All Dogs Go To Heaven

I certainly hope so. I hope all dogs go to heaven, because my dog was a devil here on Earth. 

 a very young pup

She passed away of old age the other day, just two months shy of her 17th birthday, and throughout her life she was a pain in the butt. She was a Treeing Walker Coon Hound bred for endurance, intelligence and tenacity and at every opportunity this hound exhibited her high-strung nature. Demanding attention and exercise, her howling and barking were incessant and insistent until we would relent and give in to her. She was a terror off the lead and would hurtle through the woods chasing scents and with us following her baying all the while muttering, "this is what she's supposed to do." There was no solace in that. 

everyone should have their
dog on a mug

Elly May, had she been born a male we would have named her Jethro, required attention and stimulus and exercise and without it got into a lot of trouble. She learned how to open the door to the pantry and the door to the patio. Thankfully she did not have opposable thumbs, no telling what she would have done. She tore through screens. She would figure out ways to trick us for cookies. She was competitive and a game of throw and catch became a taunt with her as she would run up with the ball and scurry away when we tried to retrieve the toy. She once ate a bar of chocolate foolishly left on the table and devoured it with no ill effects. Evidently  the theobromine in chocolate is deadly to dogs, but not to her. She lived almost 17 years. Miss Elly was the runt of her litter but the biggest pain in the ass.

When the mood hit her, and it was often, she would flee the house. We're across the street from woods and she'd chase deer or wild turkey there or trot down to the development on the other hill. I once got a phone call from some fellows who had "saved" my dog. They were terrified and upset because the dog would not stop barking.  I could hear her baying in the background. "Come get your beast!" he cried over the phone. I chuckled, happy she was someone's problem for at least a small while.

Even as she got older and slowed down considerably, she was still gregarious and up for wanton adventures. The vet said she was an old hound dog that wanted to sleep and in her final years she slumbered through a lot of it, but she was ready for a walk anytime. The last couple of summers the heat took a toll on her, but with the cooler months she was more vivacious. She liked to be around people and once came to one of Janet's parties. We tied balloons to her collar and she happily weaved around the guests cleaning the floor. I was never able to tether her outside to quickly run into a store without her crying out frenetically like a child with abandonment issues. Nearly 17 years, and I can't believe she's gone.

RUN!

Last Sunday I ran my 9th marathon and the first in 9 years. I did not train for the 26.3 mile endurance run technically. I actually haven't been running with any sort of goal in mind for quite a number of years now, but when I discovered the Bucks County Marathon I had to enter the race.  No, it wasn't a high profile race like New York City, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.'s Marine Corps Marathon that would coax me out of my eating frenzied retirement. It was a race that literally ran past my town. It started at Washington's Crossing State Park and ran along the canal on the Pennsylvania side up through New Hope and beyond before turning around. With only 500 entries available I cast aside my worries about my lack of training and signed up for it. The allure of running in an event so close to home and in such a beautiful area was too strong to allow a lack of training to get in the way.

23 miles in

Let me tell you sports fans out there in cyber world, running a marathon is not for the faint of heart. It's raw will power that keeps one going for the hours that it takes to cover 26 miles. Everything hurts by the end of the marathon, but completing it swells one's heart with pride at the accomplishment. Yes, will power played a prominent part of my race last week, especially since I had no real training. The longest training run I had completed was just 12 miles and I did that the Monday before race day. This race had the potential to be a disaster, but I ran smart taking "salt" shots before and during the race and power shots of some gel pack they handed out along the course as well as drinking water and gatorade at every opportunity. They all helped, but the smartest thing I did race day was my pacing. Slow and steady does not necessarily mean you win a marathon, but it does guarantee you finish. Running slowly I was able to avoid any serious cramping. Cramping is a concern for me and I've suffered from it in every one of my 8 previous marathons. Even when I was in fantastic shape I could not escape cramping. But, this race I was able to or lucky enough I guess to avoid cramping. My time was 5:25, much slower than my Personal Record of 3:40, but I was extremely happy with the finish. And, though this is a competition with oneself, it is still a race and when my pacing allowed me to chug along and pass around 10 other "walking dead" racers in the final 6 miles, it was as if I had won the race outright. 

where's the beer?

The lunacy that inspired me to run 26 + miles after effectively getting out of bed is strong and not the first time I had done something like this. I completed my first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, in 1985 despite a similar lack of training. I beat four hours in that one, but I was also in my 20's. I paid for that dearly and did not walk very well for a good two weeks afterwards. Here it is Friday, and I'm doing okay, although I'm not going to run for another few days

But then I'm going to get ready for my 10th marathon! 

worth the wait..er run

 But, not until I drink a couple of celebratory beers. 

My 9 races:
1) Marine Corps Marathon
2) Marine Corps Marathon
3) Marine Corps Marathon
4) Atlantic City Marathon
5) Honolulu Marathon 
6) Honolulu Marathon
7) Philadelphia Marathon
8) Jersey Shore Marathon
9) Bucks County Marathon

be safe!

