Happy New Year!

Wednesday, 2 January, 2008 by Beachbums1

We ushered in the new year enjoying a progressive dinner with our neighbors. If you haven’t participated in a “roving” party, I highly recommend it especially if you’re able to walk from house to house. We volunteered to be the first house and, since we weren’t sure how many people would show up, we made enough food for an army (pun intended). We had a lot of leftovers which didn’t bother any of us a bit ~ everything was yummy even the next day.  The “Berry” drink I made was a big hit. Red Grapefruit Vodka, Champagne & Cranberry juice. As one woman said “Quite lovely.”

My only resolution for the new year is to get more active ~ more cross-country skiing, racquetball, swimming, walking, etc. FM and FG enjoy downhill skiing so much that I’ve decided to give it another go this year. It’s never been my favorite sport ~ so many clothes, heavy boots, crazy other skiers on the runs and the cold. I’ll have to remember the good parts: that great “tired” but fit feeling afterwards, apres-ski drinks by the fireplace and the feeling I’ve actually survived to ski another day.

Any resolutions for you?

Posted in Fort Drum | 3 Comments »

Harriet the Hamster

Friday, 28 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

I feel like I closed my eyes on 23 December and when I opened them, it was 28 December. The time has flown by with so much activity.

Santa brought FG a whole lot of hamster supplies so we took the hint and bought FG a hamster. I have to admit Harriet is a cute little creature and I find myself watching her as she scurries around her cage either eating, cleaning herself or exercising on the wheel. FG has become a little possessive of Harriet and keeps reminding me the dogs will get jealous if I spend too much time with the hamster. FG’s way of saying “Back off, Mommy.”

I’ve spent a lot more time cooking and baking this year. We wanted to share some baked goods with the soldiers on duty for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I made cookies, brownies, & muffins. Of course, I had to taste each batch to make sure they were delicious.

Christmas here in the North Country has been wonderful and FG was thrilled to have Grandma Betty with us again. We spent Christmas eve at a neighbor’s home and we’re really enjoying our new-found friends.

Posted in Animals, Favorite Girl | 7 Comments »

Touring the Thousand Islands Region

Sunday, 23 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

Friday was a beautiful, sunny day and we headed north to tour a little of the Thousand Islands Region. Did I mention before this is where Thousand Island Dressing was invented?  We drove to the town of Clayton which sits on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The blue sky, blue river and white snow make it enchanting. Although, if I’m not mistaken, Grandma Betty was trying to imagine sand instead of snow.

  Clayton, NY

  Birthhouse of GEN Mark Clark

We drove along the St. Lawrence Seaway until we came to Lake Ontario and one of our favorite towns: Sackets Harbor. We’ve not had a bad meal there yet and Friday was no exception. We ate at the Tin Pan Galley Restaurant and all four of us loved our meals. I’m always thrilled when a restaurant has more than one vegetarian option.

We also found the birthplace of GEN Mark W. Clark at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor. Madison Barracks was built in 1816 and was an active Army post until 1945 when it closed. Soldiers from Madison Barracks started training in the Ft. Drum area in 1907 and that was the beginning of what is now Ft. Drum. Both FM and I know a lot of GEN Clark’s history and went to his burial spot at The Citadel in Charleston so it was interesting to see where he was born. GEN Clark was in WWI, WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was the president of The Citadel from 1954 to 1965.

Sackets Harbor is on our regular tour for visitors ~ we like any excuse to visit there 🙂

Posted in Travels | Leave a Comment »

First Time “Alike”

Saturday, 22 December, 2007 by Beachbums1


We can check dressing alike off our things to do together list. My sister sent FG and I identical shirts so we took the opportunity to dress alike for the first time.

We’re not likely to do it again anytime soon but it was fun for a day.

Posted in Favorite Girl | 6 Comments »

Whatcha Reading? Meme

Thursday, 20 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

Books on the Brain tagged me for the following meme:

Whatcha Reading? I’d like to know 5 things:

1) Whatcha reading?

2) How much have you read so far?

3) What’s it about? (in a sentence or two)

4) What does the title refer to?

5) Would you recommend it?

I’m going to do two memes because I just finished reading a great book that I want to include, it is: 

1) The Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

2) Just finished it.

3) It’s a clever and creative read about all things wonderful concerning people: friendship, trust, loyalty, bravery, heros, decency, honor and love of country.

4) In my opinion, one of the characters is a baseball player and Days of Summer makes me think of baseball and, since the story takes place during WWII, it’s the last days of an era. America and the world changed so much after the war as did the characters lives.

5) I would HIGHLY recommend the book. I originally heard about it from Life on the Run about a year ago and I’m glad I finally read it.

Now for the book I just started reading:

1) Strong Currents ~ An Anthology of Hawai’i Writers.  Edited by Sally Sorenson

2) I’m only on page 19.

3) A compilation of short stories by over a dozen Hawai’i writers. The editor is a personal friend. She’s always been a fabulous writer and, for years, her Christmas letter ranked at the very top of my favorites. Now, I not only get to enjoy her books but also her writings via her blog.

4) Strong Currents refers to the reader being swept away by the many short stories. I’m looking forward to reading about Hawaii while hibernating in the snowy Northern Country of New York.

5) I’ll let you know but so far, so good.

I tag Life on the Run, Jessmob, O Chronicles and Sally.  Anyone who wants to join in, please do. Leave a link to your blog or write the info in the comments. I love getting recommendations (or warnings) from friends and fellow book lovers.

