How's this for summer wear?
Mick Fanning Pro Model Reef sandals-- the only sandals with a built in bottle opener.
http://www.bordersmedia.com/features/vi
Get psyched!"
I am! I need to re-read the book before seeing the movie, though...I'd forgotten that anyone accompanied Lily when she ran away to Tiburon and the world of the pink house.
I went to visit Jon yesterday. It had been years since I'd seen him, but that didn't matter. Mention Jon, and my heart smiles. The image that comes to mind is one I only actually saw in a photograph. I vaguely remember the picture being taken. It's more a memory of the "feeling" of the time. The grown-ups are grouped on the old brown sofa in our living room on Walden Road, probably in 1958 or at the latest 1959. (It was the couch that later caught fire and the undamaged half became my first bed when I outgrew my crib. When the fire broke out my big brother ran upstairs and scooped me from my crib, carrying me in his arms to safety. I told Daddy, when he came home, that Bobby had carried me in his arms "like Superman".) Sitting at their feet, if you looked at the black and white print, you'd see a little blond girl, with her sun suit strap slipping off one tanned shoulder and the other arm thrown around a patient looking beagle. She's looking away from the camera, almost as if she knows that the star of that photograph is the small brown haired bundle of energy sitting next to her. He's looking straight at the camera, his face fully lit up by his delight with life, exuberance spilling out of his toddler's body. His smile takes up most of his face. There is laughter in his eyes. He is palpable joy. He is Jonnie. He is my cousin.
I suppose there was a time when I didn't know him, but it was very brief, and hidden deep in the realms of earliest memories. He was born a month before I turned one, and my memories of the time before Jonnie are very, very faint, if at all. I can't say we grew up exactly "together", as we lived several states apart, but in those childhood years, our families visited often and we children grew to count on the security of one another when the grownups went off to do whatever it was grownups did in the 50's and early 60's. I'd visit his family in the Bronx or they'd come to our home. Sometimes, there'd be a little awkwardness as we became reacquainted with each other, and learned the leaps and bounds we'd each taken in life since the last visit. Two smart, focused little kids, checking out each other, testing to see had done what since the last visit.
There were some things I was better at (swimming, playing with large groups of people, smoozing the grownups) and some he was better at (math, being precise in saying what he meant, remembering facts and letting me know I didn't.) But we couldn't outdo the other's love of books. We each loved to read. I remember him being surprised that a girl read boy-oriented books. I like to think it was something that made him like me a little bit more.
There are other childhood memories-- playing on the merry-go-round on the playground behind my home, swimming in a saltwater pool in the Bronx, watching fireflies from the stoop of Mikell Avenue, sharing a joke or a funny turn of phrase (we both seem to have developed a dry humor. Perhaps it's genetic?) putting on a show for our Grandmother-- but I'd rather remember my absolute favorite conversation with Jon. It was when we both were in our early 20's, unmarried, neither with a prospect in site. He came through St Louis on business, and stopped to visit. We went out for a drink, and spend hours talking. I found that the little boy with the laughter in his eyes had grown into a thoughtful and very insightful young man. I liked him a lot. There was an amazing intensity in those blue eyes, but a real vulnerability, too.
Maybe it was our 20 some years of knowing each other. Maybe it was the scotch. But regardless, he let me into a little space of his soul, and I have never forgotten. I don't remember the exact words but the gist of what he said was beautiful.
"I know the world values money and material success. I know that succeeding means making more and more money, and getting ahead in business. But what I want is a woman I can open my heart to and build a life with. A woman I can love completely. To me, that would be success."
Jon found that woman, and built a life (and rebuilt several houses in Brooklyn in the process.) They started a family. Their oldest son has my father's name as his middle name, and that always touched me more than I ever thought possible. Every time I heard about Jon, he only grew in my esteem. The boy with the laughter in his eyes had grown up well. And I looked forward to getting to know him again as adults. It was something I planned to do.
