Yes sir, boys and girls, Daddy V is enjoying a much needed break from Hoosier life and am currently firmly ensconced once again in the East Coast life style which I miss so much! New York Times (liberal drivel but great arts and entertainment section) WaWa coffee, bagels and cream cheese, hard rolls with butter (WaWa is Algonquoin for geese but its a kind of Village Pantry with East Coast style and a great coffee bar) Mueller's crumb cake (from a bakery in Bayhead NJ -defies description) Sawmill Pizza (served on the Seaside Heights NJ boardwalk - pizza is 36'' in diameter - I'm in heaven), roast beef paninis, biscotti, chocolate fondue, pisellas, (mama mia!)
New Toy
On Wednesday of this week I purchased a Nintendo DS. Why Nintendo DS? Along with seemingly 10 gazillion other middle-aged men, I need the DS to run BRAIN AGE the new "brain gymnasium" developed by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. The general idea is to exercise your brain the way you exercise your body (yes, I need help in both areas) and, hopefully, avoid having your prefontal cortex turn into a gray mass of gelatinous material. The software measures your current "brain age" (I weighed in with a 70 yr old brain!) and then through different activities you attempt to exercise your brain and lower your brain age. After 4 days, I managed to get my brain age to 50, so I'm making progress! No "brain-like-Jello" for Daddy V.
Beach Time
Took a walk through Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, NJ (last time we went here, Rachel was in a stroller!) and then a nice stroll on the beach. Lots of flotsam and jetsam to sift through, beachcomber-style, with surf sounds acting as a catharsis. Wind from the ocean was a bit chilly so we didn't last very long.
A Bit of History
Today we drove to just north of Trenton, NJ where, 231 years ago, George Washington accomplished his famous crossing of the Delaware River. (I still have trouble watching Jeff Daniels portray Washington in The Crossing after having seen him in Dumb and Dumber
To be honest, the Delaware is not that formidable a river at the crossing almost to the point of a soldier being able to toss his musket across the river - nothing like we are led to believe in US History 101. Every year, the crossing is renacted on Christmas Day by the locals. I talked with one of them today at the visitors center and he reminded me that the boats used were Durham boats (literally about the size of a school bus) which were meant for up and down river sailing and were very difficult to handle across stream. In addition, that particular winter was rather severe and the boats battled ice flows as well as wind and sleet. OK - point for Washington! After our visit we ate at the Washington Crossing Inn where, tradition has it, Washington ate dinner before the crossing. I enjoyed a regional favorite - Philly Cheese Steak!
Cadets Camp
Laura and I are heading to Penns Grove , NJ in the AM to catch some Cadet camp. Cadets reportedly have 4 minutes of the opener done and we hope to hear it and pick up at-shirt or two!
Boardwalk
Tomorrow night will include a trip to the Seaside Heights boardwalk where we will spend much time and money in the pursuit of prizes while playing skeeball, pop ball, coin falls, video poker and blackjack, and slot machines. This is a Vogler tradition that goes back to the days of my youth and lives on into the 21st Century! If we are lucky, we will each spend about $20 for a $1 prize - probably one of those Chinese finger tortures! But sometimes it's the journey not the destination! (that was deep!)
Monday
Travel day to Hoosierland where I will once again present the good news of music education with missionary-like zeal to the uneducated masses of Jay County!
Peace, love, joy and hope for the New Year!
Daddy V
A Quote - There is no greater satisfaction for a just and well-meaning person than the knowledge that they have devoted their best energies to the service of a good cause!
-Albert Einstein
