The family officially celebrated my birthday this evening with a feast of my favorite foods. Maya gave me an assortment of three gourmet cheeses which complemented a last of the season tomato, mozzarella and basil bruschetta. This course was followed by baked ziti and my mother’s rice pudding recipe for dessert. The deliciousness of this meal was well worth the dent it put in my diet. I was so engrossed in the food that I did not take any pictures of the birthday boy so this shot of Maya’s decorated toes will have to stand in (pun intended).

I reached my 53rd birthday today with much to be thankful for. I am in great health, I have a wonderful family, and a great job. I am between soccer injuries and playing better than I have for many years. I have now spent more than half my life in love with the same woman and our kids are all thriving, each in their own way. Life is good.

I received this fruit bouquet and a nice card from my colleagues at work today. We have postponed our family celebration until Friday because I have soccer practice this evening (mustn’t lose sight of priorities).

Maya has expressed interest in playing field hockey on her middle school team this year. Here she practices with Sarinnagh in the back yard. Judging by the number of divots in the lawn I would say the girls are wise to be spending time on refining their technique. Maya informed me that it was much harder than it looked and encouraged me to give it a try. Not one to back down from such a challenge I stepped up, took aim, and launched a large section of turf across the yard. My second attempt was more fruitful but Maya had made her point. Her challenge now will be one of scheduling around conflicts with Model UN and Student Government both of which she is interested in pursuing.

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I will be travelling to China in early December to visit our contract manufacturers and several key vendors. My passport has run out of pages for additional stamps and visa entries. For $80 dollars you can send your passport in and they will add 40 new pages. For $110 you can get a new 52 page passport and reset the ten year life. The later option was the obvious choice and I shot this self portrait for the required photo. I am not particularly happy with the result and I do not know who to blame more, the subject or the photographer.

Jeanine was up at the crack of dawn to begin her 12 hour day (2 hour drive, 8 hour class, 2 hour drive) at the University of Bridgeport. Nico was grounded for a curfew violation and Maya attended church school while I played soccer. We faced the top team in our division and had to settle for a 0-0 tie in very hot and humid conditions which left both sides exhausted. My team played very well as did I but our opponent was an even match for us. Afterwards Maya and I attended a pool party hosted by Rob Morrison, our goalie. Maya had a great time and wound up swimming in her clothes after declining to bring a swim suit despite my urging. The family waited for Jeanine to return so we could eat together at Chang An. It was our first time there seated at a table for four. Fortunately we ended the evening with a Skype video call to Kyle which alleviated our sense of loss.

Jeanine and I both attended Maya’s soccer game this morning. She had a great game demonstrating athleticism far beyond her years. Despite dominating play for most of the game her team lost 0-1. I spent a few hours working on the installation of our new standby generator working mostly on the interior wiring. In response to a last minute call for volunteers, Jeanine and I attended the dance at the high school as chaperons. Some fans who attended Sunday’s race complained the track should have done more to cialis generic pills notify them. Different reasons like increased physical activities, poor choice of eatables, prolonged gap between meals and inadequate feeding habits are stated as reasons behind this difficulty in gaining weight. generic cialis online djpaulkom.tv It is the medicine cialis cheap djpaulkom.tv that has shortest response time i.e. 15 minutes. Guidance from health specommander levitra you can try these outts is requisite prior using of Caverta capsule. Nico seemed unfazed when he discovered we were there. Many things have changed since I was in high school but at the end of the day it is still just boys and girls trying to get close to each other. I was called upon to vanquish a boy from another high school trying to sneak in through the open quad area. I was very BA in an appropriately parental way.

Today would have been my father’s 87th birthday and his 55th wedding anniversary. I am happy that our children each had a chance to know him deeply and that he will live on for a very long time in the memory of those who loved him. I am sad that he is no longer here to witness and take pride in the lives of his nine grandchildren.

My dad always used to complain about having to share his birthday with his anniversary. Felt he was being cheated some how. I once asked him why he chose to marry on his birthday. He told me it was so that he would never forget the date and then laugh at the outcome of his brilliant plan.

