On The Road - Key West

Lisa and I like to travel and have managed to squeak out quite a few trips over the last 7 years of our partnership - repeated trips to Mexico, Rome, Capri, Berlin, Munich, Warsaw, Lodz, Florence, lots of New England trips, NYC, California and various parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania.

We like traveling over Christmas, and this year we wanted to keep it simple so we stayed in the States (and considering the air travel hassle of the big northeasterner before we left and the attempted terror attack on Christmas - thank god for that). Key West seemed exotic, fresh, easy and not that far - so that's where we've been since the 22nd.

We took a sailing trip on a old wooden schooner, took long walks all over the Island most mornings and evening, and more or less just took it easy.
Captain Lucas and 1st Mate Mommy.


Been experimenting with photoshop to enhance the photos a little, and the results are above and below. The pic below is of Gen. George Pattons boat "If and When" - never really used because he died in a car wreck before retirement.


And then we went to the aquriam and saw turtles and sharks and sea horses.


Me and Lucas and some Captain Hemmingway look-alike.

And here's Lisa outside the aquriam being molested by the Sponge Monster, which was this grotesque creature made up of thousands of sponges.

Lucas' first trip to Santa - kind of weird being warm and on a pier.

Lucas at our room at the Westin in Downtown Key West - on his big bed, near the pool, with his favorite Baby Einstein.


Big cruise ships ported everyday - Here's a huge one from Disney just outside our hotel.
See Mickey Mouse on the Chimney.
The Westin (or as Lisa remarked, The White Bread).
And here's Lisa doing her best Christmas Story impersonation with her son looking on doubtfully and unconvinced.

Then by plan we switched 2/3 of the way through to the Marriott BeachSide on the other side of the island. View from our window with the First Lady of Catskill Farms presiding.


Photoshoped tricked out ocean photo from the balcony.
Lisa holding Lucas who caught a cold somewhere. It hasn't been spectacular weather, that's for sure - but were not complaining considering it's hovering around 70.

And Lisa with Lucas, sans flash.

God, now that should get Lisa's damn Mom off my back - she's been calling twice a day looking for photos of Lucas - I tried to tell her this is a business blog, but you know how Grandmoms can be.

Road Trip- More Party Pics

Consequences of playing badminton barefooted.
Brother Steve and his son Josh on the court.

Me with my patented 'slamma jamma', playing along side Steve's other son Eli. After 40 yrs of kickin' his butt in every sport, Steve showed up 'ready to play' and took me down 2 out of 3 games with some steller and impressive play.

Mom inside the barn where the party was going to be held.

Steve's daughter Sarah watching over Lucas in his new wagon.

Lisa and her friend Amy.

Me and Amy's man Adam.

Brother Steve.

Crawford Road neighbor Theresa who helps takes care of Lucas.

Me climbing a tree in order to cut a branch that was interfering with the badminton court.

Road Trip - Lancaster PA - & Lucas' 1st B-day

There he is - driving his new car, a birthday present. He's nearly a full 365 days now and he got lots of neat stuff down at my Dad's in Lancaster PA - where I was born and raised, before heading off to the University of Pittsburgh, travel to the far seas, NYC and then upstate NY in Sullivan County.

Here's the family below just after a big badminton match against my brother.

And Lucas' birthday present from me - a 9 week old chocolate lab puppy. A big hearty male who had never been away from his momma.

Lancaster is a magical place with lots of industrious persons and healthy animals.

I grew up in Lancaster, played a lot of baseball, and my old coach - one of Lancaster's most successful developer/builders - told me the last time I saw him about a year ago - he said never forget that being from Lancaster means you know the meaning of hard work, that Lancaster is community of hard honest workers - and to never forget the advantage that gives you out in the world - the clarity of purpose and the energy of the effort.

Parteeeee! - RoadTrip - Destination Blacksburg, VA

Who's going to tell me my boy isn't chip off the ol' 'lady killer' block? These 3 Southern Belles are obviously entranced as my son waxes poetically on a wide range of sophisticated topics.

Dad still paying tribute to MJ with a seersucker moonwalk.This the Virginia Tech fraternity house I hope he doesn't join.

Blacksburg is an old town, judging from the original town hall established in 1798.

Nice southern architecture. I'm always looking for new design ideas, and we spend a lot of time looking for new designs - it's pretty difficult, since I'm pretty picky and there is a lot of bad architecture out there.

This oldy probably dates into the 1700's. I'm a big fan of the south - read Civil War books incessantly.

The bride and her Father.

Paul, future head of the AMA - presently a med student, just off a 4 year tour at U. of Georgia.

And Lucas getting ready for the wedding with a quick bath in the hotel sink.

My Dad, My Son, and fake wood dog with collar in the background.

Just a couple more child shots for this Sunday morning, in order to further endear my readers and evoke that sought after 'what a guy!' utterance I so badly seek.

And if this picture just doesn't wrap the whole weekend up, as we all do the walk of shame, Sunday Morning. Note the vodka bottle by the back wheel.

Well, that's about it for this morning. Lisa and Lucas met Gayle (and her mom) from Cottage 15 fame for breakfast over in Pennsylvania, then off the to Callicoon Farmer's Market. I'm here alone on this cool Sunday Morning, thinking about heading down to Matamoris Home Depot to pick up a little of this and a little of that.

Jeanne and Deb (cottage 14) and Pablo and Ana (cottage 7) sponsored a Cottage crawl yesterday, and Gavin and Emily threw a bash for Gavin's 47th birthday. My new easy-carry badminton set was requested, and lots of enjoyment was derived from that simple game.

I'm thinking ref's chair, and neon scoreboard where player's names can be inputted and their scores tallied. Maybe even an online league to track the winners (me) and losers (all other challengers).

June it rained everyday, hard. Now July has proven more of the same. This has to the wettest 'summer' on record, if you can call this summer. Perversely, the weekends have been great - it just rains throughout the week, making us look real bad to a lot of people waiting on us finishing this and that exterior project.

All for now - It's Sunday, July 19 - about 65 degrees, about 10:02am.