West Lake

Simple things are good.

Took Kyle to soccer practice.

Ran 5 miles in San Souci.   Stubbed big toe on left foot and twisted right ankle.  Why ??

This day in history "Faced with an Aztec revolt against their rule, forces under the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes fight their way out of Tenochtitlan at heavy cost. Known to the Spanish as La Noche Triste, or "the Night of Sadness," many soldiers drowned in Lake Texcoco when the vessel carrying them and Aztec treasures hoarded by CortÝs sank. Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor who had become merely a subject of Cortes in the previous year, was also killed during the struggle; by the Aztecs or the Spanish, it is not known."


Gavin and I go to Lowes to pick up 20 bags of mulch.  They make it from skid to car to side yard.  Bring on the garden beds when we get some cooler weather...or tomorrow, heat or not.

Pizza for dinner.

Luke and I go to West Lake tonight.  We stop at bait and tackle to pick up live bait.  Little minnows and try our first attempt at catching large mouth bass.  Success, we each land a handful of small bass.  I get a perch as well, and Luke gets a pickerel.

Photo of the day "West Lake"

One Second

Work is done for the week, and we are settling into the summer pattern.  Lots of people taking vacations over the next couple of months.

Back home we have some salmon to cook.

After dinner, Luke says he wants to go fishing.  Stop twisting my arm.

This day in history - Or at least this weekend.  "(Reuters) - The world is about to get a well-earned long weekend but don't make big plans because it will only last an extra second.

A so-called 'leap second' will be added to the world's atomic clocks as they undergo a rare adjustment to keep them in step with the slowing rotation of the earth.

To achieve the adjustment, on Saturday night atomic clocks will read 23 hours, 59 minutes and 60 seconds before moving on to midnight Greenwich Mean Time.

Super-accurate atomic clocks are the ultimate reference point by which the world sets its wrist watches.

But their precise regularity - which is much more constant than the shifting movement of the earth around the sun that marks out our days and nights - brings problems of its own.

If no adjustments were made, the clocks would move further ahead and after many years the sun would set at midday. Leap seconds perform a similar function to the extra day in each leap year which keeps the calendar in sync with the seasons."

Well we made good use of our time at the lake, and look forward to that extra second.

Luke caught a few, I caught a few.  Not as many bites tonight and we ended up keeping one.

On the way back home, we stop to grab a slice of pizza.

I need to go for my run tomorrow...I have been slacking off lately.  My 1000 mile goal is seriously in jeopardy.   Does anyone think I can trade it in for completing a half marathon....another one of my goals.

Photo of the day "One Second"

Jeremiah

Same old stuff.

After work threw dinner together and then Luke, Gavin and I went to Sayville to go crabbing.  Only one crab tonight.  Left early.

Go for a short run with Luke.

Kyle and Luke go for a swim.

Gavin out for a 10+ mile run.

Kyle goes to 1/2 price Apps.

This day in history "On this day in 1953, workers at a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, assemble the first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that would become an American icon. The first completed production car rolled off the assembly line two days later, one of just 300 Corvettes made that year."


So, guess you are wondering about Jeremiah.


Photo of the day "Jeremiah"

Jeremiah was a bullfrog, he was good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said but I helped him drink
his whine. He always had some mighty fine wine. Sing it Joy to the
world...all the boys and girls now , joy to the fishies in the deep blue
sea and joy to you and me.

More veggies

Set the clock 30 minutes late after going to bed late.  Watched 21 jump street...the movie.  Funny juvenile humor, lots of cursing.

Work was pretty good today.  No major surprises.

On the way home, I almost forget that it is CSA day, and I get back on the highway for another exit to get to the shop to pickup my farm share.

This day in history "A factory storekeeper in the Nzara township of Sudan becomes ill on this day in 1976. Five days later, he dies, and the world's first recorded Ebola virus epidemic begins making its way through the area. By the time the epidemic is over, 284 cases are reported, with about half of the victims dying from the disease.
Symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever generally begin about four to 15 days after a person is infected with the virus. The average victim will first notice flu-like symptoms, such as a high fever, aching and general weakness. Usually this is followed by diarrhea, vomiting and the eruption of rashes all over the body. Then the person may begin bleeding from any and all body orifices and internal organ damage begins. Within seven to 10 days, exhaustion, dehydration and shock set in."

A quick shrimp scampi and shrimp cocktail for dinner.  I am to full to run, and have a soccer meeting at 730pm.

I drop Luke off at a friend and then get a call from work.  After 10 minutes on the side of the road, I set the GPS and I am on my way to Commack.

About 5 minutes into the ride, the GPS loses signal.  Starts to go in out of signal, and then has me like a hundred feet off of the highway.  I try to power off and on....Doh !  Now I have nothing and cant even get the driving directions.

I resort to using my iPhone to get a map and at least direction to my destination.  I need to mess with it more to get turn by turn navigation.

I get to the meeting 15 minutes late, and am not the last to arrive.  Turns out the coach is late and stopped at home or a shower.  Meeting starts around 815.  I stay till about 945 and then go to pick up Luke on the way home.

A long day, good thing I have my fruits and veggies.

Photo of the day "More Veggies"

P.S.  I am donating the Kale to George at work.  Cut up the cukes to make my own pickles.  Ate a carrot while cooking dinner, and snacked on some of the best blueberries on the planet.

Fathers day dinner on a Tuesday

Being the only one setting an alarm clock in the house is good and bad.  Good that there is no contention in the bathroom, kitchen, etc. but bad in the sense that there is no urgency to get out of the house.  I also have no excuse for getting to the office late....unless I hit the snooze button a couple of times.

Do you think I should adjust my wake up time for the summer, and just work later ?  I think not, as I am always more productive the first couple of hours of the day before the rest of America catches up with this early bird.

