Greenburgh Nature Center

On Veteran's Day we traveled to the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale. Even though I lived in Scarsdale for several years when I was a kid, I don't remember ever going to the Nature Center. Alexis and Ella really loved it. They have a manor house that has a few exhibits and also a whole little animal petting area upstairs. One of the employees was on hand to take out any of the animals that you'd like to see and touch up close. The kids got to pet a chinchilla, a ferret, a tortoise (who also roamed around on the floor for awhile), a corn snake, a tree frog, and some lizards.





In this video clip, the employee taunts one of the lizards so that his frill sticks up:



The wooded areas on the Nature Center property gave us the chance to have our very first family hike. We definitely enjoy outdoorsy activities, but living life in the big city doesn't always provide opportunities to do those sorts of things. The weather was gorgeous- the sun was shining, and although the temperature was only in the 40s, it wasn't windy and made for a beautiful fall hike. The girls loved to hear the leaves crunching under their feet. This was certainly an enormous amount of leaves for their eyes to see all in one place!


Many years ago, my grandfather took a photo of me on a hike in my winter coat with a walking stick in hand. I tried to sort of re-create that moment here. What do you think, Pop?

13 and Pat

My very first college roommate came to visit NYC and stayed with us while she was here (for the purpose of touring Columbia's Teacher's College). I got to hang out with her on Saturday night and catch up after many many years... we went to see 13 on Broadway- a cute show. It's a cast of 13 kids that are all 13 years old. The synopsis from the website is this:

When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done. The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won't talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the nastiest rumors. With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, "13" is a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.

I enjoyed it. High energy. Talented kids. And, c'mon. One of the main characters is named Kendra and there's a whole song called "Hey, Kendra". How could I not like it? I laughed pretty hard and really enjoyed seeing it with Pat, who just has a sunny disposition and is fun to be around. She's the kind of person who, even though I haven't seen her for years and years, we can just pick up right where we left off and have a grand old time together. I wish she'd choose to attend Columbia just so I could see her more often!

(In this photo you can sort of see the theater in the background)

8 Things

As many of you know Kendra just did an 8 things blog and I, being the jealous type, said something like, "hey, I want to do that". End result: Kendra "tagged" me and I will provide my "8's" with some minor changes. Apologies in advance for those who will inevitably roll their eyes and/or fall asleep during the reading of this post. Oh, for those of you who are sitting in a chair and falling asleep while reading this post, please follow these 2 simple instructions: 1) place lots of pillows and/or other soft items all around you (if these are unavailable ask a nearby and trustworthy person to "spot" you) and 2) do not sue me if you ignore step 1 and injure yourself by falling (literally) asleep. Moving on to the post:

8 CD's I am listening to these days (this is replacing TV shows since I watch what Kendra watches while usually only focusing on half of it- so I will do something more closely aligned with my obsessions)

Joe Henry- Civilians
This guy is a great producer, songwriter, Pasadena homeowner, etc. Usually when I listen to a song I can fathom what part of the brain that song comes from- even when it is a Dylan tune. With "Our Song" from this album I can't. It is too good, too red state and blue state, grandiose and simple. The guy found a way to turn a garage door string into some kind of metaphor for life's struggles, or something completely different every time I hear the song.

Ry Cooder- I, Flathead
Part of his "California Trilogy". I loved the first installment, "Chavez Ravine", didn't care for the second, I really like Flathead too. Warning: do not get this album unless you read about it first since it is much more of a concept album than St. Pepper's ever was.

Josh Ritter (Two for the price of one)- Animal Years, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
This fellow can write songs. He and I don't see totally eye to eye on all things theological and such but I love a lot of his songs. Highlights for me: Monster Ballads, Right Moves, Good Man

Robert Plant and Allison Krauss- Raising Sand
Spooky blues all over this album. Don't ask me what that means just listen to the album, you will understand. We got lucky and saw them on tour a few months back. They were great and the band was full of ringers.

Death Cab For Cutie (Two for the price of one)- Plans, but mostly Narrow Stairs
Fun band. We've posted about them before. Why is it that my favorite song always seems to be the shortest one on the album?

Feist- The Reminder
Fun listening, good songwriter, great arranger. I wish you could still see the youtube clip of her playing her song "1234" at the Grammy's accompanied only by her guitar and what seemed to be a polkaesque horn section.

