Summer Time...Summer Time..Sum..Sum...Summer Time

NAME THAT TUNE.......There's nothing like it...summer time in the Finger Lakes...I hope everyone is enjoying their summer...


Hey...I actually heard from two FANS... Mary Ellen and Peter Bridge of Vermont...Since they are the first fans to ever seek me out...I hereby officially declare and appoint them my Fan Club Co-Presidents.....Peter called me to get my e-mail address and we chatted for awhile...I had met them in Florida this past season and they purchased a copy of my book....Peter and his wife are great people and loved the book....So being the first fans to give me a call....Congratulations Mary Ellen and Peter...That's Two....only 999,998 to go and I'll have a smokin' fan club....Thanks for calling Peter I thought it was great...see you next season at Shelly's Coffee Shop on Dearborn Street.


More great news...Book Two of Monk's War is finally finished and in the publishers hands.....Boy what a relief....Not that I mind writing....I'm just glad I could finish on time for the July deadline my publisher set so that he could get it out by fall of this year....If you liked Monk's War Volume One...I think your going to love number two...it's longer (12 Chapters) and continues the story...by its end I'm back home but still with two years left to serve...The car...OH that's the official "Monk Mobile"..02' Mustang GT with some added attractions..about 400 HP.....I like it...I like it a lot....



That's my grandson Alex at one of his baseball games....he's the one in the batter's box.....they lost but came back to win the whole tournament a few days later....Congrats Alex...He's a great catcher and pitcher...If there are any scouts out there...He is that GOOD.....





Suzy has a cat...well actually Suzy has three cats....Not my favorite pet...but I can tolerate them and I even had one a few years back....this ones name is Hunter and I couldn't resist this shot of him on the cat throw...I think he's trying to camoflage himself so the other two won't find him......








OK...Here are some more great summer time pictures....Of course we start with the world's cutest baby....First day at the pool on base in California...her dad says she did great...that is until he took her down the slide...Opps..there went her lunch...I hope the pool had a good filter....That's mom and baby before the pool party...ain't they cute...
























Went to a birthday party for my brother Terry's girlfriend Tammy...of course he had to give a haircut to his friend Gino before the party...well is was more like a head shaving...Terry doesn't cut hair he just gets rid of it...Tammy turned 40 and Terry made sure she got every candle...look at those flames...I think she got 2nd degree burns just blowing out the candles...they have a pet pot belly pig...when they got it..it was the cutest little thing..now 250 Lbs later it ain't so cute anymore...Yeh its an inside pig...they treat it just like the dog and it thinks it is one...did someone say...Oink..."fetch boy"...


Speaking of 2nd degree burns...Richard...Stay out of the sun for awhile....I know you consider yourself a true Floridian now...that's anyone who stays in Florida through the summer...but if you don't get out of the sun your going to look like a piece of bacon....Opps..my apologies to the pig....don't tell it I said that...













I visited our annual sidewalk festival with Suzy...Looks like she spoted the funnel cake booth...had a great time but didn't by anything...You saw the pictures I posted on a previous blog of my house...I haven't got one single place left for a nick-nak or for a picture to hang....But I enjoy looking...you never know when you'll find the perfect gift....like those two ceramic pigs Tammys holding in the picture above ....they go in the garden...and so does the live one....I never eat veggies at thier house...



Well time to go....here are a couple of shots down at my dock...even though its a shared by the twenty owners of property in our association...most of the time you can find it a peacefull way to end the day...I cherish my time spent there and I'm never more at peace than when I have a fishpole in my hands....

I wish for all of you....your own special place.....



Until Next Time...

Semper Fi

Monk

Wow...Has It Been A Month Already....

A month since my last post....well I've been busy...but I've got plenty of pictures...Where to begin...well how about where I left off.....I took Travis, Ryan, Kyle, Andy and Kelsey bowling...here are some great shots of some great kids...not so little anymore...I was so happy to see them all together that I never got any shots of them actually bowling....OH Well...maybe next time....It looks like they had a good time......






I got to see one of my grandson's Kevin's soccer games....not just any soccer game...this was a weekend tournament and guess who's team took home first place....the kid with the trophy as big as he is....Kevin....of course...My oldest son Kevin and little Kevin celebrated...it was about a hundred degrees in the shade and that's exactly where we all watched the game from....poor little Kev had to endure the heat but he still managed to get an assist on the game winning goal...what a great bunch of kids and grand-kids I have...I'm a very lucky man...we all had a great time later at the house telling tales over some great food and even better company....























During my son Travis' visit we had several opportunities to eat out and my favorite thing to do was to hold the baby while everybody else ate...she is the greatest baby in the world...did I mention that already?.....Here's a couple more shots just in case you think you haven't seen enough.....

















Suzy and I have been eating breakfast weekends at a little airport near my house....every Saturday and Sunday you can sit on the deck and watch some very good pilots fly in for breakfast....we get to see an amazing assortment of planes not to mention some very interesting and unique people....I've always wanted to learn how to fly...preferably with a plane....I will admit to having some dreams of flying without one....I'm sure some of you have had the same dreams....its amazing how real it seems at the time....They say that if dream of flying your in a very peaceful mood....and very confident of yourself....I'd have to be pretty confident to get off the ground with a gut like that...that's one picture I should have sucked it in on.....Look how skinny Suzy is...She says its because she eats healthy...I eat healthy...I eat a lot of healthy....anyway....I hope all of you who have never had a dream of flying get to experience it at least once...it is a magical event.....and NO... I haven't gone off the deep end yet....

Here are some great summertime photos of what its like to be in one of the most beautiful places on earth...the Finger Lakes of Western New York offer some fantastic opportunities to just kick back and enjoy what God has given....

Until Next Time...

Semper Fi

Monk

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....

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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