What a year 2010 was. We celebrated three major life events during the year, went on two kick-butt vacations and enjoyed so many special times with family and friends. I am not even going to try to pick one best event--whether I wrote about it in the blog or not. But, I do want to write about the Events of 2010 because the year was a truly special year. And so, in an effort to keep them all on a level playing field, I am calling them the Events of the Year and will try to keep them in chronological order.
So take a moment with me to review the great events of the year.
Lucas. The third grandson and Jeremy and Nicole's first child. The year got off to a grand start right in January with the arrival of Luke. Births always bring the family together--and this one was no exception. We have had the opportunity to watch him grow through this first year of life and develop already into a great kid. He is all in--in everything he does.
Snowpocaplyse. Snow in more amounts than we can remember. The dueling blizzards closed down the region for the better part of two weeks. I wrote a number of blog items about the snow but one of the coolest things that happened was the impromptu Super Bowl party we hosted for the neighborhood because we were all trapped by the snow and could not get out to our planned parties. We learned a lot about our neighbors and the whole neighborhood came closer together as a result of the blizzards.
Napa. The first of out two kick butt vacations of the year. Our first trip to Napa and a great time with Pennie and Scott. Not just wine--but natural beauty and wonder as well. It was a great week in a great place.
Jax clean bill of health.Jax went through some really tough medical testing during May. He was sick and they tested him for so many different diseases and syndromes that we had to continually remind ourselves that the doctors were searching for a needle in a haystack--or in this case Jax's blood. In the end, God provided the answer through all of the testing--there is nothing abnormally wrong with Jax--no disease and no syndrome. He was just having a rough time.
The Wedding. The planning, the talking, the execution. It was simply elegant. We enjoyed the union of Tina and Patrick--and a beautiful June day in Baltimore with family and friends. Everyone contributed to this day in some way and that is what made it so special. Plus--the reception was a fun experience and the after-reception party was fun as well.
Florida Vacation. I love Florida and Jupiter. What more needs to be said? A week with Nicole and Mike and the boys followed by a week with Mary and Fran in an awesome place. We survived a glancing blow from a hurricane, swam with sharks and manatees, went on a safari, snorkeled and really enjoyed ourselves. There are so many blog entries on this that it is easy to get the flavor of how much I enjoyed my time away from the grind of life.
Ethan Off to School. A momentous event in every child's life. E is now firmly in the grip of the public school system. And the reward--E-day. Wednesday afternoons Ethan and I get some alone time which I call E-day when I get to provide after-school care.
Wine Weekend with Friends. A mini-vacation in October when our friends accompanied us for an overnight to Charlottesville, VA to visit the wineries and reengage with some history.
Thanksgiving Family Gathering. Mom and Dad made one of their infrequent visits to Maryland to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. And we did celebrate. Patrick won the annual Axis and Allies tournament that we hold the day after Thanksgiving and everyone had a great time. Nicole and Mike hosted a great meal on "the day," and we overdosed on football and desserts.
Consensus Wine Blending. Read the blog entry. Chris and I did this last year and determined we wanted to win this year--and we did. This day is just great fun.
Christmas. Family, friends and fun. We gathered together a couple of times--Christmas Eve breakfast, church, Christmas Day presents and dinner. A truly special celebration of Christ's birth.
And there you have them--the Events of 2010. All of them special and important. They, together, are the winners for the best events of the year.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
December Grasses
This morning I looked out the window and saw the sun, yes, really the sun, illuminating the now brown grasses around the pool. The sky was blue and the grasses were golden and shimmering in the sunlight.
I wanted to cut them down a while ago--I have to do that every year, but now I am glad that I didn't.
It was over 40 degrees today for the first time in over two weeks--it felt like a summertime heat wave.
It felt good to be outside, I also build a bird house with Ethan during the late morning and early afternoon. It only took a few hour--but I wound up emptying the garage in order to get a workspace for us to construct in. We had to take many breaks to warm up. Some hot chocolate and a couple minutes inside and we were back at the project which only required two trips to Lowe's for supplies.So the in between week has been full of some different activities. And relaxing and at times frustrating (installing my new router highlighted a problem with my laptop).
