I took 190 photos on our trip to New York (although a dozen or so were sequences meant for panoramic stitching later on). With the addition of photos I copied from my sister's camera, we came back with over 200. Here are 42 of them.

Labels: photos, vacation

On Saturday we visited Northport. First we briefly stopped by Northport High School where Patty and I first met. (No, we never dated back then.) Then we had lunch at Shipwreck Diner on Main Street and walked around the docks and Northport Village Park.

Our trip to Northport made us a bit late for our plans for the rest of the day. We met up with my fraternity brothers, Flintstone (Mike) and Steve in Port Jefferson. I pledged with Flintstone in 1991 and we have 1001 great stories. Steve pledged in 1992, we were roommates our senior year, and he was the best man at my wedding in 1997. The last time I saw either of them was when I traveled up for homecoming in 2003, so it's been five years - and we didn't skip a beat. It was immediately like old times like we had seen each other just last week. Aside from some gray hairs, the boys haven't really changed much.

All the wives and all the kids were all there. Patty's known Flintstone and Steve as long as I have but she didn't go to homecoming in 2003 so she hadn't seen them since Maegan was one year old in 1999 (aside from a few minutes at my dad's funeral). Maegan's now 10, and all the other kids were 4 or younger. Maegan spent hours playing with the kids and pulling them around in a wagon. It was great to see all of our kids playing together but who'd-a-thunk this scene 16 years ago.

Back in the day we wouldn't have even gone out before 9:30pm, but with wives and kids and just being older (out of shape, not wiser) 9:30pm was now staying out late, so we had to head back to Queens. It was great to hang out again, even while having to watch the kids. I hope we don't go another five years before doing it again.

Labels: Alpha_Sigma_Phi, friends, New_York, vacation

On Friday we went into the city and acted like tourists. We went to South Street Seaport with my sister Amy. We enjoyed walking around Pier 17 and got great photos of the Brooklyn Bridge but we were completely disappointed to discover that the historic Fulton Fish Market is now just one big Gap store. Apparently Fulton Fish Market moved to The Bronx in 2005 but it never crossed our mind that it could not be there after 188 years. That's like Quincy Market leaving Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Then we hopped on the Circle Line Liberty Zephyr for a boat tour around lower Manhattan. The one-hour tour brought us under the Brooklyn Bridge (which currently has a cool waterfall beneath it), around Battery Park, and past Ellis Island. Then we came up on what Maegan's been wanting to see her whole life: The Statue of Liberty. Phenomenal views of the statue from the harbor, even better than visiting the island (especially since you can't go inside anymore).

Labels: New_York, vacation

I'm back in New York, Queens to be precise. We flew in to LaGuardia this morning. We had nothing in particular planned for today, but the most exciting moment of our trip so far was when my mom picked us up from the airport. As I was about to put our luggage in the car, I looked up and saw the Google Street View car right next to us! I recognized it immediately and started waving at the car. Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to find myself waving at LaGuardia airport in the next Google Street View update.

Labels: cool, New_York, vacation

On the trip down to Florida Darah fell asleep the moment we took off and stayed asleep nearly the entire flight. On the trip back to Charlotte Darah was wide awake the whole time, only to fall asleep the moment we touched down. Otherwise the flight home today was uneventful.

Also, when we got home we immediately found that Boomer was noticeably fatter. Patty told the various people who where kind enough to stop in to feed Boomer and let him out while we were gone, to use the measuring cup that we left inside the bag of dog food. But she apparently never mentioned to only fill the cup up to the marked line. We figure he was probably eating nearly twice as much as normal for the past five days. In any case, Boomer was ecstatic to see us return.

Labels: vacation

Darah was up crying nearly the entire night, which meant that Patty and I were up nearly the entire night. Not a fun night. First thing in the morning we took Darah to an urgent care, the same one I went to last year. She was in and out in no time but we didn't learn anything new. The doctor suspected exactly what we already suspected; that Darah must have caught a virus at the airport or in the airplane on Saturday, and that we'd just have to wait it out.

I didn't want Maegan to have to sit around the house on her vacation so my mom and I took her out for a while while Patty stayed in the house with Darah. We took Maegan to find a letterbox, and we planted one of our own (a good hiding spot if I do say so myself). At night we watched Disney's Enchanted and then it was another night awake with a sick baby.

Labels: Florida, vacation

On Tuesday we went to City Place in West Palm Beach. We ate lunch at Bruzzi's and for the third straight time, a waiter asked if I wanted diet coke or regular coke (as I ordered). Should I be getting a hint here?

In the afternoon I took Maegan to play miniature golf at Adventure Mini-Golf in Lake Worth. While we were out I got a phone call from Patty telling me that Darah was sick with a fever. We needed to adjust any plans we had for the rest of our vacation. Coincidentally, even though it wasn't me this time, this now continues the streak of somebody in the family getting sick while visiting other family.

