What do you get when you put 6 adults and 4 children ranging in age from two-and-a-half to almost 8 in a relatively small 3 bedroom condo for ten days? A good time with lots of laughs, that's what.
That's exactly how we spend the last 10 days. My wife, me, son and daughter, their spouses and children.
Fortunately the weather was perfect so there was plenty to do. The only source of conflict was over which of the grand children got to use the iPads and when.
Other than that and an occasional over-tired child, the 10 days went remarkably smoothly.
This is the second year we've done this and I hope it's a tradition that continues for many years to come.
Now it's on to the holidays--and winter!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Ten days of great fun
Here we are, Naples, FL, where the day-time highs are reaching 85 and night-time lows about 68--all ten of us (six adults, four kids ranging in age from 2 to 7)--for Thanksgiving.
This is the second year of what I hope to be a very long tradition.
Naples is a beautiful part of Florida. It is in my considered opinion much nicer than the east coast which is quite a bit more crowded.
This trip represents an opportunity to charge the batteries before winter begins in earnest in CT and more important, it's a time to spend with family.
Where ever you may be, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving. I know I will.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Loving the GOP Meltdown
While I'm a registered Democrat, I do vote across party lines. I only registered in the democratic party because many years ago I wanted to participate in a Connecticut primary and I never bothered to change.
Having said that, I admit that I almost always vote democratic in national elections.
Even if you're not particularly interested in politics, it's impossible not to notice the struggles of republican party in trying to settle on a candidate to run against a very vulnerable Obama.
Rick Perry is a joke. Herman Cain is in way over his head and Michelle Bachmann is just plain crazy.
So what about the rising star of Newt Gringrich? He's a pathetic little weasel who, should he get the nomination, get torn apart by the democrats.
All this means Obama, in spite of his failings, vaults and vulnerabilities, could coast to reelection.
But there's a full year to go. Anything can happen.
Having said that, I admit that I almost always vote democratic in national elections.
Even if you're not particularly interested in politics, it's impossible not to notice the struggles of republican party in trying to settle on a candidate to run against a very vulnerable Obama.
Rick Perry is a joke. Herman Cain is in way over his head and Michelle Bachmann is just plain crazy.
So what about the rising star of Newt Gringrich? He's a pathetic little weasel who, should he get the nomination, get torn apart by the democrats.
All this means Obama, in spite of his failings, vaults and vulnerabilities, could coast to reelection.
But there's a full year to go. Anything can happen.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Say it ain't so, Joe!
Legendary Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno, has been fired.
It's a shame that one of the most successful football coaches in history has to end his career in this way but Penn State did the right thing. He failed to take appropriate action in the face of reports and knowledge of the worse form of abuse there is.
What puzzles me--besides how he handled this--is the reaction of all those Penn State students rioting because he was fired! What are they thinking? Do they seriously condone the way he conducted himself? If so, this nation is in more trouble than I originally thought.
Shameful!
It's a shame that one of the most successful football coaches in history has to end his career in this way but Penn State did the right thing. He failed to take appropriate action in the face of reports and knowledge of the worse form of abuse there is.
What puzzles me--besides how he handled this--is the reaction of all those Penn State students rioting because he was fired! What are they thinking? Do they seriously condone the way he conducted himself? If so, this nation is in more trouble than I originally thought.
Shameful!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Back to normal
Early winter storm Alfred is long gone. Power (for most) has been restored. Internet, phone and TV up and running.
It's the start of a new week with sunshine and temperatures expected to reach into the 60s. In just 12 short days we'll be in sunny Naples, Fl for 10 days.
Spending the day with my two little buddies. Then later today two little sweeties coming over and staying over night.
Life is good, BUT don't think I'm going to stop bugging you in my Patch columns, CL&P! You've been dropping the ball big time. You need to clean up the trash in your front office.
It's the start of a new week with sunshine and temperatures expected to reach into the 60s. In just 12 short days we'll be in sunny Naples, Fl for 10 days.
Spending the day with my two little buddies. Then later today two little sweeties coming over and staying over night.
Life is good, BUT don't think I'm going to stop bugging you in my Patch columns, CL&P! You've been dropping the ball big time. You need to clean up the trash in your front office.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Autumn storm Alfred
Here's a little quiz for you. What do you get when you combine a heavy, wet snowfall with trees that have been weakened by a hurricane and are still partly or in some cases fully in leaf?
Right! Limbs, branches and even whole trees crashing down everywhere--roads, houses, power lines, etc.
That's exactly what happened on Saturday, October 29th. By Sunday morning there was anywhere from 8" to over a foot of very wet snow on the ground--along with lots and lots of wood!
The storm crippled the entire state--especially the town where we live.
In fact as I write this there are still thousands of people in the dark.
The silver lining is our particular household did not lose power. That made it possible for my son and his family--wife and two little boys and their boxer--to stay with us.
I'm sure they can't wait to get back to their own house but I know that when they do, my wife and I are going to sit there wishing they were back!
My daughter and her family--son-in-law Mike, girls Brooke and Courtney and yellow lab Lacey--lost their power too. They stayed with us one day but for the rest of the time they were able to stay at Mike's brother's house.
One thing's for sure. We've become a nation reliant on electricity.
My question is why haven't the utilities made more of an effort to go around putting power lines in the ground so that at least some of this can be prevented in the future?
Right! Limbs, branches and even whole trees crashing down everywhere--roads, houses, power lines, etc.
That's exactly what happened on Saturday, October 29th. By Sunday morning there was anywhere from 8" to over a foot of very wet snow on the ground--along with lots and lots of wood!
The storm crippled the entire state--especially the town where we live.
In fact as I write this there are still thousands of people in the dark.
The silver lining is our particular household did not lose power. That made it possible for my son and his family--wife and two little boys and their boxer--to stay with us.
I'm sure they can't wait to get back to their own house but I know that when they do, my wife and I are going to sit there wishing they were back!
My daughter and her family--son-in-law Mike, girls Brooke and Courtney and yellow lab Lacey--lost their power too. They stayed with us one day but for the rest of the time they were able to stay at Mike's brother's house.
One thing's for sure. We've become a nation reliant on electricity.
My question is why haven't the utilities made more of an effort to go around putting power lines in the ground so that at least some of this can be prevented in the future?
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