This day in history "On this day in 1945, the Charter for the United Nations is signed in San Francisco.

The United Nations was born of perceived necessity, as a means of better arbitrating international conflict and negotiating peace than was provided for by the old League of Nations. The growing Second World War became the real impetus for the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union to begin formulating the original U.N. Declaration, signed by 26 nations in January 1942, as a formal act of opposition to Germany, Italy, and Japan, the Axis Powers."

After work we decide to go for a belated fathers day dinner.  Yeah, a Tuesday night, and it is all you can eat crab legs at Popeis.   We pig out on very tasty crabs, wondering if any of the deadliest catch fleet brought these beauties up from the depths of the Bering Sea.

Good thing we made a deal with the Russians for that barren wasteland up north (Alaska) and have access to the riches of the Bering Sea.....Financial difficulties in Russia, the desire to keep Alaska out of British hands, and the low profits of trade with Alaskan settlements all contributed to Russia's willingness to sell its possessions in North America. At the instigation of U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, the United States Senate approved the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000. on August 1, 1867. This purchase was popularly known in the U.S. as "Seward's Folly,", "Seward's Icebox," or "Andrew Johnson's Polar Bear Garden", and was unpopular at the time, though the later discovery of gold and oil would show it to be a worthwhile one.

Opilio crabs are on the menu tonight and a winter catch in the millions of pounds in the Bering Sea.  Opi's rule tonight, and they are clean, perfectly prepared, and abundant...

We usually wait till we get to Ocean City vacation before indulging in the all you can eat.  I think the crab legs tonight were the best I had in a really long time.  Ocean City will still not be beat by anyone for the local blue claws though.

When we get home, Kyle and Luke who were stuffed, decide to ride their bikes to Ralph's for ices....

Photo of the day "Fathers day dinner"

Team Fox - Gavin places 3rd in NYS Park Summer Run

Work had me busy with meetings and catching up on thousands of emails.

Went to trader joes for some fig bars, nuts, and wasabi seaweed.

This day in history "On this day in 1876, Native American forces led by Chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeat the U.S. Army troops of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in a bloody battle near southern Montana's Little Bighorn River.
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, leaders of the Sioux tribe on the Great Plains, strongly resisted the mid-19th-century efforts of the U.S. government to confine their people to reservations. In 1875, after gold was discovered in South Dakota's Black Hills, the U.S. Army ignored previous treaty agreements and invaded the region. This betrayal led many Sioux and Cheyenne tribesmen to leave their reservations and join Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in Montana. By the late spring of 1876, more than 10,000 Native Americans had gathered in a camp along the Little Bighorn River--which they called the Greasy Grass--in defiance of a U.S. War Department order to return to their reservations or risk being attacked."

After work, a quick snack and a cup of joe, and then Gavin and I are off to Bethpage State park.

The skies darken and open up as Gavin is getting onto the Southern State.

We hang out in the parking lot and the skies look like they are starting to clear.  We walk up to the polo grounds.  Gavin warms up, as I play some games of chance at the WBLI booth.  A spin of the wheel and I get a free t-shirt.

I run back to the car to put the tshirt away.  5 minutes to race time and it clouds up again.  I line up in the area assigned to 9 minute mile...Gavin has to be all the way up front.

As the race starts, a little drizzle.  At around mile 2 the skies open up.  By the finish the rain is torrential.  I finish at 28:40...about a minute faster than my previous 5K....a personal best ?  Gavin spots me some time later with some snacks and a beer in hand.  He finished 3rd overall and 2nd in his age group.  A SILVER MEDAL.

We are both soaked to the bone and cooling down fast...we head to the car to get jackets.  After award ceremony, we head to the parking lot.  It takes about an hour to get out of the parking lot.  Gavin is driving as I consumed a few beers.

Gavin is running for team FOX.  He is looking for donations to fight Parkinson's disease.

http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1015360&fr_id=1053&pg=personal

I will be supporting his cause as he makes his way to $1000.....

Running out of gas, we stop at exit 55 on the LIE.  A quick $20 in the tank and we head to the sushi place.  they close at 10PM.  We get there a few minutes before closing.  I am short $9.45 for the bill....they take cash only....they let me have the sushi...we owe them...

Photo of the day "Team Fox"

P.S. Congrats Gavin on an awesome finish.

African Cichlids

Finally got a round to making a dent in the garage cleanup.  Now you can at least walk in the garage and make your way to the door.

Gavin and I return a bunch of bottles and cans, something we don't do too often.  Stop and Shop machines are not working too well in the recycle area.  It is hot and smelly, and the store brand water for the most part won't return our nickels.

We decide to do a quick shop for bread, juices, bananas, kefir, and some English muffins.  I had to do a double take when I looked at the English muffins.  Buy 1 get 2 free.  How can you resist.

This day in history "On this day in 1997, U.S. Air Force officials release a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier.

Public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs, began to flourish in the 1940s, when developments in space travel and the dawn of the atomic age caused many Americans to turn their attention to the skies. The town of Roswell, located near the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico, became a magnet for UFO believers due to the strange events of early July 1947, when ranch foreman W.W. Brazel found a strange, shiny material scattered over some of his land. He turned the material over to the sheriff, who passed it on to authorities at the nearby Air Force base. On July 8, Air Force officials announced they had recovered the wreckage of a "flying disk." A local newspaper put the story on its front page, launching Roswell into the spotlight of the public's UFO fascination."

You believe what you want.  Did we get visited ??

This afternoon we went to Petland and Petco to look at some fish.  We finally got around to setting up Luke's fish tank.  Petco won out for price and selection.  Service was another story as we waited and searched for an associate for 15 minutes.

