SE CT) and the former Norwich Hospital which is in our town of Preston. Also in the work the Mohegan tribe is coming of age with its new Mohegan Sun Casino and some of the characters in the novel are Mohegan’s….as is our oldest son Anthony (adopted at age 3 and a half, found his biological parents at age 21 just before the Tribe was federally recognized and the Casino approved)… But even if we lived in Los Angeles and had no family connection with the Tribe…the story of the Birdsey brothers would be as compelling. It’s a book that grabs you early on and doesn’t let go. Initially I found myself “speed reading” a bit just dying to find out what was going to happen next, which is OK as the next time(s) you go in you can sip rather than slurp….enjoy the progression rather than race to the summit if you will, and the subsequent reads don’t disappoint as you find things you missed during the first trip.

If you haven’t read I Know This Much Is True you have something to really look forward to…enjoy it! I do.

2011 RI Samboree

2011-06-19T16:55:00.000-04:00

Click the title link to view a short clip from the 2011 RI Good Sam Samboree we just attended this weekend.

Picasa Web Album from the 2011 CT Good Sam Samboree

2011-06-13T18:28:00.004-04:00

Kincaid waiting patiently in the rig....

Click the title link to transport to a Picasa Web Album of photo's and video clips from the 2011 CT Samboree, a Good Sam affair that was held the weekend of June 11th, 2011 at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds in Brooklyn CT.

Images from the 2011 CT Good Sam Samboree

2011-06-12T19:54:00.003-04:00

Click the Title link to view to short YouTube clip from our 2011 CT Samboree that was held at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds in Brooklyn CT.

Panoramic image from the 2011 CT Samboree

Additional Panoramic image from the 2011 CT Samboree

The Connecticut Good Sam Samboree is coming right up!

2011-06-01T08:56:00.000-04:00

The Connecticut Samboree (CT Good Sams) is being held June 10th-12th at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds in Brooklyn CT. Applications are available for download from the following link at the CT Good Sams website:http://rpayette.netfirms.com/connecticutgoodsamswebsite/html/2011_ct_samboree.html

2011 CT Samboree

rpayette.netfirms.com

The CT Good Sams is the umbrella organization for 13 member Chapters in the State of CT. Annually the State Good Sam organizations hosts the CT Samboree, usually in June, at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds in Brooklyn CT.

Camping at Deer Haven CG for the Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-28T18:50:00.001-04:00

Click the title link to a panoramic Photosynth image from our weekend here at Deer Haven CG in Lisbon CT.

Gmail - Photo memories of Rick (Eric) Hamel as published by the Neilan Funeral Home on their website - rpayette2@gmail.com

2011-05-24T16:05:00.002-04:00

Click the title link above to transport to the slide-show presentation produced by the Neilan web site.

We just came back from Mineral Springs CG our weekend digs with the Seaports Sams Camping Club

2011-05-15T14:43:00.001-04:00

We just came back from Mineral Springs CG in Stafford Springs CT, our weekend camp-out with the Seaport Sams Camping Club. Click the photo above for an enlargement of the panoramic, or click the Title to view a short Picasa album from the event.

Click here to link to a Photosynth image from this camp out.

Deer Haven Campout, April 2011

2011-05-02T07:04:00.001-04:00

Joann Paradis took some photo's at the Deer Haven Campout in April (we were still in Florida) and I've made them into a collage. Click the photo for an enlargement or the title link to the full Picasa photo album.

Jane Jennings Baker Obituary

2011-05-01T19:08:00.000-04:00

Click the title link above for the Jane Jennings Baker obituary.

Jane and Alice, Christmas 2010

2011-05-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is a photo of Jane and Alice at Christmas, just a few days before Alice and myself went South for our snow-bird hiatus. We had planned on getting together again for Easter 2011, but by than she was in the hospital in Worchester.

Our good friend Jane Jennings Baker died Thursday, April 29th, 2011

2011-04-30T06:33:00.000-04:00

Jane died last night, April 29th, 2011. She is pictured in the photo at left with her husband Dick at Crater Lake in their beloved Oregon during our trip out to visit them in 2008. She was like family and will be greatly missed.

