TUESDAY – May 31, 2011

Good morning.  What a great weekend!  The weather was super to kick-off the beginning of Summer.  This is a picture of the largest fire boat in the world.  There is no one manning the water canons.  All of the canons are manned from inside the helm with a joystick.  It pumps 50,000 gallons of water a minute.  I feel great.  This weather really agrees with me.  I was outside all weekend, boating, planting perrenials, etc.  I hope that you have a great day and enjoy the weather.     Mike

FRIDAY – May 27, 2011

Good morning.  The ship on the left is named USS New York.  The hull of this ship was built from the steel from the World Trade Center.  The side of the ship is also stealth so that it can’t be detected by radar.  It is a landing vessel capable of carrying 800 marines and four helicopters which have there own hanger in the rear of the ship.  Speaking of the back of the ship, it comes down so that tanks and marines can deploy from the vessel right onto the beach.  I feel great today.  I will be going striper fishing tonight with my fishing club.  I am looking forward to this trip.  We should have a great night weather-wise.  I want all of you to get out and enjoy this weekend but don’t forget to pay homage on Monday to the people who have sacrificed so much so that we have our FREEDOM.           Mike

THURSDAY – May 26, 2011

Good morning.  Well yesterday was great.My friend Michael and I participated in Fleet Week.  We boarded the “USS Katherine Walker”, which maintains all of the buoys in New York harbor.  As we powered up the Hudson River, passing us were cruisers,light destroyers, and other ships.  As we passed the site of the world trade center, we all paused and saluted the site.  It was very sad because the picture of these buildings is so vivid in my mind.  I am feeling very good and this weather is really good.  The only thing that is really bothering me are my allergies which I thought had left me forever.  Well they haven’t and all I do is sneeze and blow my nose.  Have a great day.      MIke

WEDNESDAY – May 25, 2011

Good morning.  I am writing to you tonight because I left very early this morning as a guest on the SS Katerine Walker which is a Coast Guard ship participating in Fleet Week in the Hudson River.  This should be pretty cool and I feel very honored especially since this is the 10th Aniversary for Sept. 11th.  As far as the picture, the “girls” not only play soccer and take naps but they must also do their homework.  Actually they love to do homework.  I love when I go down there and they say to me, “Pop-Pop we can’t play right now because we have to do our homework first OR Pop-Pop could we read to you”.  This just makes me feel so good.  I feel very good today.  Enjoy your day and enjoy the heat.            Mike

TUESDAY – May 24, 2011

Good morning.  Yesterday I showed you a picture of the “girls” getting ready to go to their soccer game.  When they come home, they usually take tubbies and then, as you can see they get into their princess dresses and take a nap.  Oh what a beautiful day.  It is finally warm out and the sun is expected to come out later.  I am feeling great.  I have a doctor’s appointment in about one hour.  I have to fast because he will be taking my blood and running all kinds of tests.  After that I may just go fishing.  The striped bass that I caught last week were great.  Have a good day.           Mike

MONDAY – May 23, 2011

Good morning.  Here are my two “Soccer Queens”.  They love playing soccer.  The name of their team is …are you ready for this creative name……..”The Green Team”.  I would have never guessed it.  My garden is really growing.  Now I am ready to turn it over and start planting summer crops.  I went fishing on Friday with a fellow from my fishing club.  We caught 3 striped bass.  They were 31″, 31″, and 33″.  I am feeling very good.  I was up this morning at 6:30 and ready to go except it was pouring and I had no place to go.  Have a great day and keep smiling.                Mike

FRIDAY – May 20, 2011

Good morning.  Yesterday was an interesti ng day.  When I arrived at the marina yesterday morning, the boat that you are looking at in the picture had sunk.  Our harbormaster put on his dive suit and went under water to see if the were any holes.  There were no holes and there ws no indication of where the water was coming from.  He then put a large pump in the boat and it slowly came up.  The boat was then towed out to a larger marina by Boat US.  Our contractors came yesterday to start work on our pier.  My meetings were great.  It felt good to be so busy all day and doing something productive.  I feel great today and I am supposed to help a friend bring his boat across the bay.  If it stops raining, I might even go fishing.  Have a great weekend and pray for some sun.  Mike

THURSDAY – May 19, 2011

Good morning.  Here are the “girls” with their cousins at my brother’s house in an Easter egg hunt.  Today I will be quite busy.  I’m about to go to the marina because the contractor is going to start to repair our wavescreen wall which was damaged by the storm on March 13, 2010.  We can’t wait for FEMA’s money anylonger because it is now making the marina unsafe.  Then at 10:00 I’m helping a friend bring his boat accross the bay.  At 1-2:30 I have a meeting with the Director of Public Works and the committee that I volunteered to serve on to improve the garbage/recycling pickup in our city.  Then at 4:00 I have a Port Authority meeting.  So as you can see, my day is quite full which is just the way I like it.  I want to be involved.  I feel great.  I was up at 6:30 today and just felt super.  Enjoy your day and stay out of trouble.          Mike

WEDNESDAY – May 18, 2011

Good morning.  Here is a picture of Pete (dad) reading to the girls.  He reads to them every night before they go to bed.  Now Kaya is reading and she reads her story before she goes to bed.  Not to be left out, Kira is also reading and she reads a story also.  She actually taught herself.  I am feeling great.  I just wish that the rain would stop.  Enough is enough.  Where is the sun?  I have a lot of energy and am really getting around fine.  Well, have a super day .        Mike

TUESDAY – May 17, 2011

Good morning.  Here is a picture of my friend, “BUJU” taking a nap.  He really is a cool, lovable dog.  I am feeling great and have some meetings today at the marina.  The man who was supposed to come yesterday called and is coming today.  Have a great day and enjoy the rain.        Mike