Just to let everyone know - I am planning on taking Mom on a mystery bus trip on November 12 for her birthday. I haven't told her, but I want to keep that date open on her calendar. If anybody wants to join us, it is a day trip to parts unknown, holiday-themed, cost $129 through Oneonta Bus Lines. I booked today and they still have seats available.
Hope you're all enjoying the great weather.

Spent a great weekend with the grandkids. Dylan invited me to go with him on his birthday train ride and watching the absolute awe and joy of a two-year-old experiencing one of the highlights of his young life brought back memories of his Uncle Andy's train ride for his own second birthday. Though Andy's ride was followed by a Twinkie treat while Dylan opted for ice cream with sprinkles. Nathan got to celebrate his birthday too when Deanna took him out to dinner (and Penn State won its football game.)

Just an update... I will not be running a marathon this year... my body is not letting me... will try for it again next year :)

Greetings from Northampton, Mass. - the home of Smith College and Calvin Coolidge. Sally and I walked the streets of historic Deerfield (1700's buildings) Wed. and spent yesterday in Boston starting with a bus tour - which we seem to have abandoned half way through to strike out on our own. Highlights were Paul Revere's home, the old North Church and the cemetery dating to the 1600's. I took lots of pictures of the Public Garden with the swan boats (operated for over 100 years by the same family) and the island for ducks that was the inspiration for McCloskey's story, Make Way for Ducklings. Next time we eat lobster rolls at Quincy Market! Jess gave us some good directions for getting around, though using the train system was still an adventure, esp. when Sally lost her all-day pass and tried to get through the turnstile on mine.
Scrabble score: 2 games Sal, 1 game Vicki

Hey Vicki!

My birthday is not on the calendar! lol... its on December 22... wink wink... haha

Happy Belated Birthday Tracie!

Happy Birthday Molly!

Happy Birthday to all the September babies!!

Happy birthday Tracy. Boy, time flies, not long ago you ad Deanna and me were dancing at your place in Oneanta when you all were little tykes.
Your favorite uncle Cristobal, "Cris".

ess: first time here-I played golf with Al and Toby. Al played superior , 4 0ver par for a 76, frantastico.I also had my best round of the year. Toby played average, 84.
Aex made me feel good staying there aren't many sons that play an afternoon of great golf with there Pa.

Happy Birthday Tracie!

Today was my first day as a clinical intern at Northcharles Institute for the Addictions (aka: the meth clinic). It was an incredible day..which began with me biking 6 miles to the placement in slacks, and my converses of course. I was welcomed by extremely warm and friendly staff and a ridiculous amount of mtgs, of which I will be doing my own rounds in as early as next week! I'm will be building up to carrying a caseload of 8 opiate dependent clients and co-facilitating 3 groups. I'm extremely excited and a little anxious, but for the first time my anxiety is unaccompanied with paralyzing fear..which is huge :) Hope you are enjoying the start of the school year as well for all the teachers out there- there sure are a lot of you! Jess

Hi all,
Hope your first days of school have been a lot of fun for teachers and students alike.
Happy Birthday to all the September partiers! (love that calendar).
Enjoyed the last I think, celebration for Toby's wedding, a cocktail party at Mere's Mom's house.
We met many of the people the boys have talked about caddying for over the last 10 years.
Alex spent the night networking as usual, wish I was as good at it.
Monday Cris and I drove to Saratoga to the raceway to meet up with some friends. He has wanted to visit ther for years. It is a unique place in that they try to cater to families. You can bring your chairs and a picnic in. There is entertainment along with the racing. We had a really nice day.
Yesterday I got a job selling for a studio in Westport, the job doesn't actually start until Nov. 1st.
In the meantime, I am creating small niche web sites for a $975.00 4-hour photography service.
So far I have published the first one, purpleunionphotography.com. This caters to the gay and lesbian community, where much of my event business is coming from. To advertize I set up free links on related sites.
Now I need to hit the garden. We are not getting rain and so I water every day. We have a new crop of cukes and lettuce. I just planted carrots, scallions, broccoli, cauliflower and peas.
Still picking and canning tomatoes, frying up lots of eggplant with more coming on. New beans blossoming along with pie pumpkins. Tomatillas are loaded so I have been making verde sauce for Cris' enchiladas.
Our biggest crop is acorns, more than I have ever seen. I try not to park under the trees???
Bye for now

Best wishes to all of our educators as you return to school (yes, you Connecticut folk have been back). Hope the year goes well and that we can touch some lives. Vicki, do you retirees go out for breakfast and watch the schoolbuses roll by? That's what I'll do when I'm old enough.

Tracie ran a hometown half marathon, 13 miles in 110 minutes, this weekend in preparation for the big event - a full 26 miler on Oct. 3 between Bath and Corning. I managed to walk about 4 miles during her run. No medal for me.

Just to spread the word - I got my test results from the doctor today and was given a clean bill of health, no further procedures required. I'm smilin'.