I had to bust a move and get out the door pretty early this a.m., since they're predicting triple-digit heat today.  It's always nice to be out and about with the early birds.  Morning people are the most civilized, and they stay that way by avoiding night people as much as possible.  There's a whole world in the morning night people know nothing about, and can't even imagine.  And morning sex?  What better way to start your day?  I'm telling you, morning people got it goin' on.

I had a good three hours in the garden before it got too hot to be in the sun, and then... I had BREAKFAST!  I had had a little something before leaving the house — yogurt, granola, a cup of coffee — but I decided before my ride back I'd treat myself to the real thing. 

I was so excited by my unexpected offer to treat myself I set about immediately trying to think of which place in the area was the least likely to spoil the mood with bad service and overpriced fare.  I ruled out things like breakfast burritos and sandwiches, since I was treating myself.  And narrowed the field to Thornton's on Peterborough and The Trident on Newbury. 

I hadn't been to the Trident in probably three years, and if I recall, the last time I went there solo they sat me way back in the back.  Singles still can't get a table up front, apparently, even mid-morning on a Monday when the place is all but deserted.  Honestly, I don't know why I chose the Trident.  I always feel like a second-class citizen there.  But sometimes it's good to go back and remind yourself why it's been three years since you did.

I spent fifteen bucks.  On scrambled eggs and soggy, age-old homefries.  And something possessed me to order link sausage, which — they don't tell you this on the menu for some reason — was microwaved.  I mean, unabashedly nuked. No apologies. And you can't disguise a nuked sausage.  They're rubbery and dry as jerky.  That takes balls.  To serve what amounts to a doggie treat in a joint like that, and charge human-price for it.

On the plus side, while the guy who seated me looked like a reject from The Denny's in Danvers, the waitress was not only nice, but totally hot.   That's the only reason I didn't send it all back and throw a big queeny fit.  I'm set for another three years, anyway.  There's always a silver lining, isn't there?

Well, enough of my bellyaching (a big, heavy breakfast and then a five-mile bike ride in ninety degree weather: not the best idea ever).  Here's what you're here to see:


I'll leave you with a couple of bonus shots here.  Some climaxing clematis on a Fenway garden fence...


...and some spectacular peonies from Orchard Street in Somerville...


...and from the Fens...


... and peeping over my fence at Tony's...


Definitely having some of that peony envy right about now.