Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

The Dawn of a New Year

New Year's Day is always a bittersweet holiday.  Saying goodbye to a year full of memories, both beautiful and difficult.  Looking forward to the challenges and opportunities and all that may be for the year upcoming.

It's a natural time for reflection and evaluation, of reviewing and setting goals and considering who and what are important to you and why.

2012 was a year of much personal growth. Of finding a new comfort zone and living within it.  Of celebrating what I have and those who are with me. But, like any other, there were hard moments and times of sadness.  People who have left us and the end of some great times. Of accepting that I can't be everything that I want to be every day.

My friends and family made the year bright, both for me and for my children. We were rarely idle, laughed much, enjoyed a varied menu of activities, locations and people.  I often forgot to photograph the festivities, rarely wrote about them, but still they are ours.  Still, there was a sharp tone in my voice too often and more than a few sleepless nights wondering about the future and asking 'what if?'

I'm looking forward to 2013.  To see where friends old and new fit into my life and make it richer and fuller througout the year.  To see what new places I can visit and what old places I can see with new eyes.  To continue to learn and to grow as I do more and watch less.

I will always look back on 2012 with a mix of excitement, sadness, and wistfulness.  Isn't that really how we should look at all of life's experiences, though?

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday America

It's America's birthday and our family has come from farther than ever for our annual summer gathering in Kennebunk Beach, Maine. 

On our way up, the kids and I stopped on what I consider hallowed ground, the Battle Green in Lexington and the North Bridge in Concord.  Along the Battle Road between these towns and back down to Boston, the first blood was shed in the defense of American freedom. 

While I have been there before, it was the first visit for John and Emma.  Emma is a kid who loves history and was very excited for her opportunity to better understand what happened at the beginning moments of our country's fight for independence.  John was uhh ... tolerant ... of the stop on the way to Maine.

It's a bit rainy and gray here on the 4th in Maine, but the rest of the week has been pretty glorious so far.  I hope that you and yours are enjoying your day together loving life, exercising liberty, and pursuing happiness.

Happy Independence Day America!

Saying Thank You

This isn't my standard Memorial Day post.  I waited until the end of the long weekend to re-work my thoughts to make them a bit more personal than my standard patriotic thank you on the final Monday in May.

This was a wonderful weekend for me.  I was able to coach my final games with my son's baseball team, and despite some hard losses (and bad calls) I enjoyed every second.  I was able to enjoy my daughter's sweet personality and the love and companionship of good friends, new and old.  While baseball made it impossible to see my any family except my kids, I know that they gathered and enjoyed time together as well.  It was an All-American weekend and I hope that yours was as well.

Today we walked a block or so to our town's Main Street and honored veterans and first responders for the sacrifices they have given to keep us free and safe.  Later we watched humbly as those who gave everything they had were honored with a final reading of poetry, a 21 gun salute, and a quiet rendition of 'Taps.'

I honor the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who have served our  country with the pledge that our freedom is more important than their lives.  It shames me that it generally takes national holidays for us to remember their work, their blood, the pain of their families, the tears of their children.

There is another group I honor today, the nations's first responders.  The police officers, the fire fighters, and the emergency medical personnel who help us live safely under the freedom our military service persons provide.  Without these millions of people, both paid and volunteer, we would be a sad nation indeed.  It is time they have their own day of recognition.

So for all who have given so much and for those who continue to do so, I thank you with all of the energy I can muster.  My wonderful weekend, and indeed, life, are lived under your protection and I appreciate it very much.

Happy Memorial Day!

Valentine's Day

And so it's Valentine's Day again this year. Things are a mite different than last year! I was fully prepared post about the rampant commercialization and media over-hype of the holiday, but my black-hearted anti-VD rant was deflated this morning when my daughter told me that February 14 is her favorite holiday.

'Why?' I grumbled.

'Because you get to tell everyone that you love them,' she said plainly and sweetly.

Indeed.

So I thought about things a bit this morning, and I am left agreeing that Emma's basic sentiment is a sound one. There really should be a day where it's ok to remember how much you love everyone and to let them know. I still think the $275 dinner and Champagne 'deal' at 10Arts tonight is a bit excessive, but a simple call to mom and a card or fresh flowers for your significant other isn't.

So my advice is to keep it simple.  Skip the jewelry and tacky lingerie, avoid the ridiculously expensive momentary delights and concentrate on what makes your life important. Who do you love and why? Make that the focus of today.

We'll be out tonight as a family, enjoying a place we all love and each other's company.  For you it may be Chinese takeout, a bottle of Riesling and a movie on the couch, or a local dinner out at a favorite spot, or just a night where you think about the people who make your life special.

So for everyone in my life who make me feel so well-loved in so many ways, and for those who make my children's lives special every day, thank you and happy Valentine's Day.

And thanks especially to my littlest valentine for reminding me why today is important!

Wrapping Up Christmas

Today has been one of those days we all have to do but no one really wants to.  The Christmas presents have been worn and played with and maybe broken.  New Year's resolutions are already being broken. Epiphany has come and gone.  Playoff football is on TV.

Which all means it is time to take down the Christmas tree, outside lights and generally de-decorate. As a kid, we usually did it the weekend following Epiphany, and it was one of the saddest days of the year for me. I was fully prepared for sadness today, but the day ended up being pretty good, if a little solitary.

The kids wanted no part of now that the tree is down, preferring to return from their mom's tomorrow with only the little trees in their rooms to remind them of the recently-enjoyed holidays.  So now the ornaments are wrapped, the lights are bagged up, the tree is down and the house has returned to normal.

