We have new visitors. My cousin.. (maybe my 6th cousin ?) Jordanna and her kids Zevi and Foster are in town. Jordanna’s husband Brett comes in tomorrow. Jordanna’s father Mookie grew up in Israel.. his mother Zlata was related to my great grandfather who came from Lithuania..  We recently met/re-met these guys  at a big family passover in April.. they are on their way to Montreal.. so we’re happy to have them for 2 days here on their way.

The kids are great .. they are both super curious and interestign people. we had fun hanging out tonight.. We’ll also see them tomorrow. 

 

By strange coincidence.. Jordanna was also my friend Jay’s son’s debate coach at UT Austin .. she’s the one that sent me the news that Jay had died.. such a small, small world !

 

ok.. gotta sleep. More tomorrow

nite all., nite sam

-me

 

ps. I got this picture today from my friend Florian in Germany. I tried using his GF Katja’s microwave for a science experiment 2 weeks ago.. She made a voodoo dollof me to keep me away from her microwave in the future !

 

Just back from a really nice dinner with John and Lauren.. Really great hanging out with them. They gave us a guided tour of Waterbury,. Just two towns over.. but I hardly know it.. Such a cute town !

 

John proudly showed us the cazy art peice he made for one of the churches.. It’s called ‘Tree of Hoop’.. and it’s made of painted bike rims.. with names like ‘Hoop springs eternal’

weird but fun.. .. 

i mena the art.. not john..

ok .. I mean john too 

 

 

 

we walked with their dog nn the trails down by the river. It

s the first time I saw the rebuilt state offices after hurrican irene .. 

 

beautiful moony night

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

had a work meeting which i took this AM despite vacation.. was good to check in on things in Germany..

The DIane and I packed and took off for  hike. We stopped by Jimmy’s to see if he wanted to go.. but he wasn’t in

Our goal was to go to Molly Stark’s Balcony in the Appilachin Gap… . we got pretty far down the hintingon road and saw a sign that the road was closed… You have yto appreciate rural vermont roads to understand how wierd it is to close  a road like that.. there is no ‘going around’.. anny thing to get around the block would mean an extra hour of driving or so…

 

We were not to be detered.. we decided we’d take a differnt trail up the side of Camels hump. We chose forest city trail.. which is really nice.. not that steep.. and near a stream.. 

 

 

 

We hiled up to the top to Montclair Glen lodge… we camped there in 1983 in April with 3 feet of snow. 

 

on the way down, I couldn’t  resist jumping in the creek.. it was cold !. I’ll spare you the pictures !

 

 

on the way down (and up) we found this cool old steam boiler … perfect place for a samstone !

ok.. getting sleepy so I’ll quit there (and its’ onluy 3:30 PM !)

nite all. nite sam

-me

really nice 4th of july.. repeart of many long traditions.. makes me happy and nostalgic . So many 4ths with the kids…relatives, freinds. It was really nice having Pat and Joe here with us today. 

 

first stop (after a run) was the parade at Bressors . We’re all lookign pretty ‘vermonty’

 

then.. the parade !

 

our freind John Hmalin is now a town police officer.. he lead the parade . 

 

Our good, good freind and neighbor of 35 years Pat Quinn died last November. He was named the honorary grand marshal of the parade.. here’s the Kilpeck’s horses pulling a wagon wiht all of Ptt and Janet’s family.. 

 

then the pipers 

the pet parade 

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then the old tractors 

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the town band 

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the new tractors 

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then too soon.. there was marshal bringing up the rear.. 

he always carrys a sign to provoke thought.. 

 

this year it was .. ‘read sarah cleghorn’/. a poet from Massachusetts.. I don’t know her.. so I need to read her to figure out what Marshal is thinking.. always an interesting thing to try and figure out 

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then it was down to the green.. along with everyone from town. I love seeign folks here. 

 

we ran into so many friends. THese guys agreed that we need to re-kickstart the parade .. 

 

we ran into hannah and dave .. hadnt seen them in TOO LONG !

 

foudn Art hamiln.. because I had to take this shot. 

 

we checked out weverything.. including the old cars

 

eventually we went home.. 

 

Joe and I went up to Milton to look at a potential retirement job connection for him.. 

 

then back home for a cookout with gabe and his freinds.. 

 

aroudn 9 we headed back into richmond to watch fireworks at gary and gean’s. (how does one  spell gene ? jean ? geen ? )

 

here’s the back of Diane’s  head.. which i think is beautiful .. \\

 

especially with fireworks 

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great day.. ready for bed..

more tomorrow.

 

nite all, nite sam

-me