In the evening I had to go out to the pharmacy to get medicine for Darah. On my way out (for the second time because I picked up the wrong medicine the first time) I noticed a large animal near a corner in my mother's retirement community. It was dark but it looked like a cat, but it was much larger than our dog Boomer. Then when I stopped it jumped through some bushes and into somebody's back yard, and I could tell from the quick fluid motion that it was definitely some sort of cat, possibly a bobcat, which are fairly common at the nearby Wakodahatchee Wetlands. The next morning we were watching the news and they had a story on bobcats that were spotted in Boynton Beach last night. It was a bobcat that I saw wondering the neighborhood.

Labels: Florida, vacation

On Sunday I took Maegan swimming again. This time I went swimming too, and learned two painful lessons. #1 is that when you're losing your hair (like I am), you have to protect the top of your head from the sun. #2 is that you shouldn't close your eyes when trying to pick up objects from the bottom of the pool. I came back from swimming with a sunburned scalp and a bruised bridge of my nose.

In the afternoon we traveled north to Palm Beach Gardens so that Patty could visit her Great Aunt Sandi. I've known Patty for 19 years now and never met either of her great aunts. We had a nice time talking about family, eating dinner, and browsing through photographs.

Labels: family, Florida, vacation

We're on vacation right now in Florida, visiting my mom in Boynton Beach. We flew out early yesterday morning. Because the entire city of Charlotte has the same spring break we knew the airport would be an absolute mess, and it was. Last year we couldn't even get on the first shuttle bus to bring us from long-term parking over to the terminal because it was too full, and cut it a little close to making our flight. This year we arrived extra early, leaving the house at 6am for a 9:30 flight. Again the bus filled up at the first stop but luckily we were among the first to get on. The the line at check-in was literally stretched from one end of the airport to the opposite end, but I will say that US Air kept it moving. Again, because we got there so early we were okay. Several different times I overheard conversations from strangers just arriving to the terminal, seeing the line, and saying to their spouse "I told you we should have left earlier!"

The flight began a little bumpy due to bad weather in Charlotte, but was smooth the rest of the way - except for a seriously annoying kid behind me who kept kicking my seat and pushing on his tray table. I kept pushing back, eventually giving his feet a swift elbow through my seat back, and this little brat had the naive nerve to complain to his mom that I kept pushing his seat. Before the flight I had made a deal with Maegan that she could have my window seat for the 2nd half of the flight. I warned Maegan about the kid but she still wanted that window seat. As that brat kept kicking and pushing, Maegan became as thoroughly annoyed as I was. I told her to sit back in her chair hard next time he did it. When he did, Maegan didn't hold back at all, flying back in her chair. I thought the seat would rip out of the floor she did it so hard. Good girl.

Most of the afternoon was minor shopping for baby supplies and we had to pick up a crib for Darah to sleep in. I took Maegan to the pool for a quick swim before dinner but I didn't bring my bathing suit. Too bad, the water could not have been a more perfect temperature. Then dinner at a restaurant and Jenga before the kids went to sleep. And that was day one.

P.S. Patty's father is staying at our house, our dog is at home, and the neighbor knows we're in Florida too, so criminals can just forget about targeting our house while we're in Florida.

Labels: Florida, vacation

Patty and the girls went to the coast this past weekend but I didn't go with them. I have plenty of vacation days remaining but I'm not allowed to use any of them during sweeps, and it would be pointless to spend 4 ½ hours driving to the coast on Saturday, only to have to turn right around and drive back 4 ½ hours the very next day - especially with a baby. So I stayed home so that they could all stay at the beach longer.

They all went with her twin sister and her family to Sunset Beach, NC. The 4 ½ hour trek there ended up taking 9, and Patty and Darah came back yesterday having never actually seen the beach. Maegan stayed behind with her aunt, uncle, and cousins and should be back tomorrow. While she was away she turned 9 years old, which marks the first time that I wasn't with her on her birthday.

Labels: Maegan, Patty, vacation

I'm in warm sunny Florida yet late last night I suddenly began to feel freezing. I piled on several heavy blankets and yet I was literally shivering. Couldn't sleep at all and I felt even worse in the morning, feeling totally drained of all my energy.

This is a total repeat of the last time I took a long-distance vacation to visit my family. Just before New Year we all traveled to visit my sister Amy in Washington and on the second night Maegan and I became violently ill. This time I'm not nauseas and Maegan is fine, but what's the deal with me getting sick while visiting family. This just sucks.

I didn't want Maegan to just sit around the house on her spring break vacation so my mom took Maegan miniature golfing without me. After they got back I went to the urgent care doctor. I tested negative for the flu, but that's still what it feels like.