And I feel pretty good about it all.  It gave me a chance to clean up a bit, to really look at all the great ornaments we have and to think about all of the happiness the represent.  So here I am resting on the couch, with shiny floors, vacuumed carpets, the sharp smell of vinegar mixing with the fading aroma of cinnamon-scented pine cones. It's a quiet moment before the week roars to a start and we only have stray pine needles and some pictures to remind us of Christmases Past.

Have a great week!

Annual Pesotski Family Christmas Letter

Every year about this time 200-300 Christmas cards and letters go out from my parents' cute little Cape Cod in Brookhaven, PA.  This little tradition grew a few years ago to include a photos page of the kids and grandkids (and granddog's) activities for the year.  I have been an indifferent supporter of the letter process most years.  Looking through the pile of cards at my sister's on Christmas Eve, I realized just how big this Christmas letter phenomenon is.  Dozens of letters were in the stack, from 6 pages down to a paragraph or two.  Seems like pretty much everyone publishes an annual family update.

As a guy who basically does that every day in this space, I get that.  The penny finally dropped.  People want to stay up to date with their friends, and some folks don't stay in touch any other way, even with Facebook and personal websites.

This year, my mom floated the idea of a 'greener' approach to the letter next year.  I suggested creating a website for the letter and photos next year and giving people a link to the site in the cards they send.  If the USPS is still in business next year, that would still mean 300 or so cards with stamps, but would save about 900 sheets of paper and gallons of ink!

So in an incremental step toward greening this Pesotski tradition, I present below the 2011 Pesotski Family Christmas Letter.  The photos page will be posted as soon as I figure out how to get it on the site easily!

Christmas Wore Her Out!

 

Happily Trashed!

It took about 30 minutes, but all the presents are unwrapped and the stockings are down and we're pawing through the piles of loot. Santa did a good job here according to the kids!

I Think Santa Found the New House

Santa found the new house and made his stop last night.  The presents are arranged, the stockings are stuffed and "A Christmas Story" is on TV.

All we need now are the kids!!!

I hope your Christmas morning has been as festive as mine has been restful.  For those of you with young kids, I trust that you are enjoying a bit of downtime before the next round of visits begins.  For those of us with quiet households this morning, enjoy it while it lasts, the visiting and travel start very soon.  For those cooking, please don't overcook the turkey!

Merry Christmas

The sun has just peeked over the trees here in Medford and I am enjoying some cookies and juice and the last moments of quiet I will likely have for a while.  This is the first time since 1994 that I have awakened on Christmas morning with no children or significant other to share the sunrise with, but it stings less than I thought it might.

I have a bit more to do to get ready for the kids to get here this afternoon.  We will have some time to ourselves for presents and then it is back to Delco for Christmas dinner with friends and family.  Last night was a nice evening in Swarthmore, but I can't wait to spend some time with John and Emma, hear about their Christmas Eve and watch them tear into their piles. 

Today is a day for the kids, a day for us to love and enjoy each other's company.  It's a day for sharing what we have and for thinking about those we love and those who have gone.

Enjoy your time today, because it is but a fleeting moment in your life and sadly the Christmas spirit seems to fade all too quickly. I'd like to say that I will take the time to treat every day like Christmas.  But tomorrow we will be off into the maelstrom of everyday life again, with work pressures, school projects, sports practices, family matters and bills come due.  We will do the best we can to be good people, but the spark of the Christmas holiday will sometimes be hard to find.

I wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases.  Thank you for all the happiness you have given to me and my family this year and I hope that you enjoy today and keep the spirit of Christmas with you all year.

Santa Stop Here

Emma's got her sign up to make sure Santa know we have moved.  The tree is lit, the presents are wrapped and I am at loose ends trying to figure out what to do with myself for the first Christmas Eve I can remember where I really have nothing to do to get ready. 

Later today I will be headed over to Delco to have our traditional Christmas Eve dinner with my family and friends, but for now I am enjoying a quiet morning here in Medford.

For many of us, Christmas Eve is the big holiday.  The kids love the gifts and the unwrapping and the frenzy of Christmas, but for me Christmas Eve, with its traditions and last-minute thoughtfulness is the essence of the holiday season. 

I hope you get things wrapped up early today and enjoy your time later.  Merry Christmas Eve!

Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

 

All is prepared.  There is still some wrapping to do, but for the most part, it's all waiting now.  And trying to behave!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

Well, we don't have a chimney, but we did it old school on the railing like when I was a kid! We've just about wrapped up the decorating here in Medford.  There's some wrapping to do today and a quick run out for 2 small gifts, but otherwise, everything's set!

How are your preparations going?

T'was the Week Before Christmas

It's been a busy week and the real fun is just beginning!  The kids and I spent the weekend enjoying the company of our friends and family, both locally and over in Delco.  The kids did their shopping for me, we decorated my parents' tree and caught up with some friends and the cousins.

This week has been a flurry of shopping and holiday prep, with some cool kid stuff in the middle.  I think I have finally wrapped up the shopping with one small possible exception.  I finished up the family holiday photo page and contributed some edits to the update letter that my parents send with their Christmas cards. 

Emma had her holiday dance showcase on Monday and we enjoyed a night out tonight.  Tomorrow is my last day with the kids before Christmas, and we still have a few things to do, but I am trying to stay relaxed about the holidays and play things as they come.

There's a lot more to come for the week.  I'm hopeful I have turned the corner on yet another cold.  I've got some work to get done tomorrow and then a couple of days to myself before Christmas Eve. 

I'm too tired to link or post photos tonight, but there are some coming, I promise!

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

John's Tree Is Up

Following his review of the latest Discover Channel Gold Rush, John got his little green Christmas tree put up tonight.  He took a good bit of time 'fluffing' the tree, as he's been taught,  to make it appear as large as possible.  He spent a bit less time clearing the area though, deciding it was best on his dresser among this technology and trophies.

