tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100324932009-11-12T12:05:53.804+01:00a change of place, a change of pace, a change of lifeSteve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comBlogger596125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-69369437305304062032009-11-09T12:40:00.004+01:002009-11-09T12:48:20.731+01:00

I, along with a hundred other common folk from Rhode Island, had to return to the superior court house in Providence at 9:30am Thursday to await the "call" to serve. We were among a select few to sit in judgment on another human being and spent the morning sequestered in a series of rooms on the 4th floor. Many were reading, some watching television, a few of us had brought laptops and were

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-31426323927610404802009-11-05T12:24:00.004+01:002009-11-09T12:40:48.236+01:00

As most of you are probably already know, the official title for the "Ocean State" (motto: "Roads? What roads?") is, or rather was, "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. " The whole plantations thing has been officially dropped -- so you can see what our elected officials spend their time doing: arguing about the state name.Anyway, I began my tour as a "petit" (small or little) juror

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-5353190683031072792009-11-04T06:03:00.002+01:002009-11-05T01:58:29.985+01:00

After a fashionably late dinner of pot roast, whipped butternut squash, roasted root vegetables and homemade berry pie (with ice cream of course), Susie and I hit the sheets tired but happy to be in northern Virginia. I suspect I rambled on about Mary Heistand during the course of the meal but it was, as always, so much fun to be around those kids. We looked forward to seeing Miss K at

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-77728658351694711512009-11-02T12:23:00.003+01:002009-11-02T13:19:54.707+01:00

It certainly was a fascinating Halloween weekend here along the Atlantic Seaboard. I spent nearly the entire weekend traveling back and forth between Providence and Washington, DC aboard one of Amtrak's less-than-stellar Northeast Regional trains. The upside was that for at least half that trip Susie and I were together.After a fairly typical week of work for both of us, Susie and I left

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-59827110840806139442009-10-21T01:31:00.004+02:002009-10-24T13:26:10.880+02:00

Nearly two weeks ago, during the Columbus Day holiday break for New Englanders, Susie and I gassed up the Mini (not much bother there) and headed west to the Catskills. The plan was to see our friends Don and Gloria in Prattsville, NY. The weather not only cooperated but added to the pleasure of the drive by providing an incredibly gorgeous sky under which to motor.We drove the Mass Turnpike to

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-55916539909501323242009-10-05T12:41:00.005+02:002009-10-06T12:29:04.183+02:00

Color change seems a bit behind schedule in New England -- not that we know first-hand mind you; not like we did when we lived in Vermont. There, color meant everything of course: how far you were from tapping the nearest stand of maple trees to how far you were from mud season and black flies.In Providence the arrival of Fall and the splash of color change seen here and there warns you that the

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-9713720590561980322009-09-13T22:39:00.011+02:002009-09-15T12:06:18.404+02:00

OK, summer is probably pretty much over in most of this hemisphere, I admit it. But if we needed any evidence of that simple fact, it was plainly evident this past week.Humidity is back to tolerable levels, temperatures have been almost fall-like and cool evening breezes seem pretty much to be the order of the day, every day.Work is going well for both of us -- but not a day goes back that we're

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-31225827136102223822009-09-01T12:44:00.001+02:002009-09-01T12:44:00.729+02:00

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-39178497147378487532009-08-28T00:05:00.014+02:002009-08-28T12:49:20.704+02:00

The weather here in the nation's smallest (and most foolish) state has been, in a word, atrocious. Heat, humidity, sun, heat and, did I say humidity? And all this after what seemed like the wettest summer in years. So for the pat couple of weekends we've been heading out to Colt State Park on Narragansett Bay to get away from the heat and humidity of the city and enjoy the zephyrs off the

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-38105340886090633452009-08-12T02:51:00.007+02:002009-11-12T12:05:53.956+01:00

It's been a curiously full week or so here at the head of Narragansett Bay.A week ago this last Thursday Susie and I celebrated 26 years of marriage by going south toward the ocean but stopping short in Bristol.We had an aperitif at the DeWolf Tavern overlooking the Bay and then dinner at Persimmon just up the street from the water.Owned and operated by Chef Champe Speidel and his wife Lisa (she

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-91925648087093342372009-08-03T12:05:00.009+02:002009-08-03T13:20:01.574+02:00

This last week in Providence has been rather entertaining, somewhat productive and for Susie incredibly wonderful.First of all it was her birthday yesterday, Sunday. We had been invited, along with Dick and Dorothy, to spend the afternoon lounging on the beach near Point Judith. Barbara and her daughter Andrea -- Andrea is not only one of my colleagues at work but also a neighbor as well – well

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-81051309715829679062009-07-30T12:32:00.001+02:002009-07-30T12:32:41.705+02:00

This past Sunday morning promised rain and certainly delivered humidity -- but by late afternoon the weather had turned overcast, with a hint of breeze. This made it ideal for an outdoor BBQ on the top of the Peerless Building in downtown Providence. (photo below: Susie's brother Dick and Susie)The Peerless is one of the many old buildings "downcity" lovingly preserved and harboring condos

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-42766572184167522242009-07-26T17:39:00.000+02:002009-07-26T17:39:00.132+02:00

Reason 342,916.543 to go to Paris and go now.

