Lily Pond

Guess what we did today ?

Lazy, Lazy, Lazy !  I was up at 8, had breakfast, coffee, read the paper before anyone came downstairs.

When Luke came down, I made belgium waffles for them.  After waffles it was time to go exploring.

This day in history " The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, is commissioned by the U.S. Navy.
The Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy's nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world's first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus' keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955."

Exploring today was an impromptu, let's go to Lake Ronkonkoma.  No fish biting at the lake.  We did get to see model airplanes being flown over and onto the lake.

Across the street is a Suffolk County park.  A sign and a fence are all that can be seen from the road.  We noticed this marsh area and never really gave it any thought.  Let the exploration begin, as any body of water potentially has fish in it.

We are happy to see that there is a trail cut the goes around the ponds and marsh area.  Luke and I fish ALL of the clearings, most only big enough for 1 or 2 people.  Well, we land some fish and take notes for future reference.  The water level very low at this point, but we catch sunfish, bass, and perch.

An eve. run to Sans Suci , and I notice that there is a father and son fishing at one of the spillways.  I take a break from the run and chat with them.  This is a first time we have seen people fishing here.  Luke and I will give it a try.  I am sure we will land some fish here this fall.

Photo of the day "Lily Pond"

Faces at Paces

I love weekends, after all, it is family time for most of us.  Perhaps not as lazy as we would like, and sometimes just as hectic as the work week.  BTW - Who decided that work the work/weekend split should be 5/2 ?

Up early for my weekend run...I don't dilly dally and leave as Sue and Luke head out to his middle school soccer practice at 745.  I log another 10 miles and am just shy of 700 miles for the year, and on track (pun) to hit my goal of 1000.

Kyle stays in bed till just shortly after 10am , finally getting his chance to sleep in.

This day in history "An article in the New York Times claims that Russian citizens want the "American dream": private property and a home of their own. The article was one of many that appeared during the 1950s and 1960s, as the American media attempted to portray the average Russian as someone not much different from the average American."

We are living the American Dream, as an average middle class family in suburbia albeit without the cat or dog as a pet.  With all the modern conveniences, why is it that we have less free time than our parents did a generation ago.

Kyle gets picked up at 1130 by his friend and team mate Mike, and heads up to the HS for a soccer match against rival team Brentwood.  He won't be playing in this one, as his knee is still not 100%, and our followup is Dr. appointment is not till Tuesday.

We head to the game while Luke plays some FIFA 13.  Sachem scores takes an early lead but can't hold on for the win.  Brentwood being a very skilled and physical team, gets a few goals and exploits even the smallest misstep or miscalculation.

Gavin is running cross country upstate and we use our modern convenience, the smart phone to txt him to see how he, and team did.  Gavin reports back that the Men's team placed 2nd, the Women's team placed 1st.  He then tells us that he personally took 2nd place in the XC meet with a course record.  We are very proud of his accomplishment and wish we could be in three places at once.

http://hartwickhawks.com/news/2012/9/29/MXC_0929124052.aspx


More juggling as we leave Sachem East HS and head to the Middle Country so that Kyle and Mike can be attendance at their club soccer practice.  No time to stop at home.  Both Kyle and Mike just watch the practice, as Mike got up ended in the HS game and hurt his elbow and wrist.

Finally, some family time is had as we make our way to Paces.  Kyle's choice for his birthday dinner.  "I didn't know it was this fancy" is what Kyle says as we are seated.  I told him not to worry about the prices, and order what he likes...in his case, the porterhouse medium and a french onion soup.

Sue opts for the petite fillet, Luke the pasta with clams, and me a departure from the normal, as I go with the 'marinated' porterhouse.  A great meal is enjoyed.  The elderly couple at the next table letting us know that we have a lovely family and the boys are very well behaved.  We should be proud parents.  Luke used his fork most of the time, LOL.

Photo of the day "Faces at Paces"

P.S.  Pace's might just have the best porterhouse steak in Suffolk County.  Next year, we might have to go to Ruth's Chris or Peter Luger to compare.
 

Happy Birthday Kyle

I got to say Happy Birthday to Kyle this morning at 6am...I was making coffee while he was eating breakfast.  Our morning routine the same as usual except for a happy birthday hug.  Even at 16, he is not too old to hug his dad.  In private or in public, I always get mu hugs.

Once at work, the day flew by....We met up with Swami and Ruben today for lunch.  The usual suspects, Khary, Frank, and Sanjay enjoyed the Indian buffet at Kiran palace.

This day in history "Kyle Jenkins is born 16 years ago today at 3:51 pm to loving parents Bruce and Sue."   Kyle enters the world via an emergency c-section, and when Sue is roused from anesthesia, I hand her the little man.  We are both amazed once again about how lucky we are having our second child.  Kyle in the middle.

I rush home this afternoon to catch the Jenkins shuttle to the Longwood school out east.  We get to the school and there is no bus, no game, no cars.  That's because I mistakenly told Sue to drive to the middle school.  We are early so we backtrack a couple of miles and go to the JH School.

Luke is playing in his first Sachem school soccer game for Sequoya Middle School.  It is great to see his team winning, and especially exciting as he scores 2 goals today.

We congratulate the team as they leave the field and make way back to the school, the boys we are sure are having fun on the bus.

Back home, Kyle is chilling with Gia and me make plans for dinner.  We promised Luke Sushi. so we get takeout.  Kyle will get his special birthday dinner tomorrow.  His choice.

After dinner, it is time for presents.  Even though Kyle only asked for FIFA 13, which he go the other night thanks to pre-order, we had to get him something else.  A pair of Beats in ear headphones, and some gift cards to Applebees.  He loves both and now has an excuse to download or listen to music.  1/2 Price Apps, watch out, Kyle is ready !  Luke surprises with a hand made card, and some cash from his stash.

Sue watches a real tear jerker, the season premiere of Grays Anantomy.

Photo of the day "Birthday"

P.S.  The Beatles sing

You say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Sedum in bloom

The season is changing.  One day cool and breezy, the next unseasonably warm.

Today we went to Trader Joes for some supplies.  Pumpkin Muffin mix adorns the shelves.

This day in history "

Nikita Khrushchev ends his dramatic and eventful visit to the United States and returns to the Soviet Union. For nearly two weeks, his trip dominated the news in America and around the world.
Khrushchev arrived in the United States on September 15. His plan was to tour America and conclude his trip nearly two weeks later with a summit meeting with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Hopes were high that the visit marked a turning point in the Cold War and that perhaps the Soviet leader's oft-proclaimed desire for "peaceful coexistence" with the United States would become a reality."