Playing with Photosynth

2011-04-29T15:41:00.000-04:00

This morning I was reading the NYT Teck column (David Pogue) and he provided some good information on I-phone photo apps. I've been been using a few different panoramic apps, but PHOTOSYNTH really blows me away. Click the Title Link to see a pano we shot this afternoon at our home in Preston.

Florida trip, 2010-2011

2011-04-29T10:43:00.000-04:00

Click the title link to view some photo's from our recent "winterization" in Florida.

Time is getting short for our winter hiatus in Titusville....

2011-03-22T22:05:00.000-04:00

It's getting "long in the tooth" for our camping season here at Manatee Hammock in Titusville Florida, with just over a week to go before we pack up and head for the West coast of Florida and than points North on our way back to Connecticut. The weather has been absolutely perfect, and I'm hesitant to say that too loudly because we do understand that the winter in the Northeast has been unusually nasty....Our hope is that we bring the good weather home with us. We'll be missing the first Seaport Sams camp-out on April 15th as we'll still be on the road, but we'll be back out again for the May camp-out in May at Mineral Springs in Stafford Springs.

Kincaid has LOVED being a Florida puppy. He walks me a LOT and that's a good thing for both of us:)...

Melbourne Municipal Band "Swingtime" Tribute to the Big Bands Concert

2011-03-17T08:46:00.002-04:00

Alice and myself, along with some friends from our Seaport Sams Camping Club wintering with us here in Titusville Fl, attended a great "Swingtime" concert on March 16th at the Melbourne Auditorium. This will be our last concert here in Florida before we head back North early April, so it's a bit bitter-sweet.

Dining out at Patrick AFB....

2011-03-15T13:00:00.000-04:00

On Sunday the 13th of March a large group of Seaport Samers went to brunch at Patrick AFB, which is about 45 minutes South of our wintering digs in Titusville Fl. Here are a few photo's from this wonderful champaign brunch.
Top Photo: Lenny and Hazel Albee
Middle Photo: The Group of Seaport Samers
Bottom photo: The beach behind the Club.

Delta rocket launch as viewed from Manatee Hammock, Titusville Fl on March 11th, 2011

2011-03-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

Click the title link to see some stills and video clips from today's rocket launch of a Delta Rocket at Cape Canaveral....twas a good show!!

Delta Rocket Launch on Friday, March 11th, 2011

2011-03-11T19:06:00.000-05:00

Tico Warbird 2011 Airshow, Spacecoast Regional Airport, Titusville, Fl.

2011-03-11T18:50:00.001-05:00

Today we went to the air show in Titusville...click the title link to see some stills and video clips from the event.

Waiting for Discovery to land at the Kennedy Space Center, March 9th, 2011

2011-03-09T12:53:00.000-05:00

Shuttle Discovery has a perfect launch Feb 24th, 2011

2011-02-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

Photo: Waiting for the launch of Discovery at the Manatee Hammock CG in Titusville FL, where we're wintering with a group from the Seaport Sams Camping Club.

Video below: 45 second clip of the launch, as seen from Manatee Hammock.

Making the decision: Relocate to Florida?

2011-02-18T21:54:00.000-05:00

It's been a great hiatus here at Manatee Hammock in Titusville FL...we're really enjoying the area, the climate and the ambiance. One of our jobs down here this season is to look into moving permanently from CT to FL and I can see that happening. We love spending more time outside, the lack of snow and ice....the early dinners and the whole retiree scene. It's been a trip!

Kincaid at the dog park with the new dog Charlie, Feb 12th, 2011...Titusville FL

2011-02-12T15:27:00.001-05:00

We took Kincaid to the local dog park with Charlie, the new Cavalier from Georgia that's camping down the road from us. Kincaid is the official "uncle" and is showing him the ropes :).

Feeling guilty (a little) about missing all the snow back home!!

2011-01-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

This is the National Seashore at Cape Kennedy in Titusville, Florida on January 29th, 2011.

We attended a Swingtime Concert on January 27th in Melbourne Florida.....

2011-01-28T19:14:00.000-05:00

Click the title link to see a brief video (published to YouTube) from this Swingtime concert:) Good stuff!!