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-75121765463003194932009-07-25T17:42:00.004+02:002009-07-25T17:49:34.044+02:00

After the Pawsox game against the Indianapolis Indians last Sunday (3-2 in favor of Pawtucket thank you very much), there was the "traditional" running of the bases for those so inclined. The lead-off runners this time were the nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-21194306202774351102009-07-25T17:36:00.001+02:002009-07-25T17:38:37.915+02:00

I read today that the last trench veteran of the UK passed away at the age of 111. This is dedicated to him:

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-48816897911049455292009-07-22T12:54:00.005+02:002009-07-25T17:53:01.599+02:00

For those of you beyond the pale of professional baseball or Rhode Island sports teams, the Pawtucket Red Sox, or "Pawsox," is one of the farm clubs of the Boston Red Sox organization. Their home games are played at the very family-oriented McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.Once before we tried to see a Pawsox game some years ago with Dick and Dorothy but for one reason or another it never came off.Now

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-34979668111629172352009-07-21T12:03:00.001+02:002009-07-22T12:48:44.255+02:00

My work week seemed to close in a flash. I suppose staring at more than 100k images over and over again pulls me away from any sense of time (not to mention reality). Anyway, Friday was an early release day for the folks at Johnson & Wales (during the summer at any rate) and I was home by 2:30 prepping for the arrival of our guests.Susie's sister Joyce and her husband Carl were due to arrive from

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-31531204924485726292009-07-06T12:01:00.005+02:002009-07-06T12:28:00.524+02:00

We couldn't think of a better way to spend a gorgeous -- and I mean beautiful -- Sunday afternoon on a Fourth of July weekend than a drive to Colt State Park. Located along the head of Narrangansett Bay the park was packed with folks enjoying the sun and fun and yet it seem crowded.Anyway, it was a perfect opportunity for Susie to work on her scootering skills. See for yourself:Of course there

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-70293135386733002022009-07-02T12:30:00.004+02:002009-07-02T12:44:50.127+02:00

OK, so you've seen the wedding photos -- but have you seen the photos move? Well then, you've come to the right place. . . oh, and turn your speakers up!

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-2361269522378636312009-06-29T16:09:00.003+02:002009-07-04T16:59:52.516+02:00

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the last Sunday in June in fact, three of us, Susie, her mother and I, paid a visit to Aunt Marian and Uncle John at Clear Bottom Lake, near Rockford, Michigan.Listen in while Bernice talks about Tunis asking her to marry him and what her father says:

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-5463790491038162182009-06-29T16:04:00.002+02:002009-07-04T17:04:53.314+02:00

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the last Sunday in June in fact, three of us, Susie, her mother and I, paid a visit to Aunt Marian and Uncle John at Clear Bottom Lake, near Rockford, Michigan. We relaxed in the shade of trees overlooking the lake and listened to two sisters talking about growing up in Passaic, New Jersey. If you think that sounds uninteresting, you don't know these two women.

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-68848612415577380032009-06-28T17:30:00.015+02:002009-07-04T17:01:04.647+02:00

The last Sunday in June in West Michigan began as an incredibly beautiful day and seemed determined to stay that way. The plan was, or so I learned on Saturday, was to meet up with Susan's Aunt Marian and Uncle John at Arnie's Restaurant in Rockford. After lunch we would then head out to their cottage on Clear Bottom Lake. (photo below: Susie and her mom.)We left home a little after noon and

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-40465877624531622772009-06-28T17:29:00.004+02:002009-06-30T12:58:59.154+02:00

Last Saturday was a beautiful day in West Michigan.After a leisurely morning Susie and her mom went out scouting for plants for a wedding gift. Jane and Dave had asked that if anyone wanted to give a gift that it be something they could plant in their garden. The idea is to eventually tag each plant with a nameplate of the donor -- a token of remembrance of this very special day for these two

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-54097451003755040852009-06-27T17:01:00.004+02:002009-06-28T17:46:24.417+02:00

This gorgeous Michigan Sunday morning began with great promise of warm sun, demanding some quality time at a beach somewhere, anywhere. While I'm not one to laze about in the sand I always enjoy a trip to Clear Lake to see Susan's Aunt Marian and Uncle John.But that's getting a bit ahead of this tale.Friday in Providence was overcast as I drove Susie to T. F. Green Airport (and no, I don't know

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032493.post-57018886357457271862009-06-20T23:12:00.015+02:002009-06-21T01:19:23.040+02:00

I suppose the title says it all. The weather in the Ocean State the past couple of weeks has been on and off rain and then rain with brief hints at misting, followed by showers and then sweat-producing humidity. All of which adds up to the revelation that summertime is upon us once again.This marks our second summer in Providence and also our second summer of doing things we never thought we

Steve Soperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805054068549522404noreply@blogger.com