Happy Hanukah

The first of 8 crazy nights. I got me some sweet Viking pajama bottoms and I'm not even Jewish. I heart pajamas and the whole casual pants catagory.

National Yule Log

Driving in to work this week like usual, brings me past Presidents Park, which is right behind the White house. This is the home of the vary large and gaudy National Christmas Tree and the yes, you guessed it, the National Yule Log. It's really just a big fire pit with some rather large logs burning 24x7 for most of December that the Park Service added to the National Christmas Tree area in Presidents Park in the recent past. The problem I'm having is that when I get to that spot on 15th street where I get a big whiff of the burning wood, I want to turn around and light a fire in my fireplace instead of continuing on to work.

It's pretty cold in these parts today and I will head home in a few hour and get that fireplace blazing. I wonder if I can get one installed in my office?

New Fairfax County Cemetery Database

For those of you that have been to our house, this cemetery is right behind us and the one below is a little three stone plot right off Telegraph road. I really didn't have the full story on either but now with the new database, I have most of the story.

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH - SHARON CHAPEL

The first church was built here in 1848 as a mission of the Virginia Theological Seminary. That building burned in 1864, the same year that SAMUEL and THOMAS PULMAN became the first members buried in the cemetery. The third building was erected in 1903 and used until the congregation was combined with St. Marks Episcopal Church and the church closed in 1955. In 1959 Sharon Chapel reopened as a mission of the Diocese of Virginia. The current church was built in 1961. The congregation became a Parish in 1974 and the current name adopted.

Pullman/Struder Family Cemetery

5918 Telegraph Rd., Franconia, Va.

This small cemetery is on a triangular shaped lot and contains an undetermined number of burials. A 10' x 20' brick border has been installed around the three existing headstones and one marble corner marker. Daffodils and annuals have been planted inside the border. All three headstones have been broken in half. The cemetery is clean and well maintained.

---

(1) IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF OUR DEAR MOTHER ADELIA STRUDER BORN JUNE 22, 1842 DIED DEC. 17, 1911 May she rest in peace. f.s. "A. S."

---

(2)
....
SEPT. 8, ----
DIED FEB. 28, 1906
May he rest in peace.
f.s. "V. S."

(Top half of stone missing)

---

(3)
MARTHA ROSEANNA
DAUGHTER OF
VICTOR & ADELIA
STRUDER
BORN AUG. 8, 1860
DIED APRIL 2, 1899
At rest
f.s.

First Basketball Game

First Basketball Game
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting warmed up for some basketball action. This is a little painful
to watch.

Got the tree

Got the tree
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Went out this morning as the cold rain was turning to a wet snow and
picked out our 2009 Christmas tree. Going to let it dry in the
screened porch while we go to the boys first basketball game. Yes, the
7 year old terrepins are taking in some other team in the first rugby/
basketball game of the season.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Terra Cotta Warriors
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The whole wso staff went next store to the National Geographic to see
the Terra Cotta army. It is worth a trip if your in town in the next
few months. It's not a huge exhibit but tells a great story of china
more than 2000 years ago and has a couple dozen warriors from the
excavation pits in xig.

Check it out online here.
www.nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors/

Thanksgiving Photo's and Recap


We really did have a good time in New York last week, even with the 7 hour trip home. We packed a ton of stuff into five days and they boys didn't want to leave on Saturday morning. I didn't get any pictures but the boys went to the samurai exhibit at the MET on Tuesday and then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge before Nicole and I saw Finian's Rainbow with Adam and Emmy while the boys and grandparents went to the Incredible Mr. Fox. On Wednesday we saw Shrek the Musical, which the boys loved. Thursday morning we went up to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx where we saw the holiday train display. The US Botanic Garden has a holiday train display with DC buildings that we have visited a couple times over the years but this one was all New York buildings.

On Friday we took the boys to the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Museum on the Hudson. We went there back when the boys were about 3 but they had forgotten completely that they had been there before. We also decorated Adam's first ever Christmas Tree which was fun. It was also nice to hang out with Linda, Gil, Adam, Elaine and Emmy. Not to mention Emmy's dog Cinnamon, with whom Sam really bonded. Well, it was either the dog or Emmy herself that kept Sam begging to take the dog out for walks. I think he had a crush on the girl, not the dog.

Two weeks till Hanukkah and four weeks till Christmas. It's a busy time of year.

Don't forget to click on the links above to see the many pictures, many of which were taken by Sam and Dylan. I've started giving them the small cameras while I focus on taking movies.

