Christmakuh on Staten Island

We all spent an exciting time in Staten Island with Danny's family. The kids were very enthusiastic to see Grammy and Grandpa Joe (Danny won't let the kids call him 'Gramps' because it makes him think of cramps). The kids got Egyptian-themed Christmas presents, including a pyramid to excavate, a wrap-it-yourself mummy and a little archeologist with a tent and digging kit.

Joseph got to play with his cousins Cameron and Callahan and Karen, Danny's brother's fiancé.
Cameron, Callahan, Joseph and Karen

Cameron, Callahan, Mike and Karen

Due to the overlap between Chanukah and Christmas, we lit the Chanukah candles on the sideboard next to baby Jesus.
The kids lighting the candles with Great-aunt (Sister) Alyn in the background. By the eighth day, Joseph was able to light the candles and say the Chanukah prayer without help!

We took our bi-annual trip to the Staten Island Zoo. It was a misty day so very few people were at the zoo. The animals were all oddly happy to see us. The reindeer looked pretty malevolent and kept trying to escape.

The petting zoo animals were all ravenous for Rye-crisps, and the kids were happy to accommodate. Joseph was especially eager to feed the turkey. After Joseph finished dispensing crumbs, he cheerfully announced: "I'll be back to eat you at Thanksgiving!"

Mellowing out in Baltimore

Danny, the kids and I (and Argos) went to Baltimore for Chanukah. Grandma Dorinda couldn't come, so the kids got to spend more quality time with their great grandparents than usual. It was a low-key holiday, and we spent most of our time doing nothing in particular.

I think that everyone had a very nice Chanukah. Saul and Martha opening presents:

The angry young artist explains his artistic vision to his fans.

Lighting the candles. We had kind of an excess of chanukiah. I brought our two menorahs from home, and my grandparents also had two.

Later, cousin Melissa brought Aron over to visit. Sam really enjoyed playing with him, although Joseph was a little jealous and stand-offish.

We spent one morning visiting the Inner Harbor. The Torsk has received some minor restoration since last we saw it.


Joseph has been reading books independently for a few weeks, and he was delighted to show off his mad skills to Grandma Martha.

Joseph reads:

Joseph did all of his own menorah-lighting this year, and he is gradually learning the prayer. On this night, Grandpa Saul was humoring us by lighting one of the menorahs, although with so many people saying the prayer, Joseph got a little lost:

Back from Ohio

Ahh how relaxing. We went to Cleveland for Thanksgiving, where we had a lovely time enjoying the company of friends and family. We ate some fabulous meals, drank some lovely drinks, and generally relaxed and had a good time. I have been back in Normal for 16 hours and I think that my head may explode at any minute.

Here we are enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving diner. My mom does not (and probably should not) cook. In fact, 10 years ago she decided to move her oven to the basement to make more space in the kitchen. Consequently, cooking Thanksgiving dinner was a bit of a challenge. Michelle and Rich brought over the turkey, and I made sides as best I could.

Turkey shredding after the bash.

Michelle and Rich came over to hang out and give Danny a birthday present.


We took Danny out to Lolita in Tremont, which is one of Iron Chef Michael Symon's restaurants. Everyone looked very dashing. The food was amazing, especially the smoked meats. The kids snarfed down a big plate of goat cheese mac and cheese. Danny had a duck confit pizza and I ordered various sides, including chicken livers, and Dorinda had the MahiMahi.

Danny gave his seal of approval to the cappuccino (and the martinis!)


I haven't been back to Cleveland more than twice in 10 years, and it is striking how some things have changed and some things never change. The houses remain, but the people have all changed. I didn't randomly run into anyone that I knew, and in in fact I ran into few people may age that I could conceivably have known. It never occurred to me that people that I knew who remained in Cleveland have moved off into other (younger and hipper) neighborhoods.

I met up with my long-lost friend Jennie and her family. The kids had a great time playing with each other and Argos and we helped my mom eat up Thanksgiving leftovers.


The road trip back was a pain--we had two traffic delays (@30 minutes each). The kids were happy travellers because I introduced them to Mr. Bean.


We were all rather shocked to discover that it had snowed 6 inches while we were gone, and we came home to a winter wonderland (and a plowed-in driveway).

Goodbye Charm city!

Sigh... We have left Baltimore for Staten Island. Here is one parting shot of Saul and Martha. Still so romantic after 66 years of marriage!

Father's Day Part 4

In the final installment of the Baltimore Father's Day celebrations, we went over to Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Ron's house for dinner. As usual, Cynthia made delicious snacks, including a delicious but unusual strawberry haroset/chutney to eat with brie and crackers.


We had fancy pizza from a place that was willing to make soy cheese pizza for the cholesterol-impaired in the family, followed by delicious cholesterol-free and cholesterol-rich desserts. Sam got to go pick up the pizza with Ron, and is still talking about it: it was the first time he ever drove anywhere sitting in the front seat of a car.

The boys had a great time torturing stuffed refrigerator magnets again (No, your honor, we had no idea that he would grow up to be a serial axe murderer). Columbia, MD has all sorts of small parks and greenspaces between the houses, so Sam and I had a great game of tag/dodgeball afterwards. Sam managed to lure Greg and Bri into chasing him, and then circled back around to hide in the house while they were outside peering under all the bushes.

Father's Day Part 3

At night we went over to Aunt JoEllen and Uncle Mark's place for another Father's Day celebration. Mark grilled some excellent chicken and salmon, and the corn and salad were also delicious. Joseph fell asleep in the car on the way to Columbia, and didn't wake up until after dinner. Sam had a great time playing superheroes with his cousins Benjamin and Jonah.

Saul and Martha survey the zoo that is our family.

Saul and Martha with Sam, my cousin David, Amy, Benjamin and Jonah.

Jonah tries to convince us to eat an unripe blueberry.

Mark visits Spiderman's lair.

My Spider-senses are tingling (is it dandruff?)

SuperBenjamin and SuperSam.

Nappy boy. Later as we were leaving, Joseph brightly announces: "Hey! I don't know how I got here! I must have been sleeping and you put me here!" It is odd that Joseph is young enough to be able to fall asleep and get transplanted without waking up but old enough to realize how disconcerting it is to fall asleep somewhere and wake up somewhere else.

Joseph plays with Jonah

Joseph with Benjamin. Is it just me or does Sam look jealous of Joseph waking up and usurping Benjamin? Tiger Woods doing his thing in the background.

More Father's Day

We visited Melissa and Kyle at their cute new place in Fell's Point. The house was a lovely rowhouse with a newly finished outdoor area. There was delicious brunching food. Guests included my aunt and uncle Cynthia and Ron, Ron's brother Danny and his family, my cousin Greg and his wife Bri.

The kids had a great time torturing the plush Sesame Street refrigerator magnets with kitchen tools.

Aron (the newest baby) with Kyle (the newest dad).

Kyle goes for the world spoon and bug-ball balancing record.

Greg and Danny chat about man things.

Greg and Bri. (Enjoy your childfree years, kids!)