But it is a week I look forward to every year. And although I have to work tomorrow, I am excited about the new year celebrations which are just a couple of days away.
Favorite Blog Items - 2010
I reviewed the massive amount of writing I did for 2010 and tried to get it down to the top ten items or articles. I got close. I will announce my winner with the picture of the year on December 31st. And the nominees for favorite item from the blog for 2010 are:
Integrity Lapses End Badly. An item about the resignation of the Mayor of Baltimore because she had some integrity issues.
Lucas Arrives. An item about the arrival of the youngest member of the family.
"To Do" or "Not To Do"? lists and my use of lists to not do things. Don't let things get put on my list!
Grandfather - Other Duties as Assigned. This is about taking off a day from work to spend as the primary caregiver for Lucas and how much fun I really had.
For the Love of My Dog - Keeping Life in Perspective is about how having a dog keeps me grounded.
Quote of the Day. It was April 6th and we were in the Napa Valley at the Old Faithful Geyser and there were some little sheep of a different variety and Chris made this really humorous statement when she saw them.
Complicated Factors. I got on my soap box about people.
Home Projects--the Blood Factor. About how home projects just never are as easy as they seem or that they should be.
Afternoon with the Bride and Groom. One afternoon with Patrick and Tina finalizing arrangements for the wedding.
Sand and Beaches. Some thoughts about beaches.
Fizz in the Glass of Life. Some random thoughts about grandchildren and life.
Plug-n-Play Leadership: the Wrong Answer. A rant about something I see as really wrong about leadership in government.
Consensus Blending - Fun at the Winery. Retells the fun we had one Sunday at Keswick blending wine.
Boy in the Window is about how seeing a small boy playing in a store window reminded me of a 50 year old memory.
Wine Club Dinner: The 2010 Version is a Hit reviews the dinner we enjoyed with the wine club.
Dark Trees was one of the eight poems I wrote in the blog this year.
Integrity Lapses End Badly. An item about the resignation of the Mayor of Baltimore because she had some integrity issues.
Lucas Arrives. An item about the arrival of the youngest member of the family.
"To Do" or "Not To Do"? lists and my use of lists to not do things. Don't let things get put on my list!
Grandfather - Other Duties as Assigned. This is about taking off a day from work to spend as the primary caregiver for Lucas and how much fun I really had.
For the Love of My Dog - Keeping Life in Perspective is about how having a dog keeps me grounded.
Quote of the Day. It was April 6th and we were in the Napa Valley at the Old Faithful Geyser and there were some little sheep of a different variety and Chris made this really humorous statement when she saw them.
Complicated Factors. I got on my soap box about people.
Home Projects--the Blood Factor. About how home projects just never are as easy as they seem or that they should be.
Afternoon with the Bride and Groom. One afternoon with Patrick and Tina finalizing arrangements for the wedding.
Sand and Beaches. Some thoughts about beaches.
Fizz in the Glass of Life. Some random thoughts about grandchildren and life.
Plug-n-Play Leadership: the Wrong Answer. A rant about something I see as really wrong about leadership in government.
Consensus Blending - Fun at the Winery. Retells the fun we had one Sunday at Keswick blending wine.
Boy in the Window is about how seeing a small boy playing in a store window reminded me of a 50 year old memory.
Wine Club Dinner: The 2010 Version is a Hit reviews the dinner we enjoyed with the wine club.
Dark Trees was one of the eight poems I wrote in the blog this year.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Favorite Pictures from the Blog - 2010
Below are my nominations for the best picture of the year from my Blog. These are all images that either I or my lovely wife, Chris, took on our cameras. I will announce the winner on December 31st along with my best blog item of the year.
1. Jax is the coolest 2-year old on the planet. He has the world always under control. And for that matter he always has his parents and grandparents in the palm of his hand, too. I love this picture because I really love this hat. I wish I could wear one with the confidence that Jax does!
