Vacation to Florida Sunshine

After all the work Joel and I did in the aftermath of his father's passing, we made a decision to take a break for a week. Thanks to a week in a time share courtesy of one of my Aunts and AAA, we settled on Orlando and Disneyworld, with a side trip to Universal Studios.

The weather was very cooperative, with highs in the mid-70's and not to chilly at night. I was able to take my fill of roller coasters (Joel doesn't like thrill rides), with the exception of the Harry Potter rides at Universal. Seems they have size restrictions on these rides and I have a bit too much in the waist to fit the chairs. But the Aerosmith Rock and Roller Coaster (Disney) was a wild trip (one of the indoor - in the dark rides that really whips you around), and the Incredible Hulk (Universal) with some wild corkscrews and open air loopers.

I was also seriously impressed by the new 3-D technology. The Disney feature "Mickey's PhilharMagic" and Universal's Amazing Spiderman ride put the images right in front of you, along with effects like waterspray and heat blasts to add to the experience. Along with the new animatronics (the Aerosmith Coaster had the full band performing a skit before you boarded the cars) made the fantasy all the more realistic. It was a week to make my feet ache and give us many smiles. It was a real bummer to have to come back to snow and sub-freezing temperatures!

More pictures and amusing stuff here.

Passings; Sydney Manekofsky

Hello All

Joel's father Syd passed away at about 6:20 this morning. Joel was not with him as he was anticipating having to do his weekly services Friday night, but had been there the night before. We had house gests as well, so Joel is down there now while I will be there Sunday.

Syd would have been 91 in 6 more days. As you may recall, we had a big 90th birthday party for him last year.

This was the video I'd prepared for him then.

He's in a better place now. Thank you for all your love and thoughts.

tim

Goodbye Sophie Cat: A Tribute.

We had to let Sophie Go today. The cancer finally got her. I'm devastated and heartbroken.

Fresh Blueberries, Here!

A friend of Joel's went to the Blueberry farms of New Jersey for what is an annual trek for him. He goes over with a truck and returns with over 100 pounds of blueberries. These are sold in 10 pound boxes. Joel bought two of these from him and we spent some time washing, de-stemming and bagging them for the freezer.




We weighed out a pound per bag, then tried to squeeze the air out before sealing up the bags. That also meant trying to get the berries as dry as possible before bagging.
 


These are really tasty, fresh fruits. Joel loves to bake blueberries into pancakes and other bakery delights. Sophie was more interested in waiting for one of these little round blue things to fall on the kitchen floor so she could bat it around or chase it.

 

But for the moment, we have plenty of berries to carry us through the coming months.

While the Red Sox were beating the Phillies…

Sophie takes a nap.

International Gay Rodeo Association: It Gets Better

Graduation Day: Miriam Gets her Masters

Joel's Youngest daughter received her Master's Degree from Penn on Sunday. She was the highest GPA in her class and was chosen as one of three students to speak at the ceremonies.

This also meant visits from the rest of the Manon family and - best of all - the grandkids!
More pictures can be seen Here.

The Weekend: Spanky's Viewing, Dinner, and a Street Fair

A mixture of sadness and friends. I got up early enough on Saturday to drive to Asbury Park and attend the viewing and services for Spanky. There were many people there, some from a great distance. Spanky was the real definition, to me, of a hero. Someone who did good works without waving flags or whoring for attention; just getting his hands into the dirt and making things happen. The number of people visiting was testament to just how hard he worked and just how much he was loved.

That evening, a friend of ours had invited us for dinner. A tasty Italian dish!! And his home is so neat and orderly that Joel was inspired enough to clean the kitchen...table. It's a start, at least. Joel is a bit of a hoarder.

Sunday we decided to wander a local street fair during the afternoon, in the neighboring town of Media. There were a lot of art/crafts vendors and flea market style stuff. We decided to buy an autographed Phillies shot from a Sports Vendor, which now hangs in the living room. It was a lovely day to walk the streets and view the people. I wish I'd taken my camera for the multiple woof opportunities.

Instead, here's a picture someone took of me and Joel in Boston last weekend at the Bat Mitzvah.

Visiting The Grandkids!

More pics through this Linky..

Two Years of my life in Pictures

The Holidays

The holdays were good to us, here in Springfield. Joel and I exchanged gifts (A gave him a framed Van Gogh print from our trip to Amsterdam 2 summers ago, he got me a lovely new computer monitor) and we had a big turkey. With a lot of leftovers. We took in Tron Legacy, which we both enjoyed. It is a huge homage to a batch of other classic films, and I loved seeing the "Black Hole" poster.

