A Time So Long Gone By

Then...

Given longevity of life, Jackie would have continued to grow with the times, just as we all do. Is it fair to judge a time so long gone by? That was then... this is now. Food for thought, this article quoted from AP:

NEW YORK (AP) — Caroline Kennedy says her daughters were "horrified" by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' old-fashioned view of the role of women in taped interviews released this week.

In the 1964 interviews with Arthur Schlesinger Jr., the young widow described her marriage as "a rather terribly Victorian or Asiatic relationship" and said she got all her opinions from her husband, President John F. Kennedy.

Caroline Kennedy said Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that her two daughters were "absolutely horrified" when they listened to that portion of the tapes.

She said they asked: "Did she really think that?"

But Kennedy says the tapes are "just a snapshot of a world we barely recognize."

The audio recordings are being released Wednesday along with a book, "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F. Kennedy."

Winning... Nadal vs. Djokovic

Djokovic Accepts

Okay, so the outcome wasn't quite what I'd hoped for, but the tennis was over-the-top spectacular. Last year's US Open champion, Rafael Nadal, couldn't defend against Novak Djokovic, in a rematch that had spectators off their feet. There is nothing like a looooooong point, and several brought stroke numbers into the twenties. There was even a thirty-something point. Jeesh! Sure I like power serves; but rallies are where it's at, for fun spectating. 

From Rafa, no smiles till match point...
maybe 

Concentrated game faces belie the mutual admiration and friendship enjoyed by these young athletes. No histrionics, when scores go awry. No rude, offensive outbursts aimed at umpires... just legal challenges, with outcomes quietly accepted. Class personified. And eloquence at speech-time, in this reversal of first and second places. Congratulations to a worthy champion.

"I'm disappointed, but Novak is doing
unbelievable things. What he did this year
is probably impossible to repeat." R. Nadal

Segue Synopsis

Glory 'n' Plumes

Though grasses are in plume, it's still summertime in our garden. We've made a few interesting observations, in consideration of this year's very rainy season. Here are a few photos, taken just moments ago.

Perennial Red Hibiscus

Hibiscus bloomed later than ever, thus not receiving its just due in poolside photo captures. Its cousin, the prettier variety of Rose Of Sharon, flowered late, too.

Gifted Impatiens

Impatiens grew all over the place, evidently from previously scattered seeds, 'cause I only planted a few.

Prettiest Rose of Sharon 

A lot of Morning Glory had to be pulled early. Why? Also from dormant seeds, it worked its way into just about everything, with leaves mammoth in size. 

Perennial Snowy Hibiscus

Everything green requires trimming. Just think tropical rainforest, towering foliage and elephant-ear leaves. Gotta love Mother Nature. I hope she's dried to the core and shall afford us an easy winter. But something tells me that we'll see plenty of winter-white.

Game*Set*Match To The Aussie... YAY!

Reuters

Just biding my time till the men's final when I'll be Rooting For Rafa. With his power serve, fancy footwork and Latin good looks, it won't be tough to watch the five sets I'm hoping for. Not till tomorrow, though. Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

There is no one like Serena Williams to jolt a soul back to reality(?) after a very somber September 11th. She's arrogant in a win and beyond-obnoxious in a loss. Thus was today's horrid behavior. Not to worry, though, 'cause Sam Stosur whooped her in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Jeesh, couldn't S.W. just count her blessings on this particular day, by showing a touch of grace? There were so many thousands of tragic losses to mourn.

Tennis is a sport wherein fans often cheer for those who win awesome points, forgetting whom they'd like to see take the match. And there are rules of etiquette. Lots of them. Serena needs a serious lesson in courtesy and humility. She was shockingly vicious towards the chair umpire. She should be ashamed of herself.

Congratulations to the Aussie.

The Moral

The Heartbreak

The Remembrance

"The flag shows the Twin Towers in white against a dark blue background. The image is surrounded by a five-sided figure representing the Pentagon and 40 yellow stars for the people who died when Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pa." More here.

