August in New York

Last Friday, John and I flew up to Cortland , NY to visit Ellen, Erik and Anna and to attend the Jets Training Camp.Martha flew in from Hawaii on Sunday. So we had a mini reunion and had fun checking out the program.
School is out for the summer...so the campus is pretty quiet till the Jets come to town. Actually the whole town is pretty quiet...and the influx of team, support staff and fans is always a good thing!

 We stopped at this local spot more than once during our visit. The owner knows E & E...so we were treated like one of the locals...

out for a walk..posing by sign across the street from Ellen and Erik's house

Now...neither John nor I are true Jets fans....I'm from Pittsburgh and it doesn't matter that I've been in Florida for over 45 years...I'm still a Pittsburgher at heart...and that means I root for the Steelers. John has always been a Dolphins fan....but that is not  always easy...hahahah in recent years anyway. Since the Jets began going to Cortland for their camp...I have become a fan. As long as it doesn't come down to a showdown between the Steelers and Jets...I'll root for them. When Tebow was there for a season...most Gators cheered for him.......however...the Dolphin fans really really don't like the Jets...hahahah...they are big rivals.
I  actually got to go to a couple of match-ups in the past (20 some yrs ago)....both of which were won by the Jets. I was on a bus full of mostly drunk disappointed Dolphin fans....secretly glad that the Jets had won....because for whatever reason...I just never have been a fan of Miami. I just can't root for them ...hahah.
I also like Rex Ryan who is the head coach of the Jets. I like his sense of humor and the fact that he seems like he loves what he does. A lot of head coaches are so serious...and I understand that...football is big business...but I like it when people have fun AND do their jobs.
Everyone wondered why we would want to go to JETS camp?????? the answer is easy...Why not? when would we get an opportunity to do something like this anywhere else. Because my brother-in-law is the president of the university...we were automatically VIPs. with field passes! Very cool!

                         We got to go in the back way...where the players and coaches enter. (Got to check out some of the players vehicles....lots of nice looking, BIG trucks, etc.)

There was a kids area set up on one side of the field. Also some bleachers,  a gift shop (set up Disney style...hahah you had to go through the gift shop to get to the stands) and tent for special guests. The team and the University had the tent on alternate days. When the school had the tent, they could invite alumni and donors and special friends of the University. Team days usually included season ticket holders, sponsors, etc. Coffee, juice,water and breakfast was served each morning.(eggs, hash browns, bacon, assorted fruit) The first 50 kids to enter the "play" area were given special wrist bands that entitled them to go to a designated area at the end of practice to meet some of the players and get autographs. Other fans could sit or stand on the side lines (behind a "fence").....where they could also try to get autographs after practice. Different player groups signed on different days....linesmen, tackles, etc.

Students have been able to get hands on experience during the training camps....some film the practice.....
some work with the trainers, etc. I think Erik said about 15 graduates have been hired by the organization since the partnership started. The Jets are the only team that allows fans to be down on the sidelines during the practice. Typically, Erik takes groups of about 10 people down along the sideline to watch for about 25-30 minutes. Of course no videos can be taken...but pictures are allowed.

with our special passes...we got to stay on the field

We got to watch the coaches and players walking in and Ellen and Erik introduced us to a couple of them.

Rod Graves-Sr Director of Football Administration was kind enough to stop and chat with us

Cortland staff had red shirts...team staff wore green...only players in red were the quarterbacks

It was interesting to watch and fun too. enjoyed seeing the other fans getting the tour; some were very surprised to be able to get on the sidelines. One family brought sauce from their restaurant as a gift to Erik. They told us they drove 4 hours to get to the site...but loved it and hoped to come back next year. A few of the staff people we talked to also told us how much they enjoyed coming to Cortland for the camp. They feel getting the team away as a group cuts down on distractions and helps them bond as a team. I know the coaches like it...and with any luck...in other words a winning season...I think they plan to come back. If they do...we'll be back too...it was fun! More next time! There were some special guests on Sunday.

