Social Networking

I found this video and additional commentary on Randy's blog "Community Mobilization" today as I work to get myself organized after vacation and find myself social networking on breaks.... It is funny how the web has transformed communication and linking to others, promoting causes and more - - although i am new to facebook, I have connected with many friends & family members and gotten to know and share experiences with colleagues from around the country through this tool and besides my blog - - this is the social networking communication link of choice for ACS.

Current facebook stats:
132 friends
32 albums
4 causes

Totally addicting...

The River Adventures - Summer 2008

- We love our new boat and love to roam around on the river enjoying the new slip at the Sportsmans Marina in Hadley on the Connecticut River. We had to take the boat out of the water because the rain was so heavy and there was so much debris and the crazy current issue for the marina. But we are back from the honeymoon and ready to go again!

Here are some quick notes on our adventures!

- Waterskiing is the best on the river in front of the large crowd of party boats up river - down river there is a pretty cool beach that we see folks anchored as well. Playing the stereo loud as the party boat, and swimming is fun on the river . The area where others stop is always a great place to be in the sun. Our boat is the perfect party boat with the stereo and the skis hanging off the side. Schuyler and Steve had a really fun water pistol fight one day we just had to get out on the water - - what a great place to cool off!

- Samantha & Sarah were on the Larson when it had its last day and also went up with us to NH - Lake Winnepesaukee where we bought our new boat at Gillan Marine. "The cure for boat envy!" - If you need a boat - talked to Dion - he's the best! What a great marina and place to buy a boat. We are so happy with our Moomba! It was fun taking photos of the girls with their big smiles as Steve built a big wake for them to jump.

- Stephen and Josh have seen us through some pretty crazy storms with us (twice, second time with Alicia)- running from the dark clouds down river to the dam and they had such a great time eating Pringles underneath the cover in the bow of the boat.... it was a crazy day! Booming thunder and loud cracking lightning.... a little scary but we out ran it down to the dam where we couldn't go any further.

Frankie, Joe and Lucy came out with us when the water was so high and no one was swimming - - but we went upstream further than ever because it was so deep where normally shallow. All the way past the blue bridge. Steve was so great to work with the boys and they were able to drive with his guidance. Schuyler loves the boat more now than ever and it is great to have friends there with him - on the tube and even just hanging out!

Looking forward to many more days on the boat - skiing and spending time with family & friends!

Waterskiing photos from the CT River

The Email of all emails....

My friend Judy sent this to me a while back and I was laughing so hard.... I thought I would post to my blog as a funny when you have a minute to read this it will have you rolling on the floor in laughter! And if you want it.... i have the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe... : )


I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels. I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving
alone is picking their nose. (Although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot)

Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans-fats I have
consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have
to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital
for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft
and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has
granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because the! ir chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends
and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl
in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put
'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up
in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with HIV.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with
calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan ...

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the
seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably
was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will
land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow
a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's
ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day....

Oh, by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient
brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't even bother taking it off now it's too late!!

Day 8 - The Phoenician Golf experience

We are staying at The Phoenican for the last 2 days of our trip and we had the time and the opportunity to rent some clubs and play golf. It was my first real experience playing nine holes and with such an incredible coach in my sweet husband, who sacrificed his game to give me the best time on the course possible. I double bogied once and then hit par on the 8th hole. (The picture of the 8th hole is the last in this series). My right hand is all blistered from "trying too hard". That and I need to stop "dipping". I think we will go again soon. How fun!

A little from their website - the course was dreamlike.... we want to have a putting green in our backyard now... or at least downstairs..... : )

We played the Dessert Course. Just nine holes, but we started late after hitting a while at the driving range and coaching session... to make us the last people off the course... Truly in our style, last chair and sunset on the golf course...

Combining playability with aesthetic beauty, The Phoenician's 27-hole USGA championship facility is comprised of three memorable nines, each named for its surrounding landscape - Canyon, Desert and Oasis. Pristine desert views, lush tropical scenery, water features, and all of the amenities that make golf a pleasure, await you during your round at The Phoenician.