We chose 5 African Cichlids, an aggressive species that I raised and bred when I was a kid with my dad.  Brings back memories.  The associate at the Petco was having trouble netting the fish, so we tag teamed and got them in bag.

Once home we acclimated the fish to their tank.  Tonight we fed them, and they seem to be happy in their new environment.  Luke wants to know how long it will take them to double size and when we can feed then live food ( guppies ).

Chicken Tikka, Rice, Peas, Naan, papdam, and mango chutney for dinner.

Watched the red bulls soccer game, and will be heading to bed early.  I am the only one who has to get up early tomorrow...summer is hear.

Photo of the day "African Cichlids"

P.S. Did I forget to mention the nice game of pool volleyball that Luke and I played...I won this time :-)

Long Island Lake

Slept late this morning.  And then had a busy day.  Hard to remember all the stuff.

Drained the hot tub and refilled with pool water.  An excellent way to recycle water.  Hot tub water into the pool, pool water into the hot tub.

Fixed the pool volleyball net with some recycled wood from an old market umbrella, and duct tape.  One of the best inventions ever is duct tape.

Since in the pool, Luke and I decided to play some volleyball....he won 21-19

This day in history "On this day in 1902, German automaker Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) first registers "Mercedes" as a brand name; the name will gain full legal protection the next September."

Run to Sports Authority to get a bike pump, and a new bike for Kyle.  He's moving up to a hybrid 21 speed.

After lunch, which was a can of salmon, Gavin and I logged some bike miles around Connetquot State Park.

Back home for a few minutes and then back to Sports Authority...turns out the bike that Kyle picked does not switch gears right for him.  Long story, but he ends up with a different bike at the end of the day.

Dinner is spaghetti and meatballs, salad and bread.

After dinner, Luke and I go fishing at a lake.  We don't usually fish sweet water, but those worms I dug out of the garden this morning had a purpose.

We caught a bunch of fish, and even found a nice place to launch the kayak.  All in all a good day.  I am tired.  BTW - that slab sized sunfish was caught by Luke.

Photo of the day "Monster sized bluegill"

Blue Claw

Hot and humid 4.5 miles.

Went for a swim.

Took Luke crabbing.

This day in history "On this day in 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, an unprecedented act of legislation designed to compensate returning members of the armed services--known as G.I.s--for their efforts in World War II."

Had some blue claw crabs as a snack.

Cooked some of the veggies I got from CSA.   Made a big salad, and some chicken wings for dinner.

Kyle is at a wedding with his girlfriend Gia.

We watched a movie.

I think my laptop has a virus.  Pop ups, etc....damn damn damn.

Photo of the day "Blue Claw"

Spider

Trying to get back to normal.  What is normal anyway ?

So hot this morning that I did not go for a run.  Instead I vacuum the pool which has been neglected.

By 10AM it is so hot, I decide to go for a swim.  That is until I see the spider.

This day in history "

New Hampshire becomes the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land.
By 1786, defects in the post-Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation were apparent, such as the lack of central authority over foreign and domestic commerce. Congress endorsed a plan to draft a new constitution, and on May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. On September 17, 1787, after three months of debate moderated by convention president George Washington, the new U.S. constitution, which created a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances, was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the convention. As dictated by Article VII, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states."

This spider is playing possum...How long has it been hanging out in the pool ?

Luke scoops it up and we take a closer look.  Holy crap, its big and it starts to make a break for it.

Other less exciting activities of this really hot day are getting new running shoes, bathing suits, and cleaning the front closet...too many shoes.

Sue is at Peggy's apartment with he siblings.  We receive some nice bouquets of flowers, and the Bartoli's bring over dinner, a large variety of Mama Lombardi's classics....very thoughtful and needed.  I don't have to cook tonight.  Thanks to all of the friends and families for their condolences.

Sue gets home from Brooklyn late and exhausted.  She eats some chicken parm., eggplant parm, penne, salad and mozzarella and tomatoes...shortly after she falls asleep on the couch.

I go for a late run.  A swim in the pool.  

Photo of the day "Spider"

P.S WHAT IS THAT ?  SPIDER ZILLA ??

Rest In Peace Margaret Walsh

It was a hard day for all of us having to say goodbye to Margaret 'Peggy' Walsh.

Family and friends came from far and near.

St. Mark church in Brooklyn, Peggy's parish, was as remarkable as Peggy.  A classic church with vaulted ceilings, stained glass, and pipe organ.

This day in history "On this day in 1782, Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States after six years of discussion.
The front of the seal depicts a bald eagle clutching an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left. On its breast appears a shield marked with 13 vertical red and white stripes topped by a bar of blue. The eagle's beak clutches a banner inscribed, E pluribus unum, a Latin phrase meaning "Out of Many One." Above the eagle's head, golden rays burst forth, encircling 13 stars."

After mass Joan, James, Nora, and Gavin proudly gave accounts of their fondest memories with their grandmother   Peggy.  As they spoke , we all realized that what they felt in their hearts was universal.  We all cried, we gathered together, we united as one family.

Off to the cemetery on an unusually hot and humid day.  The funeral procession passing Peggy's apartment on Shore Parkway.  A slow drive on the belt parkway due to the perpetual construction.  Once at St Johns cemetery, we all gathered once again graveside.

Each of us placed a rose for Peggy.  The grandchildren adding some sand from Sayville beach for Peggy to have for eternity.

The family then spent the remainder of the afternoon at Buckley's for lunch and to comfort one another.  Peggy had just been there with her friend a month or so ago.  Bridal showers, parties, and meals with Peggy over the years have been celebrated here....

We took comfort in being together.  Out of Many One.

Photo of  the day "St Mark"

The parish of St. Mark was established in 1861 to serve Roman Catholics in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn.

Prayer

A long day.

Dropped off Kyle for his regents.  Sue, Gavin and Luke went to Brooklyn for the wake.  We will meet them later.