NYC subway

Everyone I know who lives in the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, as well as friends in Delaware and Pennsylvania have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. The mayhem unleashed by this storm is unprecedented and images of the destruction are frightening. Lives were lost, homes destroyed. New York City had tunnels flooded and hundreds of homes in Breezy Point, Queens burned. The entire coast of New Jersey was hit. boardwalks and piers were torn apart. A new inlet to Barnegat Bay was ripped through homes and lives at Mantoloking and Route 35 was severed.  If your're interested in seeing more pictures of the devastation go here:
 Hurricane Sandy aftermath

a new inlet

Comparatively Team VFH escaped the wrath of Hurricane Sandy relatively unscathed. Janet had no interruption of power and except for her school shutting down two days, life has remained normal. Though I did not suffer any damage in Lambertville I did lose electricity on Monday night and at this writing on Saturday evening, I am still in the dark. The entire city will be without power much longer than anticipated. We are all in this together though and the city government continually posts updates on their website and offer advice for things like where to find shelter and showers. The state also is offering online help at http://nj.gov/ . The NJ Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) provides essential information to seek help from FEMA and Hurricane Sandy Recovery efforts offered by the state.  My situation is better than most, but because I have a well I am unable to draw water without electricity. (I guess I should break down and purchase a generator?) Without these essentials I am living in a high priced cave. Thankfully Janet has allowed me to stay at her place. It could be worse for me and when I hear tale after tale of misfortune and loss and watch the news about the devastation, I have to consider myself lucky.

Because there are many others throughout the region who have suffered now is the time to offer support or lend a hand whenever feasible, sort of like reverse mooching. Even the smallest act of kindness would be appreciated. Vacations From Home's strength though is not hammering nails but finding free things to share and in this time of need these may be especially helpful. Hopefully this blog will help those in need and if you fair reader have also discovered a way to help others, please share it with your friends.

FREE STORAGE AT U-HAUL
The U-Haul company is offering 30 days free self-storage and U-Box pod moving and self-storage to Hurricane Sandy victims throughout the Northeast. If you have to store things after being evacuated this could help! Follow the link to find one of the regional centers to assist you. Be mindful though that some smaller locations are still out of commission after the storm.

SHOWER AT MySports
The MySportsClubs franchise is making a very generous offer to victims of the Hurricane. Located all along the east coast from Boston to Washington, D.C., MySportsClubs is offering full access to their facilities. You can work out or just take a much needed hot shower. Their only requirement is that you bring your own towel. Again, be mindful that some facilities have also suffered from the Hurricane and may not be open.

HELP FROM MyAssist
MyAssist is a leading live-agent personal assistance and concierge service for individuals and companies. Now this may sound frivolous, but victims of the Hurricane can call 855-899-7161 and MyAssist agents can help arrange emergency travel reservations/accomodations, coordinate emergency medical assistance, communicate with family, friends and emergency response groups and assist in helping with any emergency needs.

FREE WI-FI
Who can't live without the internet? Well Comcast for a time will allow anyone to access their Xfinity wi-fi hotspots in several states affected by the Hurricane. Normally there is a fee, but until November 7 find an "xfinitywifi" and click on the "not a subscriber" and select "complimentary trial session". Follow the link above to find wi-fi hotspot locations in your area. 

TREES
A neighbor in Lambertville had a tree crash into the top floor of their home. A colleague at work narrowly had his car crushed by a falling tree. I have had a large limb of the Tulip tree outside my house break off and take out a light and damage some of my siding. If you have lost a tree because of the Hurricane Fast-Growing-Tree.com will replace it for you. Click the link, provide a picture of your fallen tree and they will send a new one to you, offering their prayers for a safe and speedy recovery.

FEMA

This government organization has come a long way since the Hurricane Katrina fiasco. They have been a large presence in the tri-state area offering assistance. You should contact them for help. Last year after Hurricane Irene a representative came to the house and offered much needed support. I recommend contacting them.

We at VFH Central hope these tidbits help in some way. Share with your friends and neighbors and let us know if this helped in some way.
love
greg and Janet

"but can it core an apple...."

Team VFH went green this past weekend, or should I say red. Over the years Janet and I have enjoyed going out to pick apples. It is a tradition that has carried over from when my kids were younger.  We usually go to a silly sounding place in Port Murray, NJ... Tree-Licious. Set on a picturesque farm in western NJ for 7 generations, Tree-Licious not only grows apples, but plums, pears, apricots and cherries. You can visit their website to get a schedule of what is ripe. They are very friendly and encourage lingering over picnics on their land. 
TREE-LICIOUS

I have very fond memories of visiting Tree-Licious with the kids climbing the trees or scouring for the best apples while communicating with walkie-talkies. Sometimes one of the Golden Retrievers that lived at the orchard would traipse along with us as we plucked more apples than we could ever possibly eat. With hands sticky from the apples we would eat while we gathered, it usually took two of us to carry the baskets heavy with the fruit down to the rustic shanty that served as the main building to pay. The drive itself from Lambertville is nice too, along the Muscetong River, which is a prime destination for fly fishing, and past farms. 

I also have fond memories of introducing Janet to this idyllic way to spend an afternoon; she had never picked apples before and was thrilled with the day. As kids growing up in our respective cities picking apples was an unattainable dream, but moving out to the country I was able to make it a reality. I am very proud that I have introduced my children, honorary members of Team VFH, and Janet, to this simple joy.

The most charming aspect of Tree-Licious is it's unpretentious way. There often is no staff around. You grab a basket and start off without guidance. Sometimes when you are finished you have to wait for a rattling truck to drive up in order to pay for your harvest. Sometimes the guy who drives up has both straps of his overalls properly cinched. Though they are supposedly only open on the weekends we would often talk our way in during the week because at the time I often worked weekends. The conversation was always brief and amiable. One year when Janet and I went up there, far too late in the season, we were told the apples were finished but were allowed to stroll the grounds. The  charm of Tree-Licious Orchards is in it's haphazard serendipity.

