Another Busy Weekend

Well this weekend was sort of thrust upon us as a busy one. With Sandy heading our way there were a bunch of things that I had to get done around the house since it would be a few days before Sandy passed and with next weekend being busy it would be mid-November before I took care of the things like getting the grass cut, the yard cleaned up and getting the Jeep cleaned (it was covered and full of dust and not a nice thing now that the windows and roof will likely be in more than off).



So outside of the work outside I also had to get some pumpkins carved, what with Halloween a couple of days away - so I did one for the house here (well I did it for Laura) and then I did a small one for Kris to have in her dorm.

One other big thing that was important for us to do was to vote. We wanted to do early voting to make sure we did not run into any travel issues etc and this is important so we had registered for early voting and we both cast our ballots yesterday. Hopefully they will not float way in the rains from Sandy. What was very cool was we had separately picked stamps out of our stamp box to put on our ballots - when I put mine on I looked and saw that Laura had Liberty on hers and I had picked Justice. Hopefully that is an omen that we end up with Liberty and Justice for all.

My Wife the Inventor

I think you all know how proud I am of Laura. She is a great "mom" to the girls, is caring, generous and of course beautiful.

And now we can add to that - an inventor.

Laura was just awarded a patent for the system she developed as part of a low cost and portable HPV test. It is targeted to help prevent the spread of HPV and to help prevent cervical cancer in developing countries.

How could we not be proud :-)

It is hard to realize you are getting older

I was watching "Song by Song, Johnny Cash" and found out that his hit "Boy Named Sue" was originally written by Shel Silverstein. That hit me like a ton of bricks.

For those of you that may not know Shel is an author who wrote poems and stories, in volume. I loved Shel's writing. He was creative, imaginative and thankfully prolific. Every night I could I would read his poems to the girls. They loved his poems. They would request different ones. I personally loved Pancakes. Of course those that know me know that I love pancakes so a poem on the subject .... WOW!

When I heard that Shel wrote "Boy Named Sue" it struck me that I have a 20 year old daughter and my youngest is 16 .... and I won't get to read Pancakes for them any more.

It is hard getting old.

Mom - I now understand.


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Sam the Mechanic

http://instagr.am/p/RDrbIznx-z/

I thought it was important for Sam to know some basic maintenance tasks with a car. Today was learning to change plugs and check oil - which she did great on

I now like Boston even more

I always like going to Boston. It is a working man's town. I ate dinner at a local bar Wednesday night in Brookline and the guys there were largely blue collar guys - fishermen, mechanics etc ...

I also like Boston for the sights - the ones I see when I run in Boston - the Charles River with its crews from the colleges rowing, the architecture of the houses, the wonderful neighbourhoods, and the sports venues.

Supercharged MG

Now I have one more - the Larz Andersen Automobile Museum. Some of the oldest cars I have seen in a private collection, dating as far back as 1899. While I was there this week they also had a British Car showing that will be there through next May. I took some pics, of course, and posted them here.

But just in case I added a sample ...

Some Pictures from our Anniversary Trip

I promised we would post some pictures from our trip. Laura started celebrating a couple of days before we left with some tulips and wine for us and chocolate for me.

We had a great couple of days. The drive was easy but the one back was best since we took the back roads and stayed off the Interstates as much as we could and then stopped at Barrel Oak for a glass of wine.

We did have a great time relaxing though with wonderful dinners, some horseback riding, swimming, shopping and one of the best massages we have had (Thank you La for arranging for it).

We hope you enjoy the pictures

Happy Birthday Mom

I did say it was a month of celebrations .....

This one is always a nice one to celebrate. I want to say a special Happy Birthday to my Mom. For more than 48 years you have put up with me. The mistakes that I have made. My carelessness that has frequently gotten me in trouble or injured. The bad decisions I have made. All through this you have always showed you loved me and supported me. You have always talked with me to make sure I understood things. It was not always easy to see at the time but I can now see how that heed me to be who I am. And now I try to take the same tact with the girls and hopefully they will see that I will always be there for them, loving them, as you have for me.