In between, did a load of laundry and ran the dishwasher.

Did I eat lunch ?

This day in history "On this day in 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were convicted of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviets, are executed at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York. Both refused to admit any wrongdoing and proclaimed their innocence right up to the time of their deaths, by the electric chair. The Rosenbergs were the first U.S. citizens to be convicted and executed for espionage during peacetime and their case remains controversial to this day."


Pick up Kyle and then run some errands.  Went to bank, post office, and Sayville beach.  Grabbed a slice of pizza.


Kyle is ready to go at 5:20, so we swing by Shane's house...on our way to Brooklyn.


Traffic is really bad, but we make it to the Funeral Home just in time.  7PM.

The wake is full of friends and family offering their condolences to a very special woman.  Margaret Walsh will be missed by all.

Long drive home, hence the late blog.  Good night all....

Photo of the day "Prayer"

Edible

Trying to keep a routine today did not work out.

I dropped off Kyle at his regents and then cut the lawn.  It was starting to look like a wildlife refuge.

Once the boys got home from school, we had to go to the mall.  Proper attire is needed for the wake and funeral.  Not an easy thing to do, but we all went as a family and made the best of it.

Kyle goes to Gia to help her study.

This day in history "The day after the Senate followed the House of Representatives in voting to declare war against Great Britain, President James Madison signs the declaration into law--and the War of 1812 begins. The American war declaration, opposed by a sizable minority in Congress, had been called in response to the British economic blockade of France, the induction of American seaman into the British Royal Navy against their will, and the British support of hostile Indian tribes along the Great Lakes frontier. A faction of Congress known as the "War Hawks" had been advocating war with Britain for several years and had not hidden their hopes that a U.S. invasion of Canada might result in significant territorial land gains for the United States."


Luke has an orthodontist appointment.  Right before leaving the house, the doorbell rings.  It is an incredible edibles gift from Kyle's Soccer team.  Thank you UNITED !  Very thoughtful and appreciated.


Luke, Sue, Gavin and I head to Sunken Meadow for the Summer Run series.  We run into Nina..what a pleasant surprise.   


We start the race, and at he end of it, Gavin places 9th overall (very impressive), where I come in at the 990th racer to cross.  While I did not beat my 60 minute time, the run was challenging.  Cardiac hill and the other 2400+ runners slowed me down a bit.  Overall finishing felt good...finishing strong even better.


At the end of the race, we collect some goodies and head home. 


We all indulge on the Incredible Edible.  That is a great way to end the day.


Photo of the day "Edible"

Fathers Day - United

Soccer continued this morning in Delaware on this Fathers Day.  Kyle helps his team late in the 2nd half to tie the game.  A tie would bring them forward to the final.  In the last minutes of the game, a botched offsides call, results in a free kick for the opposing team, and United loses 2-1.

A bitter sweet ending to the soccer tournament, and a very stressful weekend.

One of our friends, Kathy Hoffman is driving us home, as we don't have a car.  Sue had to run home Friday nite, and on Saturday morning, her mom passed away.

This day in history "

On this day in 1885, the dismantled State of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy."

The drive home from Delaware is brutal.  We stop in Brooklyn for some R&R.

Finally home after a 5 hr drive, we plan some fathers day dinner.  Sushi it is.  Gavin and I order and go pick up dinner.  A nice cool breeze in the backyard is the setting for Sushi dinner.

After dinner we go for a bike ride in Sayville.  Kyle stays back to study for his HS tests....

Back home, it is getting late.  A few calls to my side of the family to pass the "bad news" , and everyone is shocked and offering heartfelt condolences.

Bitter Sweet Fathers Day.  The boys bought me a new running shirt that I will be sporting in tomorrow nites 10K run at Sunken Meadow....Cardiac Hill awaits.  My goal is to finish the race, and of course, not come in last.

United we stand.  We try to stay strong.

Photo of the day "Fathers Day - United"

Peggy Mom

Today Kyle and I were in Delaware at a soccer tournament.  His team won both games.

We were worried about Grandma, Peggy Walsh who has been sick the past couple of weeks and in the hospital.

Sue went home late last night.

Today in history "Peggy Walsh passes away"  It is with great sadness that Peggy Mom has passed away, and we will no longer have her in our lives.  She has inspired us all to be the best that we can be, and has ensured that the Walsh Clan is well prepared for all of life's trials and tribulations.  A true matriarch, a friend, a mother, a grandmother, a person who has influenced us all."

I remember meeting Peggy 25+ years ago while dating Sue, the youngest of the Walsh girls.  A tough crowd as I remember it, being an outsider at the dinner table.  It did not take long for Peggy's brigade to accept me and I became a regular at the table.

We shared laughs, meals, and one of my fondest memories, Christmas Mid-Nite mass.  The first year, if I recall correctly, we all went to mass, and when we returned, proceeded to open presents and have a big breakfast.  My first introduction to blood sausage and bloody Mary's.

I also recall that I introduced bagels, cream cheese and lox to the celebration.  Diversity, and a change of pace was something that Peggy welcomed.  We shared recipes, good times by the pool, barbecues, baptisms, communions, birthdays.

My boys loved when Grandma spent a few days with us, or accompanied us to Ocean City...most of all , a quiet hour or two playing monopoly or a dish of steamers in Port Jefferson.

I am sure each and every day, we will think of her, and remember all the great times we had together.  We will never forget the family reunion in NJ, and will forever cherish the memories of Peggy's Brigade.

Rest in Piece Peggy Mom... We will miss you.

Photo of the day "Peggy Mom"

100 Grand

Half a day at working from home.

Luke home early from finals.

Sue at work.

Kyle doctor appt at 1130.

