Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

The Fragility of Health

My mom is in Atlanta this week helping attend her youngest sister, who is hospitalized with some significant health issues.  Her brother and sister are also down there, which signals how difficult things are there right now.  It's been a long series of travails for my aunt and I am so very happy we got to spend some extended time with her in Cape May Point this past summer.

Death in my family has (save the sad exception of my cousin) always been the wasting, suffering kind.  Cancer, heart disease, post operative issues.  Never particularly sudden.  Always an ordeal for every one involved.  The patient, the kids, the spouse, the grandkids, the friends, all with equal measures of sadness long before the funeral.

A few years ago, with my father in the hospital for a heart procedure, I worried in this space that my life was headed into that zone where adult kids spend more and more time at hospitals talking to doctors about their parents then they do at their own doctor's office.  Happily, that has not turned out to be the case and the hospital visits have been notably few in the intervening four plus years.

I had a pretty significant health scare last year that I dealt with and ultimately turned out to be more of a reminder of my mortality than an emergency. As I sat in the doctor's office the day of the procedure, heart racing and not sure what would come next, I reflected on how few times I had been the patient myself and that It was all so de-humanizing and difficult for someone who prefers to be the guy in control.

So now, up here in Philadelphia, where I can't control a single thing about the situation, my thoughts are drawn to my aunt and her care-givers. How much there is to worry about for them. How difficult it must be to relax and let things happen.  things are a lot better then they were a week ago in Atlanta, she's in a better hospital, surrounded by family who can take shifts to be at her side.  The care much more coordinated and the care-givers are able to give each other a break here and there.

We're all going to die eventually, I get that, but we also want it to be on our own terms. Like the athlete who gets to retire amidst the cheers of victory rather than the silence of the off-season, we want to fight valiantly to the end, to do the things on our 'Bucket List,' to see our children become successes and to hold our grandchildren until they are too old for all that. I know we all don't get that chance, and that's a good reminder to leave work a little early to get to the game or to spend a little extra time reading that last book before bed.

I am hopeful for my aunt that she will weather this latest storm and enjoy the company of her grandson and the rest of the family at home very soon. And I thank you all for your thoughts and notes of support.  It's really appreciated!

A Good Time For A Long Weekend

Whew!

Have you ever had a weekend where you felt like you needed another weekend to recover?

This was one of those - thank goodness I have tomorrow off!

After a pretty cool Friday night with the boys dancing and me hanging out with Emma and the Duff girls, the slow Saturday morning was a welcome few moments of quiet.While I wish I could have done the coaching clinic in Cherry Hill, I had other priorities this weekend.

We rolled over to Delco for a cousins afternoon. Spunky helped me make dessert and we all got back to our roots with some Sloppy Joes!  Add in some Ransons, Wii, red wine, a kitten and Midnight in Paris and you've got a great night for kids and adults alike. 

Today started with some tough new from the South, but we friends and family pulled together.  After about a million emails, texts messages and phone calls, all the bothers and sisters are together in Atlanta, and we are hopeful that things are improving tonight.  Thanks to everyone who made this weekend wonderful instead of difficult.

I wrapped up the night feeding my Food Network addiction and being really REALLY happy I am off tomorrow.

2011 - A Year In Review

I've tried to write this year in review a few times without it sounding too maudlin.  Speaking candidly, 2011 is a year I am glad to have over and I am looking forward to 2012 and the promise that it brings.

As the year draws to a close, I have weathered some significant storms.  There were moments when I thought, 'Can there really be anything else coming?'  Some things will take more time to play out fully, but I think that at the end of 2011, things are looking a bit brighter.

We all know the hard things that have happened, but there have been some wonderful moments as well.  Emma and John are the stars of the circus that is my life. They have been super though all of the changes we have seen this year and I am so happy for all of their achievements.  Emma is a happy and determined little ballerina and John makes the most of his talent on the baseball field every day.  The best times I have had this year were watching them do the things that they love.  The kindness they show each other and to their family and friends makes me wonder how I got so lucky.  I am lucky to know a lot of great kids, but they are the best of the best!

My brother Matt and Heidi got married this summer in a beautiful place that we all love.  I was honored to speak for them on their special day.  It is without any irony in the world that I say that they deserve each other. I will always be grateful for advice and support he has given me over the years. She is a beautiful person who I am so happy to have as a sister.

My parents and sister and rest of the family have been with me at every moment along the way and the kids and I have appreciated the gifts, kindnesses and the places to sleep as we have made our personal adjustments.  They say blood is thicker than water and this has been a year where I have fond that be be a very true statement.

That is not to say that I could have done it without my friends.  You guys (and ladies) have been an amazing well of support, helping me move in the heat, feeding me, entertaining me and the kids, checking in by text and email and dropping by to say hello, you have made things fun for me again in a way that I cannot begin to thank you for fully.

I'm most sad for the friends I have lost this year, both for me and for my kids.  We are who we are today in large part because of all that they have meant to us over the years.  However, I am also very happy to have met some new friends int he last few months.  With every change there is opportunity and I have appreciated getting to know some new people.

While things have been difficult at times, I have to say it's been a great year in a lot of ways.  I have re-discovered my writing voice, both here on the site and in some other work I am doing.  At my core I am a writer and that re-birth has been an exciting journey.  As someone said to me a few months ago, 'You write better sad.'  I don't know about better, but I certainly write MORE.  I've also been able to take a lot of photos this year, mostly of the kids, but also of places I have visited, games I have covered and generally everything that is around me. 

Sometimes I write, sometimes I take pictures.  Either way, I am trying to be more than a journalist of my life. I appreciate all that you friends have done to be part of my life this year. 

So as the lyrics of 'What are You Doing New Year's Eve' play though my head, I wish you all a wonderful New Years Eve and I hope that your 2012 is fun, exciting, safe and prosperous.

Annual Pesotski Family Christmas Letter

Every year about this time 200-300 Christmas cards and letters go out from my parents' cute little Cape Cod in Brookhaven, PA.  This little tradition grew a few years ago to include a photos page of the kids and grandkids (and granddog's) activities for the year.  I have been an indifferent supporter of the letter process most years.  Looking through the pile of cards at my sister's on Christmas Eve, I realized just how big this Christmas letter phenomenon is.  Dozens of letters were in the stack, from 6 pages down to a paragraph or two.  Seems like pretty much everyone publishes an annual family update.

As a guy who basically does that every day in this space, I get that.  The penny finally dropped.  People want to stay up to date with their friends, and some folks don't stay in touch any other way, even with Facebook and personal websites.

This year, my mom floated the idea of a 'greener' approach to the letter next year.  I suggested creating a website for the letter and photos next year and giving people a link to the site in the cards they send.  If the USPS is still in business next year, that would still mean 300 or so cards with stamps, but would save about 900 sheets of paper and gallons of ink!

So in an incremental step toward greening this Pesotski tradition, I present below the 2011 Pesotski Family Christmas Letter.  The photos page will be posted as soon as I figure out how to get it on the site easily!

