Eye and the Storm

SMILING FOUR YEAR OLD

Eye Story-I have a black eye. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-black-eye/HQ00016
Although termed "a black eye" this injury often involves other colors and mine does. Mostly shades of Zinfandel, Merlot, Beaujolais and a little Cabernet-see the ring under my eye in the next photo.

THE BLACK EYE 2011

I first noticed it after an early morning trip to the bathroom. A glance in the mirror is part of the visit.  I had been in the den on the couch. Alone. No one nearby. Did I sleep on the remote? Did my blackberry bang me? Was I smacked by my Kindle?  Did I leave my glasses on my face and incur frame dent? I keep a row of treasures on the ledge of the couch so I will have access to an array of devices, books, and remotes when on the den couch.   Perhaps one or more fell on me.
Since I have restless leg, sleep apnea and disturbing dreams, I thought it unlikely I would not have known, as I never, ever reach the state of REM sleep.  Verified by the sleep clinic I have attended.

DID ONE OF THESE TREASURES TURN ON ME?

Or was it a direct hit from the monster hail balls that pummeled us on Monday, August 1?  That story follows.  Click on the previous  photo if you need a closer look for book titles (and readers, some are library and one is borrowed from a rocker friend- (I will return it-no worries)
This is my third "black" eye of retirement-the first two caused by Liam. Not this one. All three have been the same eye, the right.  Guess I lean that way.  Now I must bring out the photo of my favorite eye injury-the one from when puppy Liam body slammed my face into concrete leaping for a squirrel.

MOST COLORFUL EYE INJURY FEB 29 2008

I keep the framed photo on the wall of the kitchen above Liam's food and water bowls.  After all, it is his creation. A few sentences ago, I offered the idea that I might have been hit by hail while filming the August 1  storm. I was hit, but the eye injury was already present.

Here is the storm story.  Mostly visual and one with sound from You Tube.  That is my next project, my own videos for the blog.

Storm Story-on August 1 (DOGust 1 in the canine world) we here In New Hyde Park (the storm epicenter) experienced a fierce violent lightning laced thunder booming late afternoon storm.

HAIL FALLING-ON THE GROUND

What made it so unique was the hail.  The size, the weight, the damage.  Hail not the size of golf balls, an iconic comparison.   Bigger.  Since hail has to be compared to balls, I was at a disadvantage, having no golf,  tennis, or baseballs in the house. I used my blackberry (the one that probably beat me in the eye) to show the size of the hail pieces I captured.

BLACKBERRY WITH HAIL

The street flooded, the tide came up to the front porch

FLOODED BAXTER AVENUE, IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE

Two people had to be rescued from their sinking car

RESCUE

and many cars had their windshields broken by the beating of the giant hail balls. As I drove down the block later that day I counted 8 cars with broken windows bandaged with comforters, wrapped with hefty bags, holes stuffed with blankets. Glass in the street and in driveways.  Usually lightning strikes trees and they fall and hit cars. Not this time. In an ironic twist of  nature, my oak tree protected my car windows. The hail beat upon the tree, forcing its leaves onto my car, which formed a protective cushion on my windshield.

CAR WITH LEAF PROTECTION-36 DENTS ANYWAY BUT NO BROKEN WINDSHIELDS

Still, I counted 36 hail dents in the roof, trunk and hood.  I did have to use a snow scraper to remove the leaves, as they were sodden and embedded on the car windows.

You Tube of the hail balls bouncing-worth a listen

Liam spent several hours of his fourth birthday shaking with terror from the pelting noises outside.  I would liken the noise to making popcorn in the microwave ramped up a thousand decibels.
Then the sun came out, while the rain continued. The firefighters came for support.

FIREFIGHTERS TO THE RESCUE

Many cars in New Hyde Park are pinged with dents.  I found out that the word "ping" has now been borrowed by residents to describe the sounds of the falling hail, as well as the resulting hail dent.  So the hail was pinging and the dents are pings. A popular question around town, "how many pings do you have?"  I am pinged all over. Mine are so numerous and evenly spaced that I accept them as the new look to Sawyer (my Focus)  Hey, my windows are intact.  The economy is booming for collision shops in New Hyde Park.  I hope Congress addresses the dent ceiling, now that they are done with the debt ceiling.
There are few flowers remaining in New Hyde Park, just stumps where impatiens once were. I no longer do annuals, but feel for the folks who meticulously planted them in May.
Most lawn ornaments are broken. 
All my solar dragonflies have lost their wings and some their ability to light up.
Good news. Things can be fixed.
And my storm pix were published in the New Hyde Park Patch
.http://newhydepark.patch.com/blog_posts/the-hail-storm
Flowers will grow (maybe) People pulled together. I have 6 hail balls (the size of plums) in the freezer in case anyone needs ice with a little gravel.