Nevertheless, he is quite happy with the result and also feels that the tree complements his lava lamp. 'It's sweet!' was his proclamation.  Unlike his sister, he wants the tree off for sleeping. 

Emma spent her free time tonight extending her Christmas list.  From the little girl who last week could not think of anything to ask Santa for, the list sure has grown.  Emma also kept me company as I cleaned up from dinner, playing holiday computer games on the family computer.  They all seem to have hideous graphics and mindless pseudo-holiday music, but she was quietly enraptured until I saw her head drooping and dispatched her to bed.

As for me?  Two days down, Only three work days left for 2011!

Emma and Her Little Tree

Emma has been dying to put her tree up, so today I made sure we had a few minutes in between running all over Burlington County to get her little pink tree set up in her room.  Last Christmas it didn't come down until July!

John hasn't found the time to put his tree up yet, but he always makes sure the first thing he does when he comes home is to turn on the
lights for the big tree in the living room.  My guess is he will get around to putting his up tomorrow.  He was too busy texting his buddies today after returning to the land of cell phone service.

I can only imagine what the Chinese prison laborers think as they are stuffing these little trees in boxes so we can buy them for $5 and cover them with little glitter covered foam balls!

Friday Fantastic Four - Outrageous Christmas Gifts

It's holiday shopping season.  I can tell because the mail guy at work is delivering boxes to every cubicle and the roads around every shopping mall are clogged from dawn to midnight.

So since you are out looking for ways to stimulate the economy, I thought I would give you my Christmas List.

What are your top four fantasy Christmas gifts for 2011?

1. The CR-V is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think a new car would be a good idea.  The Noble M600 isn't the fastest car in the world, but it's int he top 10 and is super slick to look at!
2. My Dell Laptop is 5 years old and also headed to the scrap pile someday soon.  I think a nice Toshiba 3D Blu-Ray laptop should be just what I need to do the blog for the coming year.
3. I might be the last guy in America without HDTV.  It's time to change that!  I know my brother loves his Toshiba, but for me the TV to get is a Panasonic!
4. Phinally - A pair of Phils season tickets are the way to go for my final gift request for the year.  The team is in flux right now, but who doesnt like going down to the park on a warm summer evening?

So what gifts are on your fantasy Christmas list this year?

Everyone have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Holiday Lessons

We just had a great weekend preparing for Christmas.  The tree is up, Santa came to Swarthmore, the decorations are complete in Brookhaven and Emma wrote her letter to Santa.  Even battling a cold, it was a really nice weekend!

The preparation, shopping, cooking and parties make December a hectic, but happy time of year. Remembering past holidays with fondness is a huge part of why we all look forward to the season every year. Snow on Christmas Eve, caroling in the neighborhood, spiked egg nog, opening presents by the fire and seeing folks from far and wide are all great memories that will last a lifetime.

Still, the holidays can be hard sometimes. People who are missing from are lives feel all the more missing at this time of year.  Old wounds open afresh when you look around the table and notice the faces who aren't there as well as the family and friends who are.  Old traditions can be a little bit hard when the people who made them important are no longer in your life.

The kids and I were reflecting a bit on people who are no longer with us anymore as we unpacked our holiday items this weekend.  Emma especially had a hard time.  She missed the chance to say goodbye to some people who left us this year and it's hard for her to close out those feelings. 

With my heart in my throat and biting back tears, I had to tell my little princess, "Sometimes we don't get to say goodbye.  That's why we need to make sure the people we love know it every single day."

Back To Work!

It's a slow Sunday night here in Medford.  I'm winding down the weekend and waiting for Boardwalk Empire. 

I will be the first to admit that I am still struggling to find a rhythm to the weekends when the kids are not here.  The contrast between the whirlwind they create when they are home and the silence of the walls when they are not is so striking that I need to stay busy or go crazy.

And it was certainly a busy weekend!  Wednesday night's brush with mortality gave me a great deal to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.  The kids and I enjoyed the day Thursday, making 12 pounds of mashed potatoes before heading over to Carin and Kevin's for Thanksgiving dinner.  The food and family were great, and everyone pitched in to make it a good time. 

The kids played Wii while I met The Hills and Chicken for the traditional post-family decompression.  The conversation was outstanding as always, though I am not sure we will make The Plumstead the new location in future years.  It's a mite grungy for even a dive bar aficionado.  Carin convinced me to drive her to the hellish nightmare that was pre-Black Friday at Toys R Us.  45 minutes in line to be herded like cattle through a maze of merchandise to another line for electronics.  Sadly we didn't make it in time to get the item she was hoping for.  A drive by Target at midnight convinced us it was time to call it a night.

I participated in Black Friday, hitting Kohl's in PA with my mom and sister before my shopping meter hit the red zone.  Later, the kids and I hit Best Buy and Target, before we retreated to the relative quiet of Medford.  After the kids left, I worked a bit Friday night and really felt my age, seeing all the young folks back home visiting their families and desperate for a drink.

Saturday was a busy day, with several hours of leaf removal that sandwiched a visit from Carlo 'The Chief' Iacono.  He rescued me from a waist-high pile of leaves and took me for a ride in his '67 Mustang. We spent an hour talking about kids and Occupy Philly and how much our lives have changed.  I got back in time to wrap up the yard work for the year.  After a quick dinner with an old friend, I did some curtain shopping and saw a movie with a new friend. 

Saturday wrapped up at the Indian Chief, commiserating with a fellow soccer coach and listening to perhaps the worst cover band I have ever heard.  At least the company was good. 

