ptosis

I love that word. I was told years ago that I had it and should get it taken care of. Yes, right away. From the picture "Fat Chance". Briefly what it is, is my eye lids were weakening, and falling down, restricting my peripherial vision. Also causing blurring at night. No big deal. But I decided to have it corrected. It is done on an out patient basis. I had the surgery last Friday. Not bad. Took a week or so to get back to normal. I see the doc tomorrow, for the post op. All is well I'm sure. It has not changed the appearance of my eyes. I thought it would. I was hoping to come out looking like Cary Grant. (I still look more like Larry Storch) But I'm glad I had it done.

Does she look like me?

Well...she is totally cute anyway!
Love to you all!

Still making six a day

This is sort of a continuation of my last blog. I have three different paths I can take. One of 2 miles, one 4 miles, and one of six. {round trips} I usually take the 4 miler every morning. Then I can add to it later in the day.
I pass the White Rose on two of my hikes. I stop in every Saturday to get Cathy and I a scrambled egg and bacon sandwich on a roll. It's the best junk food around. I got to know the counter man real well. I always order the same. Two, with no salt, pepper or ketchup. Now when I go in, I just hold up two fingers and he fills the order. Even when it's crowded, he jumps my order up to next. When I pass on a week day he waves at me from the window. He tells all patrons, there goes the six mile walker.
I have not seen Ira for some time. I have found another "friend" We have passed for weeks. She now says "Hi". Once when it was snowy, she said "Be careful, it's slippery" Today she said "boy is it cold today" I think all of us are more friendly than we give credit for.
I have tried to do some jogging, mixed in with the walk. I'm not making much progress with that.

These days...

Isabela is growing! She is already 11lbs and looking cuter than ever. She is beginning to smile and laugh and she is getting into a pretty good routine. She is so squeezable and kissable. We are enjoying!

2008 election

Boy am I glad it's over. I had to stop listening to NPR. Never watched the news on NBC,CBS, ABC, or Fox. Got all my news from BBC World Service. I know now what Sen. Bradley meant when he said "the system is broken" Now longer do we elect the best leader, we chose the person who runs the best campaign. That's usually who has the most money. Both parties select who they feel will be the best candidate. As a result we no longer have leaders, only permanent campaigners. I have now lived under 14 presidents. Every one of which has lied to me. Do I think it will ever be different? No. Will I survive this one? You bet. I know the first 100 days we will take a giant leap towards socialism. Do I think any one, or any circumstance can stop this slide? No. All one has to do is look at history. We are on the skids and they are greased. It seems as though Democracies carry with them the seeds of their own destruction. Sooner or later the majority of voters want the man who promises them the biggest piece of the public treasury. It goes on and on, until it smothers under it's own weight. Too bad. We had a good run. Bye

New Blog

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to let you guys know I have finally started a blog.

Week end with the fab four

Had another fun time in New Paltz. Carl and I took a different approach. No over night. Leave early, work all day, return at night. Some traveling, but it gives Carl and I a chance to talk. Got a few things put together on the "shed". So all in all the trip was a success. The place is starting to shape up. In some ways, it reminds me of the farm back in 1970.
Had a talk with George Pasello this morning. He remembers going up to the farm. Reminded me of what it was like 35 years ago. I told him he ought to take a trip up now. What a difference. Maybe that's the secret of life. To be able to see things as they might look,with a little work and a lot of love. Not how they appear at the present.
Am going up to the farm this AM. Only for a few days. Try to take Cathy's mind off some of the stuff going on. Will shut the place down the first week in Nov. Hope to make a winter time visit this year. The snow up state reminds me of the winters in Iowa. When I was a boy. I think I used to be a boy. That was along time ago.

