I brushed my teeth with Solanpas. I thought it was a tube of Crest toothpaste. It had a numbing affect. Not a great addition to my seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Which leads me to the topic of today's discussion – our lengthening daylight.

The negative from which this image was made has not seen the light of day in over 30 years. That would make it one of my younger offspring in my collection of processed films of over 50 years. Where does the time go? Perhaps one day I will get around to organizing all my files. Perhaps not.

My wife and I and Gardiner Savings bought the old fire station on Route 27 in Boothbay in 1995. It’s still there across the street from the old town garage/office which has been lovingly cared for by George McEvoy and crew.

The old fire station was being sold to help finance the new fire station, which is farther up the road on 27. It was a big step for us but a good neighborhood. The neighbors to the south were quiet. It was our hope to establish a photo gallery for me and a place from which we could conduct higher visibility interaction with the buying public. It didn't really work out. I got way too antsy sitting around hoping people might walk through the door to buy some of my work or schedule time. I had set up a formal studio there as well. Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. Bug time!

This is the sunrise we were hoping for on Dec. 31, but it wasn't. There was a sunrise on the 31st, but it was not visible behind a thick bank of clouds as viewed looking toward Monhegan from Ocean Point.

Why is this significant, you might ask. Well, Dec. 31 was our daughter Morgan's 30th birthday, and one of the things she has always liked to do on her birthday is to see the sunrise.

I was sitting on an overturned bucket aboard Red Hook with Mark Stover at the helm, Alva Achorn at the ready, and perfect summer sunshine all around. Don Viens was nearby on the dock with his boat blasting some “Dead” and we were all gesturing back and forth as young children are want to do! OSHA had taken the day off and the Coast Guard was preoccupied with larger issues. Eddie Tibbetts was hanging a new sign for the “Atlantic Edge” from a jury-rigged platform balanced precariously, teetering atop a pristine pallet at the end of a fully extended forklift. It was a scene from “The Hardy Boys’ Next Adventure.” “God save the Queen.” Please Don, turn up the music!

“Will you keep the cash ... Or, take a chance on what's behind curtain #3?”

“It's a holiday vacation in beautiful Boothbay Harbor, Maine!” When you visit this charming New England village, you can expect to see lots of the most refreshing and jubilant people alive during the shortest days of the year. On any given day, in the downtown walking area, there are many wonderful shops and shopkeepers who can help you prepare for the holiday season and brighten the four o'clock sunsets. An unforgettable experience awaits you.

I've been stalking Wayne Closson for years. Ever since I photographed for the wedding of his daughter, Megan. We had a grand time and Wayne had no choice! Father of the bride had to behave, especially with some local “foto geek” in the house. He reluctantly tolerated me with the help of wife Mary who was almost as happy as Wayne about being photographed. What is it about having someone point a camera lens at you? I resemble that comment. Just ask my family. “Dad, could you please smile?” “Don't make one of your silly faces please.” It's why I prefer my side of the camera. Also, helps me appreciate some folks' reluctance to be photographed.

Horace Lee and Ethelyn Giles helped us buy our first house in 1978. It was a complicated purchase due to some unusual circumstances. We had no knowledge of real estate but we were excited for the opportunity to settle in to a neighborhood and become more a part of this wonderful community.

So, guess who will not be coming to dinner?

For several years, about this time, we have moved to our horse barn/bunk house for the winter. Easier to heat, fewer pipes to freeze, smaller space to manage. It has worked out pretty well over the years. And, it seems that the local wildlife community expects us to start banging around their “hood,” for better or worse, as we attempt to prepare for the long winter.

For any Opera House August event, a window seat with a cooling breeze would be nice. In fact, once the lights go down in the House, a mix with fresh air helps everyone breathe a bit more gracefully, especially when some of the heavy rockers hit high gear.

First of all, let me say that when I first heard the name Ella Beauregard, I was reminded of someone like a Formula One race car driver. Someone like, say, Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian. Her name just made me think of speed and racing and unusual gift. Don't ask me why, but in my crazy mind the names connected.

The Harbor Framers space in the Small Mall always made me recall a watering hole I used to vist during my teaching years, on Bleecker Street in New York City. There was something about the character of the place. Like when you go to a bar never quite sure who you will find or what might be on display!

Over the many years of our time here in wonderful Maine, I have had opportunities to photograph an extraordinary variety of boats. From turnabouts at the various summer sailing programs, to great ocean going power yachts, racing sailboats, lobster boats, and custom extravaganzas like Antonisa and Scheherezade. Unsophisticated as I am regarding the whole boating scene, there are many to thank for helping me, chief among them, the late great Sonny Hodgdon. He was never really convinced that I would be the next Stanley Rosenfeld, but he was always supportive.

Reflecting has always been a fall thing for me. I'm not sure why, but leaf changes, cooler temperatures and shorter days make me think back over the year. Something about how summer ends. The autumn is my favorite time.

Some weekend, when you are looking for something to do, try a short adventure drive to the fascinating “Wizard of Odds and Ends” antiques extravaganza in Head Tide. It is the first right after the world famous Alna Store, a quick peep off Route 218 at 45 Head Tide Road, immediately downstream from the now made-over Head Tide Dam. Richard Plunkett, proprietor, has two great buildings loaded with all sorts of interesting collectibles. And, there is 20-30% off all purchases until the end of November. But, it is a weekends-only place or by appointment.

It’s not often that I roll out to the back field at home very early. Not that 9 a.m. is very early. I always have thought about people like Chip Haggett and Rock Radasch starting their day at Hodgdon’s at 3, 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. They had half a day in while sugar plum fairies danced in my head!

Forty plus years ago I met Gerry Gamage on a cold winter night when he was a plowing for the town of Southport. At the time I was house sitting for the Pink Ladies, Mary Harward and Liz Kiehn, and their long-haired white cat who was prone to large knots of fur and hair balls. Their place was over on the Nickerson Road near the Sprouls, across the cove from Robinson's Wharf. It was a nice spot but a wicked nasty place in winter.

Attempting to catch up with Rachel Roberts in person is like hitchhiking on the Autobahn. I had way more luck working the Berkshires back in the ’60s. Traffic was a whole lot slower then. But, not one to be discouraged by obstacles, I persisted. Lo and behold, Rachel was in town in August, however, for about five minutes, and I missed the window.

I asked my wife the other day where the pills were put that are meant to improve my memory. I'm awaiting her response.

Over the years of doing this “photo with words” thing in the paper (Joe Gelarden, responsible party), I have shared many subjects. Whether anything appeals to Register readers is another matter. However, I must say, on several occasions in my office at the Hannaford, people who shall remain nameless, pull me aside in the frozen food section with comments.. My response: “Well, I never quite know what will bubble to the top any given week.”