Out to dinner for Alice's birthday

2011-01-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

It was Alice's birthday and we went to dinner to celebrate with three other couples: Ken and Sandy Wood, Mike and Pat Breen and Ron and Bev Hanson. The Wood's and Breen's are here in Titusville with us at Manatee Hammock, and the Hanson's are staying in a condo unit in Titusville. Our original plan was to go to Rusty's on Merritt Island, but a tanker truck blew up on the causeway scuttling that idea....we ended up Portofino's in Titusville and had a great meal there.

Not a bad place to spend the winter :).....

2011-01-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

Click on photo for an enlargement. To the right, across the Indian River which is part of the Inter-coastal Waterway, is the NASA launch site for the Shuttles. The next, and probably last, shuttle launch will be in February 2011. This photo was taken on January 4th at Manattee Hammock in Titusville we're we are wintering in our camper.

We arrived in Titusville Fl on New Years Day....

2011-01-05T08:16:00.000-05:00

We had a very nice run down the East coast with perfect weather and no traffic issues. The first night we stopped in Hagerstown Maryland, the 2nd night at Exit 119 on I-95 in North Carolina, and arrived here on New Years mid-afternoon. The new rig is wonderful to drive and we feel blessed to have her:). Kinkey is loving it down here....he's walking us a lot, doing his fair share of squirrel chasing and learning to love the life of a Southern King Charles Spaniel. In the next week or so we'll be joined by two other families from our Seaport Sams Camping Club, and another family will be down in February hopefully in time for the last Shuttle launch.

The best laid plans, yada - yada - yada

2010-12-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

Our planned jump-off date for our Florida jaunt was Tuesday the 28th, but we're in blizzard conditions right now and I'm thinking we might wait a day...the 29th, to give the road crews time to clean things up a bit. It's coming down hard now and it's going to get worse in the next 24 hours.

USCG Band in Concert...Popular Radio Songs in WWII

2010-12-21T13:22:00.002-05:00

Click the title link to listen to the USCG Band in Concert doing popular radio songs from WWII. Recorded live in NL CT at the Garde Performing Arts Center in 2010.

Kincaid coming to Florida this year :)

2010-12-21T12:20:00.000-05:00

Kincaid in the car at Wal-Mart on December 21st, 2010

Kincaid, who is Joanna's dog primarily although we're the caretakers while she's working, is coming with us this year to Florida. We pretty much take him everywhere we go, and have decided (Joanna concurred) that he'd be happier with us in the Southland than home spending a lot of time alone (with the three cats). He travels well, and his love of walking might get me off the computer a bit and into more walking down to the Indian River at our Campground.

We're in the "10 Day Weather" window for our departure....getting close!

2010-12-21T07:40:00.000-05:00

When we visit the "10 Day Weather" we now have a pretty clear picture of what's on the radar for our departure for Florida on December 28th....and it's looking good:). There should be some snow showers between now and than but nothing serious. I find exiting the Northeast in late December a bit stressful....you never know just what the weather is going to be, and I don't want to be driving a 32' Motorhome towing a Jeep in snow conditions if I can avoid it. If we end up relocating to Florida, and than coming the the Northeast in the summer months, it will eliminate that worry....we'd probably be coming back to CT in June and staying through August.

Our Christmas Wishes to Family and Friends, Christmas 2010

2010-12-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas, 2010 The Payette Family of Preston CT

Merry Christmas to our friends and relatives from Alice, Bob, David, and Joanna! Having family and good friends is the best blessing, and we are grateful for ours. If we didn’t see or talk to you during the past year, we’re sorry we didn’t connect. Please call, e-mail, or Skype when you can so we can stay in touch.

We’ve been going to Florida earlier and earlier every year, and this one is no exception. The plan is to leave for Titusville (Manatee Hammock) on December 28^th, and be home in Preston by mid-April or Easter. If some time in Florida is on your calendar, we’d love to have you stop by and visit!

Bob and Alice Payette

r.payette2@gmail.com

alicepayette@gmail.com

Best phone or text contact: 860 373-0834

Skype: Robert.r.payette

Visit our web log at http://bobpayette.blogspot.com/ for links to our blogs, photo's and websites.