Reuters

The Face

PhotoShopped Internet Photo

The number of children who lost a parent on 9/11 is over 3,000. A staggering number.  The Girl In The Red Velvet Dress was just 2 years old when her Mom died, as she attempted to help other victims. Patricia Smith was interviewed by Robin Roberts on GMA, yesterday morning. She's 12, now, and only remembers what others have told her about her Mom. She wishes her family wasn't so sad, every year at this time. The Face Of Ten Years is a poignant one... x's thousands.

The Cost

Don't you just shudder when thinking of those who lost their lives... how they died, knowingly and in terror. It's a rhetorical question, of course. And those left behind... how to eradicate "the how" from their minds' eyes, to find a way to remember the smile of the before-soul. We just have to remember, even if it means jarring our senses by looking yearly at images of the ashes that once held life. We must teach 9-11 and its aftermath, as a reminder that our freedoms are clearly far from free. Heartbreaking.

I ♥ New York

Remember (link) here and everywhere...

By Leaps 'n' Bounds??

   
Patience is clearly a virtue, when it comes to new growth. Buds are setting and growing plump on my first-to-ever-bloom-again orchid. Nearby, that split pit I so proudly demonstrated ages and ages ago is now the foundation for a mini avocado tree. Forever inspirational is life's promise.

Lone Survivor Tree-Ground Zero AP Photo

APP Me

It will be a year on Christmas (thanks, Joe) since I've had my iPad. It's addictive. Ever-changing. A lot to learn. A toy? Perhaps more accurately a toy store. And a library. An encyclopedia (remembering when a set took two dusty shelves). A map. A photoshop. A word processor. An iPod. Always Scrabble. A TV. A djembe drum (no kidding). A language school. No, a grad school. An arcade. The list goes on and on.

KidGrands love art applications, as does G'ma. Read the reviews and pay attention to them. Watch for sales. No joke. I purchased a coveted one for a fraction of its cost... a "Back-To-School Special". And they love games. A time allotment is mandatory. Hunter knows when to ask, or not... very respectful. Loves my favorite game, Scrabble (my first version at ten years old... Christmas), as well as Angry Birds and...

Did you know that Pac-Man is alive and well? I remember so vividly another Christmas-gone-by, when Uncle Ronnie gifted Brian and Christian their first game, with some tongue-in-cheek comment about how much I'd love the noise. :-) The Man is aging like a fine wine. You, too, Ron.

Before you give it up for coloring and play, though, invest sixteen smackaroos in a ZAGG shield for your screen. Sure, it wrecks the display a tad... but you'll be worry-free, when it comes to destructive scratches from precious little fingers.

Last night, I learned how to create files. Organize those apps. Ah, that's better. 

Discipline is crucial. I pick mine up in the evenings, when it's TV time. You know me... can't just watch. So, I'm okay with playing or reading my current iBook, at that hour. In other words, I multitask; otherwise, it would gobble me up...

...like Pac-Man.

Congratulations, Neil Diamond et al...

... and with Meryl Streep... perfect.

Please left double-click to enlarge.

Baby, Baby, Baby...

You're right! She's beautiful and mesmerized. :-) This little girl knows whose music she likes... and Justin Bieber is her choice. When I asked if she would perform as the girl in the video did, she replied, "Not if he laughs at me." No explanation that he wasn't laughing at the child was convincing enough to alter her perception. So, our littlest Baby Grand is contented to  watch, occasionally singing along in perfect pitch. Come on!!!  Admit it!!! She's got good taste. He's adorable and talented. 

Splash!

Catch me if you can!

Water, water everywhere.

Kids love water. Rain water. Pool water. Puddle water. Fun park water. Bath tub water. It's like a magnet. So, teach them to respect it always and to run from it when necessary. Follow up with good swimming lessons. Then, have fun. 

