Frank Boscoe
@fpb.bsky.social
Semi-retired epidemiologist, lifetime geographer. Songwriter, poet. Student, and now teacher, of Italian. Fading runner, past rogaining champ.
This week my consulting work for a federal health agency was on and off multiple times, my spouse had a day fielding panicked calls from elderly Medicaid patients who couldn’t get their medications, and I had to become familiar with the protocol for an ICE raid on the school where I’m a substitute.
February 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This week my consulting work for a federal health agency was on and off multiple times, my spouse had a day fielding panicked calls from elderly Medicaid patients who couldn’t get their medications, and I had to become familiar with the protocol for an ICE raid on the school where I’m a substitute.
In other news, my online credit card payment of $90.00 I entered as $9,000.00. I was able to undo it at my local bank, in person (on the phone it would’ve been a nightmare), but I’m all nervous-sweaty.
August 21, 2023 at 1:56 PM
In other news, my online credit card payment of $90.00 I entered as $9,000.00. I was able to undo it at my local bank, in person (on the phone it would’ve been a nightmare), but I’m all nervous-sweaty.
Someone I know posted the comment “No one will ever buy me a beer because of my tattoo”. I think it’s fascinating how that can mean you either have a tattoo or don’t:
No one will ever buy me a beer (because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever (buy me a beer because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever buy me a beer (because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever (buy me a beer because I have a tattoo)
August 19, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Someone I know posted the comment “No one will ever buy me a beer because of my tattoo”. I think it’s fascinating how that can mean you either have a tattoo or don’t:
No one will ever buy me a beer (because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever (buy me a beer because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever buy me a beer (because I have a tattoo)
No one will ever (buy me a beer because I have a tattoo)
Today I learned that one of my neighbors is the widow of a hold medalist in the 1924 Olympics (rowing). There was obviously a major age difference between them. Despite her advanced age, she swims in the ocean daily, year round, and rows for up to 5 hours at a time.
August 19, 2023 at 1:15 AM
Today I learned that one of my neighbors is the widow of a hold medalist in the 1924 Olympics (rowing). There was obviously a major age difference between them. Despite her advanced age, she swims in the ocean daily, year round, and rows for up to 5 hours at a time.
My cat was born with three legs, is somewhat overweight, and is somewhat old. In short, not very mobile. When we let her outside she rarely strays beyond the porch. Yet yesterday she caught a shrew.
Fun fact: The Italian word for shrew is toporagno, which means spider-mouse.
Fun fact: The Italian word for shrew is toporagno, which means spider-mouse.
August 17, 2023 at 11:51 PM
My cat was born with three legs, is somewhat overweight, and is somewhat old. In short, not very mobile. When we let her outside she rarely strays beyond the porch. Yet yesterday she caught a shrew.
Fun fact: The Italian word for shrew is toporagno, which means spider-mouse.
Fun fact: The Italian word for shrew is toporagno, which means spider-mouse.
On the one hand, the CPS-3, in which I am enrolled, is the best-designed study of cancer in the population ever. On the other, so far it is reporting that age, smoking, alcohol, family history, diet, physical inactivity, and obesity are the key risk factors, which we’ve known for many decades.
August 15, 2023 at 5:29 PM
On the one hand, the CPS-3, in which I am enrolled, is the best-designed study of cancer in the population ever. On the other, so far it is reporting that age, smoking, alcohol, family history, diet, physical inactivity, and obesity are the key risk factors, which we’ve known for many decades.
Over the weekend I was a kayak spotter in a local half-mile lake swim. I ended up with the slowest guy - he was at the quarter-mark when the leader finished. He hung onto my kayak at one point, then eventually moved into shallow water where he could stand after every few strokes.
August 15, 2023 at 12:52 PM
Over the weekend I was a kayak spotter in a local half-mile lake swim. I ended up with the slowest guy - he was at the quarter-mark when the leader finished. He hung onto my kayak at one point, then eventually moved into shallow water where he could stand after every few strokes.
In June I “won” an entry into a 50k race that goes up and down all the mountain trails in the local state park - 7600’ of elevation gain in total, much of it in the last 10k. Today I “finished” the course - breaking it into chunks over a series of Sundays - and I think I can do the whole thing.
August 13, 2023 at 4:39 PM
In June I “won” an entry into a 50k race that goes up and down all the mountain trails in the local state park - 7600’ of elevation gain in total, much of it in the last 10k. Today I “finished” the course - breaking it into chunks over a series of Sundays - and I think I can do the whole thing.
I had a swim lesson with people my own age yesterday. It was great. I’ve never gotten the hang of the kickboard. The instructor said “kick from the hip, kick from the knees, I don’t know what that means either. Just pretend you stepped in dog poop and you’re trying to fling it off.” It worked!
August 10, 2023 at 12:07 AM
I had a swim lesson with people my own age yesterday. It was great. I’ve never gotten the hang of the kickboard. The instructor said “kick from the hip, kick from the knees, I don’t know what that means either. Just pretend you stepped in dog poop and you’re trying to fling it off.” It worked!
This morning I hiked up here from down there (the village left-center). 1300 feet, starting at true sea level.
August 7, 2023 at 12:35 AM
This morning I hiked up here from down there (the village left-center). 1300 feet, starting at true sea level.
