Tour de Brooklyn

Go Brooklyn! As a New Yorker, I have a natural affinity for Brooklyn even though I was mostly raised in Queens. Queens is very large and every neighborhood is very different so it does have it's charms but Brooklyn is ... well, Brooklyn. Home to the Cyclone and Coney Island. The Brooklyn Dodgers and U Bet Syrup. Junior's Cheesecake and Ebingers Blackout Cake. Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery.

Last year we rode in the 2nd annual Tour de Brooklyn and it was good. Not, however, as good as this year. In 2006 we were in the early stages of becoming Team Squid. Now we are a fully formed cycling squad and have our routines down pat. Schmeared with sunblock and donning sunglasses (and regular glasses that darken in the sun) we loaded the bikes. We now allways ride with a small first aid kit (our umbrella against minor wounds) and my knitting (the umbrella against major wounds). Four out of seven water bottles hold Accelerade on long rides (the other three hold water), and we have muffins, banana bread and granola bars in a panier (saddle bag). The only thing we lacked this time was toilet paper. Note to self -- toss a partial roll into the panier.

How does a properly equipped team of Squid get to the 3rd annual Tour de Brooklyn? They ride, of course! Thus upping the total mileage for the day to ... 35 miles.
Riding newly minted bike paths in Manhattan, we headed over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grand Army Plaza where we signed in and waited to ride. The wait was pleasant as we chatted with other bikers and compared bikes and sob stories about the 5 Boro Bike Tour. In the warm, balmy air we got rolling around 9:30 or so and after 10 miles, rolled into the rest stop around 10:30. We stopped once for about 10 minutes while the police cleared the streets ahead of us. No walking of the bikes, just solid riding. Sweet! After a brief rest and some bananas and PB and J, we rolled again and were in the saddle pretty consistently until we returned to Prospect Park.

Since we were rolling for almost the entire time, there is a paucity of photographs. What there is can be found here.

All in all, a very good day.

Quiet Morning

It is quiet here this morning. Papa is not working out, so the whirr of the trainer didn't wake us all up. I got up a regular school time leaving a sleeping Papa in bed. Little Squid wandered out as I was getting my tea and set himself up on the couch -- and promptly fell back to sleep. Squidette is still asleep. Just came out.

All that is about to change. Papa is up now and fussing around the kitchen. It is only a matter of time before the news goes on and we all get ready for the Tour de Brooklyn. See you all when we return!

3 Concerts, a Dance Perfomance and a Present!

It has been a busy week here at Chez Squid. On Wednesday, Squidette made her debut as first clarinet/concert mistress for the grade 6 A band. On Thursday, Little Squid made his concert debut on the flute in the 4th grade band and Squidette helped to beef up the 6 B band (it's smaller then the 6 A band and needed a few more players). Friday saw Little Squid strutting his stuff in this school's annual NDI performance. The dance totally suited Little Squid's frentic nature. Pre and post dance events also allayed any concerns I had about him being too introverted. As soon as we got to venue he took off after his friends in a manner that I can only describe as "totally boy." Today we caught him emailing a girl! My mother-in-law would be happy -- the girl is Jewish. *g* Hey, he's known her since age 4. Think this could go somewhere?

After returning from our late evening -- had to get dinner with friends after the performance -- I found a huge box on my doorstep. Inside were all these goodies from Sprite!
Yummy fudge and chocolate covered pretzels and candy and fuzzies and girly stuff and ... lots and lots of stuff. Some of it has been distributed to the shorter Squid ...
and some has been set aside for me! Thank you Sprite!!!

Dogs Not Allowed

While riding on Monday, we spotted several signs like this one. Um ... what lawn?
This was a breakfast ride, up to Fairway to get muffins and scones and then back toward home with stops in some newly opened sections of the Hudson River Park.

Just North of the Cruise Ship terminal, we found this.

We also found some tables on which to enjoy these. Yum! Like our tablecloth?South of the terminal we got a good view of the sole Manhattan docked participant of Fleet Week. Not sure why there are not more ships but it may have something to do with the Intrepid being out of town for repairs. The rest were in Brooklyn.