Summer is winding down

Our summer programs are winding down....one tomorrow and one Thursday and that's it!
Summer has flown by! The kids around here will be going back to school August 18th. That seems early...but it's actually a week later than the last couple of years.

a few of the kids came in their pirate themed clothing...like the one little boy with the orange shoes...there were pirates, sharks, etc...I love when kids dress for the theme!

It's been a fun summer. I've had a good group at StoryTime for the last year and most came pretty regularly this summer...with the exception of one week when I only got four and two of them left early. I don't know what to expect once school starts...since many of my little friends will be heading off to pre-school. If they go M-W-F some of them still come see me on Thursday mornings. We'll see. I also have some moving up from Ms. Di's Toddler Time. Last week we had pirate stories...this week we're doing end of summer stories and we'll have a little party. I have some special treats set aside for them. :)
John is 5 weeks down with one to go to start his rehab on his shoulder. So far all is going well....and he's not too crazy! He's been to the movies a few times, bid a couple of jobs, gone to lunch...and taken lots of bike rides and walks during his down time.

we also put new slings on a few patio chairs...well actually only one...it was a pain...we'll do the other two soon...after one John said "Should we do another...Brenna and I both said NO!!!!

 He almost went fishing yesterday...kept telling me "Don't be alarmed..." (yeah right) but I guess the good lord intervened or Hurricane Bertha because the conditions changed Saturday night/Sunday morning...and he decided it was better NOT to go. I woke up and he said..."You don't have to worry anymore...I decided not to go" It was a good call too...because we had storms off and on all day and it would not have been fun out on the water! Now I don't have to worry because he's occupied this week and we are heading up to NY this Friday.
John and I are heading to Ellen and Erik's to see what's happening at the NY Jets Training camp. They train at SUNY Cortland...where Erik is president...so we get some VIP treatment! I am looking forward to seeing what it's all about...and if by chance I meet Rex Ryan...(who shares the same birthday as me...I read his book last year and learned that tidbit...hahah)...that would be even better! I am really a Steeler fan...but have rooted for the Jets a little since they've been training at Cortland and when they had Tim Tebow. Martha will be joining us too...so it should be a nice long weekend...and temperatures are expected to be high 50's/low 60's for the Low and high 70's/low 80's for the high...which sounds just about right for me!
Here it's been hot with afternoon thunderstorms....we had a couple of big storms

but most don't last long...and they make for nice sunsets!

Next post will be from Training camp! Can't wait to see who we run into........

Another day...another sunset...( or nothing too exciting going on)

It's been pretty quiet around here....not much to write about...as you may have noticed.
John had shoulder surgery on July 1st. He had several tears (rotator cuff, labrum,bicep) and a couple of bone spurs.

gaffing this fish was probably the "last straw"

 Once it's all healed he should feel a lot better. It has been bothering him for quite a while...but he held out as long as he could. It finally got to a point where he couldn't work without ending up in a lot of pain. That made it hard to sleep, fish, golf, etc. His goal is to get strong and do all the things he enjoys again...once it's healed. He's at the halfway point of phase one...arm in sling at all times. In three more weeks he will start physical therapy (only stretches for now). That's kept things kind of quiet around here...although he is starting to get a little restless......hahah

We've been taking walks, riding the bike...short easy routes...and last we we ventured out a couple of times.
     Last night we went to a local spot to see Doug Flutie and his brother and their band play. They were having a show at the Sand Bar in Melbourne Beach. A bunch of our friends were going, we weren't really doing anything else, so we figured why not. Chandler plays baseball with them...so we told Reid and Amy...they had other plans for the evening; so John decided to give it a go. Band was supposed to start at 8pm. We got there around 7:45pm. The place was getting crowded...I guess all the locals had the same thought "We have to see how well he plays the drum" hahah (Had to laugh paper had a blurb that was all screwed up "Flute (instead of Flutie) Brothers play ..*.blah, blah, with Doug Flutie in drums" (instead of on...hahah) Now he's not a big guy,,,but he wasn't in the drums...he played them haha. He really isn't very big at all considering the fact that he played quarterback in the NFL.

 No wonder they were all skeptical...