Biggest Kid 

Last Friday, our ski-hill-turned-fun park was... well... it was FUN. Big and little kids alike were happily bumping rafts and squirting opponents to varying degrees of saturation, whenever opportunities arose. Did you hear the kids' roars of laughter? Ah, what more can one ask for...

Can't Stop Laughing

And below is a video of Hunter passing the deep-end test in our pool:

Blessings

Aw, thanks, Cor xoxo

Corey came into our lives just before her eleventh birthday. A blessing. She and I became pen pals; you've met her before on CMI. Time marches on. She's grown into a beauty, both inside and out... kinder and more loving than words can describe. She's my Kid Rock influence. "Didn't you just fall in love with him, Nicki?" :-) And we took her to see "Aida" on Broadway during a visit, exposing her to a touch of Elton John. How coincidental that both musicians should be in nearby posts on CMI. 

Her lovely older Sis just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. A blessing. He's a lucky little guy, born into a perfect, loving environment, with fantabulous grandparents, too - I can vouch for that. 

Thanks for sharing, Corey. Love Grows. 
♥♥

How Bad IS The Weather??

School started yesterday. Here we are on Day 2 with a 2-hour delay. Flooding. A first. Once fragrant garden aromas have taken on a moldy tinge. But more importantly, many remain without power restored since Irene. They must be feeling a tad downtrodden. 
Sun dance? 

Yes, It's Clearly "Fair Game"

Have I mentioned that I'm a huge Sean Penn fan? We were glued to this movie, in which he and Naomi Watts were fantastic. The plot... a marriage in jeopardy underlies political intrigue during the Bush administration. "Fair Game" is reviewed here, in the NEW YORK TIMES,
my source.

Child's Play ♡

Once the roads were passable, we went to fetch Hunter and Chloe. Lots of excitement at their temporary digs, as it was closing day on the new home they'd return to, at the end of our visit. Mom remained for a few more days, till electricity was restored to the lake house. It was kind of like "The Waltons", around here. Smile.

Boundless energy and endless nutrition requirements kept us a-hoppin'. Hey, I lost three pounds in a week and ate "real" ice cream to do it. You get the gist... and I'm not complaining. Goes to show you how (grand)parenthood-done-right eliminates the need for gyms and zumba classes.

Like Tiggers, they bounced from artwork to biking to swimming to show-time to piano/djembe to batter-batter-batter to more swimming to fighting to making up to iPad games to talking, talking, talking to old Fisher-Price toys to... is it bath-time, yet? Whew! 

Though I dislike being gender-specific, I must say that the boys know their baseball, calling balls and strikes almost perfectly. They pitched well to each other, before the girls left artwork behind to add a tad of shrillness to the stadium's atmosphere. Hunter whacked a couple of Gavin's pitches and then cheered loudly for Gavin, when his hit was lost in the woods, never to be found.

When little, Brian, Christian and Cousins Kim and Vicki were famous for their "shows". They'd invite the neighbors, sell tickets, and (sort of) dance and sing, wearing matching costumes that yours truly hand made. Seems that this generation enjoys the theater, as well. This time, though, they really performed  "The Three Little Pigs". Aubrey was the Big Bad Wolf, and... well... see for yourself. Hmmm, just noticed in the pic that the three little pigs were still wearing their matching Cape shirts. Costumes? The fact that the basement was still storm-wet didn't seem to bother them. Ah, kids are somethin' else. We had to laugh when little Chloe needed a break. Later in the day, she curled up on a pool lounge, covered herself with a towel and went to sleep. When the huge beach ball accidentally beaned her on the noggin, she didn't even budge from dreamland.

And so, the beat goes on, till right before bed-time, when MacBook djembe lessons produced an excellent version of "The Gallop".

Good Night, John-Boy...

Good Night, Jim-Bob...
Good Night, G'ma...
Good Night, G'pa...
♥

The "Official" Review... Elton John

Hey, I (link) said it first, but thought to share this morning's follow-up to my own glowing report. I'm still on an Elton high and happy to post this close-in-context confirmation. Here's the TIMES HERALD-RECORD (link) review from Steve Israel.