But work this fall has been pressing and time is limited. Port Murray is a bit of a distance from Lambertville and for some reason this year we decided to telephone first before making the trek. Turned out their last official "picking" day was mid-September with an Apple Fall Festival held just the week prior. We were out of luck.  Team VFH is resolute though and found a solution. Janet did a quick search and found the Disneyland of Apple Orchards, Terhune in Princeton, NJ. It is much closer to Lambertville and on Sunday they were holding some fall festival that was very well attended. The parking lot brimmed with late model expensive cars and the slick production offered pumpkins and apples and flowers, wine tasting in a perfectly decorated open barn, and a very fine, appropriately rustic country store with a lot of Terhune Orchard labeled products for sale was crowded elbow to elbow. They even had two perfectly appropriate Yellow Labs bounding about the grounds having escaped their pen. And, all this hilarity was before you had to pay to get into the actual festival! Incredible. Beyond the white picket fence entrance guarded by teens wearing money aprons were kids galore being chased by their parents as they bounded from the animal petting pen to the face painting table, from the pumpkin patch to the tractor rides.

Apple trees can be surly 

We of course did not dare pay for this. It is always always always comforting to see Janet screw up her face and roll her eyes when confronted with opening her wallet...or mine...for needless expenditures. It makes a cheapskate proud. But, we weren't here for a festival after all, we were here for apples. Turns out the apple picking area of Terhune Orchards is down the road and around the corner. It's an incredible expanse of land in a densely populated area of central NJ, just down the road from both Princeton and Trenton. After driving a bit through a suburban neighborhood we arrived at the orchard area of Terhune. The girl at the booth gave us a map that listed several varieties of apples and circled which ones were ripe for the picking. She then handed us a paper bag and explained that one would hold 20 pounds. We then joined the legions of others taking in this lovely Sunday afternoon. The place was packed with people. Some walked in, others took the little tractor ride they offered, incredibly for free!  We made a point of not picking too many apples and limited ourselves to about ten pounds. Though the season at Tree-Licious was finished there were plenty of apples at Terhune on this final Sunday in September. The rows were neat, the varieties clearly marked. It was like shopping in a supermarket. After tasting and approving the apple varieties we plucked just a few for the bag. Don't worry the ratio of eating to plucking was better than 2 to 1...we're not that bad. I did not feel like making apple pies this year, but we did take some for cooking and later that evening made baked apples.

We ended up having a good time at Terhune Orchards and despite the crowded aisles never felt pressed. It was fairly close to Lambertville so that was nice. Still there was an assembly line feel to the whole process at Terhune and they could never match the pastoral Eden Tree-Licious offered. I got the impression from many of the people visiting Terhune that day that this little slice of nature, no matter it's cellophane packaging, was good enough.
TERHUNE ORCHARDS

I leave you now fair readers of a clip that has something to do with apples.... It is from the Honeymooners. ... The "Chef of the Future" skit. Another example of a "better life through television..."
 CHEF OF THE FUTURE

zombies R us

It's coming...you know it's coming... the apocalypse will be here before you know it, but will you be prepared? With zombies trolling the earth looking for brains will you survive or will you be bait?

The better you are prepared today, the easier tomorrow will be. With all this yammering about the end of days, Mayan calendar stuff, the apocalypse is hurtling towards us this December! Team VFH's attitude though is typical, we don't really believe it, but hedging, one can never be too sure. So, what better way to prepare than to take a Zombie Survival Course.  

uh oh

Offered at $179 a day or $450 for a more comprehensive weekend training camp at the Zombie Survival Course in South Jersey, one can gain the skills needed to survive when everyone else is no longer here. And, there are plenty of things to know! Weapons like guns and crossbows and clubs (affectionately known as melee weapons) are used. Survival training like finding shelter and food, first aid, as well learning how to hot wire a car are part of the festivities. They'll teach you how surviving the first 48 hours of the apocalypse is extremely important to your future.

Though this all sounds extreme, the good people at the ZSC base camp don't really think the world is ending in December either. Their website shows available courses starting in March 2013 and claims this is not physically demanding and appropriate for anyone at least 15 years old and ZSC will cater to private groups as well as bachelor and bachelotte parties or for a corporate team building exercise. (Not to quip here, but do you really want your CEO covering your ass when you run out of ammo?)

Fully insured and offering trained professionals, ZSC can be a way to learn something while having fun as you bond with your kids. The Zombie Survival Course is held somewhere in South Jersey. If you're interested in living while the rest of your neighborhood is devoured contact them!  zombie survival course

Of course, coming up is the other side of the hilarity. On October 6th in Asbury Park, NJ the 5th annual Zombie walk will be held. This is your chance to mingle with the undead. Participants get "made up" (they're not really dead) and shuffle along the boardwalk. Evidently it is the largest "walk" in the world and recognized by the people at Guinness as such. In 2010 over 4,000 walking corpses ambled by the sea in Asbury Park. For particulars on how to see this free event and join in the revelery visit their website: THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING

Hopefully ZSC doesn't decide to visit Asbury Park October 6th to take in some Indian Summer sunshine! 

Arrrrrrts and Leisure

There is a pressing matter being held tomorrow. It is the 10th annual INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY. September 19th is the world wide event where everyone can yammer away like they've escaped from a swashbuckler movie, threaten to keel haul your kids if they don't take out the garbage and utter the words 'avast' incessantly and still be considered normal. It's your day to dress up like a pirate. Go ahead get out that dead parrot and staple him to your shoulder. On September 19th it'll be the norm.

avast

As for the norm, in the Conch Republic of Key West, Florida there is also pub crawl attached to the revelry of the day. You may ask why is this different than any other day in Key West and that's a good question. The hilarity of this wayward city runs unabated 365 days and nights and mornings a year. Much rum will invariably get your "inner pirate" churned up. Tomorrow in Key West if you're wearing pirate apparel you are eligible for a "Pirate Drink and Shot Special" in several bars. A quick search on Facebook shows where the debauchery will churn along Duval. Check out other events worldwide at:  http://www.talklikeapirate.com/   Yes, tomorrow you can dress up like Keith Richards and ask everyone what is a pirate's favorite section of the Sunday New York Times....

