tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71314235908257690542024-02-20T12:55:10.953-05:00Eric's Days of BattleRandom thoughts on my hobbies (miniatures gaming, dungeons and dragons and fantasy RPGs, crafting, figure painting), family, literature, music and whatever else occurs to me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1017125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-74272891600518530142023-03-05T21:26:00.001-05:002023-03-05T21:26:53.220-05:00A Bit of a Landscape<p>I haven't painted much in recent months, or at least posted anything. So here we go...</p><p>The beginnings of a sky, using the "Gamblin 1980" line of oil paints and an Artist's Loft (Michael's) 11 by 14 stretched canvas. This first stage used 3 colors (titanium white, cerulean blue, neutral gray).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcgjutWFiHBk-ori4fiVDffqSYf0IQDw2OFvEF5sTdQjxeIX8YPYCR1RDY-eUWHYVBs2-fGsp6L3weFB4TT-6oHZOdDnUxzKQ5Mny4S1fVFHLiL60tneTRc_NlDTw8VQkPD0KwHDYRplAzaJnqx9w-LNYbkaJdEAqiQWaFEgvCk7oNjz5_Z0iRzV9Rg/s3642/IMG_1631.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="3642" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcgjutWFiHBk-ori4fiVDffqSYf0IQDw2OFvEF5sTdQjxeIX8YPYCR1RDY-eUWHYVBs2-fGsp6L3weFB4TT-6oHZOdDnUxzKQ5Mny4S1fVFHLiL60tneTRc_NlDTw8VQkPD0KwHDYRplAzaJnqx9w-LNYbkaJdEAqiQWaFEgvCk7oNjz5_Z0iRzV9Rg/w400-h313/IMG_1631.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginnings of a Sky</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Adding some pinks to the sky, and a horizon fading into the distance. Added colors are cadmium red medium, Payne's gray and Veridian green.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3dMchbj5DN-hnoTytYeZ-s2pc5E3Y2cwkA34_77f0x9PfR00-lx7BgVmL4p4hAYN8KRY25gXxqOrdz0y-S0nYtwxbLK-VhH1zTB7UxtOtGcPcugoejhN4wDFftoR6T1Z7frOQAOR3aFFAkbJffTrZxnKgQ69Z_sltQHoVzNZwvzdVZa_u6YDdlyt8g/s3036/IMG_1633.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2277" data-original-width="3036" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3dMchbj5DN-hnoTytYeZ-s2pc5E3Y2cwkA34_77f0x9PfR00-lx7BgVmL4p4hAYN8KRY25gXxqOrdz0y-S0nYtwxbLK-VhH1zTB7UxtOtGcPcugoejhN4wDFftoR6T1Z7frOQAOR3aFFAkbJffTrZxnKgQ69Z_sltQHoVzNZwvzdVZa_u6YDdlyt8g/w400-h300/IMG_1633.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky and a Horizon</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Lastly we add olive green, ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Soften the horizon transition. add a foreground.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Bfwsj-n2sLTtR1UWy_qmlrHupmaR08QRbtQkTw4sZaFc3TyIRES79d1yh7w-SI59-yZSe7K9vBvTO4zwPIqe6pwiCB2CMQ4FKyrSn4kl8B99XzKt0awZGtc18vbhsfvxL_9JFrT-PnFQVEHtIKPVW091_JyiHVOxAOz5D1z2fvdTzihJV3Voe0stGg/s3705/IMG_1634.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="3705" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Bfwsj-n2sLTtR1UWy_qmlrHupmaR08QRbtQkTw4sZaFc3TyIRES79d1yh7w-SI59-yZSe7K9vBvTO4zwPIqe6pwiCB2CMQ4FKyrSn4kl8B99XzKt0awZGtc18vbhsfvxL_9JFrT-PnFQVEHtIKPVW091_JyiHVOxAOz5D1z2fvdTzihJV3Voe0stGg/w400-h313/IMG_1634.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Bit of a Landscape</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This was fun to knock out in an hour or so, but there is so much left to learn. And it's amazing how much things seem foreign after a hiatus of only a couple of months. It's kinda like starting over again...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-34972933884328941772023-02-06T20:38:00.004-05:002023-02-06T20:38:55.431-05:00Gobi Matar<p>I haven't posted on cooking in a while. Or much of anything for that matter. But I have been a bit obsessed with learning to cook more Indian food in recent weeks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r8FzLMla-ZQo3r2sEpujpbTiBmp3IS6lHiBmvc8I3GsCKVYB1xskrtKHMT8sxKb1DNeOIrxZ4zRhy8MAXX_3HgOwCkG609Woj0CgY1pT_6Ajkys3P-vPR31CULxbJzSyRKbDXVgoTcW1E8lHObRVEVJaTfL5_0k7Z9cTSjr01PFJ29w6Q8zkCzCjjA/s4032/69741774351__E3DF7EA7-A854-4EAD-A9AF-C711A35633C7.fullsizerender.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r8FzLMla-ZQo3r2sEpujpbTiBmp3IS6lHiBmvc8I3GsCKVYB1xskrtKHMT8sxKb1DNeOIrxZ4zRhy8MAXX_3HgOwCkG609Woj0CgY1pT_6Ajkys3P-vPR31CULxbJzSyRKbDXVgoTcW1E8lHObRVEVJaTfL5_0k7Z9cTSjr01PFJ29w6Q8zkCzCjjA/w300-h400/69741774351__E3DF7EA7-A854-4EAD-A9AF-C711A35633C7.fullsizerender.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gobi Matar</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A side dish for a Massaman curry tonight was a new recipe for Gobi Matar (Cauliflower and Peas). This is a fairly typical Indian dish of a sauce base made from onions, ginger and garlic, and then tomatoes, to which you add about a dozen spices and simmer for a while. An oversimplification, but true nonetheless.</p><p>It was delicious. Nobody around here seems to be complaining about the Indian food kick...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-16658543669536230842023-01-30T23:06:00.021-05:002023-01-31T23:18:06.514-05:00Hiking, in the Best Way Possible<p>In the Fall semester, Grace was able to go on a couple of day hikes with a UDel hiking club.</p><p>When she came home for her extended winter break, she wanted to go on some hikes around here. We were only partially successful, getting out once to hike a few miles in the Woodlawn tract along the Brandywine River.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg27LtF0mhLnFAUknpnB-b-jJLQB9u1HwGMnmAUuguVUTQl0TVdoiCLOrMcwygWQPiDBBGnJ_QME-o0Qy86T0_VJCEnqAeLPgaMmjO33V3vTS1AnHKcsXOZkrImadAfBeCxkv39MitFhpjM9PPgjCXXt7dxlQ5Zm8GttEzbjaPGnweXKlRq9SoPuXQZw/s4032/IMG_1535.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg27LtF0mhLnFAUknpnB-b-jJLQB9u1HwGMnmAUuguVUTQl0TVdoiCLOrMcwygWQPiDBBGnJ_QME-o0Qy86T0_VJCEnqAeLPgaMmjO33V3vTS1AnHKcsXOZkrImadAfBeCxkv39MitFhpjM9PPgjCXXt7dxlQ5Zm8GttEzbjaPGnweXKlRq9SoPuXQZw/s320/IMG_1535.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky frozen run-off</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We hope to get out more in better weather, but it gave me great joy to be out in the woods (however close to home) with my daughter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9lq1g4PSQimTa2DNRi8YEAJBtFKLhfoj2yBG1A6JG0CRHzF2DJ2NqUnKBaBnwkhVF2EQC8ZMKPTJrh5YFtO5tYzDGKpQVodSvwKoqF318Lwot2RejmrNU26BETQwN2AvX1yYpTMhds7oN0NlVEGhAlj85VgPuhVGssZihrZQmXkXd-KmZo8Ed6fW1w/s4032/IMG_1536.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9lq1g4PSQimTa2DNRi8YEAJBtFKLhfoj2yBG1A6JG0CRHzF2DJ2NqUnKBaBnwkhVF2EQC8ZMKPTJrh5YFtO5tYzDGKpQVodSvwKoqF318Lwot2RejmrNU26BETQwN2AvX1yYpTMhds7oN0NlVEGhAlj85VgPuhVGssZihrZQmXkXd-KmZo8Ed6fW1w/s320/IMG_1536.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path skirting a rocky shoulder</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We took some nice pictures during the hike, and she often said "you should paint that". Indeed I should...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g_FOtYUEohcnrYkwjPCoLgBCUR0wCxR-M3F_5VbNWsF6FnVGW7T0_6pS9DuBFkf6KVo75RbMXx9WTwXv9D8Czo8rSoj6x-UgjpnyLgj7pmBNumFJkqEoMHrZgGr9aKBK8Hd3XPo_hcoxP3lvvGh5z6saO4FRqpCNU96B7VPzqBHCZloz1Hk13SFtCA/s4032/IMG_1537.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g_FOtYUEohcnrYkwjPCoLgBCUR0wCxR-M3F_5VbNWsF6FnVGW7T0_6pS9DuBFkf6KVo75RbMXx9WTwXv9D8Czo8rSoj6x-UgjpnyLgj7pmBNumFJkqEoMHrZgGr9aKBK8Hd3XPo_hcoxP3lvvGh5z6saO4FRqpCNU96B7VPzqBHCZloz1Hk13SFtCA/s320/IMG_1537.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream in harsh light</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And maybe I will.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-91568084579088010912023-01-29T23:00:00.001-05:002023-01-31T23:06:18.730-05:00Relief<p>Health issues are always a concern, even if they affect our pets and not the people we love. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHte1lbMLdxUipaR3WOWdWupdB4QMGuKP2qwqI15jYCUSMhdiUe3hsmOnrD1-qRFYuu_Yj5drGuFI7a4QkUNOkaUUrBKMgEBgBCwZuQr45pA1TEeCBQYMLNeyfXPLrrR10Fvz9TGlzuz8gG2L8W9eIIvyyOv2BToTTl46_pG-VsQ3V0nGLvVxLEgPoiA/s4032/69379311071__7FE2F040-CB1F-428C-896B-489F7DC9EEED.