Back at home, I wait for Kyle and Sue to get home from Sachem East.  Deep fried Porgy and grrren beans on the menu.  Another sign of fall., soccer games, fresh fish, and veggies from the CSA.

Sue goes to open school night, and I lazy around watching and recording the seasons premiers.

Photo of the day "Sedum in Bloom"

P.S. In Queens and Brooklyn we called these plants "Live Forever"...I think because they easily divided, and also came back (perrenial) every spring.


Live forever is amazingly persistent and can regenerate from any fragment of its composition. This trait, along with its robust appearance, account for the meaning of its common name.

West Side Story

Too busy to blog, or just too lazy.  You figure it out.

Sue tells me about a murder in Holbrook.  In the parking lot adjacent to Main Street and Union Ave.   Right outside Momo's.  I have never been there.

These things don't happen in Holbrook, our sleepy town at what used to be a few miles past the last exit on the LIE.

This day in history "On September 26, 1957, West Side Story, composed by Leonard Bernstein, opens at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. For the groundbreaking musical, Bernstein provided a propulsive and rhapsodic score that many celebrate as his greatest achievement as a composer. However, even without the triumph of West Side Story, Bernstein's place in musical history was firmly established. In addition to his work as a composer, the "Renaissance man of music" excelled as a conductor, a concert pianist, and a teacher who brought classical music to the masses."

I am sure everyone knows that in West Side Story, there is also a stabbing, and although the circumstances are different, it is sad to here when anyone is killed.

The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks from Puerto Rico are taunted by the Jets, a white working-class group.^[3] The young protagonist, Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks...Tony ends up stabbing Bernardo

After dinner, Luke and I try to catch some fish at Lake Ronkonkoma....we are one fish each away from getting totally skunked.

Back home the family settles in to watch Survivor.  The Fall TV season is in full swing now.  With sunset at like 7pm, it is dinner, homework, TV, and early to bed.  I think I went upstairs around 10PM.

Photo of the day "West Side Story"

Mallomars

Up before dawn to get Kyle to the bus.  Made him his sandwich, same as yesterday.

My work laptop is so slow it takes 20 minutes to login at work.  Frustrating.

I get a call from the garage door repair guy...he can come later today to fix the broken spring, pulley, etc.

This day in history "

Unwilling to rest as a one-hit wonder when its first big hit, The Monkees, went off the air in 1968, the television production company Screen Gems wasted no time in trying to repeat its success. On this day in 1970, in the 8:30 p.m. time slot immediately following The Brady Bunch, ABC premiered a program that would give Screen Gems its second TV-to-pop-chart smash: The Partridge Family.".

I was only 8 years old when the Partridge Family first aired.  A different time and place, simple and wholesome.

I left work early to meet the repair guy.  After 2 tries with different springs and pulleys, he got the garage door working perfectly.  I decided to have a nice wholesome snack.  A cup of coffee and some mallomars.

I bet I had my first mallomars when I was a little kid.  Scooter pies, drakes cakes, hostess.  When twinkies were real, and had trans fats.

Kyle gets his MRI and a first visit at Physical Therapy.  His coach really misses him already and pushed the trainer and doctor to get things moving.  Kyle is nervous as the results wont be back foe a couple of days.....

I treat Kyle and Sue to a nice juicy porterhouse when they get home.  Meat Farms, $4.99 a lb.  , how can you resist.

I run out to pick up an early birthday present for Kyle.  FIFA 13.  If he is not playing soccer, he is playing soccer.

Did I tell you Mallomars are in season.  I never used to believe that there was a mallomar season.  I guess in the old days, not all stores, supermarkets had air conditioning, so in the summer they would melt ?  Do they have mallomars in Florida.  OMG, maybe they are only sold in the north.

More research needed

Photo of the day "Mallomars"

P.S. Mallomars are smaller now than they used to be.  Eat two, you can't eat just one !

Mallomars

In the US, Mallomars^[19] are produced seasonally at Nabisco. A graham cracker circle is covered with a puff of extruded marshmallow, then enrobed in dark chocolate, which forms a hard shell. Mallomars were introduced to the public in 1913, the same year as the Moon Pie (a confection which has similar ingredients). The first box of Mallomars was sold in West Hoboken, NJ (now Union City, NJ). Nabisco discusses it with a short story printed on Mallomar boxes.
Mallomars are generally available from early October through to April. They are not distributed during the summer months, supposedly because they melt easily in summer temperatures, though this is as much for marketing reasons as for practical ones.^[20] Devoted eaters of the cookie have been known to stock up during winter months and keep them refrigerated over the summer, although Nabisco markets other fudge-coated cookie brands year-round. Seventy percent of all Mallomars are sold in metropolitan New York. The issue of Nabisco's choice to release Mallomars seasonally became a parodied topic on a sketch delivered by graphic artist Pierre Bernard on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
According to the box, Mallomars are made in Canada by Kraft Foods. In Canada, these are known as "Dream Puffs."

Crabby Patty

A quick run this morning, this time in long sleeves.  Posted some of my fastest consecutive miles.  Cool Running !!  Will I need a pair of gloves and warm up pants soon ?

I pick up Kyle at Sachem East, and coach is eager to get Kyle back on the field.  We may start physical therapy tomorrow, and will put some pressure on Aetna to approve an MRI.  Kyle is feeling a little better today, a good sign.

This day in history "When producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson conceived a situation comedy called The Monkees in 1965, they hoped to create a ratings success by blurring the line between pop music and television. Instead, they succeeded in obliterating that line entirely when the pop group that began as a wholly fictional creation went on to rival, however briefly, the success of its real-life inspiration, the Beatles. On this day in 1966, the made-for-television Monkees knocked down the fourth wall decisively when their first single, "Last Train To Clarksville" entered the Billboard Top 40."

Who would have thought the Monkees would gain popularity, but back then anything with a British accent was destined to follow in the foot steps of the Beatles.

Back home, it is premier night with 2 Broke Girls making a run at 9pm.  I prepare a snack for the occasion.

Photo of the day "Crabby Patty"

Apple Crisp

A lazy Sunday morning turns busy after a late breakfast.  Kyle requested eggs, corned beef hash and english muffins.  None of the items listed are in the house, so I run to Stop and Shop.

