SIASOM

An Octopus's Garden

Some divers and snorklers enjoyed some underwater music this weekend.  Here's the link to the story w/some pictures.

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/07/14/837077-fla-divers-tune-in-to-music-fest

The Swell Equalizer

The NY Times ran a good article this weekend about the interaction between year-round local surfers and  wealthy summer-only residents (who many of the locals call "city-ots") in Southampton, Long Island.   It describes how these two separate social classes come together in the water, as the kids of the summering residents take surf lessons from the local surf school, and hang out at the Flying Point surf shop, often even after the store has officially closed.

Not only do the socio-economic classes mix on the water, but on land, as the part-timers are attracted to the lifestyle and attitude of the local surf crews and this relationship has provided the surf crowd entre into the worlds of the part-timers.

It's one of the beautiful things about surfing and often the beach in general - classes are blurred and people of all backgrounds can come together to enjoy everything that the sand and water have to offer. 

Summer Spaces and Places

The NY Times ran an short article this week titled 'Spaces of Summer'.  We all have them.  They could be at home, in the neighborhood, or at our favorite beach spot.  Like most spaces that evoke emotions and memories, it's the people that we spend time with there and experiences we have there that are what really make them "summer spaces".  Architecture and construction materials add to the experiences and enhance the moments, but we don't expect the same build quality or design of our summer places as we do those places that need to be habitable 12 months a year.  We probably don't want them to be so like the places that we left to come to our summer spots of choice.  Summer places should be unique to "the season". 

Unlike the sturdier structures where we endure the rest of the year, summer places are meant to be temporary, as fleeting in their pleasures as the season they serve. Rickety and often unheated, they sit patiently through the cold, dark months, drained of water and life, embodying a central truth about summer: that it is a place you can only visit, not inhabit.

But summer is so seductive that we have long been trying to establish lasting settlements there. The nation’s population has been migrating south and west for decades, chasing the illusion that constant sun is enough to keep summer alive beyond September. The northern latitudes have taught us a different lesson: that summer is more than just weather, and that it must be earned, through Januarys that will never be mistaken for Julys, no matter how mild some, like this last one, might be. Even here, though, the urge to make the season permanent has altered its landscape.

Those who live in the Northeast are very familiar with the dramatic difference in those summer spaces from season to season.  Anyone who's visited those spots in the middle of the piercing chill of February knows that some of these places may be unrecognizable.  They may be shuttered, dormant facsimiles of the full-of-life-and-character spaces they are during summer. 

That's one thing that makes summer places so appealing - they leave us wanting more.  We know we can't pick up and go anytime we want like our favorite pub.  The experiences can only happen during a fleeting three months every year.  Then we have nine months to think back on them, and dream about making more when we get our chance. 
Kevin Coyne, the writer of the article, also points out another reason those summer spaces mean so much - because "summer is more than just weather, and...it must be earned".  After you've suffered through 6 months of cold, grey weather, and battled colds, flu, slush, heating bills, and little sunshine, you feel you've done your time.  When the weather turns right, you deserve everything that summer has to offer.
Anyone who knows the meaning of the name of this blog will understand that I have a disagreement with Coyne when he writes that summer "is a place you can only visit, not inhabit".  There is no doubt that the season itself is fleeting, but it does not need to be completely left behind when we board up our summer houses and head home.  Even for those of us who live in year-round warm climates, is "constant sun...enough to keep summer alive beyond September"?  I think so.  In fact, I don't think you need constant sun and warmth.  It helps, but it's not necessary.
Summer will always be alive in this blog.  Let's celebrate that it's also now alive and well in our favorite summer spaces for all of us.

Waiter, There's a Culture in My Cup

There's a controversy going on in LA.  The LA Times has an article about it here.  It seems there's some questions over the frozen yogurt that the 20-store Pinkberry chain serves.  Remind you of something?  It's like the Rudy Guilianni frozen yogurt 'Seinfeld' episode brought to life.  Kramer taints the sample, and Guiliani does the cameo at the end.  The law really takes this delicious low-fat desert stuff seriously.  Why aren't they going after McDonald's or Taco Bell for calling their products "food"?

Labs, lawsuits, attorneys, yogurt - stay tuned for the next episode of this drama.

(ed. note:  "Labs & Lawsuits" would make a good name for a band.  Or a CD.)

Happy Father's Day

Tomorrow is Dad's day.  It doesn't have the glamour of Mom's day but just check out dad with his shirt off when he's mowing the lawn and you'll know why.  My father left our family when I was eight years old when my parent divorced and I never heard from him again after that so my memories are mostly fuzzy. 
Show pops some love on tomorrow, and if you want to give him a gift, trust me, he has enough ties.  There is one four-letter word that could make him happy.  It starts with "b", ends with an "r" and rhymes with "beer". 
There are a lot of father-themed songs floating around the blogsphere in celebration of the day.  I think the classics are still the best when it comes to songs like these because they offer familiarity, flashbacks, and sentiment.  Here are a few of my favorites, starting with an all-time classic .
Happy Father's Day!

Download cats_in_the_cradle.mp3

Download daddys_little_pumpkinjosh_ritter.mp3

Download daughterloudon_wainwright_iii.mp3

Download daughterpaul_simon.mp3

Download fathers_sonwolf_parade.mp3

Asbury Park Sewage

The title of this post could refer to more than one thing.  It could describe the odor of various parts of the boardwalk in the Summer.  In this case it refers to a spillage yesterday that I wanted to give head's up on.  This one is being reported as accidental so I'll lay off the ocean-pollution speech.  For now. 