Christmas Wore Her Out!

 

Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

 

All is prepared.  There is still some wrapping to do, but for the most part, it's all waiting now.  And trying to behave!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

Well, we don't have a chimney, but we did it old school on the railing like when I was a kid! We've just about wrapped up the decorating here in Medford.  There's some wrapping to do today and a quick run out for 2 small gifts, but otherwise, everything's set!

How are your preparations going?

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

John's Tree Is Up

Following his review of the latest Discover Channel Gold Rush, John got his little green Christmas tree put up tonight.  He took a good bit of time 'fluffing' the tree, as he's been taught,  to make it appear as large as possible.  He spent a bit less time clearing the area though, deciding it was best on his dresser among this technology and trophies.

Nevertheless, he is quite happy with the result and also feels that the tree complements his lava lamp. 'It's sweet!' was his proclamation.  Unlike his sister, he wants the tree off for sleeping. 

Emma spent her free time tonight extending her Christmas list.  From the little girl who last week could not think of anything to ask Santa for, the list sure has grown.  Emma also kept me company as I cleaned up from dinner, playing holiday computer games on the family computer.  They all seem to have hideous graphics and mindless pseudo-holiday music, but she was quietly enraptured until I saw her head drooping and dispatched her to bed.

As for me?  Two days down, Only three work days left for 2011!

Emma and Her Little Tree

Emma has been dying to put her tree up, so today I made sure we had a few minutes in between running all over Burlington County to get her little pink tree set up in her room.  Last Christmas it didn't come down until July!

John hasn't found the time to put his tree up yet, but he always makes sure the first thing he does when he comes home is to turn on the
lights for the big tree in the living room.  My guess is he will get around to putting his up tomorrow.  He was too busy texting his buddies today after returning to the land of cell phone service.

I can only imagine what the Chinese prison laborers think as they are stuffing these little trees in boxes so we can buy them for $5 and cover them with little glitter covered foam balls!

Wordless Wednesday

Holiday Lessons

We just had a great weekend preparing for Christmas.  The tree is up, Santa came to Swarthmore, the decorations are complete in Brookhaven and Emma wrote her letter to Santa.  Even battling a cold, it was a really nice weekend!

The preparation, shopping, cooking and parties make December a hectic, but happy time of year. Remembering past holidays with fondness is a huge part of why we all look forward to the season every year. Snow on Christmas Eve, caroling in the neighborhood, spiked egg nog, opening presents by the fire and seeing folks from far and wide are all great memories that will last a lifetime.

Still, the holidays can be hard sometimes. People who are missing from are lives feel all the more missing at this time of year.  Old wounds open afresh when you look around the table and notice the faces who aren't there as well as the family and friends who are.  Old traditions can be a little bit hard when the people who made them important are no longer in your life.

The kids and I were reflecting a bit on people who are no longer with us anymore as we unpacked our holiday items this weekend.  Emma especially had a hard time.  She missed the chance to say goodbye to some people who left us this year and it's hard for her to close out those feelings. 

With my heart in my throat and biting back tears, I had to tell my little princess, "Sometimes we don't get to say goodbye.  That's why we need to make sure the people we love know it every single day."

Emma Does Some Writing

Emma has managed to find a quiet moment after the happy chaos of last night to begin writing her letter to Santa.  It's a really sweet moment for me as a dad so be sitting her happily sipping my coffee and watching her.

It's in the noises and movements of children that there is peace.  I hope that you are all enjoying your time with family and friends as we go through the annual parties, gatherings and rituals leading up to the holidays. 

While the kids play in Swarthmore, Uncle Kevin and I are headed over to Brookhaven to put up the lights at my parents.  Then it's back to Medford for some snuggling time on the couch in front of the tree.

Have a great day!

Back To Work!

It's a slow Sunday night here in Medford.  I'm winding down the weekend and waiting for Boardwalk Empire. 

I will be the first to admit that I am still struggling to find a rhythm to the weekends when the kids are not here.  The contrast between the whirlwind they create when they are home and the silence of the walls when they are not is so striking that I need to stay busy or go crazy.

And it was certainly a busy weekend!  Wednesday night's brush with mortality gave me a great deal to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.  The kids and I enjoyed the day Thursday, making 12 pounds of mashed potatoes before heading over to Carin and Kevin's for Thanksgiving dinner.  The food and family were great, and everyone pitched in to make it a good time. 

The kids played Wii while I met The Hills and Chicken for the traditional post-family decompression.  The conversation was outstanding as always, though I am not sure we will make The Plumstead the new location in future years.  It's a mite grungy for even a dive bar aficionado.  Carin convinced me to drive her to the hellish nightmare that was pre-Black Friday at Toys R Us.  45 minutes in line to be herded like cattle through a maze of merchandise to another line for electronics.  Sadly we didn't make it in time to get the item she was hoping for.  A drive by Target at midnight convinced us it was time to call it a night.

I participated in Black Friday, hitting Kohl's in PA with my mom and sister before my shopping meter hit the red zone.  Later, the kids and I hit Best Buy and Target, before we retreated to the relative quiet of Medford.  After the kids left, I worked a bit Friday night and really felt my age, seeing all the young folks back home visiting their families and desperate for a drink.

Saturday was a busy day, with several hours of leaf removal that sandwiched a visit from Carlo 'The Chief' Iacono.  He rescued me from a waist-high pile of leaves and took me for a ride in his '67 Mustang. We spent an hour talking about kids and Occupy Philly and how much our lives have changed.  I got back in time to wrap up the yard work for the year.  After a quick dinner with an old friend, I did some curtain shopping and saw a movie with a new friend. 

Saturday wrapped up at the Indian Chief, commiserating with a fellow soccer coach and listening to perhaps the worst cover band I have ever heard.  At least the company was good. 

The glorious weather of the weekend rolled on today.  I did some light hiking at a nearby nature preserve and worked up a pretty good sweat, showing just how out of shape I have managed to get.  After discovering there was no way to get electric to my christmas lights, I decided to add an outdoor outlet so I could hang the icicle lights. 

I weathered the Eagles loss before realizing that shopping is not my forte.  While all the curtians are the same size and color, two different patters were mixed together.  I guess I need to go back!

So, long story short, I made myself as busy as I could this weekend.  There were some highlights and some tough moments.  Still, now it's Sunday night and I can't believe how quickly this beautiful weekend passed! A four day weekend with glorious 60 degree weather in November and some very fine moments and wonderful people. 

Have a great week!

A Time To Be Thankful

It's Thanksgiving in America.  I am sure the turkey is in the oven at many houses already. But before its scent starts to fill the house or we all run off to wherever we are gathering later, it's time to think about the things that make our lives special and give thanks.

It's been a year of great personal turmoil and change for me.  I've had to move, lost a relationship with a wonderful partner, downsized my life and forced to take a hard look at who I am and what is really important.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we can spend some time reflecting and then we usually get to enjoy our friends and family eating great food and sitting around the TV or fire.  These days, with Facebook and Skype and the like, there isn't as much catching up to do, but it's still important to have the gatherings.  I know from experience these last few months that the internet and the connections it brings can be a great friend when you are lonely, but there is no substitute for everyone being together.