Well...seems like they were having some sound issues...and they didn't actually get started until a little after 9pm. We laughed when the first song was "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. John used to sing that to my friend Linda and I...I was gutting the rug down at a place called the Rug, with a girl named Linda Lou.....
I confess we only stayed through one complete song...and the start of the second...it was getting very crowded in the place...we weren't drinking...and really didn't need to stay any longer. We walked back up the street to the car, which was parked at the library, went home and had ice cream. We had fun while we were there...but no need to stay all night.

pretty sunset after the rain...lately we've been getting the afternoon showers on a regular basis

Here's what it looked like one afternoon when the storm clouds were rolling in off the ocean...the good thing is that it cools things down and doesn't usually last all day...

The phone comes in handy when I'm riding the bike and I see cool clouds like this..........
Went to BUNCO tonight...at my friend Marie's house. She doesn't have children...but she does have five cats! and this amazing fish aquarium

my flowers after the rain

BUNCO was fun...and I ended up with three BUNCOS and 9 games...guaranteed to win something. The night got off to a good start with a BUNCO in round 1...on ones. I rolled pretty well all night. Looks like I have lunch money for tomorrow. hahah
Speaking of BUNCO...when I first started playing with the group of women I play with...all of our kids were little...we watched our children go to kindergarten, jr high, high school, college (for most)...now one by one our girls and boys are getting married! Two of the original members of the group will have grandchildren before the year is over....time flies! It's been fun. Some of them I only see once a month at BUNCO...but we take off where we left off...and always enjoy each others company.
And that's all I've got for now.

Finally a flower!

A friend gave me this Plumeria plant a couple of years ago....with the promise about how easy they are to grow. Okay...I am not exactly known for my green thumb, my plants are alive...but I wouldn't say they are thriving...hahah. Frankly...I'm happy when I keep them alive. And.... when I manage to get them to bloom...I love it! I see these plants  all over town and they all seem to be covered with flowers this time of year...so I always wondered what I needed to do to make MINE bloom. I moved mine out off the porch so the butterflies could help it along...and I don't know if it was the extra fertilizer I gave it...or the butterflies...or both...but I finally got some flowers!

So naturally...I had to keep pictures of it's progress...

I get so excited every morning when I go out to check the progress. It's slower than other plants I have....but that's ok...hahah

petals are pretty from the back side too

Speaking of progress...John is doing well after his shoulder surgery Tuesday, July 1st. He has been hurting for a while...but lived with it until recently when anytime he worked he was in real pain afterwards. When it gets to the point that you can't do the things you enjoy (fish, surf, SLEEP) or the things you have to do...WORK! it's time to get it repaired. Fortunately a friend of ours is an orthopaedic
surgeon who's specialty is hands/shoulders. John's done work for Carlos (& Kiele), our kids are the same age, we used to car pool with them, etc...and John and Carlos are two of a kind when it comes to competitive sports; and the wear and tear that comes with them!
Once the Dr got in to the surgery...he found a little more than the MRI had shown. A rotator cuff tear, bicep tear, labrum tear and two bone spurs. (No wonder it was hurting him so much!) So...now the healing begins. No lifting, or anything for at least 6 weeks. Then therapy starts. Right now...just table slides and keeping it in a sling. John wasn't crazy about the nerve block...kind of freaked him out a little having no feeling in that arm/hand.

one day after surgery...checking on job he's been working on...backsplash was one of the last things he did before surgery

When it wore off...he commented..."I remember this pain (had shoulder done once before...not as extensive). He was reluctant to take percoset...doesn't like the way it makes him feel...but did end up taking it the first two days. Now...he's trying his best to use other pain medication...not quite as strong...and so far it seems to be working out okay. Sleep has been hard to come by...first night he had to stay elevated...and even now, if he doesn't get situated just right...it's not comfortable. Last night I heard noise...checked the clock...3:30 am or so...so I knew he wasn't sleeping too well...hahah Then I smelled the coffee...definitely not a good sign. He had some coffee...watched tv, got a new ice pack...and dozed off a little...but woke up again around 5am. He ran some errands (I went to work). When he got home...he went in to lie down and he was out! He was sooooo happy to get some real sleep for a couple of hours. Got up...then fell back asleep until I got home just after 2:30pm. So...he is feeling a lot better this evening. Slooooowly getting back to (kind of ) normal.

