Exiles in New York

Day 6.129: He had a stomic egg

2013-05-20T21:55:00.000-04:00

It's nearly phonetic...

...but it does leave me wondering what my son thinks the problem is when someone says they have one!

Day 6.128: Pulled pork and what?

2013-05-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

There's not all that much to report from today - a 12 mile run (me), two birthday parties (E5N1), a girl scout cake walk (Exile #3 with Exile #2).

The reason it was such a quiet day(!) was that I was home making pulled pork. This is an all day affair - it started at around 9 am with heating the charcoal and the meat was just ready in time for dinner a little after 6 pm.

It was a new recipe - from my Weber's Smoke book and worked rather well. I much prefer doing the post-smoking finish of the meat wrapped in foil in the grill than taking it out and bringing it in to finish in the oven as one of the other recipes I used suggests. I also like having grill temperature and meat temperature targets to work to - I'm a data-driven kind of guy I suppose.

On another topic, quite unrelated to today's activities - in fact related to yesterday's - can anyone guess what this is:

I have punctuation smiles to award to amusing answers and some more photos to reward a correct one!

Day 6.127: Five Rivers and a lively woodchuck

2013-05-18T21:46:00.001-04:00

We went to Five Rivers this morning. We chose the Vlomankill Trail because it had been a while - and this time of year when it is ice-free and not-too-buggy is definitely its most pleasant time.

Once again Exile #4 and E5N1 did some paddling (it's getting less unthinkable now - but the rest of us kept our feet dry). There were interesting broken rocks on the beach - two are pictured. Also, E5N1 wrote on some other stones - a message for Mom (with a heart) and one for me (with an exclamation mark)!

On the way back - a lively woodchuck crossed our path.

Here are some of the other things that caught my eye:

Day 6.126: A beautiful evening

2013-05-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

It hadn't been the best of weeks at work, so I didn't need much cajoling to leave this afternoon to attend a BBQ at the house of new church acquaintances. It was generally very lovely indeed - the perfect evening weather-wise friendly and interesting people, plenty of kids to run around with - with shared supervising among all the parents.

The location was pretty stunning too!

Day 6.125: This too shall pass

2013-05-16T20:57:00.000-04:00

Well, I don't do this very often, but I didn't have much to say tonight - I could tell you about my run (6.5 miles - fine) or work (the day after yesterday - also basically fine) but why do that when I can show remind you of this video (prompted by a comment on yesterday's post)? Or - if you're one of the three people in the world who hasn't seen it yet - you're welcome.

Here it is embedded (probably after an advert) but you might want to click through to see it in full-screen engineering geeky loveliness:

Let it go. This too shall pass.

Day 6.124: I need a doctor...

2013-05-15T21:26:00.001-04:00

I'm not sick. Very healthy in fact - running is going well. Work...well let's just say not so much.

Not quite bad enough to need to be rescued by this young/old man (currently living on my desk) though!

Not so far anyway!

Day 6.123: Did she D.A.R.E.?

2013-05-14T22:09:00.000-04:00

I went in late to work today in order to catch Exile #3's D.A.R.E. graduation. I've been a bit of a D.A.R.E. skeptic since I started hearing about it from parents of older children. It seemed to me that by lumping all drugs, tobacco and alcohol together they were liable to produce cognitive dissonance for the kids, most of whom (mine included) live in houses where alcohol is consumed fairly regularly.

I may also have been partially informed by South Park I suppose:

Anyway, whether it was the changes in curriculum this year, or my daughter's character, or her knowledge of my skepticism I don't know, but it seems to have been a great programme, focusing on making good decisions, getting help and being good to others.

Her graduation certificate says that she has made a commitment to avoid drugs and violence - now that I can wholeheartedly support!

I'm in no hurry for her to start experimenting with alcohol either (despite what I said before) but I don't want her to worry that her parents are destroying our brains either.

Day 6.122: Want something from my store?

2013-05-13T23:07:00.003-04:00

This went on for several days recently - changing in content, adding signs and names, even - at one point - becoming just one store in a mall.

On Saturday morning we were given a random selection of home-made bank notes to spend. Generous - although the denominations resulted in some very expensive snacks.

Day 6.121: Mom's day & s'more

2013-05-12T22:27:00.000-04:00

When I got back from my run the kids were already drowning Exile #2 in pictures, poems, cards and other artworks. I'll try and dig some out to share with you because they were remarkable in various ways. This was despite the fact that I was up at 5.30, out of the house at 6 and back by 7.30! I guess I failed to make sure she got a lie-in as a Mother's Day treat!

The kids did make pancakes for breakfast (with a bit of help from me - and a gluten-free pancake mix) and I got the grill going for our first 2013 cook-out at dinner time. We kept it simple with burgers and hot dogs and of course...s'mores!

Ours on the left, Exile #2's one on the right with home-made-today GF graham crackers.

