Pressure

Went on a long run, 6 miles this morning.  I will start to call it, 6 at 6.

Work had its ups and downs.  We are under a lot of pressure to resolve problems, especially during the Olympics.

We have fried King Fish for dinner tonight.  Sue is out with her friends.  Kyle has soccer practice.

This day in history "On July 31, 1975, James Riddle Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, disappears in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit, conclusive evidence was never found, and Hoffa's death remains shrouded in mystery to this day."

I remember hearing all kinds of stories involving Jimmy Hoffa.  Like he is in the cement at the Meadowlands in NJ.  Everyone now knows the mob lives in NJ....thanks Sopranos.

While watching the Red Bulls, I get to see the Olympics spoiler that Phelps misses out on Gold, but takes a Silver in Butterfly.  He gets a Gold for relay.   "Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever by anchoring the United States to a commanding victory in the 800-meter freestyle relay less than an hour after he lost a heartbreaking race."

There is so much pressure on these athletes.

I stop at Walmart to pick up some stuff.  I walk past the blood pressure station.  It is funny to me that a guy is in it getting his arm squeezed.  The other night watching "Maclom in the middle" we saw a scene where the security guard is purposely pushed into the seat, and trapped in the arm band....

After picking up my deodorant, I take a seat.   I think all the running I have been doing is good for my blood pressure.

Photo of the day "Pressure"

P.S. My pressure last year was closer to 120 / 80 with 88 beats per minute.

New Pressure 105 / 63 with 68 beats per minute.  :-)

State Park Summer Run - Robert Moses

Monday and the house is quiet as I make a leftover bagel and hit the road.

I pick up a chicken and salad from Mama Lombardis for dinner, as I don't think I have enough time for a fish fry.  Luke is eating leftover crabs when I walk in the door.

Summer run on my mind as I eat some chicken and salad.  Gavin already ran 9 miles this morning...how is he going to run another 3.1

This day in history "On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Medicare, a health insurance program for elderly Americans, into law. At the bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, former President Harry S. Truman was enrolled as Medicare's first beneficiary and received the first Medicare card. Johnson wanted to recognize Truman, who, in 1945, had become the first president to propose national health insurance, an initiative that was opposed at the time by Congress."

Nearly 40 years later we are poised to cripple the healthcare system.  Bring 30 million more into the healthcare system without adding any appreciable amount of doctors, PA, RN, Nurse Practitioners, etc.  So, those of us who have healthcare insurance will not only pay more, we will wait more.  The critical care system will take the brunt of it.  And the icing on the cake...it still takes 8 years to push out a Dr. in the USA, and 30% of the general practitioners are over 55 years old.

Lets put this in perspective.  If you think about the information technology business, there is a great deal of time and money put into capacity planning.  What would you do if Cablevision or Verizon FIOS told you that you have to pay more and get 30% slower service ?  Or when your service was not working, it would take a couple of weeks for them to come and look at it.

So, back to the State Park Summer Run at Robert Moses.  A great nite for a run.  I saw some folks I know from work and soccer.  Gavin posts an 11th place finish.  I put in a good run and a personal best 5k time of 26:33.

Photo of the day "Robert Moses Bridge"

Kingfish

Well, it happened again..Not the first time, and not the last, and I hope to buck the trend.  Another late entry blog.  Let's just say we went crabbing and fishing.

Sunday morning was quiet.  I picked up bagels and read the newspaper.  Watched some Olympics.

This day in history "On this day in 1958, the U.S. Congress passes legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America's activities in space. NASA has since sponsored space expeditions, both human and mechanical, that have yielded vital information about the solar system and universe. It has also launched numerous earth-orbiting satellites that have been instrumental in everything from weather forecasting to navigation to global communications.
NASA was created in response to the Soviet Union's October 4, 1957 launch of its first satellite, Sputnik I. The 183-pound, basketball-sized satellite orbited the earth in 98 minutes. The Sputnik launch caught Americans by surprise and sparked fears that the Soviets might also be capable of sending missiles with nuclear weapons from Europe to America. The United States prided itself on being at the forefront of technology, and, embarrassed, immediately began developing a response, signaling the start of the U.S.-Soviet space race."

Thanks to budget cuts, the race is over.  Our manned space exploration is at a stand still.  No shuttle program, no replacement.

An early dinner and then Luke and I go to Sayville.  We have not been there for a few weeks.

We luck out, and catch 19 nice sized crabs, 5 large kingfish, and a bunch of throwbacks.  We even catch a spot, typically not found this far north.  We catch them when we fish in Maryland.

So, when we get home at 9pm, we proceed to cook the crabs.  Luke helps to filet the fish.  He does a very good job and really like to skin them.

We watch the Olympics while feasting on freshly cooked crabs.  Some leftovers for tomorrow.

Dinner tomorrow will be fish and crabs, unless Luke has the rest of them for breakfast.

Photo of the day "Kingfish"

P.S. Luke is becoming quite the fisherman.  I really think he's hooked....

H2O

When I woke up, it was cloudy and as I prepared for a run it started raining.  H2O

A brief break in the rain, and I hit the streets running.  The sound of thunder in the air, I keep my run close to home.  A run I call up and down in Holbrook....as I end my run, the skies open up to a deluge of rainfall, lightening and thunder.  H2O

Luke, Gavin and I watch the Olympics road race.  The rain continues, sometimes really heavy.  Luke goes to the basement to feed his fish...I take the opportunity to check the basement for water.  Sure enough the window well in the backyard is full and it looks like a fish tank, water pouring into the basement and down the wall.  We have a french drain and a sump pump so I am not worried as I hear and see the water trickling into the sump pump.  H20

This day in history "Ryan Lochte wins 1st USA Gold in the 2012 Olympics"

If anyone says that hard work and training doesn't pay off, they need to speak to Ryan.  We saw his interview, with none other than Ryan Seacrest....Ryan meet Ryan.  Lochte was not satisfied with being 2nd best and living in the shadow of Phelps.  Lochte training over the past 4 years has had him adding muscle and doing unconventional training....flipping a 650 lb tire.  The dude is a beast.  Wins the 400m IM with a 3 second margin.  Not a world record, but an impressive swim.  H20

Sue is back from her mom's house where she and her sibling have been sorting through all of the belongings, making ready donations, and the eventual sale of her coop...very sad.  Sue brings home some old photos, one of her, Karen, and Brian when they were toddlers...