3. "Through the Crystal" as I have titled this image, is shot out the front door of the house looking into the post 1st Snowpocalypse event in February. I thought about this shot and felt it would provide a cool memory of the event. Of course, at the time I had no idea that a second even larger storm was on the way. When we were done, some almost 60 inches of snow lay on the ground. We were trapped for four days--with over 40 inches of snow in the street. The driveway was clear--but the street was impassable.
4. Makayla loves the snow. She was having more fun in the snow during the Snowpocalypse than should have been allowed. It was fun to watch her run through the snow and shake it all over herself. It was not fun, however, cleaning off her feet when she came in from playing.
5. The roads were impassable. Chris and I and Makayla took a walk to check them out. The day was snowy and cold. Just the kind of weather Chris and Makayla like. I remember about the snow and cold for the entire walk. I was a true downer to be with since the snow spirit was so high in Chris.
7. As we walked through the Redwood forest during our Napa/Sonoma vacation, we spied this web glinting in the sunlight. Chris worked her magic--walking off the path and into a dry stream bed to snap this shot.
8. This is one awesome looking dude! Getting ready for the wedding and looking his best--even with the half smile. Look at him--he is such a cool looking dude all decked out.
10. On the beach in Jupiter, armed with her Kindle--reading and relaxed. No--she did not take this image.
11. Sometimes an image just captures a scene exactly as I remember it. The hurricane was moving off shore. The surf was rough. The sky and the clouds we vivid and to be remembered. The wind was strong and it reminds me of paintings I have seen of the sky and surf.
12. Before I managed to destroy my underwater camera, I had a great day of snorkeling and was able to capture this school of fish. I love the way the sunlight is playing with the shadows on the bottom and the sand is being channeled by the action of the waves. I felt like a member of the school as I was swimming with the fish the day. I enjoyed the snorkeling, but I would have loved to just be laying on the bottom in scuba gear--eve though ti was only 10 feet deep. I should have rented a tank.
13. And off on the rocks--not 50 feet offshore one day and group of manatees came to sun themselves. They were awesome--not as awesome as the one that caught us by surprise a day later when Chris and I were snorkeling--but nearly so. In all of the years we have been coming to Jupiter, we had never seen manatees--but this past winter was especially rough on the manatee population, with some 10 percent dying due to the cold. So their patterns must have changed a bit. No problem--we thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.
15. We were out driving one evening after dinner and saw the perfect spot to snap an image of Jupiter Lighthouse. Chris took it--and I was sure it wouldn't come out--but look--it did.
16. Lucas, asleep. 2010 is the year of Luke! What a great kid. What fun--and how he has so changed and developed. He is such a neat kid. One of the "Gang of Three."
17. The first day of school. I can feel the anxiety in the image. That would be his Mom's anxiety.
18. No year in review would be complete without my favorite past time being included. This bunch of Cabernet Franc grapes was at Keswick Vineyards in early-October. A beautiful Sunday morning.
19. My Pair of Kees together. BFF.
20. And to end the year--the Eclipse Equinox. Chris took it, but I got up to view it as well. A truly unique event almost 400 years in the making.
1. Jax is the coolest 2-year old on the planet. He has the world always under control. And for that matter he always has his parents and grandparents in the palm of his hand, too. I love this picture because I really love this hat. I wish I could wear one with the confidence that Jax does!
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| Jax--I love this Hat! |
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| Baby? Where's the Baby? |
2. Jeremy after Lucas was born. I don't really remember what was going on, but this picture really captured the emotions of the time--the joy, the excitement and the terror.
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| Snowpocalypse through the crystal of the door |
4. Makayla loves the snow. She was having more fun in the snow during the Snowpocalypse than should have been allowed. It was fun to watch her run through the snow and shake it all over herself. It was not fun, however, cleaning off her feet when she came in from playing.