The glorious weather of the weekend rolled on today.  I did some light hiking at a nearby nature preserve and worked up a pretty good sweat, showing just how out of shape I have managed to get.  After discovering there was no way to get electric to my christmas lights, I decided to add an outdoor outlet so I could hang the icicle lights. 

I weathered the Eagles loss before realizing that shopping is not my forte.  While all the curtians are the same size and color, two different patters were mixed together.  I guess I need to go back!

So, long story short, I made myself as busy as I could this weekend.  There were some highlights and some tough moments.  Still, now it's Sunday night and I can't believe how quickly this beautiful weekend passed! A four day weekend with glorious 60 degree weather in November and some very fine moments and wonderful people. 

Have a great week!

A Time To Be Thankful

It's Thanksgiving in America.  I am sure the turkey is in the oven at many houses already. But before its scent starts to fill the house or we all run off to wherever we are gathering later, it's time to think about the things that make our lives special and give thanks.

It's been a year of great personal turmoil and change for me.  I've had to move, lost a relationship with a wonderful partner, downsized my life and forced to take a hard look at who I am and what is really important.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we can spend some time reflecting and then we usually get to enjoy our friends and family eating great food and sitting around the TV or fire.  These days, with Facebook and Skype and the like, there isn't as much catching up to do, but it's still important to have the gatherings.  I know from experience these last few months that the internet and the connections it brings can be a great friend when you are lonely, but there is no substitute for everyone being together.

Gas is $3.13 this morning.  A winter vacation isn't in the cards for many of us this year.  The economy is still stagnant and there is no NBA season.  Congress can't agree on a single thing and the only thing the Republican presidential candidates agree on is that it's all Obama's fault. 

Still, we live free in the greatest nation on earth.  I was able to get up and go to Wawa this morning in my car, my kids are playing nicely in the living room and we have a nice little home we have made our own.  We have many challenges, but far more to be thankful for.

Today I am thinking about the 102 settlers who came across the storm-tossed Atlantic seeking just the life I live today (with a lot more church going probably).  I am also thinking about the millions of men and women who were already here, living for generations in this land before Europeans invaded.  I am thinking about the land itself and all that it provides for us in food, shelter, energy, and recreation. 

I am very thankful for all those who will not be able to spend the day with their families, from the men and women serving in the armed forces, the police officers and first responders on duty keeping us safe, everyone in the service industry feeding America today and all those folks at retail establishments who will stock the shelves so we can take everything we want home today and tonight.

I am also thankful for those who are gone now.  Family and friends who were very important to me and to John and Emma for a long time.  The impact of those who we miss today can't be measured, but can be seen every day in who we are and in how we live.

My family and friends have gotten me through a very difficult period.  I am thankful to them for providing great summer vacations, a place relax and enjoy, a beautiful wedding and party, help moving and re-establishing and so many moments of fellowship that I can't even count them all.  As doors close in any life, new doors open and I have been heartened to find all kinds of folks, both new to our life and returners, behind the doors we have opened and re-opened recently.

Finally I am thankful for my two wonderful children.  John and Emma make it all worth it.  They fill the house with noise, give me so many moments of joy and help me see the positives even on really tough days.  They are the constant in my life.

This is my 6th Thanksgiving day post, and Norman Rockwell's 'Freedom From Want' has been with us since the beginning.  It's symbolic to me of all that it means to be an American.  But that's the simple, easy version of being an American.  The truth is, that it's a lot harder than the picture makes it out to be.  So today, please take a moment to consider the sacrifices of all those who make your life what it is today.  Thank those you can and remember and consider those you can't.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving Eve - Getaway Day Followed by Amateur Night

After five days off, Another Delco Guy is in the office today with his skeleton crew, dreading the traffic we will see later.  This is a work day for me that is sandwiched in between 5 off for family time and the 4 day Thanksgiving holiday. 

The kids have half days all week, and going in today was particularly hard for Emma. I had visited John's classroom yesterday to see his presentation on 'Hurricane Jyatt'  which is a pretty funny video if you are interested.  Emma was feeling a bit left out that I wasn't visiting her class today for the Thanksgiving feast.  Sadly, I didn't know about the feast until last night and had already been scheduled in the office today.  Thankfully, we have had a lot of daughter-daddy time lately and she perked up a bit when I reminded her that I would see her tomorrow and we would go see her cousins in Swarthmore for Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, we're holding down the fort at the UArts ghost town and maintaining our pre-holiday good cheer.  Later on we will fight our way through the traffic to get home or to second jobs or to whatever else might be planned on the biggest traveling and drinking day of the year.  I know many of you are on a half-day as well, so enjoy the afternoon off!

Tomorrow is the big day, family, food, football and fellowship.  It's the greatest holiday of them all, and I will of course have my 6th annual Thanksgiving Day post as well.  I know you are all breathless with anticipation!

Whatever your plans for later, please be patient and safe on the roads, enjoy your friends and family and remember to tip your bartenders and wait staff!

Happy Halloween!

We hope you enjoyed trick or treating as much as we did!  Medford really put out a great spread for the kids!  There are some really spooky houses, especially our neighbor on Filbert Street and a very cool house on Branch Street that has scary speakers set up in the graveyard.

Happy Halloween!

Scents From The Past

Isn't it amazing how much emotion the whiff of a specific scent can create, launching you into the time machine to a place so far removed from your current existence?

You know what I mean right?  A former lover's perfume leaves you useless and distracted in a meeting for two hours.  The tang of juniper can nearly conjure the taste of of your first gin and tonic.  The power of the memory is enough to cause you an almost physical reaction, from the warmth of desire to the chill from the flowery scent of a funeral home.