Gas is $3.13 this morning.  A winter vacation isn't in the cards for many of us this year.  The economy is still stagnant and there is no NBA season.  Congress can't agree on a single thing and the only thing the Republican presidential candidates agree on is that it's all Obama's fault. 

Still, we live free in the greatest nation on earth.  I was able to get up and go to Wawa this morning in my car, my kids are playing nicely in the living room and we have a nice little home we have made our own.  We have many challenges, but far more to be thankful for.

Today I am thinking about the 102 settlers who came across the storm-tossed Atlantic seeking just the life I live today (with a lot more church going probably).  I am also thinking about the millions of men and women who were already here, living for generations in this land before Europeans invaded.  I am thinking about the land itself and all that it provides for us in food, shelter, energy, and recreation. 

I am very thankful for all those who will not be able to spend the day with their families, from the men and women serving in the armed forces, the police officers and first responders on duty keeping us safe, everyone in the service industry feeding America today and all those folks at retail establishments who will stock the shelves so we can take everything we want home today and tonight.

I am also thankful for those who are gone now.  Family and friends who were very important to me and to John and Emma for a long time.  The impact of those who we miss today can't be measured, but can be seen every day in who we are and in how we live.

My family and friends have gotten me through a very difficult period.  I am thankful to them for providing great summer vacations, a place relax and enjoy, a beautiful wedding and party, help moving and re-establishing and so many moments of fellowship that I can't even count them all.  As doors close in any life, new doors open and I have been heartened to find all kinds of folks, both new to our life and returners, behind the doors we have opened and re-opened recently.

Finally I am thankful for my two wonderful children.  John and Emma make it all worth it.  They fill the house with noise, give me so many moments of joy and help me see the positives even on really tough days.  They are the constant in my life.

This is my 6th Thanksgiving day post, and Norman Rockwell's 'Freedom From Want' has been with us since the beginning.  It's symbolic to me of all that it means to be an American.  But that's the simple, easy version of being an American.  The truth is, that it's a lot harder than the picture makes it out to be.  So today, please take a moment to consider the sacrifices of all those who make your life what it is today.  Thank those you can and remember and consider those you can't.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving Eve - Getaway Day Followed by Amateur Night

After five days off, Another Delco Guy is in the office today with his skeleton crew, dreading the traffic we will see later.  This is a work day for me that is sandwiched in between 5 off for family time and the 4 day Thanksgiving holiday. 

The kids have half days all week, and going in today was particularly hard for Emma. I had visited John's classroom yesterday to see his presentation on 'Hurricane Jyatt'  which is a pretty funny video if you are interested.  Emma was feeling a bit left out that I wasn't visiting her class today for the Thanksgiving feast.  Sadly, I didn't know about the feast until last night and had already been scheduled in the office today.  Thankfully, we have had a lot of daughter-daddy time lately and she perked up a bit when I reminded her that I would see her tomorrow and we would go see her cousins in Swarthmore for Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, we're holding down the fort at the UArts ghost town and maintaining our pre-holiday good cheer.  Later on we will fight our way through the traffic to get home or to second jobs or to whatever else might be planned on the biggest traveling and drinking day of the year.  I know many of you are on a half-day as well, so enjoy the afternoon off!

Tomorrow is the big day, family, food, football and fellowship.  It's the greatest holiday of them all, and I will of course have my 6th annual Thanksgiving Day post as well.  I know you are all breathless with anticipation!

Whatever your plans for later, please be patient and safe on the roads, enjoy your friends and family and remember to tip your bartenders and wait staff!

Rainy Tuesdays Aren't All Bad

I am so glad that today happened the way it did.  A morning that was a bit slower-paced than usual.  Running some errands around town and catching up with  some friends via text message.  A few moments to myself.  A visit to John's classroom for his presentation on weather.

A work teleconference, some emails about baseball and a good conversation with my son.  Music to think about on the radio, antipasti for lunch, a happy little girl, clean laundry folded and put away.  A good deed proposed, done and delivered. A heart made lighter, but tighter.

Doing some email while homework is done, watching the kids play a board game.  Rooms cleaned, trash cans out.  Computer problem solved, dishes done and bathroom cleaned. Angry birds to play with while we wait for dinner.  Clean plates, quick showers and books read equals ice cream cake for dessert.  Teeth brushed and a quiet house gives me a moment to reflect. 

Rain on the windows with no other sound and my eyes droop ...

Sometimes She's A Handful - A Single Dad Reflects On His Daughter

Anyone who reads these pages knows I am completely devoted to my daughter Emma.  Some days are just a bit more trying than others, though and today was one of them.  Thanks to my many friends who have contacted me tonight after my exasperated Facebook post a bit earlier. You are all correct.  She's a super little girl who cares deeply about everyone she meets and loves her friends and family with all her heart.

I guess maybe the wonderful weekend we had kind of made a tough day an inevitability.  On Friday, Emma got a great report card, so we took her and her BFF out to lunch.   Then we had a wonderfully fun afternoon visiting her best friend's house.  We went to the book fair and community night at school and then out to dinner at The Pub with a bunch of our Tabernacle friends.  Emma wrapped up the evening with her first sleep over at a friend's house and she loved every minute of it.

Saturday was no less packed, as Emma hosted her friend for a few hours and then we headed over to Swarthmore for my niece Ellie's 5th birthday.  Cake, ice cream, presents and some very happy kids!  We wrapped that night up with her second sleepover.  After a communal brunch Sunday with the Ranson and Newsome clans, we headed back to Medford for an afternoon of much needed-relaxing and a wonderful pork loin dinner.

I said earlier today that I am trying to raise a young woman who is strong and self-assured.  'You're succeeding,' a friend pointed out. 'But that makes everything just a bit harder.'

So when I think back over what I am sure was one of Emma's best weekends ever, and consider all that she is as an 8 year old, I must agree with you all that she deserves a pass for today.  Thanks everyone for the attitude adjustment!

Friday Fantastic Four - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and I have decided to extend the fun by a bit!  What could be better than a holiday that is about cooking, eating, hanging out with family and watching football?  Yes, I understand that there is much more to it and I will cover those things in my annual Thanksgiving day post, but for now, let's just talk about the fun stuff...

What are your four favorite things about Thanksgiving?

1. Dark meat - yup - I love it!  Everyone else can fight over the dry turkey breast, I am a thigh guy!
2. Football rivalries - from the big local high school games to the Lions and the Cowboys, football has become as important to this holiday as cranberry sauce.
3. Gathering - it's the best part of the day, when people from all over converge before dinner, covered dishes or bottles of wine in hand.  This year we'll be at my sister's in Swarthmore.  Stop by!
4. Watching the women plan the Black Friday assault.  If this much planning had gone into the war in Afghanistan, the troops would have been home years ago!