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHte1lbMLdxUipaR3WOWdWupdB4QMGuKP2qwqI15jYCUSMhdiUe3hsmOnrD1-qRFYuu_Yj5drGuFI7a4QkUNOkaUUrBKMgEBgBCwZuQr45pA1TEeCBQYMLNeyfXPLrrR10Fvz9TGlzuz8gG2L8W9eIIvyyOv2BToTTl46_pG-VsQ3V0nGLvVxLEgPoiA/w300-h400/69379311071__7FE2F040-CB1F-428C-896B-489F7DC9EEED.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys and Bones</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ryder's couple of lumps and bumps are benign and not cancerous. At least for now.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-33589753862080500362023-01-28T22:50:00.008-05:002023-01-28T22:50:46.146-05:00So Many Things<p>The Phillies got to the World Series, in spectacular fashion. And lost. To a better team. Which I suppose I have to live with. Six trips to the World Series in my lifetime (1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2022). Two wins in six attempts. Not a great winning percentage, but at least we have those two wins.</p><p>The Eagles play for the NFC championship tomorrow (as favorites and at home), and a ticket to the Super Bowl. Result TBD. Again, in my lifetime, we lost the Super Bowl in 1980 and 2004 (to the cheating Patriots). Won in 2017 for the first time ever....</p><p>In music we have lost in recent years (among my favorites)...Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, Graeme Edge, John Wetton...and now Jeff Beck and David Crosby.</p><p>Jeff Beck reminds me of brother Dave, and a musician I would not learn to love until many years later. Somewhere Over the Rainbow. LPs on vinyl and Dad's stereo in the living room.</p><p>David Crosby reminds me of a live show in a very small venue in Wilmington where Amp and I got to see Graham Nash in 2013, sparking a renewed interest in CSN and CSNY. And a surprising recognition (for me) that Stephen Stills was the bedrock of CSN. Full stop. And Crosby was the mid-range anchor between Still's gruff lower range and Nash's higher end. In respect to Crosby, I can't go back to a CSN or a Byrds video and not recognize what he contributed... He had a significant reputation for a reason.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6B6qvEjEvPFyAV7N0WbHWEwTI-banIuDThV4d-CO5hh0ssEBKgEHxsAVgmGZcn2vvV59N5TH8O-0RpHqNnRAyHOwK8eQddbYYgro8w_9VTc2BRgdXjQhsLFrKD-A4mD_uTnu899HCqtHCM1tL2oZ0Wpbl7psU2jVdEA9gLXMLTFTMhZt6B0Sdfl36Q/s4032/IMG_1357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6B6qvEjEvPFyAV7N0WbHWEwTI-banIuDThV4d-CO5hh0ssEBKgEHxsAVgmGZcn2vvV59N5TH8O-0RpHqNnRAyHOwK8eQddbYYgro8w_9VTc2BRgdXjQhsLFrKD-A4mD_uTnu899HCqtHCM1tL2oZ0Wpbl7psU2jVdEA9gLXMLTFTMhZt6B0Sdfl36Q/s320/IMG_1357.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn. Sleepy boy.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Grace is rounding out the first semester of her first year at Delaware. Honors College Deans List. But more importantly, finding her own way. Fly little bird...</p><p>Hobby stuff continues, and may be posted here in the future... or not.</p><p>Feelings on these things come and go, but today I find the thought of posting updates here to be more of an afterthought than a priority.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmJfP2ZA9h1MClUq5A6uPu3y6FDvjbXO5vglDIGHHocKDQzhvxBiIj4olfNUOiTsa2hZpRg4TR3OFSOWrvV8uS8sIT4-J3D89P6oVmXiUnlFJhLUHgvo7EMytZ4EWy9QRWTjnRpx2k6wsIC_pJBXT4KZ9qH-oUtEErLm3lLMIZJaCpOJU6gRtasE8Fw/s4032/IMG_1560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmJfP2ZA9h1MClUq5A6uPu3y6FDvjbXO5vglDIGHHocKDQzhvxBiIj4olfNUOiTsa2hZpRg4TR3OFSOWrvV8uS8sIT4-J3D89P6oVmXiUnlFJhLUHgvo7EMytZ4EWy9QRWTjnRpx2k6wsIC_pJBXT4KZ9qH-oUtEErLm3lLMIZJaCpOJU6gRtasE8Fw/s320/IMG_1560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryder. Also sleepy...</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Be well.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-89020287075405049282022-08-08T22:05:00.002-04:002022-08-08T22:23:32.711-04:00The 1980 Phillies<p>The 40th anniversary celebration of the 1980 Phillies world championship team, the first in franchise history, happened over the weekend. It was two-years delayed due to the pandemic, but was something I looked forward to as a lifelong Phillies and lifelong baseball fan.</p><p>Alumni weekend took up the entire weekend, with relief pitcher Ron Reed and outfielder Arnold "Bake" McBride being inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Saturday.</p><p>Sunday festivities were focused on honoring the 1980 World Series Champion team, and would include the on-field return of Pete Rose for the first time in Philly in a very very long time.</p><p>Mike Schmidt had tested positive for Covid and was only represented on video. Most of the others were there. Larry Bowa, Steve Carlton, Greg Luzinski, Bob Boone, Manny Trillo, Del Unser, Greg Gross, Ron Reed, Larry Christensen, and others. And Pete Rose.</p><p>Pete's lifetime ban from baseball is well known to any baseball fan. And I will not argue the merits of that here today. Or the whole Hall of Fame issue, with Pete being baseball's all-time hits leaders.</p><p>For this celebration, Pete had been included per the Phillies management on the grounds that his teammates wanted him to be included, with the most-often quote being that the Phillies wouldn't have won the World Series in 1980 without Pete Rose providing the drive and leadership to get over the hump and reach the ultimate goal.</p><p>That may be true.</p><p>Pete was interviewed before the game, asked in particular about his underage sexual relationship with a pre-16 year old girl while married in those years. His comments to the female reporter were...typical Pete "it was a long time ago, get over it Babe" (or something to that effect). He took a turn in the broadcast booth for an inning and was also typical Pete...profane, narcissistic, egomaniacal, and a dirt-poor example of a human being.</p><p>The whole thing left me feeling...dirty.</p><p>I understand that Pete Rose was very important in us winning a World Series. I recognize that my childhood sports identity is largely wrapped up in those Phillies teams, and that I unconditionally love many if not most of those players to this day.</p><p>But a key part of that team was Pete Rose, and Pete Rose is and always has been, for lack of a better term, a complete and total scumbag.</p><p>As a father of daughters, it is hard to swallow a sexual predator defense of "Hey, I thought she was 16...".</p><p>We won the World Series in 1980. Thanks in large part to Pete Rose.</p><p>Ugh. I do feel dirty.</p><p>To John Middleton and the Phillies organization who inexplicably thought this was a good idea: you were very very wrong. And don't hide behind "Pete's teammates wanted this." You chose to celebrate a dirtbag. And predictably enough he embarrassed you. Again. Shame on you.</p><p>Be better than this.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-30283715093645218012022-07-07T22:11:00.064-04:002022-07-17T22:37:25.404-04:00Milestones Aplenty<p>Grace graduated high school, as noted previously. Then turned 18. Then had a big graduation party at our house. Then had a new student orientation day at the University of Delaware. Finally, after two years of pandemic related shutdowns, Julia is working 3-4 shifts a week as a server at a local retirement community's dining room. So...lots of stuff going on...</p><p>The whole "kid going to college" thing is new for us. There are deadlines, forms to submit, online acceptances and waivers to complete. Almost all of which, due to her age, go to her and not to us. We ask questions and prod her to do things. Her answers are pretty much always some form of "I did it, I'm on it, or I've got this." And she does, and we are proud.</p><p>But the "starting to let go" is a thing... And of course, the "we need to see your financials page so we know what tuition to pay and by when" is also a thing.... So one of the things she needed to do was grant us access to portions of her student portal. Portions. Which means we need to get over being in total control of all aspects of her life. Which is good. Really good. For her and for us.