Sue and Luke are at church while I make home fries and add some potato to the corned beef.  Sue stops at CVS to pick up an anti inflammatory med for Kyle.  Kyle wakes up and hobbles down, his knee hurting and stiff.  I get him some ice and make sure he is comfortable on the couch.

This day in history "German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle discovers the planet Neptune at the Berlin Observatory.

Neptune, generally the eighth planet from the sun, was postulated by the French astronomer Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrier, who calculated the approximate location of the planet by studying gravity-induced disturbances in the motions of Uranus. On September 23, 1846, Le Verrier informed Galle of his findings, and the same night Galle and his assistant Heinrich Louis d'Arrest identified Neptune at their observatory in Berlin. Noting its movement relative to background stars over 24 hours confirmed that it was a planet."

Breakfast is a big hit.  Sue want to know why we don't have big breakfasts like this anymore.  After breakfast it is time to start closing the pool for the season..  Luke catches the last few remaining frogs and relocates them to sump across the street.  I scoop out some leaves that came down the other night when we had a lot of wind.

Closing the pool is a little bit sad, but it is time.  Sue and Luke help as we coordinate blowing out the lines with a compressor, and putting in the corks and gizzmos on the returns and skimmers.  Now comes the heavy work.  The looploc cover now shows where the blue water used to.......

After dinner Luke and I go to the lake, and it is clear and brisk.  We both need jackets, a sure sign of fall.

Some apple crisp for dessert tonight.  Thanks everyone for reading, I just noticed that the blog has gone past 10,000 views.

Photo of the day "Apple Crisp"

First Day of Fall (late post)

This morning was the first day of Fall.  I set the clock to make sure I would not be late for Soccer Concession.  With electric griddle in hand, I made my way to the opening of concession at 8am....Eugene Auer school in Centereach.

As I have done for the past seven or so years with the Cruzers (Gavin), United (Kyle), and Eagles (Luke).  Today was with United, with familiar faces buzzing around concession, I started cooking bacon, and waited for the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich orders to come in.  A steady stream of soccer players, parents, siblings, etc. came to concession.   The griddle was sizzling, the smell of bacon in the air.

This day in history"On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million black slaves in the United States and recasts the Civil War as a fight against slavery.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, shortly after Lincoln's inauguration as America's 16th president, he maintained that the war was about restoring the Union and not about slavery. He avoided issuing an anti-slavery proclamation immediately, despite the urgings of abolitionists and radical Republicans, as well as his personal belief that slavery was morally repugnant. Instead, Lincoln chose to move cautiously until he could gain wide support from the public for such a measure."

Somewhere between 1100-1130, all hell broke loose with the bacon egg and cheese orders...that's a good thing.  I could barely keep up with the orders (we're gonna need a bigger griddle).  Patient patrons waited for their bacon to cook, a few sandwiches where eaten by the parents working concession, and I only suffered a single small burn on my left thumb.

After concession, it was over to Sachem East to watch soccer.  Soccer, soccer and more soccer.  We look forward to afternoon games, especially home games with beautiful weather.  Only 10 minutes into the game, Kyle goes down in agonizing pain after making hard contact with another player.  That sinking feeling in the stomach as we watch from the bleachers.  Kyle is not getting up, and coach is calling for the trainer as Kyle clutches his left knee.

Finally, Kyle is sitting up, gets helped to his feet, and is brought to the bench where he is iced and a compression sleeve placed over his knee.  No more soccer for Kyle today.  The trainer comes over to talk to us and explains that he thinks Kyle dislocated his knee, and we should bring him for an Orthopedic exam. He thinks it is just a sprain or partial dislocation, but says that the pain is at the ACL.....

Sachem wins the game, and Sue takes Kyle, while I go back to Eugene Auer for a parents soccer meeting which is being held right after concession.   I stop at Starbucks for a Pumpkin Latte, a true sign of FALL.

The news of Kyle's injury is shared.  After the parent meeting I head back home to make Paella.  Sue is waiting for exam and results of xray.  Initial assessment is dislocation...an MRI is being scheduled this week pending insurance approvals to rule out any ACL or other more debilitating damage.  At least one week off from soccer for Kyle pending MRI results and recheck.

Photo of the day "Pumpkin Spice Latte"

13.1

What did you do on this last day of summer.  Well, it is a school and work day for most of us, so our options  are limited.  Limited by schedules, and commitments.  For a welcome change of pace, I had no early morning meetings.

Last night for some reason I thought today was going to be the first day of fall.  Why wouldn't I, as there is a chill in the air, and the days getting shorter and shorter.  I decided to not limit my run as I have been doing due to time, and ventured out at 630AM.

This day in history "H.G. Wells, pioneer of science fiction, is born on this day in Bromley, England.

Wells was born near London and received a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London. After school, he worked as a draper's apprentice and bookkeeper before becoming a freelance writer. His lively treatment of scientific topics quickly brought him success as a writer.
In 1895, he published his classic novel The Time Machine, about a man who journeys to the future. The book was a success, as were his subsequent books The Invisible Man (1897) and The War of the Worlds (1898)."

It must have been a time machine, or some other twist that made me keep running past my usual way points. 2 mile mark as I cross Sunrise Highway near the Atia Flea Market.  The baseball field next to the Islip Grange at mile mark 3.  Mill Pond at mile mark 4, and I said why not continue into downtown Sayville to the Sayville running company.  I set my sights on the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville where we feasted on lobsters a few weeks ago.   Turns out to be a new way point, mile mark 6, and a few hundred yards down from there is a Sayville dock with a porta potty.

Quick potty break taken and then it is a retrace of the the previous 6 miles in reverse order.  Feeling like Forest Gump until I hit mile 10 and realize I am still 2 miles from home.  I keep the pace, and try not to think about the the little twinge in my hip, the creak in my knee, and the prospect of another runners toe.  As I approach Maria Court, a scant half a mile from home I realize that I am about 10 minutes away from running a half marathon.

I continue down Broadway Ave. for a few minutes, and then back track toward home.  A quick loop in the neighborhood to add another half a mile, and my Endomondo app announces 13 miles as I come down my street.  13.1 miles completed as I approach 20 Anthony Lane.  Home.  I can tell you it felt like a time warp, as it was hard to believe I had been running for for a little over 2 hours.

“Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells”

After work, where I arrived a little later than usual, it was pick up Luke, shop for some meat and sauce.  Meatballs and spaghetti for dinner.  Drop Kyle off at his soccer pasta party after he eats a plate of my pasta and a couple of meatballs (an appetizer for a 16 year old).  Lazy on the couch till it is time to pick him back up.

I have some tequila chilling in the freezer with my name on it.  Some advice from fellow runners is to lay low for a day or two rest.  I  may need to a hot shower tomorrow morning before working at the soccer concession.

Photo of the day "13.1"

Piggy Back

Early back to back meetings this morning put a damper on my run.  I may have to start piggy backing my meetings with my runs.  If it's a listen only meeting, I might be able to get away with it, or else I will have to stop, un-mute, and then speak.

I pick Luke up after his practice and we shoot over to Sachem East to see Kyle's 2nd half against Ward Melville.  We stop at McDonald's to get Luke a snack.  The game does not go in their favor today, and ends in a 3-1 loss.  Luke and I head home while Sue waits for Kyle to get out of the locker room.

This day in history "An optimistic and upbeat President John F. Kennedy suggests that the Soviet Union and the United States cooperate on a mission to mount an expedition to the moon. The proposal caught both the Soviets and many Americans off guard."

Imagine if the US and USSR piggy backed their collective resources in the space race.

Instead we boldly went forward and made it to the moon and established the shuttle program.  Sadly, the current administration has hit the NASA budgets hard, and is leaning towards un-manned exploration.  Dare I say we need to piggy back with another space agency (Russia, China, India ??)

Chicken wings two ways tonight...baked with breadcrumbs (the flat ones), and deep fried buffalo (the chubby ones).  Two CSA farm fresh sides.  Green beans, and sweet potatoes.  This little piggy stayed home.

As usual these days, it is help with homework and then settle down to watch some TV.  Glee is on....

• Endeavour flew atop its carrier airplane from Houston to California on Thursday on a journey that included an Arizona flyover in honor of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
  
  
  The ultimate piggy back ride.
  
  
  Photo of the day "Piggy Back"
  
  
  
  
  

How cool is that.  Good old fashioned American Ingenuity.

Ha ha funny ?

So, its no mystery that I miss a blog every now and then. ha ha ...its my blog, I can do that.

I ran 7 miles yesterday....I felt good in the cool air and wanted to run more....I ran out of time....ha ha.

On my way home from work I stopped by to pick up my fruits and veggies.  As soon as I got home, Kyle asks for peaches.  Only Apples, Pears, and Plums this week.  Kyle does not find this very funny.  so, no ha ha.

This day in history "On this day in 1990, the Martin Scorsese-directed Mafia film Goodfellas, starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco and Joe Pesci, opens in theaters around the United States. The movie, which was based on the best-selling 1986 book Wiseguy, by the New York crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi, tells the true story of the mobster-turned-FBI informant Henry Hill (Liotta), from the 1950s to the 1980s. Goodfellas earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Pesci won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as the psychotic mobster Tommy DeVito."

So, now you see that Joe Pesci made famous a line from the movie "Goodfellas".

• But, I'm funny how? Funny like a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh?  ha ha funny ? 

After dinner, which was bacon cheeseburgers, I waited for Kyle to get ready for soccer practice.  I have drop off detail tonight, which Sue arranged...better than pickup at 10pm.

Poor Kyle barely has time to do homework most days with the fall soccer schedule.

The UPS guy parks his truck and Sue, Luke and I run out to greet him.  He is surprised, more like amused at how multiple people come out to accept the packages.  We know it is new soccer cleats for Luke.  ha ha...

Onto Survivor, a bucket of popcorn, and the reason for the late blog.  Ha ha funny....I was too lazy and tired to write last night and went to be early.

Photo of the day "Ha ha funny"

Ha ha funny !!

Fish Fry

Got up this morning expecting to see and hear rain.  There was none.  Now I wish I had gotten up earlier so that I could go for a run.

Got home this afternoon and still no rain...lots of wind.  Luke and his friends decide to go for a swim.

I prep all the fish we caught.  Some going to the neighbors, some in the freezer, and some for us tonight.

This day in history "On this day in 1973, future President Jimmy Carter files a report with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), claiming he had seen an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) in October 1969.

During the presidential campaign of 1976, Democratic challenger Carter was forthcoming about his belief that he had seen a UFO. He described waiting outside for a Lion's Club Meeting in Leary, Georgia, to begin, at about 7:30 p.m., when he spotted what he called "the darndest thing I've ever seen" in the sky. Carter, as well as 10 to 12 other people who witnessed the same event, described the object as "very bright [with] changing colors and about the size of the moon." Carter reported that "the object hovered about 30 degrees above the horizon and moved in toward the earth and away before disappearing into the distance." He later told a reporter that, after the experience, he vowed never again to ridicule anyone who claimed to have seen a UFO."

I never saw a UFO.

So, we have sea bass and porgy.  Panko bread crumbs, some select spices and my deep fryer.  Some fresh oil and away we go.  While cooking the first batch, the light goes off....fooled once before I run down to the basement and reset the circuit breaker.  Can't deep fry and use the microwave at the same time.

Dinner is a big hit...even my home made tartar sauce gets a rave review.  Not a scrap of fish left at the end of the meal.  Fish is always best fresh.

Waiting for the storms to roll thru, or rather hoping that they keep missing us.

Photo of the day "Fish Fry"

P.S. This is a file photo.  I forgot to take  pic and then the fish was all gone.  :-)

Viva La Vida -

Even though it was a day off, I did not sleep late.  I promised Luke we would go out on a full day fishing trip before the weather turns fierce.

This morning, I woke up at around 5am, 30 minutes before the alarm was set to go off.  A quick shower and it was time to start rousing Luke from his slumber.  Luke has his TV on at 530 AM ?  Is he awake already ? Nope, sound asleep but easily coaxed to a nod when I told him it was time to go fishing.

I remember my dad used to wake me up at ungodly hours to go fishing.  I never minded it... after all the early bird gets the worm, and the worm gets the fish.

This day in history "On September 17, 1976, NASA publicly unveils its first space shuttle, the Enterprise, during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. Development of the aircraft-like spacecraft cost almost $10 billion and took nearly a decade. In 1977, the Enterprise became the first space shuttle to fly freely when it was lifted to a height of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747 airplane and then released, gliding back to Edwards Air Force Base on its own accord."

