A Cape July 2014

Happy belated 4th!

It was a dark and stormy Fourth of July...courtesy of a little tropical depression which turned into ARTHUR, the first hurricane of the season.  A very dignified name, with just the right notoriety and punch for turning a dark, wet holiday weekend into fodder for commiseration and dramatic stories to be shared.  The packed parking lots smelling of ocean and the oncoming storm were full of determined people filling their carts with bags of corn on the cob, buns, chips and all sorts of picnic fare. The local fishing show on WCAI interrupted talk about flounders occasionally to update with flash flood alerts and tracking the storm's progress.   Parades in Chatham, Orleans and Wellfleet scoffed at the creeping fog and occasional sprinkles, although fireworks were postponed until the 6th for dryer weather.  Unfazed vacationers roamed the streets popping into shops and restaurants before the torrent hit.  The Orleans Community Exchange sported American flags flapping in the wind gusts and customers were greeted by the enthusiastic Agnes, a fellow volunteer. [This year, proceeds from the Exchange provided $25,000 in college scholarships for many Lower Cape high school students.]       

The magnificent, Agnes-USA STRONG!

Arthur did pack more of a punch than was anticipated, causing the power to go out all night and leaving a fair amount of debris in the yard.  But, as the last bands of rain pushed towards Newfoundland and a brilliant blue sky prevailed, it was business as usual for vacationers.  There is a certain irony that by so many flocking here to get away from city life for awhile, they bring the gridlock and kamikaze driving with them.  That's when knowing the shortcuts, or paths of least resistance help.  We are certainly not the only ones to encounter chaos.  A glitch in the British Airways' baggage system caused 700 travelers, including our guests from Germany to be without their luggage for three days.  They were real troopers, but I know that seeing their bags again was a joyous sight.

Return to calm waters after the storm -seen from Fort Hill

Although the summer solstice is in June, the July 4th weekend roars in with a real carpe diem punch.  It's best to just make necessary trips and otherwise stay out of the way, i.e. tinkering with home projects, working in the garden, reading and looking after guests.  This is not to say that we have forsaken date nights, for there is still much we don't want to miss.  Some of this month's entertainment came in the form of a long awaited visit from my cousin, Bill and his girlfriend, Diane from D.C.  We're hoping they tell the family down there what they're missing.   

Diane & my cousin, Bill enjoying some of the old family pictures.  

One of our outings was to the Provincetown Library Series of short plays where Ron had been asked to be in Rock Hudson's Wedding, playing Rock's fast-talking, sleazy agent.  It was Bill's first time seeing Ron perform, other than at the dinner table at family gatherings.  The fifteen minute dark comedy, by a local playwright was based on historical information about leading men who were secretly gay and how their careers were advanced in Hollywood.  It was fun to learn that Sarah MacDonnell, the woman playing the red-headed secretary (on the right) had two Star Trek episodes on her long resume.  

Rock Hudson's Wedding

The following night found us back in P'town at the Provincetown Theatre, where we got to watch a rough cut of the short film, Misconception, that Ron helped make back in March, based on the play he had been in over the winter.  This dark comedy was about two lesbians choosing the perfect baby donor, or so they thought, and was the big chance to see Ron running through Provincetown in the snow in cowboy boots and boxer shorts.  We then popped in to the Waydowntown Bar to catch Sarah MacDonnell's band perform a set and were surprised to find we already knew the drummer and guitarist of her band.  The arts scene on the Cape tends to be a big, talented family eager to stretch those talents and share their creativity amongst themselves. 

I received credit for Misconception's promo shot.

When we learned that Bill was not fond of seafood, we knew that a trip to our friends, Bill & Denise's restaurant, Red Pheasant was in order, along with the story about the duck entree on the menu.  When Ron was doing restoration work on their 17th century building one day, a customer walked in looking to buy gift certificates.  He related to Ron that he had dined there the night before with his group of physicians who were on the Cape for a medical conference.  These conferences are held all over the world and with each one he tries the duck in a local restaurant, but this, he proclaimed, was the best duck in the world and he proceeded to buy 50 gift certificates.  "Four ducks, please!" 

With Denise and Bill Atwood at Red Pheasant [http://www.redpheasantinn.com/]

We also didn't want to miss the play One Man, Two Guvnors at Cape Rep since we not only heard it was hilarious, but our friend Chandler Travis wrote and directed the music.  This one did not disappoint.  The quick, non-stop pace of sheer talent and comedic entertainment made for a joyous evening.   
   

