Category Archives: Family

Amanda Bought a New Car!

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Check it out!  Amanda got herself a brand new 2012 Nissan Versa – loaded!  I-pod dock, bluetooth, XM radio, GPS navigation, CVT transmission – just about anything and everything that can be put on a Versa.  And it gets 38 mpg!  (Your mileage may vary).    It’s really a good looking little car.  We traded in the Maxima for it.  The Maxima was the best car I’ve ever had…wait…tear forming at my loss.  There.  Better.  The Versa drives very well.  Hope it turns out to be a great car for her.  And thanks Jon, for the VPP savings!  Click the pics to embiggen.

Jules

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Julian was over yesterday.  Brenda and I took him to Rutherford Park along with Pax, and Frannie.  The weather was perfect – sunny and temps in the low 70′s.  A good time was had by all.  When we got back, Julian’s dad came by and they played in the backyard, and yelled at the dogs next door.  Here are a couple pics I took from the deck with my Panasonic Lumex with the Leica lens.  Julian was about 50 yards away.  I had the telephoto out all the way & it was just hand held.  Still pretty good, ‘eh?  With any other camera I’ve had, these would have been horrible.  This is a great little point and shoot camera. Thanks, Brenda.  As usual, click the pic to embiggen.

Beach!

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Self-portrait. Holding camera at arm's length. Never a good idea.

This weekend was the first trip to Rehoboth of the beach season.  Brenda, Frannie, and I drove down Friday evening, and we got back Sunday evening.,  The weather was perfect.  Low 80s, sunny, blue skies.  We even got a little sunburn.  On Saturday morning we walked to the beach from the Outlet mall – a little over 2 miles.  Sunday we rode bikes from the condo.  That went a bit better, because, you know, no dog.  Rehoboth was surprisingly full of people.  Not like mid season, but still lots of umbrellas and people running around like it was some month after April.  Being a real man and not a wimp, I of course, went into the water.  It was cold.  Stupid cold.  Something like Lake Superior.  But there were lots of little kids out there – kids who have not yet developed nerve endings.  Sunday we stopped for lunch at Go Fish.  Yum.  It’s going to be a great summer!

Walking to the beach from the Outlet Mall.

Lunch at Go Fish

Happy Easter

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I gave up coffee for Lent.  And Easter marks the end of Lent (in the Ron liturgical calendar).  Yay!   Actually, it’s been 63 days instead of the usual 40.  I had a head start.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (the day after Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras). But a couple weeks before then as I was alone at the beach and preparing my 2nd pot of the day,  I decided that I was perhaps drinking too much coffee.  So now it’s time time to jump off the wagon, or is it jump on the wagon?  Something about a wagon.

In America, Easter is kind of a mashup of the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion, and a Northern European/Germanic celebration of a spring-like fertility goddess or perhaps a goddess of the rising sun, involving rabbits and decorated eggs.   Easter is a “movable feast” meaning it is not fixed to the calendar.  It is celebrated the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the northern hemisphere’s vernal equinox (spring).

Anyway, I’ll have another cup of coffee to wash down some of Brenda’s Deviled eggs!  Hope you all have a great Easter!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

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Amanda, prior to her 24th birthday

Yesterday, Amanda turned 24 years old.  Hard to believe.  Seems to me that she was only born a few years ago, but that’s because I’m so very, very old.

Amanda chose a restaurant in Fairfax City for her birthday dinner.  It was called Choices by Shawn.  I’ve seen the place about a million times, but I never knew it was a restaurant.  It’s a great old Virginia house right on Chain Bridge Road.  Food was great (see menu at the link), and they make their own ice cream!  Yum!  Gabe, Erin and Julian joined us.  We had a great time.

Hope you had a happy birthday, Amanda.  Love you.

New Website!

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The “Brenda’s X-traordinary Child Care” website is now online!  Check it out by clicking on the picture on the left.  Or type

brendaschildcare.sussmans.com

into your browser machine.

Leave a comment on her site, or if you have suggestions regarding the layout or mechanics of the site, better leave the comment here. ‘cuz  I’m the webguy.

Nick Says Hello!

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Here’s Nick playing with his dad while his dad plays with a cell phone.  It’s so great to see these videos.  I love grandkid vids.  But I don’t get nearly enough of them.  And I’m talkin’ to you Don.  I needs me some Kelsey, Austin, and Alexis vids.  And I don’t have many Dane vids either, Brian.  Now get recording you guys.  As far as Julian goes, that’s my fault.  I’ll just have to get myself a cell phone with a video camera on it.  I have no choice.  Hands are tied.  God’s will.  etc….  Love you guys.  Now give me more videos!  Viiideeos! [shaking fist].