Seaport Sams Christmas Party, December 5th, 2010

2010-12-06T07:45:00.000-05:00

Our Seaport Sams camping club held its annual Christmas party on December 5th at the Port'N'Starboard Restaurant in New London. The company was wonderful, the food was excellent and it was a nice event to close out our 2010 camping year. Click the title link on this post to view a YouTube clip from this event (11 minutes total length).

Countdown mode......

2010-11-28T08:17:00.002-05:00

It’s November 28th, and a month from now we leave for our winter haunts in Titusville Florida. The Committee’s/Commissions I’m on (Preston Library Board of Trustee’s, Picnic/Navy Band Summer Event, Ethics Commission – are looked at with the knowledge that I’ll be away for well over 90 days. Hopefully I’ll be able to participate meaningfully by E-mail and Skype conversations…we’ll see. I’ve given up (in the past) jobs such as the Town’s Webmaster knowing I couldn’t do it justice from 1000 + miles away…
Little things are now coming up…..invitations to events, local notices (concerts, plays, charitable requests) that fall in the “hole” of our absence…
I’m starting to panic on Library books. Even though I’m (we’re) dedicated E-book readers, I utilize our wonderful Library for inter-Library loans on newer items that appeal to me, but not Alice or Joanna with whom I share my Kindle account. Why would I buy the newest Stephen King book if both Alice and Jo would not want it on their Kindle’s? I have three books out and I’m running out of time to get them read. In the same breath I’m worried about our Florida Library status. We’re “Motorhomers” and have used our Manatee Hammock address there for our Titusville (Brevard County) library card…but one wag there has intimated that we’re really Floridian transients and are therefore not eligible for the Library card. We’re thinking of reversing our positions….selling our place here in Preston, and purchasing a home in the Titusville Fl area….and staying THERE 9 months and the rest of the time (3 months) here in CT and New England. This is the first year we’re going to be seriously looking at a lifestyle change, and It’s scary…but exciting!
Every morning at 6 a.m. when I’m walking Kincaid down to the road to get the paper (Joanna and Alice like a hard copy…I read several on-line) I’m reminded of how much I’ve grown to dislike the cold. I’m not good with it anymore, and when I’m walking down those long driveway memories of my youth leaving the house in bitter cold and snow delivering the Hartford Courant comes back. I dressed for it, but I don’t remember being uncomfortable regardless of how cold it got. Florida has its advantages, the main one (from my personal perspective) is we spend more time outside. We find ourselves walking more, going to outdoor events, walking on the beach, down to the river – even just around the campground. Every year we’ve been staying down longer, or leaving here earlier…and this year is no exception. By leaving in December we’re now down to one month (November) where there is NO motorhome activity. As soon as we get back from Titusville we begin our Seaport Sams monthly camp-outs, and they go right through the middle of October. We’re now past Thanksgiving, Christmas is around the corner, and then we’re on the road….

"Victory At Sea" performance by the USCG Band, Sunday November 21, 2010

2010-11-23T20:11:00.001-05:00

Click the title link to watch a clip (posted from YouTube) from "Victory At Sea", written by Richard Rodgers/Robert Russell Bennett and performed by the USCG Band on Sunday, November 21st, 2010 the Garde Arts Center in New London.

United States Coast Guard Band Concert (WWII) June 21st, 2010 - Garde Arts Center, New London CT 06320. Visit our Picasa Web Albums linked to this blog to view clips from the concert (Click TITLE for fastest link). .Enjoy!!

2010-11-23T12:34:00.004-05:00

Randy Travis - Forever And Ever, Amen (Video)

2010-10-31T17:22:00.000-04:00

New Acer up and running ....:)

2010-10-31T08:24:00.000-04:00

The new Acer came in from Amazon yesterday via Fed X right on time and I've been busy setting her up. I'd forgotten how much of a pain it can be, especially getting programs transported over that were purchased (in some cases) years ago. An interesting note is that when you purchase software on-line, many times they use your e-mail address as the User ID....so if you've lost or misplaced the password for that account to re-download, they'll reset it but send the information to the Email on record. If you've changed email address's and NOT kept the old one active where you have access to it I can see where they'd be major problems. Another issue is programs that were OEM on the replaced PC. In my case, Microsoft Works had come OEM on the Toshiba. There's no way to transfer that program over to the new Acer :(. Luckily M.S. Office will open the spreadsheets and data base's I'd set up on Works...just a matter of getting used to it.
I can feel the technology improvement from the new machine over the old....everything is faster, with better loading. Personally I didn't have too many issues with Vista but, that having been said, Windows 7 is much slicker for sure.

