Short entry.
Picked up MA Friday night from Phillie.
Saturday was spent doing jobs in the morning. In the afternoon we drove back down to Phillie as we were all staying in a hotel as MA and I ran the Phillie 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning.
Saturday afternoon we checked into hotel and went to get our race numbers etc from Exhibition Center. When we got back to the hotel the boys and I went for a swim. Then it was an early dinner and early to bed.
Woke up at 6am to head off to the run. We had organized a babysitter for the boys at the hotel room. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and a great day for running. We were confident of breaking the WR.
Walked to the starting area and the race started at 7.45. It was a loop around the city and then up and back down the river (31.1 miles). At the 4 mile mark we passed backl were we started. Because it takes a while to get going to we got to 4 miles around 55 minutes after we started, just in time to see the elite runners finish the race 9and we still had 9 miles to go)!!!!
Did pretty well but I started to suffer after about 10 miles, so the WR was out of reach for this race.
Finished the race (none of you need to know the time) and MA was sporting enough not to race miles ahead of me. It was a great experience and am keen to do another.
Hobbled back to the hotel and after a shower we all went out for Dim Sum and the first beer MA and I have had in 4 months (tasted very good).
Dropped MA at Phillie airport in the afternoon. Have to drop the boys off soon as I am off to Newark as am flying to London tonight. Hate to think how stiff I will be when I wake up tomorrow.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Weekend of September 8th-9th
It has been commented that there is too much information of what was eaten for dinner etc on this blog which some people may not find particularly interesting, so this posting will be food free. Just take it as read that no-one starved.
Picked up the boys on Friday night and we drove up to Mary Ann's friends place in Pawling (Chris, Sue and baby Alex). Got there about 10.30, set up the beds and the boys were out like a light. Had a couple of drinks then it was off to bed for all of us. The exciting thing about the drive was it was in MA's new car a Scion Tc which we bought last week. Little sporty stick shift car. All very exciting. It even got a thumbs up from the purveyor all all things cool, Kieran!!
Saturday morning got up and watched the All Blacks deal severely with the Italians in the World Cup game and then Chris and I went off to play golf. The boys and Mary Ann stayed at the house and apparently spent the next 6 hours in the pool.
Got back from golf $40 poorer (take it from me if you don't know golf it is hard to beat a guy if you are playing on the same handicap and he starts the back nine par, birdie, par, par, birdie).
Played Bingo on Saturday night which was a great hit and an early night for all.
Headed off on Sunday about 11.30, stopped at the shops at MA needed a new bag for work and got home about 4.
It was then time for the great clothes cull as the new closets had been installed on Friday and my clothes had to go back into them. MA, Kieran and Nicholas had a great time abusing my sense of sartorial elegance and threw away my clothes willy nilly.
Dropped the boys off and then MA and I went for a 5 mile run.
Dropped MA at the airport Monday morning (the last 6am flight she will hopefully ever take back to Chicago). She is back again on Friday as we are running the Phillie 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning (God help us).
Picked up the boys on Friday night and we drove up to Mary Ann's friends place in Pawling (Chris, Sue and baby Alex). Got there about 10.30, set up the beds and the boys were out like a light. Had a couple of drinks then it was off to bed for all of us. The exciting thing about the drive was it was in MA's new car a Scion Tc which we bought last week. Little sporty stick shift car. All very exciting. It even got a thumbs up from the purveyor all all things cool, Kieran!!
Saturday morning got up and watched the All Blacks deal severely with the Italians in the World Cup game and then Chris and I went off to play golf. The boys and Mary Ann stayed at the house and apparently spent the next 6 hours in the pool.
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| Pawling - Sept 2007 |
Got back from golf $40 poorer (take it from me if you don't know golf it is hard to beat a guy if you are playing on the same handicap and he starts the back nine par, birdie, par, par, birdie).
Played Bingo on Saturday night which was a great hit and an early night for all.