Why... it's the "Arrrrrts and Leisure" section.

Need to practice? Watch some of these movies? PIRATE MOVIES   Or, just drink a lot of rum....

Make sure you sure you start the day off right with a ....hearrrrrty breakfast.

 

Beers of the world

The Yankees have won 27 Major League Baseball World Series Championships. Some of the most famous names in the game have played for the Bronx Bombers; Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Jeter, Clark. The long standing success of the team is either a source of pride for fans or abject jealousy by followers of other teams. Regardless of whether you are an avid fan or devout hater though it is impossible to dismiss the legacy of the New York Yankees. During our recent trip to Yankees stadium the full impact of the history of the Yankees was on display as we made the effort to visit Monument Park. This was something I had always wanted to do, but for whatever reason never got there. On display at this open air museum of Yankees history are plaques, monuments and retired numbers of Yankees. There are a lot of them. Monument Park is free, but it closes 45 minutes before first pitch and sometimes the lines get long. The first time we visited the new stadium we lingered too long at Stan's on River Street, the destination bar before the game and missed the time cut off. This day we made the effort to make it to this inner sanctum of the Yankees illustrious past.

Stan's on River Street

Monument Park began when Yankees manager Miller Huggins, who guided the infamous "Murderer's Row" which won 3 World Series and 6 AL pennants during the 20's, died suddenly in 1929 and in his honor the Yankees placed a bronze plaque with his image on a red granite slab that resembled a headstone. This was then put in the field of play next to the flagpole in deep center field, which was very very deep...approx 450 ft. Later, monuments to Lou Gehrig and Base Ruth were similarly placed and they remained in the field of play until 1974 when the original Yankees stadium was renovated and the center field fence was shortened.  Later DiMaggio and Mantle were similiarly honored by the organization after they died. The park finally became fan accessible in 1985, but I had never made it to this storied place in the original Yankees Stadium. When the new Yankees Stadium was erected a few years ago, Monument Park was recreated, and because of Janet's love of the game, the spirit was rekindled in me. We were disappointed we missed the opportunity the last time and resolved to make it to the museum. We got to the stadium early and were one of the first through the gates and hightailed it directly to Monument Park.

The entrance is narrow and tomb-like; you need to walk down stairs and make a couple of turns in the close confines before emerging into great expanse of the stadium. It is glorious, the sun-splashed center field is right there, with netting covering the Park to prevent an errant batting practice ball from clattering amongst the faithful. Monument Park is situated between the two bullpens and the all-time Yankees great closer, Mariano Rivera, asked when the new stadium was built to have a door from the bullpen that opened into the Park so he could walk through it to begin his day's chores.

Me and Lou

enjoying the view

Our seats for this game were near the upper edge of the stadium, so it was a thrill to be close to the field. I was just able to peak my head over the wall to see the players patrolling the grass. There are two rows of retired numbers, brilliant white baseballs marking each retireee, and along the recessed wall are plaques honoring notable Yankees as well as commemorative plaques marking Papal masses that have been held at Yankees Stadium. At the center are the original "headstone" plaques of Huggins, Gehrig and Ruth and the later additions of DiMaggio and Mantle.

some of the numbers retired
by the Yankees

They don't hurry you along at Monument Park and you are able to linger for a long time, but out of revered respect people shuffle through and pause when others take their photos. It is a unique experience. The long standing success of this team forces people to make a decision to either love the Yankees or root against them. Regardless of whether you are an avid fan or devout hater a visit to this Monument Park is a must.

it's just not the same

The history of baseball is rich and lengthy and nearly every team has similar displays honoring their past, but none really comes close to Monument Park. Team VFH has been to several parks this season, including PNC Park with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles and Citizen's Bank Park with the Philadelphia Phillies. In Pittsburgh and Baltimore we did not have an opportunity to seek out similar homages to the past, but in Philadelphia they have Asburn Alley, named after the Phillies Hall of Fame centerfielder and longtime broadcaster Richie Ashburn. This monument park opens 2 1/2 hours before first pitch and one can soak in the Phillies history. On display are several plaques of the "Centennial Team" comprised of past Phillies players. It is worth a visit to Asburn Alley alone, but they offer so much more than Memorial Park. New York doesn't even come close. Readers of this blog know that Philadelphia is a great beer town. There are a lot of independent craft brewers in the area and a lot of them can be purchased at the CBP in Philly. One can saunter through Asburn's Alley with a Yards or Dogfish or Victory and revel in the Phillies history and then taunt the opposing team's pitchers warming up in the open bullpen. At Yankees Stadium there are no drinks allowed while in Monument Park and when the thirst hits you have to go to the kiosk called "Beers of the World". It is a sorry affair and they offer nothing really of worth. There are suspect beers like Hoegaarden, Heineken and Stella Artois, but we went with the staple, Yuengling. It's just not the same.

Relevancy

For a long long long time my favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, was irrelevant. Despite the rich history of the team they were pitiful. I endured the losing seasons graciously though and still hated the Boston Red Sox because I knew they weren't going anywhere either. As a fan of a mediocre team solace was gained in the knowledge that though the Yankees drought stretched a decade, Boston's was getting close to that four score and seven years ago mind numbing count. 

