The Adventures of
David
Elizabeth
and Leif

I’m not sure what you’re having for Thanksgiving. Here’s what I’m eating:

I’m on a layover in Orlando and our hotel is near a lot of restaurants. However they are closed on Thanksgiving. So I got to walk about a mile to the nearest convenience store to find something to feast on.

While it’s not a delicious brined turkey like Elizabeth and family had, it’s still edible food and pretty good beer. And I got to watch Denver beat Dallas in OT.

I am really thankful. The reason I’m having this “feast” for thanksgiving is that I have an incredible job working for a company that treats me like a human — unlike most airlines out there. And even my alleged “feast” was a lot more than many people had today.

So, I am thankful for my wife and my family and the knowlede that they are having a good time. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for a great job in a crazy industry. And I am thankful for the 2 of you that will read this blog.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On Sunday, after drinking my non-blue-law beer, we decided we needed to experience a breath of fresh air and headed out to Fire Island. After about an hour drive, we arrived on the island. We’d heard that there were some dog-friendly beaches there. The first two we tried were not friendly. Finally, we found a beach that was not dog friendly, but the parking lot and trail to the lighthouse allowed leashed dogs. It was time for their evening walk. I think they’d have mutinied if we’d left them in the car, so not wanting to drive home with a Catahoula Leopard Dog clamped to my throat, we set out toward the lighthouse.

Halfway down the lighthouse trail, we saw a couple with a small dog that had obviously been swimming in saltwater. We chatted with them and they explained that on the state-controlled beach, the anti-dog Nazis would ticket us even when they were on leash. However, on the federal part of the beach, if we were wise, no one would bother us at this time of year.

Normally, I’m into putting the power into the hands of states. In this case, I really appreciate our national government taking over part of this island.

On the way down to the beach, we observed this sign.

Fortunately for us, it was rather chilly, although we heard rumor of a nude swimmer earlier in the day.

This was Marley and Sam’s first exposure to the ocean and waves. They were both still pretty bummed out to have lost their yard and moved to this freaky NYC place. When they started smelling the salt water, they got a little more alive. When they saw the waves, they were SOOOOOOO happy.

Even in their happiness, they were well behaved. Boy did they run when they were released!

Sam played the "rocket-powered bowling ball" game with Marley where she runs at the speed "c" (as in E=mc^2) and growls. Marley just stands there until Sam gets really close and then Launches at right angles to Sam’s trajectory.

Salt water was a new experience for the doggies. After this drink Marley had to shake for a few minutes to get the salt out of her nose.

"C’mon, run around with us man!"

Catahoula Leopard Rock … still the game of choice for one Marley Dishman.

Catahoula Leopard Stick is also a pretty fun game. Especially with the excitement of crashing waves.

The day starts turning into dusk.

There’s a lighthouse right in the middle of Fire Island.

Elizabeth throught my hair was funny looking. (What’s new?) I thought her hair looked a little like Firestarter…

Time to leave finally rolled around.

One of these kites almost hit us.

It was being flown by some dudes talking in German. (I recognized the swear words they used when we were ducking the dive-bombing kite.)

It felt like food for the soul (not soul food) to be there.

Beachgoers from all directions are warned of the potential for dangerous encounters.

When we got out of the serious wind, Elizabeth took great delight in photographing my hair. My delight, however waned. Disclaimer: there was still a pretty good breeze here.

…don’t exist in NYC.

Hello, friends–greetings from NY!! Here is a brief photographic layout of our last three very long days. By the way, this is my (Elizabeth’s) second blog ever. Thanks to those who encouraged me on my maiden blog–nerd on!! (See earlier blog for reference.)

We began in Atlanta, finally ready to lug our worldly possessions and our tired selves north of the M-D Line. The packed-to-the-gills nature of our truck was thanks to our AMAZING box and truck packers–Tricia, Elaine, Richard, Suzy, Hila, Camille, Christopher, Christina, Virginia, John, John, John David, Patrick, Bethany, Travis, Paul and…well, myself. Notice our slightly manic grins denoting our already exhausted state…David and his dad John had just finished stuffing (literally) our bed into its appointed spot. I will never forget my father in law getting a running start and giving the final push with his head.

We also stuffed our three animals plus one to two humans into our car. Where’s Waldo? See if you can find our cat, whose misery was only beginning. She stopped making those strangled noises about two hours into the trip and resorted to various instances of pacing from my lap to the dogs in the back seat or employing the very useful tactic of denial by crawling under the passenger seat. Sorry animal activists (and there are so many of you), we neglected to stuff Lucy into a kitty crate, preferring not to hear the strangulation for all 16 hours of our journey! Also notice the porch of what was our first home…863 Kirkwood, you were good to us!! Mark and Erin, enjoy!!

We drove to Richmond and spent the night with my parents–thanks, guys, for waiting up!! Then left on Thursday morning for our final drive, which included a scenic (de)tour through Washington D.C. (or "WaRshington" as some on the trip might say…).

There I am in the rearview mirror…

This was our gestural tour guide…I kinda developed a crush on him…shh, don’t tell.

We entered the neighborhood with a bang! We’re here, everybody look out! David was glad he signed up for the low deductible insurance…

While Dave and Jose (two professional mover-inners) helped lug our stuff up two flights of stairs, Marley, Lucy and Sam got used to their new home…quite a palace! Sam was most interested in Lucy’s dinner…

This was our first dinner, a simple feast in the midst of chaos. Notice my hairdo which I employed to give me special powers of conquering exhaustion. As you can see it didn’t quite do the trick, but mere survival can sometimes be underrated.

Ahhhh, after a nice rest in our own comfy bed, David and I got up at 7:30 to move the truck and our car from their no-parking-from-8-8:30 a.m. parking spots and returned the truck in an unintended extended tour of Brooklyn. Then a nap, then lunch at the de-lish Stage Door Deli opposite Ground 0, then a quick walk through Battery Park on our way to the Staten Island Ferry.

Here John and I enjoy the view…of David taking our picture. What a view!

Here I’m putting on my vest, but it looks like I’m punching John. Freudian??

Nah, we’re buddies, even with that special ferry hair do.

Here is a view of Brooklyn from the ferry. The small tower in the center of the photo is a landmark for where we live. I call it the Ghostbusters buidling, but you can’t tell from this view that it looks like that. It’s right near Atlantic Avenue Station which is also very close to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Mark Morris Dance Center…and a Target and Office Depot and GAP, etc. A little taste of suburbia right in our backyard. Backyard being an extreme metaphor, of course.

Ah yes, here’s the photogenic photographer…

A statuesque sail boat sans sails…

The little boat on which we rode…

The little throng which accompanied us…

And the little machine that lets the little people on and off the little boat…

We weren’t the only ones riding the ferry for fun…the gulls swooped and soared alongside us.

A bird of a different feather…

Got offended and left when I wondered if was rubbing avian bird flu all over the public water fountain. (Note to self…)

Head shots of the tourists…

And Our Lady, with sailboat.

And our new little town.

I will close with some beautiful abstract images which offer a visual description of the rushing, tumbling, shining and rolling first days in our new home. Much love to our beloved Peach State!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!