I hope you are all getting ready for the holidays.  We've got a nice long weekend here full of dances and birthdays and school stuff.  Enjoy!

Wrapping Up The Youth Sports Seasons

Yesterday, Emma played the last game of her soccer season for the TAA "Green Machine."  She thoroughly enjoyed her first year of soccer, and I enjoyed coaching her and her friends.  I still say anyone must be qualified to coach soccer if I can, but it was still a great time.

Emma has begun to understand how to move to the ball and how to use her size against smaller, quicker players.  She has gotten a lot better at being able run around for the whole game without losing interest or getting tired.  She has been one of the first to volunteer to play when other kids don't want to.

I'm very proud of all that she learned and I wish we had her play soccer before this fall.  It was a far better experience for her than the T-Ball experience two years ago!  The last game was not a win, but the trophy helped the sting of the loss.  Thanks to Coach Dave and Coach Jim for really doing the real work of coaching this year.

John's fall baseball season ended a while back, the last games a casualty of the freak pre-Halloween snowstorm that hit the Mid-Atlantic.  His War Eagles squad really came together this fall, winning the last 5 games of the season. He is a big boy who is still growing into his long legs and big frame.  He's got a lot of potential and determination, but his progress this fall was incremental rather than spectacular.

John loves playing baseball and is a darn good pitcher, but his footspeed limits what he can do in the field.  His bat began to come around this fall after some coaching that found a problem with his swing.  Tryouts for the spring War Eagles teams were held last weekend and he did well, and he is on pins and needles waiting to see if he made the team.

For me, this fall season probably brings to close my 6 years of youth coaching.  The fall has been a struggle for me to balance coaching duties, work schedules and getting the kids where they need to be every day.  As John has moved up the baseball ladder, my ability to help the teams he is on has been smaller and smaller.  While Emma and I enjoyed me helping her soccer team this year, there are plenty of folks who can do what I did for the team.

Sometimes something has to give when you are a single dad, and I have known this moment was coming for some time.  Coaching my kids has given me some of the happiest moments of my life.  Seeing them grow and succeed, have fun with their friends and learn some hard lessons has been an absolute privilege.  Thankfully, there are lots of good coaches in baseball program to be able to help my son develop.  I'm still not sure how good a soccer coach I was, so I am sure someone (anyone) can fill those shoes! 

I'll still be at the games, and some of the practices, but I'll be in the stands with the other dads and moms, taking my pictures, grumbling about the coaches and enjoying every minute of it!

A Beautiful Day

I wish I had taken more pictures yesterday.  It's a day I want to remember for the rest of my life.  There was nothing super special about it, but the sum total was one of those days that you never want to have end.  It was Election Day and the kids were off from school.  I had made a decision several months ago to take the day as well.  As it turned out, the weather was glorious, with brilliant blue skies, some orange and red leaves still hanging on, and temperatures hitting 72 degrees.

Emma and I started the day teaching each other to paint her nails.  Now I am a doting father, and I don't get too hung up on gender roles, but this was not something I have done before for her.  In between the color and glitter coats, I made her French toast and we chatted about school and Halloween and her friend's pug. She ate every bit of her breakfast and gave me a big hug, burying her buttery face in my shirt and saying, 'That was great, I love you Daddy.'

After we got things cleaned up, it was time to vote.  Emma was very interested in voting this year, and she pressed all the buttons for me.  We spent some time talking about 'important US symbols' and 'just important American stuff.' I explained what an election was, who we were voting for and why and talked about leaders and decisions. Some pretty big concepts, but she seemed to get them pretty well.

After our civics lesson, Emma begged for some time at the park, so we headed over to the swings and slides and she ran shrieking with joy from one to the other until it was time to go get her brother.

On of john's friends is having some serious family health issues right now, so John had spent the night there, but by lunch time, the air guns and Wii games were kind of boring, so Emma and I went over to pick them up.  Everyone was pretty hungry after spending most of the morning outside, so we headed over to Prospector's for lunch on their indoor/outdoor patio.  John saw a few of his former classmates from Mount Laurel, we all enjoyed our root beers and watched the Penn State debacle on ESPN.

After that we were looking for a way we could all go the same place for a few hours.  The library had books for Emma and newspapers for me, as well computers for John and his buddy.  We killed an easy two hours before heading back home. 

The boys headed off to the creek to do some exploring and Emma and I enjoyed some reading time out on the porch.  She headed off for a bit with a friend for some ice cream and I sat in the late autumn sun and was thankful for a day that had brought me so many small, but special moments. 

In the evening it was time to get ready for the next day, organizing lunches, doing neglected homework, following election returns.  The day slipped away quietly, but I wanted to make sure I wrote it all down, so that I would always have it.  Thanks for sharing it with me!

My Princess is 8!

It's absolutely incredible to me that my daughter Emma turns 8 today.  It seems like just yesterday she was a tiny little thing on a respirator, stubbornly fighting her way into the world.  Today she is a sweet, sometimes sassy study of a suburban tween girl who loves her shoes, her dance, her soccer and Justin Beiber.

She's my observant child, always checking things out, noting when someone has a new haircut or a cool new pair of shoes.  She's whip-smart, an enthusiastic reader who loves to write, do her art and dreams about being a dance teacher.  She is a firm teacher when working with her babies and loves to help in the kitchen.

A close follower of all things Justin Beiber, Emma also follows pop music and fashion trends closely.  She is a girl's girl, avoiding dirt, but really getting into things that are pink.  She enjoys taking pictures and shopping, is always up for a chat on the phone and can be counted on to ask me every night to read her another book to push off bedtime just a bit longer.

Still there are days when my little angel is a bit of a mystery to me.  She is often able to entertain herself for hours and will get upset if you bother her.  Other times, she needs you to constantly pay attention to her and her pretty little face will cloud over if you don't have a moment for her right then.  Generally she is easy going ans cheerful and very tolerant of her older brother.  Occasionally (especially when she is tired) all heck will break loose over the tiniest perceived problem.

I am so grateful that she has a tough spirit and a positive outlook about everything in her life.  She's had some tough times for a child and I am ever so lucky that she has come through them so well.  I am also so thankful for all the people who have helped me along the way to understand my little girl.  A single dad with a smart, willful energetic girl is very lucky to have such a tremendous array of moms, grand mothers and other friends and family to fall back on when I have questions.  We're a happy little family with a lot of love and support.

Emma's a super little girl, one of the most perfect little people I have ever known.  It makes me so happy to see her when she comes running up to me.  I know there are tougher days coming as she gets older, but today I just want to see her as the wonderful kid she has always been. 

Happy Birthday Emma!  I love you so much!

Uncle Matt's Birthday Party

It's a beautiful night for a party by the fire. The kids and I are back here in Delco for a family birthday party at 3447.  Uncle Matt is opening his gifts as the kids play on the hammock and the adults warm themselves by the firepit.  Great food and wonderful company make it a night to remember.

A great end to a fun weekend!  I hope you all enjoyed this beautiful weeknd as much as I did.