Julian Bream- The Ultimate Guitar Collection
When I was 14 my brother K. (I don't pretend other people are groovy with their identities been seen here) gave me two tapes to help me expand my guitar horizons. Side one: Eric Johnson, side two: Frank Zappa, side 3: Andres Segovia, side 4: Julian Bream. All were mind blowing. Bream's recording of the Concierto de Aranjuez is still in my opinion the best. A great intro to Spanish/classical guitar

Bob Dylan- Too many CD's to mention, but mostly Tell Tale Signs Bootleg Vol. 8.
This has been my newest acquisition and I have been probably driving Kendra crazy with it. Say what you want about his voice, those albums from the 80's, or anything else, he's still better than whatever your listening to. Sorry to offend. I'm not compromising on that one.
Unfortunately this story of Tell Tale Signs is ending badly for me (story will be posted later).



8 favorite restaurants (in no particular order)
Lupa
Sosa Borella
In-N-Out
Bombay House
Grimaldi's
Phillipe's- A piece of LA history and home to one of my favorite memories of my dad and me.)
La Tolteca (Azusa, CA)- I miss Mexican Food.
The random teriyaki joint in Azuza- If you keep going north on Azuza Ave. past La Tolteca you run out of road. As you approach this point there is a teriyaki stand that I haven't been to in years (it always seems to get missed ever time I am in California). The best, by far, beef teriyaki I have ever had.

8 things I love about the fall
It's not 95 degrees with 95 percent humidity. (I mean, why own a shower when you are going to take one all day for two months with your own sweat? It's just a waste of refreshing water.)
The leaves... my homeland can't touch this.
Long pants...I look ridiculous in shorts.
Ice Cream goes on sale more often.
The rain at night.
People on my block start going to bed earlier when the temperature goes down.
The start of toast and hot chocolate season.
My hands don't swell up as much.

8 things on my wish list:
Kendra took care of most of the things that really matter to us so I am putting the purely selfish ones that will never happen until most of her's are taken care of, along with some serious ones.

Telecaster
A home studio- preferably out in the converted barn (can you say, "Upstate New York here we come")
A bigger amp to bully around the Princeton
A summer internship with a guitar shop to learn how to fix and build all things electric guitar based
The knowledge of how to help my students who just don't care
For my children to have more time with their extended family
A few more years in Spain
The ability to read like a normal person

8 Things that happened yesterday
Took Lexi to Ballet
Almost got killed by a car while riding home from ballet with Lexi...no kidding here. A car ran a red light and missed us by two or three inches, no exaggeration.
Had family pictures taken by Melissa Bitter
Ate a 1/2 pound burger from Harriet's kitchen. It was pretty good.
Went to Fairway where they sell the best meat in town.
Lost my new Bob Dylan CD while unpacking the car and bringing bags upstairs. Kendra found half the case outside the car later with no sign of the important stuff. Oh, by the way it was a double disk. At least it was already part of the ol' iTunes
Put the kids to bed

8 Things I am looking forward to
Sleeping in on Veteran's Day (that means 7)
Changing the strings on the Fender
Elder Holland coming to speak to us in Manhattan
Game nights
Thanksgiving
My parents coming in for Lexi's birthday
The possibility of seeing Dylan in the Heights (that's right- he's showing some love for our 'hood)
Earning some extra cash on eBay (no other way to pay for that Dylan concert)

Lexi-isms November 2008

The conversation went like this:

Lexi: Daddy, what does water have in it?

Dad: 2 parts Hydrogen, 1 part Oxygen.

Lexi: Whoa, that's a lot.

The saddest part of this funny story is the fact that this is an edited version of our 6 second chemistry lesson that night (edited for comedic effect). I initially said that it was 2 parts oxygen, 1 part hydrogen before recalling my days as a junior in high school and correcting myself. Apologies to my father who tried very hard to help me in Chemistry (he even provided me the best periodic table chart I have ever seen inside or outside of a school) but it just was not my one true love. At least for Lexi's sake I corrected myself and thankfully for the youth of America my teaching credentials are not in Chemistry.

My Run Through Central Park

I've started running in Central Park every Friday morning now with my friend, Erin. We take our babies in the jogging strollers and hit the pavement for as long as we/they can handle (usually 3-4 miles). The Friday before the NYC marathon, everything was being set up- bleachers, finish line etc. There were lots of groups of people (from all over the world!) out running in the park. The feeling in the air was positively electric. I counted at least 4 people taking a photo of the 2 women out for a jog pushing their babies in strollers.

This time of year is gorgeous for running in the park. The trees are changing, the weather is cook and crisp......




.....and since we go in the morning, there are often exciting things happening... like this commercial shoot:

George Dalton Portlock

January 6, 1929 - November 6, 2008

You will be missed, Grandpa (& Great-Grandpa)!

New President

We don't have a tv, so we were following election results online- they were a bit behind (updated every few minutes) but we knew exactly when Obama had won because of the raucous outside our windows:

Election Day

How we spent our Election Day: Alexis had the day off from school, and (since my mother can't drive due to a broken ankle) since we had access to a car, I took the girls out to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. We first stopped at the Prospect Park Zoo for some good animal observing. The trees seem to be peaking in their color changing and it was a gorgeous day to be outside.