When the team was bad, tickets were always available. I once walked up to the Yankees box office hours before first pitch and scored a ticket 10 rows up from home plate on the aisle. I was able to see the pitcher grimace with every bad call from the umpire. I once went to the storied Fenway Park to watch the Sox play the Indians. I sat just behind the dugout and was struck with how empty that stadium was and though I was wearing a Yankees hat, I was barely hassled.

it's okay to look down

With the resurgence of baseball in general and with the recent success of these two storied franchises;  Boston's 86 year World Series drought ended a few years back; tickets are tougher to come by and tickets can be very pricey. Yankees stadium may be a cathedral for the sport, but it costs a lot of indulgences to enter. (That's a Catholic reference.)  Although I have been a fan of the Yankees since my youth, I had never seen these two teams play a game against one another. This past weekend we went. Tickets were not available through the Yankees website, but they were on StubHub.com. After everything was added in, including the 4.95 download fee so you can print tickets at home, we saw the Yankees lose 4-1 to the rapidly fading Red Sox for approximately $40 per ticket. Of course we were unable to see any facial expressions from our aerie, but we had a great view of the facade. Oh, and by the way, the Yankees have a 4 game lead in the AL East as of today, while Boston is playing .484 ball and are 13 games back... YES!

Leaving my body to science

If you ignore your friends they will go away. The same holds true for your teeth. As a founding member of Team VFH I am well aware of the need to keep both your friends and your teeth. Without teeth you'll not get many invites to parties, because your friends will figure you are more interested in attending a Kenny Rogers concert. Like a brilliant beacon on a stormy sea, sporting an array of neon bright chicklets draws friends close. They'll want you around, they'll open their doors to you. You'll have full access to their refrigerators and their pools. Combined with proper grooming (unless your friends like Rasputin stunt doubles), there's no telling how much you can mooch with an infectious smile.

Now, proper dental work can be expensive. Forget about maintenance like cleanings and cavities, but orthodontics and prosthodontics can be a heavy hit on the wallet... Unfortunately if you weren't blessed with perfectly aligned chompers you will have to go this route. Afraid of the dentist? Tough... Suck it up...think of how much sunlight can glint off your incisors poolside.

At least I have a partial solution to the cost factor involved. Go to a dental school... I know, I know, that's a scary proposition, especially if you consider the sound of a drill frightening, or think it's wrong to have some student perfecting their novocaine needle technique on your gums. Going to a dental school is like leaving your body to science....and experiencing it at the same time.

I can understand if you think I'm nuts, that this is a new low for Team VFH in its money hording 

ways, but truthfully it's not that bad. For years I was dreadfully afraid of dentists and their costs before discovering U.M.D.N.J. in Newark, NJ. It is one of the largest dental schools in the country. The school produces great dentists and specialists and they offer their services at a fraction of the cost. And, at least I know the  young doctors are diligent in their efforts because their every move is checked by faculty members who will probe and poke you before the

leaving your body to science

actual work begins... This means you can sit in a chair for awhile, but at least you're not being churned in quickly by someone trying to make his mortgage payment or a tee time. My scaredy cat ass was comforted by slowly moving dentists who took their time, listened to my fears and explained procedures when necessary.  I've been going to U.M.D.N.J. since 1994 and I have become brave enough, although I still hate those novocaine needles. But! I saved a lot of money and the good student doctors have taken my motley array of crooked teeth and through braces and crowns have transformed me into a science project worth displaying poolside....

Now if I can only get something done about my receeding hair line... 

On a side note... I was born in Newark and raised in Harrison, New Jersey, so the idea of traveling up to this northern Jersey area is all right by me. When I go to the dentist I often reward myself by getting a Cuban sandwich and cafe con leche at a hole in the wall joint on Ferry Street in the Ironbound section of Newark which is a very short drive from the school. It's an area boasting scores of Portuguese and Brazilian restaurants in what is sometimes called "Little Portugal." The name "Ironbound" refers to the many railroad tracks in the area, with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor forming the western boundary. Another area named for tracks was in Brooklyn, New York. The Dodgers once played at Ebbets field and the area was crisscrossed by trolley car tracks, forcing patrons to 'dodge' the rattling trolleys. When my mother lived for awhile in this area of Newark it was called "Down Neck." I remember being driven past the old Ballantine Brewery and Ruppert Stadium where the Newark Bears of the International League, and owned by the New York Yankees, as well as the Negro League Newark Eagles played. Even if you're not going for a filling Ironbound is a place to visit for a filling.
IRONBOUND

There is also good bread in the area. Portuguese rolls, especially from the Teixeira Bakery are amazing. But deeper into Newark is the Italian Bakery Calandra's. I often get a seeded sourdough bastone for home and a baguette for the road. Sometimes I splurge on a chocolate cannoli. I go to the First Street store in Newark, but they have locations in Fairfield and Caldwell. The smells of the freshly baked bread and the sights of all the pastries are overwhelming, so make sure you take a number for service, lest Tony Soprano cuts in front of you.
CALANDRA'S BAKERY