This day in history "On this day in 1776, the Assembly of the Lower Counties of Pennsylvania declares itself independent of British and Pennsylvanian authority, thereby creating the state of Delaware.

Delaware did not exist as a colony under British rule. As of 1704, Pennsylvania had two colonial assemblies: one for the "Upper Counties," originally Bucks, Chester and Philadelphia, and one for the "Lower Counties on the Delaware" of New Castle, Kent and Sussex. All of the counties shared one governor."

Back home waiting for Sue to get home from work.  We plan to leave for soccer tournament at 3:30

3:33 we hit the road.  2 hrs to get to Roll and Roaster, at hour three we are on the NJ Turnpike.  4.5 hours to reach our destination.

Coincidentally the tournament is in Delaware...go figure.

Sue gets a message from Brian that Peggy has slipped back and has fluid in her lungs and is very tired.  She is being treated in ICU for pneumonia.  We have a quick bite at cracker barrel and Sue and Luke head back home.  

We are all worried about Peggy and Sue needs to be back home.  Yesterday Peggy had a donut and half a cup of tea...this afternoon her energy was zapped.

My Hyundai Santa Fe just hit 999999 miles....and unlike the cars of the past, the odometer did not turn over back to zero.

I now am the proud owner of a car with 100 Grand Miles.

Say a prayer for Peggy.

Photo of the day "

 

Happy Fish

Worked from home this morning with Kyle home, and Luke getting home early after his final.  Sue went to work and will be going to visit her mom this afternoon.

Grabbed a slice of pizza with Luke.

We stopped at the pier and dropped the crab traps for a few minutes before heading back home.  I am taking Sue to the railroad so she can catch an early train to NYC.

This day in history "During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that "the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white" and that "the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." The national flag, which became known as the "Stars and Stripes," was based on the "Grand Union" flag, a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that also consisted of 13 red and white stripes. According to legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross designed the new canton for the Stars and Stripes, which consisted of a circle of 13 stars and a blue background, at the request of General George Washington. Historians have been unable to conclusively prove or disprove this legend."

We only catch 2 crabs, but have a couple of surprises in the traps... A huge American Eel.  Not stars and stripes on this guy.  Of course Luke wants to eat it.  We set if free.

Another trap has a really beautiful happy fish.  A nice sized blow-fish, that Luke proceeds to play with to get it to puff up...Also released to the wild.

A shopping spree to Costco brings home all sorts of much needed food.

Dinner is salmon, edamame, and rice.

After dinner I take a 4 mile ride thru Sans Suci.

I pick up Sue at Ronkonkoma Station at 9:37.  Sue reports that Peggy is feeling a little better.  She had a blood transfusion, and today managed to east some chicken, vegetables, and a contraband chocolate donut and cup of tea from Dunkin Donuts.

Photo of the day "Happy Fish"

School is winding down

Kyle had his history regents this morning.  He wanted to get a few minutes of extra sleep so I told him I would drive him to school.

After scrambling him some eggs, we dodged some rain and we were off to Sachem East.  Lots of traffic on the road this morning.

Once at work, I played catch up.

Peanut Butter and Nutella on whole wheat for lunch.

This day in history "After more than a decade in space, Pioneer 10, the world's first outer-planetary probe, leaves the solar system. The next day, it radioed back its first scientific data on interstellar space.

On March 2, 1972, the NASA spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet. In December 1973, after successfully negotiating the asteroid belt and a distance of 620 million miles, Pioneer 10 reached Jupiter and sent back to Earth the first close-up images of the spectacular gas giant. On June 13, 1983, the NASA spacecraft left the solar system. NASA officially ended the Pioneer 10 project on March 31, 1997, with the spacecraft having traveled a distance of some six billion miles."

On the way home I stop to pick up the CSA shares.  The fruits and vegetables look great and dot require washing as they were out in the rain.  The quart of strawberries and pint of blueberries got sampled on the drive home.

Not wanting to cook dinner, we ordered heros from Lombardis.  The chicken parm a disappointment, as the chicken was thin and overcooked...Gavin only ate half a hero so you know it was sub standard.

After dinner, a 4 mile run in the mist.

Picked up Kyle and Luke from their friends house.  Kyle has no school tomorrow, Luke has a test and is out by 10am.   Like I said, school is winding down.

Pretty soon , we will be hearing the old Alice Cooper song, "Schools out for Summer"

Some good news from the specialists at Beth Israel in NYC.  Peggy has pneumonia and is starting antibiotic treatment.  She remains out of ICU and hopefully once her infection is under control her lungs will start to clear.  One step at a time, and the sort of good news we wanted to hear.

Photo of the day "School is Winding Down"

97

I work half a day from home this morning, and before heading to NYC to visit Peggy, I go for a run.  Not bad, 3 miles in 26:57.  1st mile at 9:29, 2nd at 8:46, 3rd at 8:42.

Sue, Gavin and I decide it is better to drive into NYC to go to Beth Israel as opposed to driving to Ronkonkoma to catch a bus to Brentwood, to catch the railroad to Penn, station and then take two trains.  Track work has disrupted off peak service to Penn Station.

We make good time to the city, and pull up in front of the hospital and opt for valet parking service.  Well worth the price to have the convenience, piece of mind, and in Manhattan, a spot to park your vehicle.

This day in history "On this day in 1987, in one of his most famous Cold War speeches, President Ronald Reagan challenges Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down" the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the repressive Communist era in a divided Germany."

In 1989, a radical series of political changes occurred in the Eastern Bloc, associated with the liberalization of the Eastern Bloc's authoritarian systems and the erosion of political power in the pro-Soviet governments in nearby Poland and Hungary. After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on 9 November 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, a euphoric public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall; the governments later used industrial equipment to remove most of the rest. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on 3 October 1990.

