Can ... Hardly .... Type....

because my hands are so rusty doing it. Its hard to believe that it took me so long to actually write something again.  Part of it is that I have been awfully busy with this lady.

And also partly because I have been busy with this little guy

More on him later

Plus the other three kids who do tend to keep me busy from time to time.

But really the excuse is just one of inertia.  It seems that when I am doing something I do it every day without fail, but once I get knocked off the path, it becomes so hard to get back on.

But consider me back on. 

The Joe I Want to Remember

He was either lauded as a saint or derided as a charlatan.  The truth was that he was  human with virtues and failings like all of us.

He ran a football program where some of his players,  got drunk, got in scuffles and did a lot of stupid nonsense that most of did some variation of when we were in school.

But unlike most coaches today, he valued both academics and the integrity of his program more than wins and his wallet and he was as loyal to Penn State as any alumni.

At his best, he was exemplar of the truth that dedication and hard work beat out raw talent.  At his worst he was an anachronism who hung on long after he should have left the stage.

He was part of the most horrific scandal to ever hit Sports.  He fulfilled his legal responsibilities but not his moral ones.  But he was the only one involved to admit he should have done much more.  The final tragedy was that he did not stay around long enough to enable the world to put this tragedy in perspective with an otherwise exemplary life.

This Transcript of Joe's address to the board of trustees after winning the 1982-83 National Championship is the Joe I care to remember.

(thanks to BWI.com)

Talk about frost on the pumpkin....

Its been a while.....

I wish I had a good excuse for why I haven't posted over the last six weeks, but it probably just comes down to the old "don't think too big thing".  I had wanted to write a few more things about the wedding and the honeymoon and then the trip back, but I couldn't seem to get everything I wanted to have.  So instead I let it sit and then I got stuck.


But I remembered what I really enjoyed about this blog and that was just trying to write spontaneously and not thinking too much about everything being perfect.  Thats what'll be going on from here forward.

I have been around for a while and I have seen a lot of weird stuff, but I have never seen anything to match this (at least not in October)

Snow in October,  not just flurries mind you, but genuine Nor'Easter.

It it just me or when you hear the word nor'easter doesn't that guy from the old Pepperidge farm commercials come to mind.....

I left the Eastern End of Long Island on Saturday morning to heavy rain by the time I got to the Bronx it was snowing, but not sticking.  about ten miles west of home it got ugly.   Really ugly.

The wet heavy snows had landed on the all of the still leaf laden trees and knocked down tree limbs one of which ripped my electric meter right off the house.  I wasn't alone, most of the our neighborhood was without power for a while.

The damage to trees in the area was truly amazing.  The figure I heard was that one in seven trees lost at least some branches. and I dont doubt it.  Many trees were so heavily damaged they will probably have to be cut down.


 We have been without for 7 days now.  The first few days were spent in exile on Long Island, but I came back on Tuesday to survey the damage.  A foot of water in the basement from (no sump pump) and a refrigerator of rotten food.  Fortunately our neighbors did get power back so we have the basics refrigerator, hot water, some lights and of course cable and internet.  I think the house could be on fire and my children wouldn't notice until the internet went off.


We got the damage repaired to our service and now we are waiting (hopefully) for the return of full power.  The electric company promised it tonite.  but when they say that tonite runs until tomorrow morning that gets me a little worried.

Ch Ch Ch Changes......

I was hoping that after the wedding we would have some time to catch out breath and gently settle into our lives here at Exit 42A.
 
However, Krissy and I have some stuff going on.

We are slowly but surely trying to digest the enormous hoard of wedding presents that we have so generously received.  It seems like the gift train may finally be over, the UPS man stopped in front of the house yesterday and actually dropped off something at someone else's house.

I think I saw Krissy shed a tear.

On top of that, Krissy's lease runs out at her old place in Manhattan at the end of this week and we need to finish packing her up and move her out here to New Jersey.

Having said that we are going to have a little bit of work here, integrating my stuff and Krissy's.

The kids have just started school to and we are slowly trying to work them (and us) into a routine as well.

On other fronts I am in the middle of a substantial basement renovation,  I have also committed to getting both Mora and Maddie room redos.

On top of THAT,  Krissy and I have been so busy with wedding activities over the summer that a lot of day to day stuff has gone untended,  I have visited my vegetable garden all of three times this summer.  Even though I only got stuff by glomming from other gardeners, I still have to do my fall cleanup and get out in the next few weeks.  My own home garden is a mess of weeds.  Fortunately they will die, but fall cleanup is soon upon us as well.  The torrential rains we had washed off all the deer repellent and they have had a field day munching on my hostas for a last few weeks.  Branches from Hurricane Irene are still all over the yard and need to get picked up.

Plus Krissy and I have a little side project that will remain under wraps for now.

Its life, but I wish things would just settle a little bit sooner.

Leavings

It has been said by some that I am a teensy bit absent minded......

It came from Crate and Barrel......

Apparently some of you did not get the memo.

The UPS truck rolled up for like the billionth time Tuesday night.....

As the driver climbed out I just looked at him and said "Not More???"

He deadpanned back, "Now you know how I feel"

Saturday

Saturday was a day of running around doing way too many last minute errands, picking up forgotten tuxedo accessories,  writing checks.  packing for the honeymoon.  It should have all taken about 45 minutes.

Where to begin....

The last fourteen days were hectic to say the least.....

Let me just say this,  the Malones know how to party.
This was not just a wedding, this was a multi day event.

Things got kicked off of Thursday, for the bachelorette dinner/party  at Buddakan in New York.

Seriously People.......

Well me and the Mrs are back (I am still having getting trouble getting used to that). I will be regaling everyone with wild tales of before, during and after wedding activities.

People you have all been tremendously generous, not just with your kind thoughts, your presence at the wedding and your wonderful and thoughtful gifts.

Now cut it out already.

The Cutting Room Floor.......

Krissy and I are on honeymoon this week.  These were written beforehand.....

There were a few things I was considering including in this wedding, which I subsequently said feh too.