Getting ready for my Daughter's B-Day party!

Ah. It's time to get things in order for tomorrow's birthday party for my two year old. Best I can hope for is - decent weather. Where else do you put that many people when it rains? Especially, the kids. We live in small quarters not conducive for entertainment of children. Oh boy.

Well, no matter what - rain or shine, we will have fun. I think its going to be near 90 degrees tomorrow, so it will be a scorcher.

So, half day of work today, and then the real work begins. Plenty to do - lawn work, shopping, mulching, setting up a heavy canopy, cleaning everything up to look nice, and all of the inside prep work and cleaning. Ugggh! My wife and I will be jumping around at full speed while trying to keep the kids at bay. But this year one rule - we don't aim to make the darn place look like a museum. The goal is "Optimal" not "Perfect". The days of focusing on minuscule perfectionist details that no one else notices are over!

And at least this year we opted to skip the grill work, so we ordered food. Besides, people are all hamburged and hotdogged out from July 4th. So we'll opt for grinder sandwiches delivered, while at the same time - removing the fear of kids burning themselves by bumping into a hot grill out of the equation too.

How come Elmo and Barney never show up to help?

Fourth of July/Fishing/Back to work

We managed to sneak in a great Independence Day despite the rain trickling down at about 3 p.m. and then disappearing and reappearing later in the early evening. By fireworks time, not only was it wet, but I was zonked out and probably couldn't have kept my eyes open even if they were being ignited in my backyard.

The morning was probably the best part of the day. At about 5 am, my dad and I seized the "free hours" and headed off to the shoreline for some fishing in the Sound. While we do this more for the purpose of spending some quality Dad to Son time, I did manage to catch a nice 30" bluefish. I'm sure it would have been good eating, but after declaring victory by making the catch, we happily returned the beautiful fish to the sea. But we put in four and a half hours of fishing and relaxing and just enjoyed the time. Unfortunately, these time with dad are too rare as it is, so we just make the best of the time we have.

I really enjoy the time fishing with Dad. It reminds me of earlier years when trips were more frequent to the shore to cast a line in the sea and then retreating back to our campsite to cook the spoils of our capture. Distinctly, I remember the steady hunt for flats by rowboat outside of Clinton/Westbrook, and the days of easy fishing off of Meigs Point Hammonasset Jetty for the waves of hundreds of snapper blues - who were easy game for a my cheap - single button casting - Zebco Fishing pole and spoon jig. Those were great days with Dad. Although I think that some of the more comical moments were watching my father do battle with Sandsharks, Eels, and Sea Robins. In any case, the whole fishing experience is something I'll need to remember to replicate with my kids when they get older.

(And a brief note to parents - while researching some pics for this entry - Zebco had a recall on children's fishing poles due to lead paint. So be careful if you buy one used or off of Ebay. See the press release here).

The afternoon was made up of family time, my dad and mom played host to my family and my brother's family and we had a nice picnic - burgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad, potato salad and the rest. I was pretty beat from the fishing trip, so the best I could muster was to sit and watch some of the great series The Revolution on the History Channel while holding my new daughter. The younger daughter enjoys Grandma's and enjoys family gatherings so she can play with her older cousin.

So, it's early morning in West Hartford. I'm at the computer in a sort of tired daze, and getting ready to restart my week. I swear that driving home, yesterday evening, felt much like a Sunday with the though of going into the office and tackling complicated issues and matters again in the morn. I hope the next few days will be "light duty" from a mental standpoint with none of the usual crisis's popping up here and there. Plus I have to conserve my energy - we will be getting ready to host this weekend for my older daughter's second birthday!

Screaming kids and cranky adults will all be headed to West Hartford this weekend. Rain, Rain, stay away!

Anglican Bishops link flooding to sin

Here is an interesting take on the rationale for the flooding that's going on in England. It's not typically Anglican for Bishops, Rectors, or Deacons to link human behavior to God's retribution in the form of flooding and/or natural disasters. It's generally the case that this tough talk is something that you might see being shouted out of a "spitfire Baptist" or "guilt-ridden Catholic" sermon, so it's sort of strange seeing it come from pulpit of the often high-brow, soft spoken, peering down their nose at you - Anglican Communion.

Notwithstanding, the timing of the message lends support to the pro-traditionalist, pro-Christian members of the Anglican Communion which has been struggling with the pro-homosexual agenda being fostered by leaders of the Episcopal Church in the United States and Canada.

What's also interesting is that the message didn't just come from just any old Bishops, but from the Rt. Reverened Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle, who is a high ranking authority in the Church of England, and from Rt Rev James Jones, who is next in line for the position of Archbishop of Canterbury or Archbishop of York.

Rt Reverend Jones said, "The sexual orientation regulations [which give greater rights to gays] are part of a general scene of permissiveness. We are in a situation where we are liable for God's judgment, which is intended to call us to repentance."

Wow. This didn't come from Pat Roberston and the 700 Club, but from leaders of the mainstream Anglican Church. Don't believe me. You judge for yourself.

Get Out and Celebrate Your Nation's birthday... America is worth celebrating!

Although the Fourth of July is sort of weird this year, being a recognized holiday (and day off) on a Wednesday and all, still it's a fun holiday with some worthwhile meaning.

Here are a list of locations that are holding Independence Day fireworks: http://www.courant.com/entertainment/events/hc-4thofjulyevents-07,0,1552678,full.story

The article referenced above is courtesy of the Hartford Courant.

+

The flag pictured above is the Grand Union Flag - which is the first flag to be flown during initial military conflict between the American Colonies and the British Crown. Many other flags were flown during this period including a flag with thirteen stars in a round formation fixed in the upper field; that flag is known as the "Betsy Ross flag" but there is spotty evidence to actually link Betsy Ross to the design (some even say it was Mary Pickersgill). In any case, the 13 star flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

+

Here is a link to the history of the US Flag.

+

Have a Happy 4th of July! God Bless America!