Pink Floyd made famous "The Wall", and I have since seen the Roger Waters performances depicting the taking down of the WALL.  

Peggy is happy to see us, and her children who have converged to visit from near and far.  She is doing a little better, and is getting ready for another series of tests later in the afternoon.  Her Dr. thinks she may need to go on antibiotics as she suspects an infection may have worsened her condition.

A slice of pizza, and a cup of Starbucks before heading back home.  In the pouring rain, we make way to the midtown tunnel, and our ride home takes about 1.5 hrs.  Once home I start to prep dinner.

Paella for dinner tonight.

Luke scores a 97 on his science test and has just a few days left to take finals before heading into summer.

Photo of the day "97"

Nice Work Luke on getting that 97...............

Key Lime Pie

Work was pretty good today.  An interview of a former TR employee, lunch with my boss, and only two issues.

After lunch a couple of trouble calls and then an early exit to take Kyle to the Dr.

GPS messes me up and we end up about 30 minutes away from our intended destination.  Better luck on Friday, and all I can say is "You can't trust the system"

This day in history "On this day in 1979, John Wayne, an iconic American film actor famous for starring in countless westerns, dies at age 72 after battling cancer for more than a decade.
The actor was born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, and moved as a child to Glendale, California. A football star at Glendale High School, he attended the University of Southern California on a scholarship but dropped out after two years. After finding work as a movie studio laborer, Wayne befriended director John Ford, then a rising talent. His first acting jobs were bit parts in which he was credited as Duke Morrison, a childhood nickname derived from the name of his beloved pet dog."

I bet John Wayne would use a map and find his way on horse.

Back home, I decide to cook spaghetti and meatballs.  Gavin is outta here and going with Dan to the Summer Series Run.  I have to miss this first race in the series to take Kyle to Sachem East.

Sue is visiting her mom, Peggy who is out of ICU and waiting for a transfer to NYC.

I made a Key Lime Pie as a surprise for Kyle and Sue when she gets home from Brooklyn

Gavin reports a 12th place overall finish in the race, with a 3rd place in his age group.  Incredible run...not his fastest ever, but like twice as fast I would have run.  Well Done.

Photo of the day "Key Lime Pie"

All over the place

This morning, Sue headed straight to Brooklyn to visit her mom in the hospital.  Some new meds, and the family spending the day, the report is that Peggy is ding a little bit better.  She may transfer to a hospital in Manhattan to be closer to her specialist.

I drop Kyle off at Stony Brook where he is scheduled to assistant referee three games.  This is his last games of the season, and another nice day.  Plenty of sunscreen.

I decide to run a quick 2 miles before heading home.  A quick shower and then Luke and I go to Good Shepard for 1200 Mass..

Luke is hungry and says he wants chicken nuggets.  He reads the package and notices they can be deep fired or baked.  He asks if we can deep fry them.  Yum...deep fried anything is better.

I start doing some laundry before going to pick up Kyle from the filed.  He is hungry, so we stop at Taco Bell.

This day in history "On this day in 1752, Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm and collects a charge in a Leyden jar when the kite is struck by lightning, enabling him to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin became interested in electricity in the mid-1740s, a time when much was still unknown on the topic, and spent almost a decade conducting electrical experiments. He coined a number of terms used today, including battery, conductor and electrician. He also invented the lightning rod, used to protect buildings and ships."

Rotisserie roast beef, salad and green beans for dinner.

After dinner we go for a ride thru Sans Suci.  This time, Kyle comes with us.  He is so funny going thru the tight trails for the first time.  One spot his handlebars clip a tree.  His narration as he rides is very humorous.  We dare go thru the earthen dam trail to the spillway.  He says ...I better not get poison ivy, as he brushes mosquitoes away from his head.

We survive and head back home.  More laundry and then we settle down waiting for Sue to return from Brooklyn.

Photo of the day "All over the place"

P.S. Kyle is such a Baba......

Snake

This morning when I went out to mow the lawn I noticed the grass was too wet.  I proceeded to transplant some flowers and noticed a snake in the weeds.

Had breakfast and we all packed up the car to visit Grandma Peggy in Brooklyn.

I had planned to cook a home cooked meal of chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

This day in history "With a spectacular victory at the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win America's coveted Triple Crown--the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. In one of the finest performances in racing history, Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, completed the 1.5-mile race in 2 minutes and 24 seconds, a dirt-track record for that distance."

When we get to Brooklyn, Nora and Grandma greet us and tell us they have some cold cuts for lunch.  Grandma Peggy is very short of breathe even on 24hr oxygen.  This morning she called and said she was not feeling well and that maybe we should come in two cars so that Sue could take her to the Dr. or hospital.

We went in one car, and before long, Sue, Gavin and I were taking her to Beth Israel hospital on Kings Highway.  Sue stays and gets through triage.  I head back to the house.  Sue calls and says grandma is being admitted to ICU.

The rest of the Walsh family is alerted to the sudden turn of events, and we wait for more information.  The prognosis is unknown but the disease is progressive and seems to be accelerating faster than anyone could believe.  Pulmonary Hypertension...a rare form from what her specialist says.

I end up cooking dinner without Sue and Peggy, and at 9pm drive to the hospital to pick Sue and Danny up.

We are all hoping and praying for the best as other siblings make plans to fly or drive in from remote cities in the US.

The universal symbol for healthcare includes a serpent (snake).  Was the snake in the weeds this morning a sign ??

The rod of Asclepius (also known as the rod of Asklepios, rod of Aesculapius or asklepian)...

is an ancient Greek symbol associated with astrology and with healing the sick through medicine. It consists of a serpent entwined around a staff. Asclepius, the son of Apollo, was practitioner of medicine in ancient Greek mythology.