Right next to the zoo sits an old Dutch house, Lefferts Historic House. We've never been there before so we were excited to see what it had to offer.

Since it was Election Day, they were holding a special election for kids. First they had to register, so this woman explained the procedure: write down your name, the street you live on, and your age.

Lexi filled out her voter registration all by herself:

Then she was given a ballot and went behind a curtain/partition where there was a little podium she could use to make her selection for President:

She made her selection without any outside influences:

The final step was placing it in the ballot box :

She also participated in a craft- making election signs! Can you tell that her sign says "Vote for Mommy"? Too bad I really don't want to be president of the U.S. of A.

Even on a typical day, the Lefferts house is a great place to visit. It's basically a historical house museum for kids. They have lots of period toys and activities like pumping water from a barrel (with a real pump that you have to prime), walking on stilts, running with hoops, potato sack races and the like. Here Ella is testing out a bed with a straw mattress. By this point she was so tired I think she would have slept there if I had let her.

The Plank Road was one of the girls' favorite exhibits at the house. It was built here to recall a wooden plank road built in 1855 on the Flatbush-Fulton Road (now part of Flatbush Ave). John Lefferts (whose home is now the museum) was one of the investors in the company that built the plank road and charged tolls to use it. This was one of the many plank roads built throughout the nation around that time offering farmers in villages like Flatbush a faster, mud- and rut-free way to take produce to market.

This is what the tolls along the plank road looked like.

Later in the evening, Matt and I voted at a local elementary school and then headed over to Ben and Jerry's for their free scoop of ice cream promotion. It was a long line, out the door around the corner and down almost half a long-block, but we only ended up waiting for 6 minutes.

I ended the day visiting my friend Mackenzie who gave birth to baby Sam on Election Day morning- a momentous day to be born! Congratulations, Doug & Mackenzie!

Halloween

Have you ever seen this bit by Jerry Seinfeld? It's his rant about candy and how when you're a kid all you want to do is get candy and then you find out about Halloween and you're amazed that people will just give you candy... for FREE.
Here's a clip....It starts about 25 seconds into the video:

When the routine gets to about 1:10, Seinfeld describes exactly the reaction Alexis had to Halloween this year. It was like she didn't remember doing this the past couple of years. Here in the city, we trick-or-treat in businesses. She was really hesitant to go into any stores, even with me and a whole throng of kids entering and exiting with her. Finally I said, "Okay, maybe Ella wants to do it." And then I took Ella into a store where she picked up the routine right away. Walk in store. Choose candy from candy bowl nice person is holding. Put candy in bag. Walk out. Go into next store. By about the third store Alexis decided that she couldn't be outdone by her little sister, so she went in with Ella. As soon as she walked out of the store she yelled, "Daddy! It's FREE! The candy is FREE!" with all the gusto she could manage. We laughed and said, "Yes! That's what we've been trying to tell you!"

This year we went to the Upper West Side to trick-or-treat. First, we had dinner at the new Shake Shack (just as delicious and indoors). Then we headed to the huge block party on West 69th Street. On our way we hit up the stores for candy (and they gave me coupons & free samples!) By the time we got to W 69th, the place was packed. The police had blocked off the street and it was just one huge party. Many of the houses were festively decorated and almost all of them were giving out candy. We saw Batman and Spiderman climbing down the front of one of the Brownstones. We met Dora the Explorer and Diego. Ella danced to Thriller & Beat It (by Micheal Jackson). And we got candy got candy got candy! So much that Ella's bag was too heavy for her and she ended up dragging it along the street.

Coming home to check out the loot:

Interestingly enough, Alexis is not a big candy consumer. She's hesitant to try anything new and really only likes M&Ms and Hershey's chocolate stuff. She got an AirHead from somewhere and was almost scared of it, it seemed. When I told her that they were good and that I used to love them when I was a kid she asked me if I wanted it. I told her I'd eat it later and for the rest of the night she'd hold onto it and ask me over and over if I wanted it yet. I think more than anything her curiosity was overwhelming her- what does this AirHead thing look like?! Mom used to love them?! Why won't she eat it already?! I finally indulged her and forced myself to eat it just so she would stop asking me. She watched me very intently as I ate and that was the end of that. Anyway, I only got pictures of Ella sorting her loot because Alexis wasn't really interested in checking out her spoils at all. She just put her bag on a hook by the door and went off to do her own thing. Ella, on the other hand, sat down on the couch and promptly pulled each piece out of her bag, examined it, and tried to open a few.