We returned from Schenectady this afternoon and immediately set about installing a garden sculpture gifted to us by my parents. We considered locations in the front of the house but decided on the patio off our family room which we look out across daily. In this location we can enjoy this magnificent piece year round from both inside and outside the house.
The focus is soft, but I really like this photo of Nico by firelight. A speakerphone call to cousin Rory for his comedic interpretation of select lines from the movie Madagascar completed the evening.
As the evening winds down all three generations present gather around the fire in something of a meditative atmosphere.
I took advantage of the wonderful evening light to photograph all the kids with their grandparents. This was one of my favorites.
Leave it to Maya to develop a new method of drinking water. Apparently she prefers drinking from a cup rather than the bottle but can not be bothered to pause for refills. I can do nothing but admire her creativity and inventiveness as she replenishes the water in her glass continuously while drinking from it.
John William must have gotten a good dose of Quinn genes and has grown to be nine feet tall (this is just an estimate). Like Kyle, he is now driving and enjoys soccer and lacrosse. Despite his huge stature, he is soft spoken and gentle.
Rachel is a third generation ballroom dancing sensation, a skilled martial artist, and very powerful soccer and softball player. She knocked pitches from her dad into the yard of the neighbor two houses away. I innocently tossed her a pitch and nearly lost my head when she hit a line drive right at me. I decided it would be best to immediately move on to a different activity well out of her range.
My sister Alissa has followed in my parent’s foot steps and is a highly accomplished ballroom dancer.
Today was spent largely at my sister’s home, where the kids enjoyed the pool, soccer, softball, and a cookout. My parents are pictured here with a little more than half of their grandchildren.
Kyle and Nicolai challenged their father and his father to a match. The toddlers’ early bravado quickly evaporated as their elders amassed an 8-2 lead. Muscles and machismo are no match for experience and cunning.
Calabria family gatherings are incomplete without several games of bocce. Here, the next generation tunes up their skills.
After Kyle’s soccer scrimmage this morning, we drove to Schenectady to spend the weekend with my parents, where we were joined for dinner by my sister Alissa and her family. From the left; Maya, Rachel, John, Alissa, Jeanine & Carl, Angela & Frank, Nicolai, John Jr., and Kyle.
Very early this morning we said goodbye to Jolle who returns to Belgium this morning. She has been a delightful addition to our family for the past few weeks and we will look forward to seeing her again. Perhaps one day her child will visit with one of our kids (or vice-a-versa) extending this foreigh exchange tradition with the Zottemeid family for a third generation.
State Street in Santa Barbara is lined with street musicians and pan handlers who seek to make money from the constant stream of tourists. This gentleman was sporting a very interesting hairdo which seemed very apropos for a beach side community.
Jeanine records the action during a watermelon seed spitting contest among Maya and her friends in the backyard. This will be the last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow it is back to school.
Normally when I travel to Santa Barbara I camp on the beach at Carpenteria State Park. During the summer months the park is often fully reserved. That was the case this time so I stayed at the Fremont Campground in the Santa Ynez Recreation Area on the edge of Los Padres National Forest. This location is much more isolated and quiet but required a 30 minute drive into the very scenic mountains.
This week I will be working out of our Santa Barbara office. My flight to LAX affords me great views of Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. As dramatic, but in an entirely different way, is the Mission Fire burning in the hills above Los Angeles. The city was almost entirely obscured by the smoke which has filled the valley and the magnitude of the fire is apparent from the plumes which resemble an erupting volcano. Between the Kennedy funeral procession and this fire I feel like I was a photojournalist covering the news this week.
Maya attends the birthday party for new friend Eden. The Hanna Montana themed party begins with the creation of a massive banner. After the party Maya and I made a quick stop at the Willard school. The new building seems to be very nearly complete and demolition of the old school appears to be half way done. Maya’s class will be the first to enjoy the brand new school building. Earlier in the day my soccer team opened the fall season with a disappointing loss. I did not get a single shot on goal and nothing came of several very nice crosses and passes to teammates in scoring position.
It took next to no persuasion to convince Jeanine to join in the card games that followed dinner.
A rather large dinner this evening. In addition to the family, we had Jolle plus three of Nicolai’s friends and Kyle’s friend Hanna join us. At times like this, it is nice to have the kitchen island for overflow seating.
Today at work the CEO of Sonos formally announced that he was stepping out of his role as the Conscience of Wi-Fi Performance and passing that responsibility to me. In my monthly departmental newsletter I intend to memorialize this auspicious occasion with the aid of this photo demonstrating my full and total commitment to this crucial role. Our products are distinguished in the market by outstanding wireless performance throughout the home and this is in no small part due to the personal interest my boss has taken in this aspect of our product development.
On the way home from work today I swung by the State House in time to see the Ted Kennedy funeral procession pass by. His body was driven from the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport to the JFK Memorial Library in Boston. The end of the 70 mile journey was through the streets of Boston and the North End which were lined with mourners and respectful onlookers. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause when the hearse, seen here, passed by. Perhaps because I grew up during the years of the Kennedy dynasty (JFK’s assassination is one of my earliest memories), I felt compelled to bear witness and pay my respects to a man who so clearly cared about people and made such a profound impact on social justice. He was not without faults, but no one can deny that he was a great man who will leave behind many great friends and a legacy of legislative leadership that will likely never be matched. Farewell Teddy.
With the lighting worked out last night, Jolle posed for portraits again this evening. She is extremely photogenic, and it was hard to take a bad photo. This was one of my favorites.
I have promised Jolle a nice portrait before she returns to Belgium. This evening, we did a practice session and played around with some different lighting. This was my favorite.
It took almost an hour to get this extreme close-up up but I am glad I put the time in. Doing so made me appreciate the beauty of this flower even more. I do not often speak of God, but admiring the wonders of nature is where I see mine.
A closer view proves even more amazing. If time permits, I may try and get an even closer view of the stamen tips.
Today, I could not help but admire this beautiful flower from Jeanine’s garden. I will ask her what kind it is when I get a chance.
The Revs won 3-1 with all three goals coming from Dube. It was a very exciting game and a late evening breeze made conditions perfect for spectating. Maya who earned all four tickets in exchange for cat sitting was not able to join us because she is still suffering from flu symptoms.
Today was all about soccer. At 8AM the boys and Jolle joined me for a scrimmage with my over 50s team. All three kids held their own with the adults while I played rather pathetically despite finding the net four times. I spent the bulk of the afternoon recovering from the mornings game before taking Jolle, Nico and his friend Haley to a Revolution soccer game at Gillette Stadium. Jeanine prepared a nice tailgate cooler before we left and we enjoyed sushi, chicken drummies, chips and salsa and chocolate pudding before taking our seats.
Kyle’s friend Hannah joins us for dinner this evening along with Nico’s friends Greg and Kevin. Earlier in the day, Jolle and I went kayaking on the Sudbury River. Even though she had little experience, she paddled like a pro. Maya is not feeling well, and I spent the bulk of the day hanging out with her.
I was in the mood for a burrito today and took a short stroll at lunchtime to obtain the object of my desire. Along the way, I saw this interesting juxtaposition of nature and urban infrastructure and thought it would make a nice photo.