Hey, remember that TV show I did about Crohn's ?

Way back in like March or something, I did a TV show for local public TV. It's called Caucus NJ, and the topic was children with digestive disorders. I talked about Frankie's experiences.

It's finally finished editing and scheduled to be on this weekend!

You can watch the show by clicking here - on the bottom of the page this brings you to, look for the little camera and click on it, and you should be able to watch!

I must remind you, though, that it is a show about children with digestive disorders -- not the most fascinating topic for most people -- and also, I looked VERY SCARY in that show. The makeup did NOTHING for me.

Let me know if you watch it, what you think.

I'm Back from my Epic Adventure!

 

I can't really do a post yet. I've got a lot of photo playing to do first. But I'm back from a place beyond anything! It was a great trip, I'll try to post first thing tomorrow -- which probably means like noon -- :D

Fourth of July Festivities

 

We just got back from a great party at Jimmy and Laura's house... They went all out, especially since it was also Jimmy's Dad's birthday.

Fourth of July Concert

 

Jimmy's family went all out for his Dad's birthday; they hired a rag-time band to play classic old tunes -- like Yankee Doodle Dandy and When Irish Eyes are Smiling -- and they had a concert. Later in the set, the band invited Mr. J. to come up and sing, which he was very happy to do! It was a memory their whole family will cherish forever, I'm sure...

A Beautiful Sunset

 

The Grand Finale

 

Fireworks over the bay...

Happy Fourth of July!

I started this video back in February, when we went to visit Asbury Park.
I finished it just now... 3 AM. I couldn't stop playing!

Now, it's time to go to bed. I'm supposed to get up early tomorrow! (yeah, maybe!)
I've got a party to get to down the shore, and the traffic is going to be murder!

The Journey

 

This was the first time we hiked this section, although we did a different trail and not the Appalachian trail, we had a beautiful view looking back down to the Delaware River...

Preparing for an Epic Adventure

It's epic for me, at least.

I'm getting ready for another backpacking trip. Actually, it's a combination of Canoeing and Backpacking. The Venturing Crew is going -- which, on this trip, means my son Nick, my nephew, my son's best friend, the other leader and his daughter. Small group, but that's fine with me.

We're looking at doing about 24 miles down the river in a canoe, and 24 miles hiking back up along the Appalachian Trail.

Am I ready? I don't know. The whole time I was hiking the last time, I kept thinking to myself, "there is NO WAY I can do this." And that one was only 3.5 miles, for two days in a row. This one is 8 miles, for three days in a row. I am bringing Motrin.

I have no problems walking 8 miles. The problem is walking with 35 lbs of gear on my back. Up hill.

There is a lot of elevation gain in the beginning, but then it evens off and you walk along the ridge trail.

I have a back-up plan. I have Frankie on retainer. If I physically can not do it, I will call him up and make him come get me.

But like I realized last time, the big issue with hiking is a lot to do with determination. And I am determined to do this. At least this once; I may or may not ever do it again.

So say a prayer for me -- for the future me and the past me -- and for our whole group, that everything goes smoothly and that we get this accomplished!!!!

Where, exactly?

This is the map of the AT in New Jersey.

If you see on the edge of the green, there is a river, and that's the Delaware. We're canoeing down the river until we get to the bottom, at Worthington State Forest.

Then, with the hiking, we're starting at the bottom and working our way up. The bottom is on the Delaware River. We'll be going as far as Culvers Lake. At least, I believe that is the plan. The plan is to do three days of hiking, 8 miles each day.

 

Interactive Map - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Interactive Map
Appalachian Trail Conservancy


Posted using

This is a link to a trail map and information. If you click on the words, you can look at the whole map of the whole trail. Assuming the link worked. :D

Back to normal.

Enough about Frankie, already. It's been "Frankie, Frankie, Frankie" all month long. Please! I've got other stuff goin' on around here too, ya know.

Like for example, it's summer, did you notice??? It's been a strange summer, but summer nonetheless.

 

My daylilys are blooming.

Consider the lilies of the field. They don't spin or sew, and yet, even King Solomon in all his glory wasn't arrayed as fine as these...

OK, that was from memory, I'm not sure it's anywhere near the right verse. But it's a lovely thought.


Another lovely thought, which I got from Aunt Diane pretty recently.

God, being omniscient and omnipotent, (assuming you believe,) exists outside the box of space and time that confines us.
That being the case, you can pray right now for things that have happened in the past. Because if God is in all time at the same time, he can affect things back then just as easily as he can affect things right now.

I don't know if that makes sense, but it's a really lovely thought, and I've started praying about things that already have happened.

Of course, I don't want this entry to make anyone think I'm a religious freak. But I'm feeling in a religious mood today. I have a strong belief... I just couldn't really tell you that my belief belongs to any religion in particular.

I can twitter on my blog now, and i can also mobile post. But WHY?

Frankie's Big Graduation Party!

 

I have tons more photos, of course. But I think I have to restrain myself. If you were at the party and want to see your picture, comment me and I'll put it up!

Nick the DJ

 

He did a great job!!!

The Seniors at the Party

 

Here are the graduates from the party! :D

Dancin' in their Seats

 

"SWEET CAROLINE... waaa waaa waaa..."

Ok, it isn't waa waa waa. Frankie told me Pop wants me to fix it. But I forget what he said the correct lyric is... ??????

Now Off They Go!

 

These are the guys going to the same college with Frankie... and they left this morning, 5:30 AM, for Freshman Orientation.

On to the next adventure!