We have chicken tikka for dinner.  I experiment with a zucchini marsala as we have no peas to go with the meal...Not bad.  Sue and Luke have some soda with their meal...I opt of H20.

Luke wants to go fishing after dinner.  There is a severe thunderstorm watch until 10PM.  We pack up the car, and make our way down to Sayville.  The skies darkening in the north, we make a few casts into the bay before the rain comes.  We fish in the rain for a few minutes.  Retreat to the car with crab traps still soaking.  After about 20 minutes of heavy rain, we run out to retrieve the traps and head home.  H20

Photo of the Day "Ryan Lochte wins Gold"

P.S. Those are not braces, they are grlillz...Some bling for the mouth, and Ryan has a lot to smile about.

OLYMPICS 2012

When my alarm rang this morning at 6am, I get up to go on an early morning run.  I make it about 1.5 miles and have to stop.  For the first time ever, I have to stop due to a bodily function.  Without going into too much detail, I walked home and gave my glutes a good workout.

Went to get Chinese food for lunch and had the grill guy cook up my own mix of meats, veggies, spices etc. It is the best way to go, as you get a fresh cooked custom meal.  After a few times there, I have perfected the mixture and now have the perfect mixture of heat and flavor.

This day in history "On this day in 1974, the House Judiciary Committee recommends that America's 37th president, Richard M. Nixon, be impeached and removed from office. The impeachment proceedings resulted from a series of political scandals involving the Nixon administration that came to be collectively known as Watergate."

I remember Watergate and president Nixon.  At the age of of 12, I guess my mind was starting to take interest in the world around me.  War, politics, oil embargo's, were all a part of my teenage years.  The way I remember it, Nixon took the fall for getting caught.

Kyle is out camping with his friend Billy.  Sue is at her mom's apartment with her brother and sister going thru  items...it has to be hard and we all miss Peggy.  Luke, Gavin and I had sushi for dinner and are watching the Olympic opening ceremony.

One of my dreams, after working at Reuters for 20+ years is to be able to participate in the setup, support of  the editorial systems needed to collect the pictures and stories.  Again this year, as in past 6 or 7 Olympics, I am in the back office helping to support the systems that the editors use to collect, distribute, and store the info.  

The opening ceremony was not as exciting as thought it would be, but entertaining none the less.   It makes me think about my dad...we used to watch the Olympics together...I miss that.

Photo of the day "OLYMPICS 2012"

P.S. Tonight we decided to pick up dinner by riding bikes to the sushi place.  I took a backpack to put the food in.  Gavin had my car, and Sue was not home. 

Bloggers Block

It happens.  You get home and you just don't feel it.  The inspiration to blog.  Sue reminds me while I am feasting on an Elios pizza with extra cheddar cheese.  I can't think as it is nearly 10pm, and Malcolm in the middle season 4 has me in a trance.

Anyway, a 4.5 mile personal best was put in, and when I got back home, I decided to login for work while I cool down.  Let's just say that due to issues at work, and subsequent meetings, I did not get to shower until several hours later.

After making it into the office, the day did not get better for me....perhaps this has sapped my inspiration.

This day in history "On this day in 1775, the U.S. postal system is established by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin as its first postmaster general. Franklin (1706-1790) put in place the foundation for many aspects of today's mail system. During early colonial times in the 1600s, few American colonists needed to send mail to each other; it was more likely that their correspondence was with letter writers in Britain. Mail deliveries from across the Atlantic were sporadic and could take many months to arrive. There were no post offices in the colonies, so mail was typically left at inns and taverns. In 1753, Benjamin Franklin, who had been postmaster of Philadelphia, became one of two joint postmasters general for the colonies. He made numerous improvements to the mail system, including setting up new, more efficient colonial routes and cutting delivery time in half between Philadelphia and New York by having the weekly mail wagon travel both day and night via relay teams. Franklin also debuted the first rate chart, which standardized delivery costs based on distance and weight. In 1774, the British fired Franklin from his postmaster job because of his revolutionary activities. However, the following year, he was appointed postmaster general of the United Colonies by the Continental Congress. Franklin held the job until late in 1776, when he was sent to France as a diplomat. He left a vastly improved mail system, with routes from Florida to Maine and regular service between the colonies and Britain. President George Washington appointed Samuel Osgood, a former Massachusetts congressman, as the first postmaster general of the American nation under the new U.S. constitution in 1789. At the time, there were approximately 75 post offices in the country."


Well, there you have it.  The postal system.  Sometimes work makes me want to go postal.

All kidding aside, with email, txt, and fax (does anyone fax anymore), the postal service is hurting.  UPS, and Fedex have carved their way into the "postal" business leaving the USPS in dire straits.  When was the last time you wrote a letter ?  The more we go paperless, the smaller the postal presence will be.

Got a new battery and power supply for the old IBM Lenovo T61 and its as good as new.  Who can afford a new laptop these days.

Photo of the day "Bloggers Block"

P.S. We tried one of those funny yellow melons.  Delicious.  Looks like honeydew, tastes like cantaloupe.   I was hoping it wouldn't taste like "chicken"....hehe

New fruits, veggies, and herbs in the CSA

Got up early and out of the house.  Made it to work by 7am and started really catching up on my emails since being out on vacation.

I heard it was nice outside, but I did not get back into the parking lot until after 4pm...ate lunch in 5 mins at my desk.

On the way home picked up my CSA share.  Fennel, Dill, Basil, Scallions, beets, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, the ever present Swiss chard, and some cool looking melons, yellow plums, and of course blue berries.

This day in history "On this day in 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the world's first baby to be conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) is born at Oldham and District General Hospital in Manchester, England, to parents Lesley and Peter Brown. The healthy baby was delivered shortly before midnight by caesarean section and weighed in at five pounds, 12 ounces."

Dinner consists of London Broil, corn (CSA), a salad (new cucumbers to eat).  I harvest the herbs while the meat cooks.  Tomorrow I will make tuna with some of the dill.  Kyle asks if the dill is the same as what is used to make kosher dill pickles.  I said yes.  Hmm...thats an idea.

After dinner, Luke twists my arm to go fishing at West Lake.  I comply and catch the first five bass tonight, frustrating him to no end.  He recovers and manages a few of his own.  A nice nite, almost no humidity, light breeze, nice sunset.  Luke bug sprays at dusk.....