Headed off on Sunday about 11.30, stopped at the shops at MA needed a new bag for work and got home about 4.
It was then time for the great clothes cull as the new closets had been installed on Friday and my clothes had to go back into them. MA, Kieran and Nicholas had a great time abusing my sense of sartorial elegance and threw away my clothes willy nilly.
Dropped the boys off and then MA and I went for a 5 mile run.
Dropped MA at the airport Monday morning (the last 6am flight she will hopefully ever take back to Chicago). She is back again on Friday as we are running the Phillie 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning (God help us).
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Weekend of August 25-26
I took a couple of days off and the boys and I went camping up to the Poconos for 4 days. Had to go for a run, do a few jobs, buy provisions and then pack the car up all on Saturday so got off a little bit later than I hoped
We got up there about 4pm. Started setting the tent up and it started bucketing down with rain. We hid out in the car and in between showers we put the tent up and the mosquito net covering thing over the picnic table. I cooked dinner (chicken and pasta with mushrooms and we played a few games of Sequence and then it was off to bed.
Saturday night was probably the biggest lightening storm I have ever witnessed. Seemed to go on forever, must have been at least 2-3 hours. In the middle of it the mosquito net thingie blew over and I had to rush outside dodging ligtening bolts and dismantle it. Fortunately the tent was solid as a rock during the whole thing and didn't move an inch.
Sunday morning the weather was beautiful and I made breakfast of bacon and eggs with toasted English muffins. We drove to a place called Bushkill Flass and went on a lovely 3 hour hike through this forest seeing about 6-7 waterfalls. On the way back to the campsite we stopped in and looked at a craft fair.
When we got back the boys went swimming in the pool and I was able to sit there watching them and read a book.
Before dinner Nicholas and I played The Game of Life. He didn't seem to cotton on to the concept that if you borrowed money from the bank you eventually had to pay it back (if you have been following the sub-prime mess here it is a sentiment he shares with many Americans).
He helped with dinner that night and we made his famous sausage stew which consisted of sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, onion, shallot, garlic all cooked in beef broth with some crushed tomatoes added at the end. It turned out very tasty.
Monday after breakfast we went to Camel Beach water Park. We got there at 11am and left at 6.30 (by which time Dad was exhausted). Kieran hooked up with some kid from Wisconsin who was his age and we pretty much didn't see him for the last 4 hours.
It was a big day for Nicholas as he was officially tall enough to do any ride in the park and he wanted to make the most of it. We did the Swirling Vortex of Terror about 5 times and many other equally terrifying rides. He had a real blast.
Monday night dinner was Uncle Ron's famous hobo stew which meant we had a campfire, put a whole lot of stuff in aluminum foil, threw it in the fire and came back 20 minutes later and it was all cooked. The boys also wanted Pad Thai. I think it is the first ever combination of hobo stew and Pad Thai (sort of East meets West).
Tuesday we packed up after breakfast and drove on home. I dropped the boys off about 8pm. They start school next week. They were much lamenting that fact to me over the weekend.
Photos of the weekend below.
It is along weekend here this coming weekend (Labor Day). Mary Ann arrives Thursday night and Friday afternoon we are driving up to Corning as her Mum is moving to Mary Ann brother's place in Pennsylvania so we are going up to help with the move.
We got up there about 4pm. Started setting the tent up and it started bucketing down with rain. We hid out in the car and in between showers we put the tent up and the mosquito net covering thing over the picnic table. I cooked dinner (chicken and pasta with mushrooms and we played a few games of Sequence and then it was off to bed.
Saturday night was probably the biggest lightening storm I have ever witnessed. Seemed to go on forever, must have been at least 2-3 hours. In the middle of it the mosquito net thingie blew over and I had to rush outside dodging ligtening bolts and dismantle it. Fortunately the tent was solid as a rock during the whole thing and didn't move an inch.
