Getting the Dogs Out

I've been out skiing at Hammond Hill this week during my vacation and took Bean three times, twice for three-hour tours and once for just over an hour. Gail made a nice rig for us to hook him up after he broke my belt loops and then my belt. You can see the lead that he's got it taut most of the time, going up hill or down, and in the last shot I'm going down a decent hill and pushing vigorously to keep up with him.

Getting the Dogs Out

I'm pretty sure Bean is also capable of everything shown here, but why burden him so?

Lee Strebel Blues

This morning I was lucky to be here for sunrise, where, on the Monday of our February break of 2006, I spent the morning with Connie O'Brien making this trail on the compound up on McGrath Rd. We called it "The Lee Highway" after Lee Strebel, 15 years old, who had died the previous Friday while cracking a joke during chorus class just before vacation was to begin.

Lee Strebel Blues

This is a cairn at the end of the Lee Highway. I made this one on Easter of 2003. Just a perfect morning to be out in Caroline remembering Lee. He was really into classic rock and on Feb. 17 of 2006 I was helping him study for a test on the Middle East. To help him remember Abraham was the founder of Judaism I sang "Highway 61 Revisited" and he said he'd have to check Dylan out more. Make sure you don't wait too long.

Lee Strebel Blues

Lee Strebel
LEE STREBEL 1/28/91-2/17/06 Words cannot describe how deeply you are missed, today and everyday.

Chautauqua County Visit

Mary Ellen and I took a trip to our mom's house for the anniversary of our dad's death. It's hard to believe it's been a year already, harder to believe there was no snow last year.
Legend has it Dad will come back every year on Ground Hog Day (the day he died), and if he sees his shadow the Bills will win the next Super Bowl and the Cubs the World Series.

Chautauqua County Visit

Janet and I had a good ski on the Overland Trail between Mayville and Sherman. There was plenty of snow, but the temperature made getting the wax right a challenge.

Chautauqua County Visit

I posed for a shot to recreate one taken during the Chautauqua Overland Ski Marathon which had a good run back in the eighties on this trail.

Chautauqua County Visit

We skied 3.7 miles to the lean-twos (there are two) then turned back. That's a picnic table in front of the lean-to.

Chautauqua County Visit

It's been a few years since I skied this trail, but I never forget this section of woods.

Chautauqua County Visit

Janet cruising down a tough hill.

Chautauqua County Visit

Tammy and Howard were more than ready to leave for Costa Rica. The door was drifted over that morning and a farmhand came by just in time to save Howard from climbing out the window to shovel the drift away. Howard claimed they are standing next to all the baggage they were going to take for a five-week trip, but he's never taken as little as that for a trip to the store.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Eight years after being elected, Al Gore and millions of other Americans gathered at Capitol Hill to welcome in our next president, Barack Obama. A couple hundred were in the comfort of the Ithaca High School library to witness it electronically.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Thanks go to Armin for getting the AV system going and making the library the place to be at IHS for Inauguration Day. A large screen, adequate speakers, and televisions in all three labs gave all who came a great viewing experience.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Michelle went for the low-key, everyday look, while Lynne and Nan wore shirts that left no doubt to their view on this historic transition.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Maybe, just maybe, guys like Anthony and G-Quan won't be told over and over, like so many generations of African Americans, that they can't do what they dream to do. And I do hope these two achieve their dreams because they're both dreaming big.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Mary and Rae wanted to be amongst the students, the next best place besides D.C.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Meggie was all smiles for the day, Sofi and Demetrius weren't complaining about anything either.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Barbara answered question after question from Diana's Cuban perspective. Monica looked happier than Idalia.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Phil and Kim gave their classes a chance to witness history.

Inauguration Day at IHS

"Sister, I'm sure you thought you'd have the top hat when you picked out that red number, but I'm Aretha Franklin."
I'm still perplexed why Mavis Staples wasn't there.

Inauguration Day at IHS

How many of us honestly thought we'd see the day? How many of us are truly thankful as well as hopeful? How many of us hope John Roberts stops taking grammatical suggestions from Microsoft Word?

Inauguration Day at IHS

Michelle and Tim did a fantastic job interpreting President Obama's speech for the hearing impaired in attendance.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Students and staff listened and hopefully took to heart the words of the president.

Inauguration Day at IHS

There were three additional rooms and York Lecture Hall that were all full too.

Inaguaration Day IHS

Robbie and Kathleen decided the day was just too special to not share it. Here's to more family visitors at IHS to make it feel like a more welcoming place to work and learn. There's no truth to the rumor around school that hugging Becca is how Armin separated his shoulder. I think Becca did suffer a dislocated jaw though.

Inauguration Day at IHS This one is bad.

The screen grew cloudier until the evil spirit faded from view.....

Inauguration Day at IHS

I couldn't help but think of the similarity of these scenes. As the Bushes took off and flew away, I wondered how we'll deal with the consequences of this fiasco?

Inauguration Day at IHS

They were waving goodbye, but I viewed them as the welcoming committee.

Inauguration Day at IHS

Kathy felt I should have been assisting her instead of taking all the photos. Especially this one.