Beaver Meadow Open

We did it again. Six golfers, living in one house, golf all day, eat together, ride back and forth, etc. and survived. In fact we had a great time. It was my two sons with their best friend. Two friends of mine from the program. We are all somewhat loud, and raucus. Not afraid to tell one another how we feel. We compete with a ferosity that amazes even us. We invent a new game for every round. Played 36 holes a day for four days. Would have set a record but it rained on Tuesday. The weather was bueatiful for three of the days. Saturday it rained all day. We played anyway. Had the whole course to ourselves. What does that say about us? Either we are avid golfers, or the rest are wimps. New York State has courses with views that are stupendous. We love it. Can't wait til next year. Maybe we'll get to plau the "steak horse"

Nothing runs like a deer

My grandson Joey and I were cleaning out the incinerator. I'm always burning. We decided to move a pile of stones laying around the area. Lets put them on the circle of the camp fire, we said. It could use a few more stones. Improve the burning. Fire, fire. And I swear I am not making this up. Joey said, lets do it with the tractor and wagon. The tractor was at the pond.Again, Joey said I'll drive the quad to the pond, return with the John Deere, hook up the wagon, and we're all set. Off he goes.A short time later, I hear the tractor coming down the hill. Then it stops. Quiet. Why? Joey appears. He's walking. " Grandpa can you help me the tractor is stuck". We go to where the sluice pipe runs under the road. I see the tire tracks. John Deere is lying on the slope that leads to to the creek. Five foot off the road, upside down. "Joey, did you go down with it, or did you jump off?" "I went down with it". "Are you hurt" "No". We walk up to the pond. Joe, Sue, and Megan are in the boat. I yell "S O S ". They come. Slightly upset. "Give us a hand, the tractor is stuck" Next scene we are all standing on the road looking down at the over turned vehicle. Some what in a state of shock. Three of us climb down, up right JD. Joe gets the big quad. Pulls it out with a rope. Collective sigh of relief. Joe gets on JD. It starts right up. Some one said we should make a Deere commercial. That night at the camp fire Joey tells us the whole story of how it happened. We all laugh. I love the farm. Never a dull moment.

Well I'll be Dog Gone

Cathy and I had visitors at the farm. Anne Marie and husband Ron. They arrived with "Logan". A small dog. Shiatsu, I believe. I warned them both, "don't let the dog loose, he'll get lost in the woods". Next day Ron took Logan to see the pond. No leash. Wayne's son was there with a small bear, disguised as a dog. Logan saw the "bear", and vise verso. All three took off running. Logan in the lead, then bear, and Ron puffing in the rear. All headed straight for the woods. All lost. Wayne's son retrieved bear. Ron made it back to the shop . "Have you seen Logan?" We both panicked. Jumped on the four wheelers, rode to the spot Logan was last seen. Went in,and began shouting and whistling. Thirty minutes. No dog. Ron and I decided to return to the house, and break the news. Ron said "I hope she just wants a divorce" "why I asked? ""she may want to kill me". Approaching the house, we heard a dog barking. We parked the four wheelers and ran in the house. Logan was glad to see us. Not half as much as we were to see him. Annie said she found him by the wishing well. Dirty, tongue hanging out. shaking all over.Some how he knew the way back home. But why at the wishing well? He got into the woods on the opposite side of the house. Annie asked what happened with Logan? Nothing, just in a hurry to get home. Annie,"he must have ran all the way, don't take him to the pond with out the leash any more"Ron, " you can bet on it".

Ocean County has a star

When Megan Stoltenberg was about five years old. Maybe even younger. You expect me to remember? I would give her mathematical word problems. They all started the same. If you had x number of oranges, got so many more from your Mom, gave half to your brother,etc. etc. When I got to the" how many would you have left"?She gave me the answer before I got the question out. I gave her problems when others were present, so No one would doubt me. She amazed all.
Some time back she participated in a school math test. 16 Ocean County schools sent the five best math students to take the test. Out of the 80 boys and girls, Megan scored the highest. Thats right she was number one. Her score was so high she elevated her school to the number two spot. I'ts called the Goetz math team. She will be given an award on June 3 rd.in Stafford.We are all wondering where she gets her math ability. Hey I multiplied 16 by 5 and got 80. She deserves all of our applause. We love her and are proud of our Ocean County Star