On the beach and bodysurfing in Carlsbad

We drove up the coastline through Del Mar, Encinitas and then we arrived at Carlsbad, a small surf town on the California coast. Funny how when you drive on this busy 4 lane highway watching people walk on the sidewalks with their surfboards under their arm. Definitely a different way of life out here on the beach.... on the Pacific Coast.... We had a blast jumping the waves and body surfing to the shore. The sun was hot and it was fun watching the kids play on the sand.... And one of my favorite "self portraits" of the trip!

The view from the "home stretch" at Del Mar

Nancy E Photography.
Del Mar, CA

"Race Six by a nose"
"Kicking it in"

Day 7 - Del Mar - "where the surf meets the turf"

OUR first experience at a racetrack - figuring out the way it "works", the odds, how to bet, "Trifecta" and "Across the Board" and some of the other finer points of horse racing. The horses (3 year fillies for the most part) are such beautiful and strong animals. The jockeys, so small and light atop the horses are flying on the track as you watch the tracking of the horses on the screen in front. An interesting and fun experience, we watched Races 5,6,7,and 8 and bet on the last 2 races and of course didn't win a penny.... there is much more to it that we have yet to learn. My goal was to get some good photos and I truly did accomplish that!! - - enjoy!

The "Beach In Diner" - last day in Coronado...

The "Beach in Diner" was an experience from the past.... a sixties diner with memorabilia and cartoon style menu and surroundings. The girls in denim shorts to their knees, tshirts with cool sayings and red polka dot hair bandanas.

Day 6 - Scenes from Naval Base Coronado

Get a Mac!

I love the PC guy commercials from Apple and this commercial was shown at the opening & Steve actually was there in person to see - before Steve Jobs took the stage. Very funny. My latest favorite is the pizza one.... Check it out -- > Get a Mac!

WWDC 2007 Opening- PC Guy is Steve Jobs

Day 5 - A trip to Temecula

My favorite things to photograph

1. People - kids in action lead the way, but people and their expressions top my list - the closer the better
2. Relay - everything purple and the event has such a draw to the camera, it is fun to capture every moment
3. Nature - mountains, skiing, trees, our back yard and vineyards!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to travel north about an hour to Temecula Valley. The view was beautiful once we got there and I took some great photos our our day. Enjoy!

Going, going, gone & Limo parking?

A tshirt sighting in Temecula Valley at the Oak Mountain vineyards - our host and "wine pourer" lady is wearing this tshirt with the saying on the front with a wine glass sequence. Very cute and worthy of a post!

AND I had to post this photo of the "END" sign from Mount Palomar - where they also state "Limo parking only" - quite comical indeed.

Day 4 - God's west coast creatures - Seagulls, Pidgeons and Pelicans!

Love the seagull photos - - as they look so good on the beach.

The pidgeon was a little rascal that day and I caught him in action on the table. Reminded us of the Pidgeon books by Mo Wilems that we LOVE to read with Schuyler - - so we laugh and quote this photos "Don't let the Pidgeon eat your breakfast!"

The pelicans were so beautiful to watch as they dive for their food - straight down into the ocean - you can see how big the splash is as they dive for their lunch that day.

Day 3 - "The View, the scene...."

From the beach to the bay, from the bay to the roller blade trail - we are having a great time in Coronado....

Day 2 - "Tru Love"

You must admit - we look SO good together. First on our way out to check out the neighborhood on the island and then on Coronado beach using the timer. Very much fun - together - I love this man, and this honeymoon is one for the history books. Life is good. Love is better.

Honeymoon - Day 1 - "There is nothing better than going first class"

I have to say that the trip was the best ever... not only because we were together, but the service on US Airways really topped any experience I have had on their airlines. I love the comfort of first class and feeling "extra" special. Especially on this particular trip with my true love.

Scenes from Camp Norwich