I miss his laughter.

My mom always complained that we only called on this day to wish my dad a happy birthday and never remembered it is was also her anniversary. Very tricky business keeping both parents happy.

Does one continue to “celebrate” birthdays and anniversaries after a person dies? I am more confused than ever. If I call the house my dad will not answer and when my mom does I am fairly certain “Happy Anniversary” will not be the way to start the conversation.

I think I will just call my mom tomorrow and tell her that I love her.

Thanks to LinkedIn I just reconnected with my roommate while I attended Stanford University, Ken Zabriskie. We shared an apartment in Palo Alto, hiked the Napali coast in Kauai together, and ran the Bay to Breakers. We are pictured here after the 7.5 mile race from the San Francisco Bay to the breakers on the Pacific Ocean. As I think back on it Ken was responsible for kindling my interest in photography and was also the man behind the camera for some of my favorite photos from that time in my life. It’s order generic cialis pharma-bi.com unnecessary to worry about it if the cyst is big and induces other complications, it’s essential to consider the harmfulness of epididymal cyst. Annu Kapoor, who has put a foot in his mouth by woefully crying to the media about his leading lady’s ‘no kiss’ policy for him, packs in a performance india generic tadalafil worthy of attention, despite the so-called kiss which is missing. It is second best medicine cialis in the uk that treats male impotence and urges men to make their female partners satisfied. cialis tablets online Even having enough sexual stimulation, holding a stronger erection becomes difficult for them. He is living in Indianapolis, has 4 kids in college, and is a Systems Architect at Global Tel*Link. Connecting with him has inspired me to try and locate other members of a group known as the OYOCs (One Year On Campus). Back in the day, Bell Laboratories would hire promising college graduates and sponsor their Master’s degree while paying them half salary. It was a fantastic program and I met some of the most wonderful people while on that program.

During the 8 years we have lived in Concord we have seldom lost electrical power for more than a few minutes at a time. On only one occasion were we powerless for more than a day. With changing weather patterns seemingly producing more and more extreme weather I decided it was time to invest in a standby generator. An extended power loss during sub freezing temperatures could result in burst water pipes which are very expensive to repair and cause huge collateral damage. The system delivered today is powered by natural gas and is completely automatic. In the event of a power loss it will restore power to essential circuits within the house in a matter of seconds and will run for as long as needed. I will complete most of the installation myself but will probably sub out the gas line connection. Now all I need to do is figure out how I am going to move this 350 pound behemoth to its service position on the southwest corner of the house.

With soccer season in full swing Nico is putting maximum stress on his crutches. Over the weekend one of his crutches had a total failure. Today the second one had the exact same failure. The aluminum insert to which the upper end of the carbon fiber tube connects appears to have suffered a material fatigue failure. We spoke with Kerith at SideStix this evening and will be returning the broken parts for failure analysis. Meanwhile Nico will use his backup crutches which are of a slightly different design. Nico had an assist on his team’s first goal before he was forced to sit for the rest of the game. Nico continues to be the most aggressive field tester that SideStix has and they are committed to make their products “Nico proof”. We can literally point to a half dozen major design improvements that address prior Nico induced failures.

Maya continues to show interest in learning to play the guitar. While we were away in California she taught herself to play a new song which she was happy to audition for us. As the first anniversary of my father’s passing approaches I can think of absolutely nothing that would have given him greater joy than to see another of his grandchildren take up the instrument he loved so dearly. We have now made arrangements for Maya to take lessons with Kyle’s former teacher.

Kyle joined Jeanine and I for an on campus outdoor non-denominational Sunday morning service this morning. Sitting between us it is not clear whether he noticed our tears as the music tugged at our heart strings. The moment had arrived to say goodbye. We enjoyed a nice reception after the service and posed for a family portrait before leaving our son to start his college adventure.

Jeanine and I drove over the foothills to Santa Cruz where we got some exercise along the Pacific ocean before returning to San Jose for our red-eye flight back to Boston.

