Earth 1, Mayan's 0 - The end of The Final Year

It was my goal this year to inform, entertain, and record a year in the history of Bruce and family.  An eventful year, with wars continuing, terrorist acts occurring, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and other related storms.  The Mayan codec, long count calendar ends this year, and some believed a prophecy of end, apocalypse  or more aptly, the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one.

We lost the matriarch of the Walsh family, Peggy Walsh who we all miss very much.  This Christmas will be the first that I can remember that will not be at her house.  We will be hosting Christmas dinner, and will have most of the Walsh siblings to recount good memories, and give thanks for our good health and prosperity.

We all made it through Super Storm Sandy, but saw first hand how fragile we are, and how mother nature can unleash devastation.     We keep hearing how these weather events, drought, floods, and hurricanes seem to be getting more frequent and severe ?  Is this just a statistical anomaly ?

Record heat waves or new record high temperatures are now prevalent, as is the news that Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are melting faster than the models predicted.  With two energy efficient, renewable sources in my house, solar and biofuel pellets, we are, I hope doing our part to reduce our footprint.  Carpooling is the norm these days as gasoline seems to have settled into an average price of $4 / gallon.

This day in history "Harry Chapin earned a reputation as a politically conscious singer-songwriter who dedicated himself, in the years before his untimely death, to various noble causes, including wiping out world hunger. Indeed, his greatest legacy may stem more from his charitable efforts than from his music itself, but for a brief period in the early 1970s, Harry Chapin was a legitimate pop star. On this day in 1974, he earned his one and only #1 pop hit when his bittersweet story-song "Cat's In The Cradle" reached the top of theBillboard Hot 100."

I pass the Harry Chapin food bank almost every day as it is a couple of blocks from where I work.  It dawns on me nearly everyday how lucky the people working there are, in that they are making a difference.  Small acts of kindness.  Can I find a place, and make a living at a non-profit, benevolent company or charitable association?

As most of you know I took up a new hobby and set a goal to run 1000 miles this year.  Not without setbacks, as I moved from a sedentary to active lifestyle.  Being active is not easy, but with a little determination and a new found addiction, it now seems that I can't live without running.  The NYS Park Summer Run series, and the family participating in our first 5K Thanksgiving weekend were fun.  I hope to continue having the family join in for charity runs.

I ran my first 10K, first 10 miles, and first half marathon this past summer.  I never thought running from home to the Sayville beach was possible, but with a steady pace, and some music playing on my pandora, it was accomplished and recorded.

Luke and I did a great deal of fishing this past summer and fall.  My next blog will highlight, Fishing, Food, and Fitness Long Island.  Today, my first day of winter vacation, Gavin and I went to Connetquot State Park so he can introduce me the trails.  Now seeing the upper river area, and its fishing stations, I know that Luke and I will be getting our permits this spring to try our hand at fly fishing.

December 21 marks the end of the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years. The end of an era and the chance for a new beginning. I for one think we will look back, and our grandchildren will recount in their history books how the years in and around 2012 ushered in a turning point for mankind. At least I have to hope that the world will be a better place for our children and their children.

Brian Walsh facebook entry - To the almost 7 billion members of the human race who survived today's Mayan apocalypse...it is now up to us to make the world a better place.

Pink Floyd Lyrics - Breathe

Breathe, breathe in the air 
Don't be afraid to care 
Leave but don't leave me 
Look around and chose your own ground 
For long you live and high you fly 
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry 
And all you touch and all you see 
Is all your life will ever be 

Photo of the day "Earth 1 Mayans 0"

Magic Number 23 - Follow the conclusion of this running goal on my new Blog

Thanks again to all my followers, and readers.  Even though this marks the end of this blog, I hope to see you on my new blog.  

Mayans discover Tequila

Early to bed , early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.  The last day of work for the year was met head on.  

Dropped Kyle off at the bus and made it to work before my first meeting of the day.  An all hands on team meeting by the VP, which was a year in review and very positive on our accomplishments.  I hope coming in with good statistics, and within budget mean we will get some bonuses..

I take a quick break at noon to go the bodega for some rice and pernil.  The office is thinning out daily with the holidays approaching.  My last acts were to help collect money for the cleaning lady Vilma, and to post a new job position for one of the guys on my team who is moving to a new job in the new year.

This day in history "On this day in 1957, while spending the Christmas holidays at Graceland, his newly purchased Tennessee mansion, rock-and-roll star Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army.

