Blog Master G

As regular readers have observed, it’s been pretty quiet on my blog lately. When our whirlwind, non-stop, action-packed summer 2006 came to an end in early September — with our symbolic final trip to the track (10th time of the season on the last day of the track season, Labor Day), so, too, did my blogging.

This happened for a variety of reasons, including “smaller” reasons like simple lack of motivation; eyesore from being in front of the computer all day at work and wanting to get away; falling out of the morning blog-before-work routine; not having as much time as I’d like to dedicate to new entries.

I’ve also been reflecting lately on “bigger” reasons for not blogging as much, such as the changing technology that drives blogs and photo sharing and Webs (the Internets have transformed to a Web 2.0 status before our very eyes — did you notice?), and wanting not to get left behind; my company’s continuing success and our increasing visibility in the world of business (I work for a small company that’s only going to get bigger; I have a pretty visible role in the company, so I’ve been questioning lately how much personal information I’m comfortable sharing with the world).

All that said, I love blogging. I’ve been doing it for 6 years and I don’t want to stop. It’s a great way to get my thoughts out there not just for friends and family, but to document for the sake of my personal history and for my future children to enjoy. It’s also fun to look back and see what Jen and I have been doing with our lives since time really flies and life is precious, as we were recently reminded. Time flies and I forget what happens, so I like to document it not just for my enjoyment, but for yours.

So for now, nothing will change (except maybe the way I share photos since, although I rave about Kodak EasyShare, which is great for doing what it does, flickr is really better suited for online photo sharing on a blog). But in the future, it’s possible that this blog will change — perhaps even disappear behind “closed doors” into a more anonymous domain where friends and family will be invited to join — so stay tuned… I’d also love to get your thoughts on this topic.

In the meantime, time to play blog catch-up and post some photos!

When communities come together, great things can happen. I’m consistently amazed by the power of community here in the Northeast.

Last month Jen’s cousins’ 200-year-old barn, which had been in the family most of those 200 years, burnt down and took nearly 100 cows with it. Through raffles at the county fair and fundraiser dinners, the community support since then has been incredible — and has helped raised more than $40,000 already toward rebuilding the barn.

Saturday night we went to the fundraiser dinner for the Skoda farm at Meadowgreen’s, one of a number of small town New York restaurants that have a huge back room for large community gatherings. What occurred to me for the first time Saturday night is that California — and probably other parts of the country that don’t put as much emphasis on community — doesn’t have places like that. In my experience, it’s unique to this part of the country, where families, neighbors, and friends often gather for fun and to support one other when times are rough.

As it turns out, the gathering was even more important than we realized at the time. Jen’s grandmother, Mary Deane, passed away peacefully on Monday.

But she was very much there Saturday night, looking great and having a grand ol’ time with all her family and friends. Jen and I were at the end of a long day (we’d been to the soon-to-be closing Catskill Game Farm earlier in the day) and were getting ready to leave when Jen asked Grandma, “Are you getting ready to head home, too?” She quickly replied, “Who me? Are you kidding? I haven’t been out past dark in ages. I’m not going anywhere.”

And she didn’t. Grandma Deane was full of life and beaming with energy that night — much more so than either Jen and I had seen in a long time. After all, she was surrounded by the people she loved and the community that had supported her throughout the good times and bad.

Rest in peace, Grandma Deane.

I dreamt Monday night that I was spending time with my late grandmother, Nana, helping her pick out drilnks in a liquor store, of all things. And rotisserie chicken.

Four years ago today we adopted a black and white streak of a dog. At the time, he was named Split because at the Marin Humane Society he would split whenever they opened his cage. And then he was Bobby. And then — and ever since — he was Happy Dingo.

Happy circa 2003:

Happy April 2006:

Thanks for being such a great ambassador to humans and keeping life interesting, Happy! You have many fans. (I think Peter, Niki, Karen, and Jack probably qualify as the unofficial presidents of your fan club.)

As I mentioned yesterday, Jen and I saw New York State Trooper Joseph Longobardo’s hearse waiting for the funeral to begin. Little did I know what a tremendous and moving event would come a few hours later.

As many as 7,500 police and military individuals from around the country arrived in Saratoga yesterday for the most incrediblly coordinated funeral I’ve ever witnessed (and the “biggest funeral ever held for a trooper in the state,” according to the Times Union story). It was also more cops and navy men and marines and troopers than I’d ever seen assembled in one place. The assemblage stretched down Lake Avenue as far as the eye could see, and witnessing the funeral procession — the motorcade, the Scottish marching band, the hearse attended by marines and troopers — was a sight to behold.

And the silence. You can’t imagine how quiet and still it was on a perfectly clear and beautiful September 11 morning with that many uniformed men and women lining the usually busy street. The only sounds were those of neighborhood dogs barking.