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| Makayla Loves Snow |
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| Barely Passable |
6. I needed some color and we found it in California at a winery. These flowers just brightened up my whole day. And this image brightens my day every tome I look at it.
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| California Colors of April |
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| Spider Web in the Redwood Forest |
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| I'm the Man! |
9. At the wedding of the year. This image, I think, really captured the emotion of the day. Nuff said.
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| No Caption required |
10. On the beach in Jupiter, armed with her Kindle--reading and relaxed. No--she did not take this image.
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| I'm Bored with Beaches |
11. Sometimes an image just captures a scene exactly as I remember it. The hurricane was moving off shore. The surf was rough. The sky and the clouds we vivid and to be remembered. The wind was strong and it reminds me of paintings I have seen of the sky and surf.
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| Like a Painting--Jupiter Beach |
12. Before I managed to destroy my underwater camera, I had a great day of snorkeling and was able to capture this school of fish. I love the way the sunlight is playing with the shadows on the bottom and the sand is being channeled by the action of the waves. I felt like a member of the school as I was swimming with the fish the day. I enjoyed the snorkeling, but I would have loved to just be laying on the bottom in scuba gear--eve though ti was only 10 feet deep. I should have rented a tank.
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| I'd Love to be Sleeping with the Fishes |
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| Manatees! Right There! |
14. My favorite bird! I don't know why--it just is.
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| Real Birds Wear Pink! |
15. We were out driving one evening after dinner and saw the perfect spot to snap an image of Jupiter Lighthouse. Chris took it--and I was sure it wouldn't come out--but look--it did.
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| Jupiter Light House So I Can Find My Way Back |
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| Lucas A New Definition of "Sleeping Like a Baby" |
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| Every Mother's Nightmare The First Day of School |
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| Walking in the Vineyard |
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| A Pair of Kees |
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| Equinox Eclipse |
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas 2010: Twenty Pictures
And as a summary of Christmas with the family--here are twenty pictures to relive the memories.
Jax totally toasted about 5PM--the day caught up with him.
The family--chillin after the presents
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| Ornaments on the Tree |
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| Reflecting the Beauty |
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| Jax on Christmas 2010 |
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| Christmas Afternoon |
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| Who Took My Present? |
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| Ethan: Spy Hunter |
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| I Love Coats! |
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| Dad, When are they Leaving? |
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| Nicole--Relaxed |
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| Grandma? Who Gets the Next Gift? |
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| What a Cute Butt! |
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| Chewie chewing |
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| Riordan under the Christmas Palm |
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| Picture of the First Picture with the New Camera |
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| Pop-pop and Lucas Digging In |
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| Christmas Eve Brunch: And So it Begins |
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| The Women in my Life |
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| Shhh! Santa has been Here! |
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| The Family 2010 |
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| The Youngest Fighting for Grandma's Love |
Monday Musings - December 27, 2010
1. 363 days until Christmas 2011. Five days until 2011. Who are you partying with?
2. Did you read about the 9 year old boy who is the youngest American ever to be classified as a chess master? Read about Samuel Sevian.
3. I found it scary funny that North Korea was declaring a holy or a sacred war on South Korea. How does an atheistic country have anything holy? Isn't that an oxymoron?
4. I heard this at work and it is a funny way to end the season--Why does Santa have three gardens? So that he can hoe, hoe, hoe.
5. I love sports--and I have watched some cricket when i have been on international travel--but there is something really weird when someone can score 498 runs in an inning. CNN International reported that the other day. Really? I remember one time, when I was at a British RAF base for the 4th of July, we played the base cricket team a game of softball. It doesn't transfer well, suffice it to say.
6. I love the CIA. You have got to read this article about a new group they created--WTF. It made me LOL.
7. The day after Christmas when the presents are all gone--the Christmas Tree looks so lonely and forlorn.
8. It snowed a bit today--and the entire region panicked.
9. The saddest part about Christmas is that it ends and we so quickly forget everything and return to the way we were.
2. Did you read about the 9 year old boy who is the youngest American ever to be classified as a chess master? Read about Samuel Sevian.
