History Made

History was made yesterday in Massachusetts by electing our first woman senator, Elizabeth Warren.  I hope she is able to make a difference in Congress and help President Obama get something accomplished there.  

Perhaps my phone will now stop ringing with all those annoying political calls.

Election Day, 2012

I hope that every registered voter is able to travel to their polling place today. I have some trivia to share for this occasion: Did you know that Lydia Taft became the first legal woman voter in colonial America in 1756? This occurred under British rule in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This was in a New England town meeting and she voted on at least three occasions in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. ("Travel Tuesday" will be back next week.)

Quincy's ballot today is a made up of 2 large cards;  you use a pen and fill in a small oval to mark your choice.  The ballot is written in two languages to assist Quincy's large Asian population.

What is the ballot like in your city or town?

Let's hope we don't go through a "punch card" fiasco anywhere in this election like we did a few years back.

Colorful Code

The nautical flags look beautiful against the blue sky . . . but what do they say?

Fourth of July

Happy Birthday, America!  Today's photo was captured at Merrymount Park.

Fun Fourth Facts:  Three American presidents died on July 4th and one president was born on this day. Do you know the 4 names?  The answers will appear in the "comment" section later today (after the fireworks).

11.11.11

Today is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Thank you!

Marking UNESCO

Toruń's Old Town has been listed on the UNESCO list since 1997. There are banners skirting the old town marking that it is in fact a UNESCO area.

More red, white and blue

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

I am having a lazy morning and getting ready to head out on my walk now. Here are a couple I missed sharing from the last weekend's patriotic show of color. I need to buy some red, white and blue bunting for holidays. The first photo is the little liqueur shop on East Bay and the one below of course is Hibernian Hall on Meeting St.

If anyone has any experience with solar attic fans holler at me. I've been thinking it might be a clever idea for my house.

Flag Day

Tomorrow is Constitution Day in Poland...and today is Flag Day in which all the patriotic Poles hang out their flags (you see them even on buses and trams). This young guy seems to be very patriotic indeed...even wearing the flag!!!

"Old Glory"

Happy "National Flag Day".

Remembering

Today's post, from Mount Wollaston Cemetery, was taken in the quiet of the dawn, in honor of the soldiers who gave their lives for our country.

National Mourning: Scenes from Toruń

National Mourning

RIP...

Lech Kaczynski -- Polish president

Maria Kaczynska -- The president's wife

Ryszard Kaczorowski -- Poland's last president-in-exile

Aleksander Szczyglo -- head of the National Security Office

Pawel Wypych -- presidential aide

Mariusz Handzlik -- presidential aide

Jerzy Szmajdzinski -- deputy parliament speaker

Andrzej Kremer -- Deputy Foreign Minister

Gen. Franciszek Gagor -- head of the army chief of staff

Andrzej Przewoznik -- minister in charge of WWII memorials

Slawomir Skrzypek -- head of the National Bank of Poland

Janusz Kurtyka -- head of the National Remembrance Institute

Przemyslaw Gosiewski -- lawmaker

Zbigniew Wassermann -- lawmaker

Grzegorz Dolniak -- lawmaker

Janusz Kochanowski -- civil rights commissioner

Bishop Tadeusz Ploski -- army chaplain

Presidents Day

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It's a federal holiday in the U.S.A today. We are honoring two presidents: both George Washington who was born on Feb. 22nd and Abraham Lincoln born on Feb. 12th. This photo was taken across Quincy Bay at President John F. Kennedy's Library and Museum in Boston.

Flag Day

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Quincy has the longest running Flag Day parade in the country . . . 56 years. Tonight's parade will be topped off with fireworks as long as the weather cooperates.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

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This colonial Revival house is located at 126 Grandview Avenue on Wollaston Hill. I like the windows with the diagonal transoms. I also like the Alaskan flag which I learned was designed by a 13 year-old and the only one I've ever seen flying in Quincy!