The New Piano June 9, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Feel Good, Video Blog.1 comment so far
A Beautiful Mother’s Day May 10, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood.2 comments
I took mom to dinner last night for Mother’s Day and then she got to experience her first car show when I took her along to the Saturday Night Classic at Whiskey Cafe at the Meadowlands. I spent all day today working on the house, cleaning, shampooing the carpets, digging in the dirt outside, etc. I love this time of year in the Northeast. 65-75 degree days< 50’s at night. Awesome! weather, and a beautiful Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. And Godspeed, Granny.
Some pictures from around the house today:
A Little Bit of Snow February 22, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Dodge Charger, Hobbies & Interests, granny, weather.1 comment so far
We had a dusting of snow today – not enough to get excited about but it did make a lazy Sunday extra lazy. I am ready for Spring!!!
Granny is hanging in there – although the overall decline continues. Medicare has determined that she is no
longer responding to therapy which means they will no longer financially support her treatment. She now becomes a “private pay” patient which means exactly what you think it means. My biggest concern, however,
remains her well-being and comfort, not the financial aspect of her care.
Last night I joined about 65 other members of the New Jersey Mopar Group for a “Meet and Greet” at
Joe’s Crab Shack in Lawrenceville, NJ, which is about an hour and a half of hear down towards Trenton
and Princeton. I met a ton of people that I had become friends with online over the past year.
The Fight the Fat effort has stalled a bit. I haven’t gained back what I lost, but I haven’t been too committed in the last several weeks either. That will change this week as I get back to the gym and restart my Tuesday official weigh-ins. I have just had a lot of distractions lately that I have to focus on avoiding.
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Weekend Chores February 7, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Automotive Interests, In the Neighborhood, granny.add a comment
Next weekend I will be in Minnesota checking on Granny, meeting with her banker, and dealing with her apartment so I have been spending most of today just trying to catch up on the domestic. stuff here at the house. I got all of my tax stuff together (many thanks to Victoria for the referral to her CPA).
Doing taxes and paying bills at my desk. (And, of couse, a little Facebook
socializing)
My Presidential Limo Collection. Cool, huh?
I knew I would have to have help this year when I got my W-2 and the tax forms from the relocation company. Its a bit more complicated than I wanted to tackle on my own.
I also got my bills paid (not much $$ left after that undertaking) and also Granny’s bills.
The biggest accomplish today, however, was just getting my filthy truck cleaned. Months of snow, road grime, and salt had taken its toll.
Before
After. Much better. I like it again!
I think there was dirt from Texas still on it.
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The Amaryllis Blooms February 7, 2009
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My friend, Judy Reeves, who recruitied me to New Jersey, sent me a Amaryllis in a pot for Christmas. It was waiting for me when I got back from Texas. Inspite of my inability to grow too many thing successfully, I followed the instructions carefully, and, overnight last night, it bloomed! Amazing.
The Amaryllis Blooms Overnight
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Beacon is a Jailbird February 7, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Pets, beacon.add a comment
Is she cute or what?
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New Jersey Lesson: Listen to the Weatherman December 19, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Weather Report, weather.4 comments
OK, here’s the deal. I am a Texan, and in Texas, the weatherman is never right, so we don’t listen to what they say. Lesson: that doesn’t work in New Jersey. When they say “Winter Storm Warning”, believe them!
Me wrapping up clearing off the driveway – - – for the third time in
three hours!
I was at work when the snow started around 10am. By the time the company closed due to the weather, there was already 3 inches on the ground, and by the time I fought may way home, I had better than 5 inches at the house.
And here is the forecast for the next several days:
Yeah. Are we having fun yet?
In terms of my travel plans to Texas, right now everything is on track for Monday, but you can see the weather still looks a little rough.
Beacon – she is so modest
The Diva Dog doesn’t appreciate the snow nor the leash.
My driveway after the first shoveling
Front of the house
Front from the other direction
The side yard
One of many passes of the plow trucks
Looking down onto part of the back porch. Notice, Texas is covered in snow!
Your’s Truly.
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Jack Frost Swings Through the Neighborhood Overnight December 7, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Family & Friends, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Tis the Season, travel, weather.3 comments
It’s pretty cold up here! Yep it is. And Jack Frost
was making his rounds last night as well.