</p><p>Grace's New Student Orientation session in early July was exciting. There is a whole process for finding a compatible roommate, and she and another girl decided to be roommates in the Honors College dorm. So on NSO day, Grace got to spend the day with her new roommate (in person for the first time, having scheduled their NSO on the same date) while her mom and I got to spend the day with her roommate's mom.</p><p>They are nice people, and it seems like everything should be good. Fingers crossed. It's a far cry from back in the day when you showed up on move-in day and met your roommate...</p><p>How is it that you go from this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJYRqIfzL7m0I0FHHcmSPpc1foU9fH5MC5hp-ZY3HDtR77UW1XCuOd89POPqoEvk7hU1rsztwFpoeeKS7fK23pE4w2M1ekIyv2SeHTk-5wLZ_hB8PBgk3jxdfOi-7RyGFSzClIe4LYUZUpqh7-0O_ra4px77uBkc1H0BD6LCniovfMhbPifQ3xdUPbQ/s1600/125_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJYRqIfzL7m0I0FHHcmSPpc1foU9fH5MC5hp-ZY3HDtR77UW1XCuOd89POPqoEvk7hU1rsztwFpoeeKS7fK23pE4w2M1ekIyv2SeHTk-5wLZ_hB8PBgk3jxdfOi-7RyGFSzClIe4LYUZUpqh7-0O_ra4px77uBkc1H0BD6LCniovfMhbPifQ3xdUPbQ/w300-h400/125_2579.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Grace</td></tr></tbody></table><p>To this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQrJ_YpW0dWdD6ka-ihR7KjgbjelEXzFcRdcg8tKV0p3Hibr3MPRehCsYgNo28yf3P0zvunEqxPMnnxLi_OjYpxcAQP6B0hVuE1N_Nh0RoAIs5I_3UzX9XZ-iFZRCWO-R0D5V9zSEE_LKEfPaljoO6prVnw1OV6XZurC9wFOCXUUD8QqeKMsRJ_bEOw/s1500/C3CV97L2H3-08445_01767GD08182021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQrJ_YpW0dWdD6ka-ihR7KjgbjelEXzFcRdcg8tKV0p3Hibr3MPRehCsYgNo28yf3P0zvunEqxPMnnxLi_OjYpxcAQP6B0hVuE1N_Nh0RoAIs5I_3UzX9XZ-iFZRCWO-R0D5V9zSEE_LKEfPaljoO6prVnw1OV6XZurC9wFOCXUUD8QqeKMsRJ_bEOw/w320-h400/C3CV97L2H3-08445_01767GD08182021.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigger Grace</td></tr></tbody></table><p>So quickly...?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-44119756009312950792022-06-08T21:53:00.013-04:002022-07-17T22:05:51.903-04:00Graduation Day<p>At the Bob Carpenter Center on the University of Delaware campus, Grace participated in what we hope to be the first of two graduations on the UDel campus. The first was today when she graduated with the Garnet Valley High School class of 2022. Hopefully the next will be the UDel graduating class of 2026...but I am getting a little ahead of myself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkNN3D30Ym-BE_bm1qc9hWX0za-hjpvnKYaZnbG16cKwBYEf0Bc_uSpfIP8Jb2bbFSbz0os-KXFvFbf9s9QTWBpemDATVELbxPbI2O94r_MSkGoxCSZ4HO2sPXvkOXnVSrByYLV7n-EjEUj4QZEm1jBICXpCXMvVqPlWQnIbPwUGi8dOPeIAREF2Jhw/s1792/IMG_7605%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1792" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkNN3D30Ym-BE_bm1qc9hWX0za-hjpvnKYaZnbG16cKwBYEf0Bc_uSpfIP8Jb2bbFSbz0os-KXFvFbf9s9QTWBpemDATVELbxPbI2O94r_MSkGoxCSZ4HO2sPXvkOXnVSrByYLV7n-EjEUj4QZEm1jBICXpCXMvVqPlWQnIbPwUGi8dOPeIAREF2Jhw/w400-h185/IMG_7605%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking in on GVHS livestream</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The ceremony took about an hour and a half, maybe a little more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrlK75iE_9rtZv3Qjy9rzY55Vsa6bzNmlmEifiHTJdqL49GM-lvJWNYowSq-uiFSL0U1_qpyC-Ag3HSlP_SFaXSze2YoI7veDNI-4sxO_Poy6JGi63JdRxtPKE8RDOA5i3urWaNw8QxJnotXLuEoTFACxa-Vh2g7kaCPAmSSw83d_ChO0Vej9PH1UHQ/s4032/IMG_1143%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrlK75iE_9rtZv3Qjy9rzY55Vsa6bzNmlmEifiHTJdqL49GM-lvJWNYowSq-uiFSL0U1_qpyC-Ag3HSlP_SFaXSze2YoI7veDNI-4sxO_Poy6JGi63JdRxtPKE8RDOA5i3urWaNw8QxJnotXLuEoTFACxa-Vh2g7kaCPAmSSw83d_ChO0Vej9PH1UHQ/s320/IMG_1143%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaking some hands</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was chorus and band music, marching in, and some opening remarks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxrR14g6shNKr11irPEN2vzcRsQU5TVnVTCg2Y4wzmYAZOrnzRo_YM2Kw9cFEQfac1DqvVy8fSBTVg0MK8Kupq_xyJY-zrr7IswgtWQNFVsYAGQLfkwG8FRbjPEC7v44HORz6_d3lQS1F4VqTvIl9_x9aNkJ2kVJwlRSCzWN8lCMCFjD-Ayaa0jeicw/s4032/IMG_1150%203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxrR14g6shNKr11irPEN2vzcRsQU5TVnVTCg2Y4wzmYAZOrnzRo_YM2Kw9cFEQfac1DqvVy8fSBTVg0MK8Kupq_xyJY-zrr7IswgtWQNFVsYAGQLfkwG8FRbjPEC7v44HORz6_d3lQS1F4VqTvIl9_x9aNkJ2kVJwlRSCzWN8lCMCFjD-Ayaa0jeicw/s320/IMG_1150%203.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diploma in hand</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was about 45 minutes of reading ~385 names and watching kids walk across the stage to get their diplomas and shake hands with faculty and administration.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2GIwwkjDDWDns2BLva3Q0aoWl9XhoKILKl3oixHYJJmOFMfVKilLTW7Llp_sohT6q4UBxCG6gbjmsA1bCkxwdK82eDo5PG7lkcOV2OSM5VN7KNikP72Ut0k5x37m-OaTYkX3CkfhAs9Ci0z8h2SlxUfp2aj3aMvavtBv55Cqw21F3gT6_9lyYIF2Fg/s4032/IMG_1156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2GIwwkjDDWDns2BLva3Q0aoWl9XhoKILKl3oixHYJJmOFMfVKilLTW7Llp_sohT6q4UBxCG6gbjmsA1bCkxwdK82eDo5PG7lkcOV2OSM5VN7KNikP72Ut0k5x37m-OaTYkX3CkfhAs9Ci0z8h2SlxUfp2aj3aMvavtBv55Cqw21F3gT6_9lyYIF2Fg/s320/IMG_1156.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Aidan</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was another 20 minutes or so of student speeches and closing remarks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaFKZpi4p5Verg0PeGE1O3DkneFYvuqMLIpi0IA3l5oJ8yTIGEwCKpxA8NG86GP_loUm4vNwYvyEb9qhlPTsuwoFH6nK5s0ce1-RXUJA5eSWQPraMuQqy5VNhuN46CIM54rCpQwZ6GOuHMfVQ36RNv64W9PpsJKymkysP3gUQZKsk3acs-1_adU6jjg/s4032/IMG_1162.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaFKZpi4p5Verg0PeGE1O3DkneFYvuqMLIpi0IA3l5oJ8yTIGEwCKpxA8NG86GP_loUm4vNwYvyEb9qhlPTsuwoFH6nK5s0ce1-RXUJA5eSWQPraMuQqy5VNhuN46CIM54rCpQwZ6GOuHMfVQ36RNv64W9PpsJKymkysP3gUQZKsk3acs-1_adU6jjg/s320/IMG_1162.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towering over proud big sister Julia</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then a whole lot of picture taking in the hot sun outside the Bob.</p><p>And as quickly as that it was over...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-63512799942424058762022-05-28T22:22:00.003-04:002022-05-28T22:24:40.439-04:00Alan White, RIP<p>Sad to hear that Alan White, drummer for <b><i>Yes</i></b>, died recently at the age of 72 after a brief illness.</p><p>White replaced Bill Bruford when Bruford left <b><i>Yes</i></b>. He also drummed for numerous other musicians, including Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, and was the drummer on John Lennon's song <b>Imagine</b>. So there's some immortality for you.</p><p>Alan White was the drummer for the one <b><i>Yes</i></b> show I saw live, which in retrospect is not the one <b><i>Yes</i></b> band lineup that I would have liked to have seen if I had to pick only one, but it is what it is. I saw <b><i>Yes</i></b> at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on April 30, 1984 as part of the <b>90125</b> tour. I was wrapping up my senior year in high school...</p><p>The classic <b><i>Yes</i></b> lineup was Chris Squire on bass, Steve Howe on guitar, Bill Bruford on drums, Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Jon Anderson on vocals. </p><p>The <b>90125</b> tour lineup was long after Bruford had left and been replaced by Alan White, and after Steve Howe left and was replaced by Trevor Rabin. Wakeman was also long gone and replaced by keyboardist Tony Kaye. Original members Squire and Anderson remained. It was a great concert and a great band, but there is no arguing that the Trevor Rabin years were a very different version of <b style="font-style: italic;">Yes</b> as compared to the <b>Yes Album</b> and <b>Fragile</b> days, or <b>Close to the Edge</b>. I liked it then, and still do, but it was...almost not <b><i>Yes</i></b>.