Wishing all you Hepcats a Happy New Year !!!

When you're smilin'...keep on smilin'

The whole world smiles with you

And when you're laughin'....keep on laughin'

The sun comes shinin' through

But when you're cryin'.... you bring on the rain

So stop your frownin'... be happy again

Cause when you're smilin'.... keep on smilin'

The whole world smiles with you

Louis Armstrong

Hey! Where's the fire???

Four days on my own and so far no fires or major emergencies.

I told the boys I thought it would be OK if they went back to the station and that I didn't see a need for them to remain parked across the street.

Fire Chief Schmedlap said they had a directive from adjacent neighbors and Sue to remain in place until Sue returned.

Luminary Night 2009

White Christmas Part Deux

"The Blizzard of 2009" as it's being called by the media, (they spin everything), turned out to be a pretty good snow producer. When it was all said and done we had 7 to 8 inches of snow here on the block. To the uninitiated this may not seen like very much but it actually brings to a grind, much of ones day to day activities. Driving becomes a dicey affair at best so if you can't walk to where you need to be, you might as well forget about going. Luckily we live in a neighborhood that is within walking distance of a handful of restaurants and a couple of drugstores.

First stop Saturday morning was Blanchard's Coffee Shop. Sue, Nuala, and I were joined this morning by neighbors Mike and Pam Schwartz, Mike House, John and Ruth Ann Coski.





We had the coffee shop to ourselves until some special visitors arrived, Molly and Ann Casen Blanchard, and the BG's, (Belde girls), Lily and Sophie.

After coffee it was back to the neighborhood... there was work to be done, shoveling the walks was the priority. As you can see, Nuala chose to supervise.

When the work was done it was time to play. The Andresen kids, Ian and Mia, with help from mom Heather, built a wonderful snowman. He was a dandy!

Then for no reason other than to be able to say that I'd done it, I strapped on the skis and made a couple runs down Prince Arther. The conditions were pretty bad, (no doubt why cars aren't used to groom ski runs), and I almost took Susu and myself out on the second attempt.

All this work and fun made for some hearty appetites so a bunch of us headed back down the street for lunch and some cold ones at O'Tooles Pub. After lunch and a couple beers a nap seemed in order. I headed for the couch and the others rested and recharged so we would have the energy to partake in "Luminary Night" to be held that evening at dusk.
...to be continued.

White Christmas

Snow Dance

ARMY vs NAVY 2009

Well, It's official. For the 8th straight year, (a record), Navy has walked off with the Brass Ring. For the records the score was Navy 17 - Army 3. Army fans can take some consolation in the fact that Army had the lead for the entire 1st half of the game. SNIFF!

We again hosted a small get together with our neighbors, Mike and Pammy Schwartz (Neutral), John and Ruth Ann Coski (Navy), and Mike House (Army). Thanks again Michael for your support of ARMY!! Thanks again Mike and Pammy for leaning towards Army... (Checks in the mail).

As for John and RA.... Cong...sputter..... Congra...... Gag........Congratula..... cough cough......
Ahhh Heck!!!
CONGRATULATIONS..... AGAIN!!!

GO ARMY BEAT NAVY 2010!!!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Dawg Daze: Nuala is caught in the act.

Nuala demonstrates how this brand of toilet tissue has 33% more fun.

To be continued.....

Yes Virginia, there is a Jack Frost.

Jack Frost aka Martin Short

December 5th, a date that will live in infam.... No, that's December 7th.

In any event, it will be noted in the annals of Richmond snowfalls that it did indeed snow on this date in 2009.

The records will reflect that the precipitation was in the form of snow flurries and that there was no accumulation. Oh, and that this was Nuala's first snowfall. Huzzah!!

I was only able to capture the falling flakes on film, (say that three times really fast), using the flash, which turned them into the ghostly apparitions you see here.

Nuala it turns out was unimpressed with the snow and found her joy in a stick.

c'est la vie

Will Jack Frost pay us a visit Saturday?

Anyone that knows me knows that I enjoy following the weather, some might say obsessively.

I am especially fascinated with winter and the prospects of snow, no doubt because it was so rare in Southern California, and Phoenix.

Well, the drum beat for the first snowfall for the 2009-2010 season is growing louder and the prognosticators are saying that this coming Saturday looks to be a good bet.