We are now in August 

and we usually have a break at this time

 from LiamLicks publishing

 And we will again. 

Liam wants to enjoy some dog days 

and already is in position all over the house as well as outside. hard to keep the four year old motivated when he sees all the other kids off from school.

Enjoy your vacations, catch up on LiamLicks. Share with friends.  We cherish our loyal readers and hope to attract more. We will be making new stories.
No trips this year, we will be at home, but stories occur anywhere and at anytime.

See you Thursday August 25, 2011. Of course if a story must be blogged, it will be.

AAH, DOG DAYS AGAIN

Woof, woof

Posted by Carol at 4:42 PM

Liam Turns Four on August 1st.

LIAM 6 MONTHS OLD

Happy Birthday Liam!
We adopted Liam on January 1, 2008 from North Shore Animal League. Yes, New Year's Day.  We were told that he was 5 months old.  I counted back five months and came up with August 1, 2007 as his birthday.   I am happy he is a Leo like me. In 2008, NSAL deemed the universal birthday of all shelter and rescue dogs to be August 1, in dog world known as DOGgust 1.
BTW, I did not find out about this special day until last year. See story-http://portwashington.patch.com/events/north-shore-animal-league-america-happy-dogust-the-1st

LIAM FIRST WEEK JANUARY 2008

YOUNG LIAM CIRCA SPRING 2008

This year, on 8/01/11, Liam attains 4 years of age. He has a few gray hairs around his chin and on some other parts.  He runs and leaps and licks with the passion of the young puppy Liam. I  have shoes, bags, books, furniture with his teeth marks in them.  The backs of all my clogs have been chewed. I wear them anyway.  One of my pairs of UGGS has big chunks out of its lining. All the blinds are cracked save for the upstairs bathroom, the result of Liam jumping at them to capture elusive squirrels he sees outside. Puppy stuff. The adult  Liam now sits with us, watches TV, does some yoga, meditates. Middle-aged qualities? Nah.
How old is Liam in human years?   No chart captures all the factors that must considered.   You might have heard that the first year =15 human years, then just keep adding 7.  Not exactly. There are other forces at work to keep Liam from aging.

Diet    only dog food, no table gifts of human food, except for popcorn

Health  vaccinations and regular vet visits, yearly physical at Best in Show

Vacations and Grooming at Best in Show Pet Resort

Mental Health- walks, being part of the pack at home, plays, watches The View, Food Network, and HGTV and all reality shows.

Who's my Daddy?  Heredity. Mutts seem to be healthier.  Many mixed genes make for a strong stew.  Liam is equal parts, beagle, doxie, Irish setter and dalmatian.   And he is from Tennessee.

RED WINE

And a  little red wine (for me that is)

the following link says a 4 year old dog might be analogous to a 32 year old human.
http://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/calculate-dog-age-in-dog-years

LIAM IN HIS CHAIR-AT ONE

ALMOST FOUR

With Liam's positive attributes inherited from his canine birth parents and care administered by his loving human parents and caregivers, we confidently subtract 2 years from the average 32 and come up with 30 in human years. Figure on this August 1 Liam at canine age 4= a 30 year old human.

He and newbie Kevin Grogan are the same age this year on the same day.
Kevin turns 30 on 8/01/11.   Happy Birthday, Kev!!!! I know that from my experience of dancing with Kevin for 5 hours at a recent wedding that he is still as energetic as Liam.

A young man once said "do not trust anyone over 30." This person is now 70.
"http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2009/09/don-trust-anyone-over-30-or-40.html

Anyway 30 is the new 20.

DON'T TRUST ME? I AM  HUMAN 30

Liam's Stats at Four

Height 16 inches
weight 32 pounds
length-27" plus 10 inch tail- a true hot dog

 This year we have a certificate for DOGust 1
if you click on it, it is more readable

 

JUST A LITTLE NAP MIGHT BE NICE

Woof, woof

Daytime TV Watching

READY FOR TV

This is Liam talking.  Every now and then I take over my eponymous blog and exercise my writing chops. I fancy myself a bit like Enzo, narrator of the popular book, soon to be movie The Art of Racing in the Rain.
http://www.garthstein.com/arr/ 
We have mentioned Enzo in a previous blog.   Guess what?  Enzo is creeping up to becoming a popular boy's name.  Watch out Jayden, Josh,and  Jacob.
Enzo watches the Weather Channel, National Geographic and Car Racing. Not me. I am a Channel 7 boy.