Backstrokes - Old News

This gorgeous Rondout adult posed for me.

We had an obligation-free weekend, somewhere back in August. Oh, that's right... that was only a couple of weeks ago. :-) We kicked off a very early Saturday morning with a fantastic movie... one that I'm not quite sure how we missed, since it's from the 1990's. Have you seen "Grace Of My Heart"? It is loosely based on the career of Carole King, going back to the incredible Brill Building days that Diamond fans hear so much of. John Turturro is wonderful, as is the entire cast. And the music!!  Though you'll recognize the beat, it is an original score by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. Fantastic. Joe and I loved this film and consider it a must-see for musically inclined Boomers. "If you guys combine,
if you combust, we ignite, we go."

Morning cleared into a gorgeous day, so we hit the road, a chance to head up to see the Rondout eagles. Well, in this case, just one adult graced us with a mini show. The babes did not make an appearance. It was grand, nonetheless. 

Joe decided to head along the then-peaceful Rondout Creek, through Peekamoose. We ended up in Phoenicia, a trendy little town that I've mentioned before. All hell would break loose, real soon. Not too far away, a favorite town of ours was totally devastated by Hurricane Irene. Sweet little Margaretville took a wicked blow.

Hunter's opinion of the storm went something like this: "Blah, blah, blah." He was not happy that his and Chloe's vacation with us would be delayed. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we lost power and cable, which meant TV, Internet and phone. Then, we lost cell service. Talk about feeling isolated. But we were spared heavy damage, with the exception of a first-time-in-forty-years wet basement-playroom. Could've been a whole lot worse. Brian worked at evacuating people from Neversink riverside homes, about a mile from here. Local Mickey D's patrons weren't happy campers.

Quiche 'n' Candy - Recipe For Success

The day before we took a hit from the now infamous Hurricane Irene, I cooked up a storm. We always lose power, and somehow Weber grilling under torrential rains doesn't appeal to me. We brought Mom here, to keep her safe from the anticipated wild weather. One of my dishes was inspired by leftover Chinese... steamed veggies and chicken. Trader Joe's light coconut milk, a product I'd never before used, was put to good use to create a delicious quiche. Of course, I made my favorite thin crust, before piling in the filling that also included Laughing Cow Light, eggs and herbs. What a delicious treat for Mom 'n' moi. Joe would starve before he'd eat this concoction.

Afterwards, I served 86% dark chocolate in a dish that I'd not used in ages, though it has been in my possession for over 40 years. When I put it on the island, Mom exclaimed,

"Oh, my G-d! I haven't seen that dish in years. When I was a little girl, it was our cheese dish and we always had to keep it full. And see this little cutout? We always kept a spoon in the dish."

 I'd always loved that little piece and remember Gran using it whenever we had pasta, which was very often. When she sold the bungalow, it came home with me and Joe.

So, it's just a dish, right? Ah, but it is a treasure trove of memories. Mom and I did the math. We guesstimate its age to be well over 100 years, as it was brought from Gran's city home to the bungalow. 

You're probably wondering why it's not housing our favorite cheese, grated Pecorino Romano. Did you notice that there was none sprinkled on my quiche? Sad news is, we no longer indulge. It's the high salt content we can no longer afford. But we kind of enjoy the candy substitution... it keeps us singin' in the rain.

Here's to sweetened sunshine... and joy for those whose past is currently a lot more vivid than the occasionally muddled present. ♥

Sir Elton John - Rock 'n' Roll Royalty

Last Night (Photo Credit Bethel Woods)

Once Michelle's party was cancelled for last night, something told me that I should execute a scramble for pavilion seats to see Sir Elton rock Bethel Woods. It was no easy task to score a fantastic location, right smack in a front section. Ah, but you know what is said about a will and a way. Sold out to 18,000 fans, most on a crowded lawn, it was so worth the effort to have had the privilege of enjoying an amazing show.