Tuesday was the first mention of the white stuff on the local forecast with 44 the high, 27 the low, with a 50% chance of rain/snow.

Wednesday the changed it to 43 the high, 26 the low, with a 50% chance of showers.

Today, Thursday, they predict 43 the high, 25 the low, and 90% chance rain/snow.

Having kept track of our Snowfalls going back to the 2002-2003 season I can tell you that our first snowfalls with any accumulation to speak of were as follows:

2002-2003 December 4th thru 5th Started 9pm 6 inches.

2003-2004 / 2004-2005 Both in Dayrunners and filed away, Curses!

2005-2006 December 5th 3-4 inches

2006-2007 January 18th AM (Dusting)

2007-2008 December 5th (Dusting)

2008-2009 January 19th (Dusting)

Interesting to note that the 2002, 2005, and 2007 events were all on December 5th and this Saturday is December 5th 2009.

Destiny???

Only time will tell.... in the meantime I'm going to go down and wax my skis.

Cowabunga Baby!!!

Thanksgiving visit day three, The finale.

The last day of Robin and Jenn's visit began with a visit to a favorite breakfast spot of ours, Paradise Diner. Not only did we enjoy a scrumptious meal but our guests graciously picked up the tab.

Thank you Ladies!

Then it was off to look over the Rivah down the street at Pony Pastures.

After leaving Pony Pastures and taking the scenic route along Riverside Drive, we ended up at the University of Richmond campus and took a leisurely stroll around the lake.

After U of R we drove the girls down Monument Avenue and ended up in Carrytown. There we stopped for Ice Cream at Bev's after walking through some of Sue's favorite shops.
After Carrytown it was back to the casa to finish packing, and have Nuala demonstrate, one last time, the proper lap dog form.

Then as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end". We said our goodbyes, packed the girls into the car and took them to the airport here in Richmond. There we said our goodbyes again, (sniff), and watched the girls disappear through the security checkpoint and off to their gate.

We had a great time and were both glad to entertain as well as to be entertained by our two very special guests.

Thanks loads Robin and Jenn, Love you, and we'll see you in Park City come February if not sooner.

Thanksgiving visit day two

Day two of the girls visit began early. Robin and Jenn joined Sue and I for the Saturday morning coffee run and since Blanchard's was closed for the holiday we decided to walk to Crossroads. We were joined this Saturday by neighbors John and Ruth Ann Coski, Mike and Pam Schwartz (they drove), and Dave Belde with his twins Sophie and Lilly. Crossroads was the original coffee haunt until Blanchard's opened up right around the corner, and is still a destination when we crave ice cream, malted shakes, pastries, and a quick breakfast or lunch.

After Crossroads we headed over to the Farmers Market at Forest Hill Park by way of the newly renovated Forest Hill Park Lake. This was a chance to show off the newest slice of Richmond to our guests.

Some of us did some shopping at the Farmers Market, while others had breakfast at one of the many vendors serving food, then it was back home for a little rest before the evenings activities.

Saturday Evening we tried out a new restaurant, The Boathouse at Rockets Landing, that is down in the Shockoe Bottoms area of Richmond. We had eaten at a sister restaurant that many of our past guests are familiar with, The Boathouse at Sunday Park, which over looks the Swift Creek Reservoir out near my 1st apartment in Midlothian, VA. We knew the food and setting for the Sunday Park restaurant was superb and found the new addition to the chain to be outstanding as well.

After dinner picture standing on the landing outside the restaurant and looking North west over the James River towards the Richmond city lights. A wonderful end to a wonderful day with our wonderful guests!

Sigh.... it's going to quickly!

Side note: This is truly a miracle to have this posted so soon after the initial post for the girls visit. I'd like to think I'm getting the hang of this but I know me all too well.... It's indeed a miracle.

Special Guests For Thanksgiving Arrive

A special treat for us this Thanksgiving was a visit from our eldest daughter Robin and her friend Jenn.

After spending the holiday with Jenn's family up in Ohio, Robin and Jenn flew into Dulles and our Nations Capitol, where Sue and I picked them up.

First stop on their whirlwind visit.... The White House.

We flirted with rain from IAD down to the White House and were beginning to think we were going to have to amend the itinerary. It took about 10 minutes to locate parking and as we left the garage the luck of the Irish smiled down and brought an end to the rain. We were even blessed with sunshine.