lost and found

Saturday was one of my favorite type days. Arthur asked me to go to Neptune NJ. He wanted to buy a patio set from a moving sale. He needed my truck. He picked me up at 9:ooAM. He got right behind the drivers seat of the Silverado .He loves to drive my Chevy. Punched in the address to my GPS. First stop, Starbucks for coffee. Found the house moving sale easy. Young couple moving to Florida. Selling the contents. All must go. Art and the seller (John) dickered about price.I saw a snow blower in the garage.Asked John "How much"? He said 250 dollars. Not bad ,600 dollar machine used once. Art and John cut a deal. We loaded up. I told John I was interested in the blower. He said I could have it for 300. Funny, when I wasn't interested it was 250. We left for Arts house. First stop Starbucks. Unloaded at Arts place. Went to a cafe where they advertised free wifi. Art was going to teach me how to get on line with my lap top. The owner was a foreigner. There was no wifi. Art and the foreigner argued. We left for Panieras. They have free wifi. It actually worked. The owner was not foreign. Art and him did not argue. I learned how to get on line from wifi. I think. We went to Starbucks. Then Art took me home. It was 4:00 PM. I always get a phone call at 4:00 PM. I reached for my cell phone. It was not on my belt. The holster wasn't even there. Panic! I told Cathy "my Phone is gone" Looked everywhere. Called my cell. Nothing. Decided to call Art. Whats his number? It's in my cell. Drove to his house. Looked all over. Called the cell again. Called John in Neptune. No phone, he said I could have the blower for 35o. Called the foreigner he did'nt answer. More panic. Called Carl, told him to cancel my account before the finder called Hong Kong.Carl was cool. He said, "you'll find it". One more try to call my number, it answers. It was Starbucks. Some one found the cell and turned it in. We`drove right there. It was like I found a lost child. I told you one of my favorite type days.

Happy Birthday Michele!

I am pretty sure I am singing happy birthday to you here. Love you!

Waffles and Ice Cream

When Michele and I were little, Noni used to make whatever we wanted to eat. Some days we would get fresh from the pan fried dough and a plate of powered sugar to coat the little suckers. I can remember eating soft boiled egg with toast. Waffles were one of my favorite. Her waffle iron made 4 rectangular waffles that were nice and thin so they would get crisp. Not like these Belgian giants you see everywhere today. You could cut the waffles into strips and dip them, or build with them, depending on your mood. But these tasty treats were best when they had a ice cream between them. There always seemed to be a box of Neapolitan ice cream in the house ready to be cut into slabs and serve on two piping hot waffles. You had to eat it pretty quickly because cold ice cream and hot waffle didn't play nice. The ice cream would get melty and the waffle soggy if you weren't quick.

Now for something completely different

Growing up in Iowa in the thirties, and early forties. To say the least, it was different. Children were grouped by sexes, and age, and size. My group was about eight boys. Young, around ten years . small in stature. We were known as the little kids. Big kids were older, larger, and wiser. So they thought.As a little kid, it was my job to avoid the big kids. The big kids job was to find us, and beat us up. Our battle ground was the woods. Big kids would build camps, have fires, and tell adult stories. We would try to spy on them and listen. When captured, we had to sit close to the fire, and always on the smokey side. But we still listened. By those smokey fires I learned about life and sex, and how to cuss. Once my brother Dick and I were captured. We were tied up. The big kids had a pow wow to decide our fate. The smoke was to tell. If it blew towards us we were to be burned at stake. I think the jury was rigged. They tied us to a tree. Put grass and branches all around. Lit the fire and left, screaming like banshees, whooping and yelling. Dick and I stomped on the fire with our feet. Finally got our hands free, and ran through woods towards home. Perhaps this is where the big difference between then and now starts. We never told anyone.Especially our parents. I'm sure we had the usual discourse. "Where you been?" "Nowhere" What ya do"? "Nothing" "Who where you with"? "Nobody" This is the first time I've ever told this. Dick and I swore to secrecy. Two lessons to be learned. Don't let the big guys get you. When you burn anyone at the stake, always tie their feet.

Family Photos

You can check out some family photos here.

Thanks for all the 123 help

I guess it's another fine example of Howie remembering the past in his own way. There is only one of two things that could have transpired. First there was an ingredient that I forgot. Second we did it with three, baked it, ate it and it was horrible, and we thought it was great. And I thought it was only Ollie and Nova that were drinking. Thanks again to all of my faithful readers. Love you one and all.

One, Two, Three... Four?

I could only find recipes for one, two, three, four cake.

* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup milk
* 2 cups sugar
* 3 cups flour
* 3 teaspoons baking powder,
* 3 pinches salt
* 4 eggs

[edit] Procedure (brief)

1. Preheat oven to 175 °C (350 °F)
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs.
4. Gradually sift in the dry ingredients, alternating with small additions of the milk.
5. Transfer to a greased and floured baking pan.
6. Bake at 175 °C (350 °F), until a skewer inserted shows no moist crumbs.

