The Boys of Summer and a Field of Dreams

Sue and I took a trip to DC Friday afternoon and caught a Dodgers vs Nationals game at the new National stadium. We drove up to the the Franconia/Springfield Metro stop and took the Metro up to the park in order to avoid the parking crush before and after the game. Two thumbs up for that Idea!!

The Metro station was one block from the Center Field entrance to the Ball Park and you could see the stadium as soon as you exited the station... lovely!. Having been away from pro sports for so long here in sleepy Richmond, I was immediately caught up in the excitement and carnival like atmosphere that seemed to pour out of the park swirling around you then sucking you back towards the stadium and it's magical allure.

I was reminded of the James Earl Jone's character in Field of dreams and his description of why people will come to see the field of dreams.

They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers, sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The Memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant throughout the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But Baseball has marked the time.This field, this game, it's part of our past Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again.

PLAY BALL !

Thank you Susu for a wonderful idea and afternoon.

Love, Poppy

Like a duck to water, Nuala takes the plunge.

Today was the perfect day for a trip to the Rivah.

We've often wondered if the Lab in Nuala would kick in someday and turn her into a true water dog. She's enjoyed playing in the water but has never been comfortable enough to take the full plunge. That is, until today.

Nuala started her water play as she usually does, wading through the shallows, and biting at the rivulets flowing between the rocks. It wasn't until Sue had the bright idea of including in the game one of Nuala's true loves, a stick, that the water play took a turn towards the inevitable.


We started by throwing the stick into the shallows then slowly worked if farther out, and into deeper water until, Voila, Nuala came into her own and became a true Labrador Retriever.

Reminded me of watching my kids walk for the first time.

Next will be training her to retrieve the newspaper... from the neighbors house down the street.

After her swim it was time to dry off, loll in the sun, have treats, and gnaw the ubiquitous stick.

THE BIG DIP

Round of Golf and the Masters 2010

The King William Crew got together this last Sunday for a Round of Golf at the Belmont Golf Course, followed by lunch at a local Sports Bar and Grill, followed by the Masters Tournament down in the Man Cave.

The Belmont G. C. it turns out has some remarkable history in that it was host to the PGA Championship back in 1949. Sam Snead, (VA), was the winner in that event.

http://champexhibit.pgalinks.com/index.cfm?year=1949

We all had a great day both on and off the links.

Participants: Derek, Dave, Mike W., Mike S., Raj, and some rummy named Matt.

Hey ... Julie's in DC!

My sister Julie called me the other day to let me know she was in DC for business. Good timing as I had the following day off. Alas, I left Richmond at 3 PM and didn't arrive in DC until 7 PM.

4 hours to do 90 miles!

Sorry Kiddo, you didn't get much of a nickel tour, we had just enough time to go to dinner down in Chinatown.

We had a nice chat though and were able to catch up on all the who's doing what news.

I suggest next time we do this right and have you come when there's no work to do.

Love you a ton!

Nuala Cottontail, Easters on it's way!

Here comes Nuala Cottontail,

Hoppin down the bunny trail,

Hippity, Hoppity,
Easter's on it's way.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

Annual King William Easter Egg Hunt

Susu put together another of her annual events for the kids on the block, both old and young.

And as has been the case for all her events, it garnered rave reviews.

Great job Susu !!!

They're at the gate.... The flag is up.... Aaaaand they're off !!!

In the words of Roseanne Roseannadanna,"It's always something".

Well, they say these things happen in threes....

First my Mercedes mechanic closed his business...

This caused the purchase of a new car.

Then the appliance repairman told us it would cost $400.00 to fix the washer.

This caused the purchase of a new washing machine.
Wonder what could be next???



God Help Us!
This isn't our roof... just what I imagined would be next, what with the rain and all!

Susu's B-day flowers from Grandma Flynn

Very Nice !!!!

Thank you Grandma Flynn!!!

Happy Birthday Dear Susu, Happy Birthday Too You!

We all were blessed on this date just a few years back.

For it was on this date that Susan Ellen Picker came to be with us.

If I can be so bold as to speak for everyone that knows "Susu". When we look back on the fun times we have had over the years, the one constant has always been her presence.

It just wouldn't have been the same without her.

Happy Birthday Dear Susu

You are loved more that you will ever know!

And if I may close borrowing lyrics from the song "Life Is But A Dream".

Life is but a dream

And I dream of you

Strange as it seems

All night I see you

I'm trying to tell you

Just what you mean to me

If these are the Dawg Daze I wouldn't mind being a dawg!

Clip, clip here, Clip, clip there, We give the roughest claws that certain air of savoir faire, In the Merry Old Land of OZ.

Nuala spent Saturday getting her Spa treatment at Critter Town a local bath house for... well, Critters!

Then it was off to one of the local Cat & Dog Shoppes for a car bed to go in the new truck.

I'm not sure who was more spoiled, Susu or the dog ??

Hey big boy, Ya got a light?

Susu's new wheels.

When my Mercedes mechanic shuttered his business I decided it was time to look for a new set of wheels. So I took back my Civic and set Susu up in a CRV EX-L. She now has the warmest buns in town, (not to mention the cutest), thanks to the heated seats. Good timing too, as it's snowing again.

Next order of business... anyone need a vintage 1986 Mercedes?

Lacy Schnoor qualifies in 6th place & vaults to finals

Women's Aerials

WAY TO GO GIRL !!!

More Olympians

While Al was recuperating with Susu back at the condo, the rest of us headed over the to Olympic park to catch the Olympians preparing for the Vancouver games.

While watching the Aerial competitors we were standing next to Olympian:

Lacy Schnoor

Lacy Schnoor Crashes into Olympics

Hometown Draper UT, Born 6-12-1985 in Salt Lake City, Years on Team 6, Height 5'3'', Weight 113 lbs

Lacy competes in the Aerials

Never a dull moment with this crowd !

Playtime in the snow and a couple turns around the ice rink for Alex, Ezra, Kian, Eden, and Auntie Robin

Poppy's 55th guests play pin the cheesy mustache on Poppy.

After the games, awards are presented, candles blown out, and the cake is served.

Big Al's Big Spill was a Big Scare!

On Alex's second day in snowboard class I received a call and voice mail while skiing the mountain that requested my presence at the Ski Patrol medical hut at the base of the mountain. Seems Big Al had taken a spill and bonked his noggin.

The good news was that Alex was wearing a helmet at the insistence of Grandma Susu. Even so the Dr's manning the clinic said it appeared he had suffered a very mild concussion. Thus ended Alex's days on the mountain.

Quite time back at the condo was the Dr's orders.

Al is doing quite nicely at the time this is being posted.

Amazing, The people you meet in Park City!

What with the Vancouver Games being 8 days away it shouldn't have surprised me that we'd be rubbing elbows with some of the athletes that will be competing. It was a surprise to find myself riding the lift and having a conversation with one of the athletes from France.

The following link can be used for info on the Vancouver Winter Games

Arthur Longo, Snowboard
Height 173 cm (5' 8")
Weight 65 kg (143 lbs)
Date of Birth July 21, 1988
Age 21
Nationality France
Birthplace France
Club CS Les Deux-Alpes: Les Deux-Alpes, France
Coach Stéphane Azzola (fluofun.fr, 10 Nov 2009)
Hobbies Music, friends, parties, sport. (FIS, 13 Feb 2006)

Men's Halfpipe Qual.
Event Information This event is scheduled to start on: Feb. 17, 1:05 PM PST