Great Action Photos from Soccer on Saturday

Thanks to my friend Clarence, I received some super action shots from Saturday's soccer match against Hamilton. The game was a nail-biter. We scored early in the first quarter, but then in the second quarter, they scored two points, getting ahead of us. Then in the third and fourth quarters, it was back and forth, back and forth, until finally we ended winning 6-5.

The boys played really well most of the game. Here are the most awesome of the awesome shots from Clarence.

A Poem for Sunday

As you may recall, Eddie, Frank and I have been serving the residents of Heritage Hall nursing home in Leesburg with our therapy visits. This small act of service on our part is very rewarding, but also very emotionally demanding. There are often small rewards in the deep sadness that permeates the home--intangible rewards, like the flicker of happiness from a resident's eyes when they pet Frank, or a resident fawning over the beautiful and young Eddie, or the joy of recognition when a resident is truly glad to see you return and remembers you.

A poem came over the radio this week. It really struck a chord with me about these visits, and the mixture of emotions and trepidation that swirl about when visiting the elderly in a nursing home like Heritage Hall.

The Perfect Black Blazer
by Bobbi Lurie

The head nurse called to say
Mom threw a potted plant,
smashed the TV set, banged
her head against the wall.
When I got there I saw the deep
         bruise on her forehead.
She could barely speak so we sat
     mute for some minutes.
I watched her slide to the side
of the couch as she scratched
her arms, pulled at her hair.
I needed to bring her back
        so I told the story of
our Saturday excursions,
searching for the perfect
black blazer.
                  I exaggerated
the futility of finding
something immaculate like that,
something slim-fitting and neat,
able to match any pair of pants
or skirt we wore.
                         We never found it
of course but kept searching
as we watched other women
more glamorous than we were.
           When I asked if she
remembered that, she laughed
                 and said, "oh yes."
I looked around the room
into the distant faces,
haunted hair, blank stares.
"Time for lunch," a nurse yelled.
I walked Mom to her chair,
           watched the aides tie
bibs around the residents’ necks,
       leaned to kiss
Mom gently good-bye on her cheek,
   trying not to notice
she no longer smelled like
           my mother.
She had taken on the scent
of the urine-ammonia halls
and the talc caked heavy
                  on her body.
I walked out, then felt
       something strange
like a voice without words
tell me to return so I ran
                quickly back
to where she sat, her hands
         on her lap.
They were the same hands,
so I squeezed them tight,
kissed her for a second time.
Only this time I hugged
   her close,
            inhaled deep,
   took her all in.

"The Perfect Black Blazer" by Bobbi Lurie, from Letter from the Lawn.
© Custom Words, 2006. (buy now)

2009 Loudoun All-County Chorus

Here is the entire performance of the 2009 Loudoun All-County Chorus, conducted by the wonderfully radiant Deen Entsminger. This video is about 36 minutes long, so maybe only the family will be interested in watching the whole thing, but there are some really nice close-ups of Eddie, Eoin, and the other kids.

This video was beautifully recorded and edited by Sterling Productions of Sterling, Virginia.

Snakebite Update

Update from Chuck after "Fun with Reptiles"

Chuck: One week later: hives.


Adolfo: Holy! I just noticed the pic at the moment Chuck was getting the bite!! WOW!

Chuck: Scott takes excellent pictures. When the action gets heavy, he just keeps right on snapping. Thanks for capturing this, Scott! My first snakebite... hard to believe I didn't get one when I was a kid. But let this be a lesson to everyone -- you can live your dream.

Scott: OK, that one had me laughing like an idiot in my office this morning. Well said! I hope the hives settle down. Now that I think about it, you probably have sensitive skin like your sister.

Chuck: Are you kidding me?!? I hope it leaves a scar. That would be so cool!

"What's that mark on your hand?"
"Snakebite."
"Oh my god! How did that happen?"
>shrug< "Happens."

When it comes down to it, I want to be Liev Schreiber.

Scott: LOL!

Scott (to Becky): Your brother is hilarious.

Becky: Chuck - I am sure that you could aid in the scarring process by rubbing the hives briskly with salt and hot pepper sauce. Although that is just off the top of my head - you could find more effective assistance online I don't doubt.....

Chuck: Ah, but that wouldn't be >authentic<. Much better if I just scratch it like crazy with dirty fingernails and hope for the best. And I have a better answer than "happens" [and the line should be wheezed like Clint Eastwood]:

"I got careless."

Spying on My Songbird

Here I am, dastardly father that I am, spying on my son as he sings his renditions of "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys and "Come Back to Me" by Vanessa Hudgens. I guess it helps Cinderella pass the time while cleaning the basement.

Botanic Conservatory Panoramic

Here is a nice panoramic of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. This was stitched using Hugin from only two photos. I'm really amazed at how well Hugin pulled these two photos together. Yes, there are flaws, but only if you look for them closely. And considering I didn't lock my exposure, didn't use a tripod--I just did the ol' point-and-shoot, this came out pretty well!

By the way, the windmill on the left was an innovative vertical design. It had three blades arranged vertically standing about 20 feet tall. There was only a light breeze, and that windmill was moving FAST! The other windmill, a traditional design, wasn't moving at all the whole day.

Trip to the U.S. Botanic Garden

Climbing Rose Season

Last autumn, I decided not to clip back the Zephirine Drouhin roses totally. These roses are climbing roses, and in years past, I'd clipped them down to about 12" each fall. This year, however, I left them somewhat tied into the slats of the deck to see what they'd do.

I'm really glad I did! The roses have never looked better, and are hugely prolific this year! And just opening the door to the deck, you are knocked over by the sweet scent of these wonderful roses. (And pug.)

I like to think that I'm making Grandpa G.--the consummate rose man--proud.