Sunday morning the weather was beautiful and I made breakfast of bacon and eggs with toasted English muffins. We drove to a place called Bushkill Flass and went on a lovely 3 hour hike through this forest seeing about 6-7 waterfalls. On the way back to the campsite we stopped in and looked at a craft fair.
When we got back the boys went swimming in the pool and I was able to sit there watching them and read a book.
Before dinner Nicholas and I played The Game of Life. He didn't seem to cotton on to the concept that if you borrowed money from the bank you eventually had to pay it back (if you have been following the sub-prime mess here it is a sentiment he shares with many Americans).
He helped with dinner that night and we made his famous sausage stew which consisted of sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, onion, shallot, garlic all cooked in beef broth with some crushed tomatoes added at the end. It turned out very tasty.
Monday after breakfast we went to Camel Beach water Park. We got there at 11am and left at 6.30 (by which time Dad was exhausted). Kieran hooked up with some kid from Wisconsin who was his age and we pretty much didn't see him for the last 4 hours.
It was a big day for Nicholas as he was officially tall enough to do any ride in the park and he wanted to make the most of it. We did the Swirling Vortex of Terror about 5 times and many other equally terrifying rides. He had a real blast.
Monday night dinner was Uncle Ron's famous hobo stew which meant we had a campfire, put a whole lot of stuff in aluminum foil, threw it in the fire and came back 20 minutes later and it was all cooked. The boys also wanted Pad Thai. I think it is the first ever combination of hobo stew and Pad Thai (sort of East meets West).
Tuesday we packed up after breakfast and drove on home. I dropped the boys off about 8pm. They start school next week. They were much lamenting that fact to me over the weekend.
Photos of the weekend below.
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| Camping in the Poconos |
It is along weekend here this coming weekend (Labor Day). Mary Ann arrives Thursday night and Friday afternoon we are driving up to Corning as her Mum is moving to Mary Ann brother's place in Pennsylvania so we are going up to help with the move.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Weekend of August 18-19
This will go down as the weekend of jobs.
I swapped weekends with Anita for the boys as Kieran had been invited Whitewater rafting on Sunday and then out to the Hamptons starting Sunday.
Mary Ann was here for the week (going back tomorrow morning) so we took the opportunity to get a whole lot of jobs done that had been on my list for a while.
Friday was pretty quiet. MA picked me up from the train station and we came home and had a nice dinner (MA cooked - big surprise she just said to me).
Saturday morning we got up early and went to the gym and took an 1 1/4 hr boxing class. It was an old school workout. None of this fancy equipment stuff, guy just told us to lift our legs 6 inches off the ground and keep them there until every muscle in our stomachs was screaming at us to put our legs down. Apart from that it was a fun class (although I was too afraid to ask MA whose face she was envisioning as she punched the heavy bag).
After the gym and a stop at the bagel shop to undo all the good work we got home and made 3 trips to goodwill to drop off some old furniture I had in the garage that has been there since I moved.
After we had showers, etc we drove to look at cars for MA as her existing car is 11 yrs old and is not making the move with her when she moves from Chicago. She has always been a buy American girl but we test drove a Honda and I think I blew it as she really liked it. We are looking a little sporty 2 door coupe as we have the Explorer we just need something small and good on gas.
After we got home from car shopping we relaxed for a bit before going out for a very tasty meal at a local restaurant that got a great write up from the NY Times.
Sunday we got up around 8 and went for an 8 mile run down by the canal. Took about 90 minutes. When we got home we went and had some brunch and bought some stuff for the house (mainly organizing stuff for the garage). When we got home we attacked the garage and within a couple of hours had it all organized so hopefully we can fit two cars in there.
By this time we were both feeling the effects of the boxing class and 8 mile run and have pretty much been hobbling around like 90 year olds all afternoon.