Harrison, NJ boasts its own bakery. I wrote about my hometown in my first novel, "Hi, How Are You?", Xlibris 2000, and leveled the town so the government could erect a huge shopping mall that could be seen from outer space. Harrison is this little insulated town. Newark is across the river and the meadowlands are on the other side. Despite these affronts Harrison was like a little Mayberry RFD, innocent and quiet. But because of its small size, just a mile square, and its longitude and latitude, Harrison either smelled of the dank decay of the meadowlands, or the warm, comforting smell of Pechter's Bakery on Jersey Street. After Sunday Mass I often accompanied my father to pick up dinner rolls for the big Sunday lunch Mom would make. It is where I first learned the term "baker's dozen". I loved those little rolls, but the favorite by far is the black seeded rye bread. Waiting in the line at the little factory store they often bring more loaves out and the air is heavenly with the moist smell of fresh bread. The clerks will slice the bread for you, even if it's warm and when we were kids we'd fight over the union sticker that was attached to one end of the crust. I can eat that bread without butter, savoring first the doughy interior and then the seeded upper crust and then finally the thick chewy bottom crust. Absolutely wonderful. I often buy a couple of loaves and freeze one when I get home, they're that good. Yes, Pechter's Bakery is yet another reason to go to the dentist. 
PECHTER'S BAKERY in Harrison, NJ

BTW ... 16 Washington Street in Harrison is at: 40.746431 N , 74.15277300000002 W
AND, WHERE ARE YOU?

A Friend In Need

The comedian Joe E. Lewis had a great line: "A friend in need....is a pest..."
Another observation he had was that money can't buy happiness, but it certainly calms the nerves.
Words to live by, except when you're Team VFH. We don't have the luxury to ignore our friends, because they offer so much more in return, and our "nerves" we fear, will always constantly be frazzled with the lack of funds. We don't have the ability to flit off to Hawaii or Europe this summer, so, in the pursuit of good karma we are happily tendering all requests from friends and conversely will accept all the invites that invariably come our way.

Can one pursue karma? Gather it up like stocking shelves in a super market? We're not sure, but we certainly have been blessed with good fortune so far this summer. We must be doing something right and the friend in need aspect of the summer has played a part in our karma.
No, we're not Karma Chameleons though I poke fun at just this sort of thing in this blog. We currently are guests of friends at the Delaware shore who needed someone to watch their pooch while they themselves enjoy the company of other friends at a bigger house on the water. Karma must be like energy, it is never used, just transferred... In appreciation of our "watching" their dog, they've left us with a refrigerator filled with beer and their Rubicon Jeep with Delaware Park tags so we can drive onto the beach.

So, if you need a pooch pandered (or your tropical plants watered) we're the team for you. It'll help if you have a pool, or jet skis, or a well-stocked frig...but it's not a necessity, we're glad to help.

"A friend in need .... is a pest"

And, now, quoting Frank Sinatra, quoting Joe E. Lewis, his good friend and of whom he said at his 50th birthday party recorded at the Sands in Las Vegas, "I would have the body of a 22 year old had I not spent all that time drinking with Lewis," "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's post time...."

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land

It was a good day in Philadelphia this past Monday. We ventured into the ever sunny city for a bit of pop history at the National Constitution Center and came away with so much more. I am always pleasantly surprised when I visit this place, especially the Old City District, where much of the history of Colonial America is located. Team VFH could easily devote days to just exploring this area, but we were here for Bruce. 
http://www.oldcitydistrict.org/

Perhaps you have heard of this musician from Freehold, New Jersey? Bruce Springsteen has been giving the world music since the 1970's. Some of his songs are iconic, the poetry is at times powerful, but I would be remiss in trying to belabor with my thoughts on Mr. Springsteen. So much has been written about him and thousands of his adoring fans who pile into his legendary and lengthy shows that each can regale you with their own tales. I would do them all a disservice in adding my own observations, but I have to say that Thunder Road is a phenomenal song and my favorite album is Tunnel Of Love. It is at this album that Bruce first went from the working man on the road, to the man embroiled in the confines of his home and the trappings of marriage. 
Better served in this are several homage websites dedicated to "The Boss".
Here is one: http://www.legendsofspringsteen.com/
Here's another: http://www.springsteenlyrics.com/

In a recent article Springsteen spoke of experiencing depression and the joy and the self preservation of his performing:...
            "...there's a tremendous finding of the self while also an abandonment of the self at the same time.  You are free of yourself for those hours; all the voices in your head are gone."
  

....your favorite song here...

The National Constitution Center has been running an exhibit of Springsteen artifacts and memorabilia. It is called: From Asbury Park to the Promised Land / The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen. If you are a fan or at least mildly interested in the Boss it is well worth the visit. On display are articles of clothing worn during shows, instruments played, lyrics and a motorcycle he rode cross country back in 1989. Music stations offer rare snippets of songs he performed with the first band he was in, The Castilles. There's documentary about the recording of Born To Run, where Bruce obsessed and changed over every word in his songs. It's all fascinating and we really enjoyed our visit. The exhibit runs until September 3.

Also included in the cost of the ticket is access to the National Constitution Center, worth the visit alone. There is a live performance entitled "We The People," that left Team VFH feeling especially patriotic, and a hands on display chronicling American history and the Constitution. 

 http://constitutioncenter.org/exhibits/feature-exhibitions/bruce-springsteen/

But, most wonderfully is the cost. Normally $25 per ticket, Janet was able to go to livingsocial.com and got two tickets for just $24. I had always cast a wary eye toward websites like Living Social or Groupon that offer discounts, but Janet has cured me of this. Anything to save a buck. http://www.livingsocial.com/

After our visit to the Promised Land, we headed towards the promised land of good beer, stopping first to drop a penny on the grave of Benjamin Franklin and to make a wish. The tradition stems perhaps from a line in the thrifty Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, "A penny saved is a penny earned." His grave is directly across the street from the Philadelphia Mint. As my luck has yet to change though I probably should rephrase Mr. Franklin's line with: "A penny tossed...is lost."