Back home at 9pm, a full day and I am ready to settle in with a snack, beer, and blog.  Before sitting down, I put in some St Louis style ribs in the oven at 275 degrees to pre-cook for tomorrow.  BBQ ribs on the menu tomorrow.

Photo of the day "Yellow Mellon ?"

P.S. I may look for and steal a zucchini and blueberry bread or muffin recipe.

7474

Once again, I struggle to get out of the house in time to make my morning meetings.  These are teleconferences with other participants in London, Singapore, Bangalore (India for the uninitiated), and some of us on this side of the pond, NY.

This means I will take my 730AM call and the 8AM call from the house.  I used to take them in the car while driving in if I could not make it by the time they start, but decided a while ago to refrain from talking on the phone while driving.  Even with hands free bluetooth headset, the distraction poses a driving risk.  Thanks defensive driving class for the statistics.  Reading emails and txt are way worse.

This day in history "July 24, 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham gets his first look at Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca settlement in Peru that is now one of the world's top tourist destinations.
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a summer retreat for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years afterwards, its existence was a secret known only to the peasants living in the region. That all changed in the summer of 1911, when Bingham arrived with a small team of explorers to search for the famous "lost" cities of the Incas."

Ooh the ancients.  I love those ancient civilizations...you know the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans.  There was some freaky stuff going on during ancient times.  I swear we were visited by aliens, gods, or some other outside intervention in ancient times.  I know, there was no TV, Xbox, or any of that, so the ancients had only the sky to examine, worship, fear....

Anyway, I drop my bike off as it has a flat tire again.  Rode it once for about 10 miles, and right before vacation, the tire goes flat.  Drop off at the shop in Commack where it was fixed the first time 10 days ago.  The guy says he will put a new tube on, and I can pick it up later.  It is 1130 and I say "between 2 and 3pm ok ?"  he says yes, and takes my cell phone number.

Busy at work, I get to the bike store at 430, and the bike is not ready.  The dude is chewing the breeze with some of his friends and I notice a 12 pack of bud lime.  They offer me one, I say that I am driving, but thanks anyway.  BTW, can you fix the flat tire on my bike.

15 minutes later, the dude says I have a piece of glass that punctured the tube.  I tell him I rode the bike for like 30 minutes...He is in no mood to argue, so he takes down a heavy duty tube, double the price of the one I originally purchased and says since he made me wait, he will put the better one on, NO CHARGE.  I like the bike dude.

Bad accident on the LIE coming home.  I make my way to an entrance ramp, and like many others, make my way down going the wrong way so that I can get onto the service road.  I make it home too late to cook the family dinner.

As a snack, I make fresh tomato, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic as an appetizer.  Sue, Luke and Kyle leave as I start preparing paella.  They will eat when they get back home. Krista, Gavin and I eat the paella right off the stove...piping hot.

Photo of the day "Mozarella"

So, if you have made it the bottom you find out what 7474 is.

When I checked the blogger dashboard, it showed that I have had 7474 views since the start of the blog.  Thanks for reading.

NYS Park Summer Run Series - Gavin takes silver

Another busy day at the office.  Why can't I win the lottery or something.

After work, cooked some salmon and go ready to go to Belmont Lake State Park for our summer run series.

About 1500 runners tonight.  I start out at the 9 min mile marker...when will I learn to move up so as not to waste time at the start of the race with a crowd barely walking for the first quarter mile.  That hurts my time.  I am looking for under 27 minutes.

This day in history "On July 23, 1996, at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team wins its first-ever team gold.

The 1996 U.S. women’s team, nicknamed the "Mag 7" or "magnificent seven," was made up of seven immensely talented teenaged girls: Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug. The team entered the Summer Olympics with the expectations of an entire country heaped on their young shoulders. They were considered America’s best shot ever at an Olympic team gold, something no American women’s gymnastics team had ever won. The American women’s best finish to that point had been a silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which were boycotted by the favored Soviet Union, winner of eight consecutive team golds between 1952 and 1980."

We are getting ready for the Olympics at ThomsonReuters, as it is one of the biggest news events of the year.  My team and I are ready, nobody is allowed to be on vacation.  Fingers crossed we have luck with our systems handling the load.

Back to the summer series.  Gavin is running for Team Fox.  His girlfriend is visiting so I was pretty sure he was going to go 'HAM'...as Krista would say, "GO HAM" or "GO HOME".  At race time, the weather cooled down a bit, but still very humid.  Gavin finishes 2nd in his age group (silver medal) and 4th overall out of about 1500 racers.  I finish in the 50th percent for my age group with a respectable (but no personal best) time of 28:09.  Like I said, if I didn't loose those 30-40 secs at the front of the race stuck behind the crowd I think I would have had my PB.

Belmont State Park had really clever parking arrangements and after the race, we were funneled quickly out and in the correct direction based on where we came off the highway when entering the park.  Home early enough to make a snack and watch some gator boys.

Sorry for the late entry, but I fell asleep on the couch again after my snack and a shot of tequila.

Photo of the day "NYS Park - Gavin Silver"

P.S. Next time, I am starting in the 7 minute slot...even if some folks pass me, I cant afford at my pace to loose time in the beginning of the race...

Where is last nights entry

Sunday is the last day of my vacation.  I try to fit everything in.

A trip to Costco, Meatballs and Spaghetti, some fishing.

Drop Kyle off at his girl friends house.  Pick him up, and his friend so we can drive them to Applebee for half price Apps.

Get to sit down to watch River Monster with Luke at 1015pm.  Fall asleep on the couch ...

Sue is starting to recover from a bout of food poisoning or other really bad stomach disruption....

Back to reality - SAPO Coin Toss

So, vacation in OC can't last forever.  Back home, there is laundry (Sue), and the lawn needs mowing (Bruce).  Gavin and Krista at Warped tour.  This afternoon, Luke and I go food shopping.

Surprisingly, the yard is not too bad, but where did all that crabgrass come from this week ?

This day in history "On this day in 1899, Ernest Miller Hemingway, author of such novels as “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea,” is born in Oak Park, Illinois. The influential American literary icon became known for his straightforward prose and use of understatement. Hemingway, who tackled topics such as bullfighting and war in his work, also became famous for his own macho, hard-drinking persona."

A neighbor was having a get together tonight, and we payed them a visit.  Was nice to see the neighbors, share a beer and some good food.