I went to visit Jon yesterday. I went with family and friends, who gathered together to remember him. Jon died suddenly a few days ago, leaving a stunned and shell-shocked group those of us who loved him. At the memorial, the words spoken by those who had been close to him these years when I was not gave me both enormous joy and great sadness. I missed my chance. I thought I had time. The boy with the laughter in his eyes had indeed grown into a remarkable, remarkable man. I am honored to be in his family, and grieve more that I could imagine at his passing. I grieve for his wife and sons, and for his parents, and for his brother who is fighting his own demons as well. I grieve for the missed opportunity.
At his memorial, Jon's best friend Joe spoke some real words of wisdom. I'll paraphrase him and add a bit, too, for it helps me to put some sense of something into the senselessness of loss. If you love someone, tell them, don’t wait till tomorrow, tell them now. If you miss someone, tell them, don’t wait, you may not have it tomorrow. If you’ve been thinking about someone whether it’s a friend, family, an old lover, the kid you grew up with, whatever, if you’ve been thinking about them, get in touch with them. If you haven’t had a physical, get one. If you haven’t updated your will, do so. Take the time now, take it now. For those who love you and those you love.
Goodbye, Jon. I miss you. I always thought we'd have time, that you'd be there. I'm glad you had such a love-filled and full life. I'm glad you have such wonderful sons and such fabulous friends. I'm glad you found the woman of your heart. I just wish there was a tomorrow, so I could tell you I love you.
From the New York Times
Jon Nadel
NADEL--Jon. Born August 13, 1957. Passed away suddenly on June 25th, 2008. Loving husband to Kim, beloved father of Jamie and Skye, son of Monroe and Evelyn. Director of Membership and Connectivity with the International Securities Exchange. We, as well as all who knew him, will miss his intelligence, his keen sense of humour and fine wit. Services will be held at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, Amsterdam Avenue corner 91st Street, New York, 2pm, Sunday June 29, 2008.
Published in the New York Times from 6/28/2008 - 6/29/2008.
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Saw an earlier version of this. Uplifting.
Home.
Bumma is okay, and up to date on everything. She said Rebekkila is a good baby-sitter.
Click for more info on The Big Read.
Foxes
Squirrels
Rabbits
River Otter
Chipmunks
mice
the other rodent with the long tail
Opossums
Raccoons
Bats
Moles
(domestic critters off leash and unsupervised)
Birds oh so many!
shore birds
wading birds
duck like birds
ground birds
birds of prey
swallow like birds
woodpeckers
(my life list is fairly huge and most have been from living here, because that's where I started keeping it.)
Amphibians
Frogs
Toads
Salamanders
Lizards
reptiles
Turtles
snakes
alligator
Mollusks
Snails
Slugs
Worms, insects, arthopods...yes, yes, and yes.
Someday, I'll get more specific, particularly on the birds, but really, I've seen most of the birds on this list, and some that aren't on this list, in our yard.
Our garden has been entirely organic and chemical free from day one (except that there may be some byproducts blown in from neighbors' yards :( ). Javaczuk, our gardener supreme, has done a fabulous job with the yard and garden here. When we bought the lot, it had been scraped clean by the developer, except for some live oaks in the back near the lake. For our first Valentines day in the completed house, I got javaczuk a truckload (I forget how many cubic feet) of manure to help renurture the soil. Nothing says "I love you" like a truckload of shit.
Recently, I learned from another BookCrosser (EYCLady) about the fabulous program run by the National Wildlife Federation. You can see if your backyard (or in our case our whole yard) or your community are qualified to be certified as a Wildlife Habitat. No huge surprise that ours did, but talk about a great thing to give javaczuk! Wow!
To be certified, you must provide each of the the following elements (the certification process tells you how many of each element must be provided/maintained.)
- Food Sources: For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
- Water Sources: For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
- Places for Cover: For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
- Places to Raise Young: For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box,pond
- Sustainable Gardening: For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
Anyhow, we qualified hands down. I think there were only one or two elements on the entire list (which is longer than above) which we don't have-- one of which is a bird house, but since at last count I could find 9 bird nests in our shrubs and trees, I'm not worried. (Our neighbor has one, right at our property line, as well-- javaczuk has a photo of it here.