Just south of the ship terminal we discovered this wonderful public area. Water toys to play with,

and fountains to frolic in. We see this one as a good cooling stop on our way home from a long ride.

We also discovered this, a prototype to a raft that is being built with the aim of sailing the Atlantic. Sharp-eyed (usually oblivious) Little Squid spotted this gargoyle in a small garden. We like gargoyles!


Next up, three concerts and a dance performance! And ... Mama Squid gets invited to the Prom!!!

You Can't Buy Time

As the school year winds to a close I find myself being asked the eternal question: "Are you working summer school."

The answer, a simple "No."

The reason?

You can't buy time.

If I work during the summer, I earn more money but I don't see my husband

And I don't see my kids.

You Can't Buy Time

If I don't work I can take my kids to camp 5 days a week for 5 weeks.

Then I can spend the daytime hours with my spouse.

You Can't Buy Time

We can paint the apartment.

We can take long walks.

We can enjoy each others company.

You Can't Buy Time

In the evenings we can retrieve the kids and take long bike rides in everlasting summer days.

We can go for ice cream and listen to each other.

You Can't Buy Time

When camp is done we can travel and explore.

We can camp and we can visit.

We can be a family.

You Can't Buy Time

... And a Birthday

How do you make your Mom cry? Well first you get your baby brother married. Then you and your sibs surprise her with a birthday cake. Then the sibs revise a poem written by Dad for all of us and turn it into a Mom-specific poem. Finally, you put up sappy posts about your brother's wedding.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Bring on the Chupah

The following is a collection of pictures from the wedding. Only Squid and Squid siblings / parents are shown here to protect the innocent. There will be one more wedding related post and then you will be returned to your regularly scheduled knitting/family/biking blog. In future posts you can look forward to not one but two one skein wonders, an apartment in a bottle and the Hudson River Conservancy thinking that the river is a lawn.

Meanwhile I return you to my brother's wedding where you get to see how well the Squid clean up.

***

After a day of hard play, we all bathed and dressed and otherwise got ready.
Some of us had to repeat the process a few times. Little Squid was buttoned up for the pictures and as soon as we were done he unbuttoned the jacket ... and his shirt was untucked again. Like father, like son.Some of us found our toe nails being painted at the very last minute. Oops! Yet others needed a prenuptual drink. Or maybe some cereal.Look, all of my siblings at once! The man of the hour is in the middle. We are not, by the way, in age order. I'm not revealing where I fall in the mix but I am not the eldest.
Mother of the Groom. Doesn't Mom look great? Saw 5 kids through their teens and hasn't aged a bit. (We'll have some more on her tomorrow. Tee Hee!)

Got Little Squid on the dance floor ... his comment "o.k., you got me dancing but I still don't like it." Hence, no picture. Squidette on the other hand, discovered that she likes to dance ... and does it pretty well.Dancing with Daddy. Boy I hope someone got a picture of me dancing with my dad. These things don't happen that often.This is the third time they have danced at one of our weddings. Things just keep getting better and better, don't they. Yes, I got my husband tipsy enough that he not only danced with me but he enjoyed it!

May they be together for a long, long time.

Tomorrow, a belated birthday post for Mom and then a return to your regularly scheduled blog.

Festivities before the Festivities

My athletic brother and sister-in-law chose a site for their wedding where people could get outside and get physical.

Materials were provided for those who chose to kick and toss and hit.Wooded paths served the joggers and hikers. (Pictures of this are on Squidette's camera and have yet to be downloaded.)

A lovely lake placated those who needed to swim.Tennis and Lace anyone?Some softball.(Squidette at Bat ... she swings ... and she misses.)

Followed by Bride vs. Groom Kickball (the Groom's team won).

I was on the Bride's team with Mom and my nephew while the Squidlings were on the Groom's team with their grandfather. (Papa Squid was the official Kickball Photographer.)We will not talk about the fact that I missed this kick. Oops!And then there were strange faces.

And the view from our room.