With a suggestive style--one writer called him "Elvis the Pelvis"--a hit movie, Love Me Tender, and a string of gold records including "Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel," Presley had become a national icon, and the world's first bona fide rock-and-roll star, by the end of 1956. As the Beatles' John Lennon once famously remarked: "Before Elvis, there was nothing." The following year, at the peak of his career, Presley received his draft notice for a two-year stint in the army. Fans sent tens of thousands of letters to the army asking for him to be spared, but Elvis would have none of it. He received one deferment--during which he finished working on his movie King Creole--before being sworn in as an army private in Memphis on March 24, 1958."

Well, I rock and roll out of the office at 4pm and call it a year.  The news is telling me that in the east, our mates in Australia are reporting they are still there.  No Mayan disaster there.  So, at least in one part of the world, we are in the clear.

Once home, Luke wants to know whats's for dinner.  Hey, I am on vacation.  He asks for sushi and sites that it might be our last meal.  The order gets placed and Sue picks it up on her way home from Christmas shopping.

After dinner, I go out to do some more Christmas shopping.  Almost done.

I settle in and have a shot of tequila.  I wonder if the Mayans discovered Tequila ?

Photo of the day "Mayans discover Tequila"

Have to thank Sue for finding this one.

Magic Number 27

Teenage Pranks

Does anyone have teenagers in the house ?   They are full of surprises.

Kyle decides to sleep later than usual.  Sue says to me around 6am, that Kyle is not up yet.  I am already stretching before getting out of bed, and tell Sue that Kyle too his shower last night.  A minute later his alarm rings.

Gavin gets to sleep late as he is home from college.  I leave the house at around 930 this morning after some early morning meetings.

This day in history "Michael Sergio, who parachuted into Game Six of the 1986 World Series at New York’s Shea Stadium, is fined $500 and sentenced to 100 hours of community service. On October 25, Sergio, a 37-year-old actor and Mets fan, landed on the infield with a "Let’s Go Mets" banner in the first inning of the sixth game between the Mets and the Boston Red Sox. Over 55,000 stadium spectators witnessed the sky diver’s arrival and cheered him on. Sergio, who was quickly removed from the field by police, claimed he was an experienced parachutist who made the jump to show support for the Mets."

Sounds like a teenage prank to me.

I get home from work and cook some chicken tikka masala.

Luke wants to get donuts at 7-11 , so he takes an early shower tonight so we can go get him donuts.

With only a couple of days left till Dec 21st, there are more and more Mayan calendar entries on facebook.

Photo of the day "Teenage Pranks"

The end is almost here.

Magic Number 37

Weather Forecast

Weird weather this month.  Are we living in NY or London.  Too many foggy days.  The weather is changing I think.

WFH today so I can be home when Gavin needs to go to the airport.  Krista is heading home for Christmas after a short visit with us.

This day in history "On December 18, 1620, the British ship Mayflower docked at modern-day Plymouth,Massachusetts, and its passengers prepared to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony.

The famous Mayflower story began in 1606, when a group of reform-minded Puritans in Nottinghamshire, England, founded their own church, separate from the state-sanctioned Church of England. Accused of treason, they were forced to leave the country and settle in the more tolerant Netherlands. After 12 years of struggling to adapt and make a decent living, the group sought financial backing from some London merchants to set up a colony in America. On September 6, 1620, 102 passengers–dubbedPilgrims by William Bradford, a passenger who would become the first governor of Plymouth Colony–crowded on the Mayflower to begin the long, hard journey to a new life in the New World."

April showers bring may flower.  The what do may flowers bring ?  Pilgrims of course.

Three mile run in between meetings. Was feeling good and making good time with sub 9 minute miles when I get a cramp or stitch in my side.  Still a 26 minute 3 miles.  Finally, my hip and hamstring are feeling better.

Gavin and I drive to JFK and he says goodbye to Krista, until they meet back at Hartwick in January.  Their grades are in, both end the semester with a 4.0.  Unbelievable as they both took Organic Chemistry, a really challenging course.  Congrats !

Tacos for dinner.  Soccer practice for Kyle.

Photo of the day "Weather Forecast"

Magic Number 45

Monday Already ?

Why is the weekend so short ?    Why can't I get my Blog posted each night ?

Work

Physical Therapy

Home

Cook Dinner (Seafood Arabiata)

This day in history "Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight."

Printer runs out of ink.  I fly to Staples (well not really)

Pick up lots of ink.  I think it is cheaper to just buy a new printer when you run out of ink.

Replace the cartridges, and still the printer is not working.  Giving up to watch 2 Broke Girls.

Everyone is falling asleep on the couch at 1030......If only the weekends would be 3 days, Monday would be ok....


Photo of the day "Monday Already ?"

Magic Number 48

Christmas Latkes

Since everyone went to bed lat last night, this Sunday morning was really quiet.  I slept in till 8 in the morning and then as I contemplated a run, it started to rain.  I decided to eat breakfast, read the paper, and then go for a 9 mile ride on the stationary bike.