For me, the smell of roast beef brings me back to Sunday nights at my grandmother's house.  The particular smell of the older Wawa markets brings me back to nights spent working overnight and the 3 am coffee run.  The scent of oranges and vanilla return me to my mother's holiday kitchen as a teenager.  Sage transports me to the cliffs of La Jolla and the smell of chalk to my 4th grade classroom. The smell of tomatoes on my hands to my grandfather's garden.

Somehow, the mind holds it all, bringing it back when the moment is most exquisite.  Take some time this week to enjoy the smells of fall around us.  It's the time of burning leaves, mulled apple cider, pumpkin pie and the first crispness in the morning air.  See what you remember!

Ready For Halloween

Yes, I know it's only September, but Emma has been persistent, so the house is now fully decorated.  We got our pumpkins at Johnson's Farm again this year.  It was very crowded and not nearly the dazzling day we had last year, but it was cool and easy to do all the things we wanted to do for our visit on Saturday.

On Sunday, we hit Produce Junction for some fall mums.  Emma was very specific about which flowers she wanted.  John stayed in the CRV.  We spent Sunday afternoon eating nachos, decorating the house and hanging our Halloween lights.  Yes we have Halloween lights.

Don't you?

On 9/11

You can't be an American these days without knowing that today marks the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and the Washington DC area.  Even my daughter, blissfully unaware of the war on terror all of her life, understands today's import.

Today is first a day to remember those who were lost.  Most of them ordinary people, just going about their lives when evil was visited upon them.  The families, friends and nation they left behind didn't get to say goodbye and could not mourn personally.  Instead their loss was subsumed into a great American grief.  I hope that the intervening 10 years have given everyone who knew them an opportunity to remember them as they were, real people, living real lives.  People who made mistakes and did wonderful things, fathers, mothers, children, confidantes.

We should remember too the people who knew there was a danger and went into harm's way, showing the terrorists the finest example of American courage.  The first responders, the heroes of Flight 93, the workers who died from environmental dangers in the 10 years since.  Ordinary people who did honorable things, showing the world that evil will not - cannot - prevail.

Today should be a day when we go out and live our American lives. Watch football, shop, play baseball or soccer, enjoy time with our families.  We need to live 9/11 as a day like any other American Day.  Americans never forget, but they always move on.  Today is a day for doing both, and each honors those we lost 10 years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's cold and gray outside.  There is a hint of woodsmoke in the air. Geese honk softly above.  It's Thanksgiving in America.  While this has not been an easy year For Another Delco Guy, there is still much to be thankful for.

The recession finally directly visited our doorstep this year as Char lost her job in July in the wake of Gov. Chris "Chainsaw" Christie's budget cuts to schools across our state.  Through a ton of work and perseverance on her part, she has found new work since then, but it's been a struggle in a lot of ways.

We had to take the kids out of the schools they love a few weeks back, but they are adjusting to their "new normal" and have really been an inspiration to me as I have been rolling with this year's punches.  There is nothing in my life I am as thankful for as the love that John and Emma bring to our home.  Wether it's dancing with joy on stage or triumphantly striking out the side, they are really amazing children who have brought us so much laughter and happiness.

I'm a pretty lucky guy.  I've got a solid job at a great place.  I was able to get an education that has given me virtually everything I could have hoped for in life.  I am able to write, travel and live pretty much as I please.  My freedoms are protected by the service of men and women who I have never met and who place themselves in harm's way for my family and our country.  I thank them today for their service to our nation.  I also thank all the teachers and mentors who have helped me at every stop in my life.  I may not be where I thought I would be, but where I am is a pretty darn good spot!

The men and women who, in 1620, came to what would become the United States left everything they knew, persevered though horrible weather and hardships that make my life look regal.  After the harvest of 1621, the remaining colonists gathered with the local native Americans and shared a simple meal.  From that first peaceful meal, grew the Thanksgiving tradition we have today.  The values that they set forth then, of shared sacrifice, hard work, freedom of choice and providing for a community's education and defense are the foundations of our great country today.

A small tradition here at Another Delco Guy is Norman Rockwell's Freedom from Want, which always graces our page on Thanksgiving.  It reminds me of the great Thanksgivings of my childhood in my grandparent's house back in Delaware County.  This is our fifth Thanksgiving day post and Norman has been here since the beginning.  I am thankful for a childhood that taught me to not take anything for granted.  My parents and grandparents worked hard to make sure that we had all that we needed and then some.  I hope I can do as well for my children.

Today is my favorite holiday.  We will be surrounded by family and friends who will come from far and wide to our little house with their offerings of food and friendship.  All of those who will be here and the family and friends who are celebrating elsewhere but have been so incredible to me over the years are the reason that my life is great and Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.  We will celebrate each others company, watch football, remember those who can't be here, become thoughtful about all that we have to give thanks for and finally fall asleep against each other in front of the fire. 

And that's the way it should be.  Happy Thanksgiving America!

Happy Birthday America!

Old Glory at CBP
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Today is the most American of our holidays. Each July 4th, we spend the day celebrating our nation by eating, drinking, watching baseball, playing in the pool and buying things. We cap the day off by watching things blow up. Here in the Philadelphia region, hundreds of thousands will gather on a plot of ground named for one of the greatest patriots in our history, Ben Franklin, and listen to music and watch fireworks.

Reflection is not a particularly American process. We fancy ourselves as "do-ers," the kind of folks who get things done, not the kind who sit around thinking about the past. This, in a sentence, explains a great deal about our foreign policy.