Went to Mass at 5.30 and when we got back MA very kindly made pesto sauce and a tomato sauce from the tomatoes and basil we have been growing. Looking forward to having both of those for dinner on the camping trip next weekend. Am taking the boys for 4 days next weekend to the great outdoors in the Pocono Mountains.
I swapped weekends with Anita for the boys as Kieran had been invited Whitewater rafting on Sunday and then out to the Hamptons starting Sunday.
Mary Ann was here for the week (going back tomorrow morning) so we took the opportunity to get a whole lot of jobs done that had been on my list for a while.
Friday was pretty quiet. MA picked me up from the train station and we came home and had a nice dinner (MA cooked - big surprise she just said to me).
Saturday morning we got up early and went to the gym and took an 1 1/4 hr boxing class. It was an old school workout. None of this fancy equipment stuff, guy just told us to lift our legs 6 inches off the ground and keep them there until every muscle in our stomachs was screaming at us to put our legs down. Apart from that it was a fun class (although I was too afraid to ask MA whose face she was envisioning as she punched the heavy bag).
After the gym and a stop at the bagel shop to undo all the good work we got home and made 3 trips to goodwill to drop off some old furniture I had in the garage that has been there since I moved.
After we had showers, etc we drove to look at cars for MA as her existing car is 11 yrs old and is not making the move with her when she moves from Chicago. She has always been a buy American girl but we test drove a Honda and I think I blew it as she really liked it. We are looking a little sporty 2 door coupe as we have the Explorer we just need something small and good on gas.
After we got home from car shopping we relaxed for a bit before going out for a very tasty meal at a local restaurant that got a great write up from the NY Times.
Sunday we got up around 8 and went for an 8 mile run down by the canal. Took about 90 minutes. When we got home we went and had some brunch and bought some stuff for the house (mainly organizing stuff for the garage). When we got home we attacked the garage and within a couple of hours had it all organized so hopefully we can fit two cars in there.
By this time we were both feeling the effects of the boxing class and 8 mile run and have pretty much been hobbling around like 90 year olds all afternoon.
Went to Mass at 5.30 and when we got back MA very kindly made pesto sauce and a tomato sauce from the tomatoes and basil we have been growing. Looking forward to having both of those for dinner on the camping trip next weekend. Am taking the boys for 4 days next weekend to the great outdoors in the Pocono Mountains.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Weekend of August 11-12 - Pawling NY
Took Friday off as Mary Ann arrived Thursday night and we were going up to her friend's place in Pawling NY for the weekend. Also, we had to meet our new best friend, the closet-man on Friday morning. The closets in the master bedroom are getting done in early September as MA needs a place for her clothes and shoes. We are planning the great clothes cull for Andrew as he prepares to say goodbye to his 10 year old shirts and pants.
Picked up Kieran and Nicholas around 3pm and went back to my place. Friday was Kieran's birthday so there was a lot of present opening. Lots of books and a set on in-line skates. Unfortunately they were too small for him so will need to be swapped.
MA and I had picked up a yummy passionfruit cake earlier in the day for him which we took with us up to Pawling.
After present opening it was time to pack the car and head off. We stopped for dinner and then drove up there arriving about 8.30. There were about 20-25 people there for the weekend. An army of kids which was great and lot of fine food and wine.
We all slept on blow up beds Friday night in the basement (which was just as well as it was very damp outside). The original plan being we camp outside. We had Kieran's birthday cake Friday night and managed to embarrass him enormously with a stirring rendition of happy birthday.
Saturday we got up and did some swimming and then it was time for the men folk to go off and play golf. A great course and very enjoyable time was had by all (especially since I won some money). The ladies (and a few men folk) and kids stayed at home by the pool. As the girls hadn't all been together in a long time it was a good opportunity to catch up.
Got back about 5, a bit of swimming then time for dinner and time for me to lose $20 at Texas Hold'Em. Luckily for us during the whole weekend the host had satellite TV so we were able to watch both the England/India cricket test and the PGA Championship.