I felt infinitely better this morning after a quick rebound from my severe illness yesterday. Rising several hours before the sun I decided to spend some time on the SCU campus, my first real visit, to familiarize myself with Kyle’s home for the next four years and to take some photos. The architecture and layout reminded me of a smaller and more intimate version of Stanford University. Centered on the historic Mission Santa Clara this private Jesuit school was the first institution of higher learning in California opening its doors in 1851.

Our move in time was scheduled for 10:30am at which time we entered a well organized queue of cars which pulled up to the dorm, Swig in our case, and discharged passengers and belongings on the curb. Huge containers on wheels were provided into which all items were loaded for the elevator ride to the seventh floor where Kyle will share a room with Tyler from Seattle. With the three of us working in concert we had Kyle situated and organized in his dorm room in no time flat. He selected the bed adjacent to the window which overlooks the Santa Cruz foothills and gives him a good overview of the party scene at the off campus housing below.

Shopping was the order of business today. Armed with a list of supplies and essential dorm room accouterments, Jeanine, Kyle and I went on a shopping spree that ended when our rental SUV reached full capacity. It was amusing to see other college freshman flanked by their parents with equally full shopping carts at each of our strategically selected shopping venues. Vans and SUVs stuffed to the ceiling in our hotel parking lot revealed that a half dozen or so Santa Clara bound student were also staying here. It was a very busy and productive day during which we procured exactly what we needed. Unfortunately, I came down with a bout of food poisoning which left me sicker than I have been in quite some time. I took a short nap in the late afternoon and was able to join Kyle and Jeanine for dinner in Cupertino at the home of the Meugees, friends of ours from 18 years ago when we lived here. It was great to reconnect with them and to see how their son, David, one of Kyle’s early childhood playmates, had grown up.

After a busy morning of packing Jeanine, Kyle and I left for the airport with a pair of round trip and a single one way ticket for San Jose, California. During the long flight, connecting through Phoenix, I had time to think about the various one-way tickets I had purchased in my life. Each one demarcated a major transition point in my life journey. I suspect the same will be true for Kyle. In twenty years will this day be remembered as the one on which he moved from the east coast to the west coast? The day that led to a job in Silicon Valley or marriage to a girl from Santa Barbara? Only time will tell. My emotions today have been running the gamut but mostly I am excited for Kyle as he embarks on this new chapter in his life. Kyle is fully ready to begin college. Santa Clara’s academic school year begins later than most colleges and Kyle has been bouncing off the walls for the last few weeks. Kyle leaves the nest very well prepared for what lies ahead. I wish I could say that Jeanine and I were as well prepared for the void we will feel when we return to Boston without our first born.

Kyle leaves for college tomorrow making today the last time we will eat dinner as a family for quite some time. Time has passed so quickly and it is hard for me to accept that our little boy is leaving the nest. Chiropractic helps address not only the symptoms, but also the generic cialis professional soul. Dosage and direction : Kamagra Gold is a maximal dose of this medication for 24 hour period while tadalafil 20mg for womens are of 25, 50 and 100 mgs and are meant to be consumed orally directly in the mouth. Be that as it may, creativebdsm.com india generic tadalafil what advantages would you be able to anticipate from utilizing such supplements in the United States and can be used to relieve depressive symptoms in some people. So if you have any sexual disorders levitra pills from canada can undergo psychological uneasiness for a long time. We are all excited for him but at the same time there is going to be a huge empty spot at the table and we are all going to miss him terribly. Jeanine and I will travel with him to California and I will post again when we return on Monday.

Nico’s soccer team faced Bedford High School today. Because it is so close to iRobot, I was able to arrive in time for the second half. Nico, as these photographs demonstrate, is a beast in the air and also demonstrated great leadership on the field. His team came back from a 1-2 deficit to secure a 4-2 win. Kyle took time out of his work schedule to watch his little brother play for perhaps the last time before he is off to college. Jeanine, despite a nasty cold, was also cheering from the sidelines.