Short Story, small question

Only one time in my life, at least that I recall, I had become a baby sitter. I was about twelve years old. The couple down the street were Ollie and Nova Ziebarth. They owned the Uptown tavern. They had a teen age boy. Donnie. He was wild and unpredictable. Totally irresponsible. Nova thought a lot of me. She did not trust Donnie to care for her four year old little girl. So many times on a Saturday night Ollie and Nova stayed at the tavern. Not coming home until the wee hours. Donnie, myself and four year old Sharon had the house to our selves. It was donny brook from hour one. Running, screaming pillow fights. I was never in control. No one ever controlled Donnie. Many evenings, when exhaustion took over. Sharon was asleep. Donnie was docile, we took over the kitchen. He proudly proclaimed " I know how to bake a cake" Surprisingly enough, He knew and we did. It was called "one two three cake" I can still recall the mixing, baking and eating. And the mess we made. What I can't remember are the ingredients. All I know it was one part this, two parts that, and three parts something else. I have thought about this now and again. I wonder what became of the four of them. More than all else, what were the three ingredients? Perhaps some one who reads this Blog would know. Would you share it with me?

Christmas 2005

I know there have been some changes to our family since this was taken, but this is still a nice group shot. We should take a family shot like this every year.

Home for the holidays!

We wish you a merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!

I know this took a while but...here are the fantastic photos from being home at Christmas! I am only sorry that more of the photos did not come out well...but I am ever thankful that I was able to get these shots.

Thanks to my family for making the holidays a pleasure as always. I am very blessed to have been given the opportunity to travel to the east and spend time with you. Meeting baby Lucy was a joy in itself and I am inspired by the love that I know is always present at our gatherings.

I am hoping that all is well for each of you and that you feel the love I am sending from NM.

Love

Love to you all this fine Valentine's day!
Over the years, people may come and go from our lives but the love of our family remains strong.
Let us remember we are loved and celebrate!!!!!
xoxo

Family and Blogging

I love my family and reading your blogs makes it so wonderful to be connected! I like to think I am the type of gal that keeps in touch, but the reality of it is, I am a little lacking in that department. So I hope that my blogging and reading of your blogs and stories continues to keep us close and with each other even though we are far away in miles! I will have some photos and a blog from the trip home for the holidays shortly as I have received a card reader for my camera! Thanks Eliz and Mike!

Love to all!

Worldwords: word of the day...wu wei (woo way) - Chinese
Continuous letting go of expectations.

Today I expect nothing but am ready for anything.

Racket ball, I think

Reading Katherines blog reminded me of the only time I played racket ball. It was in Cobbleskill NY. I was staying with Joe Corvino. He invited me for a game. I said I'd be glad to play racket ball. What is it? He suspected I had never played. He outfitted me with a racket, and a pair of sneakers. Four sizes too large. We were off for the park. We stood on an asphalt area with lines on it. Facing a concrete wall. Joe gave me a crash course in the rudiments of the game. I hit the first shot against the wall, and fell down. My sneakers were on the other team. After a while I got the hang of it. I could fall down real good. By this time Joe was getting annoyed. He said he would play up front. I was ten feet behind him. He lobbed one against the wall. It bounced attractively in front of me. I knew I could tee off on this one. I swung with all I had. It was a great line drive. It struck the back of Joes head. It made an awful sound. Joe made some sounds that were more awful. I have never played since.

Welcome a New Blogger

Katherine decided it was time to start a blog. Check it out. It is great that we have so many people in our family who are blogging.

Raining Day

Couldn't go for my walk. Had to drive my van to the meeting. I don't mind a little rain, but not the thunder and lightning. Spending the day in total vegetation. Cross word puzzles, old time radio, games on this thing. Read all the blogs. Listened to Stevens band play a number. Read some more about acid reflux. Still trying to figure that one out. Had four real bad days. Pretty good right now. I hope when Beth and M build their shed, they ask me to help. Sounds like a great project. I wanted to put my bio on the blog. Don't know what to say. Maybe I use some advice here. At any rate, I'll think of something. I hope we will all be rooting for the Giants this Sunday. Love all your blogs........"G"

Golf in January

My son Joe and I played 18 holes at Cruiz Farm. Today. Jan. the eighth. What a great day it was. Polo shirt, no jacket. it reminded me of Florida. I just read`every ones Blog. I try to keep up to date. I have a few e-mails to write. One will be to Beth for more tech support. I struggle with this thing, but at least I'm on it every day.

