Back home in Rivah City.

Ahhhhhhhh..... heaven!

The Super Moon...was a Super Yawn!

After reading all the hype about the Super Moon I thought I'd give it a look. I've seen similar moons, probably everyone has, that look incredibly large as they rise or set. My reaction to these generally has been, "gosh I wish I had a camera."
Well, this time I'd be ready!
Sunday morning the 23rd I rose early, 5 AM, filled a thermos with coffee and headed up to White Rock Lake, seems this place has become my sanctuary from any and all Dallas madness. I decided that a shot of the "Super Moon" with the lake and its marina in the foreground would probably make for a nice picture.
As I arrived at the marina there were a few other cars in the parking lot, my ideas are never very unique. I parked the car and walked the short distance to the waters edge and found a good spot to have the moon setting right behind the moored sailboats and framed by the branches of a large oak tree.
I was early, it was about 5:50AM, and the moon would be setting at 6:35AM, with the Super Moon set for 6:33AM. I had read that it would be best to be early as the sunrise would occur at 6:20AM and begin to wash out the setting moon.
After a cup of coffee, and relocating a larger green spider who's web I had disturbed, I broke out my cell phone camera and took a couple of pics to send home, and to Katie, to give the heads up that this was what I was up to at this early hour.
Get up! Get up! It's the SUPER MOON!!! If I was up everyone should be up!
My impression upon arrival was this looked very much like any other moon, and certainly not "Super" by my standards. I considered that maybe the moon would get larger as it dipped towards the horizon. No such luck, I was going to have to be happy with a less than super looking Super Moon. I will admit that early morning as the sun rises is my favorite time of the day, and has been for as long as I can remember. This said, I enjoyed watching the fauna come to life and start the new day. Watching the moon dip towards the horizon afforded some nice photos even if they weren't the spectacular ones I'd anticipated.
Now come on everyone... GET UP!

What to expect.... in 20 years.

Well... this was supposed to be a subtle dig towards my daughter Katie. I cannot count the number of her blog posts that state something to the effect, "Thank you so and so for taking pictures, I had completely forgotten to bring a camera."
I guess it was too subtle and Katie missed it completely. I suspect she was thinking that old dad had lost an oar and was dabbling in crayola art now.

Ezra slipped the surly bonds of earth today and joined the crew of the International Space Station after a successful launch from the Obama Space Port in Illinois.
I didn't have a camera handy, but luckily there was a kid there with some paper and crayons who was able to record the moment for posterity.

snicker......

test post

Wanted to see if I could post from this phone.

Kids at thr Diamondbacks vs Giants game

Giants win ... boo hiss!

Belde's back in the hood... must be 5 o'clock!

March 2013, Going Home.

Smore...

Thought I'd better catch up on some missing 2012 posts before the 1st Quarter of 2013 is over.

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~ FLAT STANLEY DOES RICHMOND & DC ~

This was a project for Susu's nephew James that we accomplished during the Christmas / New Years holidays.

James River, Richmond skyline.

Lincoln and Tad monument (Tredegar), bottom left.

St John's Church - (Patrick Henry - Give me liberty or give me death), bottom & middle right

Top right and middle bottom, Virginia State Capitol.

White House of the Confederacy, top left.

Byrd Theater-Richmond, Arlington, Washington Monument, White House.

US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, Westover Hills local haunts, Taza, and Chocolates by Kelly, Kelly Walker

Forest Hill Park Lake, Reedy Creek, The Casa on the Mesa.

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~ CHIHULY AT THE VMFA ~

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Luminary Night on King William

New Years Eve 2012-2013

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Back to Dallas..... PU!

Worked Super Bowl weekend and the three of us that drew the short straws decided to order out from The Bryan Street Tavern. One and a half blocks from the office so no chance the pizza and wings would get cold.

Great Pizza and Super Wings...

And look what I spied on the menu.... I'll have to go back!

Smores Pizza 9”

Gooey marshmallow, graham cracker and warm
chocolate baked to perfection in our stone fired
pizza oven.

YIKES... Throw in a dollop of ice cream...Mmmmmmmm

The people one can meet in Dallas...

~ ~ Quiz ~ ~

Who.... 

Competed in four Winter Olympic Games ('84,'88, '92, '94). In their Olympic career, they won five gold medals and one bronze medal, (one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history.)

Was Born: March 18, 1964

Stopped by the ATT HQ in Dallas on 2-7-2013 and was accosted by moi.

~ Then ~ 

~ Now ~

~ ANSWER ~

Bonnie Blair defends her Olympic 500m title - Albertville 1992

Home for the Holidays!