Today is a day that deserves some reflection. It was on this date. after a stifling late spring and early summer of political dealing in Philadelphia, that a group of white men announced that they had decided that the former American colonies of Great Britain were now a separate nation. In that most famous of American sentences, Thomas Jefferson wrote that:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The document they published on this day in 1776 borrowed heavily from the work of French and English and French philosophers, but the process that took to creating a nation was American at its heart. Deals were cut in smoky back rooms and taverns. Those who disagreed were tossed out and arrested. What we celebrate today as a great time of national unity was in fact really a tipping point, a moment in time where the inertia of loyalism was overcome by the fervor of revolution and a new nation struggled into being. Thousands celebrated in the streets, but still others packed their things and shuttered their businesses, heading 'home' to England.

Noting the split that was in the air is important I think. Though all of the internal strife, we came together as a people and as a nation. Certainly it helped that there was tyranny to fight. A great enemy makes it easy to unite. It would take years to allow this nation to stand on its own, and even then, there would be problems. It would take nearly a century to begin to address the omissions of the founders.

Another war would be needed to give black Americans the beginnings of freedom in America. After fifty more years of complex social struggle, women would be recognized as more than property. 234 years after "all men" were declared "equal" we are still struggling with recognizing the right of any person to love and marry another.

America is imperfect. But she is the greatest imperfect nation ever created. And while we still struggle to rise to the high ideals the drafters of the Declaration of Independence set forth for us, there is an immense amount here that I am very proud to be a part of. The Declaration is an aspirational document, one that each of us has a responsibility to seek to work to each day.

Go forth ans enjoy the great beauty of this country today, gather freely and express your freedom as you see fit. And remember the struggles it took to ensure those rights for you. And especially those who do not yet enjoy them.

Happy 234th birthday America!

Thank You and Happy Memorial Day

Pool's Open!
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

It's Memorial Day, and every one at Another Delco Guy is poolside, enjoying a beautiful late spring day in the Delaware Valley.

The only work being done here today is by the pool filter and the lawn sprinklers. We're happy to have the day off to spend as we wish and enjoy the company of family and friends. It's the day the kicks off the summer season and we can't wait for all of the great days to come.

Still we are mindful of the reason for the holiday and as is tradition here at Another Delco Guy, we'd like to take a moment to thank all those who have served and fallen so that we might live in peace and freedom, safe and happy in the greatest nation in history.

From Jonas Parker at Lexington to Captain Andrew Ivan, Jr., whose POW-MIA bracelet I wore until it was clear he was not coming home from VietNam to Maj. Ronald W. Culver, Jr. who fell last week in Numaniyah, we thank you all for your service and your sacrifice.

For the families of all those who have fallen and for those who have served and continue to serve this great nation, we thank you for all that you do for us.

Happy Memorial Day!

Holiday Lights Are Up!

It's been a busy week and I have a week of travel coming up, but I had to squeeze in some holiday decorating today.

It took 4 hours and 3 trips to Lowe's, but I think the result is very nice!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  It probably has a lot to do with the happy memories of going to my grand parents' house in Essington, PA and being surrounded by family and great cooking smells and laughter.

Norman Rockwell's Freedom From Want reminds me of all the good things from those days.  It's become a tradition here at Another Delco Guy to use it on Thanksgiving.  It's an iconic image that resonates with me in a way that is hard to describe.

Today's also a day when the liberal dad blogger would really like to thank the people who give so much so that I can live so easily.  I've got a cushy office job, a new house, wonderful kids, great friends and family.  

I've got very little to worry about thanks to the work of millions of brave men and women serving in the military here and all over the world, and the first responders who keep us safe in our homes and work places.  I am not fighting sandstorms, insurgents or roadside bombs.  It's easy and safe to travel around this beautiful country and do the the things we love to do.

Much changes each year, but one constant in my life is finding a quiet few moments on Thanksgiving to reflect.  It's too easy to let the moment pass in the rush to get turkeys in the oven and floors vacuumed and whatever else.  But easy isn't the right thing to do on the day we set aside to think about how much we have. 

We've been giving thanks on this day in the United States since 1621, when men and women who had a whole lot less than we do stopped their work to give simple thanks that they had been able to survive their first year in this new world.  They got it right. This is my fourth Thanksgiving blog, and I always feel that there is so much I just don't know how to say.  I did it best the first time, so please go back and think about where you were four years ago and how much your life has changed.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

An All-American Weekend

We've spent much of the weekend readying to move.  More on that another time.  Packing and cleaning are never fun, but we've been keeping up our spirits for the most part.

Last nigHT Arlene and Chrisie dropped by for dinner.  Today I enjoyed sleeping in a bit before resuming the packing.  After I whooped John on the Wii, we made some hot dogs on the grill.  Now we're checking the weather and hoping the fireworks are not rained out at the Riversharks game tonight.

Tomorrow we're headed to one of John's teammates's for a high-rise view of the waterfront firework in Philly.

Everyone have a great and safe 4th of July holiday weekend!

Happy Father's Day!

There is no doubt that the most fulfilling part of my life is being a father.  I won't say it's always the easiest thing in the world to do, but it offers the most reward of anything I have ever done.  John and Emma do it all for me.  They wake me in the morning, they make me watch the clock at work, they thrill me with their accomplishments and they wrench my heart with their struggles.

To say that being a dad has its ups and downs understates things to a laughable point.  Everything about it is a balancing act.  Whether it's juggling the calendar around 8U games or keeping up with the ever-changing roster of best friends for a precocious little girl, putting them above me isn't that hard. 

Maybe it's odd to say, but these two kids have helped me grow.  I'm still a kid inside in a lot of ways, but they force me to make the tough choices, to teach, to correct, to develop and indeed to learn.  I assume it is this way with all dads, but who knows.  I'm too busy with my own to do much asking around!