There was a game being played with an imprinted Juegos Emperatriz.  The internet revealed that this is not the name of the game.  Good thing I overheard someone say it was a Peruvian game.   It requires players to toss heavy brass coins at the board from distance and try to land one in the frog's mouth.  Slots are cut in the surface allowing some coins to fall thru and into cubbies for points.

The frog, scores 5000 points.  If you ask me, slotting one in the frog's mouth should be an instant win.

http://www.sapomiami.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&btnSearch.x=7&btnSearch.y=9

Photo of the day "SAPO"

OC 2012 - Day 8 - Global Warming

On this day of vacation, it is time to start packing up and making way back home.  We noticed that this year was hotter and more humid than usual.  Most people I talked to in town agreed.  The thunderstorms used to break the humidity at least for a few hours in the late eve., but now the humidity just did not seem to break.  Sure this is good beach weather, as the beach is great when its hot.

Kyle and Sue head to SU - Salisbury University, as it is only 30 minutes way from Ocean City, and why not start looking at colleges each opportunity we get.  They say it is a very nice campus and the tour was informative.  Some modern conveniences noted, and air conditioned dorms (bonus).

This day in history "Kyle scores a 5 on his AP World History Exam"

I read that there is a trend in terms of how many record hot days there are in comparison to record cold days.   Not sure, but I think about 10 years ago I heard that the weather in NY and NJ may be more like that of Atlanta in our lifetime.  Might that mean that Maryland is now hotter than it was....

My Fig tree is full of figs and bigger and fuller than I have ever seen.  Sure it is now better established, or loving the heat.  Maybe the farmers here should think less about the cool leafy lettuces and start planting fig trees.....

Photo of the day "Global Warming"

 

P.S. The lifeguard station posted the water temps.  We never recall there being such warm water when we go to OC.  This year it was about 10 degrees warmer than what is deemed usual.  One day, it simply said delightful instead of 78 degrees.

OC 2012 - Day 7 - Family Photo

Part of our family tradition is to dig a sand ditch and create a mound to guard against high tide waves over running our blanket and sitting area.  I think 10 years ago, when we first started coming to Ocean City, we decorated the mound with OC 2002.

Since then, the family has grown, and the boys are now very much at home in OC.  They know there way around, there favorite places to go, and of course riding the waves at the beach.  Seems the days of digging in the sand and searching for sand fleas are being replaced with a couple of rounds of KanJam.

This day in history "On this day in 1799, during Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign, a French soldier discovers a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta, about 35 miles north of Alexandria. The irregularly shaped stone contained fragments of passages written in three different scripts: Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian demotic. The ancient Greek on the Rosetta Stone told archaeologists that it was inscribed by priests honoring the king of Egypt, Ptolemy V, in the second century B.C. More startlingly, the Greek passage announced that the three scripts were all of identical meaning. The artifact thus held the key to solving the riddle of hieroglyphics, a written language that had been "dead" for nearly 2,000 years."

My own form of hieroglyphics make their way onto the mound.  OC 2012

The beach was really nice again today until later in the afternoon when the clouds rolled in.  The lifeguard at 32nd st. warned of impending storms...forecast for 1, 2, 4pm...he said they will come and will be strong.

At the first sign of rain drops, we retreated back to the resort.  We made it just in time before the thunder and lightening and torrential downpour.  Sue and Luke about a block or so behind us did get rained on some....hey, when you are at the beach, you are gonna get we anyway.

We put together the beach lasso golf in the living room and played.  Some took a late afternoon siesta.  We planned on bayside dining this eve, but with some lingering sprinkles around, we decided to take it indoors.  Luke chose a new place, or at least a place we have not tried before.  Blue Fish...a Japanese and Chinese food place uptown.  Not bad...good sushi, good service...perhaps a new find.

Photo of the day "Family Photo"

P.S,  There are always new discoveries at the beach.  Luke found a heavy round shell while we were hopping waves.  I put it in my pocket.  When we got back to shore, we showed everyone his find, and to our surprise, it was a big old hermit crab. 

OC 2012 - Day 6 - Sakura

I swore it was going to be a late start of the day.  But no, at 730, I am already walking to the beach to setup shop.  No runs the last couple of days...too hot and humid.  I stop at the corner market to pick up some bacon, mile, and soda.

Luke is coaxed out of bed by the smell of bacon.  I ask him what he wants to do..he says, lets fish.  He really knows how to twist my arm.

This day in history "On this day in 1940, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who first took office in 1933 as America's 32nd president, is nominated for an unprecedented third term. Roosevelt, a Democrat, would eventually be elected to a record four terms in office, the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms"

So we fish until almost 11am...head back and fins that nobody is ready to go to the beach.  We hit the beach late and the waves are angry this day.   The wind is blowing down the beach creating some difficult waves, and under tows..  Still hot and humid.  A couple of hours and we decide to head back early.

Dinner is off the strip, and in West Ocean City.  Sakura is a Hibachi Steak house.  We get a master chef who is very entertaining.  He asks Luke what his name is...he doesn't hear several times so proceeds to call Luke, "White Boy".  Pretty funny really.

The usual tricks are done including the volcano..the meal is very good.  We stop to get more bait on the way back to the resort.  Gavin and Krista both catch fish.  Kyle and Luke go for a swim in the pool.  Sue and I hang out in the pool area during some races and some marco polo.  We recall how Kyle and Luke would jump off the side of the pool in the deep end (5 ft) for us to catch them.  Now Luke can stand in the deep end.

This is our 10th year in a row coming to Ocean City, and Ocean High.  Great idea to buy this timeshare.  We hope to come for another 10 years.

The eve. ends with a quick passing thunderstorm.  We all watch from different vantage points as the storm approaches...We catch some of the lightening on iPhone video.  Things may be a little cooler now....80 degrees.

Photo of the day "Sakura"

P.S. Cho continued to pick on Luke during the cooking and flung food and jokes his way.  He even landed some egg into his drink, and pegged him with some shrimp......

OC 2012 - Day 5 - Best beach day

After coming to Ocean City for the past 10 years, it is hard to rate a beach day.  Any day that you can walk to the beach and play in the surf and sand is a good day. 

This morning I changed it up slightly, or should I say, Sue changes it up.  I got up early as usual and staked a claim in our spot.  For those not in the know, that is at the high water mark on 32nd St. next to the lifeguard post.  Umbrella and two sports authority el cheapo folding chairs left alone until the family is ready to hit the beach.

