The activity around here has been pretty slow lately because a) we closed on a house in southern Massachusetts on July 7th (pictures from inspection day), b) one week later our Tivo Series 2 arrived from Amazon and then one week later we found out that we’re having a boy in December! The Tivo is named DVR E7EB, no word on what we’re gonna name our kid. Suggestions welcomed.

Karen and I hung out with Mike & Shena this New Years. We went to Sel De La Terre for dinner, watched fireworks on the Boston Harbor, spent the night at the Seaport and then walked around Boston, hoping to see some ice sculptures, and finished with lunch at the 21st Amendment. Fun time! Mike put his pictures up here.

Two weeks ago we got dumped on here in Boston (we got about 28 inches, although some parts of MA got more than 36 inches). Karen and I just moved down to Canton and we’re living right next to a pond, so I snapped a couple pictures of what it looked like after the storm:

The first is a picture of our front lawn, the ‘bumps’ on the right side of the picture are cars. The second two are pictures of the pond in our backyard, one taken in the morning and one snapped in the evening. I’m working out of our house right now, so I look right out onto this pond while I’m hacking. It’s beautiful. Click on the pictures for high-res shots if you’re one of those types.

It’s fall in New England (in contrast to somewhere like California, where it’s fallsummerspringwinter all year ’round), so yesterday we went apple picking up in York County, Maine at McDougal Orchards with Kristen (who I didn’t get a picture of! doh!), Molly and Jack. You can see our pictures here. Afterwards, Karen and Kristen made the World’s Best Apple Pie and this morning Karen made Apple Nut Coffee Cake.

Last weekend my wife and I drove down to Staten Island to help my parents move my grandparents stuff [pictures] into a truck that my parents then drove across the country to Seattle. Monday night I flew to Park City, Utah for a sales presentation, got in at 3am on Tuesday, did the presentation, flew home Tuesday night, got in Wednesday night at 12:30am. After that it was slower.. this weekend I dragged my wife to see the Blue Angels perform at the 2003 Westfield Airshow, which I just posted pictures of, along with 2 (admittedly) low quality videos [1], [2].

finally… We ate lunch at the Barking Crab, visited the State House (in the background) and hit a couple buckets at Billy McGolf. Tomorrow I leave for JavaOne.

You know how some places don’t look as beautiful once you get there? These pictures of Yosemite are amazing, but if you go in person it’s a religious experience, even if you’re not into religion. I grew up camping in Yosemite during the summers and Karen and I camped in the valley and climbed Half Dome on our first anniversary. Bring your camera and watch out for the bears! [via kottke.org]

Joe got his wedding pictures online… and wow, what an application… the pics are nice Joe, but the app is beautiful. Nice job!

Spent last evening up in York, ME, enjoying the fine cuisine of Wild Willy’s (I highly recommend the Bubba Burger with extra BBQ sauce), followed by Brown’s Old Fashion Ice Cream (I highly recommend the Snickers flavor) and a walk along Short Sands beach to the Nubble lighthouse. The picture on the left is looking across Short Sands beach toward a row of houses that look out over the ocean. It’s a beautiful spot… in a couple weeks you’ll be able to hear the local bands playing in the gazebo *every* night of the week…

Had a great weekend… Friday night went to the Comedy Connection in Boston to hear Kevin Pollack, Saturday night went to Club Passim to hear Christopher Williams and yesterday I hit some more balls at Billy McGolf.