Lazy, Hazy and Crazy Days of Summer....

Suzy and I went out for a relaxing Sunday breakfast at the airport only to be surprised by two events that took place at our meal....First...as we took our seats under the shade of one of the tables with umbrellas...we were approached by another couple who thought we were just leaving and wanted the table as well...we invited them to join us and introduced ourselves...Jim and Ruth Chapmen were their names (I didn't get a picture of them but I will if I can this week and replace this beautiful sunflower that I couldn't resist) and as it turned out Jim had been in the Marines in 1964...a few minutes into the conversation this blog came up and I mentioned that I had started it back in January on a lark and was now firmly hooked on continuing my stories...Suzy spoke up and said " Tell them what else got you into bloging"...being humble as I am I hadn't mentioned the book and wasn't going to unless asked....so I said that I had written a book and that was also a good reason to have the blog....Jim asked what the title was and when I said "Monk's War" he excitedly said "I've read that book, my daughter bought it for me on Amazon, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting and loved it"....To meet a stranger and have them know you by your book was an amazing experience for me...I was just as shocked as he was...It felt good to hear him speak well of my writing and if I never have the experience again I will still be glad that it happened at least once in my life.....What a thrill.....

The next breakfast surprise was not a pleasant one but still an interesting event...we got to see a Mercy Flight chopper land to take an accident victim to the hospital...the women had fallen from a bike and they suspected that she had a broken neck....the airport was the closest safe place to get the ambulance and the chopper in the same place and even though it was a sad occasion it was some additional Sunday excitement that was unexpected...

My grandson Alex had a 15th birthday party and we all had a good time getting most of the kids together in one place....it's getting tougher as they get older to be able to see them all in one place...a few weeks ago when Travis was home on leave was the first time in two years that we had them all together....We had a good time and judging from the amount of cake and ice cream they wanted me to eat...(see picture).. I assume that they think I'm not fat enough...I went a little overboard this year...instead of the usual money in the envelope from grandpa...I got him a real radar gun that he could use to get the speed of his and his teammates pitches...I thought it was a good surprise....they put it to the test right away but not on baseballs...they went outside and got the speed of bicycles, people running, Frisbees and even the speed of my son Ryan's punches....everything except baseballs...I hope it lasts until he can get to the ball field with it.....

Every week I play a little Texas Hold'em with some friends...This past week I was surprised to see a friend of mine... Jeff..reading my book as we waited for the tournament to begin...I had given him a copy earlier and he said he couldn't wait to read it....Thanks for making my day Jeff...even though I didn't come in the money...I think he did...I'm glad someones lucky in cards...I'm not complaining...I'm lucky in so many ways that sometimes I think I don't deserve it.....

My son Ryan got a new jeep and a new job since the last report....He is now an official member of the Rochester Police Department....one of the finest in the country... and I couldn't be happier for him...he's been trying to land a law enforcement position for over a year....with a degree in psychology you'd think it wouldn't be that hard...he is a very intelligent and caring young man and Rochester should be glad to have him....I'm very proud of him as I am all my children...he is a volunteer fireman and trained EMT as well.....He said he had a hard time getting his "game face" on for the ID card....He was so happy he just couldn't stop smiling...Instead..in this picture when he should be smiling it looks like he's been practicing that "hard ass" look....Good Luck Son and God Bless...

I took Andy, Kelsey and Suzy out for supper at a little sandwich shop in a local plaza..we were pleasantly surprised by the beautifull garden right next to it in the parking lot....It gave the whole experience so much more than just eating in a strip mall....I know what your thinking...supper in a strip mall...nothing like treating the ones you love to a cheap meal....this mall sandwich shop was anything but cheap...you know the ones I mean with all the fancy names for what amounts to be nothing more than a grilled sandwich...it cost me 50 bucks for three sandwiches and a salad....but the flower garden was nice......somebody has to pay for those flowers...

I play horseshoes every Monday....tough life Huh?.....My brother Terry runs a small league at the local Moose club....A great organization by the way...you should check it out....only six teams get to play at once and its a three game match...so the rest have to wait their turn on the deck...this gives the teams in the pits a built in cheering or jeering section depending on how many friends or enemies you have on the deck....We have a great time and some have a better time than others...but they get a free ride home and their keys back in the morning.....

Two parting shots.....Of course no blog entry would be complete with out a picture of the world's most beautiful

baby...Dakota..whom I will be visiting next week in California....before her Dad...Travis... gets to go to the dessert for six months....

and a final shot of one of my neighbors...Dave...just before he rolled this baby over....I was laughing so hard I didn't get a picture of him upside down....he sure is quick for an old guy...he is trying to restore an old wooden canoe and I guess it needs more work...or he needs more practice....

Until Next Time...

Semper Fi...

Monk

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