DOA was the new laptop......:(

2010-10-28T21:58:00.000-04:00

It's always an exciting time waiting for the new PC to arrive. I chose the ship to store method and it (the new Acer) finally arrived this morning and we picked her up. The software is laid out, the migration plan has been formulated....the unit is unboxed, the plastic protections removed....the battery is installed and she's plugged into a power outlet...the on button is pushed and............yup, she's DOA. So, the power connection is checked, the battery is removed and re-installed....when plugged in there is a Power On indicator lit, but otherwise the unit is...silent, and totally non-responsive. Find a phone number to tech support, call and get put on hold, finally talk to a live person who has us repeat everything we've already tried. She then pronounces it DOA. She can send me a returning shipping package with authorization and I can send it in for repair? I demur that suggestion and re-pack up the unit and return it to the store where a refund is applied to the account she was purchased on. Going back on-line to check I find this model is now "out of stock", so we do the bricks and mortar drive by - Wal-Mart's, Staple's, BJ's....all underwhelming selections. Back home, on line and finally re-order the Acer from Amazon with expedited delivery (should be here on Saturday). DOA....who would have thought? I'm thinking back to all the PC's we've purchased and it's never happened to me....guess I've been living a charmed life?

Preston CT, Oct 21st, 21010

2010-10-21T15:10:00.000-04:00

Frustration in changing computers over.....the cat's the cause of the replacement, but not the problem itself....

2010-10-21T11:49:00.002-04:00

Click Title Link to view a Computerworld article on Apple's upcoming Mac App Store....

So, the old Tom-cat Timothy finally did it we suspect….I came into the office the other day and two of the chick-let key covers on the Toshiba notebook were on the floor in front of the computer. Timothy has recently taken the odd nap on the keyboard despite our words not to, and I suspect he got startled and dug in, ripping them out. The hardware computer man said it’s not repairable, but the keyboard is replaceable. Since this notebook was purchased almost four years ago, and was designed for Windows XP (upgraded to Vista two months after purchase) I decided to bite the bullet and get a new PC set up now. I don’t use the FN key much but the Ctrl key is a different matter when trying to select or deselect items.

The Acer notebook is on the truck (according to the tracking report) and will be in a few days or so….which brings me to the reason for this particular post. Being a user of the i-phone and the i-pad I find myself very spoiled with the ease of use and practicality of the App Store. 1 click keeps everything updated with no muss or fuss or key registration numbers etc, etc….I’ve been gathering up data to populate the new notebook…finding original install CD’s, or even worse digital proofs of purchase on things purchased on-line. I’m a pretty organized person but, when you have a lot of programs, it’s a pain in the ass. When I re-install Office I’m going to be years behind on updates and that also applies to other programs such as Ipswich’s WS-FTP Pro, Quicken and several others. It’s going to be a long haul to get things where they should be. It was gratifying to hear yesterday that Apple is bringing an App store to the Mac…That fact alone might push me into the Mac camp next time out, as this stuff is pretty ridiculous with today’s technology. IMHO.

Country Aire Campground, with Seaport Sams, Columbus Day weekend, 2010

2010-10-12T18:01:00.000-04:00

Click the title link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHoiNkq2ajA to view a video clip from our just completed Country Aire Campout with the Seaport Sams Camping Club.

Oak Embers Camp-out with Seaport Sams Camping Club, October 2010

2010-10-03T16:39:00.000-04:00

Click the title link to view our Oak Embers camp-out clip.

Picasa Web Album, video and stills, from the Deer Haven September 2010 Lobster camp-out.

2010-09-13T12:51:00.001-04:00

Click the title link for raw video and stills from the September 2010 Deer Haven lobster camp-out with Seaport Sams Camping Club (www.seaportsams.org)

Click the image for an enlargement of this panoramic group shot.