Carol turns on Channel 7 at 9AM for Regis and Kelly.  The TV stays on all day for me.  Carol's retirement life is busy so she may be in and out and wants me to feel engaged and to have something to watch if I choose.  I do love Regis and Kelly.  Rachael Ray is up next at10AM and is fine, though I cannot eat most of what she makes.  My parents are strict about human food, none for me, except popcorn on Fridays.  The View is a blast-love watching the women.  We have some news at 12 Noon and at 12:30 PM, Meredith Viera, on Millionaire. I am in love with her.

LIAM WATCHING THE MORNING WOMEN

At 1PM, we have All My Children.   Carol loves AMC. From what I understand, she has been a fan since its start in 1970.  The soap right after is One Life to Live. Same deal, long time fan- since 1968.  I don't think she watched consistently while going to college or working at SSA.  But she seems to have caught up.

AFTERNOON SOAPS

Anyway, both shows are leaving TV within the next few months.   The plots have gotten downright confusing. The twists that have ensued since the cancellation announcements are just confounding.  There are now two Erica Kanes on All My Children.
Yes. Maybe a second Emmy for Susan Lucci, the actor who has played Erica since day one. If Susan Lucci is playing two people that should count as double credit.  Apparently, a woman named Jane has had herself physically remade into Erica Kane and Erica is being held captive while Jane lives Erica's life in the real world.  Another development is that some long time actors have left so other actors just appear as them and I am supposed to believe they are the same!!  It is hard enough for a dog to follow human interactions and the complexities of their relationships without having new people with the same name but different faces show up.

The next show at 2PM,  One Life to Live,  is even more convoluted and outsane* lately. There are two Todd Mannings, a triple personality-Jess, Bess and Tess and her mother with a double personality, Viki and Niki.  I know all this doubling up, tripling up, and disappearing and reappearing are because of the nearing end of both shows.  I am not sure what the writers are thinking, but they had the smarts to name a new baby boy character, Liam.  I have a front row seat in the living room and pillows in which to bury my face or turn when it becomes too much for me.

SOMETIMES I TURN AWAY

 We are in the middle of a heat wave so I really do not mind being inside the cool house.

IS DOCTOR PHIL ON YET?

For now my daily job is to watch, learn and pass the day.  During the heat wave I must not do anything strenuous, I must keep hydrated and I must keep my body temperature down. I can accomplish all these things by watching the Channel 7 lineup.  I am never left alone for longer than 6 hours, as Carol is a quasi stay at home Mom.

WHERE IS OPRAH?

I heard that they might continue the two cancelled Soap shows on the Internet. I have trouble using the IPAD and PC and Blackberry and Kindle. I am no longer a puppy, so I have no urge to chew these devices but they are not dog friendly.  I have paws and I cannot grip the stylus they offer to big pawed humans, so I will not be following on the Internet should they continue there.

Maybe HGTV, OWN or Food Network.

WHAT CHANNEL IS OWN?

 *a new Huntington Beach, California word, meaning not quite insane, just charmingly wacky.
Woof, woof

West Side, we had a Lot on Tap this day

DREAMING OF A CITY TRIP

It was once wild. or at least not a hanging out type of area.  There was meat. And they packed it.  Then followed all sorts of sordid illegal activities, as well as some sordid legal ones. Different type of meat packed in. Dangerous times.

PORK AND BEEF PRODUCTS 2011

It became a trendy, upscale place, fashion setting area. And they still pack meat.
Have a virtual walk.
http://www.nyc.com/visitor_guide/meatpacking_district.75871/editorial_review.aspx

This is our restaurant week destination-

Fig and Olive
.http://www.figandolive.com/menu/meatpacking/

VIEW ON 13TH STREET-THREE DOORS UNDER UMBRELLAS

A light fresh open layout (just like they love on HGTV)

INSIDE FIG AND OLIVE-VIEW FROM OUR TABLE

Breads
little rectangular breads, each  infused with spices, and pieces of tasty somethings.