Along the way we stopped to devour cheese steaks at Campo's on Market Street; rated by some in the Top Ten in the city renown for cheese steaks, and the subject of great debate in Philly. See the link below for a listing and endeavor to try them all yourself.  We then went to two taverns to end our visit to Philadelphia.
http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/top-10-spots-for-authentic-philly-cheesesteaks/?gclid=CM3ixuGIwLECFUp76wodkxcAJQ

The first was Khyber Pass on Second Street. We went there because our first choice did not open until 5 p.m. Janet said she used to go to this bar when she was underage and to party....DO NOT tell her Mom!! We were pleasantly surprised at their beer list and we just arrived in time for happy hour where drafts are discounted $2.00. The bar was beautiful carved wood and the place had a friendly feel to it and it was a great temporary fix until our next destination. http://www.khyberpasspub.com/

Can't have it all!

We were really here though for the Eulogy Tavern just around the corner. We have visited this Belgian style tavern several times in the past. Eulogy and the equally outstanding Monk's Cafe on 16th Street each boast an incredible selection of beers from Belgium and around the world. Some reviews give the edge to Monk's, but we prefer Eulogy on Chestnut Street. We drank our first Westmalle Triple Trappist brew at Eulogy when Team VFH did research for the trip to Belgum last year and when we stumble in deciding on our selection, the knowledgeable and friendly staff are good for beer advice. On Monday. when I was unsure of the name of the Quadruppel I wanted from Brugges, the bartender swiftly produced the bottle and waggled it in front of me. When we showed him a picture of a beer we had purchased in Brugges (lifted from Facebook) he said he didn't have that particular one, a Wit Goud from Hof Ten Dormaal, but had two others available. Impressive. At Monk's we were kind of on our own with the daunting task of beer selection, but in the warm confines of Eulogy we get drunk without the angst. http://eulogybar.com/

news and notes

working hard finding
you deals

Team Cheapskate... oops... Team VFH has been diligent this summer in seeking out deals to pass onto you fair reader. We have worked tirelessly and after sweating days and days we have discovered several ways to stretch your hard earned dollars to the point of snapping! Covered here is a quick ledger of some of our discovers.

RESTAURANT WEEK in New York City.  From July 16 through August 10 several restaurants in the New York are offering three course meals for a good price... $24.07 for lunch and $35.00 for dinner. This does not include drinks or tip.New Yorkers usually flee the city during the summer, leaving it for the tourists. This is a way for restaurants to drum up some business. Janet and I went to DBGB Kitchen and Bar on the Bowery before a Missy Higgins concert. Great food, great service, and a great selection of expensive beers. I had an Ommegang that cost me $12.00!!!!!! We could have ordered off the regular menu, but we stuck with the offerings for Restaurant Week. We splurged on this one. Check out the website for the listings.   http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek

SANDY HOOK CONCERTS. Talk about sticker shock! The daily fee for getting into Sandy Hook went up to $15.00 per day and $75.00 for a season pass. Yikes. Last year it was $10.00 and $50.00. You can still get into the park for free though if you arrive before 7:00 a.m. or after
4 p.m.. If you arrive before 7 a park ranger will give you a day pass, but not ask for money. (Janet says getting to the shore before 7 a.m. is ridiculous. I guess some just like throwing money away!) Anyway, we went last Wednesday and left around 5 p.m. There was a lot of traffic coming into Sandy Hook as we exited. We learned that there is a free concert  held every Wednesday during the summer at 6 p.m. Taking advantage of the free entry after 4, people pile in for the early evening show. It looks like it is well attended. Advice would be to arrive around the cut off time
http://sandyhookfoundationnj.org/eventprog.htm


LIVING SOCIAL ... I never thought much of savings coupons like Living Social or Groupon, but Janet turned me into a believer. Through Living Social's website she bought tickets to the Bruce Springsteen exhibit at the National Constitution Center for $12 each, instead of the $25 per ticket that they charge. We are going Monday; we'll let you know how this works out.
http://www.livingsocial.com/

PIZZERIA UNO  Team VFH likes going to the movies. We also like our beer. It turns out that the Pizzeria Uno on Sloane Avenue in Hamilton, NJ is on the grounds of the AMC movie theater. A couple of weeks ago we got to the theater a bit early for our viewing and decided to drop in for something to eat and drink. Not only were we pleasantly surprised at their beer listing and the quality of their deep dish pizza, we also noticed that for any purchase, even a bottle of water, we could also purchase movie tickets for a substantial savings. We of course leapt at the opportunity.
You should also look for similar savings at either a Pizzeria Uno or similar establishment. The beauty of Team VFH is that we always are on the look out for a way to save some money.

If you happen to come across any similar savings, no matter how small, please share them with your favorite mooch crew. We will post your leads here on future blog entries.
Send them to: greg.dunaj@yahoo.com.

Love,
Janet and greg.

A trail runs through it

Ohiopyle Falls on
the lower Youghiogheny

The Youghiogheny River isn't the only game in town in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania where the Vacations From Home team went on a recent car camping vacation. The upper and lower Yough have some of the best white water east of the Mississippi and the town is a popular destination for those who like to endanger their lives in rafts or kayaks in the class III and class IV rapids.