We had a light dusting over night that was really pretty
to wake up to this morning. It went all the way into
the city, so I am told. It was nothing like the October
Blizzard we had before Halloween, though.
I heard from Gary and Mel this weekend. They are on
their way to Fort Lauderdale via the Southwest Airlines
cattle car (hey, whatever it takes, right?) to settle in
before their big cruise that leaves next Friday.
Sights and Sounds of Christmas on Black Friday in New Jersey November 28, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood, Tis the Season.5 comments
After doing our part to contribute to a successful Black Friday at Burlington Coat Factory, Wal-Mart, and Target, it was time to work on Christmas lights in the yard. Now before I say anything else, yes, this year is different at my place. Those of you who know me may remember that past years involved a very coordinated, clear light display in the yard that would rival anything you might see at a fancy 5-Star hotel. Not wanting to get on the roof of a 3 story house or pay anyone else to do it, I took a different approach this year – - and yes, folks, I really did use multi-color lights.
Before the Lights
After the yard lights. Not up to my normal standards like I did in
Texas, where everything was bigger and brighter!
Yes, that is a mixture of colors. I have violated my own rules!
Front Door, using the flash on the camera
My Deer. Not sure about the clear lights there. I might have a color
violation going on.
Thanksgiving Dinner November 28, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Family & Friends, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Tis the Season, beacon.1 comment so far
The first Thanksgiving in the new house but the
tradition of face-stuffing remained in tact.
Congratulations to my Dallas Cowboys!
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- Roseanna and Beacon on Thanksgiving Day
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- I should have taken a picture BEFORE I sliced into it!
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- Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanskgiving without Roseanna’s Eggs
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- In the past the plan was to use real whipping cream but this year I used cool whip! It worked out fine.
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- Southern Dressing made with yellow cornbread! This is very rare in New Jersey.
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- The electric buffet came in handy
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- Ready, Set, GO!!!
Decorated for Christmas November 25, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Tis the Season.4 comments
After a couple of days of work, the house is finally decorated for Christmas. I know a lot of folks don’t like to even think about that until after Thanksgiving but I have always been of the opinion that you decorate whenever the mood strikes!
I did decide not to do as much outside as I usually do with the lights because I don’t know what winter
will be like here.
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- Roseanna Bought a Beautiful Rose Arrangement for the Kitchen Table. Very Festive.
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- My Christmas Redneck Trailer Collection on the Gameroom Fireplace Mantle
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- Table in the Gameroom w/ My White Snow People
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- Another Santa and a Couple of NYC Winter Pictures in the Dining Room
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- Christmas Decorations on My Mantle in the Upstairs Den
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- My Lennox holiday lighthouse set
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- On the Coffee Table
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- These ornaments are probably 70 years old or so
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- I am not wild about this tree. I am used to a HUGE tree as most of you know, but I havent figured out how to make that work here yet.
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- The Inspiration for the TV Show, Northern Exposure, I Wonder What Talkeeta, Alaska Looks Like in December?
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- We picked this one up in Las Vegas at the Venetian
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- Ornament we picked up last year in Ketchikan
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- Ornament from Chicago, IL
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- Ornament from Hollywood, CA
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- We picked this ornament up in Fairbanks, Alaska
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- A few deer guarding the front yard
A Cold Friday, and Granny’s Last Day in New Jersey November 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Family & Friends, New Jersey, beacon.5 comments
I worked half a day today and took Roseanna with me
to the office so she could see the digs there and meet
the people I am always talking about. She also got a
good dose of my Tony and Victoria routine every
morning and she got a kick out of that.
Roseanna outside of Davy’s Dogs in Mount Arlington, NJ
I took her by a real New Jersey hot dog stand for lunch
and then we hit up Wal-Mart to pick up a jacket and scarf
for Granny’s trip home tomorrow. I don’t think Granny
was expecting it to be as cold as it was here.
Granny kicking our butt at Scrabble.
This afternoon we played a round of Scrabble and
watched the cops sit up and catch people running the
stop sign in front of the house. We know how to have
fun here in Long Valley, NJ!
