Notes from Mosquito Hill » Project 365

Out with the old (P366, 1/2/12)

mack505 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:05:35 +0000

Our parents grew up with the Yankee motto: ”Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” It has served them well. In our modern, consumption oriented society though, Mrs Mack505 and I have decided to adopt a different philosophy: “Put it way, give it away, throw it away, or sell it off.” After 18 years together, we’ve amassed a fair amount of “stuff.” We’ve both felt for a while that a purge was in order, but it’s finally started this week.

Everything is being evaluated. If it has a current use, a definite use in the foreseeable future, or sentimental value it stays. Otherwise it goes in whatever fashion seems most appropriate. These are the first two truckloads to head for the landfill. What you can’t see are the bags and boxes of clothes, books, and DVDs inside the cab which are headed for the donation center. Toys for Tots has already had a decent score. It’s going to be rough going, but we’ve had big progress. I hope we can keep it up.

Back to work (P366 1/1)

mack505 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:25:10 +0000

It has come to my attention that 2012 is a leap year, so welcome to Project 366.

I started the year back at work for 24 hours. It was a theme day, with multiple overdose calls. Here’s hoping that’s not the theme for the coming year.

Project 365, 2012 edition

mack505 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:05:03 +0000

For those who may not have seen it before, the idea behind Project 365 is to document a year of your life using one photo each day. I succeeded with it in 2010 and found it uplifting. Let’s see … Continue reading → Related posts:

P365 resumes

mack505 — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:42:55 +0000

8/17 – stalls @ the Big E

8/21 – feeling a bit artsy

8/30 – Second grade!!

9/2 – Seen on the Mass Pike. I’m not sure what it means, but I bet the local fire marshal might find it interesting.

9/3 – Family weekend in Buffalo. You get to see a lot of Beth.

9/4 – Thirty Mile Point, Lake Ontario

9/5 – Medic 9 (but not mine) on the move

9/6 – Saturday I officially become a Soccer Dad

That’s all for now.

Through the eyes of a child

mack505 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:45:07 +0000

Beth and I spent some time in Boston’s Public Garden and the Back Bay today. She loved these flowers. I find them very Seuss-ian.

We strolled down Boylston Street looking for lunch. Boylston is one of Boston’s fanciest shopping districts; I see expensive stores and well-dressed crowds. Beth stopped suddenly and pointed up. ”Look, look Dad! Look!” It took me a minute to notice this ratty old brownstone being subsumed by stores.

Sadly I’d left my good Nikon at home, but the iPhone takes passable pictures if you are careful.

Six Million Dollar Doghouse

Cats, kids, and fire engines again

mack505 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:44:33 +0000

Cat-ching up on some more photos.

5/22 – Chai claims the newest basket in the house. It’s even cooler than a cardboard box!

6/9 – The best place to be on a hot day is stretched out on a cool floor.

6/8 – We stumbled across this old Revere ladder on the ramp at the Point of Pines firehouse. It’s a ‘sweetheart grille’ Seagrave, and if memory serves it dates from 1938. I believe the union is planning to restore it.

Beth insisted on posing with it. The late afternoon sun makes for a poor expression, though.

Just trying to be a bit artsy. This Seagrave is old enough that it still has a manual rotation crank. Elevation and extension are hydraulic, if primitive. I’d sure love to see this one restored.

Good Morning!

mack505 — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:18:49 +0000

4/2 – Good morning, Sin City.

4/4 – Good morning, Witch City.

The Return of Project 365

mack505 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:35:00 +0000

I find that I’m missing Project 365. I can’t guarantee that I’ll manage a photo every day, but I intend to start shooting and posting again.

So without further ado. . .

March 13 – In Quarters. . .

March 14 – Making chips on the Sherline mill with Beth. I’ll learn brass soon, but wood was a safe, easy place to start.

March 16 – None of my cars are complete without a W6 decal. Now the new TDI is ready to roll.

March 18 – A nice spring day brought on Spring Cleaning at work. The bays stayed clean for at least 20 minutes.

March 19 – Jasmine takes care of me during an unpleasant day sick in bed.

1/1/11

mack505 — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 22:54:50 +0000

Today marks the official end of Project 365 for 2010.

When I started it on 1/2/10, I had no idea where it would take me. With all of the negative memories from 2010, I’m glad I have a positive photographic record. In the end I missed a few days, and a few others have multiple photos. Still, iPhoto logged 360 shots under the ‘P365′ tag and 4051 for the entire year. The entire set can be viewed without captions over at Picasa.

So to finish the year:

12/30 – Contrails

12/31 – working hard

1/1/11 – Changing of the guard. My old belltop has been with me for over 20 years. It’s been through W6, 9/11, one National Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial, and an ill-fated attempt to attend the Charleston funerals. It has stood the honor guard detail for numerous retired members and even been photographed in a coffee table book.

It’s also worn out. It has water stains on the inside (a funeral in the snow, I think), the hat band is disintegrating, and it’s one size too small. I’m not sure if my head grew or if it shrunk, but it gives me headaches. I happened to mention these facts in front of Deputy Dad, and Voila! a new one appeared under the Christmas tree.

Today I swapped the bands and badge over to the new one, and the old one will go to its final reward. There are a lot of memories in that old hat, but in the end it’s just a hat. The memories will linger on.

No related posts.

Zen

mack505 — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:33:51 +0000

Silence
The low hum of fluorescent workshop lights
No TV; no family
The gentle rasp of an old abused paintbrush
A project draws to completion
I can hear my breathing; feel the blood in my veins

Heating pumps click and whir
The boiler whooshes to life

Oh, hello Hal