Rob's Blog

Presby Iris Gardens in Montclair, NJ

People from all over the world visit these beautiful gardens that have Irises dating from the 1500's!
 

  More Photos

My Son's Graduation

It was a bittersweet event, attending my son Zach's graduation from Goucher College On the one hand, I'm very proud of him, both for his accomplishments, and for the adult he's become. But I worry about his job prospects, how he will cope with the "real world", whatever that is, and whether he is happy. Someone said "You are only as happy as your most unhappy child." As much as you want your kids to learn how to navigate life on their own, it's hard not to try to micromanage. At least for us.

It also brings back my own memories of college, also bittersweet. Like Zach, I graduated from a small liberal arts college. My student days, from 1969 - 1973, were filled with tumult; societal, political and personal. They weren't  "the best years of my life", and neither were they the worst. As with everytning, there were moments of elation and sadness, profound connections and searing loneliness, enlightenment and confusion. One thing about time, though, it does fly, whether you're having fun or not! And it's a one way ticket. So it's best to try and enjoy the ride and the scenery as much as you can. Youth is not wasted on the young, it's a gift endowed upon all of us.

more pix next page

I've got a bone to pick with you....

Our new puppy, Rosie, and dog, Beauty, spar over a chew stick.

Portuguese Water Dog Puppy Tug of War!

Yes, we have the now famous breed in our home, a 9-week old puppy, Rosie. Our "house" dog, a Boxer-Great Dane(?) mix has been extremely tolerant, and in fact enjoys exasperating her younger sibling.

Our New Puppy!

We picked up Rosie, our Portuguese Water Dog puppy, on Saturday, from a breeder out in Bethel, PA. I guess a picture is worth 1000 words!

El Kabong! audio clips

Click to Play

El Kabong performing a benefit in Montclair, NJ.

Formats available: MP3 Audio (.mp3)

Tags: mass romantic, el kabong, music, rock

CC, the TV-Watching Dog

My friend and colleague Jeff has a Golden Retriever named CC, who loves, no is addicted to, watching TV. Her favorite channel is Animal Planet, and her favorite program is Meercat Manor. She doesn't like the commercials though. This dog needs a Tivo!

 

 

New Puppies

Alright, let me make one thing perfectly clear. We decided to get a Portuguese Water Dog puppy, BEFORE the Obama's. And we're not going to name it either Barack or Michele. We recently lost our 16 year-old Wheaten Terrier, and although Casey can't be replaced, we wanted another dog to keep our Boxer-Great Dane-Hound(?) mix, Beauty, company. It's actually easier in some ways to have two dogs, since they are in fact pack animals, and calm each other down when there are no human "pack leaders" around to play with and steal food from. Anyway, we're trying to get a relatively calm dog, as Beauty is a handful, so temperment is going to play a big part in our, and the breeder's, selection. Here are the pictures of the girls, which we'd prefer. Aren't they Cuuuuuuuuuute?!

           

  

   

Mist Opportunities

That phrase seems to have embedded itself in my mind. It's about all those things you "coulda, shoulda, woulda." It's not a unique thought and it runs along the lines of "Youth is wasted on the young", and "the older I get, the better I was." All this while I contemplate my 40th high school reunion. Frightening! Anyway, back to the phrase. It seems to me that most people have regrets about what could have been. I certainly do. But it's easy to second-guess yourself, when making the unfair comparison between fantasy and reality. Reality is solid ground, fantasy is by definition shaped only by yourself; ephemeral and easily evaporated when looked at closely. Hence "Mist" instead of "Missed." I'm actually not an optimist by nature, but thinking of the past in this way, has helped me be more present. Or to borrow a blunt but insightful saying from AA, "If you have one leg in the past and one leg in the future, you're pissing on the present!"