Memorial Day Monday In Central Park

Finn and I spent a the day in his favorite park. He loves the Heckscher playground, the lake, pedicabs, and a lot of other things we did not get to see.

The playground has a lot of water fountains and other stuff to get wet in.

I sat on a huge outcropping of Manhattan Schist that overlooks the park. Finn loves to climb in the park.

Here is a closeup of the bedrock of the city:

Finn poses near The Falconer

Odd looking scar on a tree

Finn plows the swan-road

Contemplating, or making fun of it, or both

 
Relaxing in the pedicab on the way out

Jennifer Handing a Squirrel a Peanut

I know, Laura, I owe you pictures of Fifi, but this is Cara and Jennifer's latest obsession.

Picture taken by Jennifer with her cell phone.

Happy Memorial Day

Underground Horns, Central Park

We caught these guys playing a great groove that sounded North African mixed with Jazz. Gotta love NYC buskers.

Cara's Commencement: Congratulations, Cara!

Cara Graduated with an AA on May 20th, 2010 from Dutchess County Community College. It was a beautiful, warm spring day.

Here is Cara in the processional.

Cara is the first in her mother's lineage to get a college degree. She made the dean's list just about every semester, and she is looking forward to continuing her studies in human services, such as social work or a related field.

Congratulations, Cara. You worked very hard for this and you should be proud. I remember many nights waking up to raid the 'fridge and finding you still at the dining room table, working on something. 

Found: My Alter Ego

I think he's adorable. Much thanks to Ken for finding him.

Amateur Grammarian II: Or Not

I noticed a peculiar problem in my house, starting about a year ago. My daughter started dropping the infinitive 'to be' from some phrases.

"I need picked up," she says, calling from work at the end of her shift. Regarding the screaming feline, she'd say, "the cat needs fed."

Then I noticed my wife started doing it. Then I heard a man at work do it. I stopped him in the hallway and interrogated him as to where he grew up. The only common thread is that all three people I mentioned used to live in Pittsburgh at one time or another.

When I pointed this out to my wife and daughter, they first denied doing it, then insisted there was nothing wrong with it, then made jokes out of it. My daughter, when she can't win an argument, will just say, "Oh.... TO BE!" and then run off. Jennifer decided that Hamlet's famous soliloquy should no begin, "Or not. That is the question."

I just want educated on where this comes from.