3. I found it scary funny that North Korea was declaring a holy or a sacred war on South Korea. How does an atheistic country have anything holy? Isn't that an oxymoron?
4. I heard this at work and it is a funny way to end the season--Why does Santa have three gardens? So that he can hoe, hoe, hoe.
5. I love sports--and I have watched some cricket when i have been on international travel--but there is something really weird when someone can score 498 runs in an inning. CNN International reported that the other day. Really? I remember one time, when I was at a British RAF base for the 4th of July, we played the base cricket team a game of softball. It doesn't transfer well, suffice it to say.
6. I love the CIA. You have got to read this article about a new group they created--WTF. It made me LOL.
7. The day after Christmas when the presents are all gone--the Christmas Tree looks so lonely and forlorn.
8. It snowed a bit today--and the entire region panicked.
9. The saddest part about Christmas is that it ends and we so quickly forget everything and return to the way we were.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Day After Christmas
It's the day after Christmas and the skies are all gloom
The toys and the stockings lay strewn round the room
The dog's still in hiding, the cat can't be found
And hordes of young children lie heaped in a mound
And Chris in her pj's, and I in my briefs
had just woke from sleeping off two pounds of beef
Well, you get the idea. Months of planning led to the successful execution of the game plan, and unlike the Cowboys last night who couldn't get an extra point when they needed it--the Christmas 2010 plan was a total success.
Eleven people gathered for dinner yesterday and enjoyed the spirit of the holiday, together. I do recall that on Christmas Eve, with the additional family of friends, we needed 16 seats in church--and miraculously we got them all in a row.
And so--although on the calendar Christmas was yesterday--we are still in the season of Christmas through January 6th--don't let all the planning that has been done during the past couple of months be lost so quickly. Take a minute--thank God for your blessings and then take a deep breath and reflect on hopefully happy memories with friends and family.
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| 2010 Family Christmas Family Picture |
The dog's still in hiding, the cat can't be found
And hordes of young children lie heaped in a mound
And Chris in her pj's, and I in my briefs
had just woke from sleeping off two pounds of beef
Well, you get the idea. Months of planning led to the successful execution of the game plan, and unlike the Cowboys last night who couldn't get an extra point when they needed it--the Christmas 2010 plan was a total success.
Eleven people gathered for dinner yesterday and enjoyed the spirit of the holiday, together. I do recall that on Christmas Eve, with the additional family of friends, we needed 16 seats in church--and miraculously we got them all in a row.
And so--although on the calendar Christmas was yesterday--we are still in the season of Christmas through January 6th--don't let all the planning that has been done during the past couple of months be lost so quickly. Take a minute--thank God for your blessings and then take a deep breath and reflect on hopefully happy memories with friends and family.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Prayer 2010
Father in Heaven
The world moves too fast and I let it rob me of time to spend with you. Help me to see the glory of your coming to earth as you promised to provide a way back to intimacy with you. Intimacy that I don't appreciate, for I use my time to do other things and to satisfy other pursuits. But I need to spend more time with you.
If I start by changing one heart, mine, perhaps another will change and then one-by-one the world will change. I don't appreciate your miracles anymore: that the sun rises each day and that after a night of sleep I wake up to a day filled with opportunities and hope and promise. I know in my head that I am blessed, but I really don't in my heart appreciate that I live in the the greatest country in the world, and in one of the richest counties in that great country. You have blessed me and my family beyond my expectations. And I fail to take time to say thank-you at the beginning and ending of each day. Forgive me for not giving the glory of my world to you.
Where would I rather be? I spend a lot of time thinking about that question. I would rather be right here doing the work that you have given to me to do. I must stop being so selfish and day dreaming about a beach somewhere with warm sand on my toes. You have put me here for a reason and I need to step up and do the tasks you have set before me--with joy in my heart rather than the sadness I pick up to carry when I get into one of those "o woe is me" times in my life. Forgive me for wanting to show everyone the cross I think I'm carrying.