Instead of making breakfast for the crew, I coax Luke out of his slumber, like a bear out of hibernation.  I tell him we can go to the 9th St fishing pier for a couple of hours.  He asked for 6 more minutes of sleep.  I oblige, and then by 8am we are grabbing the bait and fishing rods.  What a great life.

This day in history "Sue goes to the beach before everyone else"

Now that you know, in the 10 years we have been coming to Ocean High, I cant recall Sue leaving to go to the beach ahead of everyone.  Sure, Gavin and Krista are sleeping late, and Kyle usually gets up by 9am. 

Luke and catch a variety of fish at the pier.  All the fishing boats are drifting past us and we seem to be catching more than them.  Sea Bass, Spot, Croaker, Fluke, and Blowfish.  I call then hootie...Hootie and the Blowfish.  One of them that Luke catches is a big one, that puffs up to the size of a softball.

Anyway, when we get home we ask Kyle where is Mom.  He says she went to the beach.  I said "No, your lying".  He wasn't joking.  So we sunscreen and get ready to go to the beach.  When we get there, Sue is just chilling under the umbrella.

Soon everyone is at the beach, and we have a great time swimming, sunning, and hanging out.  Sue is out in the waves, and looses her hat a few times when some big waves wipe us out.  Gavin and his brothers are riding wave after wave.  Great body surfing conditions, crystal clear water, and water temperatures that are 10 degrees above normal.

We end the day at dinner.  Sue and Luke at OC Wasabi, and the rest of us at Higgins.

So, back to the rating the beach day.  Best beach day ever.

Photo of the day "Higgins Crab House"

 P.S.  We had 27 refills or about 90 crabs between Gavin, Kyle, and I.  Crab \Euphoria

Off to play some mini golf.

OC 2012 - Day 4 - Tattoo

Why would my phone ring at 2am and 5am?  Work calling while I am on vacation.

The first one I thought I was dreaming until the 2nd call came and when I answered it , there was a missed call and a message.

No early morning run.  Instead a lazy morning and we made our way to Assateague Island.  We did some crabbing and some clamming.  Gavin and Krista went on a Kayak ride through the bay.

This day in history "At 9:32 a.m. EDT, Apollo 11, the first U.S. lunar landing mission, is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a historic journey to the surface of the moon. After traveling 240,000 miles in 76 hours, Apollo 11 entered into a lunar orbit on July 19.

The next day, at 1:46 p.m., the lunar module Eagle, manned by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, separated from the command module, where a third astronaut, Michael Collins, remained. Two hours later, the Eagle began its descent to the lunar surface, and at 4:18 p.m. the craft touched down on the southwestern edge of the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong immediately radioed to Mission Control in Houston a famous message, "The Eagle has landed." At 10:39 p.m., five hours ahead of the original schedule, Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module. Seventeen minutes later, at 10:56 p.m., Armstrong spoke the following words to millions listening at home: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." A moment later, he stepped off the lunar module's ladder, becoming the first human to walk on the surface of the moon.
Aldrin joined him"

Back down on earth, things move much slower, especially when it is hot and humid...perfect beach weather. Sue catches the biggest crab.  We stop at the seafood shack (shrimp boat) on the way back.  We see wild horses and deer while in Assateague.

When I get back, I decide to go to the ocean beach for a swim and some boarding.  No takers this time, so i go solo.  Great waves and it cooled me down.

Back home, it's time for a shower and then get dinner ready.  As is the custom, we have crabs, clams, fresh shrimp (heads on), some fish we caught, and spaghetti and clam sauce.

After dinner, we chill until its time to go the boardwalk.

We find the artist doing tattoo, and after showing him the picture on my cell phone, he says he can do it.  It takes the artist about 15 minutes, and I have my first tattoo.

Photo of the day "The Final Year Tattoo"

Luke gets a Monster lightening bolt, Kyle a cool gecko.  Another first....we try some fried oreo cookies.

Settling in with a Stella and some Jalapeno poppers.  Tomorrow its supposed to hit 98 degrees.  Bring it !!

OC 2012 - Day 3 - Fell Asleep on the couch

Another busy day at the beach.  Work up early and setup the chairs and umbrella.

Run on the boardwalk.  Endomondo is too generous with my times and distance.

We head to the beach for some swimming and boarding.  Again, clouds threaten and we do get rained on.  A passing sun shower, and besides we are already wet.  Sue stays guarding all the stuff under the beach umbrella.

A quick break for lunch ...sandwiches and strawberries.

Later in the afternoon and bunch of storm clouds approach.  This time, it really rains and we pack up all the soaked towels, blanket, chairs etc and walk back to the resort in the tropical rain.

We decide on a favorite for dinner.  TequillaMockingbird.  Long wait and loud as we had to sit at high bar table.  Good food and fun.  On the rocks for Sue, Frozen for me.

After dinner, we head back to the beach to try and catch some fish.  No bites tonight.  Back at the resort I grab a beer and decide if at 10pm I want to go to the boardwalk.  I have been wanting a tattoo.

This day in history "Fell Asleep on the couch"

1030PM and the sun, waves, tequila, and beer have taken their toll.  One margarita and one beer equals nighty night.

Photo of the day "TequillaMockingbird"

P.S. Late blog entry...this is really for Sunday nite....

OC 2012 - Day 2

Well, as usual I am the first one up in the house.  I have a new routine when we are at our timeshare in   Ocean City.  I carry 2 chairs and a beach umbrella to the beach to stake an early claim at the previous days high tide mark adjacent to the lifeguard stand.

Last year this worked out great, as I could take a run along the beach, and then head back to the resort to make breakfast.  This year, my run, instead of being about half a mile out and back, was a 5 mile plus run that took me all the way down to the end of boardwalk and island.

It felt great being able to run that far without much of a problem...sure at around mile 5 with the sun starting to burn thru some early morning clouds, the heat and humidity began rising.

This day in history "Representatives of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) were not in attendance at the 1995 christening of the infant technology that would shake their business model to its core just a few years later. Known formally as "MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3," the technology in question was an efficient new format for the encoding of high-quality digital audio using a highly efficient data-compression algorithm. In other words, it was a way to make CD-quality music files small enough to be stored in bulk on the average computer and transferred manageably across the Internet. Released to the pubic one week earlier, the brand-new MP3 format was given its name and its familiar ".mp3" file extension on this day in 1995."