As we walked to the White House Sue mentioned this was the day they were going to deliver the White House Christmas tree. As we arrived on the north side of the capitol grounds I noticed they had security out in force and were not allowing the public to stand at the north fence, in fact everyone was being kept at the north side of Pennsylvania Ave. It turns out we had walked up just as the tree was arriving.... what a nice surprise!

Side note: My theory is the State Dinner party crashers breached security at this point and were stowed away like Chip and Dale inside the tree.

After watching the Xmas tree get wheeled into the WH grounds, (no we didn't see the Obama girls), we decided to walk around to the south side to see if we could get up to the fence there. As it turns out the security on the south side was relaxed enough to allow us to get up to the fence. Alas, the White House was obscured by a huge tent that had been put up for the State Dinner.

We were able to see the Cheesy National Christmas Tree, which is always wrapped so tight with lights it becomes hermetically sealed, and push the Welcome to the White House door bell.

It was then on to China Town and dinner with the girls at "Eat First" a Chinese restaurant our good friend Shawn had introduced us to. After dinner it was off to Richmond.

Another side note: This Blog entry has taken me four days and an evening to complete with multiple attempts to get it right each day. It may be years before I get the rest of the girls trip posted. Say a prayer for my sanity, what little of it there is left!

...and a few more reasons to love your 33 year old.

*A wonderful husband for our daughter.

*A stupendous father for our grandchildren.

* Not afraid to be a kid.

* Looks good in feathers.

*Makes simple trips into adventures.

*Amazes us all with the things he can accomplish.

*Has all the patience of Job.

*Is extemely inquisitive, and shares what he learns with all of us (ad nauseam). Ha... I just had to add that, and I hope you know I'm kidding!

*Has a great sense of humor, and I'm sure found the comment above quite humorous.

Oh, and did I mention he looks Great in feathers!

A Belated Happy Birthday Kind Sir!!!

This Puppy is growing, growing, gone... She's a puppy "dog" now.

I remember back in the day when Nuala was only 8 Lbs and meeting the neighbors for the first time. It wore her and Poppy out!

This was Nuala's first trip to the Rivah. Although she was tentative about getting in the water, eventually the Lab in her took over and she waded right in.

Sue and I hired a trainer for Nuala, Betty Rose the wife of the Vet and a real dog whisperer. Betty made a couple of suggestions with regards to a lead and harness and within minutes of using the new equipment Nuala was ready for the Westminster Dog Show.





I got a kick out of these pictures. They were taken weeks apart but I guess little boys, Kian in this case, and puppies think, and play a lot alike.

We used to have a puppy !!!

These were taken on a trip to the local park to visit the refurbished lake. We made the mistake of taking her after we had given her a bath. Note to self... If you take Nuala to water she will play in the water.

Oh, and as for our "puppy" dog.... 30 Lbs. and growing!

To Be Continued.............

Halloween 2009 on King William

In Attendance...
There were plenty of Ghosts, Goblins, along with assorted Fairies, Pirates, Giraffes, Monkeys, Bunnies, Kitties, Dalmatians, Hamburgers, and Fries... With Ketchup no less!

Bunny Hugs.



Good Witches... No, GREAT Witches!

Derek and Heathers "GREAT PUMPKIN"

The DOG behind Dawg Daze

Back in the end of August Sue sent me a Cell PIX message from the SPCA and I was introduced to "Carla". Unbeknownst to us at the time "Carla" was soon to become a part of the family.

I say unbeknownst knowing full well that as soon as I saw the Picture I knew Sue had found our puppy. I think Sue knew as well.

Sue and I went to the SPCA that evening and well after closing, returned home with our new charge

First order of business, a name!

Sue and I both thought "Carla" looked like a baby seal. Sue recalled that a character in a movie we both enjoyed, The Secret Of Roan Inish, was a Selkie. (Selkies as the story goes, are able to transform to human form by shedding their seal skins, and can return to seal form by putting it back on). The Selkie's name in the movie was Nuala.

And so, Carla became Nuala.

To Be Continued...

Fall Leaves

And all good things must come to an end....

Tureen O' TreasuresThe Big EZ

Eden polishes off one last Pumpkin Cookie

Harry Potter makes his cookie disappear.

Do these outfits make us look goofy?

Leaving for the airport.

One last glam photo shoot.