Judging the Scarecrows in Medford

We are walking a busy Main Street in Medford today, taking a look at all of the scarecrows set up for the annual contest. It's a lot of fun for a nice Sunday!

A Full Day of Youth Sports

It's a beautiful day here in South Jersey and the Another Delco Guy clan is getting ready for a full day of soccer and baseball with a morning meal at Medport Diner.

We all have our uniforms (and our hair) adjusted just so. Our cooler is packed with between game meals. Distracting activities for Emma are all ready to go for the second baseball game.

We are looking forward to a great day in the beautiful autumn weather. Enjoy your Saturday as well!

My Little Chef

It's the unexpected, stolen moments that make having a little girl so much fun. Everyone have a good week!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

In between the Eagles' loss and the impending Phillies win, we are celebrating my nephew Andrew's birthday. The pork was outstanding, the company is excellent and I need to get a firepit!

Ready For Halloween

Yes, I know it's only September, but Emma has been persistent, so the house is now fully decorated.  We got our pumpkins at Johnson's Farm again this year.  It was very crowded and not nearly the dazzling day we had last year, but it was cool and easy to do all the things we wanted to do for our visit on Saturday.

On Sunday, we hit Produce Junction for some fall mums.  Emma was very specific about which flowers she wanted.  John stayed in the CRV.  We spent Sunday afternoon eating nachos, decorating the house and hanging our Halloween lights.  Yes we have Halloween lights.

Don't you?

Oh To Be Young Again - Wanderlust!

My cousin Danielle (of the southern wing of the Neely Clan) recently graduated from college and has embarked on a trip around the world working in sustainable agriculture and visiting places we would all like to go.  She and her friend Melanie are documenting the trip at a blog with lots of great pictures and already some funny stuff after just two days of travel.

They are in Stockholm now, hoping to catch something I have always wanted to see, The Aurora Borealis.  I will be following them on their trip and I hope you do too.  Their travelog is called Wanderlust.

Finally asleep!

BTS Night Debacle

So last night was back to school night at my son's school.  I like back to school nights.  I think they are a great way to get a feel for the school and the teachers as well as a great opportunity to get to know the other parents.  It's always interesting to meet the parents of the kids I hear so much about.  The parents seem far more normal that the texts I have read from their kids to my son about them!

Last night was my first BTS night at the school my son attends.  The last 2 BTS nights were in our old school district.  It was pretty interesting to see how two different middle schools approached the event.

Last night, our grade started by going to each of the classes on our kids' schedules.  I knew where to start, but son's mom grabbed up the paperwork so, I basically had to follow the herd from class to class since I didnt have a schedule.  No biggie.  It can't be that hard, right?

It wasn't. What was hard was the timing.  We only got 7 minutes in each class.  I was trying to figure out why we were being rushed from place to place, given that the last session was labeled as a "Meet the Related Arts Teachers" session.  Each of the 7 minute sessions was really about 5 minutes by the time we got settled.  It didn't leave much time for substantive discussions and it left NO time for personal questions.

Each teacher was great about making sure we felt comfortable with contacting them, but everything seemed pretty rushed and no one got through their entire presentation.  Once we we finished with the regular teachers, we were all herded into the gym for the "Meet the Related Arts Teachers" session.  Then it became clear why the rest of the night had been rushed. 

The school district, in its infinite wisdom, had contracted with a guest speaker to deliver a speech on all of the problems that are facing today's middle schoolers.  He got as much time for his spiel as all of the rest of the teachers combined.  It's 45 minutes of my life that I want back.  After a cursory point int the direction of the gym, art, music and Spanish teachers, John Kriger was introduced.

I've seen the standard 'The World is a Dangerous Place' talk before.  Last year, the community police officer in Mount Laurel did a great job introducing 5th grade parents to the dangers of sexting, Facebook and other issues.  He had real world examples drawn directly from our community and he was able to convey facts with authority as well as offer practical solutions. I don't live in Mount Laurel anymore, but I still have his name and number in my phone in case I have a question.

Tabernacle, though, doesn't have a home town police department, so instead went to a paid speaker.  I sure hope they didn't pay John Kriger much for his 45 minutes of fear-mongering and lecturing on 'the problems of this generation' of kids. 

Kriger presented in a warm, modulated voice, running though his slides and interacting in a friendly way with the audience.  He seems like a grandfatherly bank vice president when he's up there. A very competent seeming guy. It was his message that was just silly.

His basic theme was that technology has ruined kids.  He went on and on about the internet and being connected 24/7 and how it has ended family time, reduced concentration ability, endangered health and essentially made kids slobbering fools.

He also wanted to make sure we were terrified of bath salts (now banned), energy drinks (the same effect on the body as cocaine!!!!????), 4Loko (reformulated already) and of course Farmville.  

For every one of his pronouncements about technology and kids, I could imagine my parents sitting in the same gym 30 years ago hearing about the dangers of Movies glamorizing drinking and drugs, or their parents hearing about the dangers of television or my great grandparents hearing about the dangers of radio.

Humans evolve.  Technology changes.  Drugs of abuse have been part of human existence for eternity.  Growing up and parenting can have some scary moments, but the message last night was that kids can't possibly handle the evil place the world has become and parents are just not doing the job.

There were wild claims, unsupported statements, dated 'news' and questionable science.  And I was left wondering to what end this man was lecturing us.  He never really explained.  Just let us know that we needed to turn off our devices and be ever vigilant.

Never once did he mention how much more able this generation of kids is to collaborate, to sift though vast amounts of information to make decisions and to accept change.  Instead, he made blanket statements about colleges saying that kids are more unprepared than ever for the rigors of college work.  As a college enrollment officer, I can tell you that Kriger is dead wrong on that.  Students today are prepared for college in a different way than any generation before, but that's because the world is a very different place.

As the parents grumbled, Kriger pushed on, apparently oblivious to the fact that he had lost most of us.  A few brave souls, confident of their ability to parent their children, got up and left.  A hilarious moment came when several members of the audience spontaneously joined the volunteer fire company and bolted from the room when a fire call was sounded.

In the end my major issue was that this guy got way too much time for his alarmist agenda and the teachers got far too little time to talk to us.  He was a poor choice for a speaker, but the really poor choice was to maximize his time and minimize our potential to interact with the most important non-family members in their lives, their teachers.

Back To School Week Rolls On

Emma is very proud of the work she did on her "Classmate in a Box" project this week.  She took a shoebox, decorated it with colored paper (while I applied spray glue to my hands and living room) and then added decorations and items that are important to her.

It was hard for Emma to narrow down her important items.  In the end, she included Christmas ornaments from our trips this summer to Maine and Cape May, a mini snow globe from one of her favorite spots, the Seaside Heights Boardwalk, some cranberry items from her mother's farm and a Zhu-Zhu pet mini magazine.

Her photographs were: a shot of her dance friends at their recital, one from Medford of Emma and John, one from her soccer game, one from my birthday, a picture of her with her grandparent's puppy and one of she and her mom in the NICU.  The outside of the box was done one theme to a side, with stickers to match for dance, soccer, art and family things.  Emma finished the project by spelling out her name with sticky letter and adding Tinkerbell and fairy princess stickers to the top of the box.