The weather has been kind of rainy...usually we start off clear and thunderstorms start late afternoon. The first two days after surgery...it was cloudy and rainy off and on...perfect weather for staying inside and taking it easy.
So far so good for John...we'll update as time moves on.

Time for some random observations...

 Summer programs have been going well so far...I have had a larger than average group every week...and we've been having fun. This past week we had stories about.....

DINOSAURS...and then some of the kids posed for me afterwards in their newly created masks. They were having a good time with those masks...there was lots of roaring going on.
We've also had great turnout for our afternoon programs. The first week we had over 100...second just a little smaller crowd...and last week we had every one's favorite "Jiggleman" so the room was packed.

Jiggleman tossing rings onto his "assistant"

Now...for my random observations....
Some of our parents make me scratch my head and wonder what they are thinking????
We have one mom who attends my Story time and also Toddler Time with Dianne. However...she is foreign and while she speaks English (probably better than some Americans...sad to say) I'm not sure if her two children do. I haven't ever heard them speak...and they don't seem to understand me when I ask them to sit down so everyone can see, scoot back, etc. Little girl (still not sure what her name is) appears to be 3 1/2-4 yrs old. Usually they come in (late) and she walks right up to the front of the room and stares at me...while I'm trying to read to the rest of the group. (here's where it would be great if Mom would call her back to sit down...unfortunately she's usually wrestling with her son( 2- 1/2 ? )When he doesn't get his way he pitches a fit...screams, kicks etc....which makes for an interesting time trying to keep everyone Else's attention. I have asked her to please take him out if he gets restless and then try again...so far the only thing she has done is come late...so at least when they come they don't disrupt the entire program...but she  really wants them to do the crafts we have prepared. (usually they come in and kids immediately head to the table and start grabbing things...) I understand she wants to participate, and I appreciate her tenacity...but it is frustrating for the rest of us! I am working out a new speech in my head for next time she comes...don't want to be mean...but come on! She tends to hang around for quite a while afterwards too...so her son has managed to annoy many of our patrons too. Don't get me wrong...our library is not QUIET by any means...but there are limits!
I think the mothers are used to a certain level of noise at home and they all sit down and chat and forget/don't realize how noisy their kids are getting. When they over stay their welcome...hahah the kids start running around and after one or more of the staff ask them to keep it down the moms are surprised. Huh? Oh they are too noisy??? Etc...it's crazy sometimes.
Next gripe...we ask parent to pre-register for some of our programs. some are very good about it...but it NEVER fails...the day of a craft program the phone is ringing off the hook 30-60 minutes before start time with people wanting to PRE register. Dianne usually lets them come...but every once in a while there are some very disappointed kids  who are left out because no one called ahead to sign up. Certain projects require specific materials. we also have a large number of pre schoolers who are ...as the Moms tell us "my child is very bright"....hahahah I am tempted to say "Oh another genius!"hahaha  You know...craft is for 1st grade and up...but "my 4 yr old is very bright". I'm sure she/he is...but I hope you will be able to help him/her because he/she might get frustrated trying to do this craft; which is intended for older children. On the other hand...we try to plan programs for teens (at boss's suggestion...we have learned in 12 yrs...teens in our area just don't seem interested) and guess who tries to sigh up...younger kids (they're very bright) or retirees...hahah just who teens want to spend their summer afternoons with! hahahah (that's a bad sentence...but you know what I mean)
 Lastly...I know the parentsmostly moms don't want to miss out on any of the fun...but sometimes the kids just really aren't interested. Mom might be really excited about the magician, puppets, performer,_________ but the little ones maybe not so much. Last week the room was packed full of people...all ages from grandparents to babies and that can be intimidating for shy children. Some parents know their kids well enough to figure this out...but it's hard to see parents insisting that the kids will have
fun, when the kids clearly are not! We had a few little ones crying at Jiggleman...it was too loud and there were  too many people...not because he was doing anything scary. Only one left...the others stayed...and while the little ones calmed down...they weren't really enjoying  themselves. It's like waiting in line at Disney World or some other park...I HATE when people take kids on roller coasters when they REALLY, REALLY don't want to go. I have been tempted to volunteer to sit out the ride with the kid...but since I am a complete stranger...I'm not sure that would help...hahah.  I must admit we did talk Meredith (I think) into going on Thunder Mountain Railroad once...she was scared...but I assured her I don't really like roller coasters...but that one wasn't too scary...She went on it...she cried...I (we all) felt badly...but we did get extra fast passes out of the deal. Park employee saw her tears and made sure we had passes to go on something else that we knew she would like. That helped. And it's true...that's about the only roller coaster I can handle any more...it's not that they make me sick...and I'm not sure scared is the right word...I think they just make me anxious and it's not a fun feeling!...so WHY GO ON IT...I have nothing to prove to anyone!
(like black diamond slopes when we ski...I might get down it...but it sure won't be fun!...and it will take a lot longer than it would if you know what you are doing!)