No need to tell you about a song catalogue as deep as the sea, right? In three hours, with no intermission, The Man touched on a great representation of his music and repeatedly brought the house down. He lengthened "Rocket Man" to perform unsurpassable instrumentals on piano. His voice is richer than ever. Leaving the silly aspect of flamboyance behind, he wore a gorgeous outfit befitting his style. He engaged the audience with the sheer joy he's currently feeling. Thank G-d he overcame the drug addiction that put him in a stupor, the last time we saw him live. He's beaming... and the crowd felt it.

After 2 1/2 hours of non-stop music, he left the stage for a few minutes, only to return with pen in hand. Then, he walked to the opposite side of the platform and began signing for those in the very front.  He strolled and signed the distance back to his piano, where he did an encore of several more well known songs. We've never, as in not ever, seen anything quite like that.

Always, I've loved guitarist Davey Johnstone, who plays an amazing array of instruments. Dynamite. Drummer Nigel Olsson is still too cute for words, a bigger ham than Sir Elton, himself. In addition, we were treated to The Two Cellos, who are young, enthusiastic Croatian musicians. They soloed with a couple of songs, including MJ's "Smooth Criminal", before joining the band... a perfect fit on many numbers.

All in all, we've been musically satisfied, to say the very least. Elton has adopted a flattering sense of humility and could not have been more gracious. At the end of the entertainment marathon, he looked so happy and lively, as though he could have done a repeat. I'm unable to choose just one highlight, except to say that Joe and I agree it was one of our top five favorite shows, ever. Now, his tour takes him to Saratoga, then Ohio and Canada, after which he'll do a couple of weeks in Vegas, before heading out to fulfill this (link) killer schedule. Maybe he'll hit the Garden next year? I'll be on top of that possibility. 

As we returned to our car, we bumped into a local acquaintance. His comment was spot on:

"What is Bethel Woods going to do next year that could possibly top this?"

And to note: While I cannot speak to activity on the lawn, those who sprang for pavilion seats were there for the show. There were no problems. Everyone was glued... mesmerized. For locals reading, it took us an hour to get home. Not bad at all, and exciting because we had so much to talk about. We were even speaking car-to-car, with other over-the-top fans. "Yay!" to the gift of song.

Addendum..Tuesday 9/6

I've just learned that Sir Elton had his crew choose several fans from the distant lawn to fill reserved front-row seats. This placed the lucky ones in the realm of autographs, as well. Is it any wonder people are still buzzing? As for me, I've always loved his music... now, I find myself exceptionally fond of its creator. What a generous showman, in more ways than one.
What a night!

Seeing September In With A Splash

Huge Cape Cod souvenir shirts made for
lots of laughs and an awesome photo shoot.
♥♥Our Gorgeous Baby Grands♥♥

We don't relinquish summer easily, around here; thus our September 1st Cousins' Pool 'n' Play Date, affording us one more raucous time before reading, writing 'n' 'rithmetic take over. Hey, there are five more days till school starts, and we're savoring each and every precious moment. 

Lots of stories to tell from the last few wild and wacky weeks of August. Many in NY felt the tremors of an earthquake that was quickly followed by a much harder-than-anticipated hit from Hurricane Irene. That wild woman decided to veer westward, inflicting unprecedented devastation on the Catskills. But we survived, with a visit from Hunter and Chloe just slightly delayed. Actually, we put Hunter on the payroll, as he helped G'pa clean up a leaf-strewn mess of a pool. 

All told, summer flew by in the blink of an eye. It was fun. We're hoping that Mother Nature inflicts no more injustice for the coming weekend, as the kids have lots planned and we have a date with Sir Elton John at Bethel Woods... one more musical interlude.

I'm happy to be back to CMI, kicking off the month with our beautiful Boy 'n' Girl Grands.