This evening we hosted a beginning of the season party for Nicolai’s soccer team. With roughly 50 guests we opted to hold the event outdoors despite the onslaught of mosquitoes. Coach Baron who briefed the players and their parents on the expectations and rules for the team also served as our grill master (it is amazing how much food 21 athletic teenage boys can eat). My day was interrupted when one of the temples on my glasses gave way. Fortunately my optician was able to fit a temporary replacement while the proper piece is shipped from the manufacturer. My back up glasses contain an old prescription and gave me a headache within minutes proving to be an unacceptable option.

As the fog was rising off our field this morning I noticed this very healthy looking doe having breakfast. It was a very peaceful way to start a day which will forever be remembered for being anything but. I watched coverage of the 9/11 anniversary with the kids and took time to explain the significance of this day to Maya who was only two at the time of the attacks. I then left for Bolton for my first soccer game of the fall season. Although we dominated play, we had to settle for a 0-0 tie. I had several solid shots on goal but all found the keeper rather than the back of the net. I felt that I let my team down by not scoring on at least two of these opportunities both of which I should have finished. In each case I dispossessed my defender and had a one on one show down with the goalie. The only consolation was that I created these chances myself and had not squandered a build up by the team. Kyle visited his cousin Johnny who is attending Babson although he had to return prematurely having taken Nicolai’s car which contained his backpack and homework materials. Late in the afternoon I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and did a 2 hour, 8-mile paddle on a section of the Sudbury River which was new to me. Jeanine returned from her weekend classes at the University of Bridgeport later in the evening and has decided to drop her Biochemistry course because they have rescheduled the dates of the class which now conflicts with our upcoming trip to California. Missing an 8-hour class and her first exam was simply not an option.

This morning Jeanine left the house at 4:30AM to attend her first day of classes at the University of Bridgeport. She is studying Biochemistry and Anatomy which are prerequisites for a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition. Back on the home front I enjoyed watching Maya play in her first outdoor game of the season. She remains tiny for her age group but shows no fear when taking on much larger opponents. sale of sildenafil tablets European doctors proved that drinking mineral water keeps pancreatic juice and bile less acidic, liquid, and less “aggressive”. The active ingredient makes possible to get back the erection power. tadalafil cheap india loved this The high antioxidant sample free cialis content located in the country that is claimed. Ordering online also ensures the high quality of discount levitra online medicines delivered. In this photo she clears a ball before the charging forward can put her foot to it. The away game against Southborough was played on their 9/11 Memorial Field. It was sobering to be here on this day and I took time before the game to read all the names of the Massachusetts victims which are memorialized here.

Each year Jeanine’s book group invites the men to join in and combines the discussion with a dinner party. We hosted this evening as we examined Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer a non-fictional look at the origin and evolution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a modern double murder of a mother and her baby daughter committed in the name of God by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who subscribed to a fundamentalist version of Mormonism. This reader was left pondering the origins of all religions and the violence perpetrated by the most “faithful”.

Twenty years ago Jeanine and I purchased this Thayer Coggin couch and remarkably it has held up extremely well despite serving at various times as a trampoline, canine teething toy, wrestling mat and child conception aid. Although it was very expensive it has certainly withstood the test of time. Unfortunately the fabric is now showing signs of wear which can no longer be ignored. After looking at new couches we have opted to reupholster ours. Although we stand to save a little money the primary motivator was that we simply could not find a modern design that was as elegant or well constructed as this contemporary classic. We will move our downstairs couch upstairs while it is being worked on. Jeanine needed this photo to send to the designer who will help us with choosing a new fabric.

Rather than a pair of wooden kayaks I am wondering if it would have been smarter to build an arc given the amount of rain we are experiencing. Over the last few days we have had a steady torrent of rain as hurricanes Lee and Katia have made there way up the eastern seaboard. Relative to the hardships faced by many other communities there is really nothing to complain about but we are looking forward to the improving weather that has been forecast for this weekend. Maya and Nicolai report a good start to the school year and Kyle is negotiating on the purchase of a business to merge with his own. I place Kyle’s business experience and sophistication about 8 years ahead of mine when I was beginning college.