</p><p>White was the dummer for 3,070 live <b><i>Yes</i></b> shows according to Wikipedia. And I saw one of them...</p><p>Of all these <b><i>Yes</i></b> folks, I have seen Anderson, Squire, White and Rabin once (in 1984), Steve Howe twice but both as a member of <b><i>Asia</i></b> (once on 8/27/83 at the Spectrum touring for the <b>Alpha</b> album, and once on 10/20/12 touring for the <b>XXX</b> album at the intimate Keswick Theater in the 4th row - 29 years after the first time). I've never seen Bruford or Wakeman live.</p><p>Anyway, yet another one from my early years is gone. And Chris Squire has already passed. <b><i>Tempus Fugit</i></b>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-13550866028018740092022-05-27T22:37:00.033-04:002022-05-28T22:46:41.780-04:00Senior Prom, part 1<p>Tonight was Grace's senior prom.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTyR6pOaJHSjCaaTNc-p85GqQee1fPjIR6GyFs8WmOc1lQoc9iJJFH1_ihpQKzeS2L0n-APvi0Zmgkl53Jj95kVo4Q5QOrapWzZyOPjSWb1NjGMFqofFbqIfXQi4IZ1m4R9VcYQutKa9Iw-qJs6Y3AJ-0z-yMYtyYKNyZlFgbyYWSGOkLKjfDFyMegA/s4032/IMG_2270.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTyR6pOaJHSjCaaTNc-p85GqQee1fPjIR6GyFs8WmOc1lQoc9iJJFH1_ihpQKzeS2L0n-APvi0Zmgkl53Jj95kVo4Q5QOrapWzZyOPjSWb1NjGMFqofFbqIfXQi4IZ1m4R9VcYQutKa9Iw-qJs6Y3AJ-0z-yMYtyYKNyZlFgbyYWSGOkLKjfDFyMegA/w300-h400/IMG_2270.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior Prom</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We had a whole host of kids and their parents over to our house for pictures beforehand, some of whom I have never seen before. Which is fine.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhs31DwikXWq0LfxDZcJXYLJ65U5FkmyEAHfMP6eUAScRO64hTCqMJCnbGdF2UgrojOhJ5rXnS-0hMvcKAgKazyfd7ByM1dbUo4wHWW2u4asH94TFHA2pg5YsKDoWZQX2p0_lppK71WtmbtJmwM_0mosgc8G5qLfgh_V_cd35xTO3O9DUWt4Hut1fXg/s4032/IMG_2282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhs31DwikXWq0LfxDZcJXYLJ65U5FkmyEAHfMP6eUAScRO64hTCqMJCnbGdF2UgrojOhJ5rXnS-0hMvcKAgKazyfd7ByM1dbUo4wHWW2u4asH94TFHA2pg5YsKDoWZQX2p0_lppK71WtmbtJmwM_0mosgc8G5qLfgh_V_cd35xTO3O9DUWt4Hut1fXg/w300-h400/IMG_2282.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Boutiniere picture</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The excitement in the kids was palpable.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnkuWRbV1MFICFDyq2Rz2WgVG2LwmAs6dwkLwNJVGSRse1RPDuYydM-mIbJ_vxi1qQJwRIabWyS0mBc-8ubsYIx9K5A0UMel4JfD1uw3shdWlllPWTLQkbe8xMopcyxR7WsfpYjZgYVJtMaBALCNXrGepRpBQHb13e91l67Dxo8DDXuxs5oe2CHj_mw/s1538/IMG_2286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1210" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnkuWRbV1MFICFDyq2Rz2WgVG2LwmAs6dwkLwNJVGSRse1RPDuYydM-mIbJ_vxi1qQJwRIabWyS0mBc-8ubsYIx9K5A0UMel4JfD1uw3shdWlllPWTLQkbe8xMopcyxR7WsfpYjZgYVJtMaBALCNXrGepRpBQHb13e91l67Dxo8DDXuxs5oe2CHj_mw/w315-h400/IMG_2286.jpeg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace and Aidan</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The weather sorta mostly cooperated. At least enough for everyone to sneak in outdoor pictures on the deck as well as in the living room.</p><p>As reported by Grace, much fun was had by all. More to come on that.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-62917311444816753312022-05-18T23:47:00.010-04:002022-05-24T23:59:55.288-04:00Northeastern (and Bust)<p>Going into college application season, Grace had a bunch of schools that she wanted to apply to, for various reasons, and a smaller subset of those schools she really wanted to get into. She had a bunch of safety schools.</p><p>Northeastern and Brown were at the top of her list for neuroscience. Villanova and Bryn Mawr College were also in the upper tier.</p><p>She had many acceptances, some acceptances and denials in the top tier, and a waitlist or two.</p><p>Weighing her options leading up to the universal May 1 acceptance deadline, she chose the University of Delaware's Honors College option, and scholarship.</p><p>Today, two-plus weeks after pretty much every college's acceptance deadline, she received word that she had been moved from waitlist to "accepted" at her initial number one choice, Northeastern University (in Boston).</p><p>For the mere pittance of $80k per year, and with the <u>requirement</u> that she spend the first semester of her freshman year in an overseas program because the school was overbooked and couldn't accommodate her on campus, she could have the privilege of attending Northeastern. And when she returned from overseas for the second semester of her freshman year, they could guarantee her student housing but it might be in a hotel, not a dorm.</p><p>This was her strong number one choice going in.</p><p>I know that she had to have some pangs of regret when she read their acceptance letter to me off of her laptop, but it's way too little too late at this point...and no longer an attractive choice.</p><p>Go, Blue Hens!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-37225967139034732022-05-18T23:02:00.000-04:002022-05-18T23:02:25.410-04:00So Close to Graduating<p>The ramp-up to Grace's graduation has been a surreal time. There are AP exams. Days of watching movies in class. College tours. Choosing a school and accepting college admissions. Senior Awards nights. Band banquets. Drama Club banquets. Graduation parties. Lots of "lasts". Last Drama performance. Last band concert. Last chorus concert...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyITPcP3pWkhcGhKk5BNWZYGtzEKnB2GpRBRNOkDfenVcC8wBG9GQz4cEiyoqXb0m5tmNu669cV8Tn83SKB0D_n8av7Mi7w915pHCcoJ-gkXasxu0a_WUHyR-qEYR1HFLJdlAW7736b248arACxN6RIzde0e5IE4-jiVpdF3KfiJaEShVhvzqfpldc5A/s2736/R60_4666.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2736" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyITPcP3pWkhcGhKk5BNWZYGtzEKnB2GpRBRNOkDfenVcC8wBG9GQz4cEiyoqXb0m5tmNu669cV8Tn83SKB0D_n8av7Mi7w915pHCcoJ-gkXasxu0a_WUHyR-qEYR1HFLJdlAW7736b248arACxN6RIzde0e5IE4-jiVpdF3KfiJaEShVhvzqfpldc5A/w400-h266/R60_4666.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drum Major Grace</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But every now and then a small thing hits me like a ton of bricks.</p><p>I was recently sent the above picture taken by "T-Bone", the beloved official photographer of many Garnet Valley sports teams and related organizations, including the marching band...</p><p>Grace told me she likes the picture but her hair is weird. I told her "that is backlighting", and with a wanna-be artist's eye, it's what makes the picture.</p><p>Maybe she understands.</p><p>Maybe she thinks her hair still looks weird.</p><p>I think it is one of the best pictures we have of her high school years...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-7327679430976896912022-05-18T22:47:00.003-04:002022-05-18T22:47:33.605-04:00Sunrise Over the Hills<p>Enough is enough. No more tweaking this painting</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JKHJorO_m8wHT8WNUeulR7d-24h1HOgQSaXRY6oasrsSbfqROIxVBwG94lCf2GjuXbNpYrwPgEO9F0KUCfdZLeFQEfJvxPfSMoLIc9ckqBhe0X6aZtkTxoL7wp4suhlrrdzWSJredYmrvbYaXhxmkTK3v0xIYBAzqCP_W0rqyUQXiIo3Xp6qhzvlhw/s3795/IMG_1060.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="3795" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JKHJorO_m8wHT8WNUeulR7d-24h1HOgQSaXRY6oasrsSbfqROIxVBwG94lCf2GjuXbNpYrwPgEO9F0KUCfdZLeFQEfJvxPfSMoLIc9ckqBhe0X6aZtkTxoL7wp4suhlrrdzWSJredYmrvbYaXhxmkTK3v0xIYBAzqCP_W0rqyUQXiIo3Xp6qhzvlhw/w400-h264/IMG_1060.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Over the Hills (oils on canvas, 20 by 30)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm relatively pleased, but one way or another it is time to move on. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-62094093471998052512022-05-14T19:54:00.004-04:002022-05-14T19:54:42.015-04:00Sunrise, Part 3<p>A few more tweaks today. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IoMioHXxH-lY2Vaac6vNxIFz00WjZHNV2y4sZ_s8limPsuM8BObRsJ14dDPwig3R2sWnFKjtgkRVB5_Pg36nuCENsyhrzgpk7R_SMXxxPdHc9F7r4ZtW8i1OR5LoJgTIWtp_GR5GZ3lJeNnSDM0RPVgiSiFYBC346eObwX63GTGMoVqy8onxFTXi8Q/s3851/IMG_1042.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2555" data-original-width="3851" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IoMioHXxH-lY2Vaac6vNxIFz00WjZHNV2y4sZ_s8limPsuM8BObRsJ14dDPwig3R2sWnFKjtgkRVB5_Pg36nuCENsyhrzgpk7R_SMXxxPdHc9F7r4ZtW8i1OR5LoJgTIWtp_GR5GZ3lJeNnSDM0RPVgiSiFYBC346eObwX63GTGMoVqy8onxFTXi8Q/w400-h265/IMG_1042.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Over the Hills (oils on canvas, 20 x 30 inches)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Break up the sunrise blob. Fix the foreground a bit.</p><p>Not quite there yet but better. I've enjoyed painting with this limited color palette.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-29032203849170521562022-05-12T22:31:00.004-04:002022-05-12T22:35:46.783-04:00Happy Painting part 2<p>I took about 10 minutes this evening to tweak a few things with this work in progress.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUqUyFm8KQmggZPJ5eCQR4fxIJCIeqGC3B0TjaFEAABlGUFkh8GpEvBBikyN6XW6ip1MQLDMFyfUv9_R9fNzoNyrJ5LuOcGYdhv7JEt8pjj64EKoC07VoBiqpV9v9dsYELwnTTUOEvc9EI-YWHaHncg5I814TSFEgd9llhavKLaSn1x-eL1xFf6jYtg/s3724/IMG_1039.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2451" data-original-width="3724" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUqUyFm8KQmggZPJ5eCQR4fxIJCIeqGC3B0TjaFEAABlGUFkh8GpEvBBikyN6XW6ip1MQLDMFyfUv9_R9fNzoNyrJ5LuOcGYdhv7JEt8pjj64EKoC07VoBiqpV9v9dsYELwnTTUOEvc9EI-YWHaHncg5I814TSFEgd9llhavKLaSn1x-eL1xFf6jYtg/w400-h264/IMG_1039.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Over the Hills, part 2 (20 x 30 oils on canvas)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is still more to do, but it is getting closer to what I want. Small steps...</p><p>The white/yellow/pink glow on the horizon needs to be broken up by light turquoise sky. The foreground needs work. The left side needs more "woodland clutter". And so on.</p><p>Onward we go...</p><p>[PS - It is interesting to note that the first/prior post on this painting was photographed later at night with the dining room light on, resulting in an artificial "orangish" color shift. This photograph was taken in daylight with no artificial light, and is thus far more reflective of the actual colors...]</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-32411523620904930362022-05-11T22:30:00.002-04:002022-05-11T22:41:29.863-04:00Happy Painting<p>At the end of an often-long day, I paint because it relieves stress and makes me happy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O7f7BsuVnAQw-FhEt3q1ThltHi9JIUHRJr7nV1xiGuRIKeDJyCQRH6Foi-QwOTsvhtpiJNmUDJ_Nj5lgknL_saVb2XrIsdVGxNMUo0oVqVWPadsDqEx3vRNvHNOIB3lzOCsVQTKcj8-iUxHxu1lYD7Mc6dCY3-n0PVC73bmP5T-wIAzfhryp_jmwoQ/s3864/IMG_1038.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="3864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O7f7BsuVnAQw-FhEt3q1ThltHi9JIUHRJr7nV1xiGuRIKeDJyCQRH6Foi-QwOTsvhtpiJNmUDJ_Nj5lgknL_saVb2XrIsdVGxNMUo0oVqVWPadsDqEx3vRNvHNOIB3lzOCsVQTKcj8-iUxHxu1lYD7Mc6dCY3-n0PVC73bmP5T-wIAzfhryp_jmwoQ/w400-h266/IMG_1038.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the Hills (oils on canvas, 20 by 30 inches)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This makes me happy.</p><p>Lukas 1862 oils on a fairly large canvas. This is layer 1. Layer 2 to come.</p><p>This was painted almost entirely with a limited palette of turquoise greens, dark earth greens and some blues and grays for the sky. Plus the sunrise colors, of course.</p><p>Stage 2 will mainly be to refine the sunrise and fill in the trees on the lefthand hillside. We shall see how it goes...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-26883889661576768402022-04-22T23:32:00.000-04:002022-04-22T23:32:25.116-04:00Painting Again<p>It's been too long since I have painted anything in oils (or any media for that matter). My normal painting space, so as not to be shut away in the basement, is at the end of our dining room table in the dining room (which is very rarely used as a dining room). My makeshift "studio" got put away for the holidays, and one thing led to another and here we are in mid-April and I keep saying "I have to get my painting stuff out again..." So today I did.</p><p>Over the course of a couple hours this evening, with short breaks for checking in on how the Phillies were doing, I threw some paint on some canvas. In this case, Lukas 1862 oils on Michaels store brand extra smooth stretched canvases. The goal was just to use some paint after a 3-4 month hiatus. Both were painted from imagination.</p><p>The first is a view across a valley to the hills and horizon beyond.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPmYIMbdBqOEZC7JbG7Hesf7jIn_w0G-WQMsJS3Y8u7AVuLP8Fi7U1g41Q8ovHq6Nhm_8VGWlmYMCEN3PzC4ZLZ280MJfkWEGE-xBGcdp82uRu8iLNkEdBDG0YanOBWkLDNMMVIdJziA2iMYbUjVwenovVQIP4TXjZdzwu8iNTMQ8ezAsjM75rGWkgA/s3899/IMG_0980.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="3899" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPmYIMbdBqOEZC7JbG7Hesf7jIn_w0G-WQMsJS3Y8u7AVuLP8Fi7U1g41Q8ovHq6Nhm_8VGWlmYMCEN3PzC4ZLZ280MJfkWEGE-xBGcdp82uRu8iLNkEdBDG0YanOBWkLDNMMVIdJziA2iMYbUjVwenovVQIP4TXjZdzwu8iNTMQ8ezAsjM75rGWkgA/w400-h299/IMG_0980.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the Valley (12 by 16 canvas, oils)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The second was a darker palette-cleansing exercise that turned into a springtime hillside in the moments near dawn. It's dark, but the light is coming...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQccryYJbQCvwHSCiCQfhrUKgLZDARX03Pms6tApFEAvIjz0o06ADYpbPc0vs-fHzvxaSUWKSJRCVQ-nU8Bu3jhtSp1snBlFY-rF6CdAPFy3ABpVh8P6QIqNRrxG5lArUNbAY9vaoBjV5xPJbdZDjXx4PVriVWfYzhOLavcpP-WZtOkdoibw07QQNrQ/s3665/IMG_0981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2833" data-original-width="3665" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQccryYJbQCvwHSCiCQfhrUKgLZDARX03Pms6tApFEAvIjz0o06ADYpbPc0vs-fHzvxaSUWKSJRCVQ-nU8Bu3jhtSp1snBlFY-rF6CdAPFy3ABpVh8P6QIqNRrxG5lArUNbAY9vaoBjV5xPJbdZDjXx4PVriVWfYzhOLavcpP-WZtOkdoibw07QQNrQ/w400-h309/IMG_0981.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Springtime Hillside at Dawn (14 by 18 canvas, oils)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Neither is a masterpiece by any means, but it felt very good to pick up a brush for the first time in about 4 months and do something. Anything.</p><p>This was intended to "prime the pump" and get me painting again, nothing more. And I think it accomplished that.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-1810647362475362932022-04-20T21:49:00.001-04:002022-04-20T21:51:06.690-04:00Selection Day<p>After weighing her various options and visiting the campus again yesterday for a small group tour, my not-so-little girl has accepted a Trustees Scholarship to the Honors College of the University of Delaware to study Neuroscience. Class of 2026.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqk4ZJaAbBZ7fp1S5gR3RbL6w0yGMHBOuZBQmkZ9ihNLZ7HCly9JjOp6yR6L327nu9scaATuBfWEtzNSJVIZIVI_KVfd27AvDtqCZ4xjtPZiBa2WZ80rV73IXSlChBjWiidDVB7Y8PkgilENwgzyNWHoZ_oHVRtKzAbngrVtY2DQSsU90VGF_1TryWxw/s1500/C3CV97L2H3-08465_01767GD08182021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqk4ZJaAbBZ7fp1S5gR3RbL6w0yGMHBOuZBQmkZ9ihNLZ7HCly9JjOp6yR6L327nu9scaATuBfWEtzNSJVIZIVI_KVfd27AvDtqCZ4xjtPZiBa2WZ80rV73IXSlChBjWiidDVB7Y8PkgilENwgzyNWHoZ_oHVRtKzAbngrVtY2DQSsU90VGF_1TryWxw/w320-h400/C3CV97L2H3-08465_01767GD08182021.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>There was a time not all that long ago that thinking of Grace going off to college made me sad. I am (mostly) over that, and it makes me happy to think of all of the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for her. There comes a time to start to let go...</p><p>So these days I am mostly just proud.</p><p>She is driven and self-motivated. She has worked hard. She has earned this.