Countdown.....

To Saratoga's Jazz Fest....2007!!


Some of the more creative responses to my daily countdown to this year's Jazz Fest:


10.
'5.5 - from a Russian Judge'
'Bo Derek'


9.

'3 squared'
'9er 9er 9er'
'Inch nails'
'Square root of 81'
(Congrats to SalinaBlooz for being the 1st to figure out I was counting down to something!) ;)

8.
'Is enough'
'Ball'
'Super 8''I'm Henry the 8th, I am'


4.
'Score and 7 years ago.'



3.
'Three Dog Night.'


2.
'2-2-two mints in one! -Certs'


1.
'One is the loneliest number'
'One for the Road'
'One for the money, Two for the show'

I hadn't thought that others would take off on that, with their own little twist!


Thanks everyone....You made me smile with some of your responses!!! ;)


I had been looking forward to this year's Jazz Fest at Saratoga and relaxing for a few days. I left on Friday Morning and returned Monday afternoon. This is my fourth consecutive time, and I am just an 'infant', still wet behind my ears, compared to a few of the people I was there with. This year marks SPAC's 30th Year for this entire weekend of Sun, Music, laughs, and good food food! A couple of the gentlemen I was with, had been faithfully attending for the last....


....26 Years!!!

Yowza!

These faithful repeaters are not limited to just the 22+ people from the group I was with either; you'll often find many many people who attend year after year after year...and they ALL have the same 'spot in the sun' too! As a result, people get to know each other as being repeaters.

The crowd is quite eclectic, with people with infants to young adults, those approaching middleage ;) , to those in their 60's and 70's, all there to soak in the sun and music. It is most likened to being a softer Woodstock with a little bit more flair.
Even though I always get seats for the 'shell' (incase it rains, plus better viewing) the party is ALWAYS on the Lawn, so that is usually where we stay and only go inside the shell for specific performances!! Obtaining the lawn area is like The Running of the Bulls. One or two people from each party arrives at the gate about 7 AM and wait until the gates open at 10. Once that gate opens, it's a Free-For-All with everyone running to 'Stake their claim' on a piece of lawn, using a Tarp to secure their spot. I have not had the wonderful pleasure of this tredious but very important step, but think that next year may be mine!

Attention! The following coordinates:

Lattitude: 43° 4′ 31″ N
43.075278°

Longitude: 73° 46′ 57″ W
-73.7825°

Not only Represents where, EXACTLY Saratoga IS in this world, to the best of my knowledge, those coordinates also represents the ONLY public place on the Face of this Earth where there is almost always a line for the Men's bathroom, BUT NOT the Ladies!! And several years running too!

This year saw David Sanborn! I Love listening to the Sax and have a few of his CD's. Wonderful performer! George Benson was very good, as was Jean-luc Ponty, Ravi Coltrane, Tower of Power, and Al Green, to name a few.


One really has to like listening to music and being out in the hot HOT sun for long periods of time. Yes.....I have bronzed right up this past weekend...the weather was perfect! Hot but not blistering hot like it had been in previous years.


Lots of good food and drink! Because of the summer sun, I usually end up going through almost a case of water myself, to keep me hydrated, particularly with all the drinking of alcoholic beverages too.

I, however, have Perfected a simpley wonderful refreshing concoction, perfect for these hot and balmy days.....


....Frozen Wine Slushie!!! Not only do they come out nice and icey and Delish, but I have found a way to keep it frozen the Whole day!!!


The two pics below show the two buckets of Wine Slushies I made for this trip...one Red wine, the other White! Please notice how the ENTIRE bucket has been encased in 1/2 inch of ICE!!



Yumm! These were taken just when I had removed them from their repective buckets of ice!

This goes over well! It's such a treat on a hot and balmy day!Because this tends to be such a 'party' atmosphere, I made for the very first time...about 70 jello shots, which also went over very nicely.

Two different batches...both made with Stoli Vodka. The First batch was with Black Cherry Jello, and because I wanted taste sensations...I made the second batch with Orange Jello and used Stoli Vanilla Vodka in it. It was like having a Creamcicle! In the words of Racheal Ray...



YUM-O! ;) It's funny too, ya end up tossing them over to your neighbors too!

we also eat very well too!

We just have to bring our Italian Medley....

~Roasted Tomatoes in an Olive Oil with lots of garlic and herbs.
~Marinated Artichoke hearts
~Roasted Red and Yellow Peppers
~Jumbo Green olives, 1/2 stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese, the other half with whole Almonds
~Hunks of Italian Bread
~and a Fresh Mozzerella, tomato, and basil salad!


