What's Going On?...Pictures...Pictures...Pictures...

Well.... we had a baptism and picnic for baby Dakota...An impromptu horseshoe tournament at my sisters...A birthday party for my niece...A visit to Canal Days an annual event in Fairport...and a "Graduation...Welcome Baby...Fathers Day....all in one...Party at my place...and now its time for a little breather...I hope..I'll give you a brief description of each picture...but I won't bore you with details..lots of fun...lots of food....lots of laughs...that's what summer on the lake is all about....

On the left.. two great-grandmas and one precious baby...Picnic next to trout stream equals nice trout caught by a stranger who happened to be fishing with his granddaughter near our pavilion...

The horseshoe tournament was won by none other than myself and my nephew Jessie...no picture available of the champions...but we do have one of my sister and various other in-laws and outlaws....my sister Donna demonstrating the Vanna White method of keeping score...and of course...the old picnic standby....drunk dog drinking beer....there are other pictures but they are just to gruesome to show.....

Courtney's birthday party... as we observe birthday girl holding candles in proper order...the first attempt to take picture was halted when it was noted that the star of the party was holding them upside down and backwards...due to the over consumption of her favorite drink...I forget the name but it did have several alcoholic beverages all in the same glass....I believe someone said that three of them would knock out a horse...she had four....shes happy as you can see....she also very rarely drinks so I don't blame her for her little mistake with the candles...actually I would have much rather had the picture I didn't take....

.

At the Fairport Canal Days...(Canal Pictured)....a Rubber Ducky Race was held for charity and I believe a yellow one won the race.....The only propulsion they had to get to the finish line was the current...of which at times during the 20 minute..30 yard race...there was none.....The finish line is that red thing floating next to the kayak...notice how all the ducks are doing their best to avoid it....

The picnic went off very well...nice sunny day...lots of food provided by my brother Terry and his friend Dennis...Terry uses the food cart at special events and hopes someday to get out of the contracting business and just have fun serving food at parties and special events...it's his retirement dream...I hope he gets it...he sure cooks up a mean pulled pork sandwich....

Travis and Shannon are probably having a discussion about which ones going to drive...I vote for Shannon....she can't drink...baby you know....much beer and wine was consumed at the picnic but no one drove home drunk...DD's were prevalent...no sense in ending a good time with a disaster...

My mom and my love.. Suzy.. visit on the deck....Suzy thanks for entertaining while I ran around like a chicken...I'm always trying to make sure everybody is happy.....I only hold one party a summer so I like to make sure everyone has a good time....of course I want to make sure I'll get invited over to their houses....the rest of the summer I get to mooch at every one else's place......

A couple of odds and ends....Meet my friend Richards new main squeeze down in sunny Florida...Helen is her name and all I have to say is..."Hey Helen, what's the attraction."..just kidding Richard...your a catch for any woman...I sure wish I could paint like Richard...look at that artwork....go to his site and buy something...he's going to need the money now that he has to impress a woman friend....help a soon to be starving artist....

Last but not least....I sure do miss my babies...I have five boys and one girl and I never regretted one minute with them...when they were small I loved to feed and even change diapers...I helped put pampers in business.....I must have changed 10,000 diapers and never complained....Little Dakota is going back to Edwards Air Force Base soon with Mom and Dad and I will miss her dearly...Travis will be going to the dessert soon for six months...let's hope that's all he gets....but I will try to get to California to see them one more time before then.....

Til Next Time...

Semper Fi

Monk

The Contest Is Over....I Have The Most Beautiful Grandaughter

I know some of you may challenge my official ruling...but how can you say that this is not the most beautiful child you have ever seen....even though by the expression on her face with me is one of near panic wondering, "what's this guy going to do next to get me to laugh"....of course I may be a little predigest...but that's a grandfathers perogative....Travis, Shannon and Dakota are home on leave for a couple of weeks and I couldn't be more happy....It's been two years since I've seen them and this is the first time I've seen Dakota Lynn...The baby will be baptised on Saturday and I'm ordering a bright, warm day for the picnic following the ceremony...Besides my mug with the baby...the picture to be cherished is the one with her Great-Grandma....85 and going strong...






Book two is moving along nicely..I've got four of the ten stories written and proof read....of course every time I re-visit one of the stories I want to change something...I haven't heard anything about book sales but I'm not concerned...My purpose was to write it...not to sell a million copies....but I do thank all of you who have read my stories....I've gotten some great feedback and all of it is positive...that makes me feel like I've accomplished something....it's great to think that my stories have an effect on others...

Word from Dearborn Street is that the Coconut Grove has finally opened up its new inside bar and restaurant....pictured is the way it use to look...those were shops beyond the doors I'm standing next to...Now the entire inside is bar and seating as well as a small stage and dance floor...can't wait to get back and see for myself....Check it out for yourself if your in the neighborhood....

Something I forgot to include in my odds and end post is this Iguana...thanks to my friend Lisa of the Taki Tiki and Kayak Rentals.....he is alive and well.....she just had to stop the car and escort him away from certain death.....Now keep in mind that the city of Boca Grande is paying someone $20 apiece to capture and kill Iguanas that have invaded their Island Paradise...the very same paradise that charges each and every person $4 to cross the only bridge to the island....they say it's to pay for the bridge...but it's really just to keep out the riff-raff....I told Lisa that she should have taken the iguana over to Boca and released it....someone could have made an extra 20 bucks....but what's one more when there are already 20,000 on the island...that's right I said 20,000...maybe more...they are not quite sure...If this guy works quick he could have nearly a half-million dollars...or for job security he could work a little slower and at least have a guaranteed income for life...all he has to do is figure out how many are born each year and only kill that many....if that comes out to a tidy income he's got it made....

My friend Patty, of my favorite place to eat in Canandaigua...Patty's Place....just had a birthday...that's my brother Terry with her...pretty ugly looking dude huh.....he thinks he's a contractor...and does a fair job on siding, roofing and windows....he's my little brother by ten years and looks like my older brother by five.....Just kidding Terry...don't hurt me......

I want to end with something of beauty.....no offense Patty....you are one of the beautiful people...but the beauty of nature is what I want to end with...This magnificent butterfly was just lazing around this beautiful bush and couldn't get enough of the nectar that its flowers produced...so I got a chance to get a great picture...hope you enjoy it....

Til Next Time...

Semper Fi

Monk