I brought the electric griddle that I typically use for cooking eggs at the soccer concession stand.  This morning however, it is used to cook bacon, pancakes, and eggs.  Once the smell of bacon makes its way thru the townhouse, everyone starts to come to the kitchen.

After breakfast, we head to the beach.  Krista is new to the beach and Gavin introduces her to the waves and boogy board.  Some fresh strawberries, and a game of can-jam.  The clouds are building by early afternoon and before long some lightening and thunder close the beach.


We do some fishing and crabbing after a short sprinkle passes by.  Lunch in the room followed by some more fishing and crabbing.  Luke cant get enough.  Kyle and Sue bike around the island.  Gavin and Krista take a nap.

We pick Phillips for dinner.  A seafood buffet of enormous proportions.  Sure there are salads, meats, veggies, etc.  But we all pig out on clams, oysters, shrimp, blue claws, snow crab, etc.  Dessert and more.  After nearly 2 hours the carnage ends and we head back to the relax.

Kyle and Luke play some tennis.  Gavin and Krista say they are going to go for a run later.

I completed my run.  Time for a beer and a good nites sleep.  Gotta stake a claim again tomorrow.

Photo of the day "OC 2012 - Day 2"

Ocean City 2012 - Day 1

Woke up early despite going to bed late last night.

Gavin had some friends over last night for a summer "WTF" barbecue.  Krista is in town, so that's a good reason to have a pool/hot tub party.

We hit the road at 1020...a little later than expected.  2 cars, and everything fits.  Sue stops in Brooklyn and about 7 hours later, we meet up in OC.

This day in history "On July 13, 1930, France defeats Mexico 4-1 and the United States defeats Belgium 3-0 in the first-ever World Cup football matches, played simultaneously in host city Montevideo, Uruguay. The World Cup has since become the world’s most watched sporting event."


It's a no football week for the Jenkins family.


Once checked in, the boys start crabbing, while Gavin, Krista and I go to the supermarket to pick up some groceries, snacks, etc.


We get back and there are already 2 crabs in the bucket.


Around 8pm now, we all are getting hungry.  No formal dinner tonight.  Instead we opt for a long walk to and up and down the boardwalk.  


On the way, we get to see our first sunset on the bay.  It's good to be back in OC.


Photo of the day "Ocean City Sunset"

Sorry about the cooked Sunset...will do better tomorrow

Laptop is officially down

My trusty IBM T61 is down.  Dead battery

Short blog

Should be back online tomorrow using my work laptop.  You gotta do what you gotta do.

UFO Squash

Short blog, short work week, shorts......

Worked

Picked up CSA.  More awesome blueberries and a UFO Squash among the many healthy treats

Made gross pizza from a box

Road my bike

Had a shot of tequila

This day in history"

On July 11, 1914, in his major league debut, George Herman "Babe" Ruth pitches seven strong innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians, 4-3."

Started Summer vacation

Said hello to Krista

Laptop battery is on the fritz

Fed the fish

Moved towels from washer to dryer

Activities may not be presented in chronological order

Photo "UFO Squash"

Sliders

When I got up this morning I had a great idea.  Why not take the two bicycles with flat tires with me to work, so I can get them fixed at the Sports Authority in Commack.

So after making my eggs and coffee, I put two bikes on the carrier and head to work.

Around 10am, I decide to call Sports Authority to make sure they can service the bikes today.  Well, it turns out that their service guy is on vacation this week.  So a major sporting goods chain, that sold me the bicycle and has service plans has no one to service my bikes at this location.

The best laid plans....

This day in history "On July 10, 1999, the U.S. women’s soccer team defeats China to win their second Women’s World Cup. The game ended in a 5-4 shootout after 120 scoreless minutes: 90 tightly played minutes of regulation dictated by the United States and 30 tense minutes of overtime largely controlled by the Chinese. The title game was played at the Rose Bowl in southern California in front of 90,185 fans, the largest crowd ever to attend a women’s sporting event."


We love soccer, and I can remember how excited we were when this game aired.  It is classic.


I am now in fix the bike tires mode and decide that thru the power of the internet, I can easily find a bike shop close to Hauppauge where I work.  I find a mom and pop bike shop a few miles away and give them a call.  No answer...did big-box put them out of business ?

I try again around 11am and a frazzled employee or owner answers the phone on the 10th ring.  He says the shop is open, but his repair guy is late.  He says he thinks he can accommodate new tubes for the two tires that  keep running flat.

So, after some meetings, I head to the bike shop and drop off the two bikes.  The repair guy says one of my wheels is really out of true, and that it needs to be trued or replaced.  Seems the brake pad on the front wheel is missing as well, likely all due to those trails at Sans Suci.

I agree to all the repairs and charges, and then make way back to the office.  I am hungry, and it is lunch time,  I almost pass White Castles, a place that I have not been too in ages.  What the hell, 4 sliders with cheese cant hurt.

After work, I call the bike shop and the bikes are ready for pickup.

Thank goodness for the mom and pop shop.  They saved the day as these two bikes are going on vacation in  a couple of days.

Photo of the day "Sliders"

P.S. I ran like 6 miles tonight and burned way more then the approx: 600 calories that these 4 burgers added up to.  No spikes or soda....

Blowing in the wind

Damn, is it Monday already.  I am getting used to be home for summer vacation.  After all, everyone else in the house is on vacation.

No sooner do I logon at work, do I get called into a meeting that has me busy most of the day.  Look on the bright side, the day flew by.

This day in history ""This here ain't no protest song or anything like that, 'cause I don't write no protest songs." That was how Bob Dylan introduced one of the most eloquent protest songs ever written when he first performed it publicly. It was the spring of his first full year in New York City, and he was onstage at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village, talking about a song he claims to have written in just 10 minutes: "Blowin' In The Wind." A few weeks later, on this day in 1962, Dylan walked into a studio and recorded the song that would make him a star."


Back home, a quick dinner and then a bike ride with Sue and Luke.


Hells Kitchen and Master Chef on the TV.  Makes me want to eat.

Photo of the day "Blowing in the wind"

Praying Mantis

Another beautiful summer day.

Did some yard work and some swimming in the pool.  Had my shirt off while weeding and putting down mulch.  Now I have some bright red sunburn on my back.

I had Luke spray sunscreen on my back this afternoon, but it must have been too late.