Day 6.120: Weeds and creeps

2013-05-11T22:32:00.000-04:00

It's been a bit of a rainy day, but we managed to all get out of the house twice. First time was to do some weeding. The kids were set to work removing the wild garlic from the bottom of the back yard - they (mostly the girls) filled a bin and a half to add to Exile #2's earlier haul.

Meanwhile, Exile #2 and I found ourselves attacking some Virginia creeper. I quite like this plant - it climbs and forms impressive Tarzan-friendly vines in the trees without apparently bothering them. It has fairly plain foliage but it turns bright red in the autumn - often at a different time than the trees it is climbing in. Today, however, we discovered a vast network of it creeping - rather than climbing - for the most part through or just under the grass in the lawn forming a circle at least 20 ft in diameter around its main vine. Pulling it up proved rather satisfying and a little addictive once we started - you can see our harvest in the black bin just behind the ones the kids filled above.

Our second trip was a walk to the library where I picked up the two sequels to The Hunger Games which I am currently thoroughly enjoying after a recommendation from Exile #2 and Exile #3 who have both read the whole series.

Day 6.119: A little shirt of words (or two)

2013-05-10T22:48:00.002-04:00

One of these shirts was in a department store in Germany, the other in the biggest department store in the world in Korea. Both of them are written in English - after a fashion.

Day 6.118: Big bug update

2013-05-09T23:18:00.001-04:00

First, an update on the bug in the spider's web - it still seems to be in one piece but may have given up the fight. It may be my imagination, but the spider seems to be looking fatter and happier.

However, the real bug story tonight is about the periodical cicadas. These remarkable creatures - with a wonderful Latin name, magicicada - live for 13 or 17 years underground as nymphs and then - briefly but in overwhelming numbers - develop into adults, make a lot of noise, mate, lay eggs and die. This year, Brood II is emerging after their 17 year absence. We are at the north-west edge of the area they inhabit and no-one seems quite sure how much we will see - or more to the point hear - of them here. It seems that we should find out over the next few weeks - you can follow along with their progress here and here.

Day 6.117: What's wrong with these pictures?

2013-05-08T22:37:00.002-04:00

Two mysteries from work today.

How did my keyboard come to look like this? Yes - that is really just an unedited photo of it. It's surprising that I'd never noticed until today - having been using it for many months.

What is the possible use for a "Men/Women w/ "Rest Room" Sliding Panel sign? It's pretty clear that you can slide the "Rest Room" piece so that it either reads "Men - Rest Room" or "Rest Room - Women". I'll clarify for my non-US readers that Rest Room is a euphemism for Toilet (which is in itself effectively a euphemism, but let's leave it there).

I am at a loss to think of a way in which this could ever be useful or a good idea. Maybe one of you can (but you'll need to persuade me)?

Please let me know if you can make any sense of them!

Day 6.116: Come into my parlour...

2013-05-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

...said the tiny spider to the huge bug. Then I'll hide in the corner while I wonder what on earth I'm going to do with you. Could you perhaps just die?

This drama is currently playing out outside our kitchen window. The bug is very much trapped, but still very much alive and the spider seems to be keeping its distance - for now at least. I'll keep you posted!

Day 6.115: Hello cello!

2013-05-06T22:55:00.002-04:00

I took Exile #4 for her opportunity to "meet the strings" this evening. She is quite keen to add playing cello (or viola) to her piano, swimming and skating lessons and, of course, being a fourth grader next year.

She may need one a little smaller than this:

We'll have to wait and see how it works out!

Day 6.114: Red finch, yellow finch, ...

2013-05-05T22:50:00.002-04:00

(Although they are red and yellow, they are actually a house finch and a goldfinch)

As usual, once spring-proper gets underway (as opposed to the season I call 'thaw'), it progresses very rapidly. When I left for Germany two weeks ago there was precious little in the way of signs of life. When I returned, it was noticable that there were new leaf buds on the trees.

Now, there is enough new growth to attract these very colourful birds, some of the blossom trees are already going over and we've had three consecutive days of eating outside!

Day 6.114: May the 4th be Derby Day

2013-05-04T21:14:00.000-04:00

E5N1 was pretty excited when he heard about the "May the Fourth Be With You" event at a local library a few weeks ago. It appealed to his interests and his goofy sense of humour - so there was no avoiding that. In the end he and Exile #4 entered a competition each and they spent a pretty good hour or so doing various Star Wars activities while Exile #3 settled down with a book.

In the early evening, we were invited over to some friends for a Kentucky Derby gathering. Grilling, sitting outside, a few mint juleps and ten minutes or so gathered inside to cheer on fairly randomly selected horses in one of the shortest races I've ever seen.

We had to reflect on the differences with the only horse race that most British people that know nothing about horse racing watch each year - The Grand National - and have to say that that a two minute flat race is a whole lot less stressful to watch than a 9 minute steeplechase!