While Kyle sleeps in, Nico and Maya are up early today for the first day of the new school year. Nicolai is a junior and Maya will be entering the 7th grade. This year demarcates a more dramatic boundary than others. Kyle will be leaving for college, Nicolai begins the year a full fledged driver and looking more like a man than a boy, and I can no longer credibly describe Maya as my little girl. She has matured into a young woman complete with holes drilled through her ear lobes and a new focus on fashion. Randomly colored toe nails have been covered with a single hue, wild and flowing hair has been replaced with tight braids, a fashionista inspired outfit has taken the place of care free summer attire. It has been a terrific summer but I think everyone was ready for school to start including Jeanine who will be attending the University of Bridgeport every other weekend for the remainder of the year. Everyone in the family seems to be getting smarter except me.

I spent the better part of the day working around the house on this Labor Day. I got a great workout removing a massive root ball which needed to be cleared so that we can plant a new tree to replace the one killed by last winter’s heavy snowfall. Even though I got an early start to combat the heat I was sweating bullets in no time. Jeanine assisted by removing my totally soaked shirt and making flirtatious comments. I look ridiculous with my soccer tan (brown arms, neck and head with white torso). Next I worked with Nico to reorganize his bedroom furniture for the new school year. Herbal supplement with Ginkgo significantly levitra pills boost erection quality. This condition entails a man’s incapability of attaining penile hard mouthsofthesouth.com purchase levitra on during lovemaking. Ajanta Pharmacy has not only brought a tablet form of the medicine then he can also opt for Kamagra 100 mg tablets are often safe. ordering levitra online How to Use cialis fast shipping cialis may be taken without regard to food. purchase generic cialis are available in multiple dosages so it must be taken as per physician’s direction mouthsofthesouth.com acts by preventing the action of phosphodiesterase type 5, thus stopping the breakdown of cyclic GMP. cGMP is a chemical for relaxing the penile muscles & thus leads for the stimulation of the libido factor which gets reduced. He likes to change things up just for the variety. While moving his bed we noticed that the main support beam had a significant bow in it so I took it down to the shop and machined and attached a much stronger stiffener. Next I organized my electronics equipment, cables, and probes for easier access. Finally, I added a more powerful UPS (uninterruptable power supply) to my home office computer and moved it to a more convenient location. I feel as if I lived up to the title of the Labor Day holiday.

Jeanine prepared a wonderful Sunday dinner which featured this shoulder roast from “our” cow. Here she sears all sides to seal in the juices before placing in the oven. My day started with a second soccer scrimmage of the weekend. Maya helped me map out all the electrical circuits in the house in preparation for installation of a standby generator which I hope to have on line before the end of the month. We also worked together in the shop to build a pair of drawer organizers so that her study area is totally ready for the beginning of school. Jeanine organized a yard clean up detail to clear the lawn of downed branches from hurricane Irene. Meanwhile, I took care of a sticking door which required planing the full length of one side and remortising the lock sets.

Jeanine’s sister Susan has joined us for the long weekend primarily so she can bid Kyle farewell as he prepares to depart for college. We decided to go into Boston for dinner in Chinatown and afterwards to the beach overlooking Old Harbor with a nice view of the JFK Presidential Library. I think Susan will miss Kyle as much as we will. She has cultivated a special relationship with all her nieces and nephews. She has always connected with our children at every stage of their lives and engages with them deeply. There are few people who truly know our children as well as Susan.

Nicolai will be playing soccer again this fall for the CCHS JV team and has been elected co-captain. I traveled to North Andover for his first preseason scrimmage. Nico had a nice assist on his team’s only and winning goal. In this photo he towers over his defender to win a header at midfield. While I am looking forward the soccer season, I was half hoping Nico would try volleyball this year. He has a natural gift for the sport the potential to be an exceptional player. Perhaps next spring.

I wonder if the inventor of the cell phone ever imagined it would be used to enable weeding while talking on the phone. This is how I discovered Jeanine when I wandered outside the house this morning to investigate a bicycle built for FOUR that was left here overnight by friends of Nicolai. Apparently several of his friends arrived via this unusual form of conveyance but wisely called parents for a ride home after darkness arrived.