Back in the groove

Three weeks have passed and this blog has been very lonely. Well that trip was planned, booked and taken! Where does the time go?

The trip was great, we had a wonderful time exploring Virginia; Winchester was full of history, Old Town Winchester was very quaint and the Skyline Drive was fantasic. I want to go back in the fall when the colors are at their peak, I'm sure it will be simply breath-taking!

The nights, well they were mostly spent in West Virginia at Charles Town Races and Slots. Steve had a great time, he loves to watch the horses. One thing I can be sure of: I can go anywhere in the world, as long as there's a race track!

This statue of George Washington is located at the George Washington Office Museum in Winchester, VA.

More updates to come, come back soon!

Trip Planning Day

Sorry to say I didn't have a chance to take any pictures today. It was very busy in the office and I spent the evening planning a short get-away to West Virginia and Virginia, it should be a fun trip, I've never been to either place!


But, I did have to time to pick this oldie out of the computer!

View from Central Park (June 2006)

A View From the Garden Gate

This a view of the Cross Estate from the garden gate.

We took a ride to Morristown and visited the Ford Mansion. Morristown is the location of the George Washington's Headquarters during the "Harsh Winter" of 1779 -1780.

The day included a trip to the Cross Estate Gardens and downtown Morristown. My husband travels through this area frequently and says the town is really pretty during the holidays. We'll just have to go back and check it out!

Cold Spring Day

Today was a cold and rainy day here in Central NJ. It felt more like November than June; where is the spring weather?

I decided to just take a quick shot of a few memories left from yesterday

Have a great Saturday!

Tourist Day

We made it, living a day as a tourist and we had a great time! Katie and I celebrated our birthday by going to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I've always lived within 40 miles of these national treasures and finally made my first visit today!

The "Great Hall" in b&W manhattan in the background

Katie, who loved the Museum, getting a shot of an exhibit. This was really pretty cool, from one angle it was a collage of people and from the other it was an American flag.

Jess, Cindy and Katie and the Wall of Names

A collage made with Picasa

Fresh Beginnings/Sweet Endings

Here we go starting a brand new "Trip Around the Sun"

There's a story behind the choices made for today's post, one I'll probably share in great detail another time, but my daughter Kate and I share the same birthday and this Jimmy Buffett song has a special meaning to us.

We went out to dinner to celebrate last night and today we're taking a day trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A day we've been looking forward to for a couple of weeks. I'm really excited to spend the day with her and my brother Ed.

Kate got her birthday gift, a new camera, early so she wanted me post this picture she took of Maddox wishing us both Happy Birthday!

Isn't he cute? He sure keeps us all entertained!

A very heated race is being run in Edison, NJ today. With 3 people on the ballot, one a complete newbie, with no political background; one incumbent, who has made many enemies; and one long time resident that has served on council under several administrations.

In a town where the average income of the working class resident is less than $50K and civil servants are earning twice that amount, does it really matter how we vote? Unions and civil servants are the only voices heard in town hall. Like most of what is going on through out the state and country; the inmates are running the asylum!

Updated 6/3 @ 9:29 am
Mayor Edison Dem - Primary -- 0 of 78 precincts reporting (0%)
William Araujo 1%
Jun Choi (i) 47%

And the Winner is Antonia Ricigliano 52%

God bless the tax payers; what's left of them!

Month's End

It's hard to believe that May just flew right by, time seems to get more fleeting with each passing year. I haven't posted to the blog in over three weeks, something that I need to fix in the coming days.

Sure I've been busy, but so has everyone else. As June brings with it the end of another "Trip Around the Sun" for me (and my daughter too) I will try to do a daily update along with a 365 on Flicker. Making that public announcement is scary, it's making an open commitment to start a project and complete it.

I've enjoyed reading many blogs since I started this one up again in January. Many are like-minded photography enthusiasts, but most are much better writers. More insightful observers of the world around them, willing to share their thoughts with the blogosphere. Committed to those that are following their blogs, and sharing their thoughts by bravely posting comments on what they've had the pleasure to view.

I'll finish this month with some of my favorites from this past weekend, watching Maddox sleep-in Sunday, he loves to cuddle up with whomever is sleeping latest and moves from person to person as they arise from their slumber!



Feeling oh so sleepy...





Is it wake-up time?





Oh, never mind!

Memorial Day Parade

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou

While Memorial Day weekend is celebrated as the "unofficial" start of summer and celebrated with BBQ's and trips to the shore, let us not forget the true meaning of the day and take some time to remember those who have given the greatest gift, their lives, for our freedom to partake in these celebrations. And may all keep prayers in our hearts that all of our troops stay safe as they continue acts of heroism necessary to keep us that way.

A day of remembrance, proudly exhibited by the participants in Metuchen's Memorial Day Parade. There was a nice crowd lining Main Street anxiously awaiting the beginning of the parade

All-American "Coke and a Flag" family waiting...

First up, the Color Guard representing the Armed Forces

The all but forgotten Viet Nam Veterans

The Coast Guard

The young and ambitious from Lincoln HS JROTC

A great showing by the Fire Department

Even Bagpipers from Keyport, NJ were marching in this parade

And of course, those adorable young ones that just take your heart away

Memorial Day Weekend

The long weekend brought with it the opportunity to get outside and explore with camera in hand. Only this time I made sure to check the settings, those pictures from Mother's Day would have been fantastic if I'd reset the camera from the previous shoot which was in a theater with virtually no light (and NO FLASH ALLOWED). Well guess every newbie learns that lesson sooner or later.

Saturday afternoon found me at Lake Papaianni in Edison, NJ. There were a few things I found interesting in this very small park with a pond.

A little late in the season, but this flower was hanging in there



A couple of boys were also exploring



A couple of fishermen had some high hopes



And Maddox certainly was excited to be out about



Unfortunately he just gets too excited so we have to keep him on a lease. He's very friendly and would just run off to Meet and Greet everyone within his sights.

There were a couple of mallards, including this one



Tons of geese,





including a band of charging goselings





They all finally calmed down to follow Mom and Dad back to the pond



We finished the trip with one very tired Maddox in our car



A good time was had by all!

Mother's Day

May was a busy month, photo opportunities presented themselves at every turn. Since my last post on May 9th, I spent a wonderful Mother's Day exploring the Shore starting with a visit to the Marina in Atlantic Highlands



Then the Monmouth County 9-11 Memorial at Mount Mitchill also in Atlantic Highlands





Maddox had a great day too, he loved being out and about in all the new surroundings.

Chilling at Mount Mitchill



The gang with Maddox for his very first visit to Asbury Park beach



Meeting new friends and socializing at the beach



Watching the early season Surfers

More Fun with Wordle

Time for some fresh Wordle art

Happy Mothers' Day

Wishing all those very special people a Very Special Day. This drink is on me, enjoy!

Off to the office

Off to the office
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

It's been awhile since we've been out with the camera. A couple of weeks ago Rosie came along to the office to help get a new PC ready for delivery to a customer