This day in history "On this day in 1776, a 2,000-pound copper-and-tin bell now known as the “Liberty Bell” rings out from the tower of the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, summoning citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Four days earlier, the historic document had been adopted by delegates to the Continental Congress, but the bell did not ring to announce the issuing of the document until the Declaration of Independence returned from the printer on July 8."


Sue and Gavin are in Brooklyn with her brother Danny moving some heavier items out of the apartment.  Gavin gets to play with the chickens at Dan and Angels place.  He gets some honey from upstate.  


Once Sue and Gavin are back home, we grab a pizza, calamari, and mussels from Mama Lombardis.


After dinner, Luke I decide to go to the lake.  While packing up, I notice a praying mantis on the porch.


I am saying a prayer that my sunburn calms down, and that I don't blister or peel... 


At the lake, we catch a variety of fish, with one of my casts hooking up with a decent sized bass.


This mini vacation comes to an end.  That's ok, I have my regular vacation coming up....


Photo of the day "Praying Mantis"

Summer Perennials in Bloom

Got up early this morning.  I can't sleep late.  Decided to go for a run before the heat of the day.  4 miles and even at 8am it was hot.

Gavin went out at like 7am for his run...met a friend at Sachem North.

Cooled off by jumping in the pool.  Quiet house until I started making breakfast.  

Made bacon and eggs for Kyle, everyone else fended for themselves.

This day in history "On this day in 1930, construction of the Hoover Dam begins. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world.

Although the dam would take only five years to build, its construction was nearly 30 years in the making. Arthur Powell Davis, an engineer from the Bureau of Reclamation, originally had his vision for the Hoover Dam back in 1902, and his engineering report on the topic became the guiding document when plans were finally made to begin the dam in 1922.
Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States and a committed conservationist, played a crucial role in making Davis’ vision a reality. As secretary of commerce in 1921, Hoover devoted himself to the erection of a high dam in Boulder Canyon, Colorado. The dam would provide essential flood control, which would prevent damage to downstream farming communities that suffered each year when snow from the Rocky Mountains melted and joined the Colorado River. Further, the dam would allow the expansion of irrigated farming in the desert, and would provide a dependable supply of water for Los Angeles and other southern California communities."

Quite incredible the public works projects that put people to work, and expanded our economy.  Today, we have have been hearing about shovel ready projects, and job growth.  To be honest, I think the economy is still in the crapper, and please, please, please don't blame Bush.

The patio pavers under the table are looking pretty dirty.  Since they are in the shade part of the day, and water collected under the table, I think we have some moss, mildew, or algae.  Out comes the power washer.  Even working in the mist of the power washer, it is too hot to be doing any kind of work outside.

A lazy day at the Jenkins house, watching the flowers grow.  The boys content to play some video games.  I venture out to Sports Authority to spend some of those cash back bucks.  A new pair of shorts and a bathing suit for Dad...

I swing by stop and shop for a few items.

I venture out into the heat and grill some buffalo wings.  A few minutes out by the grill and I have to come back inside to cool off.  Lunch brings everyone to the table at least for a few minutes.

I drop Luke off at a friends birthday party, keeping a close eye on the weather, and still no thunder storms.  Spaghetti, meatballs and sausage (yes, back out in the heat to grill the sausage).

Ending the day with the usual blog entry.  Nothing too exciting, but at least it was not 109 degrees like St. Louis.

Photo of the day "Summer Perennials in Bloom"

Where are all the crabs ?

On the second day of my summer vacation, I woke up.  I got out of bed.  I went downstairs to make a cup of coffee and a couple of eggs.  A creature of habit.  Today, however, I read the newspaper too.

At 9am it is time to mow the lawn.  Has been about 2 weeks now, and I think between the heat, and lack of fertilizer, it is not growing as fast as it did in the spring.

Kyle is waiting at the back door for a ride to the beach.  I volunteered to take him and some friends to the beach...that is drive them to the beach (so he can meet his girlfriend).

This day in history "The front-page headline of the Liverpool Evening Express on July 6, 1957, read "MERSEYSIDE SIZZLES," in reference to the heat wave then gripping not just northern England, but all of Europe. The same headline could well have been used over a story that received no coverage at all that day: The story of the first encounter between two Liverpool teenagers named John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Like the personal and professional relationship it would lead to, their historic first meeting was a highly charged combination of excitement, rivalry and mutual respect"


Music would never be the same.


Once back from the drop off at the beach, we decide to go to Sayville to ride bikes, and see if any crabs are biting.  It is high tide at 2pm.  We fish and crab for about an hour, and only get one crab.

Where are all the crabs ?

Back home after stopping at Carvel for some ice cream.  Sue orders the new Girl Scout Cookie Samosa Sundae...I sneak a few spoons since we are both sitting in the back seat of the car.  Gavin driving, and Luke called shotgun.

Back home just in time to make some iced coffee for the ride to the beach to pick up Kyle.

Kyle has summer league soccer, so I run out to grab some sushi.

I decide to ride my bike to the soccer field.  About 6 miles with some hills thrown in to test my stamina.  I make good time.  Kyle gets kicked hard in the calf and is sidelined with ice.  After about 20 minutes, the coach calls our cell phone and says Kyle should go home and ice his leg.  He hobbles off the field assisted by another player.

Back home, a quick shower, and time to settle in for the night.

I just remembered, we have one crab to cook....Where are all the crabs ?

Photo of the day "Crab"

Celtic Quest Weakfish

Luke and I got up at 530am to go fishing.  Its always exciting to get out on the water.  After a long haul heading west, we jigged for two minutes, and the captain said we have to make a move.

Luke is already frustrated from a 45 minute ride, and after nearly an hour and 40 minutes, we end up at Northport bay.   A few birds working, and we get to do some fishing.

This day in history "On July 5, 1946, French designer Louis Reard unveils a daring two-piece swimsuit at the Piscine Molitor, a popular swimming pool in Paris. Parisian showgirl Micheline Bernardini modeled the new fashion, which Reard dubbed "bikini," inspired by a news-making U.S. atomic test that took place off the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean earlier that week.
European women first began wearing two-piece bathing suits that consisted of a halter top and shorts in the 1930s, but only a sliver of the midriff was revealed and the navel was vigilantly covered. In the United States, the modest two-piece made its appearance during World War II, when wartime rationing of fabric saw the removal of the skirt panel and other superfluous material. Meanwhile, in Europe, fortified coastlines and Allied invasions curtailed beach life during the war, and swimsuit development, like everything else non-military, came to a standstill."