Photo of the day "Snake"

P.S. Peggy Walsh is in our prayers, and I ask that all the readers of the blog keep her in their thoughts

TGIF

My workday never really ended yesterday.

Trouble call kept me and one of my guys up till like 1:30 AM

Another call at 4AM was not what I wanted to hear.

By 4:15 I was trying to fall back to sleep.

When my alarm rang this morning, I asked Sue to drive Kyle today and to wake me up at 7am for a meeting.

This day in history "On this day in 1948, a hand-built aluminum prototype labeled "No. 1" becomes the first vehicle to bear the name of one of the world's leading luxury car manufacturers: Porsche.
The Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche debuted his first design at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900. The electric vehicle set several Austrian land-speed records, reaching more than 35 mph and earning international acclaim for the young engineer. He became general director of the Austro-Daimler Company (an outpost of the German automaker) in 1916 and later moved to Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart. Daimler merged with the Benz firm in the 1920s, and Porsche was chiefly responsible for designing some of the great Mercedes racing cars of that decade."

Never make it to the office and end up taking a shower at 1230...

Dinner is a rotisserie pork roast.   Pasta Salad had some broccoli rabe.

A quick run walk with Luke and Sue.

Back home setting in to watch US play 1st World Cup Qualifier of the year.

Meeting coming up at 9pm.   I work like a dog....

Photo of the day "Friday"

‎2012 State Parks Summer Run Series

Work.

Home.

Dinner...Pizza

This day in history "

On this day in 1913, Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary, leads the first successful ascent of Mt. McKinley, the highest point on the American continent at 20,320 feet.
Stuck, an accomplished amateur mountaineer, was born in London in 1863. After moving to the United States, in 1905 he became archdeacon of the Episcopal Church in Yukon, Alaska, where he was an admirer of Native Indian culture and traveled Alaska's difficult terrain to preach to villagers and establish schools."

No mountains for me.

Brought Kyle to soccer practice.

Ran 4.5 miles...getting ready to tackle the 5 mile run Monday nite.

Bought pop tarts and HP ink at Walmart.

Back home.   Ink in printer...

Time to kick back...I sure hope I don't have to run an IRT tonight, I am tired.

The phone just rang....Gotta work.

Photo of the day "  ‎2012 State Parks Summer Run Series"

CSA Bounty

The day flew by and I got out of work a little later than usual.

Greeted by some bumper to bumper traffic on the LIE.

Turns out there was an accident on the opposite side of the LIE...I am heading EAST...the accident was in the Westbound lanes.  Rubber Necker's.

Call Sue to tell her I am in traffic and will go straight to Bayport to pick up our farm share.   Today is the first week of our CSA - Community Supported Agriculture.  We opted for a full share of fruits and veggies from now until around Thanksgiving.

This day in history "On this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of Park-In Theaters, the first-ever drive-in movie theater, located on Crescent Boulevard in Camden, New Jersey.

Park-In Theaters--the term "drive-in" came to be widely used only later--was the brainchild of Richard Hollingshead, a movie fan and a sales manager at his father's company, Whiz Auto Products, in Camden. Reportedly inspired by his mother's struggle to sit comfortably in traditional movie theater seats, Hollingshead came up with the idea of an open-air theater where patrons watched movies in the comfort of their own automobiles. He then experimented in the driveway of his own house with different projection and sound techniques, mounting a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car, pinning a screen to some trees, and placing a radio behind the screen for sound. He also tested ways to guard against rain and other inclement weather, and devised the ideal spacing arrangement for a number of cars so that all would have a view of the screen."

The only park-in theater I can think of was on Sunrise Highway.  Coming from Queens, there were no drive-ins  that I knew of.

Now we watch movies at home, order them on demand, have them mailed to us, watch them on our cell phones.  Why anyone would watch a movie on a phone is beyond me.  Now, being able to pause, rewind, go to the bathroom, pop your own corn in the microwave....all good..

So with all this modernization, their is a revival of old.  Its called sustainable living, whole foods, healthy lifestyles, and fitness.  In an effort to go back to basics, I have started jogging, biking in local trails, bought an empire pass to get into the State Parks.  I have always liked to have my own garden, and wish I could raise backyard chickens.

I like to cook and try new foods so decided to join the CSA.  This will provide locally grown, organic items, and from what I discovered today, some things I have never cooked or even heard of.  Among my newly acquired bounty, was Lettuce, Radishes, Broccoli Rabe, Garlic Scapes, some other leafy things I am not sure of (maybe swiss chard, and some other spicy tasting leafy thing).   Maybe I should have paid more attention.  Some more common and easy to identify are the two type of peas, snap peas and those flat snow peas, and a couple of pints of the best strawberries.

Dinner was going to have to use some of these items.  So , fresh salad with radishes.  Grilled chicken topped with fresh saute broccoli rabe and garlic scapes.  I opted for a sandwich with the grilled chicken, broccoli rabe and mozzarella.

Everyone liked the fresh fruits and veggies.  Oh yeah, there are a couple of stalks of rhubarb....

Looking for recipe to use the rhubarb, and perhaps the other leafy items that may require cooking.

Photo of the day "CSA Bounty"

Venus Transit

Excited this morning to pick up my welders glass....Thanks Khary

Weather forecast is for partly cloudy skies....mildly optimistic.

Uneventful day really, and with more clouds than sun, I check the forecast....turned to mostly cloudy.

Back home this eve. I go for a 3 mile run.  Still no pain, but my left foot just doesn't feel right.

Panko breaded fillets get fried up in the fry daddy.  Salad, green beans, and Japanese dumplings round out the meal.

A small spot of blue is seen off in the distance.  I grab my welders glass and head out to see if I can align with the small opening of blue sky.

It's a mirage, as the sun is really not going to show today...obscured by clouds.