We also had pasta sald, pizza muffins, and a bunch of other notables too! I laugh when I think of the imprint we have apparently left on our group's memory of us......everyone always looks forward to the Italian-inspired food!






This is Brian with a nice presentation of fresh Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce lightly dolloped on each one. He's known for bringing that.


Remember me stating that the year-after-year-repeaters, will always stake out the same plot of lawn for themselves??? Below is what is typical for one group of Jazz-Festers as you walk into the park, you'll see it on your left side.

(Click on picture to make it larger.)


They always put up a 'help sign' of some sort. I think they had a 'Breast exam service' a couple of years ago! ;)~~


Below is a pic o what that tiny 'corner' of that part of the lawn looks like as I was coming out of the shell. We are always located at the same area year after year.



Another picture of a tiny part of the lawn.





An interesting game of strategy called 'Gobble it up" being played by two in our group. I didn't get the chance to play as I was into reading the book that I brought.




They had the Albany School of Massage there, so my sister and I got a chair massage. mmmmm, that was nice!

They also have a craft tent with some wonderful vendors and creative wares.

Another Great Year!
Looking forward to next year's already!!



;)

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Father's Day

My Very First Dancing Partner.

Old Spice Cologne
Half & Half Tobacco for his pipe
Brush Cut hair style
Special K Cereal
1st one up in the mornings
Camping
Harmonica
Driving range and Golf.
His Green eyezz (7 children, I'm the only one.) ;)
Bow & Arrow
Deer Hunting
Logic Games
Watching Hee-Haw with him
The scars from his stitches running the entire length of his chest
Sitting on his lap after he came home from work
Protector
Patience
Weekend jaunts to his brother's house in N. Syracuse. (I used to think it took forever to get there.) I laugh now, when I think how close they really were from us.
Laid back and easy going
Removing a fishhook from my thigh
Him making popcorn, over the stove
wiggling his ears
Teaching me that game of speed, of 'hands hovering over his palms'
showing me how to whistle
The 'John ZZ' Cup. (A golf league, named in his honor) and the Huge Trophy that went along with it.

4/28/21 - 4/25/78

"My Father died many years ago, and yet when something special happens to me, I talk to him secretly not really knowing whether he hears, but it makes me feel better to half believe it."
~Josefowitz

Below is a rememberance that my Oldest sister had done. Not Brunetta, the one older than her. It was submitted recently for a contest. though she did not win, she does indicate receiving a few 10 out of 10 reader ratings. It's a wonderful description of what happened to my dad.

You will need to click on the picture to make it larger, for you to see.

Happy Father's Day Dad.

I miss you.

~Your Green eyed youngest daughter

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Of Great Live Music, Walks in Forests, and 'Flying Barns'!!

AKA: A very busy weekend, which, for me, started on Thursday! ;)

I'm coming to the conclusion, (as if I didn't already know) that I just can't party like I used to. Brunetta, wipe the grin from your face, I'm Still your baby sister!

My weekend started a bit earlier than usual, with meeting a few people at the Inner Harbor Block Party to watch Kane and then Atlas play. I LOVE to hear Atlas. Gotta love that Brass, and the music is very, very danceable too. Damn! I remember seeing them when they played at Soo-Lin's on Erie Blvd. when I was still in my teens! Ouch! They're is still one original band member.

Ya couldn't ask for a more perfect evening! It was still a balmy 73 degrees at night, and you couldn't beat the company! ;)

My Director, whom I know I have mentioned before, as I think she's the best, was there also. We were chuckling earlier in the daytime when we both realized we were both going to hear Atlas.

A few Blue Lights later and I was cuttin' up a rug pretty good.

A great place to hear live music right by the water!

OK, So it was Thursday. Friday, I really didn't have to Work, per say, but did have to attend an all day training, as did the rest of the clinic. This training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was an initiative through The Onondaga County Mental Health Department. I thought this was a great Idea, as they had been able to round together all five of the Out Patient Mental Health Clinics that serve Syracuse and Onondaga County and allow for a formalized week long training for CBT by a small team of psychologists from Columbia University, down in NYC. Not only does this allow us to sharpen and hone our skills, it also gave us an opportunity to network with several other therapist, psychologists, as well as a sprinkling of psychiatrists from the neighboring clinics. I have spoken to several over the phone, as collaterals for mutual clients, so it was nice to place a face to the name.

This meeting on Friday, was actually a booster training and final meeting with the trainer from Columbia. And while I certainly did not allow myself to get drunk the night before, I certainly was parched enough for a dessert! I ended up bringing a whole pitcher of water to my table and every 20 minutes or so, one could hear the tinkling of ice cubes as they tumbled into my glass. A couple clinicians I work with, knew I was seeing Atlas the night before and grinned at me from across the room! ;) I was actually supposed to meet these same people downtown for Happy Hour later that day, but decided against it.

