Welcome to Kamp

Springsteen on back to back nights.
Now I am in Amsterdam visiting a cruise ship and staying out of trouble.  It is a family friendly place though. It really is.

The kids are into "cooking" now. They might have learned this from camp. I didn't ask them as they were taking fruits out of the fridge to wash them. I wanted to observe what was going on. They washed all different kinds of fruit we had--strawberries, raspberries, grapes and blueberries. Nothing needed to be chopped. Then they got a bowl and mixed it all up. Then all three smiled and paraded around together while MJ held the bowl. He asked me, "Dad, do you want to try our 'family' salad?" What a dish!

I've run out in the fog a handful of times this summer and I am amazed that people don't follow the rules. Important things like, turning on your navigation lights, blowing your horn once when you're passing to starboard/twice to port, and slowing down in the fog. It's not surprising that boating accidents happen.

I am amazed that I saw a brand new million dollar motor yacht go over--make that cruise over the submerged section of North Jetty of Barnegate Bay last weekend. I was utterly stunned and was ready to rescue them if necessary. I understand that a submerged jetty can be deep enough to cross on high tide--but you never know. You just don't.

Tonight was so much better than I had anticipated. Our old church, St. A's, was having its annual festival--but the weather wasn't looking so good as I hauled up the Hudson back to Camp Capio. The clouds were dark and ominous--and I was thinking about back up plans and how to break the news to the kids.

But all my agita was for naught. It was bright and sunny over our home town, and it was actually pleasant weather wise. It wasn't humid. So as soon as Umma came home, we packed the minivan and went down to the festival, dreaming about zeppolli, rides. cheezy games and talking to the Monsenior.

As soon as we got there, we bumped into one of CA's best friends, I. I's dad, it turns out, was the ER doctor that took care of me when I had pneumonia. He recognized me--and we talked about it for the rest of the night. Moreover, he is into striped bass fishing (he has a boat next door to ours); he's into mountain biking (though I've not done that in a while). He was so glad that I was ok--he thought the worst he admitted to me. He confessed that he was baffled that a healthy looking person, had come down with my symptoms so rapidly. He thought that they were going to do more tests and find cancer. Amazing isn't it?

He actually might be right--who knows? who but the Man upstairs knows? but I'm amazed that this all transpired in a "random" summer night right down our street. And I can't wait to go biking and fishing with my doctor.

MJ is a front runner. He said the other day, "Dad, I want to go to a Mets game."

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He is also a modest fisherman (first ever).  My dad asked him if he caught anything when we went out. MJ whispered in his ear, "Seaweed."

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MJ is not modest when he plays baseball--pretends to play baseball.  He makes me sit in the stands while he bats, tells me to say , "Crack!" And clap and cheer when he circles the bases after hitting a homer.

MJ also commands me to yell "Hip Hip Matthew!" This is instead of "Jorge!!!!" of course.

He "scolded" me when I tried to pitch him a nerf football. "Dad, football hasn't started yet!"

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His taste in music needs refining. "Dad, are you listening to Bruce (Springsteen) again?  After slight pause, "I guess I would  like to see the Wiggles again." We are on Aug 16th-our third time in as many years-but this will be NC's first I think!

The kids are growing up. Everyday something hilarious, serious, heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking occurs. Though I see them everyday, how this all happens in such a short time frame (e.g. before or after work) is a wonderment. I don't take my time with them forgranted.

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We got the kids real beds! It's about time--but CA, MJ and NC, stop growing up! How does CA get a queen sized bed? I didn't get one until I got married!

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Speaking of forgranted, that word can sum up my health. Time to change my lifestyle, before life changes my style.

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Yet another person in our yacht club recommended Block Island as a destination for our boat. I've told this to M at least 100x. Awesome island---and it would be a fun 6 hour tour. And you all think that men that don't listen.

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The restaurant, Striped Bass, in Tarrytown is ok. But their outdoor grill is very good. I had their Lobster roll, some beer and key lime pie. Very tasty.

Docking the ML was a piece of cake. In front of 100 people, I deftly placed her between two boats with three kids while we waited for M to arrive by train. People were impressed. I was impressed but nervous inside--there was a slight crosswind that was blowing me off the dock. And I was sweating! It was so hot. But I did it. Too bad, I put her in the pump out station (this is where you clean out your toilet.) So I had to move her over one finger, which was a piece of cake.

I am definitely getting old. The last three weeks have been tiring.  I was always at work at 8am, and usually didn't leave until past 8 or 9pm, with a handful of 1am nights thrown in.  It didn't help that last weekend was really fun-but tiring since we woke up REALLY early to fish.

Work is fun-but so is hanging out with your family.  My brain really had to think-about 3 difficult companies, 2 of which are public and intellectually stimulating.  But I am spent.  I really am.

I will go to bed tonight and not wake up until some anklebiter does it for me. 

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Bruce is coming soon! And so is a trip to Holland.

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Days 2 through 4 down the Jersey shore were amazing. Besides reliving my youth, they were more importantly, educational.

We had so much fun in the end but took a few, scratch that, many risks out in the water that proves my theory that "Interesting" things happen to my college friend, G and I get together, especially when we boating. Last summer we hobbled home in the dark from the Atlantic on one engine in the ML.