</p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-73396309390076423852022-04-13T22:06:00.005-04:002022-04-17T16:17:32.061-04:00Daughter Does Disney<p>It's been a long time since posting. Life has been full, and busy, which is a good thing. We are all well, which can't be assumed these days. I will try to catch up on backfilling some of the highlights of the past months (Grace's pending graduation, college selection etc....) but in the meantime..</p><p>After a pandemic-cancelled Hawaii trip 2 years ago, and another cancelled Hawaii trip last year, the Garnet Valley High School marching band (and other music programs) traveled to Southern California this week. A highlight was the marching band performing in the Disneyland daily parade down Main Street USA. Led by their drum majors, including Grace (at left). Only about 60 of the 100+ kids in the marching band made the trip, but those who did were having a great time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDYXnRb8LeMeldXDpWsoAzuJ8wzs-uTLbpeiu0KrT6_ufU4OjPYnB_lfW4K_Q_VvkNJXncXGOzwpj2JjDOpC0YR_fR5A0wuVTjsU59O-bH7GOm46FLuwPbHu6pkDXmVm6LslE8dJILqVrlcugR38zwrgNBsLA2pDJ7jlRt5CB5P7faMMIGpQel6dXxg/s1389/IMG_3652.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1389" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDYXnRb8LeMeldXDpWsoAzuJ8wzs-uTLbpeiu0KrT6_ufU4OjPYnB_lfW4K_Q_VvkNJXncXGOzwpj2JjDOpC0YR_fR5A0wuVTjsU59O-bH7GOm46FLuwPbHu6pkDXmVm6LslE8dJILqVrlcugR38zwrgNBsLA2pDJ7jlRt5CB5P7faMMIGpQel6dXxg/w640-h296/IMG_3652.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garnet Valley HS Drum Majors at Disneyland</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After about 50 football games in the marching band, including pandemic-shortened seasons, and a loss in the state semi-finals this year, not to mention a dozen or more competitions over the years, the lyrics from a song from the musical <b><i>Hamilton</i></b> resonate in my head. "...one last time....."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrqk_hv8ocDKX-JfOwUrctiluw-Xn596rwyuO0MHVib73Qlqy6NNSskAN9sY9p7-Z_fgt_mA_4oxgajbgcSHO4jGrbGdtFtFyqC-UCEiSjnDscUseMKRoNapCW6uvMiqOG3_VUWc6V5Bk-bNkW0X2RRgVXok1cq3aa6pmryf4u_g4ayAGfddc7wqWbQ/s1024/IMG_9707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrqk_hv8ocDKX-JfOwUrctiluw-Xn596rwyuO0MHVib73Qlqy6NNSskAN9sY9p7-Z_fgt_mA_4oxgajbgcSHO4jGrbGdtFtFyqC-UCEiSjnDscUseMKRoNapCW6uvMiqOG3_VUWc6V5Bk-bNkW0X2RRgVXok1cq3aa6pmryf4u_g4ayAGfddc7wqWbQ/w640-h360/IMG_9707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Street USA, Disneyland</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The last time Grace will don the garnet and black of the GVHS marching band. The last time Grace will don the white pants and gold cape of a drum major. Just...the last time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwkmbfx5g6nf5NlCrTlRDqvGDD3FX6-AOw46GI5XnaWKXAwe8pvrhV3JE1xV5Fg763NPce8mew40afpmo4x4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>There are too many "lasts" these days for a sentimental fool like me.</p><p>However, more than I am sad for the closing of old chapters, I am excited for what lies ahead.</p><p>But today...one last time. It's difficult. For her. And for me and her mom.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-58341366163184550082022-01-28T19:44:00.003-05:002022-01-28T19:44:53.461-05:00Here We Go Again<p>We will never ever ever ever get a dog.</p><p>So... Meet our second dog. Flynn is a ~7 month old Corgi (terrier) and Beagle (hound) mix. As near as anyone can tell.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNqh6_HqnLL580FiZInbgip0Z7W8qNI57kaXPHri6UQQL9_BENBfwSWESvYHQuZDbCJ-BrFsMOJwP7eEtojPHR7oJ1q1KMOTWEy4YQ_bw_Jl7yNHOPeTJHdrebwhDY8ZvWwYlk3p6MyUTvhy_cFFFjLhY96ib5pjHu8nXTCirLlHDjSs7lqH73cdLhVA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNqh6_HqnLL580FiZInbgip0Z7W8qNI57kaXPHri6UQQL9_BENBfwSWESvYHQuZDbCJ-BrFsMOJwP7eEtojPHR7oJ1q1KMOTWEy4YQ_bw_Jl7yNHOPeTJHdrebwhDY8ZvWwYlk3p6MyUTvhy_cFFFjLhY96ib5pjHu8nXTCirLlHDjSs7lqH73cdLhVA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryder meet Flynn. Flynn this is Ryder.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We picked him up Thursday morning, so he has now been with us for about 30 hours. So far so good. Ryder is a bit uncertain, but hopefully that changes soon.</p><p>Flynn, formerly known as Spaetzle, is well socialized, house trained and acts the healthy pup in every way.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioKZ4ieYKFtqpLUDquYQziSNhkgcfl4fGgejWxXdmdA1viYkwAB54LkW_7eTPekISIsR8zKV7jnPPUBuMLZd01NGAcpDVyNznAivRLzWoqmJPhYtHvFq12VlZSnOofGILh0b1cl8EU0AqLGKeto-qJrZ-FFvkOFwGH54nkZB02QfUxYzWFL-uZYL4f5Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioKZ4ieYKFtqpLUDquYQziSNhkgcfl4fGgejWxXdmdA1viYkwAB54LkW_7eTPekISIsR8zKV7jnPPUBuMLZd01NGAcpDVyNznAivRLzWoqmJPhYtHvFq12VlZSnOofGILh0b1cl8EU0AqLGKeto-qJrZ-FFvkOFwGH54nkZB02QfUxYzWFL-uZYL4f5Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All tuckered out...</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Unlike Ryder who was a rescued stray, Flynn was part of a litter that the owners just couldn't keep. He's an adorable little boy.</p><p>More to come...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-31398351089858031532021-12-15T20:57:00.001-05:002021-12-15T21:00:26.282-05:00RIP Rick Barber, and La Bataille d'Orthez<p>I haven't been an active historical boardgamer in over a decade. Closer to 15 years probably. But despite having gotten rid of dozens and dozens of games, I still have 2 or 3 bookcases full of board wargames in the basement. Someday, maybe...</p><p>Anyway, I stop by the Clash of Arms company website every now and then to see if there is anything new going on with them. It's not a regularly maintained website, and there generally isn't anything much to see, but Ed Wimble is a good guy and a friend, and some of my favorite games of all time are the "La Bataille" series of tactical Napoleonic wargames. They even published my only game design, La Bataille d'Orthez, back in...idk...when I had brownish blonde hair. It was that long ago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyI34VFNMHqqRE4FfjRE-2TDWOFPuCmwnfxSQ8ih8bFvNyu8w-3pgmI20WAZXyvI5bQdNbE49J4IQdzgtKOizrlEpopd4i_Ghf4hCsvLDMHhinzLIK0nGrhAYBS0QoNDi2G8kDnsN3rLxlti84vI-dkMQ0AmK4zXRyejsVUNbY7aBL5kq6atdPMXUgHA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyI34VFNMHqqRE4FfjRE-2TDWOFPuCmwnfxSQ8ih8bFvNyu8w-3pgmI20WAZXyvI5bQdNbE49J4IQdzgtKOizrlEpopd4i_Ghf4hCsvLDMHhinzLIK0nGrhAYBS0QoNDi2G8kDnsN3rLxlti84vI-dkMQ0AmK4zXRyejsVUNbY7aBL5kq6atdPMXUgHA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Bataille d'Orthez box</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The maps for Orthez were some of the last hand-drawn maps done by artist and cartographer Rick Barber as he transitioned (or considered transitioning) to digital maps.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihFEiyMCsy8dvluMDNscI0CD0MPsivKUuKL57yjltF-ipPpDKMJc2JMPTBHpqo3bQqjtupB4oRuHonnPz1VX-zD_47Q_7PNqeTs_H47iWJi58dTWvB4llic1HJWHKSglKQU4YMUWnt9KBGr_cxrRRKpB47c5KSnJ8xdAJNHPG-IXqFksYLsjBAUtXwhQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihFEiyMCsy8dvluMDNscI0CD0MPsivKUuKL57yjltF-ipPpDKMJc2JMPTBHpqo3bQqjtupB4oRuHonnPz1VX-zD_47Q_7PNqeTs_H47iWJi58dTWvB4llic1HJWHKSglKQU4YMUWnt9KBGr_cxrRRKpB47c5KSnJ8xdAJNHPG-IXqFksYLsjBAUtXwhQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small section (NW) of the Orthez 2-sheet map</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In the news section of the Clash of Arms website, there was a note from back in May 2021 that Rick Barber had died suddenly at the age of 66. This hit me harder than I suppose it should have, or might have. In a number of ways. Having worked directly with Rick, it was hard to comprehend that he was gone...