Back to the grindstone!

A one day trip to Toronto last week on the 20th, firmed up our company position on a geothermal project in California. Quote from my boss on the flight back to Trenton, "Looks like a busy year coming up. Plan on a trip a month to Santo Rosa, CA and a trip a month to Vegas." We'll squeeze in the other business ( Canada, Miami, Phoenix etc) around these.

I got back to Belmar after the Thursday trip and spent a great day with Meghan and Cate. The first hurricane of the season (Bill)was northbound in the Atlantic and the beaches were closed to swimming (except surfers)because of rip tide fears and strong surf.

So Friday morning, Meg and Cate, Ronnie and I set out for the boardwalk in Point Pleasant. Of course, I forgot my camera and no one else had one, so Cates first amusement rides are only recorded in our memories. They are fun memories.

If you open this photo, you will see a kayaker trying to get the courage to exit the Shark River Inlet against the incoming swells.

Saturday, was a very pleasant overcast but rainfree day in Belmar. In Pennington, it was a diffferent story. Continuous rain all day with a burst of downpour in the early evening (5 inches in 30 min-according to the Bourough officials). Storm drains backed up all over Pennington and some streets were under water. Guess what that does to your basement when your sump gravity feeds to the storm drain?

Left for Vegas Monday morning after spending 12-14 hours in the basement on Sunday. I had a B-17 (Aluminum Overcast) parked next to me on the ramp. Had an opportunity to speak with the pilots prior to departure. This particular B17 came off the line in 1945 and never saw action in WW2. It has served in numerous missions since it was sold as surplus in 1946 for $750.

Vegas is just hot and dry -100 plus every day and no humidity. Not something an east coast guy will ever be able to deal with. So I did spend a few hours at the hotel pool.
This is an East coast sunrise and a Las Vegas sunset.

I leave Thurs am for the trip home-about 4hrs 15min. 2 days home and back to Vegas on Sunday-by way of Toronto, for 3 more days. More later.

I love My Job

It has been almost a month, I was recently reminded, since I last entered a word in my blog. Work has not been the reason. This has-Belmar!
I've been enjoying the Jersey Shore too much to spend the time on the computer.
I hope my boss doesn't read this, but I only worked 7 days in July.
He recently commented that he figures they pay me six figures to work about six minutes a month. That's how frequently they see my hands on the controls. He did go on to say that it's a comforting six minutes when I do work, because all the landings are great.

During the past four weeks. My grandsons did the Belmar Kids Fun Run- and received medals!(as did all the kids).Water temp has gotten to a pleasant 70 degrees or better.

They jumped and dove through waves for their first time. My Boat, which last saw water the summer 2005, was serviced and put back in service inthe Shark River, where it has almost daily use as a fishing vessel, sightseeing boat, grandson swimming platform and general have fun vehicle.




Meghan's in-laws (Joe's brother and his wife and 2 children)visited from Japan -shown here with Cate.


Cate's is becoming very comfortable at the beach. She's still a little leary of the waves and prefers still water. I have no doubt with the influence of her cousins Tiernan and Patrick, she'll be riding waves soon.

Cate loves Hannah and loves to give her treats

Another big event during the month was Cate's ( Catherine Trang Zambrano) Christening.

Here she is with her parents and Godparents-Erinn and Dom,

her cake, her Pop and her proud parents.

The Godmother and her family.

The month of July ended with the birthday celebration of Finnian Michael Stover who celebrated his First on the same day his dad celebrated a later one.

So, I've been busy.
I did find time during the month to squeeze in a 4 day trip to Calgary, Canada; a day trip to Chicago for a 13 inning Cubs game, and an overnight to Cincinnati.

I hope to relax a little during the month of August.