Picture Of The Day 06/06/10

Christmas 2000 - Danielle, Age 5, Scott Age 8, and Chris Age 11.
This was the last Christmas in New Jersey before moving to Michigan.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving!

Ghost of Snowy Days past - Our House back in NJ back in February 2000

I am CHILLED! I just came in from shoveling snow. It was near 40 yesterday and rained all day and overnight when the temp dropped into the 20's. I looked out at what appeared to be about an inch of fluffy white snow. Not wanting to drive over it since I had to take my daughter somewhere at noon, which is before Scott has to go out, I figured it would be a cakewalk to clear the snow. I also decided, since Scott would be heading out a little later to remove the snow from his car since he does not garage his car as I do the Mustang.

SO, I went out and much to my dismay discovered a very icy snowy bottom layer under the fluffy portion. It took me twice as long as the half hour I had envisioned when heading out because I had to scrape the whole driveway to remove that bottom layer icy layer. In addition I chiseled the ice off of Scott's car.

I came in, and got under a nice blanket on the couch t warm up a bit. I wish I had the makings for some good hot chocolate! I will remedy that when I drop off my daughter and pick up the ingredients for that most wonderful beverage at the store. I will keep it sane though and get 2% milk and light whipped cream instead of half and half and regular whipped cream as I have used in previous winters! I will go for the Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate powder however, I mean you can only do so much.

Previous years when making Hot Chocolate I would also get a bar of imported Belgian chocolate and melt that into the mix! I think the lower calorie version will still be quite delicious!

New Jersey Trip Picture

One of these days I must write up a post of our vacation trip to New Jersey at the end of last month. For now, here's my favorite picture from that journey.

We were at the Cranford Canoe Club with my brother who happens to know the owner. To snap this picture, I had to run across the street (which being a bridge over the river made it more difficult) and then cut through some parks on the riverbank to get to the spot I could snap this before they got out of range. They were moving quite quickly!

Click the picture for the full size image of Scott and Danielle in a canoe.

In New Jersey

We made the trip in 11.5 hours which is not too bad.

Scott, Danielle, and I will be going out shopping for a laptop for Camille in a bit, while my brother goes to play a gig with his band Crash Cart.

This is a short post as I am using my iPod touch to post it

New Jersey Bound....Again!

As the kids and I had planned to be leaving for New Jersey this coming Friday, we decided to still go. We do not want our last trip to New Jersrey memories to be the ones of my Dad's passing. I also need to pickup some items of my dad's I could not fit in the car last time, so, I'll be renting a full size car.

If anyone reading this wants to get together, I will be in the following areas.

Saturday August 23 through Tuesday August 26th Millington New Jersey, and Wednesday August 27th through Friday August 29th in West Caldwell. I realize folks have jobs and families and such, but, I just wanted to throw this out there.

We'll first be staying with my Brother and his wife, then with the Kids Uncle Kevin, his wife Lili, and their daughter Luci. It will be good to see them again, particularly in much more pleasant circumstances!

It will be a good trip, though I am really not looking forward to the drive both ways. As the car rental places want to charge you $30 a day for drivers under 25, Scott will not be able to help with the driving, and like our previous trip I'll be doing all the driving.

In Memoriam of my DadEnrico Micheal Falco1925-2008May he Rest In Peace

Me, my Dad, and my Brother at a family dinner at our Budd Lake NJ house in 1999

Sadly the kids and I will be heading back to New Jersey at dawn tomorrow. My dad passed away this morning.

I was just getting ready to go to the store to shop for the ingredients for lasagna when the phone range around 11:30. I had just showered after an intense exercise bike ride, trying to recoup for time last week while on my business trip I guess.

It was my brother's wife Camille, telling me my dad's girlfriend had called to tell her the news and that the police were at my dad's place treating it like a crime scene and they would not allow her inside.

My brother was in the shower so she was going to tell him and then they would rush up there and find out what was going on. I await his call now.

I told Danielle and we both cried hugging each other, then we headed over to her Mom's house so she could get more clothes. I told the X what happened and then I cried all over again. I cried when I imported the picture above. Obviously I won't have any trouble letting my grief out.

Anyway, I am making arrangements with work and such, the X will be watching Tails for us. Her mom (the X's, not Tails'!) just called to offer support and such which was greatly appreciated.

So, off to New Jersey for a most unexpected trip to put my dad to rest. I'll try and update this post with more details as they become available.

Happy Birthday Steve

This post is dedicated to my friend Steve in New Jersey, today is his birthday, so, let's all wish Steve a big

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Hope you have a great day my friend! I really miss seeing you each day at the office....seems like just yesterday some days....though somedays it seems much longer than the 7 years it's been.

I love my Dad

One of my biggest regrets, even more so after the divorce, is I miss my family and a few friends back east. I really miss my Dad. He is older and has assorted medical problems, and, being in his 80's, well, as much as I'd like to be be around forever, he obviously won't be. In fact, I have decided when my daughter moves out of the house I will seriously think about heading back east to live; if not then, as soon as I retire for sure! It would be great to be able to see my brother and his wife and some others from back east on a regular basis.

My Dad, unless my brother shows him on his computer, will never see this post, because the idea of my Dad getting on a computer is akin to a Southerner never drawling "Y'all"! When I was younger each fall and spring I would have to set the time on my Dad's digital watch, and change the time on his VCR displays. he did finally pick this up when I moved. My Dad is highly intelligent, but, a bit of a technophobic in some areas. My Dad on e-mail? It's just NOT going to happen!

Anyway, below is a picture of my Dad, who I love very much, and I taken when we were in New Jersey.

Click the picture for a much larger one in a new window

The Real Mustang

Confession from a Mustang Owner: I have been accused before of having a strange sense of humor, but, considering I am paying child support, have a mortgage and other bills, and am in an employment situation where I would be foolish to make a major purchase, I must state the post below about me buying a new Mustang was bogus

I never expected so many comments and e-mail messages about my purchase. It was purely wishful thinking.

Below is a picture of "The One True Mustang" with my brother's back yard in New Jersey in the background. The Mustang made the trip beautifully, handling like a dream!

"Why do you go around curves at 80 miles and hour??"

"Because I can!"

New Jersey Road Trip

I can't believe in three days (Friday morning at the crack of dawn, well, before sunrise actually!) Scott, Danielle, and myself will be driving out to New Jersey. While I am not looking forward to the 750 mile drive I am looking forward to seeing my family again!

See the original post from June 25th RIGHT HERE if you think you might want to get together for lunch or dinner one day, drop me an e-mail. A map toot he area where I will be is available plus a meal near the Willowbrook Mall is already being planned at a Chinese Buffet.

August Trip To New Jersey Planned

Scott, Danielle, and I will be East Coast Bound in August!!

Baring accidents (such as possibly losing my Job) I plan on traveling to New Jersey for the week starting Saturday August 17th with Scott and Danielle. We'll be staying in Millington with my brother and sister in law.

Any of my NJ area friends that might like to get together, even if it's just to meet for dinner somewhere, let me know and I'll try and set something up.

Here's where Millington is if you do not know