</p><p>Rick was a talented artist and cartographer, and his hand drawn maps, counters and cover art defined the Clash of Arms style in the company's formative years. Rick lived near the Gettysburg battlefield, and the Civil War (and maps) were his true passion. But his work defined the look of the La Bataille games, even into the digital age where Terry Leeds (who did the Orthez counters and supplemental artwork) and others mimicked his style in digital format. And that is not a criticism of Terry or anyone else. It is a celebration of the foundation that Rick put in place.</p><p>Not that working with Rick as a first time designer was easy. I spent a significant amount of time researching and creating the maps for Orthez, and delivered those maps of mine to Rick. A while later, I got a set of proof maps back from Rick that...weren't what I sent him. Specifically in the northeastern quadrant of the map area, he added a lot of terrain that I hadn't put on my draft maps. Woods. Swampy stream valleys. His rationale: it feels right and looks better. OK. We'll go with that; I had zero game designs to my credit, so who was I to argue. Not much of the fighting occurred in that area anyway.</p><p>There is one last thing that makes me chuckle. Rick and I agreed that we would put low-tech copyright protection into the maps. I added a named location to the map that simply doesn't exist. He did likewise. For any of the 2,500 people out there that own a copy of the first and only print run of Orthez, my elder daughter's name is Julia, and Rick operated under the name Black Cat Studios. Take a look at the maps and you will be able to find our copyright protection. If anybody else ever made an Orthez map with either of these names...</p><p>OK, there are technically a maximum of 2,494 people that own Orthez, since I have 6 copies. Although one of these final production boxes has all of my draft hand-drawn counters and maps instead of production components, so maybe there are 2,495. :-)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIgPO9uNcRCtvsahZFbFwM1waa0lgkb61iObp-F-cOVAoVxlJz_YkStx70sJNDA0N4lKgZ4v_Rqd2zslhyS1YSeeU9fmsCxIZl3gkA1mVcCWm41i62-4ChQwWtUoYaU-H9RPwvjpM6CnGp6z8LibHvxz03h1mArbUUnWqo1TiSlG-wRpe8iB4L-JFt_g=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIgPO9uNcRCtvsahZFbFwM1waa0lgkb61iObp-F-cOVAoVxlJz_YkStx70sJNDA0N4lKgZ4v_Rqd2zslhyS1YSeeU9fmsCxIZl3gkA1mVcCWm41i62-4ChQwWtUoYaU-H9RPwvjpM6CnGp6z8LibHvxz03h1mArbUUnWqo1TiSlG-wRpe8iB4L-JFt_g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Bataille games, and a bunch of Orthez copies</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Orthez is NOT a well known Napoleonic battle, although it is very interesting in its own right (if Napoleonics in secondary theaters of operation is your thing). This was mostly what made it interesting to me to design a game around, and the fact that qualitatively, this was probably the best army that Wellington ever commanded, certainly moreso than his famous Anglo-Allied army at Waterloo.</p><p>Not terribly long after Orthez was published in 2000, another game product with Orthez in it showed up on the market from a prestigious designer, complete with my fictional location referenced on their map. Uncredited. Tsk tsk. If I had lawyers, they would contact your lawyers. But I don't. And in 2021 I'm still alive and you aren't, so... I guess I win.</p><p>But I digress.</p><p>Rick was passionate about his art, and the mark he left on wargaming in general, and Clash of Arms in specific, will endure. His art, hand-drawn, hearkens back to a bygone era in wargaming. This should be celebrated. And is by me, at least. I won't ever be able to look at that shelf pictured above, at my game, or at any Clash of Arms games, and not think of you, Rick.</p><p>I find it hard to believe that my interactions with Rick occurred 22 years ago, but the calendar is cruel and doesn't lie.</p><p>Anytime I see a black cat I will remember you. RIP Rick.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-36082627233383978442021-11-19T18:54:00.114-05:002021-11-29T20:26:11.768-05:00GV Football - Playoff Game 3 vs Quakertown<p>Playoff game 3 saw the #1 seed GV Jags hosting #5 seed Quakertown. And it was a battle.</p><p>We scored on a 1 yard Shane Reynolds TD run. Then they scored. 7-7. Then we scored on an 18 yard Ryan Saunders TD run. Then they scored. 14-14. Then we scored on a Ryan Saunders 49 yard TD catch, and missed the extra point. Then they scored. Quakertown 21-20. Then they kicked a field goal and the half ended with Quakertown up 24-20. They had some speed and some good skill position players.</p><p>For the second time all year (the first being against Ridley) we trailed at the half. In the Ridley game, we made adjustments at the half and scored a ton of points in the second half to cruise to a convincing win. With luck, the same pattern would repeat itself here.</p><p>It did.</p><p>In the third quarter we scored 22 unanswered points. Our defense stopped the three Quakertown drives on a 4th down stuff and picked off their QB twice. This resulted in a Reynolds 68 yard TD run with Reynolds 2-point conversion, a Reynolds 1 yard TD run, and a Checcio 20 yard TD run with a passing 2-point conversion to Joey Halloran. 42-24 GV at the end of the 3rd quarter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLO4aNxZbu27mMbUx-xVW3MnfVY_yEZ5ngkw-Owe9v3r9zLx9br4gF9Lau6e9DWU-OJz_qf3mnNyqXUXFAV_q6YfenNk18H9xmJlvLUnRJ5Js6F-jLBEKr7UXCQU3PTRmsCs45v8c00NP/s1582/Reynolds+Quakertown+68+yd+TD+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1582" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLO4aNxZbu27mMbUx-xVW3MnfVY_yEZ5ngkw-Owe9v3r9zLx9br4gF9Lau6e9DWU-OJz_qf3mnNyqXUXFAV_q6YfenNk18H9xmJlvLUnRJ5Js6F-jLBEKr7UXCQU3PTRmsCs45v8c00NP/w640-h394/Reynolds+Quakertown+68+yd+TD+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reynolds goes for a 68 yard TD to take the lead</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Quakertown started the 4th quarter with a drive ending in a TD pass, getting to within 42-31. Our QB threw an interception on the following drive, but we stopped another Quakertown drive, turning the ball over on downs. Our first play after the 4th down stuff was a 69 yard TD pass to Halloran, with a Halloran 2-point passing conversion. 50-31 GV.</p><p>With time winding down, Quakertown completed a long TD pass and 2-point conversion, getting to within 50-39.</p><p>On the next drive, with a 4th and 2 at the Quakertown 44 yard line, Reynolds ripped off a 44 TD run (his fourth of the game), and capped it with a 2-point conversion run, to put us up 58-39, which is where the game ended.</p><p>I'll give Quakertown a lot of credit. They had a lot of good players, and played hard all the way to the end of the game. We also played well. Our defense gave up some points, but made some big fourth down stops when we really needed them, and we had three interceptions (two by safety Drew Jackalous and one by our QB/CB Max Busenkell).</p><p>Our offense scored touchdowns on 8 of 12 possessions. Reynolds was the star of the day, carrying the ball 26 times for 261 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 two-point conversions. He also had the "Earl Campbell" play of the day, absolutely running over/through a defensive back trying to slow him down on a 40 yard run down the sideline.</p><p>GV is now 13-0 on the season, and in the 3 playoff games, Shane Reynolds has accounted for ~650 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, and two 2-pt conversions. Not a bad three weeks...</p><p>Next up is the Division 1 AAAAAA championship game, which also serves as the PIAA state quarterfinal, against #3 Coatesville. In the 5 years pre-Covid, we met Coatesville in the Divisional playoffs 3 out of the 5 years and have lost all 3 times. They are a very good team, and have been our kryptonite. We have never won the Division 1 title class AAAAAA, while Coatesville has won a Division 1 title and a state championship just in the last few years. We have our work cut out for us...