Almost There

Monday morning I was on my way to my regular Monday ritual. I stopped at the Deli that is on the lake and caught this beautiful sunrise. It's a little hard to see but there is a mist rising from the lake and also the beginnings of a sun pillar. When I stepped out of my car to take this picture, a Blue Heron flew right overhead (no, it didn't shit on me). Monday was a good day.
On my way back from NYC, I stopped in at work to get a feel for what is happening there and to give them a head's up that I was returning Tuesday (today). It was good to stop in and get many of the hello's out of the way. I started back at work today after being out since March 1st. It was a long time but it was so nice to get back in the saddle of work again. I hope to start kayaking in the next week or two. Nothing intense but I need to get out to recharge my spirit.

This shot below is of our Apple tree in bloom. They are Red Delicious Apples














click on the images for larger views

Spam and Hot Tuna

Spamalot in September


















Hot Tuna in December at the Beacon Theater in NYC, can't wait.

Spring has Sprung

Tree in Central Park NYC




This is a combo Apple and Cherry tree we have in our back yard that is just starting to bloom. It's such a cool tree.

Eye See

Old Photos and a Long Jump

Walton Lake Sunrise


Morning Glory

I haven't been doing a whole lot lately so I'm in reruns. I am tempted to get my butt back on the lake to kayak but I still run out of breath very easily. I think it's best that I wait a few more weeks. I'm also still trying to get used to the new routine as far as treatments go too. The first round was a lu-lu. Never had a worse time with it.

I have been getting the yard in shape. We bought a forsythia and planted it in the corner of our front yard. We are hoping that it will become a nice round bush. We also got some climbing roses and put them next to the trellis. The Morning Glories didn't do so well there last year. Today we got a few more small bushes that we want to put on the side of the house. It's taken a few years but we are finally getting around to some landscaping. I also want to get a Dwarf Burning Bush. they turn fire red in the autumn.

Christ, I really am starting to think they took my blogging bone out, these posts are lame.
Well, here's a little video of Dylan doing the long jump in track at school. We're happy that he is involved with some sports and he is still doing his drumming.
Maybe at some point I'll do a post of all of us jamming.

Hey Phil...

Over the last 2 weeks, we had about 8 days of rain and gloomy weather. Being the kind of people we are, we of course took a walk down to the lake during the Nor'Easter. I could have hung out longer but at least we did it. The following day, the front of the wood dock was actually under water. I had never seen that before.

So this weekend was unbelievably gorgeous out, sunny and about 80. Jack started soccer this weekend so Saturday was filled with taking him to practice and his first game of this season (which they won 8-2 even though they are not supposed to keep score...) It was great, we had a blast. Today was another great day and Dana and I spent much of it outside doing some yard work and car cleaning and flower planting. Dana had gone for a run in the morning and found a really cool baby box turtle that was about the diameter of a ping-pong ball. Of course Grif wanted to keep it and so did Dana but I convinced them it would be better to go back to the pond. Turtles make lousy pets even if they are cute. They just don't live long in a house.

Many neighbours were outside too today doing yard work. We have a new couple who bought that house they built last year that I bitched about. They are very nice peeps even if Jean, the woman can be a little intense at times. So anyway, they were in the process of building a block wall. They had to rent some equipment to dig through the dirt. If anyone lives in NY state, you would know that you can not put a shovel in the ground without hitting rocks. First they tried a roto tiller which is fine if you are using it in an already established garden. They got nowhere with that. So the guy, Bob, rented a small backhoe. That worked like a charm. They had it for a total of 8 running hours. Near the end of the day, Jean sees me outside and calls over "Hey Phil, do you need a hoe???"

Of course, 3 things immediatly pop into my head

1. I already have one...
2. Dana doesn't approve of me seeing ho's
3. Is it a nappy headed one?

I replied with the last one

wow, that was a long way to go for that story, but it was true

Just when you think you've seen it all...

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in my life. These are finger weights for guitarists. I guess the theory is that by having extra weight on your fingers, it builds up the little finger muscles so when you take them off you can play like the wind. The cost? A mere $79.95.

This sort of reminds me of the amps that the guys in Spinal Tap used. The volume controls went up to 11, not 10.
That's 1 louder...

A Funny thing Happened on the Way to Get Bagels

I feel like Bobby Ewing...

I was going to get some bagels this morning after going to the farm. I was walking from my car to the bagel shop when I noticed some garbage being blown right towards me. I am in the habit of picking up garbage, I don't go out of my way but I find it hard to ignore it if it's making a b-line at me. So I pick it up and notice that it is a paycheck. It was endorsed too. The really strange thing is that was for the SAME company that I work for, only a different location in NJ. I went home and tried to look up his phone number but I found no listing. Then I went to anywho.com and found the street. As it turned out he lives about 2 miles down the road from me. I drove over and knocked on the door. His wife answered. She said the wind blew it out of his car this morning rather far from where I found it but the guy was kind of nervous because he had endorsed it. He was going to call work to try to but a stop payment on it.
I just thought that was so strange that we both worked for the same company. I hope he would have done the same for someone.

Rabid Animals

I wrote this the day after I got home so I guess I am getting better. I found their response (or lack of) to be really bizzare:

To the editor:

This seems odd to me; has this happened to any other readers? My wife and I saw a skunk that was acting very strangely. Walking in circles, not afraid of cars or people, not responding to loud noises and seemingly ready to keel over. It appeared that it could have been rabid.

My wife called the town supervisor’s office to inquire if someone could come out to inspect. She was given a phone number of some gentleman who works at a local animal agency. She was told that he could come out and get rid of the animal but there would be a fee.

I would think that if there were a rabid animal in town that can endanger children and other animals, the town would want to come out to investigate and then remove the animal - part of the whole tax deal we have with them.

We were not asking them to come in to remove a squirrel from our attic. But I guess it’s every man, woman, child for themselves situation instead.

Phil Gxxxxxx

Mxxxxxxx

What to do at 4 a.m.

I took the original shot, the top one, then applied a couple of PhotoShop filters to it. What a great tool PS is