Emma did a great job figuring out what she wanted to to and putting it all together.  I only helped show her how to measure the colored paper.  She did the rest and was very certain on how she wanted everything to be.  It's always hard to decide what to keep from school projects, but I think this project is a keeper because she can use it to store things that are important to her.

And up for tonight - John's Back to School Night!

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we've just finished the first weekend of the school year.  Temperatures are still warm and there is a goodly touch of humidity to remind us that the dreaded dog days of August are not too far in the past.

It always seems like the first week and weekend of school are jammed packed with forms to fill out, meetings, activities, games, homework and everything else under the sun.  We're coming off just such a week and even after the weekend, I feel exhausted.

I started with my annual fantasy football draft on Labor Day.  I was getting out this year, but my brother convinced me to come back and try to improve on my 4th place finish from last year.  The draft food, provided by Shane and Maria Zack of Rosalita's Fresh Mexican was stellar and mean I probably need to make a trip out to Malvern some day soon. I picked first this year and grabbed Adrian Peterson, who immediately underperformed in Week 1. Typical. 

After one last night out, it was back to school on Wednesday for the kiddies, with John starting 6th grade and Emma going into 2nd.  John has a real 'big kid' schedule, with 11 different teachers including all the 'specials.'  I guess I need to begin saving for his teacher holiday gifts now.  Emma's teacher is actually a neighbor of ours!  In a fascinating coincidence, she used to live in the house that we moved into in August.  Emma now sleeps in the same bedroom as her teacher did a decade or two ago.

After dentist appointments and sports practices last week, the weekend heralded the real beginning of fall sports season.  John's travel baseball team had a scrimmage against the 11U NJ state champion Sacred Heart Angels.  He was our starting pitcher and worked an economical 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and no earned runs, walking no one with a K.  He struggled a bit at the plate however, getting caught looking on an outside corner pitch that is his nemesis.  His War Eagles dropped the game 5-1, but really played quite well for their first game of 'real baseball' on the 50-70 field.

Emma had her first ever soccer game on Saturday morning.  She enjoyed herself despite the mugginess.  She had one really good series bringing the ball up the field for a scoring opportunity.  While she prefers to play defense, we are still working on some basic concepts with the team.  Apparently ANYONE can coach youth soccer, as I have been tabbed as an assistant.  Prior to Emma joining soccer this year, I am pretty sure the last time I was on a soccer field was for Mr. Logue's gym class at St, James in 1987.

Saturday afternoon marked the return of the annual Pesotski Crabfest, hosted this year by my sister Carin and her husband Kevin.  Normally Crabfest is held on Father's Day, but Emma had her Dance Recital on Father's Day this year and my father was under the weather, so we re-scheduled.  It was an enjoyable afternoon, not nearly as hot as some of our previous gatherings and the food, beverages and company were excellent. 

An added benefit of waiting until late in the crab season is that prices were the lowest in memory, with my brother Matt snagging a bushel for the unheard of price of $150 at Seafood Connection in Linwood.  I found a nice selection of fall beers at Medford Wine and Spirits, including Seirra Nevada's amazing Tumbler.

We wrapped the weekend up yesterday with baseball practice, some football on TV, John's late summer reading essays and Emma's forthcoming 'Classmate in a Box' project.

Things don't slow down at all this week with dance class starting up tonight, 2 practices, back to school night and a baseball tournament looming for the weekend.  How are the other daddy an mommy bloggers handling what Jennifer terms 'the layering on of activities' that begins the school year?

Last Night Out Before School!

School starts tomorrow for my kids and we are out for a last special night together before it's time to tote the backpacks!

Enjoying the Maine Life

The family has gathered here in Maine for another summer vacation.  We've had 30 or so years up here so far in various houses near Kennebunkport.  As a neighbor said yesterday, "Oh you've got Maine blood in you now."

We can find things to do on days that are a bit cool and gray like yesterday.  A bit of shopping in Freeport or Kittery, some biking or a quick, fully-clothed run on the beach all fill the day nicely.  Take out lobster dinner, reading books, debating reality TV and watching kids play Wii rounds out the evening.

There will be a better day for the beach, a warmer night to go to town.  After 30 years we know that it's ok to sit at home for a night.  It's part of the reason we're here.

My brother Matt, who's getting married to his sweetheart Heidi this week, and I talked about the pull of Maine on our family last week.  We agreed it's a romance with a place.  WIth the tight clean lines of the houses, the gray rocks and cold water along the beaches, the colorful shops, good beer and crowded sidewalks.  It's where we come to renew and recharge, take photos and listen to music, write in journals and devour novels.

The air is cleaner, the people more open, the sunsets just a little bit brighter. Sure there are mosquitoes, and racoons in the trash and family all on top of each other, but it's ok because we're here in a place we all came to love in our own way and time. 

Alumni Game 2011 Is In the Books

This past Saturday, my son John and I made the trek back to Delco for the annual Cabrini Basketball Alumni Game and a full day of hoops on the hardwood in the Nerney Fieldhouse at the Dixon Center.

The women's basketball alumni tipped the day off at 11 with a run down memory lane.  While I was not able to attend due to fathering duties at home, I understand the attendance for their first alumni game was soild and there are plans to contiune the tradition next year.

The current version of the women's team kept things rolling along with a 74-45 thrashing of College of Notre Dame.  Freshman Annie Rivituso helped the team to its 10th win with her first career double-double.

The men's team continued its dominance of the CSAC with a 90-76 drubbing of Marywood University.  Senior Dom Farrello had a career game in front of the alumni, pouring in 33 points as the Cavs played every man on the roster and nailed down a top seed in the CSAC tournament next week.

The hospitality room had the usual array of goodies and gave Coach Dzik a place to hold forth.  Coaches Joe Kelly, Mike Keeley, Gabby Hartnett and Bob McTamney also stopped in to grab a few bites to eat in between games.  Superfans Mike Fallon, Paul Engle and Darnell Engle also were in the house (as usual).  The best managers any program ever had, Jim Iacovino, Phyllis Cohen, Kelly Gallagher and Andrea Kelliher also made appearances.

The men's alumni game featured 21 players from the past, some of whom looked like they could have suited up for current Cavs coach Marcus Kahn and some of whom looked as if they needed to mix in a few salads. I can't name everyone, but it's safe to say that guys going as far back as "Sticks" Bennett and as recent as Jim Good and company represented every eara of Cabrnin basketball. Former head coach John Dzik took to the mic and called the game.  I coached called timeouts for the blue team and Mike Keeley took the gray squad.  AD Joe Guinta threw in some great prizes and we were honored by the presence of several members of the current Cavs squad, the coaching staff and Cabrini President Dr. Marie George.

The blue squad sprinted out to a 15 point lead, helped a great deal by Laval Pickney's 0-for the half from the charity stripe.  Ultimately youth won over experience, and my blue team succumbed to the gray team by 15 points.  It was good to see so many guys in the house and really wonderful to see the families and friends come back from over the years.