When we arrived on Friday we were immediately instructed to put on our bathing suits and join my Dad and older sister at the lake. Being a good girl, I did just that. (Mike took a nap and hooked up his computer.) The kids frolicked with each other and then with their older cousin while my younger nephew hung out with us on the beach.

Swim time was followed by a bar-b-que where we spent quality time reconnecting with friends and relatives. The bar-b-que ended in a camp fire and s'mores. Yum!

Saturday dawned initially bright and clear and perfect for kickball and other outdoor activities. We all ran around in the morning and then we four took off to REI and my cousin's house so the second cousins could play for a while. (The visit to REI netted new bike shoes which work well with my handknit socks. They are also more comfortable to walk in.)

We hustled back to the Inn to shower and change for pictures and then the wedding. Tales and photographic evidence will follow in my next post. Consider this a cliff hanger ...

An Ode to a Wedding Weekend

An Ode to a Wedding Weekend

Balls flew, marshmallows toasted, hugs given and received.

Dances danced, tears shed and two became one.

Stories exchanged, children complimented and daughters danced with fathers.

How you've grown, how you've changed, how you've remained the same.

My they're grown up, gee how nice, boy they're so smart.

Families grow and change and yet,

They always remain the same.Josh and Jaye, may your years together be many and full of joy!

Try to

amuse yourselves while I go off line for a couple of days. I expect to be spending too much time with family to blog for a few days. If you need some help on the amusement front, we have readjusted the TurtleCam for your enjoyment.

Pretty Silk!

For the curious, this is the roving that the yarn for the silk stole is being spun from. The roving is from Interlacements and totals 4 ounces. I suspect that less than half of it will wind up in the stole.
The spindle is from the Bosworths. I do not remember the type of wood but I love it!
And, just for the heck of it ... proof that if you wait for Morning Glories to sprout, you could be waiting a long time. These were planted at least 2 years ago, maybe more. I suspect my basil will not make it with the competition from the vines.

The Last Tooth

Yet one more sign that my little girl is growing up. (as if being only 8 inches shorter then me isn't a sign) The Last Tooth got yanked yesterday by yours truly. Only 2, maybe 3 of Squidette's teeth have come out without motherly intervention. I have no idea why, that's just the way it has been. I am very glad to not have to poke my fingers in her mouth again. Yick! What mothers do out of love.

Our family is starting to converge on the wedding site. Watch out Massachusetts! The Squid relatives are coming! (Oh wait, some of them live there ...) Between now and tomorrow night I have to figure out some things to do both on the way and once we are there. I don't see too much "free" time on Friday since I fear the worst traffic-wise but Saturday should be wide open until an hour or so before the wedding. No, my yarn hasn't arrived yet but I was not expecting it before this evening so it still has time. My hair sticks haven't arrived yet, either. They were sent Express Mail yesterday. I have no faith that they will actually arrive in time. (The yarn, however, I have faith in. It's a Murphy's Law kind of thing.)

Look! Knitting! I have actually made measurable progress. As in, you can measure it now!

Presents and Memories

When I came home today I found this package sitting on the table. Inside was the sweetest note from Susan and this fiber. The green says that it is Bamboo Silk and the Blue doesn't say but feels like silk.
Soft, fibery love. Thank you so much, Susan!

There was a request for the story of the Lobster earrings. So, being ever the obedient blogger, here goes. Way back when, oh, about 21 years ago this May, I started hanging out with this really great guy that I knew from high school. We had reconnected a few months earlier and were well on the way to becoming best friends. During that first summer we frequented cartoon night at the Thalia (now a part of Symphony Space), attended Concerts in the Park and drank wine under the stars. On July 4 we watched the fireworks while sitting together on the Brooklyn Bridge. At the end of the evening, he kissed me lightly on the lips.

Sometime during that summer, while we were hanging with a great group of friends after waiting hours to get our tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, we wandered over to a store on the West Side and he bought me my very first present.
Lobster Earrings. Then...


And now. Yes, the same earrings, 21 years later. Want a better look at that perm I was sporting?
Remember that mini skirt I mentioned a few posts ago? Doesn't look nearly as short as I thought it was. (I had another picture of it but this one shows the aqua better.)

(A nicer "now" picture.)