Eric Luper's Random Musings

Last year, I planted a little, red tree for author, Susane Colasanti. She was feeling guilty about her carbon footprint and her love of air-conditioning. So, I offered to plant a tree on her behalf so she could feel less guilty. The truth is that I was hoping a "pay-it-forward" sort of thing that would result in a seven figure book deal for me. No such luck.

Damn you, karma!

Anyhow, here is her tree last week (with baby girl practicing her mad hand modeling skills (she's going to be on America's Next Top Hand Model)):



Please note the greeninsh, anemic-looking leaves. I was worrying about that tree. That is, I was worrying about it until yesterday. Here is the Colasanti tree now:



Holy cow! That tree is twice as big as last year and mega healthy. Susane, feel free to run that AC all you want!

Many of you will recall my recent treks to Saratoga for fact checking for my forthcoming novel, BUG BOY. It seems as though each door I open leads to three more hallways with a door at the end of each. When does one call it quits?

I'm not permitted to share any of the old photos I was reviewing yesterday, but it was such a gorgeous day I took a bunch of pictures. Here is the library at the National Museum of Racing. The people there were extra helpful in getting me what I needed, which was time-appropriate photos of 1934 Saratoga racetrack. Cool room, right?



Here is a photo and memorial plaque to Tom Gilcoyne, a track historian who regrettably passed away last year. He was born in 1917 or so and remembered each track season vividly. You could name any year and would just start rattling off details. We talked on the phone several times about the 1934 season. Absolutely remarkable man. As for me, I can't seem to recall what I did last week!



Here is the Saratoga Springs History Museum. It's built into one of the old illegal casinos called Canfield Casino where they still hold events such as weddings and charity balls. I've been fortunate to go to a few parties there.



Here are a few antique gambling devices (birdcage and roulette):



And here is a really cool chair that I covet. It's like 4 chairs in one:



More fun Saratoga stuff to come!!!

After rifling through hundreds of photos in the museum archives, I decided to wander Saratoga a bit. It's one of those small cities that has done a marvelous job of modernizing, but leaving an old town sort of feel. Heavy on the Victorian age.

Here is a really cool gas lamp in Congress Park:



And here is where the birdies live:



Here is the old, old carousel in Congress Park. It's over 100 years old and the horses were all painstakingly restored by hand. There was a huge hoopla about returning this beauty to the park after it was removed in 1933. Now that it's there, I think the detractors must have been insane.



Most people know Saratoga Springs for the horse racing, but there's also the springs. Ancient cultures believed in the healing properties of the waters of Saratoga Springs. Its extremely high mineral content was believed to have healing properties and was being actively researched all the way through the 1950s. In fact, during Roosevelt's New Deal, they built the largest mineral bathhouse in the world along with all kinds of other great fun things (see my NEXT post). There are over 100 spots in Saratoga where the water bubbles to the surface. Many of these spots have been harnessed to make these great water fountains:



Beware, the high sulphur content makes the water taste a little rotten-eggish!!!



But it's safe to drink:


Here is another spring:



And up close:



Can you feel the healing happening?

On my way out of Saratoga, I decided to take a quick drive through Saratoga Springs State Park. This huge chunk of land was designed during the New Deal in 1933-1935 with health and culture in mind. There are meeting halls, theaters, a hotel, a public pool, an 18-hole gold course, tennis courts, mineral baths, mineral spring fountains, exercise trails, and tons of open space.

The place is just stunning. This is the Hall of Springs, where huge gala Gatsby-esque events take place. In fact I'm going to one tomorrow night, which overlaps with the Kentucky Derby. Black tie and all. I'll try to get a pic of me in a tux...



This is the main building where all the doctors used to hang out. This entire park was originally intended as a health retreat where people would come to tend to their weak constitutions. The idea is that a patient would go there for weeks or months, see a doctor and be given a health regimen, which would include daily mineral baths, tennis, golf, walks, massage, and odd tonics:



Here is the famous Victoria Pool, the first heated pool in America. You can't tell from this pic, but this pool is massive.





Here is one of the two famous lion head fountains. The lion spits water...but has not yet been turned on for the season. The pool and the lions were rennovated not long ago and people were very excited to see the lions spitting after all those years of spitlessness:



And close-up:



Nearby (just a short walk through the restaurant from the pool) is the clubhouse for the golf course. Look at those tall pines. And imagine your doctor being able to PRESCRIBE therapeutic golf for you. You could play the best courses for the cost of a co-pay (assuming they're in-network and you've already paid your deductible):



This is the view down the first fairway. Although I jest about therapeutic golf, I can understand how someone would see it as having healing properties. Just take a look:



Now, if you're still reading and are wondering WHY I'm lurking around parks like this, my book takes place in 1934, cleverly placed right during the construction of this remarkable park. And there are two pivotal scenes in BUG BOY that take place in the park. But you'll have to wait until July 2009 to read about that!