Note: This post was uploaded on 4/13/07

Labels: family, Florida, vacation

Today Maegan, my mom, and I went to the Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. We took a really nice stroll around a large pond, immaculately maintained in traditional Japanese style. Bamoo structures, bonsai trees, rock gardens, and a waterfall. Maegan even got to feed the nearly 100 coy. We got lots of great photos and I'll upload them to the photo album when I get a chance.

Note: This post was uploaded on 4/13/07

Labels: family, Florida, Maegan, vacation

Greetings from Florida. I'm currently on vacation visiting my mother in Florida. Maegan is with me but Patty stayed in Charlotte. We got our tickets back in December under the assumption that Patty wouldn't be able to fly in her third trimester. Within the past week the doctor gave Patty clearance to fly but now a last moment single ticket would cost over $600 (and not even to the same airport).

Maegan has enjoyed swimming in the pool every day, just like ever year. Today we went to the beach. We normally go to Delray Beach but this time we traveled 20 miles to go to Deerfield Beach. Much nicer. It was much more crowded, with thousands of people as far as you can see just like those oldtime photos of Coney Island - but that was actually nice because it had almost a fair-like atmosphere. Maegan ventured waist deep into the ocean and loved jumping into the big waves as they crashed ashore.

Between swimming, the beach, and other activities, Grandma also bought Maegan both Happy Feet and Charlotte's Web on DVD so we all watched those two movies the past couple of nights. I'll try to write more before I get back but this 26k modem is just killing me.

Labels: family, Florida, Maegan, vacation

Friday morning my weekend plans were to build shelves and organize the playroom. Friday afternoon Patty got a call from her mom and Doug, inviting us to join them at Wild Dunes resort at Isle of Palms for the weekend. We're not at all the kind of people to hop in the car and take an impromptu trip to the beach, but there we were throwing clothes in a bag and leaving for the South Carolina coast on a whim at 8:00pm. We don't travel much other than to Florida on spring break but this was now our third trip in the past month, following Washington last week and Savannah/Tybee in December.

The drive was treacherous, driving through some of the heaviest downpours I've seen in years. At times I was going 20 miles per hour on an interstate with a limit of 70, and I was in the left lane passing everybody else. (Impromptu trip or not, I knew the weather forecast and applied some Rain X just before we left.) We arrived around midnight.

The next day was the warmest January 6th on record. 76° in the middle of winter, but that was the temperature in the shade. It was bright and sunny all day and it felt like the mid 80's! We walked along the beach in shorts and t-shirts and Maegan waded up to her knees in the Atlantic Ocean. We went back to the beach in the afternoon at low-tide and walked far out on to a sand bar. Despite growing up on an island I had never seen live starfish in the wild, and there were hundreds. And I've never seen a living sand dollar and there were thousands, everywhere you looked in the low tide. We collected about a dozen sand dollars but only when we found ones which were already dead. And of course there were great shells too. Maegan loved it.

Labels: vacation

We just returned from our family vacation trip to Washington, DC to see my sister Amy. Amy visits us in Charlotte at least every year but we hadn't traveled to see her in DC in three years. We drove the 420 miles from Charlotte to Washington on Thursday, taking the slightly longer but much more scenic route through the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia. After seven and a half hours of driving we didn't feel like going out so we rented the 3rd Harry Potter movie (Prisoner of Azkaban). Maegan's been into Harry Potter recently and it was a good thing that we saw it with my sister, since she actually read the book and was able to explain things to us when we became confused.

The next day we went to the National Zoo (including a ride on the Metro for Maegan) and got to see the rare Giant Pandas. Patty didn't want to over-exert herself so in the afternoon Maegan, Amy, and I went to the National Museum of Natural History while Patty rested at the apartment. There we saw full-size dinosaur fossils, as well as the famed Hope Diamond. After another full day we decided to rent the 4th Harry Potter movie (Goblet of Fire), and my sister once again explained all the details that were missing from the book.

So far it had been a nice family vacation. The next day we planned on driving to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Then suddenly at one o'clock in the morning those plans ended as Patty and I were awaken by Maegan "getting sick". Then a few hours later I joined Maegan in "getting sick". Maegan and I continued to "get sick" repeatedly all night long. I soon developed a fever, severe chills, and aching muscles, but thankfully Maegan never showed those symptoms. Poor Patty and Amy stayed up all night with the two of us, as well as the entire next day. In total, I didn't move from that one bedroom apartment for over 40 hours, until it was time to leave to come home on New Years Eve. So we ended up taking several of our vacation days traveling a total of 15 hours and 840 miles by car just to spend 3/4 of a day sightseeing followed by 2 days of feeling like hell and exposing Patty and Amy to whatever Maegan and I had.