It was a lovely evening - we sat outside until it got dark around 8.30pm, and the company of 8 adults and 11 children was very convivial.

Day 6.113: Two birds with two runs

2013-05-03T22:59:00.001-04:00

Here are some birds I saw while running in Germany. Yes there are several - although the females/young were pretty well camouflaged in the field.

This morning, I was almost back home from my run when I heard a commotion at the top of a tree. I looked up and saw about a dozen crows making a huge fuss in and around the top of a tree. I was curious enough to stop to watch. Every now and again I heard a very different call and suspected that it was whatever the crows were upset about - but I couldn't see what it was.

I watched for a while. Same pattern - lots of crow shouts interspersed with the occasional loud but slightly sing-song call.

Eventually, the troublemaker flew and was mobbed by the crows as it flew a short distance to another tree - it was a raven. I don't know what it had done to upset its smaller cousins. Eventually I saw and heard it let out a classic raspy cry and I decided I'd better run home.

Day 6.112: E5N1's family

2013-05-02T21:15:00.000-04:00

In case I haven't posted a good portrait of each of us recently, E5N1 can oblige:

Day 6.111: Thick and not so thick

2013-05-01T23:07:00.001-04:00

Here's a picture of Exile #4 and E5N1 being thick as thieves - making potions or some such activity.

They're often like this, but a lot of the rest of the time they are driving each other completely crazy (to be more precise - E5N1 pushes all the right buttons and usually gets an extreme reaction). It reminds me a lot of the relationship I had with my little-big-sister growing up!

I'll be seeing her next month* along with the rest of the family - hopefully there won't be too much of the driving each other crazy at this stage!

*It's still a way off - at the end of June, but it just hit the two-month-view planner at work!

Day 6.110: January to April running update

2013-04-30T22:25:00.000-04:00

It's been an uneven start to the year running-wise for me.

January was fine in context, I ran 43 miles (averaging about 10 miles per week). Not what I was aiming for, but winter is difficult and I spent some time traveling.

During February, Exile #2 and I did a musical project that kept me up late at night and really affected my running - I only managed 24 miles including a two week gap.

March was another traveling month, but I started to get back on the right path, hitting 49 miles.

April has been better again - 70 miles - even with another international business trip.

And now... I'm ramping-up the miles again ready to start the easiest of the very intense training programs in here:

Last week was a 25 mile week, the plan is to ramp up to 30 or 35 miles before the 18 week training program starts in June. All being well I will be in good shape to run the Mohawk Hudson Marathon again this year in October.

Day 6.109: Hare field, Haar haus and Herr Doktor

2013-04-29T23:30:00.000-04:00

Hare, Haar, Herr - is that all I photographed with my phone in Germany?

No, but it wasn't hard to pluck this many out.

Day 6.108: Cars and other achievements

2013-04-28T21:52:00.000-04:00

This morning, all three kids took part in the youth-service at church. The service was entirely led by the kids of the congregation from Kindergartners to High Schoolers. Exile #3 rang a bell, both the girls led a call-and-response and all three of them took part in a song/dance of Simple Gifts. It was actually pretty great and some of the older children were extremely accomplished in music and public-speaking.

In more mundane matters, there has been a lot of Lego activity since E5N1's birthday bonanza of sets. The last couple of days have seen a lot of car design.

Here are Exile #4's, mine and Exile #3's from the first challenge and then the team effort in the biggest car challenge - accompanied by E5N1's special tiny car addition.

I should point out - because it was pointed out to me - that, of course, the Ewoks and skeleton horse on the sides of the large car are statues because - unlike the rest of it I suppose - they are not real things.

Day 6.107: Harrier Hill

2013-04-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

We visited another Scenic Hudson property today - the curious Harrier Hill. I say "curious" without meaning any disrespect - we had a very nice visit.

We didn't see a harrier (sadly - it's a rather impressive bird of prey), nor was there much evidence of a hill, nor much in the way of scenic views of the Hudson. What we did was about a four mile out-and-back walk through meadows and woodland, with sections of boardwalk, gravel paths and woodland trails.

I spotted a few ants dragging a large dead beetle across the trail at one point:

The kids were on good form - enjoying the variations in terrain in the absence of any major climbing challenges which would normally spur them on. Exile #4 and E5N1 paddled in the icy waters on our return leg - rather them than me - Exile #4 told me it was fine once her feet went numb.

Day 6.106: Statues muse

2013-04-26T20:30:00.002-04:00

After a very early start, a long flight and then three train journeys, I'm home - hooray!

Looking at the few photos I took with my camera (as opposed to my phone), I remembered that I saw some strange works of street-art while I was in Germany - these two amongst them:

Wrestling guys with writing all over them and a load of cats - apparently catching fish.

I wonder what that was all about!