We've had a lot of changes in the last year.  As a dad, it's been a time of growth and fun.  We've had some great times like celebrating the Phillies World Series, John's First Communion and Emma learning to read, and some tough moments as well.  Through everything, they fulfill me in a way that I never could have imagined in the days before they came into my lives.

While it's mostly my kids I am talking about today, it is being a father that I am thinking about.  I've got my new Wii Fit here and some beautiful school art projects from John and Emma.  Later today we'll head over to Delco for the Annual Father's Day Crab Fest.  We'll watch the Phillies try to break the streak against the Orioles and some of the action at Bethpage Black.

I'll be thinking about my dad and his dad as well as my mom's dad.  They were great examples to me.  I will also be thinking about all the kids who have lost dads though their service to our country, either here at home or abroad.  I can't imagine missing out on being a dad.  It's an experience I treasure.

Thanks Dad!  I appreciate all the sacrifices you have made and continue to make for me.  And I know John and Emma do as well.

Happy Father's Day!

With Pride Comes Sacrifice

With Pride Comes Sacrifice
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Today I sit safe and secure, as happy as I can be, surrounded by my family. Later, we'll head out to Indian Mills to sit in our lawn chairs and sip cold Gatorade and watch John play baseball.

We won't face a swirling sandstorm, or the potential of death at any corner from a roadside bomb or stand staring across a demilitarized zone wondering if today will be the day.

The freedom that we enjoy this leisurely Monday comes at a price. And that price has been steep over the decades. Farmers and shopkeepers fought and froze and died for years to give us our first tastes of freedom and create a nation. Cousins fought cousins as we neared our Centennial and struggled with the ever-difficult concept that 'all men are created equal.'

The first half of the 20th century found us fighting evil the world over as two generations came home from the world's battlefields burned and maimed, or stayed forever on foreign soil, symbolized only by rows of white crosses. We extended a hand to our former enemies and built trading partners who would stand on their own again. We constructed our missiles and our economy and stood by warily as the Soviet Bloc teetered and finally crumbled.

We're still there in Korea, accepting our role as the world's protector. In Vietnam, we felt our first real taste of defeat, as the limits of our power and our right to assert our will were demonstrated painfully.

Our most recent military excursions have been termed a 'war on terror' and we have gone where ever extremism has flared to fight for normalcy. And we have been burned on our own soil, attacked for being the best and the brightest and the most open society and the world.

And though every conflict, at every fort and river head, in the face of every kind of danger and peril, a valorous few have fought for that the many could live freely.

Today I thank you all. Happy Memorial Day , America!

Happy Mother's Day!

I guess the picture is confusing to some, but it seems appropriate for this day where half of America is driving to see the other half to wish our moms the best.

Only the women who have done so much for us could possibly inspire us to drop everything and slog through traffic, missing our naps and golf matches and ballgames for a few hours over brunch.

We don't do enough for them the rest of the year, so today is for our moms.

My mom taught me to think how the other person might feel, to look out for the little guy and to enjoy reading. They remain three of the most important facets of who I am today.

Thanks mom! For everything.

Happy Easter to You All!

Yesterday was a busy day at Another Delco Guy.  We did some shopping so The Bunny had less to do, dyed our eggs, hit Chuck E Cheese, and watched the Phils beat the Rockies.

Today we've got breakfast, church, Char's family egg hunt, The Masters and then my sister's for Easter dinner over in Delco. 

From everyone here at Another Delco Guy, we wish you and your families a wonderful Easter.

A Brief Rest

Another Delco Guy is catching his breath between dropping the kids at their mom's and Christmas Family Event 3.  I wish I had time for a nap.  But I don't.  And I really want to play some Wii boxing, but no time for that either.

Hope Santa was good to you all and that you are enjoying your family and friends today!

Christmas Morn

Getting Started
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

The kids have come down to their presents, a nice fire is going and we're starting to get hungry.

John's playing on his new DS, Emma is making a potholder and the Wii is updating itself.

Yup. Santa Char brought Another Delco Guy a Wii.

I'm like a kid on Christmas morn!!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

It's almost time!  Christmas is darn near upon us!  So here's a holiday-themed Fantastic Four:

What are the four best Christmas songs or pieces of holiday music?

1. Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2. Linus and Lucy - Vince Guraldi
3. The 12 Days of Christmas - John Denver and the Muppets
4. Christmas Island - Jimmy Buffett

You all have a great weekend!

A Fun Night

Swarthmore Tree Lighting and Caroling
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

We had a great night last night at Carin and Kevin's. A roaring fire, warm stew and chili, red wine and flocks of children really make for a lively evening. Add in gingerbread house decoration, caroling and Santa coming to town and you've got a night to remember. And that doesn't even include the ride in the firetruck!

I really like times like this, where we spend time having fun with our family and friends. A bit later today, we'll put up the Christmas decorations outside and get the tree finished up.

After Emma's nap, that is.

And the Decorating Begins!

Emily the Elf
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Well the madness is upon us. In the office today, the elves are decorating every available surface, holiday carols are playing and hot cocoa is being consumed.

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Photos are up on Flickr.

Only 14 more work days until break!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

A regular reader has reminded me that it is Friday and thus there should be a Fantastic Four post.  I considered taking the day off.  Based on the roads in South Jersey, everyone else did.  But my duty to my hundreds - err uhh - dozens umm more like several loyal readers has won out.

Since many of us are now sitting on the couch recovering from Thanksgiving, or like me, recovering from collateral effects of living near a mall, I will go with a Thanksgiving theme today.

What are your four favorite things about Thanksgiving?