Most moving for me was as the hearse passed, the line of police and military people — probably 6 or more deep — would salute their fallen camrade row by row. With the backdrop of the events of September 11 in the air, I felt honored to be in the presence of so many who serve and protect our neighborhoods and our nation.

Thank you all. I salute you.

Saratogian: Farewell to a fallen brother | Times Union: Strangers pause to pay tribute to fallen officer | Times Union: Paying Respects: Trooper Joseph Longobardo Photo Gallery

What’s left to say on this day that hasn’t already been said? For those of us who lived through and watched the horrible attacks on our country unfold 5 years ago today, it is a day we’ll never forget. It is a day to honor and remember those who were killed. My heart goes out to the family and friends of those lost on 9/11/01.

I typically haven’t written much in my blog on this day since 2001, but what I wrote in 2003 still rings true for me today: “Today tell your friends and family that you love them. Life is precious. Enjoy it.”

The Hole in the City’s Heart

Last night I watched on CBS the documentary called 9/11, which I also watched in 2002 when it was originally aired, about the events of September 11 unfolding on camera through the eyes of two French brothers who happened to be making a documentary about fire fighters. If you haven’t already seen it, do check it out. It’s very moving and unique footage from inside the Towers during the attacks. (Not to be confused with the controversial docudrama, The Path to 9/11, which also aired last night; I did watch the beginning of that one to see what it’s all about, and DVR’d it for later viewing.)

As Jen just said, “Terrorists come in all shapes and colors. Some terrorists come from upstate New York. So today we should also honor the people who keep us safe every day.” And thousands of servicemen and women from around the country are descending on Saratoga Springs this morning to do just that for NY State Trooper Joseph Longobardo, who was killed by Ralph “Bucky” Phillips (recently captured). The funeral is very near our house at St. Clement’s Church, so while walking the dogs this morning we saw not just police and military assembling, but the hearse carrying Longobardo’s coffin. It was a sobering moment and we walked past in silence and respect.

Thank you to Trooper Longobardo and everyone who risks his or her life every day to make the world safer for the rest of us.

As an EMT who helps to save lives every day in Los Angeles, my brother Peter is included among these brave individuals. Thank you, Pete, and your brothers and sisters in public service, for all you do.

As the summer winds to an end, we definitely went out with a double-whammy bang Labor Day weekend to cap off our insane, party-filled summer 2006. Stay tuned for a recap and photos…

In the meantime, I was saddened to learn, as was the rest of the world this week, about Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin‘s death by stingray. At least he died doing what he loved, and you can’t ask for more than that when your time has come.

One night not too long ago I woke up in the middle of the night and rolled over. Jen wasn’t there. I panicked as adrenaline pumped through my veins. Where was she? Had she sleepwalked away? And then I realized that she was actually there — but her feet were in place of her head. Somehow she had flipped around 180 degrees in the middle of the night, bringing her pillow with her. She has no recollection of how or why that happened. Satisfied that everything was OK, I went back to sleep.

Dog noses are amazing. Every once in a while we’ll pass a car on a walk where another dog is chillin’ out. This was the case this morning with a minivan parked on our street. As we walked past with Stella and Happy — at least 10 feet away from the parked car with all windows up — Stella, who hadn’t been looking in the direction of the minivan, suddenly stood to attention, looked in the direction of the other dog, and charged toward it, trying to sneak a view of her fellow canine. It blows me away every time.

The story of kidnapped Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch, who escaped after being held captive for 8.5 years, is pretty nuts. That she had the wherewithall and strength in her after so long to escape is tremendous.

Two years ago today we had just returned from a 1,200-mile roundtrip to PA and Western NY.

Three years ago today I blogged about having just purchased my 5th and current Mac (5 Macs between 1987 and 2003 is an average of a new Mac every 3.2 years, which would mean it might be about time for an upgrade — if only I used Macs as often as I do PCs these days).

The word may have been coined in Santa Rosa, Calif., but Jen and I definitely represent Saratoga in porching. We’re professional porchers in a town known for its porches. And that’s no small feat. We love our porch — and so do our friends whenever we have a party:

Tradition of porch-sitting is once again popular:

At a time when people are ever more inclined to isolate themselves inside with their electronics or retreat to elaborate back yards done up like outdoor living rooms, there’s an emerging counterculture committed to reviving the quintessentially American custom of front porch-sitting.

It may not be a groundswell, but the practice is popular enough to have introduced a new word into the lexicon: “porching.”

…

New Urbanists who are seeking to make communities safer, more functional and more inviting have long spoken of front porches as an important tool in making friendlier neighborhoods.

(Thanks, Suzanne, for the link.)

There’s been a string of about 10 burglaries in Saratoga lately, and police suspect they’re all related. Last week the house across the street from mine was burgled during daytime hours. I heard nothing was stolen, but the place was ransacked, and the cops did come by to take a statement from me the day it happened. Being a small, very safe community, neighbors are naturally uneasy about all this. And everyone has been curious why the Saratogian had not covered the story… until today. I’m quoted in today’s front-page story by Matt, who drove past my place yesterday when I happened to be sitting out front:

Burglaries rattle Spa City neighborhoods:

A_nderson lives across the street from the house that was burglarized in the daytime hours between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. last week.