1976 was a bi-centennial year, and I was in the boy scouts.  I remember being patriotic and having an interest in the space program.  It is such a shame that we no longer have reusable space vehicles and no real prospects for future manned space exploration.

Back here in earth, Luke and I have a great day of fishing.  No doubt that we are high hook for the day and after we filled a bucket, we started giving fish away.  A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. A great day of fishing is awesome  !  

After fishing we head home to celebrate Suzanne's birthday.  40 something years old.  Sue picks a mexican/spanish place.  We get the table side guacamole and enjoy a nice meal.  Back home we sing happy birthday and give Sue her gifts.  No gift receipt needed as they are all keepers.  

Fish for dinner tomorrow night for sure.  I think our neighbors need some fish too.

Photo of the day "Viva La Vida"

Viva La Vida - The name of the restaurant

Viva La Vida - Long Live Life

I can say that we all had some fun today.  Kyle is still out having fun at his girlfriends house and soon at half price apps.....Luke fell asleep on the couch...Sue is starting to nod off.  I will sleep well tonight after a long day on the water.

My Tshirt.....Life is Good !! 

Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

Went out dinner last night with Jodi and had some Turkish food.  One of the items in the appetizer mix was baba ganoush.

After a long day, a nice dinner and some catching up, I settled in for a nights sleep in the couch.  Pretty comfortable, but I still tossed and turned a bunch.  Woke up a sunrise as usual.

I made my way out into the chilly morning air of upstate NY for a run.

This day in history "

The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the New World with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists--half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs--had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the "Pilgrims" reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December."

If April showers bring May Flowers...what do MayFlowers bring ?  Pilgrims of course.

The run down the hill in the town of New Paltz was quite a contrast to the flat LI terrain I am used to.  Once at the edge of town, I picked up the railroad...

There is a 12 mile trail that is the old Wallkill Valley Railroad.  Originally setup to ferry party goers from Poughkepsie to New Paltz where there was pleny of risque business in the 1800's.  In 1977, the rail still used for freight was retired and made into a land trust.  For me it became a scenic change of pace run.

The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail opened officially in October 1993 as the seventeenth rail trail in New York State. In 2001 it was recognized as the first Countryside Trail in the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System, and in 2007 it was designated a National Recreation Trail by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

http://www.gorailtrail.org/

Once off the trail I realized that the mile I started out from Jodi's house was steep downhill.  I opted to walk the mile back up to her house recalling her comment that I should park at the edge of town to pick up the trail to avoid the hill coming back up...

I cook some omelets for us using the leftover lamb, some of the appetizers, and a little cheddar cheese.  The lambelets came out good and with a little pita bread on the side, we didn't need to reheat the fries.

Back on the road for the ride home.  A long weekend.  A 6 mile run in New Paltz.  And an open invite to stop by when passing on the New York thruway.

Photo of the day "Wallkill Valley Rail Trail"

P.S. You know you are outside the 5 boroughs, Westchester, or Yonkers when the sign warns says "No discharging of firearms on or across the trail"

I did not see too much wildlife, except for rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks.  I am sure if I ventured into the wild as I ran out of town, there would be deer and other wild things.

Hartwick Cross Country

Woke up really early ...5:15 to get a jump on the drive upstate.  The sun wasn't even peeking thru yest when I stopped for gas in Holbrook.

A brisk morning, and I was undecided if I should wear shorts or sweats....

Anyway, a light drizzle on and off till I reached the Tapanzee Bridge.  No traffic and I was on schedule to arrive in Oneonta around 10:15 at the current rate of speeding (75mph).

This day in history "On this day in 1858, the new Overland Mail Company sends out its first two stages, inaugurating government mail service between the eastern and western regions of the nation."

Now we can communicate instantly.  TXT messaging or calling anywhere in the world.  And lets not forget pictures, videos, u-tube, twitter.  A world thirsty for information.

Well, I get to the Cross Country meet a few minutes after 10am, park the car and make my way over to the area that the teams are hanging out.  I get a TXT from Gavin with directions to the field in case I get lost.  Like I said, technology is amazing.  I TXT back that I am already there.

It is great to see Gavin, Krista and the team.  After some chit chat, meets and greats with Krista's mom, and Matt's parents, it is time for the Mens team to warm up.  I walk to the car to put on a light jacket as they take theirs off.

I try some fishing in a small river on the far side of the park...No luck.  My left foot soaked after a rock I stepped onto decided to tip.  The price your pay for getting to another spot on a river with only one access point..

Gavin and his buddies do well in the race.  A personal best time of 26:42 for Gavin (tie with John)...and Matt  only a few seconds behind.  A strong finish with three Hartwick runners in the top 20.

Next up is the Women's team, with Gavin and I cheering for Krista and the other girls.  A longer than usual race of 6K for them.  I don't know how anyone runs that fast for that long.

After the meet, we grab some Sushi.  I get to chat with Gavin, Krista, and Patty.  It was nice while it lasted.  On the road again around 3:45 with a stopover in New Paltz.

Hi Jodi.  I visit my sister, catch up on old times, and what is new with her and the family.  We go into town for dinner (Turkish), and have some leftovers.  I just don't eat as much as I used to.

Falling asleep on the couch at my sisters before having a chance to blog.  Late Blog

Photo of the day "Hartwick Cross Country"

P.S. When did I get so small.  Shorter every year.  Maybe I should try traction or inversion therapy.

BTW - Thanks to Hartwick Cross Country for the new t-shirt.  

I LUV TSHIRTS

Non Stop Service

Took the LIRR to NYC.

Picked up some champagne.

Met up with Frank, Khary, and Bill to witness and celebrate the end of an era.

This day in history "A Soviet rocket crashes into the moon's surface, becoming the first man-made object sent from earth to reach the lunar surface. The event gave the Soviets a short-lived advantage in the "space race" and prompted even greater effort by the United States to develop its own space program."

Our peers and friends in London got together as we did in NYC to witness the shutdown and power off of a system called S77.  This editorial system has shaped the news that the world has read for the past 3 decades.  Senior developers, editors in charge, and some of the folks who have worked in and around editorial joined us in London and NYC.

Never before have I ever heard of a celebration, a retirement party of sorts for a machine.