Sunday the 23rd I was up early, after one of those fitful nights sleep worrying I'd sleep through the 2:30 AM alarm, then is was off to the airport for the trip home to Virginia. I concluded the early morning hubbub was worth it as the lights of Texas fell away along with all the pent up angst built up over the time I've been away from Susu, Nuala, and our little casa on the mesa back in Richmond.

Flights to VA were uneventful, always a pleasant surprise in this day and age, and as we turned the corner onto King William we were greeted by a phalanx of neighbors who thru the efforts of John Coski had assembled to welcome me home, banner and all.

Have I ever mentioned we have the best neighbors in the world!

First order of business after passing out hugs was a run to the Rivah with Nuala. We both agreed we were back in heaven!

Second order of business a very cozy nap.

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Monday was spent running errands in preparation for Christmas, with a quick stop at Susu's new office.. no picture for this days activities, save the picture of the church down the street taken on a late walk with Nuala..

Christmas we were up early to prep for the Christmas Turkey Dinner Extravaganza.

Nuala opened her presents, then we took a quick walk down to the river, before our lunch date at the Coski's.

Upon returning from our lunch date we Skyped with the Lamoreaux's and heard all about the loot Santa brought for the grand kids. Eden was most proud of her stocking stuffer mustache.

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The Christmas finale was a very well prepared Turkey Feast.

Thanks to Susu's culinary skills it was all delicious!

And I ate entirely too much of it!

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Lamoreaux Christmas Concert
2012
 

Thank you Katie, Brig, Ezra, Kian, and Eden.
Move over Von Trapp Family!
For these are a few of my favorite things!
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Get Out !!!

24 Hours with the Belde's in Austin

I took a drive south from Dallas to Austin this past weekend, and spent time with our old VA neighbors, and my new TX neighbors, Dave, Amelia, Lily, and Sophie, Belde.

I was treated to the nickel tour of Austin as well as lots of hugs and smooches from the BG's.

The BG's,
(Belde Girls),
Lily and Sophie... or Sophie and Lily...

I still can't figure out who is who, except for the tall one of course, and that would be Amelia!

Downtown Austin, on and around Congress and 6th Streets.

Texas State Capitol

One, of what seemed like hundreds, of Food Trucks in the area, selected for a picture more for the name than anything else.

Busy BG's.

I was treated to a late lunch / early dinner Saturday.

Sunday morning story time, 101 Dalmatians, followed by a trip to the school playground.

Dave and the girls engaged in a spirited game of Gagaball.

Not unlike dodge ball.

Saturday night at Zilker Park in Austin for the reopening of the Trail Of Lights.

This event also included a 1 mile kids run followed by a 5k run for the masses. Dave and I considered signing up at the last minute, I was glad we didn't when I saw the uphill finish!

After a busy day, and the evenings outing to the Trail Of Lights, the girls were fed and it was time for bed.

Bedtime was proceeded by the "Toothpaste Tube Went Into The Toilet Meltdown."

Thank you Dave, Amelia, Lily, and Sophie, for the wonderful weekend in Austin.

I was spoiled by you once again!

Grand Finale

How fortunate I was to be able to spend part of the Thanksgiving Holiday with my kids and grandkids!

I was spoiled and entertained constantly... what a way to live!!

Alas, all good things must come to an end, but in the words of that nefarious marauder Black Bart:

"I'll be back Lamoreaux's!"

Ride to Chocolate Island & Virtuoso Pianists.

 ~ Thursday ~

For those uninitiated... Chocolate Island is a wondrous place that lives in the imagination of select group of true pirates. Tales have been told of pirates navigating the hazardous chocolate seas that surround the island so that they might have a picnic on the island.
But pirates beware.... the island is also inhabited by the dreaded rogue pirate Mom. It's been said that when the pirate Mom boards a ship anchored at the island, the terror it causes the boats crew is so bad they cease to act rationally, and can be so distraught they fling themselves off the boat with no regard to what might lay below, much to the consternation of pirate Poppy.
Arrrr,,, what's a few more gray hairs!
Thanks Eden, for taking me on the exciting picnic at Chocolate Island.

School visits.

Wednesday with the Lamoreaux's found us picking Eden up from school and heading over to Ezra and Kian's school for a visit with the boys during their lunch time recess.

  Clockwise from top right: Picking up Eden at school, Kian ambles across the playground, then takes a break while acknowledging mom's arrival, Ezra in goal, Eden rides the shuttle.

 Picking up the pace.

BMOC

Recess and Lunchtime. "Bottom right" Eden lights up when her Bro comes around the corner.

While the boy's do homework, Eden takes her Ballet Lessons.

Ready for the Bolshoi!