Saturday, July 25, 2009

Kindling
















"Go collect some kindling!"

kin⋅dling: noun
1. material that can be readily ignited, used in starting a fire 2. the act of one who kindles

I stared at a blank expression. We were five miles outside of Ithaca, NY, camping deep in the woods, maybe a quarter mile from county Road 34. Five feet away from the car, sure, but we needed kindling! Brian still stared at me. Brad knew the definition, but only because he had a few more years of vocabulary building, and he still had no idea how to collect it. Anyway, it's their Dad's fault for not initiating them into manhood properly.

"Look around you! Use your man instincts!"

Still blank. So we got in the car and bought some Topps Supermarket Firewood for 5.99 a bundle. I dropped a gallon of water on the way out and we ran without waiting for cleanup.
Going to be cold. Stopped at the VOA Second Hand for some pants and a flea infested sleeping bag. Bought a 34 waist what was I thinking I said goodbye to that years ago but the sleeping bag was awesome.

Blinded everyone with my sweet new Platz headlight all night (paid $40 for that at Eastern Mountain Sports after a 22-year-old salesman with cool sideburns said he couldn't live without it when he was winter camping in the Adirondacks). Bradley slept through my Evinrude Outboard Motor snoring but Chris didn't, he reminded me about it three times during our Coleman Gas Stove breakfast. I told him Ruth doesn't say I snore. Note to self: Don't grill toast over propane.

Brad and Chris schooled us at badminton (although Brian's overhead amd my Lin Dan serve will resurface with ferocity at Apple Valley next week), we swam in 62 degree water, we ate meat, ham, and twizzlers. All around a successful camping expedition in Western New York.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Major League City
















I always told Ruth that when we moved from NYC, it had to be to a city with a major league baseball team. Ha! Here we are in Rochester, home of the Triple A Red Wings. Lots of no name players, no tailgating, no visits from the Brewers or Mets. But you know what? I couldn't care less (see above photo).

Friday, July 3, 2009

Strawberry Fields Forever















Berries in Bucket:
Dad - 13 pounds of berries
Elsa - 2 berries

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Dad, Put the Cheetos Down
















It's OK to wear pants in the house. I know there is a LOT of delivery pizza in the fridge. Organize the recyclables for godsake. Do some laundry! And, get back on my time schedule, start waking up earlier tomorrow and Monday, because I will return on Tuesday. Oh yes, I will return on Tuesday.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Separated at Birth Part 7
















Maggie Cheung from Wong Kar Wei's In the Mood for Love.

Elsa Bean from Mum and Dad's front yard, next to Dad's favorite bush. Thanks for the dress, Adina!

See past Separated at Births:

http://elsabean.blogspot.com/search?q=separated+at+birth

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Hannibal Henry















Dad once tried to test me. I ate his beets with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

RED ALERT RED ALERT
















RED ALERT!

Euro soccer shoes in the house! They do not fit Dad! Dad's are the big K-Swiss squash shoes... That means someone is working on his soccer skills in this American household!

Oh wait. Henry likes kicking a ball. I need a rule book. Or maybe just a couple of hours with Markus, he can walk me through the rules. Or Page. Page played soccer from 1975-1984 before he found out that the Packers were, 6-8 in 1984! and he should become a lifelong fan!

I always did kind of like ol' Jan Stenerud! I did!