Communication

Email is a very funny way to communicate. When you send an email, it can be stressful when you don't receive an answer right away. As Grandpa mentioned, there could be a number of reasons the person on the other end isn't answering. Most likely, they are not by their computer or they are busy and can't answer right away. Basically Grandpa, don't take it personally when we don't get back to you right away. We still love you!! It can be a dangerous way to communicate. If you are emotional when you write you may say something you would rather not have on record later. If the person reading the email to is emotional they may put meaning to your words that you didn't intend. In cases where emotions are involved it is probably best to write what you need to write and let it sit unsent for a day, reread it and see how you feel about it. The best advice anyone gave me regarding email is don't write anything you wouldn't shout to a room full of people!

On The Board walk in Atlantic City

I love the trip to AC. Not to gamble. I love the board walk. People come from all over the country just to walk the boards. I can do it any time I wish. Is that cool or what? They appeal to all my senses. The sights are everywhere. The Casinos, the Believe it or not half falling down front, the peanut man. The Korean war memorial. Half way down a beautiful bronze statue of a larger than life young man and women. Running. From where, or to where I don't know. Both are quite naked. Nice art.
The aroma of fried onions and hamburgers. Hot dogs, and Greek gyros. The salt air of the Atlantic, being carried on the gentle breeze. Breathe deeply.
To miss the sounds would not be possible. The squawking gulls, a loud speaker playing country music, the distant roar of the breakers. I stop By an elderly man playing the clarinet. He has fingerless gloves. I put a dollar in the pot and ask him to play "Stranger on the Shore" He goes into the song without missing a note from the previous melody. He nods the instrument in my direction. Thanks.
I walk to the sandy beach, only a few souls here. A young man with a hooded sweat shirt. Having an animated conversation. Waving his arms about. He's all alone. I give him a wide berth. A flock of sea gulls hunkered in the sand. All facing into the wind. Did I mention the bronze statue?
Back at Resorts I pick up Cathy. Head north on the parkway. A nice ride north. The new Chevy purrs along. Dinner at the Edison Diner. Then head for 226 WP. Great day. A few hours of the History channel, then upstairs to bed. I will sleep peacefully.Aaah sleep. Sleep perchance to dream. Maybe I'll dream of the bronze statue.

Love to read the blogs

Glad that some of you are writing, but sad to say some are not. Love to hear from Texas. Mark is funny. I would like to ask every one a question. When you e-mail some one and receive no answer. What do you think? My first thought is maybe it didn't go through. Then comes, maybe they don't wish to hear from me. Then comes maybe I said something wrong. And finally, they probably didn't like me in the first place. What do you think? Would love to hear.

When your brakes fail, aim for something cheap.

Who says no one looks out for grandpa? I just finished the week end at New Paltz. I used my 1998 Chevy Astro van. I was playing the part of Hydraulic Man. We jacked up a structure on M and B's place. had a great time.Used the van to haul material. Drove it all over the place. Then I left for the farm to return to Beaver Meadow. A good four hour trip. Next AM I pack up for my trip back to Jersey. I head for the Cole Hill road. My first stop is to Ron's house to say good bye. On the steepest part of the hill I brake to slow down. Something is wrong. The pedal goes to the floor. I don't slow down.My foot freezes. I'm picking up speed.Gad zooks, no brakes. I have feared this happening all my driving life.But for whatever reason,I have practiced this very event. I pretend I have no brakes and stop with the emergency. I depress it slowly with my left foot. My practice is paying off. The Chevy comes to a dead stop right in front of Rons. He comes out and in a minute or two he tells me the line is broken to the rear wheels. No fluid is left in the reservoir. If the line was going to break, it couldn't have found a better time. I returned home the next day. Safe and sound. With a new hydraulic line. My advise. Learn where the emergency brake is. Try to stop using it. When you're on a lonely road. When you're all alone. Never with Grandpa..........................The "G"

Lucy Renee

Welcome to the family, Lucy!

10/10/74

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!