Memories of Winter: An Ode to The Charles – Part I

Really not sure why people, being terrestrial creatures as they are, gravitate towards large bodies of water. This here is the first in hopefully what will be a series. My homage to Boston’s own “body of water” – the Charles River basin. These pictures were taken mostly in winter and some in early spring from Soldiers’ Field Road, Mass-Ave Bridge and Memorial Drive.

As usual, CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO GET THE FULL SIZE VERSIONS.

The Myst Approaches

Frozen Glory

Sail To Allston

March Across The Ice

Memorial Drive Overexposed

Slush Aviary

The Sun Always Shines On TV

Spring Approaches

Hyatt Ttayh

Water In Transition

Just Water

Warmth

Pru And Hancock Overexposed

Day’s End

The sky has always been my favorite thing to photograph. A couple of months ago, it was harsh winter in Boston which I fled to escape to Washington, D.C. On the way back from the National Mall, while my friend was looking for his car in the parking lot, I managed to quickly take some shots of the sky because it was simply too breathtaking to let go of. Then these got tossed to some corner of my hard drive – primarily because of my laziness to do any post-processing (at least proper cropping). So, today I came across these and said “Ahh! What the hell” and just put them up! Not sure how they’ve come out “technically” – but they do please my eyes! Hopefully they will do the same for you as well.

Green Day

Pictures from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade at South Boston on March 15 (two days before the actual day).

Petrified

Click on the pictures to view the high-res versions.

Introspection

Aries

Don’t Tread On Me

The Healer

Play

Time, Famine, Pestilence and Death

Hellraiser

Godsent Heretic

Heed My Words

Vindication

The Sentinel

Forbidden

Rise Up

Impediment

Massacre

Labor

Expectations

Nutcrackers

Apparently, Bostonian squirrels aren’t very shy. They’ll readily hold a pose as soon as they see a camera. Either that, or they’re preparing to engage their defence (or worse yet, offence) mechanism. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out (or did I?), I guess. In any case, this was the first time I’d wandered around with a camera – with serious shooting intentions, that is. I’m not satisfied with how most of the pictures turned out, either, but it’s not like you have anything better to do right now (”haha”).

Anyway, the moral of the story for me: if this is the first time you’ve ever “stepped out shooting”, pick subjects that will stay in one place, that will let you get up close, and MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL — that will not mistake you for a tree and run up your legs!

Marianne

I wake up at midnight and stare at the sky
I watch the steps on the escalator go by
The last time I saw you is clear as day
Just like the Boston song you were walking away

We knew each other for longer than ever
And your love’s sunshine I shall forget never
My thoughts are frozen in time to stay
What a fool I was for I let you get away

I cannot take back the pain I have caused
You can never get back the years that you lost
Here’s hoping you find love and go your own way
While I wallow in regret ’til my dying day

(She’s A) Reptile

I met her at the sleaze-pit on Lagrange
Fell for her moves, though they were mighty strange
As she mixed pleasure with sweet pain
I poured all my money down the drain

She’s a reptile, she’s a reptile, she’s out to get you
Oh, my little reptile and her sweet stranglehold

Mercilessly she walked out the door
I had to go after her though I was pretty sore
Caught up with her by the drugstore
With an evil smile she made me beg for more

She’s a reptile, she’s a reptile, she’s out to get you
Oh, my little reptile and her sweet stranglehold

She had her way with me, you no she knew the score
One look from those eyes and I was floored
Now she’s gone but she’s always on my mind
Some will leave you broke and dead at the same time

She’s a reptile, she’s a reptile, she’s out to get you
Oh, my little reptile and her sweet stranglehold

The Commuter Rail Sonnet

Wake up everyday before the day dawns
Ride like the wind just to make it on time
Only it’s not some hellcat that I get to ride
It is a filthy green slug trailing on slime

For it’s a long way to where I have to be
My private little prison where I punch in
A diesel goliath I board to take me in
To deliver me to the corporate machine

It is a long, lonely ride and would be painful
If not for two things I have to keep me cool
The first- Led Zeppelin- on my ears to soothe
The other, sweet woman, are thoughts of you

All Hail Caesar

I am a sucker – for I had the chance to see AC/DC perform live in Boston – and I missed it. I somehow rationalize by saying that circumstances that prevented me from attending the show were too strong, but I know in the back of my head that I could have overcome them if I had only had the energy and the commitment – that has the potential to lead me into another topic altogether, so let us stick to AC/DC. I’ve become a fan of this local Bostonian classic rock FM station, WZLX 100.7. Since I couldn’t go to the concert, I was home all day not wanting to do anything else – just listening to this station. It didn’t help that they kept talking about the show as well. They were holding a pre-concert party at The Harp and giving away free tickets through a draw. I could have gone, perhaps – seen “Back In Black” (the apparently very popular AC/DC tribute band) perform, and if I didn’t get the tickets, I’d at least have had a beer or two and a reasonably good time. But I didn’t go. I seem to be digressing again. Back to AC/DC.

I was however, probably one of the earliest listeners of the new AC/DC album, “Black Ice”. It thoroughly and undoubtedly rocks. Unlike “sellouts” like Metallica, the riffs are still powerful, the guitar-work is still magnificent, the overall sound still brings it. That’s right – Angus and the boys are still bringing it. But the biggest attention-grabber is Brian Johnson – he is 61 (that’s right SIXTY-ONE) years old now and still sounds exactly the same as he did during “Back In Black”. Let’s just say his “Powerage” hasn’t faded one bit. In the great AC/DC divide of Bon Scott vs. Brian Johnson – I always take Brian Johnson’s side. I listened to the album and went “Oh, man, this guy’s gonna die screaming someday!” (God forbid). AC/DC have not sold out, and will never sell out (read my lips, Metallica) – they will keep the faith. Their album and concert, on the other hand, did sell out!

Anyway, I know missing the show is going to haunt me for some time – but I have Boston to help me get through it. I love this city for it still loves classic rock and metal so much. Where else would you still get to listen to good old classic rock and metal in almost all of the bars? Case in point – a couple of weeks ago I was hanging out at Beantown Pub – and they played Slayer. That’s right – Slayer – in a pub. I love “Beantown Rock City”. As for AC/DC, I have three words: “All Hail Caesar!!”

Sax Girl

You’re at home honey when you’re doing your thing
As you blow on your horn you make my thoughts ring
A shot of Jack and jazz from your lips any day
One look at you, sax girl, and I’ll be on my way

Saw you last night at Wally’s blowing, blowing away
Wandered the streets thinking of you or of some way
To take you home and make you mine and have my way
One look at you, sax girl, yes you make my day

Putting in my hours every day I’m wound up pretty tight
Moments with you and your tunes always make my night
A shot of Jack and jazz from your lips any day
One look at you, sax girl, and I’ll be on my way