Click the little arrow for video and Barack Obama ad!
Our last meal at the diner for this trip. This visit by my sister, my brother-in-law, and my nephews has been very cool! Much thanks to all four of you for taking this time to come see us. All our regular lives go on now, but changed forever by our week together --- THANKS!
Starting from front left, Mom, Dad, Maeve, Kim, Jeffrey, Noah, Will, Don, Anne, Wyatt, Cheryl, Casey, Deanna, and Maya! All my immediate family except Jennifer (had to work), and of course brother Dave. Another 4 generation picture! Thanks to all for a great day! Click for a larger view.
Mom and I had a great day today! I don't often spend time alone with Mom, but today we just took off and drove around, checking out things, feeding our selves, and just enjoying a beautiful day. Above, Mom sits on a bench in Maplewood Park Rose Garden here in Rochester. Below we enjoyed burgers and salad at a 1950's style place at the Port of Rochester, site of the former Fast Ferry Terminal. Below that, we were treated to the sight of a family of geese casually crossing the road while we waited. A great day!
We finally got to the shop today. Noah with a spinning top maze, with Jeffrey looking on. I think all of us had a great time! This week will be a sort of a one track deal. Again - a whole week with my sister, my nephews, and my brother-in-law. I'll get back to the other stuff next week!
I've had a sister for a long time, but until yesterday I had only seen her 3 times. I'll leave out the details, but this is very cool. That's Kim on the right, husband Will, and nephews Noah, and Jeffrey! In one fell swoop I've added to my uncledom by a factor of 2? 2/5ths? I can't do the math, but I know these are two very sharp guys. No way to catch up in a week, but we will get started! This definitely gets the "Thank You" label!
The two people whose very presence on this earth makes me a Dad and a Grand Dad! I left the camera in the car when we went into the diner.... on purpose. I love taking pictures, but once in a while find that I want to leave it behind and experience the moment without the recorder. Like Mother's Day, there were 4 generations around the table for lots of good food, and great story telling.
The above arrived today as a reminder of a silly moment in an otherwise not too memorable trip to Las Vegas for a show.
Wyatt (nephew) turned 14 last week, but the party was yesterday at our house! What more can I say? Having your nephew (and niece - coming up in mid August) want the birthday party at Uncle Don and Aunt Cheryl's house, despite needing to do it a week late, is just about the coolest thing going! They both harass me a lot about being old and forgetful - I actually forgot to call Wyatt on his real birthday! - but I guess Cheryl and I are still OK????? I hope Wyatt and Maeve read this, so they know how proud we are of both of them! Wyatt brought along 7 honors awards for this past school year to show us, and Maeve is going to be inducted into the National Honor Society next week - 46 years after me!
Future rock star Wyatt below with his main gift from his Mom.... a combo electric and acoustic guitar, along with lessons!
We love you! Anne has done a terrific job of keeping these two fine people on track...... their Dad, my brother Dave, would be very pleased!
When this storm came through the show last Sunday afternoon, most of those not needing to hold down their tents, went home. The rest of us silently cursed the prospect of packing wet tents into our vans, and silently prayed that our tent would remain standing after the thunderstorm passed, and that all the wonderful things we had made would be dry and unbroken! With the crowd all gone, and only about 90 minutes left in the show day, we all packed up after the storm passed. Very little damage for most of us - and the added benefit of getting packed a bit early - some compensation for packing that wet tent!
Close Act Visual Theatre was back in Detroit for the festival again..... last year they were dinosaurs - video from last year here. This year they were large insects --- sorry - no video this time... they only came by the booth a couple of times.
Below are a couple of pictures of much smaller visitors to the booth --- one on the clipboard we use for folks to sign their credit card slips, and another on some fabric we throw over some of our containers to make them prettier? Click on pictures for a closer view.
Maya is slowly and with great deliberation working out her feelings about grass. Earlier experiences with grass seemed to not go so well, but today she seemed willing to try it out for a little while.
Last year at the Detroit Festival of the Arts, we were selling our Obama pins, but the most common response was "WHO?" This year was a lot different!
The above view was taken from the driver's seat of our van on the way home from Detroit. The odd thing is that I'm not driving, but being towed! The van just shut off a bit west of Buffalo, but thanks to AAA and a bit of luck, we are now home, safe and sound. The van is parked outside our repair shop right now --- thanks to 2 very nice young men. One got us off the Thruway, and another brought us and the van to Rochester. I still think it is a remarkable world where folks keep hotel rooms clean and ready in case you need them, and other folks are ready to get you home even when your van isn't ready to get you home!
It might seem like a strange topic for a blog entry, but we have here a story of epic proportions. If I had become a preacher as one of my earlier paths suggested, there would be material here for a very good sermon! Maybe even a series!
Learning to explore has it's dangers. While using the TV stand as a hand rail, Maya slipped and banged her lip! Grandma Cheryl immediately applied ice - Maya loved it - and the swelling was kept to a minimum! Grandma was very upset that the injury came on her watch however!
Dads everywhere like to push the limits..... that is one of the main jobs of boys after all. Maya and Sophie played with the railing (with their Dads' help of course). The moms of course had to urge safer play, but I wonder who was taking the picture!
And after hanging over the rail, Dad showed his softer side!
A customer from Connecticutt sent along this picture today. Sort of makes the day's blog entry easy.