Posted in Books | 7 Comments »

Personal, Private or Public?

Monday, 17 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

I love the blogging world.

I’m glad most blogs are public and available for me to read. There’s nothing like finding a great new blog about a topic near and dear to my heart. I was so bummed when the “Vegan Lucnhbox” decided to stop blogging.

Some of my friends have chosen to make their blogs private which is understandable but not for me. I enjoy when a “stranger” leaves a comment about something I’ve written. I’m always surprised when someone finds me and actually takes the time to leave a comment. Even after 6 months since writing anything on Guam, most of my google “hits” are about Guam. I’ve had numerous questions and comments from people moving to or just missing Guam. I hope they will find useful information in my writings.

If my blog were private, Books on the Brain wouldn’t have left a comment and I, in turn, wouldn’t have had an opportunity to read her wonderful blog on books. I also would have missed the following comments: Robin’s link to his flickr photo after I mentioned seeing him dressed as Robin (from Batman & Robin) at the NYC marathon, Bruce who just yesterday left a comment about how he built the stairs to Haputo Beach back in the early 70’s, and Cliff, who is a published writer, left a comment about a reading meme.

With such positive and fun feedback, private blogging is out of the question for me ~ at least for now.

Posted in Blogging | 9 Comments »

Weekend Visitors

Monday, 10 December, 2007 by Beachbums1


We enjoyed having visitors this past weekend. Not only was my mom here, but 9 of FM’s family came for his Change of Command. It was great to see everyone and I especially liked catching up with Julie, Liz and Linda who I haven’t had a chance to talk to a lot in the past.

One unfortunate note: FG was particularly unpleasant and unsocial. Let’s just say she wouldn’t win Miss Congeniality. More like Miss Anti-Social. I had a long talk with her on Saturday morning and she finally came around and started acting like a normal person, but it was too late for her to apologize to Hayden (and Julie) for her behavior. FG did enjoy her Saturday showing Wally (her other cousin) the neighborhood, playing in the snow and going ice-skating. The evening was spent playing game-boy. All kid fun.

FM’s change of command was wonderful and I was so proud to see him in front of his  battalion. Now if only I can do the family members justice. At least I had a great mentor who will no doubt help me through the rough spots and let me know if I’m way off base. Thanks, V.

Posted in Favorite Girl, Favorite Man | 6 Comments »

Just in Time

Tuesday, 4 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

My mom, aka Grandma Betty, arrived on Sunday ~ just in time for our first big snowfall. It’s been snowing non-stop since Sunday night and FG even had her first snow-delay.

It’s a winter wonderland!

Posted in Miscellaneous | 4 Comments »

Reading Trouble Meme

Saturday, 1 December, 2007 by Beachbums1

Books on the Brain tagged me for the following meme:

1) Have you ever gotten into trouble for reading?

2) Has reading ever SAVED you from getting into trouble?

3) What was the first book you read that you KNEW you would get into trouble if caught reading it?

1) NEVER have I gotten into trouble for reading. My parents didn’t ban any books from our home. From as early as I could read, I was free to read whatever type of genre I wanted.   When I was about 12 or 13, I remember talking with my Uncle Jules about reading and books when he said “If a kid wants to read, I say give them what ever they will enjoy. If it’s a comic book or a cereal box, it’s better than not reading at all.”  Sage advice even after all these years.

2) Reading probably saved my sanity when I lived in the Grand Tetons during the winter months, I didn’t have cable, no home computer and not a whole lot of other people around. Think “The Shining” without crazy Jack.  Those books were invaluable. I could have done without reading horror novels like “Pet Sematary” but hey, I was reading whatever I could get my hands on. This was the age before I could order books on-line or get great recommendations from other bloggers. FG still has a hard time visualizing a world without the internet! 

3) No fears of getting in trouble ~ my parents weren’t the type to filter what I was reading. 

I tag anyone who wants to participate. If you don’t have your own blog, just leave your answers in the comments.

Posted in Books | 2 Comments »

Flashback Friday ~ 29 November 1975

Friday, 30 November, 2007 by Beachbums1

I haven’t done a Flashback Friday in many months but FG’s homework assignment two weeks ago really got me thinking about a natural disaster my older brother, Benny, experienced 32 years ago ~ the anniversary date was yesterday.

Benny still lives in Hawaii but we don’t keep in close touch. When FG was assigned the following homework: Interview someone who has been in/witnessed erosion or a landslide; he was the only person that came to mind. We called him and FG interviewed him. Here’s his story:

On November 29, 1975, on the Big Island of Hawaii, Benny went camping with a bunch of his buddies. They rode horses into Halape Bay. At about 2 am, there was a 7.5 magnitude earthquake which of course woke them all up. It was the largest earthquake to hit Hawaii in over a century.

The quake caused the earth around the bay to split so they ran towards the cliffs but a landslide of falling rocks forced them toward the water. Unfortunately, within minutes of the quake there was a tsunami which hit the bay with two forceful waves. The first wave was 5 feet high and the second wave was 26 feet high.  According to my brother, as he was being pulled out to sea and under the water, he came to the conclusion his “time was up.” But then, it was like someone pulled the plug in a bathtub, all the water receded and he was able to come up for air. Unfortunately, two other campers died due to the tsunami.

I’m happy to report my brother survived the earthquake, landslide, tsunami and volcano eruption and is still living happily on the Big Island.

And FG got an A+ on the assignment.

Posted in Favorite Girl, Flashback Fridays | 1 Comment »

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