One Man, Two Guvnors  By Richard Bean

Based on "The Servant of Two Masters" by Carlo Goldoni

Directed by Fred Sullivan, Jr.

Music Direction by Chandler Travis

July 12th evening entertainment was provided by another "Super Moon" and Fort Hill was packed with neighbors and tourists with their cameras ready until the mosquitoes made us their entertainment.  By then, the best of the moon rise had already been observed and we returned to our mosquito-free zone at home.  Thank you Skeeter Vac!  We forget what it's like in the real world.

July Super Moon over Fort Hill

We always try to take advantage of our local theatres' "Pay What You Want" nights, and we really struck gold with W.H.A.T.'s production of The Fabulous Lipitones.  To say that it exceeded our expectations is like saying that the duck at The Red Pheasant was o.k.  The dialogue was a chuckle a minute, the music exquisitely superb and the surprise punch that set it apart was totally unexpected.  Once again, we felt absolutely spoiled.        

For a second year, I've been given the Artist of the Month Spot at the Hope Chest Store in Orleans for a photography display.  The best compliment I could ever have received was when a friend commented that she enjoyed my sense of humor reflected in some of my pictures.  It's nice to know that the connection is made.      

Cape Codder ad bump 

Miscellaneous News from the Shore:

Eastham's Nauset Light, guiding sailors since 1838

"Ping", who was tagged last year, was the first great white shark sighting of the summer off of Nauset Beach in Orleans, just in time to share the holiday weekend.  Swimmers are reminded to swim close to shore and stay away from seals.

Provincetown reported the identification of some mysterious flotsam on the beach, or as they described it, "a strange, gelatinous chunk of bleeding marine matter".  It was identified as the liver of a basking shark about ten feet long, two to three feet wide, and powerful smelling.  It was scooped up with a loader from the highway department and buried.  Takes the appeal out of a raw bar, doesn't it?

Eastham reported some unplanned July 4th excitement when the fireworks from Rock Harbor in Orleans lit up some beach grass and cat tails on the Eastham side of the beach.  It took about 20 minutes to bring under control, but no people or property were injured.  I'm kind of glad we went to see Chandler at the Fleetian that night.

Wellfleet had their own version of fireworks when a 14" World War II ordinance was found in the sand on one of their beaches.  A bomb squad was called in to blow it up later that night when the beaches had emptied.

Chatham residents have been advised to keep small pets inside after noting an increase in the coyote population on North Beach Island.  Generally, coyotes avoid contact with humans, but see them as possible food sources.  

The National Seashore is sponsoring campfires again at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham.  Bring a blanket and bug spray for a cozy night of fun.

Joby & Luke

And, an 18 pound lobster, nicknamed 'Luke', was given a reprieve by Joby Norton, owner of Mullaney's Fish Market in Scituate.  He estimated by the size that Luke was about 75 years old and deserved to catch a ride back to his natural habitat, even though he could have sold him for $100.  The Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association claims the record for the largest lobster caught off Cape Cod in 1974, a 37.4 pounder nicknamed 'Big George'.  The average lobster weighs about 1.5 pounds.  

We're looking forward to having friends serenade us on our town green.

We were very sad to feel compelled to give our very first bad review this month to a guest who found us on Airbnb.com.  This is a wonderful company, which offers the opportunity for both host and guest reviews.  In five years and hundreds of guests from all over the world, we just couldn't overlook this poor excuse for guest etiquette, and it didn't give us any pleasure to report it.  But, for every disappointing experience, there are so many more wonderful ones, like the lady who left us a fancy bar of cranberry soap.  And, the guest who went charter fishing and shared a huge portion of striped bass with us that made a lot of people very happy.  And, the couple from New York who shared how much they loved the magnificent stars at night from the front yard swing.  The guests from Vermont who loved touring our gardens, and the ones returning to the Cape for their 50th anniversary.  And, congratulations to Dave and Rebecca the latest proposal, this one under the stars at Nauset Light Beach.  I think this makes 3 in the Studio that we know about.  They all enrich our summers.  Our July guests visited from Germany, Ontario, Quebec, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, D.C. and Virginia. 

Make way for August!