Here's the report:

About two miles of beaches, from Deal south to Bradley Beach, were closed yesterday after a pipe broke at the Asbury Park sewage treatment plant, Monmouth County officials said. Beaches in Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Grove were also closed. The pipe, which has since been repaired, released about half a million gallons of partly treated sewage into the Atlantic Ocean between 3:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. yesterday, said William Simmons, the county’s environmental health coordinator. Results from water quality tests, expected this afternoon, will determine whether the beaches can reopen.

Remember

At some point today, while you're in front of the barbeque or at the park or on the beach or at home, take some time to think about the sacrifices that men and women in the armed services have made for our country.  Past and present, there have been very young and very brave soldiers doing their duty, serving our country, and earning our respect.  Known or unknown, they deserve rememberence and thanks. 

Whatever your feelings about the war in Iraq may be, the numbers don't lie.  There have been 3,455 service people killed since the conflict began.   Add to that more than 25,000 wounded.  This should make it much easier to remember all of the soldiers past and present who gave so much for all of us.  All you need to do is watch the first 15 mins of Saving Private Ryan again to know that a beach can be much more than a place of recreation.

Gentlemen, Start Your Blenders!

It all starts here.  Memorial Day weekend, the recognized start to the summer season.  All of those businesses at the lakes, shores, parks, and mountains that make their living between the equinox  are opening and looking forward to a prosperous season.  Students are taking their places in their summer jobs.  Amusement parks are kicking into high gear.  Sports leagues, sailing clubs, even gardening klatches are all planning for the next three glorious months.  Romances are about to bloom, however short or lasting they may be.  Road trips are being planned, and even better taken, but not planned. 

Summertime is hear.  Let the festivities begin. 

Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season, and Double Down

Development plans announced this week...the Margaritaville Casino & Resort, in Biloxi, Mississippi.  According to the press release:

"Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), along with world-renowned singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett, today unveiled plans for a new Gulf Coast destination; Margaritaville Casino & Resort on the shores of Biloxi. The Margaritaville project is expected to cost more than $700 million, representing the single largest investment in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina. The company expects this to be the first phase of a development that may cost more than $1billion.

"I am privileged to announce Harrah's plans for Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi," said Gary Loveman, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "Along with Jimmy Buffett, we plan to develop the next generation destination resort on the Gulf Coast. This project of more than $700 million dollars is vital to supporting the rebirth of Mississippi's tourism industry."

"I have always considered myself a "Gulf Coast kid," said singer / songwriter Jimmy Buffett. "I was born there, grew up there and jumped on a stage for the first time there, before hitting the road. I have seen the world, traveled to distant shores, written a few songs and lived a few tall tales along the way, and now it is good to be coming back home."

"I have seen the best and the worst of times along Mississippi Sound, and as a survivor of storms myself, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude and good fortune to be part of the re-birth of the region by joining forces with Harrah's to bring the Margaritaville Casino & Resort "Down around Biloxi,"" continued Buffett. "One of the essential elements of life along the Gulf Coast is the Creole belief that hard work and good fun go hand in hand. So, with that in mind I say, "Let's get to work and let's let the good times roll again,"" he continued.

As much as I have a lot of negative feelings about big developers, especially those that infringe on the coastline, the size of this plan alone may at least send a message to the people of the Gulf region that they are not abandoned, that a large developer and a large entertainer are willing to invest long-term.  The project is scheduled to start this Summer and complete in the Spring of 2010. 

Biloxi already has several casinos, and I believe 6 have reopened so far after Katrina.  Hopefully the developer won't pull workers that would otherwise be helping New Orleans to build their casino.  Beyond that, the symbolism of one of Mississippi's native sons getting involved in steering the coast back to glory may provide some mental and emotional support. 

Jimmy didn't write this song, but he sang it and put it on his "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" record.

Biloxi

Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are dancin' in the sea
They all look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salty water
And the storms will blow from off towards New Orleans

Sun shines on Biloxi
Air is filled with vapors from the sea
Boy will dig a pool beside the ocean
He sees creatures from his dream underwater
And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans

Stars can see Biloxi
Stars can find their faces in the sea
We are walking down beside the ocean
We are splashing naked in the water
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans

Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are swimming in the sea
They all look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salty water
And the storms will blow from off toward New Orleans

Jimmy Buffett – Biloxi

Gold! Gold! We're Rich!

Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration chartered a jet this week to fly hundreds of plastic containers to the States.  What was in those containers?  Brown M&M's.  Millions of discarded brown M&M's. 

No, actually there were about 500,000 colonial-era coins that they recovered from an undisclosed stie in the Atlantic Ocean.  This find has been the talk of the treasure hunting world because of its size.  A rare coin expert who examined a batch of coins from the wreck said he thought the find was unprecedented for the colonial era.  Soon after the news got out in the close knit, chummy treasure-hunter community, the skeptics came out.  One veteran hunter said "There is no such thing as $500 million on any wreck in the world,...Anybody who says so is … lying." 

Whether the coins are worth what Odyssey says they think they are (from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per coin), I don't know.  I'm no coin expert.  My expertise is chiefly in the areas of bikini fashions, 17th century French literature (the Grand siecle!), oenology, and Fletch quotes.  I do know that Odyssey has already set up a page on their website where you can request information (http://www.shipwreck.net/).  From an outsider's perspective, the whole world of treasure hunting - sailing the high seas in search of sometimes centuries-old gold, silver, and other valuables - is interesting, romantic, and exciting.  It always makes for great stories and regularly stirs up controversy.

So when you're at the beach late in the day and you run across the guy with the metal detector, headphones, and a fanny pack, just think, he just might be the next great treasure hunter in training.  We all have to start somewhere.