Brother Pete rocking it out a Shorty's Southside during Karaoke night. Enjoy

Jonas and Amelia kicked butt at their recent Sea Rams swim meet which was held at my old college SUNY Delhi. Competing against Canajoharie, Delhi, and Cooperstown they took ribbons in the following events.

AMELIA:
1st place - 25 yard freestyle
4th place - 25 yard Backstroke

AMELIA 1st PLACE FREESTYLE

JONAS:
1st place - 100 yard Freestyle Relay (4th leg)
2nd place- 25 yard Freestyle

JONAS 1st PLACE RELAY

JOLLY OL SAINT NICHOLAS

Today Amelia had her elementary school Christmas concert so I posted a short clip of her singing Jolly Ol’ Saint Nicholas. Enjoy

The foil-ball

The foil-ball

After 20 years on the job at the Amsterdam Waterworks I have a new partner; Brian. He is the polar opposite of my former partner; Marty. This, as you can imagine, is a big adjustment for me. Marty was a type “A” alpha hothead that would do anything for anyone willing to ask. He has a big heart with a short fuse; he was yin and yang. Brian on the other hand is a calm, low-key drinking buddy type, who doesn’t mind being on the B-list. He’s the first guy you call to watch the game or help you move; loyal to a fault.

So, anyway… I work a job where you spend a lot of time with your partner chained to the control room monitors making sure the city you work for doesn’t come down with a big case of the shits. 8 hours a day you and your partner inhabit a room the size of a small cell; it doesn’t take long before you notice a few idiosyncrasies or quirks if you will.

Every night after break Brian taps his leftover foil into a small ball. Not just any ball, but a perfectly round, tightly compressed, shiny, engineering wonder. Tap-tap-tap… turn, tap-tap-tap…turn, and so on. His first week on the job I didn’t even notice, but then as the weeks went on I secretly started to enjoy this odd trick, waiting each night to see if this foil-ball would be better then the last. And when he was done, he’d gently place his work on the center of the large desk we share, as to show the world - or just me – the meaning of perfection. Then, without word or warning pitch it in the trash. What a shame.

One night while Brian was out of the control room, and his newly fashioned ball of foil sitting there, just begging to be picked up, touched, admired. I did it! I dare anyone to resist picking up this shiny marvel. Then, just when it was in my hands, I dropped it. Hearing it roll out of sight, I quickly spun around accidentally crushing the life out of his nights work. The horror! I’m sure I was being punished for coveting my neighbor’s foil-ball. Panicked and not knowing what to do, I quickly picked it up setting the dead flat ball back on its roost and fled the room. I wonder what Brian thought when he spotted his flattened treasure. “What kind of person would do such a thing!? Did Keith think this was funny!?” He never asked or said a word, but if he did I would have ‘fessed up.

Later that night I told my wife Sandy, and when she finally finished laughing she asked an odd question. “Why didn’t you just tell him what happened?”
“Are you nuts!” Why would I do that? I am quite sure I speak for most men when I say no self respecting man could ever say the words, “Sorry dude, I accidentally crushed your little ball of foil” Nor would any man ever want to hear those words. Some things are better left unsaid.
~Keith

It’s a Miracle!

In all my forty years, this has never happened.  Today, while making my sandwich, the peanut butter and jelly jars ran out at EXACTLY the same time…Now who drank the last of the milk?

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF AMSTERDAM

http://my-msa.com
I’ve been working all month doing a new website for the Pre School Amelia and Jonas go to. I put in lots of user friendly stuff. Feel free to take a look. The Montessori School of Amsterdam (MSA) offers a total approach to educating your child. They provide a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning, using proven tools to help shape each child’s intellectual, physical and social growth. The school is a renovated, century old Victorian home located at 74 Locust Ave. in Amsterdam, NY. With its home-like setting and bright, comfortable learning space, the "Children's House" is ideally suited to the Montessori learning method, providing the right balance for children who are making the transition from home to school.

JONAS IS TURNING 3!

We will be having Jonas' 3rd birthday party Sunday January 29th. Cake and Ice Cream!