On Christmas Day, we had made plans to visit my family the next Sunday. Then the weather forecasts began to get increasingly nasty, and at 5 I called my Mother and said "We're coming, now..." I loaded Joel and the gift bags into the car and took off down the PA Turnpike at a relatively illegal rate of speed. We had an excellant visit with Mom, two of my Aunts, my neice and her boyfriend and one of my cousins. The gifts were largely ceremonial and non-serious, but the Charlie Brown Shirt was my favorite by a wide berth. There were also a huge amount of cookies to be had, even if only for a few hours. Oh yes, my Aunt Deb gave me the Keith Richards book, which I can't wait to dig into!
 
The warned of storm did arrive Sunday as forecast. I was supposed to be at work on Sunday at 11:30 PM and was concerned as to how this was going to occur. My final decision was to get some overtime and leave before the worst of the snow was to arrive. When I checked the Company Hotline at 6pm, the message was that all shifts would still be working. The drive was made very deliberately, and when I at last pulled into the parking lot, my cell phone rang. It was my supervisor, calling to let me know that shifts were cancelled.

Little Blue Mercury was turned around and back home I came. In the morning, there was about 8 inches of snow in the yard, which took me about 90 minutes to dispatch with blower and shovel. The wind is extreme right now, so getting to work will likely again be a painstaking episode. However, this minor weather issue did not keep me and Joel from having a good Christmas. I hope everyone else enjoyed themselves, as well.

Fighting Homophobia

Originally posted by  at Spirit Day

 

On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes at at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools. RIP Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh (top) RIP Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase (middle) RIP Asher Brown and Billy Lucas. (bottom) REBLOG to spread a message of love, unity and peace.

Passings: "Daddy" Wayne McKinley

After a long illness, my friend Daddy Wayne passed away in Phoenix, AZ, on Thursday Sept 16.

He is survived by his partner Roger, and many friends, as well as those who wear the leathers he made and sold at The Padlock bar and other venues. He was a big help to me and Peter during the early days of Rubber Rebel.

A memorial service for Daddy Wayne McKinley is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 25, 2010, at 1PM. It is at the Community Church of Hope, 4121 N. 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ. 85013. The entrance to the church is on 6th Drive.

Passings: Michael Gallagher

My Uncle Mike succumbed to the Cancer that has been in him for almost 5 years late Tuesday. Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, great friend. That's his oldest grandkid. He leaves behind three daughters and three garndchildren, the newest of which was born in June. His wife Carole passed in 2000. To me, Uncle Mike was an inspiration. I ran for Class President in High School after he won a City Council seat in the mid-seventies.

I have a movie shoot in Austin this weekend. It's gonna be tough. This is the second family member to have died this year, following my Uncle Rick in April and Uncle Mike is the first of the Gallagher brothers and sisters (my Mom's side of the family) to leave us.

Shamless Baby Picture

This is Advah and her sister, Shoham, the evening of Advah's birth. Advah means 'wave' or 'ripple' in Hebrew. So now Joel and I are "Sabbas' for a second time!

And Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes.

Best Early Birthday Present Ever!

Just got news from Joel's daughter Nomi. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl this morning at about 10:30. Moms and Daughters are doing well! More to come (name, etc).

Sophie Cat Peeks Out.

  

Catching Up on The Week

I have not written anything new for a few days as I have been feeling a bit blue. Joel and I went to Warrenton, VA, for the services for my Uncle Rick, which was lovely. He had asked not to be buried, but cremated. His wife and son honored his request, and with his extended family gathered at their farm, we planted a garden in his name.

Each member of the family was asked to bring a plant of some kind, and my Aunt mixed Rick's ashed into the garden soil/mulch. As we, one by one, brought our plants forward, we each said something about a special memory we had about Rick. The ceremony concluded with Aunt Sharon and my cousin Sean planting a weeping cherry tree as the centerpiece. The garden is below the main window that overlooks the property, so Rick will always be looking across the fields he would normally see from his living room. It was a very touching and moving service.

The good thing was that he was home at the time of his death, with Sharon and Sean by his side. They were watching "My Fair Lady," which was his favorite movie. I am pretty much back to normal again, and will resume my 365 Blogger Project (reviewing my CD collection one disc at a time) soon.

Passings: Richard Wilson, Husband, Father, Uncle

Cancer has taken my Uncle Rick, Wednesday 4/7/2010.

Rick was quite an active man, having worked as a defence contractor most of his life and having traveled the world extensively. He and my Aunt Sharon have a son, Sean, and they were all together at his home when he passed.

The sudden decline was mercifully swift, having been told of the lung cancer's resurgence only in early March. He was 77 years old and had been vacationing in Mexico with his family as recently February. He was a good provider and gave a wonderful life to my Aunt and cousin.

Happy Easter!

(Or Passover if you're in the midsts of that holiday.)