Thank you Mom for all you have done and I hope you have a wonderful day - one that is relaxing and fun.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

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Happy Anniversary

It was two years ago today, late afternoon, I was anxiously waiting, standing by myself. A white Bentley pulls up and out steps this beautiful woman. I had tears in my eyes. I was so excited. So happy. 

I know that at times I have made things challenging but I hope you are as happy today as you looked that day two years ago. It has been a fun two years. Lots of new adventures - for us and with our girls. We have taken up new hobbies and maintained some of our old ones. Litte things like long commutes have been a challenge but we have figured it out. We have grown a wonderful garden each year - every year more interesting and full from the last - I think our lives have been like that - different and interesting each year.I promise that I will continue to work each and every day to make you happy - to make our family strong and to make our lives interesting a in a good way.

I love you baby and I am very proud that I can call you my wife.

Happy Anniversary

Adding some pics ...

Just an FYI for those who read us ....

I added some pics from my Running in 2012 album to my running page.

We hope you like them

Happy Birthday Dad

This is a great way to kick off a month of lots of celebrations - my Dad's Birthday.

Today Dad is 88. Personally I am very glad I can say that because at 88 he has seen and lived through a lot. I would like to say that with age comes wisdom but I am more likely to say that with age comes experience and the smart people learn from their experience. I have always thought of my Dad as the smart guy. I like to think that the way I look at things has been because I would watch my Dad work at things. He always worked hard but usually in a smart way. I say usually because we all have those days when no matter what you do it just feels like a hammer will solve the problem.

I wish I could be home with my Dad today to share a glass of whiskey with him but I will need to save that glass for a bit later but I do want him to know that I will raise a glass to him today and wish him many more years.

Love you Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

An Early Morning

This week is one of early mornings. Yesterday an early rise to get to DC through the rain. This morning an early rise so I could get in a quick 3-miler before I headed down to DC. The other benefit of the early morning run was that I did not feel guilty at all about the trip to Lincoln's Waffle House for blueberry pancakes and ham.

Lincoln's is a cool little diner across from Ford's Theatre that generally has a good crowd and this morning that included some of DCs finest grabbing breakfast before their shift.

As usual I sat at the counter and when they brought over m pancakes I pulled a fresh bottle of maple syrup out of my briefcase. The guy sitting across from me smiled - turns out he is from Northern Michigan and fully understood the "real" maple syrup need.

A run and pancakes for breakfast - a good way to start a day - even if it was an early one


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A great weekend

I finally got to relax after a long week last week - and it was needed.

Saturday Laura had planned a kayaking trip but with the weather a bit cool and the wind from the north making it a bit cooler we decided to take advantage of Free Museum Day and head to DC. The plan was to visit Hillwood Estates or the Newseum. Well neither worked out as both were jammed but for us that was not a bad thing as it meant we had an opportunity to head to the National Gallery.

We both love the galleries in DC and the National is one of our favourites. The National Gallery was one of our first dates so going back there is always a nice reminder, especially when we head back there in the fall.

They had a George Bellows exhibit there which was great to see. It is interesting to see over the years he painted and drew the changes in his work. The harsh brushstrokes, heavy paint use and the darkness of most of his early work that then contrasts against some of his later works which are softer in execution even though the topic is still strong. We caught one other exhibit before heading to the Hirshhorn to see the sculpture exhibit of the creatures of the Chinese zodiac. Hirshhorn is one of those galleries that does not get the attention it deserves but that is ok by me as it usually means smaller crowds.

Sunday, after a great run, myself and Sam grabbed some food at our favourite mediterranean restaurant, Zeitoon, and then headed to see "The Perks of being a Wallflower". This was a great movie. It is playing in less than a handfull of theaters in the area but worth finding one that is showing it. After the movie we stopped by the College Fair that was at Sam's High School. She has another year to keep thinking about what she wants to do but she wanted to go by and see if anything jumped out at her.

It was a great weekend - nice and relaxing and, for a change, quiet :-)