Saturday night several families put the up tents around the pool and slept outside. It was a lot of fun and I think even MA may now be bitten by the camping bug. It was a beautiful night and we could all see the stars shining brightly. Sadly the crickets kept Kieran awake for 4 hours but everyone else slept very well.
Sunday we got up and all the kids swam in the pool for it seemed like hours before we had to pack up and go. Got home about 5pm and had to drop the boys off. When I got home MA and I went for a long run down by the canal.
MA was in NY for the week and will work one more week in the NY office in September before moving on 9/28. Andrew is busy clearing out the garage to make room for the new car that is likely to be purchased tomorrow.
Photos of the weekend attached.
Picked up Kieran and Nicholas around 3pm and went back to my place. Friday was Kieran's birthday so there was a lot of present opening. Lots of books and a set on in-line skates. Unfortunately they were too small for him so will need to be swapped.
MA and I had picked up a yummy passionfruit cake earlier in the day for him which we took with us up to Pawling.
After present opening it was time to pack the car and head off. We stopped for dinner and then drove up there arriving about 8.30. There were about 20-25 people there for the weekend. An army of kids which was great and lot of fine food and wine.
We all slept on blow up beds Friday night in the basement (which was just as well as it was very damp outside). The original plan being we camp outside. We had Kieran's birthday cake Friday night and managed to embarrass him enormously with a stirring rendition of happy birthday.
Saturday we got up and did some swimming and then it was time for the men folk to go off and play golf. A great course and very enjoyable time was had by all (especially since I won some money). The ladies (and a few men folk) and kids stayed at home by the pool. As the girls hadn't all been together in a long time it was a good opportunity to catch up.
Got back about 5, a bit of swimming then time for dinner and time for me to lose $20 at Texas Hold'Em. Luckily for us during the whole weekend the host had satellite TV so we were able to watch both the England/India cricket test and the PGA Championship.
Saturday night several families put the up tents around the pool and slept outside. It was a lot of fun and I think even MA may now be bitten by the camping bug. It was a beautiful night and we could all see the stars shining brightly. Sadly the crickets kept Kieran awake for 4 hours but everyone else slept very well.
Sunday we got up and all the kids swam in the pool for it seemed like hours before we had to pack up and go. Got home about 5pm and had to drop the boys off. When I got home MA and I went for a long run down by the canal.
MA was in NY for the week and will work one more week in the NY office in September before moving on 9/28. Andrew is busy clearing out the garage to make room for the new car that is likely to be purchased tomorrow.
Photos of the weekend attached.
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| Pawling Weekend - August 2007 |
Monday, July 30, 2007
Weekend of July 25-26
Pretty quiet weekend here.
I got back on Friday afternoon from a trip to Spain, London and Frankfurt. I am getting to old for 3 countries in 5 days.
Caught up with Russ and Catriona in London which was fun. Also Lynda Clare and Andrew Garard.
Picked the boys up on the way home from the airport. Off to Elements of Asia for dinner, then picked up a DVD on the way home. Daddy was pretty tired so everyone was in bed pretty early. Mary Ann was in Chicago this weekend.
Saturday was supposed to get up and go to the gym but couldn't make it. We went to the bagel shop for breakfast and then off to buy some stuff at Target. Saturday afternoon we just bumped around, went for a swim , Daddy did some knitting (I am knitting Nicholas a sweater) and in the evening we went to see The Simpson's movie which was hilarious.
Sunday got up pretty early and went for a 6 mile run down by the canal. The boys came with me and rode their bikes along the canal.
Got home and cooked them a tasty breakfast. In the afternoon Nicholas and I went out on our own as wanted to spend a bit of time with Nicholas to see how everything was going. It was a lot of fun, we went bowling and he did pretty well.
We were planning to go out in the afternoon, but it started raining pretty bad so we just hung around the house, the boys watched a little bit of TV while Daddy had a nap.
