Thought 4 My Thursday

Music 4 My Monday

This is a new song by Miley Cyrus called "Party in the USA" The song is awesome but, this video made by a bunch of guys is priceless. They title it "Party in the FIP" FIP would be the Fire Island Pines. For those of you not familiar with The Pines, it is a community on Fire Island in NY. It is primarily a summer community since it is on a barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. The people there are all about having fun as you will see in this video.

Grow up and be a stripper!

Ok, maybe it's just me but, I have an issue with this latest offering in children's toys. I assure you, my daughter will not be getting this one from Santa this year. And if she even thinks about asking for it, she is headed straight to therapy!

Thought 4 My Thursday

Family Ties? Who's family?

I am trying to figure out just what planet my mother lives on these days. She seems to have lost all touch with this one. Let me explain.

For many years my mom has always said she loves the closeness of our family. Apparently we have different ideas of what a close family is. We all live within several miles of each other but do not see each other all that often. Family functions are the primary times. Or so it used to be.

Last Sunday my brother had a BBQ to celebrate his daughter's birthday. They do it every year and always the same weekend. The past 2 years my parents decided to plan vacations for that weekend. So this year when they didn't, we all thought they would be attending. Okay, in fairness they did show up. They stayed for maybe an hour. The entire time my mom made sure to say repeatedly that they would not be staying long since they had another party to go to. Now correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't your 10 year old grand daughter take priority here? The party they were going to was at a friend's house. They have commented in the past about how they are not all that close to these people. In any event, off they go to this other party. I should also point out that the weekend before my sister had a party for her daughter and my parents were there early and were among the last to leave about 6 hours later.

A little while after my parents left my brother's house, my sister's daughter took a knock to the head when she walked behind the swing set. Because she fell on her butt and looked a little dazed, my paranoid brother-in-law called an ambulance. (That is a whole other story and by the way, she is fine). So, off go my sister, her husband, and my niece to the hospital. They left their son behind at the party. It was not very long after that my mom shows up to pick up my nephew. I guess none of the other 8 - 10 adult relatives are capable of watching a 7 year old boy? Now my brother is hurt and rightfully so. Not only was his family put aside when my parents left initially, but apparently my sister's kids are top priority.

Fast forward to Tuesday. (Yesterday). My daughter developed a fever while in school. Since Swine Flu is a scare these days, the school demands that you pick up the child immediately and keep them home an extra day. My wife also works in a school but, in another district. She knew it would take time to get home and I work even further away. So she called my mom. In the past my mom has told us many times that if we ever have an emergency she is here to help. Well, I guess she didn't think this was so important. She was asking what time Katie gets off the bus. My wife explained that she had to be picked up. So mom says, "You mean like now?" "Oh I don't know. I really have....." At this point my dad tells my mom to forget it. He will pick her up. I think he sees the favoritism being shown here. Why is it that my mom can drop everything to go get a grandson that is fine with other relatives, and yet can not take 20 minutes to pick up a sick grand daughter? All she had to do was bring her home where my oldest son was waiting. But nope. She could not be bothered

I know my brother was planning to confront her on the party issue. I think I will give him a call and see how that went. I also wonder how long it will be before the other grand kids catch on that they are all treated as if they are beneath my sister's kids. I already know both my boys see it. They have actually pointed it out........tm

September 11, 2001

I just returned home from a business trip. As I made the 7 hour drive home today I thought a lot about whether or not to post today. I just read the blogs of Sally and Riley and wanted to respond. I knew the reply would be lengthy so I am posting here instead.

Sept. 11, 2001 I was on my way to a conference in Lake Placid NY. I was with co-workers. 7 of us total so we were in 2 cars. We passed through NYC that morning at about 5 AM. As we approached the city I looked to see the familiar sight of the skyline. It included both towers. We stopped for gas about 8:30. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. It was a perfect day. We got back on the road and everything seemed just fine. It was not long after that one of the code officers in the other vehicle called me on the radio and asked if we had the news radio on. I replied that we did not. He then told me that a plane had just hit one of the trade towers. I assumed it was simply a small plane and that it would be easily controlled. Planes have hit the Empire State Building in the past too.