Several attempts to replace the system failed.  Typlan, Fleet, and News2Web could not deliver what S55 and its successor S77 could.   Along comes LYNX and a new breed of developers.  A company merged ...Reuters and Thomson.  ThomsonReuters succeeds, and after nearly 2 years of service, LYNX has taken over and replaced S77 in all editorial bureaus that Reuters operates.  Thousands of users have been assimilated.  Long live Lynx.

I got to pop the corks on the champagne.  Make the first and last toast.  We laughed and recalled tales of days gone by.  Out at lunch we realized that with some luck, LYNX will be around for a long time, and if it gets replaced, we all want to still be around.

Ironically, the Tandem NonStop systems at Reuters have stopped.  The French Bistro we had lunch at has mention of Non Stop Service..... I like this place.

Photo of the day "Non Stop Service"

P.S. I ate escargot today.  Snails.  They were pretty good, but next time I am going to have to order the Onion Soup.   No need to say "French Onion Soup" here......

A different view

The change of seasons is upon us.  The bus school schedules taking some getting used to.  A different view.

We tried the new pizza place in the Hauppauge industrial park.  Rigatoni's.  At $3.95 for a specialty slice, it will be hard to switch up.  I like Mario's and Emilio's better.  A different view.

Planning a trip into NYC to commemorate and celebrate the closure and shutdown of Reuters core editorial system, S77.  LYNX is the new game in town.  A different view.

This day in history "On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem, originally titled "The Defence of Fort McHenry," was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words of the "Star-Spangled Banner": "And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

As others wage war or attack our US embassy on foreign soil, I can say that our flag is still there.   The more   I think about it, the angrier I get.  After-all, the USA helps everyone, and we could use the money we spend in foreign, not so friendly countries that we can use here at home.  A different view.

Kyle is run down and not feeling well.  He need to pig out.  Instead of the new menu at school which is deficient, or the fact that he has NO LUNCH period is starting to piss me off.  Sue went out to shop for all sorts of food, power bars, snacks, and foods that he can take to school to sneak a bite to eat.  He lost 5 pounds since his physical last month.  A different view.

I shop for some porterhouse steaks (on sale of course).  I fix a nice energizing dinner for Kyle an family.  Caesar salad, and mashed potatoes.....A far cry from the chicken or fish...So good !!  A different view.

With the new schedules, I have been running less in the morning.  I miss the sunrise while running.  This morning I saw a bright and beautiful sunrise in the side view mirror on the way to work.  A different view.

Photo of the day "A different view"

Open the pod bay doors HAL

With weather like this, it is going to be hard making it from the parking lot to the office without turning back around.

I was settled in at my desk and about to start a team meeting when the alarm sounded.  A Fire Alarm.  Lucky for us it was just a fire drill.  11AM on the nose, up from my desk, and guiding the others to the exit.  I am a designated floor searcher and helper for fire drills at our building so I was one of the last to go out to the parking lot.

This day in history "Near Montignac, France, a collection of prehistoric cave paintings are discovered by four teenagers who stumbled upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period."

2001 A Space Odyssey featured a monolith.  The story deals with a series of encounters between humans and mysterious black monoliths that are apparently affecting human evolution, and a space voyage to Jupiter tracing a signal emitted by one such monolith found on the moon. Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood star as the two astronauts on this voyage, with Douglas Rain as the voice of the sentient computer HAL 9000 who has full control over their spaceship. The film is frequently described as an "epic film", both for its length and scope, and for its affinity with classical epics.^[

The part of the film that I remember is how HAL, takes over and does not obey the human commands.  The story goes on as HAL picks off each of the human crew members, until only he and Dave are left.  The only thing to do is to trick the computer into letting Dave in, so he can shut it down.

Today was the day after a 13 years of faithfull service, RNASL was supposed to be shutdown and powered off.  This is no typical computer, it is a Tandem NonStop Fault tolerant machine that is designed to operate and stay running 99.999% of the time.

First attempt at gaining control of the system, the console kept mysteriously rebooting itself.  A spare unit was shipped to St Louis to be installed.  Although the console was working the day before, it arrived at the datacenter and would not power up.  Plan A and Plan B have somehow failed.  The machine continues to operate.

Why not just turn the power switch off ?  Well, this well designed and thought out computer does not have an  on/off switch, after all it is supposed to stay running.  Plan C is a backdoor mechanism known as an EPO. (Emergency Power Off), a command issued to the Kernel of the operating system to shutdown.  The command seemingly ignored by this machine, which refuses to be shutdown.

Unlike the HAL, RNASL is not going on a killing spree or wreaking havoc.  However, as part of a plan, culminating in a large celebration on Friday, where the last of its kind at Reuters, the S77 in London will be shutdown.  RNASL has to be powered off.  Plan D goes into place.  Electricians trace the power cables that are hardwired to the power supplies and open the circuit breakers causing the machine to loose power.

It is not over, as RNASL remains running, it's lead acid batteries trickling electrons into the circuits, disk drives, until finally the lights go out.   The batteries drained, RNASL bleeds out and is pronounced at approx: 19:30 Central Standard Time.

Open the pod bay doors HAL...I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that......

Photo of the day "HAL"

P.S.  I have a confession to make.  I have a connection to this machine.  It won't be easy to stop looking at the blank screen on my desk.   The screen I have used thousands of times over the years to keep the news flowing at Reuters....

9-11 Morning Run

Last night I decided that I will be going for a run in the morning.  It was not until I got up that I decided on this anniversary of 9-11, that my run should be 9.11 miles.

A cool morning with blue sky, and time to reflect on the past 11 years.  The kids were very young, and a chill ran down my spine when I started to think back to that morning.

We were all confused as to what was happening at first.  Being at Reuters on that morning, most of readying for US Market Open of the NYSE, we had the big screens in the network operations center tuned in to CNBC.  As the horror unfolded, none of knew at that time that our lives, and the world we live in would never be the same.

This day in history "At 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767--United Airlines Flight 175--appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center, and sliced into the south tower at about the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below. America was under attack."

My children at the time 2,5,and 8 years old had never had to deal with war and death, let alone an attack on America.  An assault on our freedom.  The weeks, months, and years that passed had reminders that our lives would change.  Our children learned that our freedom, liberties and our way of life would not be as care free.  From homeland security, to tightened security at airports, to the constant reminders of what happened. Innocence erased.

Thankfully, we have never had a repeat of the attack, and we will always have to keep our guard up.  Will we ever travel to an international destination as a family ?