Labels: family, Maegan, Patty, vacation, Washington_DC

Before driving back to Charlotte we made a stop at Boone Hall Plantation. The drive up had the mile-long row of big, hundred-year-old oak trees just like you expect on a typical plantation in the deep-south. We toured the main house which was very nice and interesting but we were a bit disappointed to find out that although the plantation was over 300 years old, the house was actually built around 1930. After the tour we watched a little play and then walked over to the slave cabins. One of the cabins featured an excellent presentation on Gullah culture. At the end, the woman giving the presentation asked the audience for volunteers for a song called "Ranky Tanky". Patty thought it would be funny to point towards me but the woman said that she always picks the person who does the pointing rather than the person they're pointing to so Patty got dragged up on stage instead.

[Note: This blog entry was post-dated after we returned]

Labels: Charleston, family, Maegan, Patty, vacation

Today was our only full day in Charleston. Almost everything is closed on a Sunday morning in "The Holy City" but luckily we were able to take an early guided tour of the city. We got to see all the historic houses and sites like The Battery, Rainbow Row and more. Kudos to an excellent tour guide at Gray Line Tours.

After lunch we headed to the South Carolina Aquarium. We tried to take Maegan to the aquarium in Charleston a few years ago but were surprised to find a three hour line to get in due to the fact that tickets were only $1 for Community Appreciation Day, an event they failed to publicize ahead of time on their website. After a three and a half hour trip to Charleston we had to turn around and head back home empty handed. This time I called ahead of time to double check that the same thing wasn't going to happen again. The staff told me that although there was a festival that day in the adjacent park, there would be no special discounts that would create a similar situation to the experience we had a few years ago. We got to the aquarium at exactly 2:00pm and got on a line of about 40 people. We then discovered that starting at exactly 2:00pm they were offering tickets to the aquarium for just $1. The aquarium staff totally lied to me! By the time we got to the beginning of the line 10 minutes later, the line was several hundred people long, stretching all the way down the street in a de ja vu of our last attempt to go to the aquarium, but we got lucky by getting there just at the perfect moment to save us from paying an extra $70. Long story short, the aquarium was very nice.

Later that evening we met up with some relatives of mine who live in Charleston. My second cousin, Norman, is a professor at the College of Charleston. Being only three and a half hours away from Charlotte makes him my closest relative (geographically), however I don't think we've ever met before. We had a nice dinner on the waterfront in nearby Mount Pleasant. Norman, my mother, my sister, and I discussed family connections and genealogy research. Maegan spent half of dinner trading making-faces with her one of her new cousins. Until this weekend Maegan only knew of one cousin on my side of the family but she now knows three more. I enjoyed meeting family I didn't know I had and we plan on getting together again in the future.

[Note: This blog entry was post-dated after we returned]

Labels: Charleston, family, Maegan, Patty, vacation

We left early this morning for a mini-vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, a city with well over 300 years of history. My mother flew in from New York City and my sister flew in from Washington, D.C. to join us.

Our first stop was Fort Sumter, sight of the first shots of the Civil War in 1861. We took a ferry over to the island fortress. It was very interesting and although the fort isn't very large, I wish they gave us more than an hour to look around. After the tour we checked in to our hotel and walked just a couple of blocks to Market Street in the historic district.

[Note: This blog entry was post-dated after we returned]

Labels: Charleston, family, Maegan, Patty, vacation

Once in a while I stop in to let everyone know I'm still here. Earlier this month we all went to Florida. It was great. Lately I've been working on my newest website, The Dugout. Also, softball season begins next week. I'm sure other stuff is going on but I can't think of it right now. I promise that after I revise my website this summer, it'll get updated more regularly.

*^{The blog entry above was originally posted in March of 2002, but was just re-posted from backup files in 2007. Despite the promise above to regularly update the website, this is apparently the last time I posted to my blog until 15 months later.}

Labels: blogging, Florida, vacation, webmaster

Patty and I were on vacation in Florida last week visiting my mom. It was great. We went to a spring training baseball game between the Mets and Cardinal, went to the zoo, the beach, and went swimming several times.

After returning, I finished up and launched a new website. It's been a couple of months of work, and it's only 90% done, but it's ready for the public. Check it out at www.CharlotteMLB.com.

Labels: baseball, Florida, vacation, webmaster

Today is our 4th Anniversary. Patty and I never had a honeymoon, so for our 5th Anniversary (one year from today) we plan on going on our belated honeymoon. Disneyworld, Las Vegas, and Mexico have been mentioned (in that order). Maegan doesn't know what Disneyworld is yet, but if we went there, someday soon she would be pissed off for going without her.

Speaking of trips, yesterday I finally bought airline and baseball tickets, thereby finalizing our planned trip to Florida. Once again, we'll be going to a Mets spring training game (3rd year). This year we'll save the long drive to Port St. Lucie and see them play in Jupiter.

Labels: baseball, vacation