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-56363363692581062522021-11-13T17:00:00.088-05:002021-11-22T22:34:56.862-05:00Cavalcade of Bands - Hershey Finals 2021<p>On a cool day with rain threatening, the GVHS marching band took the field at Hershey stadium at 9:35am, in class "Patriot A", and performed the last judged performance of Grace's high school career. I'm not sure how we got to this point so fast...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LUDX9YcbDqhjBIPdMnBbKua06N06ehp3lYRtDm3kJ5hZ8ew2w3JLQzcVqrNNzl3huGrA7kIEFdBv2jS4KVPUe582SQ_wQRyyNEOfLMaoazBqE4BKQwM-7dH_QrMwZG0kUHB1BfXlGPU0/s4032/IMG_0634.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LUDX9YcbDqhjBIPdMnBbKua06N06ehp3lYRtDm3kJ5hZ8ew2w3JLQzcVqrNNzl3huGrA7kIEFdBv2jS4KVPUe582SQ_wQRyyNEOfLMaoazBqE4BKQwM-7dH_QrMwZG0kUHB1BfXlGPU0/w400-h300/IMG_0634.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to start the show</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Grace helps conduct the first and second movements from the right side-stand.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiYJeUK8cvvQnJwPC5-MX9rSOpLkc4LsnI8-DJrgeJjhGOLiG-XayWaN9W86hCOUyYGJFoVOCh5hi4JSMx04wR_-AJ5_SgKQQpLDR8sg5evIW66_TaidvQnkUAQFEiY_63FmqjY5v3y-M/s4032/IMG_0635.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiYJeUK8cvvQnJwPC5-MX9rSOpLkc4LsnI8-DJrgeJjhGOLiG-XayWaN9W86hCOUyYGJFoVOCh5hi4JSMx04wR_-AJ5_SgKQQpLDR8sg5evIW66_TaidvQnkUAQFEiY_63FmqjY5v3y-M/w400-h300/IMG_0635.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning of the 3rd movement, Grace on the stand</td></tr></tbody></table><p>...and then conducts the third movement from the center stand.</p><p>The full performance is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqicu5AseJc"><b>HERE</b></a>. Grace takes the center stand at 5:15 and conducts to the end...</p><p>I'm totally biased, but the third movement is the most musically complicated, and Grace nails it.</p><p>The GVHS marching band is in a transitional period of trying to rebuild the program as a competitive entity. These things don't happen overnight, and must be considered in the perspective of it being a multi-year endeavor.</p><p>At the Conestoga competition we scored a 34.x, which is not a fabulous score from a competitive band standpoint. At this Hershey competition, we scored a 37.x. While not a top-tier score from an objective/competitive sense, it is the best score that the GVHS band has recorded in at least the last 6-7 years. And it is a nice accomplishment for a band that is trying to find its identity balancing the desire to be competitive with the reality of accepting all band members who want to participate.</p><p>As a band parent riding buses to away games and competitions these last 4 years, I have had the opportunity to discuss the "competitive band" versus the "take all comers" band philosophy with the Director on many occasions. His perspective, which I agree with, is that we need to try to be the best band we can be, with the implicit limitation/consideration that many of our band members also participate in various sports and other activities. One of our drum majors is a tennis team player. One is a wrestling team member. One (mine) is a drama club choreographer and lead performer. Numerous members of the band have other activities. If you want to accommodate those other interests, you don't get to dictate that these kids do band as their first priority and nothing else. Some schools do. And those schools will likely always score better than our band.</p><p>But I digress, as I generally do. Our band went to the Hershey finals. They did great. And my little girl stood on the center stand and conducted the third movement. And they got the highest score that a GVHS band has gotten in at least 6 or 7 years...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-42934423843219681772021-11-12T22:53:00.082-05:002021-11-22T21:52:54.840-05:00GV Football - Playoff Game 2 vs Central Bucks West<p>Our round 2 playoff game in District 1, AAAAAA, was against the 8th seed, Central Bucks West. As the #1 seed, we had another home game.</p><p>CBW stunned the home crowd with a 2 play, 70+ yard TD drive, capped by a TD pass accounting for almost all of that yardage.</p><p>GV responded with a TD drive capped by a 10 yard TD pass to Joey Halloran. 7-7 game.</p><p>After a CBW INT and a subsequent GV punt, CBW reeled off a 40 TD run on the 1st play of their drive, and missed the extra point to lead 13-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.</p><p>To start the second quarter we had a punt followed by them having a punt.</p><p>GV then had a drive with a huge Sean Gallagher 14 yard pass reception on 4th down to continue the drive ending in a 5 yard Shane Reynolds TD run.</p><p>CBW punted on the following drive, and as band parents sitting in the stands, one of the other parents turned to me and asked "do you think we can score with only 39 seconds to go in the half?"</p><p>"Hold my beer".</p><p>After an incomplete pass, and with 33.3 seconds remaining in the half, Shane Reynolds took a center handoff and cut back to the right side and raced 57 yards to the end zone. 21-13 GV. Scoring drive: ~12 seconds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaOmzZyR9yZruY-j1plBwbq7F4zDuQ_oI37r_vZnm7u2avce4bAKzFqDtWNN2XKXacM8Ez0GbJ1vuRlgIeoZ6geywP7gE-iOiaqCjlTaWjDFLPEpFGt7_jlUQw0LavHerv6H8TrsLAlmw/s1562/CWB01.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1562" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaOmzZyR9yZruY-j1plBwbq7F4zDuQ_oI37r_vZnm7u2avce4bAKzFqDtWNN2XKXacM8Ez0GbJ1vuRlgIeoZ6geywP7gE-iOiaqCjlTaWjDFLPEpFGt7_jlUQw0LavHerv6H8TrsLAlmw/w400-h233/CWB01.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reynolds goes for 57 yards, 33 seconds in the half</td></tr></tbody></table><p>To start the second half, GV took the kickoff and reeled off a 76 yard drive, culminating in a 2 yard TD run by Reynolds, his third of the night. GV 28-13.</p><p>After a short CBW punt, GV had a 1 play drive: a 47 TD run by Reynolds, his 4th of the night. GV 34-13.</p><p>And the band played "And when the Saints go marching in". For the 80th or 90th time this year. I've lost count at this point... Go band!</p><p>CBW ended the 3rd quarter and into the 4th quarter with a drive that ended with a 4th and goal at the 1.5 yard line. We stuffed them at the one-half yard line, and took over on downs.</p><p>We then embarked on a 99.5 yard, 6 and a half minute drive capped by a Ryan Saunders 1 yard TD run.</p><p>41-13 Jags, and we ran out the clock on defense.</p><p>#8 Central Bucks West down, next week number 5 Quakertown up, in another home game.</p><p>Shane Reynolds had near 200 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night.</p><p>Band season isn't over yet!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131423590825769054.post-20289884076890615272021-11-06T23:00:00.016-04:002021-11-07T00:13:36.628-04:00Conestoga Cavalcade of Bands<p>Grace's Senior year of band is winding down. We will have playoff football games to play at for as long as the team keeps winning. We have the big Hershey PA band competition finals next Saturday. And tonight we had the last regular competition - the Cavalcade of Bands event at Conestoga High School.</p><p>The link to the GVHS Band YouTube video of the performance is <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9ZwfOrRB60" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</p><p>Despite a scheduling snafu that had our band piling off buses 25 minutes before their scheduled performance time, and the fastest we have ever put props together, the students came through and performed very well, getting their highest score of the year. This should make them feel good going into Hershey next week.</p><p>Grace is on the right side stand for the first two movements, and conducts the third movement from the center stand before taking a bow on behalf of the band.</p><p>I'm happy. I'm a little sad. It was a good day.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0