DeerHavenLobsterCookoutSeptember2010 0001

2010-09-13T00:42:00.000-04:00

Our Seaport Sams Camping Club just completed its annual Lobster Cookout at Deer Haven CG in Lisbon CT. We had 28 rigs, 68 people and cooked up 81 lobsters. What a weekend!! :)

Changing e-mail addresses

2010-09-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

We recently started the process of changing our email address and have discovered that it can be difficult at best. I can't believe that with Blogger you can't associate a Google G-mail account with it as either the primary or the secondary e-mail. What's interesting is the way some folks handle subscriptions also. Some literally make you "unsubscribe" with the original e-mail address, then re-subscribe with the new one. Others allow a much more civilized "profile change" in which you can change your e-mail, your log-in etc with much less hassle and confusion. One thing I've learned is that I'll never be able to cancel the original e-mail as there is so much out there with that address over the last many years. I didn't realize, or hadn't thought about, the accounts the e-mails are associated with - everything from tech subscriptions to on-line banking and investments to Blogs and websites to commentary posting permissions....it does go on and on and every day new items are flying into the old SNET email that need attention and re-direction to the G-mail account. It does keep you out of trouble!

Tommy Dorsey - I'm gettin' sentimental over you 78 rpm

2010-09-06T17:49:00.000-04:00

USCG Labor Day Concert September 5th, 2010 Ft Trumbull_0001.wmv

2010-09-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

Alice and I attended a United States Coast Guard Labor Day concert on September 5th, 2010 at Fort Trumbull in New London. They were terrific, and it was a perfect day on the Thames River for an outdoor concert.

IIIrd Tyme Out - Erase All The Miles

2010-09-03T16:38:00.000-04:00

DOO WOP, The DUPREE's

2010-09-03T16:35:00.000-04:00

Will the twain ever meet?

2010-09-01T16:47:00.001-04:00

Publishers Struggle to Adapt to E-Books (and So Do Book Lovers)

iPad, iPhone, notebook, Netbook: A gadget glut? | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

2010-08-29T17:03:00.000-04:00

iPad, iPhone, notebook, Netbook: A gadget glut? | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

E-mail is Broken. Let's Turn it Into a Pay Toilet | John C. Dvorak | PCMag.com

2010-08-28T21:29:00.000-04:00

E-mail is Broken. Let's Turn it Into a Pay Toilet | John C. Dvorak | PCMag.com

Gmail's Phone Feature: A Logical Addition

2010-08-28T20:03:00.000-04:00

Gmail's Phone Feature: A Logical Addition

Preston Community Picnic and Navy Band Concert, August 21st, 2010

2010-08-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

Click image for an enlargement of the collage.

Sometimes things get so damn hard!!

2010-08-23T13:58:00.002-04:00

So, I wake up at 06:30A and lo and behold the three lights on my old 2Wire DSL modem are ....out. It's possible the actual modem shite the bed, but more probably that the power supply/converter went South. Anyway, it's off to Wal-mart and you KNOW they don't sell modems as they are provided by the ISP's..so it's off to Staples. In Staples they had a Netgear router with a built in modem, and it was up to the N (the old router was a G) so that was the purchase. From there it went downhill...the supplied Wizard CD did NOT get me up and running, and it took two hours of quality time with a very NICE man in India to get my configurations right so everything talked to each other. Not a GREAT way to start the day, but hey....everything is now working, the wife and daughter and I-phone's are wirelessly connected at a higher speed....things could be worst!

Preston Community Picnic & Navy Band Northeast Concert is successful | Zip06 - Community News from Southeastern Connecticut

2010-08-22T20:28:00.000-04:00

Preston Community Picnic & Navy Band Northeast Concert is successful | Zip06 - Community News from Southeastern Connecticut

Clip 2, Preston Community Picnic and Navy Band Northeast Concert, August 21st, 2010

2010-08-22T15:43:00.002-04:00

Click the title link to view Clip 2 from the Preston Community Picnic and Navy Band Northeast Concert held in Preston on August 21st, 2010.

Clip 1, Preston Community Picnic & Navy Band Concert, August 21, 2010

2010-08-22T13:54:00.003-04:00

Click the title link to view Clip 1 of the Preston Community Picnic and Navy Band Concert that was held on August 21st, 2010. This clip includes the opening remarks by our Board of Selectmen, the band introductions by Preston Historical Society President Linda Christensen, and some still shots of the event.

