Vacation Look Back - Part I

The kids loved JetBlue. The airplane was packed with kids and I didn't hear a single one. The reason: TV's on every seatback!! First order of business in Florida was hooking Faith up in a flower girl dress for Uncle Marc and Meg's wedding in November. Faith was in heaven trying on the gowns. The first half our trip we stayed in Nanna's apartment in Century Village (Boca Raton). The senior community where the ambulance sirens never stop ;-) Actually the place worked out great for us! There were a few breaks in the vacation action where civilization called and I did some work remotely fro the sunshine state. With cellphones and the internet, its like you're never away :-(

Uncle Marc's Boat

We had a great visit last week with Karen's brother. He took us out for a boat ride in the Gulf and the kids had a great time. All Faith wanted to do was go faster... even when we were doing 30 knots.

Wrap up of visit with cousin Levy

Family Seder

Quick post of the participants of the Family (Karen's side) Seder. Host Stephanie, Mitch, and Levy threw a couple of great seders.
 
 

Pre-School Seder

Yesterday Karen helped setup the kids model Passover seder. Looked like a pretty decent spread for 9:30 am. They also had homemade chocolate covered matzo, mmmm good.

Reminded Of A Poem

Yesterday, WTOP news radio of all places, referenced "Nothing Gold Can Stay", by Robert Frost, in regards to the budding flora in the area. This is a poem and poet that I have always liked and to be honest Frost is one of the only poets I really know.
But, it really is an amazing poem as it so nails the thoughts and feelings of Spring (and of course all new things) so hard to express into perfect succinct poetry.

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

It also got me thinking. Have there been any new poets added to High School English class since I learned about Robert Frost and Carl Sandberg? How does a contemporary poet attain stature today? I suspect maybe pop music and now maybe youtube are the replacements.

Anyone Know Any Former East German Coaches

We have Swimmers...

Plans. Who Needs Plans II

What started out as a leisurely, recuperation (Jacob was sick through Thursday), no plans, Saturday, turned into dinner at our place with friends. During lunchtime at a local pizza parlor we bumped into friends we haven't socialized with in a while. So one thing leads to another and then we're having dinner together. Our kids were excited (a bit too excited) to have their daughter over to play with and I think all had a good time.

Ballet Practice

Recital is in a month. I think we need more practice!!

Plans. Who Needs Plans

We had big plans for today. Our Google Calendar printed out the following agenda: Karen's Sisterhood Meeting 9:30-10:30 Faith Swimming 11:00-11:30 Reuben and Jacob Swimming 11:30-12:00 Reuben and Jacob Birthday Party – #1 12:30-1:30 Reuben and Jacob Birthday Party – #2 2:00- 3:00 Faith and Karen – Cinderella Ballet at NVCC 2:00-?? T-Ball Practice – R&J 4:00 – 5:00 We had it scheduled to the minute, sandwiches made for lunch in the car, car seats and booster seats distributed in perfect synchronization, etc.... That was until Sunday actually came. Reuben puked at 7:00am! Then the minivan car battery was dead. Of course Karen's cell phone battery was drained. And of course we couldn't find the car keys. In the end I think its working out. Karen went to her Sisterhood meeting, while I called AAA. I must say AAA has gotten amazing. They at the car in less than 20 minutes and jumped the car. Didn't see any lights left on so its a still a bit of mystery as to why the battery died. Stay tuned, I'm sure that story isn't over. When Reuben puked again at 10:00, all hope for him going out was gone. Karen got home at 10:30 took Faith and Jacob to swimming. At 12:10, Karen calls to say she's coming home; Jacob had no underwear. Of course Jacob thought that was the coolest. Quick change and onto bday party #1. Meanwhile I put Reuben down for a nap. Faith and Karen will then depart for Cinderella. A friend is going to get Jacob from party #1 to #2, still up in the air for how he gets home. It's not too far, maybe he'll walk ;-) Thankfully its raining and T-ball is canceled.
Today was going to be the big picture day, but instead I'll post some from yesterday. It was surprising nice, considering the forecast called for a wash-out. Our tulips really peaked yesterday!
I also started working on my slate walkway.Hopefully it winds up looking a little better than this. We'll then put a little table and chair on the small patio area I'll make.
Last week Jacob filled his smiley face chart and really had a great week at school. So his prize was to pick a restaurant and of course he picked Chuck Cheese, which his probably where Reuben got sick.

One more reason maybe I should be a vegetarian

This video is unbelievable, even if extensive training was involved. Make sure you watch until the end.



Apparently this is not uncommon among Thailand elephants at the Academy Of Elephants.

Let's Go Nats... I hope

Sunday evening I had my fantasy baseball draft, with our reserve picks being finalized late Tuesday night. I was pretty happy with my team. My roster was pretty strong offensively and a little weak on pitching. That was on Sunday. Now I'm very weak on pitching and a little worried. My starting pitching staff is made up of Pedro Martinez (now hurt), Zambrano (hurt, but likely won't miss a start), Hampton (hurt), Shawn Hill (hurt), Odalis Perez (sucks), Jiminez (on the Rockies which is all you need to know), and Wandy Rodriguez (who still can't pitch on the road).

Looks like I'll be playing the free agent game all season for pitching.

Oh! And, I have way to many Nats. Five. Nick Johnson may be the only worthwhile one.

Tip Toe Through The Tulips

The tulip bulbs Karen planted in the Fall have come up beautifully adding some nice color to the backyard. In another couple of the days they will really shine.

This planting went a lot better than the last time we planted bulbs, actually when my Dad planted the bulbs in our yard. My Dad very conscientiously dug beautiful holes for each bulb and then added just the right amount of bone meal for fertilizer. Oh how good they would look. Unfortunately we all forgot to realize that bone meal is made from bones and that Tipper loves two things our backyard and bones!!!! A few hours after my Dad was finished we looked outside only to notice that Tipper had dug up all the bulbs.




Tipper lovin' the backyard