1. That it's a non-religious, or at least a-religious holiday.  No pressure to get up early and get to church or anything.
2. That it's entirely permissible to say "I'm gonna get me some dark meat today!"
3. That I've got Friday off!
4. That America has turned yet another holiday into an orgy of gluttony, televised sports and shopping.

Go have a turkey sandwich!  And get me one while you're at it

Thanksgiving

The thanksgiving post and Norman Rockwell's 'Freedom From Want' has become a bit of a tradition at Another Delco Guy.  This is my third Thanksgiving as a blogger and probably the roughest year to be thankful for.  Still, there is so much that we have and so little that we want for.  It's wonderful to have a whole day to think about all the wonderful things in my life and to spend it with family and friends.

I'm most thankful of course for my wonderful kids.  I had the wonderful experience of sharing an undefeated little league season as well as Phillies World Championship with John this year.  He's a great kid and has been through so much.  I am thankful that it has not clouded his positive energy.  He makes me proud in so many ways.

Emma is the sweetest person in the world and it's been wonderful watching her personality develop.  She is still a little girl in so many ways, but more and more she is really showing the woman she is going to grow into.  Shopping, gardening and cooking are favorite things.  She also likes boys.  Sigh.

My family and friends have been there as always this year for me and I don't say thank you to them enough.  I know it's hard to deal with a guy who is always right and often pissed off.  Thanks for listening, advising and taking care of me.  I'm also thankful for all you folks who stop by each day and give me a reason to write!

On the larger themes, I still remain amazed at the ability of the American people to admit a mistake and turn the bastards out.  We live in a place where the government changes peacefully and without serious conflict.  I am so lucky to bring my family up in a place that is safe and has good schools and where we can travel easily.  Most of the people in this world can't say that and we're really lucky.

In my job I deal everyday with families who have been hit hard by the economic disaster that is facing the nation and the world.  I'm especially thankful to have been only marginally affected by the horrible decisions and policies of the last decade.  I'm even more thankful to know that this is only a moment in time and that this too will pass.

Today I encourage all of you to spend some time with your family or friends and reflect on how much they mean to you.  But even more, think about the people who have made where we live so amazing.  The soldiers and sailors and police officers who serve us for so little and provide us so much.  The visionaries who were the architects of this nation and whose brilliance still guides us today.  The people who are working today to help so many in hospitals and soup kitchens and all the other places we're lucky not to have to rely on today.

Happy Thanksgiving from Another Delco Guy to you and yours!

Can't We Postpone?

Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?  Not ready for the holidays?  Terrified by the approaching traffic jams around retail outlets?

I sure as hell am.

I'm not sure if it's the current economic crisis, the extra duties at work, my own empty bank account or what, but I am NOT looking forward to the next 5 weeks.  Yeah I'll enjoy the time with family and friends, gathered around the fire watching the Eagles suck, but it's the preparation I dread.

Decorate outside, decorate inside, put up the tree, fluff it up, ornaments, clean clean clean, shop shop shop, bake cookies, buy gifts for the people you thought weren't on the list but got you a cheese wheel.  Wrap up the cheese wheel for the next door neighbor who just showed up smiling.  It's the spirit, not the actual gift right?

I didn't manage to actually get home from work until 7 last night, but as I was coming down 38 I saw the first real sign of the holiday season.  Lines off the highway to get into the Moorestown mall parking lot. 

I'm just not ready

Happy 4th!

We're enjoying a slice of Americana here in Burlington Township, sipping beer and eating hot dogs by the pool. The kids are having a blast playing ball and splashing the adults.

Nothing could be more American. Happy Birthday to our nation.

Thank You

  Made Freedom Possible 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

I just want to take a moment on this Memorial Day to thank everyone who serves today and has served this nation for their sacrifice.

Your devotion makes its possible for me to live my life in the way I choose and protects the freedom that my children and I live under.

I won't discuss politics today, I will simply thank you all for every thing you have given.  And it is with a tightness in my chest and wet eyes that I thank the families and children of those who have died serving our country.

You have given more than anyone can ask.  I am forever grateful.

Christmas Photos Up

  Me and The Kids 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Hello all!!!!

As we begin to wind down the year, I have started to upload the images from Christmas.

The set from Christmas Day itself is up on my Flickr site.  Other photos will follow shortly.

Among my gifts this year was a Tamron 180-250mm IF lens.  The GF made a big investment in my photo hobby and you can see in some of the images the wide range this lens has.  It's way easier to shoot indoors and close with it, given the nice wide angle ability it gives me.  It was a super thing to find under the tree!

I'll have a full round up of the gifts later after we rake out the living room and I find them all!

Merry Christmas To All!!

Whether you believe or not, this is some of the best writing that ever has been:

Luke 2

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child.

And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"

And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

And the mystery started there.  2008 or so years later we still celebrate this even with gatherings of great hope and joy.  People gather from far and wide to spend time with their friends and family.

However you choose to celebrate, or even if you don't, my wishes to you for a wonderful and Mery Christmas!

All Is Prepared

  Kids with Santa 2007 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Everything I am going to buy is bought, the food is ready for tomorrow and the kids are at their mom's.  I've got some wrapping to do and the Christmas Cleanup Elf needs to visit, but otherwise, we're all see for St. Nick to visit.

The GF and I are headed off the my sister's shortly for the annual Christmas Eve Fish Extravaganza shortly.  The food is always excellent and I will try to take notes this time so I don't forget who made what pie.

In the last few minutes, Santa has made his way across northern Africa and is now at Sabha, Lybia dropping a few presents for good boys, girls and former totalitarian dictators.  Santa does not discriminate. 

I hope everyone enjoys the evening and whatever makes it special for you and yours.