My run thru Holbrook and into Sayville and back again gave me time to reflect on the past 11 years.  One thing I can tell you for sure is, that the time seems to have gone by too fast.  We have had lots of great times, and now that the boys are all teenagers, the seasons seem to change even quicker.

Luke made the Middle School Soccer team.  Kyle went to his HS Soccer Dinner.  Gavin is studying in college and getting ready for a cross country run this weekend.  I will travel 250 miles to watch a 30 minute race and have lunch with Gavin, while Sue attends Kyle's first HS league game of the season.  Luke starts practice (everyday after school).  We can't wait till his first game.

I stop my run shortly after the 9 mile mark, hoping that I hit 9.11 miles right on the nose.  The tracking software on my iPhone a little bit different than my Garmin watch.  Just as we are 11 years past 9-11...I went slightly past the 9.11 mile mark.  9.13 miles.  An extra 0.02 miles in the blink of an eye.

Photo of the day "9-11 Morning Run"

P.S. On track to run a half marathon soon.  9 miles was not too hard to do.  Although, after sitting at my desk this morning  for a couple of hours and then getting up to grab some lunch, my muscles and bones reminded me that I am getting older.....

Tandem NonStop

This morning was nice and cool, a precursor as summer turns to fall.  A nice change of pace from hot and humid.

Today at work we started the process of shutting down the Tandem NonStop system known as S77.  For the better part of my 20+ years at Reuters it has been the most reliable editorial system.  In my career as an IT professional, I can not think of another system that held up as long and served its purpose with so few problems.  

This day in history "The Tandem NonStop system at the Hauppauge datacenter is powered off"  For the first time since 1999, the system is powered off.  Thousands of journalists at Reuters have used this system to publish stories.  Millions of stories have been processed.  

Frank and Bill, a couple of old timers watched as we clicked the mouse over the Power Off System and answered "yes" to the warning message that splashed onto the screen.  That's it ?  Is the system really powered down ?  NonStop systems do not have a power on/off switch...it's design is to keep running.....

Into the machine room we go to check for a pulse, a glimmer of life.  An LED light flashing, or a fan cooling the power supplies.   We approach the cabinets and open the doors.  The system is quiet, its $system disk and all other components have been powered off.

The next phase is to power off the sister system in St. Louis on Wed. and a final power off of the system in Europe on Friday.   The end of an era.

Photo of the day "Tandem NonStop"

P.S. The Final Year - S55 and S77 , Both Tandem Non-Stop served Reuters editorial for nearly 3 Decades.  I have the nameplate from the system in my office. 

Peaches and Cream

I drop Kyle off at the field in Bayport so he can ref 3 games today.  How lucky to have the storm end last night and step out into a pleasant day.

Sue and Luke head to church, while I make way for my morning run.

I decide the run into town, and down towards the church.

This day in history "On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the "United States" of America. This replaced the term "United Colonies," which had been in general use.
In the Congressional declaration dated September 9, 1776, the delegates wrote, "That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words 'United Colonies' have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the "United States.""

You learn something new everyday.

While on my run, a little past the church, I get stung in the back of my head.  I swear and instinctively run my hand thru my hair just in case the offending insect is still in there.  The pain, burning are something I recall from past stings.

I keep running and soon forget about the bee or wasp.  At the end of the run, 8 miles, I am greeted by Sue and Luke as I sip water in the porch.  Luke and Sue check my head for a stinger....there is none.

Sue's brother Danny, Angel, Anika, and Saskia come over for an afternoon visit and a swim in the pool.  We fire up the grill and eat before Kyle makes his way to soccer pasta dinner.  A quick dip in the pool for some, and the rest of us are content in the hotub.

As usual, a fun time is had.  Angel and I make dessert.  Home made shortcake buscuits, with peaches and cream.  Who knew such a simple dessert would be such a big hit.

Photo of the day "Peaches and Cream"

P.S.  Photo credit goes to Suzanne Jenkins.  iPhone 4S captures the moment.

Black Toenails

I have had a couple of set backs this year in my quest for 1000 miles.  I am over 600 and still on track to reach 1000 before the end of the year.

The other day when I visited the Podiatrist, she told me there is not much she could do or advise me in regard to the purple / black toenails that some runners get.  What she did was take down the pressure and swelling of one of my toenails by cutting and draining the blister under my nail.  

No running Thur/Fri to let the toe feel better.  This morning a 7 mile run without any pain.

This day in history "Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrenders New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant had hoped to resist the English, but he was an unpopular ruler, and his Dutch subjects refused to rally around him. Following its capture, New Amsterdam's name was changed to New York, in honor of the Duke of York, who organized the mission."

Today we also had some severe weather and a tornado over the Belt Parkway.  New York is not supposed to get tornadoes.

Almost everyone who runs gets a black toenail. Getting your first one is a sign that you've moved your training into a higher level. While most runners blame a shoe that is too small, this is often not the primary cause. Certainly toe pressure from the shoe can make the toe hurt even more, but pressure from underneath seems to produce more black nails.

In my case, the longer runs are the primary reason for my runners toenails.  I will continue and adjust shoes and socks if the condition keeps flaring up.  I am not looking forward to losing any toenails, but then again, summer is almost over and I have never had good toenails or nice feet.

Photo of the day "Black Toenails"

 P.S. Sorry if I grossed everyone out.  It doesn't hurt anymore and that is the first one.  I now have three toenails that are either really pink, slightly purple, or almost black.  Running is an addiction.  A sickness.  

Uncle Sam

The first week of school took its toll on everyone.

Kyle called Sue and got picked up Friday afternoon because he felt faint and dizzy.  We think exhausted.

I feel asleep on the couch at like 830 last night.

This day in history "On this day in 1813, the United States gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. Wilson (1766-1854) stamped the barrels with "U.S." for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as "Uncle Sam's." The local newspaper picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for the U.S. federal government."

So, early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.  Benjamin Franklin

Photo of the day "Uncle Sam"

What kind of fish is this ?

Stopped at the bagel store this morning for an everything bagel with cream cheese.  $2.75 later I realized why we usually buy the cream cheese separate.  It is a nice change of pace after eating eggs every morning.  The lox I took from home made the breakfast at work a real treat.

Took a break mid day and picked up pernil and rice from the bodega.   Once a week or so, we go to the bodega.  A great $4 lunch.