‘Overall I feel pretty safe,’ A_nderson said, noting that some of his other neighbors are a little less comfortable.

He attributes his feeling of safety to his two dogs, Stella and Happy, and the fact that he works from home and is usually in the house for most of the day.

However, A_nderson said he will make sure his doors are locked from now on, something he previously would not focus his attention on if leaving his house for just a short while.

Police are asking anyone who has information about the burglaries or sees suspicious activities in their neighborhood to contact the Saratoga Springs Police Department at 584-1800.

Burglars beware: Stella and Happy are very large, very fierce dogs who don’t take shit from anyone. And Stella has burglar-stopping experience: In San Francisco, shortly before we moved, local crackheads tried to force their way into our apartment while Jen was home and I was visiting my brother in Arizona. Stella threw herself at the door, barking and hackles raised, and the crackheads took off as Jen heard them yell: “That’s where that big, crazy dog lives!”

Dr. Pleasure delivered. As I (almost) predicted last week, Dr. Pleasure finished in 3rd at Saturday’s 147th running of the $1 million Travers Stakes. He came in behind heavy favorite Bernardini, who won by more than 6 lengths, and Bluegrass Cat, who was forced into retirement following the race. I hit both the trifecta (5-7-3) and the exacta (5-7). The former paid about $35 on my $2 bet; the latter paid about 5 bucks on my $1 bet. On the day, I nearly doubled my money (the $40 I started with was $79 and change by day’s end).

But wait, there’s more! The portion of the day at the track — 4 or so hours — was actually Phase 2 of a five-phased day that spanned 6 or so locations and 18 hours. Now that’s a party! ..and it doesn’t even count Friday night’s warm-up act when Johnny came to town from Buffalo, and we hit the town with him and Justin.

The day began around 1pm Saturday with the pre-Travers party at our house with Johnny, Alex, Cati, Celia, Anne, and Tom. We then cruised to the track for a day of gambling, beer, and sandwiches with Sarah and her crew, Hugh, and Jami. It was overcast, but the rain held off, which actually made for a nice and chill day at the races, despite the crowd of more than 40,000.

Post-track it was back to casa de la A_nderson, where the party posse would be joined by Alexis, Kevin, John, and Kristen. We grilled into the night, ate merrily, and enjoyed summer evening laughs in the yard and on the porch. We capped Phase 3 of the evening with a heartfelt rendition of Jen’s favorite song, Petty’s “American Girl,” on the porch, complete with Jen’s broom microphone.

Then it was about 1am and time to stop keeping the neighbors up all night, so we decided it was time to head into town. After arriving at the madhouse that was Caroline Street, we first tried to shove our way into DA’s for drinks, but were actually ignored at the bar, so we pressed on to a more chill and less crowded location: Trotter’s, which has become our new hangout of late (everyone’s really nice, it’s not crowded, and drinks are cheap). On the way down Caroline Street, we did a loud and memorable group rendition of Weezer’s Undone-the Sweater Song: “If you want to destroy my sweater!” At Trotter’s, we danced, sang, and foosballed the night away.

Then what time was it? 3am. You know what that means: Stewed prunes here we come again! We returned home around 5am and actually managed to stay up nearly another 2 hours… till 7am Sunday morning. We even had a little hippie tree party in the yard.

Another Travers for the record (and memory) books!

Travers 2004 | Travers 2005

Travers 2006: Phase 1

Travers 2006: Phase 2

Why does this photo look so familiar? Oh right: 2004 | 2005.

Travers 2006: Phase 3

Travers 2006: Phase 4

Travers 2006: Phase 5

The lineup for Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes, the biggest race of the year here in Saratoga — known as the Midsummmer Derby, as in the summer version of the Kentucky Derby — has been announced. Here are the horses and their positions. It seems the #3 horse has been named after me:

1. Hesanoldsalt (15-1)
2. Minister’s Bid (8-1)
3. Dr. Pleasure (12-1)
4. High Cotton (6-1)
5. Bernardini (1-1)
6. Kip Deville (30–1)
7. Bluegrass Cat (2-1)

Preakness and Jim Dandy winner Bernardini is the strong favorite with Bluegrass Cat close behind. But alas, Saratoga Race Course is the Graveyard of Champions, so I’d be surprised if Bernardini can pull it off again (even though the Jim Dandy is a Saratoga race; we actually saw him win that earlier this season).

My early pick: 7-3-5. (How could I not pull for a horse named after me?) I’ll no doubt throw down some additional bets. Maybe the 5 with 7 and 3. Or the 7 with 2 and 4.

The anticipation for Saturday builds. I can feel it in the crisp and cool morning air.

Technorati: Horse Racing.