I'm from Essex, in case you couldn't tell

Well, no, I'm not.  And anyway I'm not thinking of that Essex.  What I mean to say is that I'm sorry for the inactivity around here--it was an eventful weekend, followed by a trip today to the North Shore.  Which, as all such journeys must, included a pilgrimage to the home of the fried clam.  In a month--less on weekends--Woodman's and its competitors will be filled with hordes of tourists (um, like me); today it was a local crowd, much more pleasant.  I also finally sampled their clam cakes, made easy by the fact that they sell them individually (hard experience has taught me to avoid much larger numbers.)  Does it hurt a Rhode Islander to admit that Massachusetts, of all places, could be home to the finest clam cake he's ever had?  It does, it does.  But I can't help but wanting to drive back for more.

Oh, by the way, saw some art up there, too.  More on that soon.