 So, as you can tell, we have a lot of fun, but sometimes it's a little frustrating! But I do love working with the kids...moms and all.   :)

Off to the race(s)

I'm not really a big horse racing fan...just never paid much attention to it....but when Gayle invited us to a party to watch the Belmont Stakes...I certainly wasn't going to pass it up!!! Food, friends and fun...why not???

some people wore hats...

Gayle had a few signature cocktail recipes and ingredients on hand...but I passed on them. Back in "the day" I drank my share of cocktails...but now they mostly just give me a headache. I stuck with my tried and true Mimosas.
We had fun playing corn hole....My team lost  our first match, but came back to win on the rematch. **Would have gone for the tie-breaker...but a light rain started...and it was almost race time anyway.

First we had to take turns posing for the fun pictures.

We all put in a few dollars and then picked numbers to determine which horse we were" betting" on. I knew California Chrome was racing and trying for the triple crown...but other than that I wasn't up to date on the horse's actual chances. As it turns out...John drew a number for me...and we lucked out and got the winner Tonalist!
I barely even watched the race...and had no idea "my" horse had won...but it was fun...hahah
 I did read the book  Seabiscuit  by Laura Hillenbrand a few years back. Learned a lot about horse racing that I never knew. It was a great book. Learned that it is a tough job to be a jockey; all the injuries etc...sounded miserable; but the whole book was quite interesting. By the way... It's a great book on CD if you're ever taking a road trip! You won't want to stop! hahaha even when you know the outcome of the race...listening to it being read is exciting!
After the race...we decided t have our own "race. We wrote out numbers 1 through 6 on the back of the drink stirrers that Gayle had on hand for the party. Similar to a game we played years ago on a cruise ship (although ours was definitely a low budget version...hahah) the "Announcer" either rolls dice...or in our case...picked a number. That horse advanced one spot. The game continued until one horse made it to the finish line. We played twice...(they all thought I was a little nuts slightly drunken former Recreation Major but we did laugh and have fun. The first "race" was a blow out...Joey was several lengths ahead of the rest of us...lucky number 5! One girl never got out of the "gate" hahaha. The second "race" had several lead changes...and it was a little closer...but the "lead" horse won.

On a completely different note....our summer programs are off to a great start. Last week I had a big crowd (20! plus parents and babies) for StoryTime and later that same day over 100 showed up for "The Great Gadzooks". This week we had a little smaller...but still nice crowd for "YeeHaw Bob"; and this morning I had 19 kids plus parents and babies for our Father's Day stories and craft. I got them all riled up when we acted out "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". The kids loved it....but they were loud and crazy. At least we had a craft and another story after that to calm them down a little...hahah I read them Crocodaddy, A Wild Father's Day, The Daddy Book, and Mister Seahorse. One little boy said afterwards..."Thanks for the awesome stories." Next week we have Jiggleman..who ALWAYS draws a BIG BIG crowd...so it will be interesting.............................................................................................................................................and fun!

