Welcome Miles!

Pingyao

Either Mary has learned Chinese or that guy speaks English. Can you guess which?

Not again

Yes again.  But it could be our last big move.  Ooops I just jinxed it.  There will be more I'm sure.

The movers pulled out yesterday on their third day of packing and loading.  We had spent the weekend closing out Joe's storage unit and taking some stuff down to Margaret which gave us a chance to check out her new place, which she has set up nicely.  She was without air conditioning, though, and the temps were in the 90s.  A throwback to the old days.  No wonder it was a small city.

We're not the only ones moving.  Peter said Sean is looking for a place in NJ before he goes to law school this fall, and Johanna may also be moving.  Joe is getting ready for his move up north later in August.

Things are shaping up for the big July 28 celebration, with everyone decided on their attendance.  We're looking forward to it!

The planning has been the fun part as I get e-mails from Matthew and Jeffrey and Melodie, and phone calls from David, Peter and Andrew!   On one of those chats we got the latest from Bill and Jen, who are getting closer to the due date.  Billy may be moving to a new job!  Congratulations!

We also heard from Patrick who just graduated from Manhattan College.  And cum laude.  He said his group, The Facelifters, recently won an award for New England's best new band.  I googled Facelifters and came up with a MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/thefacelifters.  Two things stood out - first they have over 500 fans and second, it merits a parental advisory.  Looks like fun.

Last week, Peter and I went to Meadow Lakes for lunch with Grandma, Aunt Ruth, cousin Debbie and her husband Rod Barnes.  Everyone looked great.  That's a feat for Aunt Ruth who is 92 and coming off cancer treatment this winter.  But so did Debbie and Rod, and so did Grandma!   And we talked - politics!  Anthony Weiner.  Among other things.  

Our social life also included attending a wedding of the daughter of friends of ours from Peru.  Very nice.  And, on the nature front, as the movers were packing I sat on the deck and watched a chipmunk moving food back and forth, with full cheeks going one way and then empty cheeks the other way.  The the tables were turned when I got my lunch and sat down; he watched me eat!

Here's a sign.  Mary left for work yesterday, on the third and final day of moving.  She said to me: "don't you wish you were going to work?"  The answer was no; I'd even rather be moving.

Next letter comes from China!  Oh and did I mention it was Fathers Day on Sunday?  Only three more shopping days.

Love from down here!  

June Swoon

Our heading refers to a famous event north of here.  No, there was no snow in June, as the picture indicates.

But, a HUGE congratulations to Tina and Matthew!  Great news.  Could you hear the cheers from Illinois stretching all the way to New Jersey and DC?

So, even though the official proposal took place in May, we didn't get to officially congratulate them until June.

It sure is nice to see June.  Thought I'd throw in a February photo so we could all appreciate a little better the joy of green. What a difference four months makes!

We got a little greener in Pittsfield last week due to a torrential rainstorm.  At least that's what I thought it was.  Andrew called that night to ask if I had been hit by the tornado!  That storm turned into a tornado a short while later as it descended east of Pittsfield into the Connecticut valley.  Scary video and photos.

All is well in Illinois, especially after what sounded like a great long weekend at Green Lake.  Andrew recounted his story of the one that got away.  At least it was not a snapping turtle.

Our time on Beech Avenue is winding down.  We held our last barbecue this past weekend, with Joe, Tamara, Margaret and Dee, as well as the Schwartz's, friends from South Africa.  Tomorrow, I unhook the gas and drive the canister north.  Movers come next Monday.  Did I mention the peach pie that Joe and Tamara brought over?

The Sunday over Memorial Day we moved Margaret into her new apartment, just north of Dupont Circle.  It's nice, especially as it is close to her work, and there's a nice dog park nearby.

And, we're getting ready for our trip to China - Annie has been helpful in sending us ideas of what to do while we're there.

I stayed overnight in Hightstown last week on my way north to help Grandma clean out some of her papers and her clothing shift to summer wear.  Grandma kept a list of what each of her four sons inherited from Pomfret.  Interesting, and almost incriminating material!  But also a little inaccurate.  Unfortunately.

Our house project is moving forward as well.  Floors are done, the upstairs bedroom part is almost all done and ready to receive visitors.  Kitchen cabinets are in; just waiting for the screens on the porch.  My job?  Mow the lawn.  Johnny came over to help me move the couch back into the living room, following the sanding of the floors.  Three generations of Boyle women participated in a running and walking race this past weekend in Albany.  They all look healthy!

We saw on Facebook that Jeffrey and Melodie picked out their rings last weekend!  Another congratulations to them.  We can't wait til October!

And we can't wait until July to see everyone in Pittsfield for Grandma's 85th party. 

Love from down here.