Back from New York

Back from New York
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Had a long trip back home today thanks to a burning semi on the new
jersey turnpike. Not a great way to end a fun 5 days on the city.
Adams place is fantastic but the one thing it lacks is a fireplace. I
have a big blaze going right now and I'm trying to melt the stress
away before getting in my own bed and sleeping for a good while.

In this picture they are looking tough in the grand central terminal
subway station. I think it looks like their first album cover.

Rock Star Hair

Rock Star Hair
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan taking after uncle Adam after our chilly trip to the Intrepid
Aircraft Carrier museum on the Hudson. We are now back at the boys
favorite restaurant just off Washington Square. Adam is having a post
thanksgiving party tonight then back to dc tomorrow.

New York Botanical Garden

New York Botanical Garden
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys took a ton of pictures of the trains and NY buildings built
out of plant material. The garden is a really nice park in the middle
of the Bronx. We need to visit again when we have more time to
explore. I will post a Flickr gallery later with all the cool photos.

Subway Home

Subway Home
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The play was really good. We ended up going backstage to meet the
actors and check put the amazing set. This was the boys favorite show
to date and while their are not a lot of memorable songs, the
production was fantastic.

Lots of cooking going on tonight. I will be doing a lot of wine
drinking.

Ready for shrek

Ready for shrek
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Look to the Rainbow

Look to the Rainbow
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Saw a nice production of Finians Rainbow last night with Nicole, Adam
and Emmy. Not a musical I knew very well but it had a few numbers I'd
heard before like Devils Moon and that rainbow song. Off to see Shrek
the musical with the boys and the entire Duritz crew in a couple
hours. A contrast of old broadway and new in less than 24 hours.

Cal Sam

Cal Sam
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Brooklyn Bridge

Map your trip with EveryTrail

Safe in NYC

Safe in NYC
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Well, safely here, now uncle Adam is going for a sack in the kitchen.

Purple Belts

The boys got purple belts on Saturday and are that much closer to black. Getting ready for Thanksgiving the rest of the weekend. This year has gone fast.

Happy Birthday Mae


Hope you get lots of good stuff....

It's beginning to look a lot like...

It's beginning to look a lot like...
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Found this on the way home from school tonight. A little early in my
book.

Another Bone Bites the Dust

Another Bone Bites the Dust
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sams right arm this time. He didn't want to be out done by his brother.

Winding down the weekend

Winding down the weekend
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A couple of fires, 4 movies, a cancelled birthday party and a likely
broken arm for Sam as the weekend ends with some reading. Sam did
something to his arm at school on Friday and while we iced it and
wrapped it in a bandage all weekend, the swelling is still there and
it obviously hurts a fair amount. We will take him for an xray
tomorrow and hope he doesn't need a cast for 6 weeks.

Nicole left the house a number of times to run, take the kids to the
air and space museum and hang out with the girls but I never left the
compond. It felt good to stay at home for a couple days. We have a
busy few weeks ahead so a lot of nothing this weekend was good stuff.
Oh yeah, the vikes won again. Nice.

Birthday Party Photos


The Tae Kwon Do studio is not the best place for pictures, something about the lighting in that place but I found a bunch of pictures that show the crazy fun of a karate birthday party. All that kid energy is better released on a place with mats and tough walls than our house. It's been a rainy week of work and school but the Nor'easter is pulling away now and 70 degrees is back in the forecast for Sunday. I do plan on doing a whole lot of nothing this weekend. Need to relax before the Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years sprint. It's a fast time of the year.

Nice Fall Hike

Great day for a stroll in the woods. I think we are getting a last few days of warm weather before winter starts showing its face around these parts. Busy weekend with all the boys birthday festivities but they seemed to have a great time eating lots of cake and getting a lot of loot. The toys are everywhere and now it's just a matter of trying to find a place to put them all. The boys loved having the grandparents and Aunt Elaine around all weekend but it's back to school and work tomorrow and I guess more toys over the christmakka holiday.

Lots of hike pictures here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157622764663296/

Woodmarsh Trail

Map your trip with EveryTrail

Hi YA!

Having a kick at the birthday party.

Happy Birthday Boys


Should have posted this yesterday but was tired after all the birthday fun. The kid party is tonight but fortunately, it's at the Tae Kwon Do studio and not in the house like last year. The boys are pretty hyped up but I guess you only turn 7 once.

