Sunday, September 17, 2006

A bump in the road

June 20th, a day I think I'll remember for a long time. After working for my company for 25+ years they announced that the plant will be closing and no longer manufacturing, needless to say I have been on a emotional rollercoaster, sometimes up and sometimes down. While we have been on a few trips this summer no where's near as many as last year camping has lost some of it's zest, while camping I have spent more time thinking and worrying about what will happen and where we will be. That has taken a lot of the fun out of it, so we have spent more time around the house catching up on some of yard work and enjoying each other's company, I thank my wife Debbie for her upbeat attitude constantly telling me we will be alright, we have cried and we have laughed over the past 3 months, we have contemplated moving and staying, looking at pro's and con's of each.
My one goal is to seek employment and stay with my company here in Groton, next week is a big week for us, two interviews with our research division, Time will tell how this bump in the road affects our ride in life....... I thank God for the support of my wife and family.

So this blog was about camping and while I haven't posted much about that I do hope to update this as much as possible with what goes on in our life and if you like to read about wine please check out my son's blog http://riwineguy.blogspot.com/ good reading and he know's his stuff.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Vacation Time

Were heading out this afternoon, although it looks like a gloomy week ahead of us. Not going to far, We will be going to Nomandy Farms in Foxboro MA until Friday and then back to our nice state park Rocky Neck in Niantic CT for the July 4th holiday and returning home July 7th.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Egret 2


We had a very quiet weekend, just Deb and I. We went on a couple of nice bike rides, spent a couple of hours down by the beach, however the sun did not co-operate but it gave us a chance to try out our new beach chairs, I really like them!
And Saturday early evening after our nap with had a pleasant surprise, Joan and Pete stopped by and visited, which was really nice.
The site we were on was Egret 2, very nice and private definitely will be back to this one!

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Relay For life 6/3/2006

This weekend was the relay for life, our team was called AnnGeri in honor of Debs mom Ann who died of brain cancer and my mom who died of breast and lung cancer, we pulled our camper in Friday night the day before the walk helped set some things up and retired for the night.

The rains came Friday and night and did not let up until the relay was over Sunday morning but the walk went on with a tribute to the survivors.



We had some real troopers helping us with our walk,

Our survivor...Poppy!

It was a real trip getting the camper out after the deluge of rain, another memory and a lesson learned, it will be the last time I pull into a field for camping!.

It was for a great cause and I got to spend some great time with my kids Diane, Johnny and my daughter in-law Katie.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Memorial Day 2006

We went to Rocky Neck State Park (again) staying on Egret 8, we like Egret because it is a back loop and not as much traffic as the others. I called Deb Thursday and told her I was going out that night and I had taken Friday off, why not jump start the weekend off early? it was so nice setting up and no one else in the park, literally there was on 3 sites occupied.








We woke up Friday morning to some special guest....Turkeys! so cool to see them out and about.


Friday was spent going to the grocery store getting all the fixens for the weekend, then I had a Dr's appointment came back and watch the rest of the campers file in.




Saturday was French Toast and sausage and then a nice bike ride, actually three bike rides for the day, my favorite was when Deb went down to the beach with Pete and I, Pete took a nice picture for us! you know if you click the picture it comes up full size?











Sunday was the family picnic and MargretsB-day (i'm sure I spelt her name wrong...shoot me..lol) The picnic did not go off with out incident, Margaret (how's that?) was involve in a pedestrian/bicycle accident....long story short she went to the hospital and got checked out bruises and cuts and returned before dark for presents and cake. want the whole story?...call Pete.
So who was there? Joan and Jim, Poppy and Pat, Diane, Mac, Joey, Lisa, Margaret, Moria, Martin, Stacy and kids, Joan's sister.....can't remember her name....damn!.. Joan and Pete, Carrie and Bill, Karen, Billy and Michelle, Austin, Bailey, Taylor and Michael. I think I got everyone.

It really was a nice weekend, next weekend we are going to take the camper up to Fitch high school for the relay for life walk, kind of like a home base for our team. 24 hours to benifit Cancer research.

You can also check out all our pictures at Webshots, just click the link on the right called "Our Photo Album"

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Rocky Neck 5/20/06


Once again we ventured to Rocky Neck, a blustery weekend it was and even a couple of rain showers, and don't ask we didn't find the pot of gold.
We stayed on Egret 4 again and this time Joan and Pete joined us, the regulars Diane, Poppy and Pat came for a burger and a fire, only the brave few would not relent to mother nature.

And the rest you ask? where could they be?


There they are!

We will be here next weekend for Memorial Day, hopefully Katie and Johnny will stop by when we have our annual picnic on Sunday.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Wine Spoof

Another rainy weekend so what better thing to do than to take a few minutes and update my blog, were hoping the outlook for next weekend will be better and another camping trip to Rocky Neck will await us. But for now I will have a little fun with my buddie riwineguy.