Such a hot day, no doubt there had to be a lot of bikini at the beach.

Luke and I fish hard, and we each start picking up small bluefish.  Then a few weakfish are caught by others.  It doesn't take long for Luke and I to slow the retrieve and hook up with some weakfish ourselves.

At the end of the day, Luke and I have 16 bluefish, and 3 weakfish.  We give one of the weakfish to another fisherman on the boat as the limit is one.

Luke's first weakfish.  My first weakfish in a long time.

After fishing, we stop for some steamers at the Steam Room.

I take an afternoon siesta.  After some fresh fish for dinner, I take a 5 mile run.

Relaxing on the couch.  A nice day of summer vacation.

Photo of the day "Celtic Quest Weakfish"

Red, White, and Blue

I wake to the sound of rain.  Could this Independence Day celebration be a washout ?

Instead of a morning run, I make an appearance at the gym.  Say hi to a couple of friends right before leaving the gym.

Once back home, the clouds are breaking up, and everyone is awake.

This day in history "In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king. The declaration came 442 days after the first volleys of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts and marked an ideological expansion of the conflict that would eventually encourage France's intervention on behalf of the Patriots."

Luke and I decide to try the lake since we have left over minnows.  Now it is hot, and the fish are not playing.

Back home for a swim.  The whole family joins in, and some volleyball games are played, crazy dives, and basic chilling out.

Chicken Kabobs for lunch, and then its more pool time....did anyone wait 30 minutes ?

A couple of hours later, it is time for a shower and an iced coffee.

Dinner is a festive event.  The theme is Red, White, and Blue.  All products are local and made in America.  In this case, grown, caught, and sold by local baymen.

We are waiting to digest our dinner before heading to Carvel for dessert.

Photo of the day "Red, White, and Blue"

P.S.  Red - Lobster, White - Raw Clams, Blue - Mussels

Not shown, are baked clams, and filet mignon.   No salad, No Veggies, No Need

Happy Independence Day !!  God Bless America !!

Luke's Big Large Mouth Bass

Work went by pretty fast.  A short week and the start of a mini-vacation.

Nothing fancy for dinner tonight.  Chicken wings.  Did make some braised Swiss Chard.

Picked up my CSA share early this week, and have lots of great stuff including the biggest blueberries I have ever seen.

This day in history "On this day in 1985, the blockbuster action-comedy "Back to the Future"--in which John DeLorean's iconic concept car is memorably transformed into a time-travel device--is released in theaters across the United States.
"Back to the Future," directed by Robert Zemeckis, starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenager who travels back 30 years using a time machine built by the zany scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Doc's mind-blowing creation consists of a DeLorean DMC-12 sports car outfitted with a nuclear reactor. Once the car reaches a speed of 88 miles per hour, the plutonium-powered reactor achieves the "1.21 gigawatts" of power necessary to travel through time. Marty arrives in 1955 only to stumble in the way of his own parents (Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson) and keep them from meeting for the first time, thus putting his own life in jeopardy."

As a technologist, I have always have a soft spot for the "flux capacitor".

After dinner, Luke and I pick up some minnows and head to West Lake.

Fishing is slow, but we both manage a couple of small bass.  Then Luke spots a big bass lurking in the shallows next to the spillway.

We both try to entice the fish with a live minnow.  The fish seems to just look at the offering but not interested in striking it.  After a minute or two I give up.  Not Luke.  He keeps gently placing the half dead or is the minnow just playing possum in front of the bass.

A minute later I hear a big splash and the drag clicking as Luke's fishing pole bends in half.  I spring to his side and he gently coaxes the frantic fish over towards a piece of shoreline so that he and I can get a hand on it.  No sooner do we lift the fish out of the water and onto land, that the fish shakes its head and throws the hook.

Success, the fish is flopping around, but far enough from the bank to keep it from slipping into the water.  A quick pic and it is released...

Now I know why the guys on boats pitch their offerings towards shore.  While we are on shore, we cast as far into the lake as we can.  Lesson to be learned, big fish are prowling around...you never know where or when they will bite.

Photo of the day " Luke's Big Large Mouth Bass"

Great American Aviator

One day down, one to go, and we get to celebrate our independence.

Back home just enough time for a home cooked meal before heading off to the soccer field.  Kyle has summer league.  Time sure fly's.

(Reuters) - Seeking to chronicle Amelia Earhart's fate 75 years after she disappeared over the Pacific, researchers prepared on Monday to look for wreckage of her airplane near a remote island where they believe the famed U.S. aviator died as a castaway.

This day in history "On July 2, 1937, the Lockheed aircraft carrying American aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan is reported missing near Howland Island in the Pacific. The pair were attempting to fly around the world when they lost their bearings during the most challenging leg of the global journey: Lae, New Guinea, to Howland Island, a tiny island 2,227 nautical miles away, in the center of the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca was in sporadic radio contact with Earhart as she approached Howland Island and received messages that she was lost and running low on fuel. Soon after, she probably tried to ditch the Lockheed in the ocean. No trace of Earhart or Noonan was ever found."

Instead of driving to the field, I opt to bike it.  A 20 minute bike ride is a nice break on a seasonably warm summer eve.  The ride back, I beat the car...albeit with a jump on departure.

Some fresh guacamole for a snack, and we settle in for the night watching second half of Hells Kitchen, and Americas got talent.

Photo of the day "Great American Aviator"

Summer heat

This first day of July is hot and humid.  Perfect for clearing weeds and spreading mulch.

Kyle had soccer practice at 8am.  I drop him off and then do a run is San Souci.  Even at 8:30am it is hot.  

Bagels cream cheese and lox for breakfast.

This day in history "At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. A few thousand Hong Kongers protested the turnover, which was otherwise celebratory and peaceful."

Luke and I play pool volleyball.  He wins.

So, Gavin and I decide to clear the side yard, chop out some grass, and add mulch around the strawberry and spice garden.  This area also has the pool equipment.  

I take frequent breaks and am dripping with sweat.  Gavin just keeps chopping away at the grass.  I take another dip in the pool.

We watch Spain beat Italy in Euro 2012.

Some burgers on the grill and a thunderstorm rolls through.

We hit Patchogue lake for an hour tonight.  The usual collection of big bluegills, sunfish, and juvenile yellow perch.  As we are packing up another couple of anglers sow up.  These guys are serious about their bass fishing.  Luke and I will try some artificials another night.

Photo of the day "