This day in history "One of Ferdinand Magellan's five ships--the Vittoria--arrives at SanlÚcar de Barrameda in Spain, thus completing the first circumnavigation of the world. The Vittoria was commanded by Basque navigator Juan SebastiÁn de Elcano, who took charge of the vessel after the murder of Magellan in the Philippines in April 1521. During a long, hard journey home, the people on the ship suffered from starvation, scurvy, and harassment by Portuguese ships. Only Elcano, 17 other Europeans, and four Indians survived to reach Spain in September 1522."

After work I pick up Luke from his first soccer tryout.  He says he did well and thinks he has a good shot at making the team.  Coming in 4th on the 1.5 mile run out of 41 boys trying out is a good sign.  Only about half of the boys will make it.

Sue picks up a pizza for dinner.  A couple of slices of Sicilian hits the spot before Luke and head out to Lake Ronkonkoma.  The fishing is good an we stay till sunset.  I catch a new fish.  Or at least one we have not seen before.

Photo of the day "What kind of fish is this ?"

P.S. I looked on the internet and the closest match is a white perch.  Some States and conservationists consider the white perch a nusiance species in lakes as they out compete bass an walleye for food.  This little guy can grow to about a pound.  Wouldn't mind catching his grandpa then....

When is Dinner ?

The traffic was not as bad today and getting to the bus stop and to work not as challenging.

The calendar is full again with after school activities, and it is going to be fun and interesting to see how we can juggle work activities such as practice, games, and meals.

On my way home, I stop by the health food store in Bluepoint to pick up my CSA fruits and vegetables.  An interesting assortment with one new item of mention ...shallots.

This day in history "To chart-topping American acts like Steve Lawrence ("Go Away Little Girl") and Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs ("Sugar Shack"), 1963 had been a year filled with promise. And then came the Beatles, whose dramatic arrival in January 1964 clearly posed a commercial threat. By the middle of 1964, with Louis Armstrong ("Hello Dolly") and Dean Martin ("Everybody Loves Somebody") both having earned #1 pop hits, it may have seemed that the worst was over. But then came another blow in the form of the Animals, whose signature hit, "House of The Rising Sun," reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts on this day in 1964. Steeped in a musical idiom very different from "She Loves You" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "House of The Rising Sun" hinted at an entirely new line of attack from the forces of the British Invasion."

The British are coming, the British are coming.  Seems to me that music back in the day had more meaning, political or social undertones.  Music today is just, mostly shallow and it all sounds the same.

A missed call on my cell phone from Sue who is going to Islip to catch Kyle playing in a HS soccer scrimmage.  Pre-season game.

I try calling her back, but no answer.  Once home, I see Luke and his friend Anthony playing pool and ping pong for a 2nd day....

Luke wants to know what's for dinner.  I tell him shrimp scampi and he is excited.

When is Dinner ?  I don't know.  Kyle is at a scrimmage.  I assume she will be picking him up at the HS and we will eat around 7PM...about 1.5 hours later than usual.

I decide to let the shrimp defrost and I go for a steamy hot run in the humidity at 430PM.  5 miles later....let's call this run 5 at 5....

Sue calls and says another parent will pick Kyle up at the HS and that she is on her way home.  Ooh...revision, Dinner is at 630PM.

We eat, and Kyle is not home yet.  He will have to deal with leftovers.  He has soccer practice tonight.  Sue gets a txt from Kyle who says he has too much homework...a 12 page outline and is not going to make it to practice tonight.

Let the games begin.....

Photo of the day "When is Dinner"

P.S. I have to get the home calendar in Google or Outlook so that I can overlay it on my iPhone calendar for work.  Let the games begin.

School Traffic

Kyle is loud.  At 5:20 there was no mistaking the fact that Kyle was already awake and heading to the shower.

I tried to stay in bed as my alarm was set for 5:45.   Soon, Kyle opens the master bedroom door draped in towel to get a cue-tip.  Alright, that's it...I shut the alarm clock off and jump in the shower.

Kyle and I cook our eggs pack our lunches and have plenty of time before heading to the bus stop.

This day in history "On this day in 1886, Apache chief Geronimo surrenders to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty Native American warrior had battled to protect his tribe's homeland; however, by 1886 the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo's surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaling the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest"

I wonder what Luke is learning in school today.  Sue dropped him at the bus at 730..a short time before she headed to work.

The rain is coming down hard, and a river is flowing in the front of the driveway as Kyle and make our way out.  A crowd of cars at the intersection leading to Kyle's bus.  2 buses each a block apart causes a backlog of cars.  Why 2 bus routes going to the same school on slightly diverging paths....who knows.

The traffic is looking bad as I look west on the LIE from the Broadway Ave overpass.  The new traffic pattern...school in session is mentally recalled.  The summer party is over.  My commute took twice as long and I will also have to figure out how to get my running in.....

After dinner, Luke and I catch a handful of bass each in a quick jaunt to the lake when we see a break in the rain.

Photo of the day "School Traffic"

P.S. The boys had a good day at school...Sue survived as well.  It is going to be another early night I think

Labor Day

Thankfully, there was no labor involved today, unless you count cleaning up the kitchen and running the dishwasher.

Ran 7.99 miles...glitch on my Endomondo app as it sounded 8 miles in front of my house, I pressed the stop button.  My run was really 8 at 8.....

Luke and I planned to go fishing in  Port Jeff, but the wind gods, decided to rear their howling winds out of the east causing the LI sound to be choppy....we opted to start our morning with some fresh figs.

This day in history "The American flag is flown in battle for the first time, during a Revolutionary War skirmish at Cooch's Bridge, Maryland. Patriot General William Maxwell ordered the stars and strips banner raised as a detachment of his infantry and cavalry met an advance guard of British and Hessian troops. The rebels were defeated and forced to retreat to General George Washington's main force near Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania."

Now we celebrate labor day.  Kyle is up early for soccer practice.  Luke and I decide to try and fish off the beach or pier at Captree State Park.

Sue picks up Kyle from practice.  We barbecue some burgers and hotdogs for lunch.

Sue heads to the mall to have Kyle's phone fixed at the apple store.

 The wind is really kicking at the beach.  Overlook pier is closed since last years hurricane....who knew ?

We manage to catch some fish at the state channel so all is not lost.  Always fun to be out fishing, even when the fish are small and the conditions not the best.

Back home we decide on Sushi for dinner.

An early night for all, with school starting up.  The clouds and cool wind a sure sign that summer is nearing an end.

Photo of the day "Labor Day"