Arlington Cemetery Hike

We boys all got our hair cut on Saturday morning downtown and on the way back we decided that a stop at Arlington National Cemetery would be just right for a kind of a misty, rainy day. It really is a beautiful cemetery and something the boys had never seen which was a shame due to the fact that we live about 5 miles from it. Living with a cemetery in the our backyard makes the whole thought of buried people pretty normal to them but they were very impressed with the fact that some many of the people buried there served their country and were in some of the wars they know about.

They really liked the tomb of the unknown soldier where we saw a wreath laying with a bugler playing taps and all that stuff. The rest of the weekend was pretty low key with a bunch more rain, some trick of treating, a couple of fires and a Viking victory over the Packers. Good times...

Pictures are on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157622714271946/

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Got the trick and treating in before the rain really started. The
candy hall was pretty good and I will attack their bags after they
head to bed.

Date Night

Date Night
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

At the very small Metro Stage in Alexadria to see The Musical on
Musicals. It's supposed to be pretty funny and, yes, I love musical
theater. Music Man, West Side Story, Rent, In the Heights, you name it
and I'm a fan.

Need to do show tune night at JR's with Jimmy T soon.

Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Early flight home to see the boys and relieve my parents. I'm sure the
boys were nothing but angels but I need to get out of this town
anyway. It's a fun place but has it's time limits. I never actually
left the Wynn yesterday, I didn't need to. Fun couple days but my
slight cold I had last week is worse now.

A little R and R

A little R and R
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Got into Vegas yesterday and went straight to the AARP convention to
see Nicole and the madness of the covention floor. It was just as
crazy but better since I didn't have to work. I didn't have an AARP
polo shirt so I wasn't being asked where the bathroom was every 5
minutes.

Instead, I went back to the pool at the Wynn and had a couple drinks.
Went to dinner with Nicole and a couple folks then got some much
needed sleep. Off for a workout and a message in a while. Good times.

Sunrise over DC

Sunrise over DC
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting back from Columbus in the early am. Good to be home.

Nightmare Before Halloween Party

We are carving pumpkins and Nicole is baking goodies the night before our annual Halloween bash while watching Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. Just gettin in that Halloween mood even with the record low temperatures and tons of rain. It will be a mostly indoor party tomorrow and I hope the house survives.

Halloween Pajama Time

I don't have any this year, just the same old Cal gear and various Dr. Seuss bottoms I get at the NEA bookstore. It's getting cold around here and flannels are coming out.

Hike Map



While this shows generally where we went on the hike, it's missing a big segment of the walk for some reason. I'm officially tossing the Trail Guru application and sticking with Everytrail for the iphone. It's much better.

7 Mile Hike

We all took our new hiking shoes out for a 7 mile jaunt today at the Cedarville Forest State Park in Brandywine Maryland. It was the longest hike we've done and while the boys had energy to spare at the end, my knee was singing at me quite a bit. I really need to get that thing replaced. It was a perfect day for a walk in the deep woods and this trail is extremely well marked and we barely saw anyone in the three hours it took to complete the loop. The only downside was that it was shared with horses and you had to watch your step at times. I took a bunch of pictures and posted them to flickr and also captured a bunch of video with my new little video camera. I'll edit that footage one of these days and post it, maybe.

We picked up some pumpkins at a farm market in Southern Maryland after the hike, then came home and iced my knee. To top off a perfect hike, the Vikings won and the Redskins lost. What else could I ask for?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157622440444535/

Dylan puttin his Gopher on

Adam sent me some Minnesota gear from the Athletic Department and Dylan is tried it on. I a little too big for the big guy.

All Better

All Better
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan got his cast off today and using his wrist pretty normally even
after Sam kicked it in karate class. You can see a little bowed out
bone and some cloudiness on the picture to the right but the doctor
wasn't concerned. He's happy to be cast free.

Halloween Decorating

Halloween Decorating
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Got Nicole and my costumes today and pretty much finished off our pre-
party decorating. Still need to buy a bunch of pumpkins. The first two
have been decimated by the local squirel population but we added
seasonal colored mums around the house today. I don't think critters
eat mums.

He's Alive

He's Alive
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Building this years scarecrow at Art on the Avenue.

Pumpkin Junk

Pumpkin Junk
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Another blast from the past today. Notice how I'm supervising this
whole operation. I have never and still don't like pumpkin junk.
Nicole cleans all our pumpkins now.

Played in the ACS golf tournament today. Beautiful day for golf but I
think that's it for the year. My game is a little sporatic at best.

Super hot

Super hot
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

My mother sent me this today and I thought I'd share. I'm roughly the
same age as Dylan and Sam in this shot. That is one super cool space
train type toy I have there. I look into the future, no?