Seaport Sams Brooklyn Fairgrounds August 12-15, 2010

2010-08-16T07:45:00.003-04:00

Our Seaport Sams Camping Club brought 28 rigs to the Brooklyn Fairgrounds for our August 2010 club campout. This included four "guest rigs-families" from the Quinabaug Travelers Camping Club. Our potluck on Saturday featured BBQ chicken expertly prepared by Club members who belong to the Mortlake FD. Club member John Zurowski, who died in February 0f 2010, had planning on being the Chairperson for this new BBQ event, and his friends in the Club (which include Butch Brodeur, Mike Breen and Lennie Albie plus others) and Mortlake FD members "made it happen" in his memory. God Bless! Click the title link for a Picasa public web-album from this event.

Ricky Skaggs & Ky. Thunder with Del McCoury Band - Rawhide

2010-08-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Doesn't get much better then this!

Bluegrass : No Drama, Just Music

2010-08-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

A fun look at the roots of Bluegrass.....

Third Tyme Out - Broken Hearted Lover

2010-08-10T12:31:00.000-04:00

One of the BEST Bluegrass groups out there...for sure:)

IIIrd Tyme Out - Erase All The Miles

2010-08-10T12:24:00.000-04:00

This would be my favorite Bluegrass song...by a great group:).

Third Tyme Out - Only You

2010-08-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival weekend with the Quinebaug Travelers

2010-08-09T23:31:00.002-04:00

Click the title link to view a YouTube video from our weekend in Campton,New Hampshire where we attended the Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival with our neighbor Good Sam Club the Quinebaug Travelers. Great company and great music!!

We're in New Hampshire at the Pemi Bluegrass Festival

2010-08-06T06:04:00.003-04:00

We arrived at the Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival yesterday and we'll be here through Monday. Great country music!!

Nixonland, an "enhanced" E-book experience.

2010-07-29T08:08:00.004-04:00

The title link above (links to a New York Times article) mentions one of the new books in the “enhanced” version…a tome called “Nixonland” that’s just been published. The basic e-book (available from places like Amazon) is $13.95. The “enhanced” version, available through the I-book store at Apple, is a few dollars more. I downloaded a free sample to try it out…the sample was over 367 pages out of a total book length of 850+. Anyway, embedded in the book there are 27 very high quality video clips…..so if you’re reading for an example about the time of the King assination you can clip on the corresponding video….plays in it’s own window on the page, or you can elect full screen…..at the end of the video or at any time you can resume reading. The idea is to merge the experience into the reading to bring it to life….and from what I’ve seen it’s wonderful. History books, with their charts, maps and photo’s, have long been the bane of e-books. Now, it’s exactly the opposite with the new enhanced model in that these things can be integrated into the book. Quite wonderful!!

Photo's that arrived today in my E-mail inbox from Tom Oliver, an old friend from my Cantho, South Vietnam days.....1965

2010-07-27T21:35:00.000-04:00

Linda Christensen's journey into history.....

2010-07-25T09:15:00.003-04:00

Our friend Linda Christensen, President of the Preston Historical Society, just completed a journey of a lifetime: Linda C's Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Summer Seminar
A 22-day seminar, founded in 1984 by Vladka Meed, will include educational activities in 4 countries. Some of the Holocaust-related places to be visited are Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel; Berlin and the Bergen Belsen Memorial in Germany; Warsaw, Majdanek, Lublin, Samosc, Belzec, Krakow, Auschwitz, Lodz and Treblinka in Poland; the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC

Click the Title Link to view her blog from this trip.

Time Capsule Blessing, Ceremony & Reception Saint Catherine of Siena Preston CT July 24th, 2010

2010-07-25T08:49:00.002-04:00

Click the title link for a YouTube video of our Time Capsule event July 24th, 2010.

Just came back from Ginny-B Campground in Foster, RI

2010-07-18T17:31:00.002-04:00

We hitched up the old Jeep and headed out this past weekend to Ginny B Campground, in Foster RI, with our Camping Club the Seaport Sams. Click the title link above for a slideshow of images from this event.