When I turned on the news I learned it had been a jet. I listened as the news gave the unfolding details and I listened as the reporter suddenly yelled that another plane had hit the other tower. Instantly we knew this was not simply an accident. As we drove further we listened as the events of that day unfolded. Immediately I began to think of my wife and children. Living on an island where the only way off is through the city, I knew they were suddenly cut off from the rest of the world. I started trying to recall which way the wind was blowing. What if there was bioweapons on the plane? Or nuclear? Would the wind carry and kill everyone we knew on the island?

I grabbed my phone and tried calling home. I needed to hear what was happening there. All I got was a busy signal. And so it went for many hours that day. Phone calls home were met with that annoying buzz buzz buzz. I was scared and unsure of what to do. We found out that all the bridges and tunnels were in lock down. Now we could not get home if we wanted to. This was certainly not the time to test how far my badge would get me in a crisis.

When we arrived at the hotel all we could do was watch the TV and pray. And so it was for all of us from all over New York that were this conference. An emergency meeting was called for those that had arrived. We were informed that we were all on stand-by. Our services were offered to the Governor of the State. We may be going in to assist in damage assessments as the search for survivors continued. It was not till 2 days later that we were informed that due to the overwhelming response and the realization that there was little hope for survivors, we would not be needed at that time.

I was finally able to get a land line call through early that evening. I found out that my family was fine. And the images on TV had shown that all the smoke was blowing out over the ocean and not over the island. My wife was also relieved to know I was fine. She said to me, "I knew you were passing through the city and I know you. You would have been running into the buildings doing anything you can to help as many people as you could." Four days later we were finally able to get home. You better believe my family got some very big hugs.

As the days went by, I learned of the deaths of people I had known. The memories of that day still haunt me. It is only through talking to my friends and some therapy that I am finally able to face this day each year.....tm

Random Pic of the Day

This was how I spent my morning.
Dena was busting on me for "working" so hard.
Obviously she is not a golfer or she would know that golf IS hard work!

What About Me 4 Wednesday

Part of my job involves traveling a couple times a year. This week is one of those times. I am in Alexandria Bay, NY also known as the 1000 Islands region. We were here about 4 years ago too. It's a pretty area. My room actually has a balcony that looks right out onto the St. Lawrence River. Just south of here is Lake Ontario

I actually look forward to these trips. I get to see nice areas of the country that I would not normally be in. In November I will be in Baltimore, MD. Even though the trip is work related, it is very relaxing. I don't have to deal with the normal daily stresses of the office when I am here.

Favorite 4 My Friday

This week's favorite is a feeling. Do you have a friend in your life that you can always count on? Someone that no matter how crappy a day you are having, just a few minutes spent talking to them can have you laughing and just very happy for that moment? I do.

It makes no difference what sort of mood I am in, I am always genuinely happy to talk to them. The opposite is also true. No matter how bad a day they are having, they are happy to hear from me and they let me know it. We can go from being pissed at the world and wanting to kill someone, to laughing hysterically over something so stupid and silly.

I love that feeling I always am left with after talking to them! Thanks kiddo. Hugz

"Insulting Batteries"

If any of you have a Facebook page, you know that one of the popular things to do on there is take silly surveys. You can find out important things about yourself like, "What 70's TV character am I?" or "What animal would I most likely turn into?" My son Tyler recently took one titled "What crime am I most likely to ever be arrested for?" His result was "Assault & Battery"

The other day, we were sitting in a restaurant having dinner and this survey came up. As we discussed it, my daughter sat with a puzzled look on her face. As soon as there was a moment silence she loudly asked, "Why would anyone insult a battery?" We all lost it and laughing so hard I am surprised we didn't get kicked out of the place!....tm

Random Pic of the Day

We just returned from spending a couple days in Pennsylvania. Monday we were in an amusement park called Knoebel's and Tuesday we went to Camel Beach which is a water park. The picture above was actually taken Monday. My daughter had the best time. She is a daredevil and will try pretty much anything. But, the best part of the whole trip for her was having her oldest brother back after a whole summer without him. She dragged him on many rides with her. When I saw her reach up and take his hand, I just smiled and snapped this pic.