The Ohiopyle House Cafe's
Marriettaville Tavern

Though Ohiopyle is a charming, rustic river town where many local's conversations at the downstairs bar of the Ohiopyle House Cafe, The Marriettaville Tavern, center around the river, a lengthy bike trail called the Great Allegheny Passage, or GAP, is another great attraction of the area. The GAP is a well maintained rail trail that runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland for 141 miles. In Cumberland one can then travel the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath, C&O Canal, all the way into Washington, D.C., for a 325 mile stretch of interrupted biking. Because the GAP is a series of converted train rail beds, it is very level, making for lesiurely traveling. The outfit we went to for our rafting zaniness, Wilderness Voyageurs, not only rented bikes by the hour, but offer guided biking tours from Pittsburgh to D.C., fully catered with support vehicles meeting at various points. Although, I just checked W.V.'s website and they say all 2012 bike tours are sold out.

the GAP

There were several bike rental places in Ohiopyle, but we stayed with W.V.. They were more expensive per hour, $6.00 per, rather than $5.00, but they stopped charging after 3 1/2 hours, making the total $21 plus tax. The others stopped charging hourly after 5 hours, making the daily bill $25. We liked our time rafting with W.V. and we liked the Cannondale Mountain Bike they offered for rental, so Team VFH went with them.
http://wilderness-voyageurs.com/

Make sure you know
where you're going

I'm not a bike rider like Janet, but because the GAP is level we figured I could make the 20 mile round trip to Confluence, PA, despite the mid-90's temperatures of the day. A large part of the trail is shaded. There was something alluring about the town, Confluence, who's town motto is "where the mountains touch rivers," is a vacation community that is divided by the Youghiogheny and Casselman Rivers. Brochures said there was riverside dining and a "lovely" town square. It sounded charming and we decided to steer our rental bikes to Confluence.

Well, 17 miles later we had not yet reached Confluence. We did travel along some spectacular countryside with amazing views of the Yough. For a long time we could hear the rapids we had bounced along by raft just the other day thundering below us. We traveled over both the low and high bridges of Ohiopyle, the second majestically soaring far above the river. We peddled and peddled and peddled .... and peddled .... until, dripping with sweat we reached .... Connellsville,. We had headed in the wrong direction! Connellsville was a town still mired in the Rust Belt of western Pennsylvania, but they were trying really hard to make it. The town had embraced the GAP and there were bike lanes decorated with flowers and maps of loops one could take through town if one chose to deviate from the Great Allegheny Passage for a spell. There was also a lot of traffic and it was in the mid-90's and my butt was sore, so the review of Connellsville may be tainted in this report. Dripping with sweat but happy with our accomplishment of peddling as far as we had, we stopped for waters and iced-t at a dreary convenience store that was closing it's doors permanently in a few days and rehydrated in a park carved out of a parking lot.

Where the hell am I?

I withered on the way back; the psychological effects of besting the greater distance to Connellsville had worn off. Spirited talk of continuing on past Ohiopyle to also reach the shining jewel of Confluence and it's "lovely" town square faded with every crunch of my buttocks onto the seat. Ugh...Janet was barreling down the path with her competitive zeal. I was hurting, but we decided to try and make Confluence after a stop back in Ohiopyle. Afterall, we are Team VFH and we wanted to get our money's worth on the bikes. We didn't need to have them back until 8 pm. It was just 5! Well, after rehydrating in Ohiopyle we set out in the heat once again, but I had no heart to continue after just a few miles. Janet said she was willing, but was kind and we returned to Ohiopyle and the bike shop at Wilderness Voyageurs.

We decided then to drive to Confluence. Afterall this is what we had started out to see this morning. It's where "mountains touch rivers". It boasts a "lovely" town square and riverside dining. We had to see it...even if we needed to drive.

Boy, am I glad I didn't try to muscle it through to Confluence on the second leg of the trip. Perhaps it was the sweat still glistening in our eyes from our 40 plus miles on the bikes, but I missed a lot of the charm and couldn't find the lovely town square that was boasted about in the brochures. Sure there were some nice homes ... next to some nice double-wides ... and we did drive by the charming looking River's Edge Cafe, but there wasn't a whole lot more. Had we gone in the correct direction earlier, we would have had time and the inclination to explore, but we were gassed and happy that we only drove here. Instead we hightailed it back to our favorite watering hole at the Ohiopyle House Cafe. We slept soundly that night.

BLOB BALL

Yum

Don't worry, there's still more Ohiopyle escapades to relate here on this blog, but there is a timely matter to tell you all about. If you happen to find yourself in Pennsyltucky this weekend, head over to Phoenixville where the 5th annual Blob Ball is being held this Friday and Saturday. You may recall the Blob was a 1958 "B" horror film that starred a flesh absorbing monster from outer space. It was also Steve McQueen's first movie role. The film was shot in the area including The Colonial Theater where the infamous scene of the Blob oozing through the projectionist windows panics the audience to run screaming from the theater. This scene is reenacted everytime the Blob Ball is held. Sadly, the tickets for this portion of the festivities is sold out, but you're still able to run around the revitalized downtown of Phoenixville shrieking like a knucklehead.

Other activities during the two day event include a Fire Extinguisher parade (fire extinguishers worked very well in combating the Blob), musical acts, stageshows and a Sci-Fi costume contest. The Colonial is still a working theater and music venue and they are showing a double bill of "The Blob" and the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Phoenixville has become a destination. There are several restaurants and bars that are worth visiting after you're blobbed out. Iron Hill Brewery, Steel City Cafe, Fenix, The Black Lab Bistro and The Columbia Bar, among many others are within walking distance of the theater. Go! or be devoured.

http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/article/20120710/ENTERTAINMENT01/120709982/blobfest-offers-family-fun-sci-fi-entertainment-in-phoenixville