About time...

Ok, so I'm a crappy blogger that doesn't update too often. So what's been going on lately?

My most recent "adventure" was my participation with the celebration surrounding the Battle of Plattsburgh that occurred in September, 1814. As a bit of background for the uninitiated, this was the last time a foreign power launched an incursion on American soil. The War of 1812 in the history books centers mainly around the incidents at Baltimore, Washington, and New Orleans, but the records actually show that those were diversions. The british's true intent was to invade the US along through Lake Champlain in northern NY. Unfortunately for them, they ran into some stalwart locals on land, and were outwitted on the lake, and the entire invasion force (which greatly outnumber the US troops) was turned back. This annual event is a week long celebration of this relatively unknown victory. It's funny how time obscures history.

The good side of ice

What week it's been. Last Sunday was spent skiing the heavy powder with my daughter Kelly (at right) at Jay Peak , where I wrecked more often than usual (once due to her) pushing hard to hammer through the heavy powder and glades. Just an awesome day. Then Thursday I skied the ice on Whiteface mountain in Lake Placid. Scary stuff it was due to an icy storm the day before, but when the sun came out in the afternoon, it softened up a lot and was almost like spring conditions.

This weekend was Kelly's ice skating show, for which I edited the program music. The image here is just prior to her group's "James Bond" number. This is her third year there, and she's progressed quite well from never having been on the ice before. A combination of natural athleticism and 5 years of gymnastics training allowed her to progress from "newbie" into the lower advanced levels in short order.

Volleyball star

My older daughter, Tessa, hits a kill shot right between the opponents. As a junior on the varsity squad, she's becoming quite the all around player. This image made page 3 of the Sunday sports section of the local paper.

Something different

My mother runs a rehab center for injured birds in North Carolina. She does this mainly on a shoestring budget and her own time. This morning I recieved this from her:

"Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege of releasing this gorgeous osprey in a very special place. The Sunny Pt Army Depot is more than 18,000 acres of mostly deserted land. They found this bird October 5th weighing 1.6 lbs and too weak to fly. He was 3 miles from the nearest water and they only eat fish. On Nov. 5th, he weighed 3.6 lbs and was catching fish in a kiddie pool. Now he has 22 acres of a shallow water and bass filled lake to hunt in and several local ospreys to join. That felt good!"

What an awesome image.....

Time to go fishing

It's spring around here, and like many others I like to go fishing. I don't do it as often as I used to, but it's still something that I look forward to. Catching them isn't as important as it used to be, just being there still is - perhaps more.

So, I will be spending some time tracking down the ever-elusive brookie for the next week or so, and might have a few beers in the process (chances are pretty good that I'll probably have more of the latter than the former). I think what I'm really chasing is the peace and quiet, and time away from the hectic pace of daily life.

Irony and law enforcement.

Don't you find it ironic that the very people that are sworn to uphold and enforce the laws are the ones that most frequently violate them?

I watch every morning on my way to work, which is located near a trooper barracks, as the investigators and off-duty officers go flying by me on their way in while my cruise is set to 69 (favorite number you know). I make note of their vehicle makes and models, because if they ever cause an accident due to their reckless endangerment, I want to be prepared to stand in front of the judge and establish a pattern of behavior.

I mean, why are they in such a rush? Is work that great? Funny that I will get a ticket if I push it over 70, but none of their fellow officers or supervisors will. Yet they are causing more risk than I ever would, as half the time you never see them coming until they're on your bumper.

Better late than never

Soooo, here we go with my thoughts on life, the universe, and everything.