“Dear” is quietly disappearing as the standard salutation. And the less it gets used, the more fusty it seems.
August 5, 2023 at 11:28 AM
“Dear” is quietly disappearing as the standard salutation. And the less it gets used, the more fusty it seems.
Last month, I made a few “book safes” for sale in my son’s art gallery/stationery shop. That’s when you take a vintage book and hollow out some of the pages then glue them together to form a foolproof hiding place. One day I heard a kid say, “Hey! This is how my friend snuck his phone into camp!”
August 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Last month, I made a few “book safes” for sale in my son’s art gallery/stationery shop. That’s when you take a vintage book and hollow out some of the pages then glue them together to form a foolproof hiding place. One day I heard a kid say, “Hey! This is how my friend snuck his phone into camp!”
I’m not sure who I’m even talking to here.
August 2, 2023 at 12:23 AM
I’m not sure who I’m even talking to here.
I didn’t actually finish picking up the control flags yesterday; in fact, I only managed 3/4 of the goal, in part because at one point I made a 180-degree error and went the wrong way for a while. So I’ll be returning tomorrow, better provisioned and with a camera.
August 1, 2023 at 8:18 PM
I didn’t actually finish picking up the control flags yesterday; in fact, I only managed 3/4 of the goal, in part because at one point I made a 180-degree error and went the wrong way for a while. So I’ll be returning tomorrow, better provisioned and with a camera.
Today I helped pick up control flags from last week’s Maine Adventure Race. In past years, this has been fun. Now it’s a bit of a slog, which I think I have to chalk up to age. There were beautiful hilltop views of the Atlantic Ocean and also scenes of brutal rural poverty. No photos, alas.
August 1, 2023 at 12:33 AM
Today I helped pick up control flags from last week’s Maine Adventure Race. In past years, this has been fun. Now it’s a bit of a slog, which I think I have to chalk up to age. There were beautiful hilltop views of the Atlantic Ocean and also scenes of brutal rural poverty. No photos, alas.
(2/2) Last winter I made the decision not to re-register. I was worried about loss of fitness, going from sea level to 8000 feet, the travel cost, that I might have some job commitment I couldn’t get out of. But I wonder if I should have hung in there. I went all the way to Estonia for this in 2008!
July 30, 2023 at 8:27 PM
(2/2) Last winter I made the decision not to re-register. I was worried about loss of fitness, going from sea level to 8000 feet, the travel cost, that I might have some job commitment I couldn’t get out of. But I wonder if I should have hung in there. I went all the way to Estonia for this in 2008!
(1/2) This weekend was the World Rogaining Championship near Lake Tahoe. A rogaine is a 24-hour navigation race and no jokes, please - it only means something else if you live in the US or Canada and are above a certain age.
I was entered in this race in 2020; it was delayed 3 years due to covid.
I was entered in this race in 2020; it was delayed 3 years due to covid.
July 30, 2023 at 8:23 PM
(1/2) This weekend was the World Rogaining Championship near Lake Tahoe. A rogaine is a 24-hour navigation race and no jokes, please - it only means something else if you live in the US or Canada and are above a certain age.
I was entered in this race in 2020; it was delayed 3 years due to covid.
I was entered in this race in 2020; it was delayed 3 years due to covid.
This morning was the Camden (ME) Parade of Sail
Here’s a poem that fits within the character limit:
The Nautical Alphabet
When I watch a regatta
And the people nearby are laughing
I imagine the captain of the passing boat
Has spelled out a good joke
Here’s a poem that fits within the character limit:
The Nautical Alphabet
When I watch a regatta
And the people nearby are laughing
I imagine the captain of the passing boat
Has spelled out a good joke
July 29, 2023 at 3:51 PM
This morning was the Camden (ME) Parade of Sail
Here’s a poem that fits within the character limit:
The Nautical Alphabet
When I watch a regatta
And the people nearby are laughing
I imagine the captain of the passing boat
Has spelled out a good joke
Here’s a poem that fits within the character limit:
The Nautical Alphabet
When I watch a regatta
And the people nearby are laughing
I imagine the captain of the passing boat
Has spelled out a good joke
I’m been learning to swim on my own for almost two years now, and I’ve made only incremental progress. I asked the aquatics director at the local pool if something might be offered for adults, and she agreed. So now I’m registered for a “stroke clinic” in 10 days that I think could be over my head.
July 29, 2023 at 12:27 AM
I’m been learning to swim on my own for almost two years now, and I’ve made only incremental progress. I asked the aquatics director at the local pool if something might be offered for adults, and she agreed. So now I’m registered for a “stroke clinic” in 10 days that I think could be over my head.
Today, with the help of my teacher, for the first time I translated one of my poems into Italian. I didn’t worry about meter or rhyme or alliteration, I just tried to tell the story. I made fun errors, like referring to the oxen-filled nights of winter instead of the dark nights.
July 29, 2023 at 12:24 AM
Today, with the help of my teacher, for the first time I translated one of my poems into Italian. I didn’t worry about meter or rhyme or alliteration, I just tried to tell the story. I made fun errors, like referring to the oxen-filled nights of winter instead of the dark nights.
I am not sure whether anyone I know is here, or will ever be here, but it seems worth a try!
July 29, 2023 at 12:21 AM
I am not sure whether anyone I know is here, or will ever be here, but it seems worth a try!