Good-bye and Hello

Recently attended a good-bye party for my friend Patti P. We worked together at the Meadowlane Library back in 1980. Actually, when I first graduated from UF I worked for the Brevard County Recreation Dept. At one point I hired Patti's husband, Barry. We worked together for about a year or so; then I decided it was time for a change.when Barry asked me one day "How's it going" and I launched into a 1/2 hour complaint...I knew it was time to move on...hahah
I wasn't sure what I was going to do next...Barry told me to go talk to Patti at the library (also Brevard County) because she was hiring a Children's Librarian. Now you might wonder how a Recreation degree would get you a job at the library?????but actually I had taken classes in planning programs, organizing events, etc...so it wasn't as big a stretch as you'd think. I took his advice...she interviewed and hired me...and the rest is history............... I did leave after I had Brenna, but returned to work for Patti several more times over the years. Filled in for people on leave a couple of times, then ended up back at DeGroodt Library for about 1 1/2 yrs back in 2003-4; until a position opened up at Melbourne Beach. (MB 10 minutes away-DeGroodt-45 minutes depending on traffic). We always had fun working together. Patti was a good boss...organized, fair and firm when she needed to  be. She's retired now and off to another county to live closer to her family.
It was Hello! to Martha and Tony who were in Orlando last Friday for the day. ON their way to a meeting in Barbados...had one day/one night in Orlando. John and I drove over Friday morning. John got a room at the Shingle Creek Resort. We had been talking about going there with some friends...so John decided this was a good time to check it out. They had a great deal on a room that included golf for 4. Perfect! We drove over and picked up Martha and Tony at the airport Hyatt...and went to check out the Shingle Creek resort.

the place is huge!

The view from our room...three pools...this one

The lap pool and a "quiet" pool.

When we arrived they told us they had a lot of people checking in that day...we didn't see that many people in the morning...but when we came back from golf...they were all checking in.

I bet these Sandhill Cranes drive the maintenance guys crazy...hahah

We ended up behind a group of golfers...and the last team (ahead of us) was particularly bad....I'm no expert...but these guys & girl were pretty bad. The first guy took three swings before he connected on the first tee...I think it went downhill from there...hahah It was a little frustrating...we kept catching up to them...then teams behind us were getting backed up. Oh well...John was taking it kind of easy because of his shoulder...so maybe it worked out after all. Unfortunately when we finished the 7th hole...a storm was moving in and the radar detected lightning in the aera. We got a message on our computer screen (in the cart) saying the was a weather alert...return to the clubhouse...this was not optional. Interesting...we didn't see the lightning...but if they detect in within 15 miles...they stop play; wait 25 minutes and start again if it's clear. We waited a bit...then decided to call it quits. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon...so we John figured by the time we got Martha and Tony back to their hotel, etc...we would still be able to beat the Friday evening traffic. So...we didn't spend as much time with Martha and Tony as we had expected...but we did enjoy a little golf and a nice lunch. When we got back to our hotel ...we noticed an increase in the activity/noise level hahah. There apparently was a big Lacrosse tournament that weekend, somewhere nearby...because we saw several hundred kids with lacrosse nets, parents, etc, everywhere! In the pools, on the grounds, in the lobby...it was crazy! But they were having a blast. Later when we ate in the dining room down stairs...we saw more...hahah The parents all seemed to be out near the pool bar... and the kids were traveling around in packs of 10-15. No one really got out of hand...but it was fun to watch the goings on. Mostly the younger kids...14 and under is my guess. We figured the older kids (mostly boys) were" too cool" to be running around down by the pool with the parents and the younger kids...hahah It must've been a big tournament!

we sat outside that evening- in the kind of cool air (after a hot, humid day) and watched everyone. Lots of teams from Miami area, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Port St Lucie area.

posing for some cheesy shots...hahah

It was a nice day trip. The rates were very reasonable, golf course wasn't in great shape...but nice enough. (recent routine maintenance work...you've got to do it sometime) Definitely worth going back again.
Now it's back to reality...hahah.... after two weeks in a row with days off.