Today was a beautiful cold and windy day. Diane and I decided to hike up pineo brook near the adaptive mountain bike trails.. we wanted to explore the sugar bush that runs all the way up the back side of woodard mountain.. the mountain that Bolton ski area is on.   We braught skis, snowshoes and spikes.. we oped for the spieks.. turns out in some places the snowshoes would have come in handy.. but it was mostly fune. 

we followed the sap lines wayyyy up into the moutains. such a beutiful place to be out in the snow. 

here’s the route we took

Great hike !

rebar came over for a little bit in the afternoon . to work on his project for Ben.. which was fun. I’ll show more of that when its done. 

as we were workign I got a text from my friends James and Alia abotu getting together tonight for dinner with our freind Mike. We all met at Pho Dang for great vietnamese. 

It was my first time meeting James in person.  Jame’s son Bishop  died in June .(here is his obit). he seems like an amazing person. 

Mike knew James from chess. James taught Mikes daughter Tess how to play. He connected us because he figured it would be good for James to talk to me because of Sam.. In a weird coincidence, my friend and coworker Alia was a good friend of Bishops .. We’d all tried to get together a couple of times in the fall. but hadnt made it happen.  Tonight was the night

IUt was a really fun. we talked about Bishop, we talked about dads.. food, clamming, music.. I think it was good  and fun and sad for all of us.. 

Funny how fun and sad can live together like that 

nite all, nite sam

-me

Today was the state championship for the  FIRST Lego League. (FLL)  THis is where middle schoolers build very cool robots from lego.. and present the projects theve been doing on a challenge theme. This is the first time we held this event in a host company. Global Foundries is now sponsoring the entire FLL competition in the state. >. there were hundered of pekids, families, judges and visiting VIPs. It s sooooo fun seeign the kids creativity on display !

It wa also fun being back in Global FOunderies.. this used to be the IBM plant that both Diane and I worked in.. I worked in these buildign s on and off for more than 40 years !

aas I was walkign in.. I remmebere4d that I first met diane on these  starirs  in  building 969,. 
I handed my camera to soemone to take a picture of me in that very spot. 

That was a very lucky day for me 🙂 

nite all, nite sam
-me

Woke to a clear , crisp day in the cabin at craftsbury.. headed up to the cafeteria for a simple and yummy breakfast. 

the place had a really nice and funky vibe.. Here’s a fridge covered with fruit stickers. 

It has been so fun hanging out wiht my cousins.. Jon, David and Billy are my Dad’s first cousins.. so that makes us first coussins once removed.. I think. We all have a family resemblance.. no hair, scrawny and a certain body type. Once back in 1995 (30 years ago !!) we were all togehter for a family reuninon.. wwe all climed a nearby peak called .. appropriately.. Mt Baldy. I dont remember who’s idea it was.. but we all lined up shirtless.. and you can definteily see the family resemblance !=:-) 

the order here is my cousin Harry (I think), my brother billy, little max , me, my dad, cousin Sam, cousin Jon and Cousin Bill

here was a chance to recreate soem of that famous picture.. .. it was single digit cold outside.. but that just made it more fun !

My Dad would have absolutely loved this ! <3

Thats me, jon, Bill, evan and David..  4 of the originals @. .Super fun..

here’s a bit of the ‘making of’ 

THe cousins went off skate skiing, Jeane and Evan headed back to teh wirport, and Diane and I went out and skied the lake.. gorgeous day.. and beutiful scenery 

Got home late in the day.. I had to run in to grab soemthign off of fluffy for a project that rebar and I are building.. Kinda wierd seeing her in this joint squeeky clean warehouse. 

fun and full day !
nite all, nite sam
-me

This morning I had a real treat. I got to meet Madeline.. the brand new person made by my friends Nat and Jerry..   Welcome Madeline !

After work, Diane. and I packed up our skis and headed up to Craftsbury  Common in Northeastern Vermont. My cousins Jon, and Jean, their son Evan and Jon’s brothers David and bill were staying up at the Craftsbury Common Ski area for about 4 days.
each year all this family gets together soemwhere in the qwinter to cross country ski.. and we’re loucky to have them this year in Vermont. Jon’s got a several week visiting position at UVM.. so this was a natural place to meet. Super galad thatw e could see them !
Jon is a very accomplished ski skater.. and does the equivalent of Marathons on these super thin skis. Every year he does the Berkie a 30ish mileish skate ski between two towns out in  in Wisconsin.. He comes in near the top of his age category. Jon’s son Evan was also one of the top rated ski racers in WIisconsin when he was in high school. 

we had a great night.. we ate dinner in the cafeteria.. great simple food.. !
then we came back tot he house and hung out. I called my mom because I knew she’d get a kick out of all being togheter.. We pu t my ipad on a lazy susan on the table and all got to talk to her 🙂 

The night sky up here was so beautiful.. clear and cold. Orion was right overhead..   several planets are visible this month . ..
not sure you can see it in the picutres.  but trust me .. it was gorgeous. 

gerat beign up here in the woods with extended family !

nite all. nite sam

-me