New Year's Day, 2012

Just a few pictures of nothing changed on New Year's Day in Beacon.

The Fishkill falls in Beacon, East Main street.

Driftwood assembly, Long Dock Park, Beacon.

Spit of gravel near the kayak launch, Long Dock Park, Beacon.

Long Dock Park, Beacon.

Berm, Long Dock Park, Beacon.

A willow in the wind.

Looking south along the Hudson to Denning's Point from Long Dock Park, Beacon.

The kayak building at Long Dock Park, Beacon.

A pile of lumber near the old Dutchess Boat Club, Beacon.

Madame Brett Park, Beacon, where the Fishkill drops to the Hudson.

Graffiti near the falls in Beacon.

For the Love Of Tobey the Cat

I had to get outdoors New Year's Day, so I grabbed my camera to see what I could find. Near the falls in Beacon someone made a tribute to their cat, Tobey, who apparently passed on this last Christmas day. 

On the submerged ledge of the cement dam near the falls there were may coins, and probably more lie in the depths below it. Though not superstitious, I dropped a few coins myself for Tobey. Maybe more for myself.

Losing any pet hurts. I have long liked cats so this struck my heart and reminded me of all the kitties I have seen come and go. They all taught me about life and death, being alone, being a friend, taking care of someone. Enjoying a silly moment. Passing an afternoon with a book and the warm weight of a cat on my lap, or leaning against my legs. I miss them all - Harry, Malcolm, Roland, Yabo, By-Tor, Cheetah, Smokey, Woodstock, Jasper, Kitty Dukakis [sic], Tiger, and many more whose names escape me just now.

We often make fun of people for feeling down "because their dog died" as the expression goes. But it hurts just as much as losing any other family member. Stupid fucking Sara Maclachlan doesn't help, either, with her SPCA commercials. I have to turn away whenever she comes on. It's bad enough that her voice is so beautiful, but paired with the pictures of the animals who don't - and may never - know the love that Tobey did saddens me.

Goodbye, Tobey. I'll never see the falls at Beacon quite the same anymore.

Beacon Roundhouse

The Roundhouse At Beacon Falls is just one part of a large development project started this year to revitalize Beacon's East Main Street Area. So far they have cleaned up a lot of the area near the falls and the Main Street bridge, and the bridge has been replaced or fixed.

Just a few weeks ago, the Roundhouse opened up for customers. I stopped there and got some pictures this morning.

Here is a quick video of the area. I apologize if you can hear the guy yapping on his cell phone.