Dropped them off Sunday evening via the ice-cream shop so they could torture Daddy by eating ice-cream in front of me.
I got back on Friday afternoon from a trip to Spain, London and Frankfurt. I am getting to old for 3 countries in 5 days.
Caught up with Russ and Catriona in London which was fun. Also Lynda Clare and Andrew Garard.
Picked the boys up on the way home from the airport. Off to Elements of Asia for dinner, then picked up a DVD on the way home. Daddy was pretty tired so everyone was in bed pretty early. Mary Ann was in Chicago this weekend.
Saturday was supposed to get up and go to the gym but couldn't make it. We went to the bagel shop for breakfast and then off to buy some stuff at Target. Saturday afternoon we just bumped around, went for a swim , Daddy did some knitting (I am knitting Nicholas a sweater) and in the evening we went to see The Simpson's movie which was hilarious.
Sunday got up pretty early and went for a 6 mile run down by the canal. The boys came with me and rode their bikes along the canal.
Got home and cooked them a tasty breakfast. In the afternoon Nicholas and I went out on our own as wanted to spend a bit of time with Nicholas to see how everything was going. It was a lot of fun, we went bowling and he did pretty well.
We were planning to go out in the afternoon, but it started raining pretty bad so we just hung around the house, the boys watched a little bit of TV while Daddy had a nap.
Dropped them off Sunday evening via the ice-cream shop so they could torture Daddy by eating ice-cream in front of me.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Weekend of July 21-22nd
Mary Ann and I both worked from home on Friday as an experiment. Everyhting seemed to work out OK, computer wise as we were both able to access work at same time. It was noce to close laptop at 5pm and not have hour and a half commute home. We were actually able to go for a swim after we finished work.
Picked the boys up at 6.30pm and then went to register for the new Harry Potter book. When we got home MA had already cooked hamburgers for dinner.
After dinner MA and I went to wedding reception venue to sign contract and pay deposit. We got home about 9.30, but no rest for the wicked for Dad as Kieran wanted to go and pick up the Harry Potter book which went on sale at midnight. Went to the bookstore at about 11.15 and it was a zoo. They had tried to be organized, but it ended up a free for all. Finally bought the book and got home about 1am. It could have been a lot worse.
Saturday morning MA woke up reasonably early and went for a 5 mile run. After we got home it was time to pack up as we were dropping MA's mother at MA brothers place and then going on to Hershey Park.
After stop at the bagel shop for breakfast we were off on our trip. Dropped MA's mum off and got to Hershey around 2pm.
Stright into the park and onto the water rides. Unfortunately about half of Pennsylvania had the same idea so some of the queues were pretty long.
However everyone had a great time. We stayed in Harrisburg Saturday night and drove back home on Sunday. Tonight I am off to Europe so MA and I both came to Newark as she is off back to Chicago.
Picked the boys up at 6.30pm and then went to register for the new Harry Potter book. When we got home MA had already cooked hamburgers for dinner.
After dinner MA and I went to wedding reception venue to sign contract and pay deposit. We got home about 9.30, but no rest for the wicked for Dad as Kieran wanted to go and pick up the Harry Potter book which went on sale at midnight. Went to the bookstore at about 11.15 and it was a zoo. They had tried to be organized, but it ended up a free for all. Finally bought the book and got home about 1am. It could have been a lot worse.
Saturday morning MA woke up reasonably early and went for a 5 mile run. After we got home it was time to pack up as we were dropping MA's mother at MA brothers place and then going on to Hershey Park.
After stop at the bagel shop for breakfast we were off on our trip. Dropped MA's mum off and got to Hershey around 2pm.
Stright into the park and onto the water rides. Unfortunately about half of Pennsylvania had the same idea so some of the queues were pretty long.
However everyone had a great time. We stayed in Harrisburg Saturday night and drove back home on Sunday. Tonight I am off to Europe so MA and I both came to Newark as she is off back to Chicago.
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