Let me find the joy that You send into my life every day. Let me appreciate the sunrises and the sunsets. Let me give you thanks for every meal and the the heat in my house, the car that I drive, the clothes that I wear, and the family that loves me even when I am a grouch. Remind me that the sand on the beach, the water and the fishes in the ocean, the air I breathe, and the stars I long to travel among are all yours and that you graciously allow me to enjoy them.
Father--this Christmas, make me not ashamed at the tear that wants to roll down my cheek as I sing Hark the Herald Angels and allow my mind to pause for a moment and think about how great you are that you came to this planet and want to have a personal relationship with us, including me. And as the Gloria of Angels We Have Heard on High rolls off the tounge, make my heart joyous and imagine what it will be like someday to sing with the throngs of angels standing in the light of your presence.
Finally, Father, send your holy angels to protect the service men and women and civilians on duty around the world this night. The forces of evil are gathering and your guidance and protection is needed to guard and protect them. Be with the leaders of our country, may they turn to you for guidance and wisdom. Be with the homeless, that they may find shelter; the hungry, let them be fed; the grieving, that they may find peace; be with the children that they may have hope.
The magic of Christmas is that I pause and turn my thoughts to you. Restore the magic of your gift in my heart and help me to be giving to others during the year ahead.
Thank you for Christmas and reminding me that we need to reconnect. Forgive me for drifting away. Help me to do better.
The world moves too fast and I let it rob me of time to spend with you. Help me to see the glory of your coming to earth as you promised to provide a way back to intimacy with you. Intimacy that I don't appreciate, for I use my time to do other things and to satisfy other pursuits. But I need to spend more time with you.
If I start by changing one heart, mine, perhaps another will change and then one-by-one the world will change. I don't appreciate your miracles anymore: that the sun rises each day and that after a night of sleep I wake up to a day filled with opportunities and hope and promise. I know in my head that I am blessed, but I really don't in my heart appreciate that I live in the the greatest country in the world, and in one of the richest counties in that great country. You have blessed me and my family beyond my expectations. And I fail to take time to say thank-you at the beginning and ending of each day. Forgive me for not giving the glory of my world to you.
Where would I rather be? I spend a lot of time thinking about that question. I would rather be right here doing the work that you have given to me to do. I must stop being so selfish and day dreaming about a beach somewhere with warm sand on my toes. You have put me here for a reason and I need to step up and do the tasks you have set before me--with joy in my heart rather than the sadness I pick up to carry when I get into one of those "o woe is me" times in my life. Forgive me for wanting to show everyone the cross I think I'm carrying.
Let me find the joy that You send into my life every day. Let me appreciate the sunrises and the sunsets. Let me give you thanks for every meal and the the heat in my house, the car that I drive, the clothes that I wear, and the family that loves me even when I am a grouch. Remind me that the sand on the beach, the water and the fishes in the ocean, the air I breathe, and the stars I long to travel among are all yours and that you graciously allow me to enjoy them.
Father--this Christmas, make me not ashamed at the tear that wants to roll down my cheek as I sing Hark the Herald Angels and allow my mind to pause for a moment and think about how great you are that you came to this planet and want to have a personal relationship with us, including me. And as the Gloria of Angels We Have Heard on High rolls off the tounge, make my heart joyous and imagine what it will be like someday to sing with the throngs of angels standing in the light of your presence.
Finally, Father, send your holy angels to protect the service men and women and civilians on duty around the world this night. The forces of evil are gathering and your guidance and protection is needed to guard and protect them. Be with the leaders of our country, may they turn to you for guidance and wisdom. Be with the homeless, that they may find shelter; the hungry, let them be fed; the grieving, that they may find peace; be with the children that they may have hope.
The magic of Christmas is that I pause and turn my thoughts to you. Restore the magic of your gift in my heart and help me to be giving to others during the year ahead.
Thank you for Christmas and reminding me that we need to reconnect. Forgive me for drifting away. Help me to do better.
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