Ancient Aliens grabbed my attention, and the ride went by fast.  Kyle has SAT prep at noon, and wanders downstairs at 11.  I make him breakfast and then we head out to pick up Gia.  Today is the last day of Chanukah, and the day we put up the tree, and decorate for Christmas.

The ancient aliens have a part of the show that details how the Jews are cast out of Egypt and live in the desert for 40 years.  Seems unbelievable how so many people can survive for so long in a desolate place.  As history goes, it is believed that the Jews were provided with Manna, as their main sustenance.  Ancient Alien scientists reconstruct the period in time, the written history, and the ark of the covenant.  The belief is that a machine was assembled and manna is actually a form of algae derived from this machine powered by the Ark (has special power or is a reactor of sorts).   Manna (Hebrew: מָ‏ן‎) or al-Mann wa al-Salwa (Arabic: المَنّ و السلوى‎, Kurdish: gezo, Persian: گزانگبین‎), sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is an edible substance that, according to Abrahamic doctrine, God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert according to the Bible and the Qur'an.   Really cool stuff.

This day in history "On December 16, 1979, the night before the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' annual price-setting meeting in Caracas, two member states (Libya and Indonesia) announce plans to raise the price of their oil by $4 (Libya) and $2 (Indonesia) per barrel. (The resulting prices--$30 and $25.50 per barrel, respectively--were among the highest they had ever been.) These diplomatic maneuverings were intended to keep OPEC's "price hawks" from raising them even further; nevertheless, by the end of 1979 the cost of oil had more than doubled since the end of the previous year.

This price hike only exacerbated an energy crisis that had been going on since the beginning of 1979. An Iranian oil-field strike and the January revolution had disrupted oil supplies from that part of the Middle East, and an earlier OPEC fee increase had sent prices inching toward an all-time high. By the time the Iranian hostage crisis began in November, Americans were already dealing with the effects of this "oil shock": long lines and short tempers at gas pumps, panics over gasoline and heating oil shortages, and frustration with the inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles manufactured by American automakers."

We need to stop burning oil.  We need to stop the planet from warming faster than it is.  With Dec 21, 2012 fast approaching, I really thought this would be the year that drastic changes would occur, halting the use or at least curtailing the use of carbon based fuels.  My solar panels have produced 9700 Kwh of energy from the sun.

Gavin and Krista prepare us a great dinner.  Tilapia, wild rice, asparagus.  After dinner we play some pool and ping pong.  Waiting for the final episode of survivor, I make a batch of potato latkes.  We enjoy a batch of latkes and sour cream while putting the ornaments on the tree.

Photo of the day "Christmas Latkes"

Magic Number 54

See you on the dark side of the moon

City Bound

Kyle and Gia, Gavin and Krista made their way into NYC this morning, each with plans to go to a see a show.  Kyle on Broadway, Gavin Off-Broadway.  Not agreeing on a start time for LIRR, Sue dropped the early birds, Gavin and Krista off first.

I in the meantime did a warm up ride, and then run, and then cool down ride, and then sat in the hot tub.  Sue picks up Gia and brings them to the LIRR.  Luckily, the RR is close by.  This is Kyle's first time heading into the city alone.

I promised Luke we would look for those shoes he really, really wants.  Atias flea market is pretty much a sketchy place to shop, and even though one of the shops has the shoe he likes, it is not the right size.  On the way to the mall, we stop at the post office to pick up stamps.  yes, stamps, that primitive square on the corner of an envelope that pays the way for your bill, Christmas card, or letter.  With most things being done electronically, the US postal service is suffering, although, this time of year the PO was crowded.

This day in history "Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, become the law of the land.

In September 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The amendments were designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the federal government would be reserved for the states and the people."

The right to bear arms is one of the amendments that is under fire now, following the tragic and senseless murder of innocent people in what will become known as the Newtown massacre.  Amendment II
A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

At the mall, which BTW is crowded, we happen to score the 'Mangos' at the third shoe store.  A celebration is in order, so we get a cinnabon.  I stopped previously for a coffe at the Starbucks.  I refrained from getting the gingerbread latte this time.

Not much else going on until dinner time.  We go to a new place, On the Border for some mexican food.  Luke gets a soda.  On the way home we stop for a christmas tree, some chanukah candy, soda, tequila, and egg nog.   None of the items to coexist in any sort of dessert of snack.  

I fall asleep on the couch and Sue does her usual late night pickups from the LIRR.  Everyone home safe by 1AM...

Photo of the day "City Bound"

Tree Trimming scheduled for Sunday.  

Magic Number 63