The certificate arrived in time to give javaczuk on Father's Day, which meant we celebrated it for once (we normally ignore it and mother's day) and our sign arrived yesterday.
I've pulled together some pictures of the habitat and they are in a set over at flickr.
Sadly, having a garden gnome is not an automatic qualifier.
List of critters we've seen is here.
Platt trying for spot on November ballot
By Robert Behre
The Post and Courier
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Eugene Platt
The State Election Commission will decide next week if state House District 115 candidate Eugene Platt may appear on the ballot this fall, but his odds appear dim.
Platt, who lost the June 10 Democratic primary to James Island lawyer Anne Peterson Hutto, hopes to run in November as a Green Party candidate.
Before he can run, he must clear two hurdles.
One, state law appears to prohibit candidates from running in a general or special election if they already have lost a primary race.
Two, Platt signed a pledge with the Democratic Party vowing that he wouldn't run again this fall.
As far as the pledge goes, Platt said Wednesday, "That was probably one of the papers that was presented to me along with the others.
"Obviously I signed it not knowing the full ramifications, not anticipating a situation like this. The Green Party feels such a pledge would not be enforceable."
Platt said he has resigned from the Democratic Party, and "I no longer consider myself as a Democrat."
State law might prove an even greater obstacle. The Election Commission staff cited a section of law indicating that Platt may not appear on the ballot since he lost his primary race, but the commissioners will consider the request on June 27.
If Platt loses, then Hutto will face only incumbent Republican Rep. Wallace Scarborough on Nov. 4.
Green Party organizer Gregg Jocoy said the commission's decision will set an important precedent, and he noted that Platt was nominated by the Green Party in May, a month before the Democratic primary.
"Our right to have our candidate on the ballot in November shouldn't be subordinated by the Democratic Party's decision who it wants on the ballot," Jocoy said. "Eugene's campaign is vital to the growth of the Green Party in the Lowcountry."
Platt, who has run for state and federal legislative seats and lost several times, said he is weighing whether to seek re-election as a James Island Public Service District commissioner at the same time he runs for the state House seat.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@ postandcourier.com.
Copyright © 1997 - 2007 the Evening Post Publishing Co.
I got tired of legs not matching in size. So my little guy is a Tri-pus!
Made for a friend's grandbaby with the same cotton yarn as I used for my string bag:
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
inishglora who I was utterly delighted to discover on LJ posted a picture of his Princess. I thought it was screaming for a lolcat caption and with some struggling we came up with "Im in ur bed hoggin teh coverz" (though I just thought of "Im hidin in ur coverz watin for your toze"I figured my creative friends here could come up with something to immortalize Princess.
(Picture reposted with inishglora's permission. Princess declined to comment.)
Here's
http://www.live5news.com/global/story.a
http://www.live5news.com/global/video/f
http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0508/5
http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0508/5
antof9 sent us Nightwatch and Daywatch, which javaczuk snatched up to read right away. When Daywatch arrived, it had a big, yellow stickie note on the cover to block the picture because it freaked ant out. Javaczuk promptly removed the sticker. In the meantime, he's really been getting into photoshop, and the combo of the subject matter and his innate ability to tease was too much. He altered a picture of our ant (which I mentioned in an earlier post, but if you missed it, click here to see "Margaret of the Day Watch".)in the meantime, the book with the icky cover arrives. What does my handsome husband do? Here's the original cover and here's a recent picture he took of our nephew.
Phun with photoshop... :)
We'd love to sing for you!
http://www.piccolospoleto.com/sched
As
inkognitoh said when she saw the picture up at flickr, "I had him down as a postage stamp man myself."I saw this roadside sign up in Rabun County and actually did a U-Turn on the highway to go back and take the picture.
965.38 miles...don't think I can make the trip, but this is great! I hope she gets some good catches.
