Category: New Jersey

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Reunion in August?

Seems Brian’s wedding will be another “near reunion”. But not quite.

So, I want to ask, “Can we re-unite ‘down-the-shore’ this summer?” We go to Brigantine, NJ every year, the week preceding Labor Day. This year that would be Aug 26 – Sept 2 (Sat. to Sat.).

I hope everyone remembers Brigantine. Larry may never have gone, but the rest of us, I think, did. There are 3 points I want to make that differentiate it a bit from most shore-towns:

• It is very family oriented, not a teen-scene (tho if you wander the beach “uptown”, I think the teens in the family could find some fun).

• It is one town north of Atlantic City, where one can find a variety of adult entertainment. Including (finally) some good restaurants.

• There is excellent golf nearby.

If we want to do this, we should be prepared to commit to house-rentals soon. I’ll do the legwork if it seems do-able.

FWIW, I may bring the family to Chi for Xmas-time ’06. After that, it may be some time before I’ll plan another trip. If we can’t reunite this summer, maybe Xmas-time could work.

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This is not my beautiful wife….


No, it’s my beautiful house under construction, circa 1908.

The woman we bought it from sent us this and a few others.

The second photo here is from 1912. Notice the little sapling tied to the stake in the front yard? It’s now the 60 foot pecan tree that shades us from the afternoon sun.

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Smashmouth Redux


I know some of you have seen this picture before, but I wanted to get it on here for posterity. We had our first substantial snowstorm overnight, and Smashmouth and I were out at 6am clearing the driveway and sidewalks.

Speaking of posterity, I’m archiving the blog on a regular basis and will occasionally distribute CDs to family members. So, if you want some mundane event or milestone or whatever recorded, put it up here. Our great-grandkids will be able to check it out someday.

Remember, “We are the mundane!”

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Praying Mantis


For the past 3 years we’ve been seeing a praying mantis in our backyard. I get quite a kick out of it. I don’t recall seeing any as a kid. The children really dig it, too. We found one yesterday and I took a few pix.

I also read a little about them. They live only a year, so we’ve apparently got a family in our yard. And they’re carnivorous. Here’s an article about a praying mantis that caught a hummingbird. A picture, too. Pretty cool.

BTW, I’m pretty impressed by the macro lens on my little camera. Charlotte said, “I never saw the eyes before.” Not sure I do, but I do see slits that could be eyes.

I really like the small opportunities our yard offers the kids to experience nature a bit. Lightning bugs are plentiful (tho Lis and I fight over calling them lightning bugs or fireflies). We have a pair of cardinals, some blue jays, a catbird or 4. Occasionally a flock of crows create havoc. We have a family of skunks nearby. I crossed paths with a baby skunk (8 ft away) while taking the garbage out recently. I ran like hell. Possum, raccoons, a family of bunny rabbits, dead moles that the kids bury. Bats, neat.

Just a bit of the mundane I thought ya’all might enjoy.