Friday, July 15, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
The Astro Gallery of Gems
The Astro Gallery of Gems is one of those places that could only exist on the island of Manhattan. Located at 417 5th Avenue, between 37th and 38th Streets, the gallery is a three-thousand square foot space dedicated to the sale of enormous crystalline geodes and other geological oddities the likes of which I’d only ever seen previously in museums. Sally and I were on our way to meet some friends when we happened by it, and we stopped in because we were running early and the sheer sparkling colors and overall oddity of the place caught our eyes.
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| Located on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York. |
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
The Mystic Aquarium
My wife Sally and my daughters Hannah and Emma visited the Mystic Aquarium a couple of weeks ago. Hannah then filed this report for the "NYC & the Area" series.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
The Adventures of Sneax & Elaina Emboo (Part 19)
Our Story So Far:
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.
But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the trackless wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
Sneax is nearly killed in her very first battle, and that's only the beginning. Trekking north, they find an abandoned logging camp and a pack of worgs stalking their trail...
If you're wondering, this chapter is my favorite part of this particular story. All things considered, that almost certainly means that everyone one Earth who's not me will find it utterly indecipherable.
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the trackless wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
Sneax is nearly killed in her very first battle, and that's only the beginning. Trekking north, they find an abandoned logging camp and a pack of worgs stalking their trail...
If you're wondering, this chapter is my favorite part of this particular story. All things considered, that almost certainly means that everyone one Earth who's not me will find it utterly indecipherable.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Weekend Round-Up
I feel like I've been neglecting the blog a bit lately, and at least some of that is by design. Sally and I started working on a joint memoir a few weeks ago, and it's taken up most of my concentration. For better or worse, nothing derails writing projects like other writing projects. So the blog's been on the back burner. I am, however, sorry if you've missed me.
Not sorry I didn't have to do 5 Things on a Friday last week, though. Yikes! What a week. We all need to learn to do a better job learning to live together. It's a tough world out there, but if this nation can ever come together as a single community, we'll be more than a match for whatever they have to throw at us.
Not sorry I didn't have to do 5 Things on a Friday last week, though. Yikes! What a week. We all need to learn to do a better job learning to live together. It's a tough world out there, but if this nation can ever come together as a single community, we'll be more than a match for whatever they have to throw at us.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
2beans
My new favorite Manhattan coffee shop is 2beans, an upscale coffee and chocolate bar located at 100 Park Ave, about a block south of Grand Central Station. Sally and I wandered in last week on our way to meet some friends at Reichenbach Hall and came away with much more than we bargained for.
It was a memorable experience to say the least.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
The Adventures of Sneax & Elaina Emboo (Part 18)
Our Story So Far:
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.
But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the trackless wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
Sneax is nearly killed in her very first battle, and that's only the beginning. Trekking north, they find an abandoned logging camp and a pack of worgs stalking their trail...
These next two chapters are my favorites, for whatever that's worth.
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the trackless wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
Sneax is nearly killed in her very first battle, and that's only the beginning. Trekking north, they find an abandoned logging camp and a pack of worgs stalking their trail...
These next two chapters are my favorites, for whatever that's worth.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Friday, July 1, 2016
Stray Thoughts: R-Day 25 Years Later
Today marks the 25th Anniversary of Reception Day for the West Point Class of 1995. 25 years! As I wrote on Monday, that day seems like a part of a different life. The last day of one life and the first day of another. I can't say that I have a lot of happy memories, per se, of Beast Barracks, but we got through it. That's what counts.
The Class of 2020 reported Monday this past week. They're headed into an interesting world. I wish them luck.
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| This was taken during one of the Parents' Weekends way back in 1991. I'm in the center. I got down to 140 lbs that summer, more than 55 pounds lighter than I am right now. |
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
The Adventures of Sneax & Elaina Emboo (Part 17)
Our Story So Far:
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.
But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
To say the least, their first battle doesn't go to plan...
Sneax and Elaina went to collect on a debt for Draks, but found more than they bargained for. Luckily for them, they met Nathaniel, a half-fire elf mercenary, and his companion Maleeka, a giantess of unknown origin. But it turns out that Nathaniel works for Draks as well, and that he's in Wanderhaven to take Sneax to Ellesburg, a tiny timber town lost in the hinterlands of the Kingdom's northern frontier. Sneax soon finds herself on a ship with her new companions, her friend Elaina far behind.But that's only the beginnings of Sneax's problems. Soon she and Nathaniel realize that the so-called "deal" Draks worked out is really more of a rescue mission. They and their companions soon find themselves heading north, into the wilderness in search of the goblin bands who've been raiding the local logging settlements, cutting off the flow of valuable timber to the heart of the Kingdom far away.
To say the least, their first battle doesn't go to plan...
Monday, June 27, 2016
R-Day
It's Reception Day for the West Point Class of 2020. Later this morning, the New Cadets will start their four year slog, and for the past few years, West Point has live-tweeted the events.
R-Day. USMA tradition since 1802-"Have you any of these articles in your possession?" #DutyHonorCountry pic.twitter.com/jghykf3KVO— West Point AOG (@WPAOG) June 27, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Two Roads Brewery & #RoadJamFest 2016
Two Roads Brewing Company held their third annual Road Jam Beer and Concert Festival yesterday on the brewery grounds, and Sally and I attended. $30 got you admission and a beer, with subsequent beers available for $5 apiece via the many beer trucks and tap-tents set up around the yard.
Friday, June 24, 2016
5 Things on a Friday: Calling It Quits
What a week, am I right? Wow! Britain exits the EU, LeBron brings a title to Cleveland of all places, and Las Vegas is getting a hockey team thanks to a 1967 USMA grad who ended his introductory press conference with “Beat Navy!”
Oh by the way, this is the last “5 Things on a Friday” for a while, maybe forever. Let’s get to it, shall we?
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