Cabrini basketball is a family and our family is thankful to have the strong support of the current administration and athletics leadership.  They do a great job making sure we feel welcome and putting on a great event.  As I have said before and continue to believe, Marcus Kahn understands the college and D3 basketball and has done a great job restoring the program over the last three years.  Finally, special thanks to John Mack for all he does for the basketball alumni and everything he did to make Saturday successful!

Photos from the day are up on my Flickr site.  If you have some to share, please post the link in the comments section.  Thanks again to everyone who made my son and I feel so good on Saturday and GO CAVS!

What A day

I've not posted much lately and I thank you all who have checked in.  It's the usual. Work is worky.  Home is busy. 

So I've been waiting for a good reason to post again and spending a bit of time with my son yesterday.  John's a good kid, smart and funny.  He's ten and has had to put up with a lot of changes this year, so I try to keep my eye on him.

When he got a text message and said, "Oh, that's not good!" I was naturally a bit concerned.

I asked what was up and John readily told me that a fellow 5th grader had just texted him that he was going to kill himself. 

We turned the car around and headed back to the school for a talk with the principal.

John was pretty level-headed and texted his friend not to do anything.  He let the  other boy know that it was not going to help anything and that he wanted him as a friend.

The principal got through to the boy's mom and established that the boy was fine and had not actually done anything.  Everyone gave a sigh of relief.

I'm darn lucky to have two great kids.  It's just amazing how fast they grow up!

So if you're a parent, give the kids a hug.  They have so much more pressure on them at much younger ages.  If you're not a parent, I'm not asking for sympathy.  It'a a great job, no matter how hard it can be.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma Reads Her Card
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Emma is Seven! The days of me having to read Emma her birthday cards are gone and she is no longer a tiny little thing. She is a big first grader now and can read her cards all on her own!

Far from the tiny thing she was when she was born, Emma is now a poised, mature seven year old who enjoys her dance classes, drawing and coloring, cooking and taking care of her babies.

She likes all of her gifts this morning, from a new dress and some things for her Zhu Zhu pet to do as well as the new Tinkerbell DVD from her brother.

Emma is a sweet girl who makes us all happy with her smiles and her great hugs. Happy birthday Princess!

My Buddy is 10!!!

John The Snowboy
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Its hard to believe that it's been 10 years. On a hot, steamy June Monday, John burst into the world. Thunderstorms had rolled though over the night and the day was very much like today.

In ten years, John as become everything I could have ever hoped for in a son. He's great in school, has a wonderful sense of humor and deeply cares about his family and friends. John loves baseball above all things, but also is an avid reader and a wonderful writer.

It's been an eventful 10 years for him, moving from Media, PA to the Pinelands to Moorestown and finally here in Mount Laurel. He's found friends at each stop, from our first neighbor Joe Burns to the flocks of kids at Fleetwood School yelling "John!!!!!!" when I pick him up from school.

Last week his family surrounded him for a great pool party and i have not see him happier. Except maybe for when the Phils clinched the pennant.

Buddy - this is your day and I want you to know how proud I am of you and how much I love you!

Thank You and Happy Memorial Day

Pool's Open!
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

It's Memorial Day, and every one at Another Delco Guy is poolside, enjoying a beautiful late spring day in the Delaware Valley.

The only work being done here today is by the pool filter and the lawn sprinklers. We're happy to have the day off to spend as we wish and enjoy the company of family and friends. It's the day the kicks off the summer season and we can't wait for all of the great days to come.

Still we are mindful of the reason for the holiday and as is tradition here at Another Delco Guy, we'd like to take a moment to thank all those who have served and fallen so that we might live in peace and freedom, safe and happy in the greatest nation in history.

From Jonas Parker at Lexington to Captain Andrew Ivan, Jr., whose POW-MIA bracelet I wore until it was clear he was not coming home from VietNam to Maj. Ronald W. Culver, Jr. who fell last week in Numaniyah, we thank you all for your service and your sacrifice.

For the families of all those who have fallen and for those who have served and continue to serve this great nation, we thank you for all that you do for us.

Happy Memorial Day!

On Old Friends, Being a Parent and the Space-Time Continuum

Today I saw a friend of mine - a great dad - who I have seen only a few times since college.  While talking about our children, the years melted away and we were 18 again.  It was a good conversation.  Full of memories and laughter, sadness and moments of quiet.  One we have to have again far sooner than we have had in the past.

Our children are our link to all that is good in our past and a guarantee that the future will be bright.

While James Earl Jones in "Field of Dreams" who said that it was baseball that reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again, he was wrong.

It is our children. They are our link to the past and future.

Friday Fantastic Four

It's a Phillies Phriday in the cold and rain of October, but we've got bigger things in mind here at Another Delco Guy.

Thirty years ago, my dear brother came into this world.  One might say it's never been quite the same as it was before his birth. 

That's right, Matt is 30!

He's grown up from the little guy pictured above with his glow worm to graduate from college, travel the world, establish himself as a noted sports blogger and become a most favored Uncle. 

I won't go into all the gory details about how he used to keep me up all night rocking in his sleep, or how I taught him to throw that nasty Wiffle Ball curve he still breaks out now and then, but I will say this.  There are few people in the world whose advice and counsel means more to me that my brother's.  

But he's growing old now.  He has left his youth behind and bought the family's ancestral home.  He's begun to worry about things like his grass and new siding and the darn fool kids who blare their music until all hours. I'm sure he's got a bucket list somewhere that he's looking at and wondering how he will ever get to all these things in his waning years.  

Thus we're going to do a Friday Fantastic Four that is focused on growing old and what you have left to do. you might have done them before and need another taste, or they may be things that you just feel like you must do to fulfill your destiny (or density).

What four things do you most want to do before you can't do them anymore?

1. Visit Ireland and Poland.  They are pretty different laces, but they are part of me and I want to get there.  Sooner rather than later if possible.
2. Write that book.  I still feel like it's in there somewhere, but has lost its way.
3. Own a vacation home. Been there once, but it seems to be the quintessential mark of having 'made it' as an American.  I'd like to get back there.
4. See John and Emma become successes on their own.  It's a very fatherly thing, but nothing would please me more.  I'd give up the other three easily to see this one.

Happy 30th Birthday Little Brother!

Finally Friday

Today was one of those days that make all the hard moments of being a dad worth it.

Emma graduated from Pre-K wearing a pretty pink dress covered with a white graduation gown and mortarboard.  She enjoyed the party afterward and the fact that she drew lots of guests, but looked supremely bored during the ceremony.  Her teacher named her the hardest working student. I can't think of a better compliment!

John and his Tabernacle 8U team opened play in the Pinelands Classic Tournament with a 6-0 win over Northern Burlington.  NB won the Pinelands Classic last year, so this is a big win.  John was 1-2 with and RBI but didn't have a play in the field.

We wrapped up the evening with ice cream cake to celebrate a great day!

