Hello Everyone,

Well, here I am again in that little slice of heaven I wrote to you about last year. That’s right, I’m once again in central NY visiting Tim and Janell, and additional host, the newest member of the family, baby Alyssa. Now I’m probably going to get into trouble from some for this next statement, but I swear she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. She is just gorgeous – and I have the pictures to prove it! Alyssa first came to visit on July sixth and has since just been a blessing and joy to her parents. She is a quiet, happy, contented, sleeps through the night baby – just like her Uncle Chris was (So I’ve been told. Just ask Mom). I’m on vacation this week (through Labor Day) – flew in on the red-eye last Friday – and I’m making the rounds visiting all the members of the family. Saturday through Monday I was in Virginia, Monday though Thursday I’m in New York, Thursday through Labor Day I’m in Delaware at my parent’s beach house.

Friday night, after a brief interlude at happy hour, I was dropped off in a red Porsche for my flight home (stylin’ – thanks Sabrina), and boarded a very crowded flight for Baltimore. But, I got lucky and full as the flight was I ended up with no middle person to fight over armrests with and had a pretty uneventful and roomy flight. I tried sleeping on the plane but, unlike some people I know (you know who you are), I don’t sleep easily in such environs and it was fitful at best. Though I was flying United we arrived on time and after getting my bags and rental car I headed towards my sister Sheila’s house in Reston, Va. at about 7 am.

I was struck, as always, by the difference in the look of the land as compared to where I live now, southern Cal. I mean there are median strips between the freeway lanes – with plants and flowers and grass and bushes and trees… And the trees. They’re tall and dense and lush and they’re everywhere. Big trees, little trees, tall trees, skinny trees. Trees, trees, trees. I think the thing I miss the most of the east coast is the amount, variety and stature of the trees (sigh…).

After first sniffing out a 7-11 in Laurel, Md. (for my Super Big Gulp), I soon arrived safely at Sheila and Jim’s house where I promptly woke them up (via cell phone – just in case I wasn’t at the correct residence) so they could come down and greet me properly. We caught up for a while then I headed upstairs to reclaim the sleep which had eluded me on the plane. Refreshed (somewhat) I rousted myself about 1 o’clock and just hung out on their porch, sipping Coronas, chatting with Sheila about whatever inconsequential thing we could come up with – the perfect way to spend a very pleasantly mild summer day in Va. I was resting up for the big birthday bash that evening, the birthday party for my newly 2 year old niece, Gabbie.

That evening I ventured forth to Carl and Debbie’s house to help fete the 3rd of my now 5 nieces. Walking in I was assaulted by a cacophony of cries and confusion, a bounty of bedlam and bustle, and a flash of children flying up and down their grand staircase . The house was alive with kids, kids, and more kids (or so it seemed) – and their parents of course. I waded into the maelstrom, greeting the other members of my family present, plus a few, very few others and found a safe spot to watch the frenetic activities. What energy they had. What unbridled enthusiasm. What fun they had. What fun I had! I got to play with a few including little Tyler, the son of a old friend from school way, way back, the former Becky Lynch, who was in attendance. We built then destroyed towers of blocks. It reminded me of my own youth (sigh again).

So we all ate and drank, chatted, watched the kids run about, and eventually sang Happy Birthday to little Gabbie, a very pretty little blond haired, blue-eyed moppet, who proceeded to enjoy her birthday cake with gusto, ending up with as much blue icing on her face as in her tummy. Precious! I of course was snapping pictures left and right. Let’s hope that at least some turn out well.

Sunday, still on Ca. time and simply exhausted from trying to keep up with those kids, I slept in (Well, I also stayed up late reading too.). Sure is nice to be on vacation. Jim asked me to go along with him to the bike shop as he needed to look at bike racks for his brand spanking new vehicle - delivered the day before - a PT Cruiser. Sweet! It turned out to be a Performance Bike Shop (there’s one in Torrance), and they were having a clearance sale, and as some of you know my bike recently lost an argument with the garage door, and sales tax is cheaper there, and they could ship it out for about $50, and, and, I could have something to “train” on whilst out here, and, and, and it was a really, really good deal, and well, I ended up buying a new bike (Darn you Jim!). I got myself a bright yellow, Yeti brand mountain bike, with 27 gears and dual-suspension (adjustable). So I’m ready again for the ride down in Baja, and I will be “training” for it while out here. Are you other riders also?
Sunday night was sushi (yayyyy!) with Sheila & Jim, Carl & Debbie (and Gabbie), and Ken & Mary. The place we went to, in Herndon of all places, was pretty good actually. The waitress was surprised that I wasn’t surprised at what I got when I ordered Ankimo (monk fish liver). She said most “Americans” don’t even know what it is, much less order it. Points for me I guess. We all had a very nice evening, my last evening in Va, and it was good to socialize with my siblings and their spouses without all the hubbub of the previous evening.

Monday I was awakened by the trash truck making it’s rounds at 6 am – their house must be first on the route – but otherwise I had a good night’s sleep and awoke refreshed and ready to go for my drive up north to Truxton, NY. I got on the road about noonish and headed up towards Leesburg to catch Rt. 15 towards Harrisburg, Pa. The first part of Rt. 15 winds it way through the hills past small farms and huge estates before crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. Short but very scenic actually. From there the road opens up and while not especially scenic the drive was pleasant enough. Outside of Harrisburg I caught the 81 (Oh! Excuse me! I mean 81 -no the - in east coast parlance.) which I stayed on almost the whole rest of the way until jumping off in Courtland, NY onto Rt. 13 towards Truxton. Along the way I was occasionally buffeted by strong, but very brief rainstorms. Not what I’m used to in sunny southern Cal.

Just past the very small town of Truxton (I mean very small!) I found the turnoff to Tim & Janell’s, Morgan Hill Road, and proceeded to wind my way up to the top of their mountain – about 3 miles. To get out in the winter they have to plow over 2 miles of that themselves as they are surrounded by state forest lands and the gravel road is not maintained in the winter. Coming off the “paved” portion into the forest is almost like driving into a fairy tale forest, the trees rearing up tall on each side extending their branches across the road to form a “tunnel” to where? To what? What’s over the crest in the road ahead? In the evening, with the sun waning down behind the mountains, the look is just a bit foreboding, almost gloomy, or maybe I was just tired form the drive. Anyways, I found my way safely to their house (designed and erected by themselves) and was warmly greeted. They introduced me to my newest niece, and well, you already know how beautiful she is.

So here I sit in the cool, clean evening air on top of a mountain in central New York, kicking back, relaxing from my day’s drive, enjoying a home cooked meal, playing with my niece. Not bad I guess. No phone lines on the mountain here so I’ll have to send this along later when I get down to the beach. In the meantime I hope everyone’s week goes well. Mine is great so far!

Take care,
Chris