I hit the internet and see the Venus Transit from several areas of the world.

http://events.slooh.com/

Kyle is at soccer practice, Luke is doing a report.

Its almost sundown, and I think it is time to settle in and try the new 7 Leguas tequilla.

Hell's Kitchen will have to be my entertainment.

Photo of the day "Venus Transit"

It's V-Day 2012, the day Venus transits the sun, appearing as a black dot against the star's searing surface.  

It's a show that won't make its celestial revival until December 2117.

For many skywatchers, this event is drawing eyes because it is rare and intimately tied to the history of humanity's quest to take the measure of its corner of the cosmos. In the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists risked their lives traveling to far-flung corners of the globe to carefully record the track of the first lady of the solar system across the sun. Back then, it was the best means available for trying to estimate the Earth's distance from the sun and derive a size for the solar system.

A mile at a time

Monday and a visitor from St Louis, Chris comes to town.

Grab some Indian Food for lunch, tuna in the fridge.

This day in history "At approximately 4:00 a.m. on June 4, 1896, in the shed behind his home on Bagley Avenue in Detroit, Henry Ford unveils the "Quadricycle," the first automobile he ever designed or drove."

Go out for a test run.  Luke comes along.  2 miles, a little uncomfortable on left foot.  No pain after, so tomorrow we go a little longer.

Prepare my signature meatballs and spaghetti. 

Windows open to let in some nice cool air.

Luke and I each pick a favorite on Hell's kitchen.  The 5 dollar bet is to see who goes furthest.  Crap shoot.

I get a call from Khary that he has some protective lenses for me to use if the sun shows itself tomorrow late afternoon.

Saturn Transit on tomorrows agenda.

Photo of the day "A mile at a time"

What the heck is that

Slept in this morning.  Dropped Kyle off at fields around 930 so he could AR two games.

Back home, Gavin is still sleeping, Sue and Luke at church.

I mow the lawn and then read the newspaper.

Pick up lunch special at Chinese feed place.

Lazy afternoon, till Luke and I go to Stop and shop.

This day in history "Middle Country Cruzers win State Cup and will advance the Regionals"

London Broil, Caesar Salad, Portabella mushrooms, and roasted pepper for dinner.  

In between the thunderstorms we see a rainbow.

Gavin gets invite to the Cruzer's party.  I drop off Gavin and say hi to coach Bob and family.

Found this really cool looking insect on the handle to the back door.

Photo of the day "What the heck is that"

P.S. Four Lined Plant Bug - Poecilocapsus lineatus
Insect Order: Heteroptera (Latreille, 1810) -- barbeiro, maria fedida, percevejo, true bugs
Family: Miridae (Hahn, 1833) -- hétéroptères mirides, jumping tree bugs, leaf bugs, plant bugs, punaises.

Four-lined plant bug nymphs (Poecilocapsus lineatus) have been found on many different kinds of plants including wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). This insect feeds on 250 species, including many kinds of perennials, vegetables, and shrubs such as bluebeard, forsythia, and sumac. Feeding injury is frequently mistaken for leaf spots. Four-lined plant bugs have a piercing, sucking mouthpart which they use to break plant cells and then flush the feeding wound with digestive juices.

Damage appears as dark leaf spots which subsequently turn translucent. The damage they do is more serious on herbaceous plants than on woodies. Sometimes by the time the damage is noticed, the insect isn’t there anymore. Both nymphs and adults feed on leaves, creating the spots. Nymphs are bright yellow to red with rows of black spots on the abdomen. The adult stage is ¼” to 1/3” long and has four longitudinal black lines on its yellow or green back, thus the name. 

Marshmallows

I set the alarm for 8am so I would have time have coffee and a shower before going to the podiatrist.  Self diagnosis made yesterday.

So, the doctor asks some questions and then manipulates and squeezed the big toe joint and surrounding area.  Gout is ruled out immediately as there is no swelling, redness, or heat in area.  Doc quickly and convincingly says I have Sesamoiditis.

Sesamoiditis is a common ailment that affects the forefoot, typically in young people who engage in physical activity like running or dancing. Its most common symptom is pain in the ball-of-the-foot, especially on the medial or inner side. The term is a general description for any irritation of the sesamoid bones, which are tiny bones within the tendons that run to the big toe.

She fashions a pair of felt pads designed to raise the ball of the foot higher than the big toe and Sesamoids, one for each of my running shoes.  Rest, Ice, Advil for next day or two.  Take a trial run in a couple of days and see if it flares up again.  If re-occurring, then a custom pair of orthotics can be made.

This day in history "On this day in 1935, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, ends his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs. The following year, Ruth, a larger-than-life figure whose name became synonymous with baseball, was one of the first five players inducted into the sport's hall of fame."

Kyle plays a soccer game at home and Gavin is an assistant referee.  Kyle scores two goals, and United wins 3-0.

We take a bike ride thru both white and orange trails at Sans Suci park.  Gavin blazes the trail.

Chicken wings and pasta salad for dinner.

Marshmallows roasted and True Grit on the DVD player.

Photo of the day "Marshmallows"

8 Days a Week

Woke up several times last night with my big toe hurting.

Hobbled out of bed and into the shower and to work.

Advil and ice, and the toe is a little better, but I made an appointment to see the Podiatrist.

This day in history "1964 the Tribute plays at Westbury Music "

Grab some food at the bodega for lunch.  Rice, beans, and goat...  yes goat stew.

Once home, I take Kyle to pick up some cleats...not the ones he really wants as they don't have them, but a pair that does not have a whole in it.

On the road to Westbury.  A quick stop at Franks Steak House before the show.

Beatles tribute band is better than expected.  Nearly flawless, personable, and totally enjoyable show.  They have been at it for 28 years, and still look like they love love me (what they) do.

Photo of the day "1964 the Tribute"