Now we're watching the third straight Phils extra innings game as they look to know off the Red Sox at CBP.

Have a great weekend!

A Fun Night

Swarthmore Tree Lighting and Caroling
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

We had a great night last night at Carin and Kevin's. A roaring fire, warm stew and chili, red wine and flocks of children really make for a lively evening. Add in gingerbread house decoration, caroling and Santa coming to town and you've got a night to remember. And that doesn't even include the ride in the firetruck!

I really like times like this, where we spend time having fun with our family and friends. A bit later today, we'll put up the Christmas decorations outside and get the tree finished up.

After Emma's nap, that is.

Quite a Surprise

I have to say I was a bit shocked to discover my daughter on the cover of the local paper today!

Some of you may know that my children live partially with me and partially with their mom.  When they are there, they live on a farm in the middle of the Pine Barrens with about 130 acres of cranberries.  When they are here, they live in a modest twin house on our half acre of happiness in Moorestown.

In another phase of my life I helped out at the farm, first as a field manager for the blueberry operation starting in the summer of 1991 and eventually running the cranberry cleaning machine that took the cranberries out of the bog, cleaned them and loaded them onto trucks.  I took a few weeks off from work each October and we all pitched in to get things wrapped up for the year.

The harvest always drew in folks who came down every year, or who just pulled over on the side of Route 563 to watch.  The media came every year, from the Food Network, to Good Morning America to the little local paper.  At least a part of the job was handling the visitors, the media and doing public relations.  The deep reds of the berries and the golds greens and yellows of the trees make for great photos and vivid memories.

Cranberry farming is a difficult business and this group takes it seriously and do it well. They go out of their way to tell their story carefully and to craft it to include many of the traditional touchstones of American agriculture: family, legacy, hard work.

So I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised to see the beautiful photo of my daughter with her grandfather on the front page of The Burlington County Times today, or to see her clapping and having fun and her brother wearing waders and pushing berries in the video posted to the AP today. 

But still I was a bit surprised because it's a part of my life I have left behind and that I don't hear about from them much.  There's a lot of family-values PR in the video, but I watched it with some real happiness for the window it offered me into this other portion of John and Emma's life.

I'm on the road today, so thanks to everyone who helpd me get the media together to post this!

Emma Is Five!

Emma is Adorable as Tinkerbell
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

It's a bit hard to believe that my princess turns five today. The day of her birth is such a vivid memory for me that It seems much more recent that five years ago that I got a call waking me out of bed telling me Emma was on her way. I dropped John off at his grandparents and drove the 29 miles to the hospital in 28 minutes.

She was 8 weeks early and not ready to wake up. She's still a bit of a terror if she's not ready to get up in the morning. I went with her to another hospital that was better able to take care of her. After the ventilator and feeding tubes were installed, Emma rallied a bit and held my hand for the first time.

She's a very tough kid who deals withe the world on her terms. Still, she is the sweetest person I know and loves her family and friends deeply. I am very happy she has not outgrown tickling or cuddling with her daddy. I know she will, but I am not ready yet.

Besides her special friend Bun, Emma really loves her brother John. When she's upset, she always says the same thing, 'I want my brother.' It's great that they are such good friends and that he is always there to comfort her.

Grandma and Pop live in Pennsylvania and Emma loves when they come to visit. It's always a special treat when she can have a sleep over! While Andrew is the cousin her own age, she is very much into her cousin Ellie, and recently confided that she wants a little sister to take care of.

Emma has always loved to cook and to draw, and it's been a wonderful year of watching her mature in both of these areas. She can pretty much make an entire cake, loving to crack eggs and mix things. She sets up elaborate tea parties and school rooms and nap times for her six babies and is capable of amusing herself for hours at a time.

Like most girls, Emma loves to shop. She's still a big fan of shoes and the color pink. Her trips out on the weekend with Char wear her out and induce two hour naps, but she loves them.

Emma is the most wonderful little girl in the world!

Happy birthday princess! Your daddy loves you very much.

Ready for Game Two

I'm sitting in my brother's living room at 3447, where I have probably watched more baseball than any other single place on earth. 

As a child, this was the room where I watched Phillies pre-season games with my grandfather when I was 'home sick' from school.  I watched about a million Sunday afternoon games with the late afternoon sun slanting through the picture window, all but obscuring the image on the giant wooden console television.  I became a fan of Harry Kalas and developed my hatred of Chris Wheeler right here.

On the day my brother Matt was born, October 16, 1979 I remember John 'The Candy Man' Candelaria blanked Jim Palmer and the Baltimore Orioles while my sister Carin slept on the couch in this very room.  I brought my grandfather several Genny Cream Ales.  I didn't drink a drop.

Tonight, I am confident that the "Good Brett' Myers will show up and the Phils big bats will wake up to take a 2-0 lead on the Rays in St. Pete.  The cowbells will again be silenced.  Thanks to Heidi for the great dinner of chicken, excellent potatoes and green beans!

My grandfathers will be smiling.  It is altogether fitting and proper that I should be here tonight.

2008 National League Champion Phillies

We all knew it was coming.  Up 3-1 on a team that didn't seem to have the heart, we KNEW it was going to happen.  But dawn today still seems a little bit surreal as I watch the celebrations in Mayfair and on Broad Street last night.

My friends over at The700Level have great coverage this morning and I encourage you to take a look.  John and I are enjoying the coverage on ESPN and Fox 29.

This team still has a lot to do as it readies for the Devil Rays or BoSox.  Charlie's mom and Shane's grandmother must be laid to rest.  We need to figure out who the third starter it.  We need to think about a right-handed DH.

But right now we can celebrate the Phils and their first trip to the World Series since my brother Matt was 14.  Today's his birthday and this is a fitting present.

Happy Birthday Brother!

Congrats Lil Bro!

Just a quick note to congratulate Matt on the amazing makeover that Power Window and Siding are doing on his place.

In removing the old white asbestos siding and the home-made but tired black and white shutters and replacing them with insulated beige 6" vinyl siding and green shutters, Matt has made his place the envy of the neighborhood. 

Nice work!

John's 8th Birthday Party

CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

We had a great day yesterday, with over 40 guests filling our house and yard to celebrate John's 8th Birthday. John had a great time seeing his family and friends, and "especially enjoyed having cake, blowing bubbles and running around like a maniac."

You're only 8 once.

Special thanks to Cathy for the macaroni salad, my mom for multitudinous appetizers, Gram for pasta salad, Arlene for baked beans that got rave reviews, Carin for the cold, sweet watermelon and Heidi for the cookies that Emma especially loved.

Thanks also Anne and Carlo for the supplement to the summer beers and Joe for the nice bottle of red.

The signature totem poles and Indy decor were also courtesy of Arlene.

In the 94 degree heat, the grill chores were handled Jim and Patti and no one is more grateful than me!

Finally all the hard work and effort was really done by Party Planner, Chef and Coordinator Extraordinaire --- CHAR!!

Thanks to everyone who made it such a great day for John.