Sergeant Snowblow

This was the day after the storm and by now more than half of it is melted. I anticipate the first mud event of 2011 no later than the 1st. See that farmhouse in the corner? A couple with two young children moved in there this summer. I made a banana bread and we brought it as a little housewarming gift. It was happily received but we haven’t heard from them since. Yesterday I made the last 3 of 8 total batches of biscotti and we’re going to give it another try over there today. We’re having Phillip’s mother and sister for New Years Eve dinner, along with our friends Nancy and (Uncle) Bob. Making 6 little cornish game hens and a blueberry almond tart. Be safe and I’ll see you in 2011!

Thanks, Mark…

So out we went, bright and early, eager to walk and/or run on the path that Phillip so gallantly snowblowed. Only to find that our neighbor, out of what I presume was the goodness of his, took HIS snowplow and redid the entire path.

Unfortunately, he made it worse. I ran one loop in 11 minutes, miraculously remaining on two feet the entire time, then called it a day. Back to indoor pursuits!

What snow?

This was on Monday, the day after the snow. Following his snowblowing, Phillip retired to the couch but came out long enough to walk through the trails he’d created.

On Tuesday he took the boys for a walk in the woods. Stanley had a blast, jumping like a deer through the snow, while Sherman followed in his daddy’s footsteps. Meanwhile, I had no place to run, because the path along the canal was under snow (and I don’t like running on pavement). I went to the mall instead and when I got home the boys greeted me but no Phillip. The snowblower was missing. He came back about an hour later having — GET THIS — snowblowed a .8 mile loop 1/4 mile from the house. I know, I know, he’s a maniac! Whatever he sets his mind to, he accomplishes. Today we’re all going out to the trail, he’ll take the boys and I’ll run. I’ll be sure to pack a camera so stay tuned for tomorrow.

Winter wonderland

After Phillip snowblowed (that a word?) the driveway, he made trails in the yard for the boys. I’m pretty sure we got less than a foot and that shouldn’t have deterred Stanley from turning on his four-wheel drive, but for some reason he was reluctant to go off-trail.

Even with his rotors on.

Sherman was reluctant to go off-couch. Too busy reading.

Reality bites

We got home on Friday night after upgrading (again!) to first class. If you’ve flown international into Newark you know how enormous the Immigration and Customs area is, and how long the line can be (like waiting for a chair lift). Well, Christmas Eve is the time to travel because there was NO line whatsoever. We went from leaving the plane to getting in the car in 45 minutes! The best part of leaving was coming home to the boys, and in a close second place, knowing that we’re going back to Jamaica in April to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.

I’m grateful we travelled when we did. This was the scene this morning. I measured 10″ of snow on the Adirondack table, but it’s very windy and the snow is blowing. However, not so bad, relatively speaking. The boys have 3+” of head clearance!

The cavalry has arrived

These guys didn’t appear to be selling anything, including a ride on their horses. Not quite sure what they were doing aside from enjoying the beach on a Wednesday morning.

We’ll be home on Friday night, weather permitting, and I’ll return on Monday. Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

Today I bench pressed 85 lbs

There’s a dock at most scuba resorts, but this isn’t a scuba resort; it’s a resort with scuba so we swim out to the boat with our gear. Don’t worry, though, it’s no more than 4′ deep. The water was too rough for me on Monday so I stayed ashore and read on the beach.

The wind died down yesterday and the water was calmer so out I went. And was rewarded with Mr. Turtle here. He was clutching a large piece of coral and it reminded me of Stanley when he grabs onto his doggy bed. We miss the boys but they are just fine, according to Janine.

My new hairdo

I won’t brag about the weather today, but suffice it to say, we’re having a wonderful time.

Hi from Jamaica

Hello from Jamaica! The trip had a wonderful start when we were able to upgrade to first class for only $78 a person and I spent the time waiting for the flight getting a pedicure in a little shop next to the gate! Who said Newark Airport is the worst in the nation? Not last Friday! We saw a nurse shark on our first dive along with several spotted eagle rays. Weather is a B+/A- and the food is superb. Janine reports that the boys are doing great. I’m off to apply sunscreen, see ya!

Off we go!

The plastic part of Stanley’s collar broke the other night. This is the second striped collar he’s had, having chewed up the plastic on the first one. I’ll probably get him a third because it just looks so darn GOOD on him!

A couple of people wanted the recipe for the biscotti, so I updated yesterday’s post with a link to it.

We’re off to Jamaica this morning! I have heeded your advice and I’m not bringing my computer. However Phillip is, and if I get any compelling photographs, I’ll post them. This is our 10th time (in 20 years) at this resort and I’ve taken most of the photos. A few years ago I branched out and brought a Barbie doll with me. The result is kind of amusing, it’s entitled “Barbie Goes to Jamaica.”

If I don’t talk to you beforehand, have a very merry Christmas everyone!