Day 2 in the Joisey shore was one to remember. It was calm enough for us to go out to the Atlantic Ocean in the mini Leigh. And we did. The mini Leigh, all 17 feet of her (actually 16 feet 7 inches) is unsinkable but a pretty big wave smashed us, while we were drifting, and our motor wouldn't start. I figured that the big waves most likely stirred up water in the fuel tank. Normally, this isn't a big deal-you crank the motor and eventually it starts. But this wasn't normal-we were in the middle of the Barnegat Inlet, one of the most dangerous inlets on the East Coast with rocks on both sides, the potential for huge swells and a fair amount of traffic. Fortunately we drifted straight in the middle of the inlet where everyone, including the Coast Guard could see us. We got the motor started in less than 30 minutes. My prayers worked.

Day 3 at 4am was completely foggy-and despite the engine problem we had the day before, we did the same thing-headed to the Barnegat Inlet. Though I had GPS, you had to rely on "old skool" navigation. We got there-and didn't turn the motor off :)

But before we got there we saved a brand new $800,000 38 foot boat. She was grounded in 2-3 feet of water-just about 30 yards off the channel near bouy 33 We took her anchor, which took up the entire front of the mini Leigh carried into the channel, and let the other boat's winch drag her out. We also made some waves by driving around her to rock her off the shoal.

The afternoon of Day 3 was uneventful relatively speaking. In fact, it was a fun time on the water for me since I was 1st mate on G's boat.

There were birds everywhere-bluefish! I would cast out, hook one, and hand it to each kid and let them reel the fish in, and helped them boat it. I wished I had a headcam to capture every child ear to ear with the Barnegat Lighthouse in the background. D, G's youngest child, hooked one by himself-that was cool.

Day 4 was actually spent mostly off the water. We went to Point Pleasant and took the kids out to the amusement park. And we bumped into friends! How random. So G invited them back and we had a nice cookout and surprise B-day party for G's wife.

Day 5 didn't yield us any fish. But we saw dolphins playing in the Atlantic. Nobody could get their cameras out in time. And by the time we turned the boat around, they were gone. Pulling the mini Leigh out of the water was a challenge since I'm a newbie at trailering boats. But the folks at the C&C marine were helpful and actually dropped what they were doing to make sure the mini Leigh was safe on the trailer.

What a weekend. I am sad it is over.

Our first day on the Barnegat Bay was more than I had hoped for especially since things didn't start out well. Woke up bright and early in the morning and I realized that the trailer for the mini Leigh needed brake lights. Plus I had some work to finish up which allowed the girls to sleep in.

We were on our way by 10am, which isn't too bad. We got to the Joisey Shore mostly driving 60mph, which is pretty slow. I don't know how M does it. We quickly stopped at G's house to get the lay of the land. G and his family weren't expected until 10pm--they were picking up the kids from camp. So I dropped the mini Leigh in the water and we zipped over to Tices Shoal to see all the boats, who park there to lounge bayside or huff it over to the beach oceanside. it's quite easy actually and you can make a nice picnic out of it.

I wanted to do that but then we saw birds diving. We...errr...I had to go fishing. We caught lots of bluefish. They weren't that big--but they were everywhere and hungry-- making it easy. In no time we had 10 decent sized fish between 15-20 inches each. They were so fun to catch on 10lb test fishing line fastened to a light weight 7ft Fenwick spinning rod and Penn reel: pure joy.

M was done fishing and offered to drive the mini Leigh. She did very well--she stayed at the sides of the schools of fish within my casting distance. But M and MJ eventually got bored. They got tired of catching fish and made me leave though I was still willing to fish. "They'll be here tomorrow." M said.

But I know where CA gets her "there's a fish in my face" scream, from M, which we heard when I hauled her fish up. NC fell asleep on the seat, and everyone needed to potty. So we returned to our friend's house to grill them with lemon and butter. Didn't even drink beer or eat chips.

I still cant we LEFT all those bluefish behind--they were all over the place.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

is not like the other. And I am that-the other.  But is that such a bad thing? No.  Does it bother me? Nope, but I am saddened by my friends' and their kids' situation. But for me-it's not a big deal. Why? It is human nature to think the grass is greener on the other side.

But, it ain't.  The grass is green on both sides.  Haha! You thought I was going to say brown.

And no matter what your situation is: single, married or divorced, the man upstairs will lead you to greener pastures.

BTW, I think I love my wife! Hahaha!

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My kids r too smart. Can't fool them. Must re-learn old Jedi-mind tricks.

Me: U don't want candy.
MJ: Don't want candy.
NC: Move along, no candy here.
CA: Right! No candy here.

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Hit the BWG tonight. Brings back memories. The old stomping ground. Union Square, perfect summer night, old friends, new friends, good food, good dessrt.  And it's cheap.

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Pure juice and takeaway ice cream is not cheap. $28 for 2 people? But it is so good. Almost better than s_x.

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My OS is having a rough time.  But she'll grow as a result.

I came home the other day and MJ made this in skool. Yes, it's the Yankee Stadium. Oh he had help with the numbers, but it's still pretty cool. George shouldn't have spent $800 million or whatever he's spending to wreck a perfectly good stadium. (I know it's not perfect, but what really is? A few cans of playdoh is all you need.