Hot Hazy Sunday

The hardest Sunday to find something to do is the Sunday of the Nine Days. Usually a park is on the agenda, and this year was no different. We went to a nice county park in Haverstraw.

The difference this year was the heat. It was actually not just the adults who couldn't take it, but the kids had enough very quickly. Well, not all the kids. The little man was none too pleased to leave, since he was not yet finished watching the boats. Once well ensconced in the car we appeased him with a drive past the marina. All uneventful, until we drove a few hundred feet past the marina, and we saw the devastation from Hurricane Sandy.

These homes were either completely destroyed in the front, boarded up, or very obviously redone. They were all about 20 feet across from the Hudson River. I guess the 14 foot surge did not only affect the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

Earlier, while at the park, we walked to where there used to be a bridge, but it had been destroyed in the Hurricane, so as we drove past the marina and the destroyed/rebuilt houses we came upon another park with an obviously rebuilt bridge. Our plans would not be thwarted.  We parked, got out of the car, and were approached by a park employee who asked if we were residents of that Town. We told him no, and he explained that it was for residents only, we should go to the other park (where we had just been). So we explained about the bridge, and the little boy, and could we just stay for 5 minutes. He was amenable to that, and up we trudged the smell of fresh wood and river water permeating our senses.

It was so hot we opted for a stop at Carvel, the kids insisted on eating it across the street at a little sitting area with a fountain. Again, even with the ice cream the heat got the better of them, and as soon as messy little man finished his cone, we climbed back in the car.

The kids were happy to play inside, we used our little disposable grill we picked up on visiting day. The kids first roasted marshmallows on the flames and then when the coals were ready we had salmon kebobs, grilled mozzarella balls, grilled mushrooms and peppers (the kids had cheesy fries). Then for good measure we stuck an apple on there. (not nearly as good as peaches/nectarines). It was all quite tasty.

A quick water fight between the kids, and soaking and sun drenched they showered (hokey pokey style) and went to bed.

Not too bad for a do nothing kind of day.

Who Knew It Was In the DNA

There is no way to start this, the way I want to start it, without sounding like a cranky old lady. So here comes the cranky old lady (C.O.L.):

Even though the arcades today have gotten really really loud, with blaring, and dinging and barking emanating from even idle machines (that was the C.O.L. part) there is usually a spot of sanity tucked in the corner.

With one drop of a quarter or token, the familair ditty begins, the ball release sounds is heard, and nine wooden balls come clunking and rolling down the shoot ready for action.

Yes, that age old game, that apparently still holds sway with the tech age kids, the game that sets a heart a flutter-SKEE BALL!

Last night the almost 10 year old and I went out for some together time. We were going to go play mini-golf, but at the last minute opted for Chuck E. Cheese (we had about 50 tokens left from the last time we went). She told me right away, before we got inside, that she wanted to start with Skee-Ball. Side by side we rolled the balls and watched as they careened a bit, mostly landing in the lower rings, but also planting a few more high value targets. We played and played, until I asked "want to try something else?" So we moved from the Skee-Ball, played the water shooting race a few times  (which is rigged to one side, which we know because we switched seats to see), some basketball, NFL quarterback, and MLB strikezone. She turned to me and said "Let's play more Skee-Ball."

Off we went to roll some more, get more tickets in a way that is so much better than those machines that lure you into thinking you will press a button and walk away with anything more than three tickets at any given time.  If you are even half decent at Skee- Ball you will get at least three tickets every time, and YOU GOT TO PLAY SKEE-BALL!!!!

It cracked me up how much she liked Skee-Ball. In the past years anywhere we have gone with the kids, MBB is sure to tell them: "If they have Skee-Ball, Mommy is going to have to play it." And I have.Maybe that's why she loves it, I recall my father loving too.

The only thing missing at the new machines in Chuck E Cheese? The familiar tune as the balls came rolling down the chute.

But it's OK, we're making new memories.

If It Walks Like A Duck.....

You all know that old idiom. If somethig looks and seems like something, it probably is. Normally I ascribe to that theory.

Except in the 9 Days.

As wonderfully, and tantalizingly beefy the black bean burgers we had the other night looked, they were in fact not beef.  Sadly, I forgot to take a picture, and happily, there was none left to use just for photographic purposes.

I should have realized after reading this article about a vegetarian magazine that used non vegetarian pictures to portray the food it was pushing. Just because it looks like meat, and it tries to mimic meat in its composition and presentation (on a bun with the works- for example), does not in fact, render it beef.  It just makes you miss it all the more!

I say enjoy the soy, the beans, the fake chicken patties, but call it what it is. Not meat.

And then melt some cheese on it.

No Comparison

The big news today is Eliot Spitzer's attempt to get his name on the ballot for NYC Comptroller.

The local media is likening his attempt to run as the same as Anthony Weiner, the former congressman who is running for Mayor.

It isn't the same. Weiner used bad judgement, and did stupid things that made people question his character, and probably hurt his marriage somewhat.

Eliot Spitzer BROKE THE LAW, AND USED STATE EMPLOYEES TO HELP HIM FACILITATE HIS CRIMES. He used bad judgement, he showed his questionable character, and HE BROKE THE LAW.

They aren't the same. Not even close. Time for someone to take a bulldozer to that career.

Oh, wait. I thought he did that himself. Apparently, all he has to do is make people think that he and Weiner are similar. They aren't. They should not be mentioned in the same article.

Stupid's not a crime. 

Let The Chronicles Begin....

If I wasn't sure from the flip flops on the mail box cover, or some of the kids shipping off to camp, or the constant ices, ice cream, watermelon and swimming, today's activities solidified for me that it is indeed summer.

Blueberry picking. Which has become a rite of summer for those of us not vacationing in the wilds of the Pennsylvania mountains. The way this year works out we went blueberry picking on what turned out to be the second day of "our" farm's season. The difference was lots of very plump blueberries, which may be slightly tart, but so full of flavor as to put the bland store bought ones to shame. To be fair as the season progresses the store bought blueberries from NJ are pretty good, based on our proximity to their growth.

We had made plans for a second stop, since the actual picking is not that long lasting. We had good directions on local roads, and as we pulled through the area of the vast parkland to our destination (a nature center and trail-side museum), we stopped at a building on the grounds to use the restrooms. As we pulled up I said to MBB:

"hey, I recognize this bathroom building."

A quick glance to the field on the  left  confirmed that this was the place we had come on a chol hamoed Pesach in 2009 with a large chunk of our extended family. It was then that I realized the nature center was the building we had mistakenly parked at when trying to get to the playground lo those many years ago.

The nature center itself was perfect for teh kids we had with us, they really enjoyed it. Piling back in the car to head back to the playground they decided they wanted to sit in the back of the car (mbb's) to eat their lunch, to "tailgate" as they put it.

Just as they settled in with their bagels  there was a huge rumble of loud thunder (read:close), and it was decided to hop into the car proper, and check out a different area of the Watchung Reservation while they munched their lunch and we assessed whether  the weather would cooperate, and afford us a chance at the playground. It did not. The skies opened up, and we headed (the long fairly scenic way) home.

A good time and Slurpees were had by all.

Milestones

In Chez Blogberg, we now have two Blogbergettes who have graduated High School and have driver's licenses.

How did they get so big, so fast?

Short and Sweet

I got a call early this morning from my daughter in Israel. She was in the airport, had checked in, and gone through security:

"It was all fine, the bags were the right weight, and security was OK. Mother, do not put a toy gun in your suitcase unless you want all the security people in the airport to come and talk to you!  They asked why I didn't say I had it when they asked me if I had any weapons, and I said-cuz it's a toy."

End the year with an adventure!