Thats 14 points x a Triple Word Square – - yes Granny was on a roll
Granny visiting with Beacon before dinner
All in the Family November 17, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Family & Friends, Video Blog, Videos, beacon.2 comments
VIDEO: Roseanna and Beacon
Family. My Granny may be getting on up there in
years but she has definitely not lost her sense of
humor. She can chastise me for using an “ugly
word” and then immediately follow-up with an
off color joke that reminds me of Sophia on
The Golden Girls.
While I was at work today, the girls held down
the home fort on on the promise that tomorrow
night I would take them to eat Chinese food, and
on Thursday, to the Casino in the Pocono Mts.
Granny Telling a Joke
Oh, to be retired.
The Dynamic-Duo Back in Action November 16, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Family & Friends, The Good Life, Tis the Season, Video Blog, Videos, dallas cowboys.5 comments
We spent much of the morning running around with
errands. This afternoon we put up a Christmas
tree in my rec room downstairs.
We are having a great time
The “Light Dusting” Turned Into a Full-Blown Nor’easter October 28, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Pets, Weather Report, beacon, weather.2 comments
I woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow
outside. Driving wasn’t much of an issue. But
during the day, it got progressively worse until
tonight it took me over 3 hours to get home to a
house that was covered with snow and was without
electricity. As of this writing, it is 11:48pm and
its 44 degrees in the house! The snow has finally
stopped but the wind is blowing terribly and it looks
like I lost all but two of my trees in the yard.
And it isn’t even Halloween yet. I don’t like this trick
Out the dining room window
The neighbors driveway
I didn’t have a shovel or a plow. I had to rake out some trenches by hand.
It took me an hour to get into the garage.
From the front porch
Beacon, not happy her sweater fell off in the snow
One of my ruined trees
Another of my ruined trees
My ride home
Sunday Recovery October 26, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Family & Friends, In the Neighborhood, Texas, Weather Report, dallas cowboys, weather.add a comment
Yesterday’s rain gave way to a beautiful, sunny Autumn
Sunday.
View from the front porch on a beautiful October Sunday.
Based on my unofficial Texas birdbath rain guage, it looks like we got
almost two inches yesterday.
Although my frustration regarding the fact
that the Dallas Cowboys, for yet another week, will not
be on TV in the New York City market is foremost in my
mind today, there is plenty to do before the Jets and
Giants play. (By the way, next season I will be adding
DirectTV and Sunday Ticket in the rec room downstairs
to alleviate this aggravation every single weekend.)
My Halloween Chili Project.
Last night I got Roseanna’s bedroom ready for her visit
three weekend from now. Haven’t figured out Granny’s
accommodations yet but it’s a big house – there’s plenty
of room and beds.
I leave out early in the morning for my Amtrak ride to
Washington DC.
In Poor Football Humor October 19, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, dallas cowboys.Tags: dallas cowboys, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFC, NFC East, NFL
1 comment so far
In spite of the smile on my face, I am not happy about
the fact that the Cowboys won’t be on TV in the
New York market.
Autumn Yard Cleaning October 19, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, weather.1 comment so far
The landscapers came by on Friday to do their Fall
seasonal cleanup. They spent a lot of time trimming
the shrubs and color-scape and I think the place looks
pretty good!
A little fall color in the front yard.
The pine tree at the corner of the house has shed summer needles in preparation for a long winter.
Side of the house
Rear of the house
The basement patio
By the garage
Beacon Enjoying the Weather October 7, 2008
Posted by Chris in Animals, Around the House, Family & Friends, Feel Good, Life, Pets, The Good Life, beacon, weather.add a comment
Judy asked me last weekend to post some pictures
of Beacon. She likes to lay in the sun when I am
downstairs watching football.
Beacon pretty laid back today.
Autumn Arrives at the Clark House September 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Feel Good, Hobbies & Interests, In the Neighborhood, Observations, Photo Blog, Tis the Season, Weather Report.3 comments
I will reserve judgement on Winters in New Jersey untill I actually have to experience a full season of the cold stuff, but so far, Fall gets a big thumbs up.
The trees are not quite ready to turn, but many of the shrubs are.
Give it another month or so and we will be into the full color change.
It’s finally cool enough for mums here – - I am just hoping that the deer don’t come through at night and eat them. Click on the thumbnails below to expand the pictures!
