Sub Porch Fest

   Over the winter, I was at WVBR and set a bag of salt down on the porch.  The floor bounced.  Thanks to  over 20 years of experience making sure porches are well supported through set-up of the Infield Stage at GrassRoots, I put in a bid to support it.  Management accepted my offer.  

  The first time I looked at it through the lattice, I didn't notice the beam that was already in place.  Eventually, I crawled under and noticed this post "supporting" the beam not reaching the ground.  I knew were to start.

   There was a house renovation underway around the corner from our house, so I made arrangements with the owner to help myself to the scrap pile, then loaded up the truck and hauled it from South Hill to East Hill.  I made the same arrangement with contractors working just up the hill from the station and was able to carry lots of useful lumber down while walking the dog.  Once I had critical mass, I got to work.

   It took a little more than just fixing that one post.  Miraculously, I only hit my head once, and lightly at that, but I did have a board flip back and hit the bridge of my nose.  Not bad.

     In addition to new beams and posts, both outside corners are supported significantly better.

  I turned down the request to fix the roof and ceiling.

   That rusty can of old paint has been there since last November.  Maybe the students will feel safer about being on the porch now and tidy things up.  Who knows, one of them might come up with a song about their time there.

Things Around Town, & Beyond

 

  Don't stand too close to the curb.  Do stand where you can see the light changing so you can get out in the lane before the turning cars get there.  Repeat, ad nauseam.  

  More impenetrable vegetation on the Coddington Valley Rail Trail.  It was promptly removed and there is a passable foot trail.   Become a friend, help get a safe passage away from cars.

  

  A misty morning at Ithaca Falls after a spring rain.  How lucky have I been to have this on my commute for over 20 years?

  

  The Botanical Gardens are so far out of my way, I get my bike out of the basement and ride to work.

   It's nice to have the Cascadilla Trail open again.  Not too far out of the way, so no bike needed.

    

  I'm certain those rocks at the top right are coming down soon.  I always walk quickly past that spot.

  The Ithaca Festival Parade happened on a perfect evening for it this year.  Here are a few pictures by Casey Martin that he posted to the Ithaca Voice.  I love getting to hear from my students the perspective of people from other countries on Friday morning.  "Different" is the most commonly heard description.
 

   Chimes concerts are always nice to catch before going to work.  This was just before Reunion Weekend.

  Jim and I finally got to the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport.  I first got interested in going when I biked past on my way to the Blue Heron many years ago.  The more I learned about Glenn Curtiss, the more determined I was to get there.  Jim taught high school history before moving to Ithaca in retirement, and has in mind to take a docent spot to stay sharp and engaged with education.

  My history with motorcycles is checkered; I crashed on at least 2 of the three I tried to ride.  I didn't have any trouble with this one and treated Jim to a full tour despite his troubled back.  He might have to kiss that docent spot goodbye though.  Seemed appropriate to us.

  I am getting a lantern light.  And losing the plastic fenders for that model.

   Oh yeah, there were some airplanes there too.  Curtiss' last grasp of a dying career after being a bicycle mechanic.

   Speaking of transportation: I got fed up with an icy sidewalk back in December and reported it to the building department.  It passed inspection, on May 26.  Win some, lose some.

  Maybe my latest First Swim in all my years living by Six Mile Creek.

Everybody Gets a Birthday

 

 

   Nano got a warm, spring day to celebrate 25.  As I recall, it was seasonably cold and dark for Yardana's.

  

  I had to work on my birthday, but it was worth it to go in for the three cakes and a plate of brownies.  I know a lot of growing children with appropriate appetites.  Ask me about the skippers who came in with a forest fire on the cake they delivered at the end of the day.  Or not, that's pretty much the whole story.  

 

  Gail did the heavy lifting to have a backyard party on a cold day in May.  We loved it and were so glad all who could make it did.  Though some couldn't, we carried on.

   The outta-towners came from Hamburg, NY.  Separately.  Karen and Tom come to town regularly to visit family and brought them to the party.  Chris and Darryl hadn't spent a night out of town together in more than three decades, but now that Darryl is retired and doesn't have daily chores on the farm, they made Ithaca and our party Road Trip #1.  There will be more.  

   Darryl made it clear that no future trip will include the steepest way up South Hill from downtown.  Saved only by the last 100 yards being down hill.  It's like that here.

  Dear friends of old and new.  I met Sara in 1988.  Jen in the early 21st century, and Bailey and Cici just a couple years ago.

  

  Tom and Jody played tunes until their fingers lost the battle with the cold.  I had enough requests/suggestions that I lit a fire, but they say out of its range.  It was nice to have the tunes, I was in the wrong key and didn't join them.  Next time.

    Gail and I were the same age for the standard 36 days before she moved on ahead of me again.  The party was last year.  This year she got her choice of taco and Jarritos at CDMX, and Sweet Melissa's ice cream.  

  Hope you all have enjoyable birthdays this year. 

 

People All Over

  

At a memorial for Arora, this thorough write-up about the labyrinth at GrassRoots was passed around.  I was honored and fortunate to have spent lots of wonderful time with Arora and Estelle. 

  

Andy and Nancy went all the way to the Adriatic Sea for this pic.  Maybe you're there looking at it now?

  

The adults in the room at GK/IHS have their pics from high school on display.  At least Bailey still looks like the old days.
 

  

Uncle John was heading for the barn, and then France.  He never came back.

Brother John is hanging with the grand kids and Jenny. 

  

  Some Westfield Friends shared a picture from a concert in Buffalo(?).
 

  Gail took a spring dip in the lake.  She lasted several minutes, and came back.

  I got a visit from an un-photographed Karen.  She has been distributing letters to their senders and brought a stuffed envelope from me.  There was quite a string of customized Christmas/ New Years cards for a couple decades.

    She moved around a lot between 1991 and 2002: made it as far as Egypt for a medical study when we used to believe in those.  There were only two different return addresses.