The newest bottle has arrived. I am debating whether or not to share this glorious news already. But seeing as it is raining, I'll share. First, the story. I had been craving this bottle since its release back in October. It is the one wine I plan on maintaining a vertical(same wine, consecutive vintages) of for hours to come. I know it was available at local shops, but declined purchase because of the cost ($6.99), I figured I'd save up the cash by not buying beer a week. Then, Wine Spectator names it Wine of the Year! The wine sells like hot cakes at every store in the area and the world. I kept my eyes peeled, but it seemed that everywhere was sold out. Until last Sunday when I stumbled across it in Better Value. Sure enough wine.com, who was out of the wine two weeks ago, and still didn't have any left. I checked with my Taffy for approval of the purchase, even though its my beer money paying for it. Once she said yes, I ran back to the store, Now about the wine (insert drumroll here....)! A bottle of 1984 David Tower Cranberry Apple, This wine is the flagship of all Massachusetts wine and the Commonweath Winery. It is the wine that has pushed cranberries from its New England throne. Oh baby am I pleased! This one will age quite nicely in the garage.
The anticipation was to great I had to uncork this baby, I knew from the moment I put the cork screw in and the cork split into a million pieces it was going to be special, the first taste was bitter and went down with a mild burning sensation, my lips puckered and my eyes rolled, my first reaction was to spit however I swished and swallowed, sadly the remainder of the bottle saw it's way to the back yard where the grass eventually turned brown. Truly a remarkable and rememorable experience.
Till next time, arivaderchi!


Johnny, I love you

Happy Mothers day


You are gone but oh so not forgotten, this day you are thought of much like the spring flowers, so full of life.Today we remember all the good times and smiles you brought to us, We will try not to be sad because we know your in a good place, no more pain, no more sadness, a sunny spring day everyday,

Saturday, May 06, 2006

May 6th


No camping this weekend, it's gorgeous this morning and I actually contemplated spending the night in the camper anyhow, I have the duty for the next two week so it is always good to be near a phone or good reception, Today will be spent cleaning up the house, company coming tomorrow after we have a mass for Ann (Mom) we sure do miss her!

New Friends



Deb and I with a couple of new friends

Bryce Canyon


Just a photo from our trip to Vegas, Bryce Canyon a magical place....Deb and I felt very much at peace, a surreal moment....I was glad to share it with her.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Rocky Neck Egret 4


We stayed on Egret 4, I wasn't very successful backing in and in fact it took me quite a few tries, the weather was awesome, breezy and cold at night, when we arrived the ranger told us to take any empty site pull in and come back and register.
Just like we planned we had chili and wings on Friday and hot dogs and burgers on Saturday, for visitors we had Poppy, Pat and Diane on Saturday, the heat came on a lot, Sunday morning when I woke up because it was cold I found the battery went dead so the furnace wouldn't come on, it didn't help that I left the outside light on.....Oops.. Thank goodness for the Honda 2000i generator!
I really had a nice relaxing weekend!

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Rocky Neck Opens

Deb emailed yesterday, Rocky Neck opens this weekend ....wanna go?.....absolutely, so that is where were off to friday afterwork Rocky neck state park in Niantic CT, how can you beat the price $15.00 plus a $3 processing fee.
Chicken wings and chili are on the menu for Friday, Nathans hot dogs and burgers for Sat night.
The only bad thing about Rocky Neck....No pets.... sorry Taffy you have to stay home with Diane.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Photos from 4/15/06

Pete & Diane
Deb & Pat
Pat, Joan & Poppy
Master Chef
Messing around with Johnny

1st Trip


Easter weekend was our first trip of the 2006 camping season, we headed out Thursday evening afterwork, Deb got out of work an hour early so we could go together, Deb would go to her class from the campground. We stayed at Strawberry Park in Preston CT, it was early in the season so it was like half price, good thing because I wouldn't stay there for full, it has been about 4 years since we sayed there, and we haven't missed anything it was just like I remembered, way to many park models, reminded me of a trailer park, and our site was nothing but dirt, Taffy and I stayed and got camp set up while Deb went to class, we had a nice evening as thunderstorms moved through, Friday afternoon Johnny came by and visited and told us all about his interview for the Griswold teaching job, I think he has a very good shot, anyways it was great to chat with him, not to mention he beat me at sequence. Then an old co-worker of Deb's came by with her husband, Cindy and Mark we had hot dogs and burgers and great conversation, also Deb found out her old job is open with the town, could life be taking another turn for Deb?...stay tuned...


Saturday we had Poppy and Pat over for kilbasa, hot dogs and burgers, and we were surprised to her from our camping buddies Joan and Pete back from Florida, a little early because of an injury, so they came by and we had a great time, even diane came out and spent some time with us, it's going to be a great season, I sleep so much better and so refreshed, it really is a stress relief for me!

Sunday, April 09, 2006

My Team

My Partner in Crime Debbie

Taffy

The 5th Wheel



Our home away from home, this is where I unwind.