Saturday saw me at Beaver Lake Nature Center, walking around their lake with a friend. I had tried to talk her into taking out one of the canoe's, but she chickened out, citing her arms are not ready for the challenge yet! Ended up picking up Brunetta and the three of us headed out to the Greek Fest for a Gyro and Spanokopita.

Sunday I had a 'Non-Date' Date. ;)

Went hiking out at Highland Forest, aimed for the 4.2 mile trail with medium steepness.
Ended up getting lost and eventually finding our way out again! So, what should have taken us abut 2 hours to complete, ended up at about 3 1/2 hours. That was ok though. Upon stopping at the Trail Lodge, the attendant had asked about the Jamesville Balloon Fest, and it should be about time they launched for the evening. It was about 6:10 PM. My 'non-date' ;) knew of a different way home that would take us smack dab in the middle of it all.

WOW! It had been years since I had attended this and he had never before gone to this, so it was a treat for both of us. The pics below show the last one, that they filled but did not fly. It was meant for the little kiddies to see close up in the basket, what it would be like.

These pics were taken with my cell phone.

DAMN! I wish I had thought of my cell phone long before I had...I would have had some beautiful shots, right up close and even as they flew past his car. There was a bout 7 - 8 all in one area.

These pictures below, also from the Balloon Fest, were actually sent in to Syracuse.com by people who had also been there:

I love the colors in this one.

Looks like this one was taken while in a basket.

It takes a while to inflate one. Many people needed to help.

This is a neat pic.

We were both dirty, sweaty and a bit tired from all that exercise, but stopping for something to eat and watching the balloons take off and float past us was a perfect end to the great weekend!

~ZZ

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When it rains, it Pours.....

Literally!


I decided to purchase an Empire Passport this year. This will allow me access to most of New York's' Parks, for a yearly fee of $59. My guess is that I will most likely be using this mostly for Green Lakes State Park, rather than spend $7 a pop, each time I want to walk/jog around the lake. From the looks of this picture, it looks like it was taken from Deadman's Point, or, as I've always have known it as "The Point". It has always been a favorite 'hangin' spot' for many young people, but no one is 'allowed' to swim there due to the possibility of the undertow of the reefs that you see in this picture. The park patrol are often in this area, for that reason.
Though I will not swim there, and haven't since I was a teen, the park is beautiful, and it is wonderful to walk around the lakes, Green Lakes as well as Round Lake.

Anyway, I digress a bit. I'm out at Green Lakes and have walked/jogged around it once and have made it half way around the second time with the sky opened up and and poured so severely, I barely could see more than 30 feet in front of me. It wasn't the rain that bothered me, as it was quite refreshing, considering how warm it was and I was all sweaty and hot.
I was bothered by how much Lightening there was, with me outside on a narrow path on the edge of the water. I absolutely LOVE Thunder & Lightening Storms! Always have and always will, Just not when I am in a spot to be struck!!
About 3-4 minutes before the sky opened up, one of the park patrols had come strolling by on his bicycle (probably checking out the point), when he had said something (Which I interpreted was a hello), as he sped by me. I didn't actually hear him, as I had my Ipod on and it was cranked to The Alman Brother's. Looking back, I think he was probably warning me.
By the time I reached the sandy beach area, it had finally settled down to a sprinkle, but there were still lots of people taking refuge at the bath house.
I might have looked like a drenched rat, but at the same time, I felt refreshed too.

I get back home and take 'another' shower, this time with soap and No lightening, and get ready to meet a few friends out. So, I grab my keys, leave the house and head towards my car, when I realize I have grabbed my Office Keys, NOT my house/car keys! Grrrr!!
JQP????? You listening here???? ;) My neighbor had to take a ladder and "climb up my trellis onto my porch" and take apart one of the screen doors there, to be able to get in!
That fiasco left me about 1/2 hour late.

All in all though, it was a nice day.

~ZZ

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Fighting fairly

It's Friday, It's the end of the week, and I figured I'd post a 'fluff' quiz.
i play fair.
I also try to fight fairly too.

You Mostly Fight Fair

When you fight, you tend to remember your end goal of resolving conflict. However, you can get a little too wrapped up in your own feelings. Remember that there are two sides to every argument. And even if you think you're totally right, you should take more time to hear your partner out.

Do You Fight Fair?

Why not take the quiz and post your answer here??

Remember though, play fairly and answer honestly. ;)

~ZZ

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