OLIVE OIL AND BREADS

$24.07 for most, not for us, because we wash it down and toast health, retirement, birthdays requiring several full glasses of this full bodied red wine
Wine

OUR FULL BODIED WINE

Appetizer 

AVOCADO SOUP

And our meals, main

HALIBUT ON A BED OF CHEWY WONDROUS THINGS

desserts and the one that tricked us, 2nd -thought it was cappuccino

CROSTINI /STRAWBERRIES, MASCARPONE,

CHOCOLATE POT DE CREME

And next we climb up the stairs at Ganesvoort to the beginning of the High Line.

ENTRANCE TO HIGH LINE ON GANSEVOORT and then the High Line  http://www.thehighline.org/newand a new part section 2

SEE EMPIRE STATE PEEKING UP

people feel safe above the roaring avenues below and are surrounded by railroad tracks with indigenous vegetation

And at the end -A Beer Garden! Named  The Lot on Tap and it really was just an empty lot a month or two ago
seehttp://www.thehighline.org/the-lot

A LOT ON TAP

and readers it will only be here this summer of 2011.
We had a cold, refreshing, golden, summery brew after a steamy, breezy High Line trek to the new end at 31st.   We actually climbed down at 30th to the Beer Garden. Thanks to Top Chef, Tom Colicchio, woo hoo
http://www.zagat.com/buzz/first-look-tom-colicchio%E2%80%99s-lot-on-tap-now-open-under-the-high-line

LIAM SOAKS IN THE SUN PRIOR TO HOUSE ARREST

Liam stays home. I get him ready by a sun soak.  Then a little play with Wolfie- Then  the wait.

WHERE IS THE FIG AND OLIVE?

And more waiting No dogs allowed on High Line, nor in Fig and Olive

AND  WHAT IS THE HIGH LINE?
Liam  in the AC at home

I WANT A BEER, SOUNDS GOOD IN THE LOT ON TAP

Woof, Woof

Parking Lot Dangers

LIAM WAITING

Parking lots can be dangerous places.
I have seen many accidents, been in a few, and just escaped some. You have the people who walk behind you as you are backing out. Or open their doors into you as you walk by. The most common happening is the one of two people backing out at the same time and whack, smash,  hit each other.
and that is our story for this week-one of backing out and backing off.
I am just out of the Apple store in Manhasset, their parking lot full of frenetic energy, I think the energy is buzzing from the Apple store itself, which is a place of personnel in royal blue, no papers, pens, pencils, just  devices-a whir and blur of anxiety and efficiency and confusion and wonder.   I am done with my visit and back in my car.

I am backing out and have looked both ways several times.  I am good to go. All of a sudden, a woman is jumping at my passenger window. "What is wrong with you?  Didn't you hear me honking?"  First question- not easy to answer.  A lot is wrong with me.  I'll take the second one. I can answer that. "No. Did not hear you honking."  I look and our car rears are almost touching. We have backed out into each other just about.  The woman is really angry. I know I have to take the opposite attitude and not match her anger.  I have to back off.  She is confused by my passivity. I say, "I am sorry."  Her rage evaporates. She advises, "Maybe you should turn off your radio."  That is not the problem.  And I decide to explain the problem to her. I will tell you first. The problem is my hearing aids.  I have them so that I can hear better, but in the car they have static. In both ears I have crackling fireplace-like noise.  I pull one out to show her. Immediately, she becomes a different person.  "Oh, I am sorry, you cannot hear."  I say, "I can hear, just not with my hearing aids in."
As I am saying this, I realize the oxymoronic nature of this statement http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oxymoronand I go from eyes filled with tears to the urge to laugh out loud.   I have hearing aids so I will hear honking but cannot because my car causes static in them and I cannot hear.  I promise her I will call my audiologist and I vow to remove them when driving. We part on friendly terms. As she returns to her car, another woman drives in the wrong way and nearly hits her.  The wrong way driver is chastised by a fourth woman (who has been watching our encounter),   "You are coming in  the wrong way."   Now those two have an exchange.
Whew, I am out of the limelight.  My woman then backs out first, And I follow. We enter the exiting traffic lane. She on the right,  I am on the left. We have a red light, and wait side by side.  As we wait, a car starts backing up into her on her passenger side and she begins honking at him. First man to enter the fray. As the light turns green, I pass by and turn left, leaving her screaming at her new Nemesis.

WHERE IS THE APPLE STORE?

Note to self. Do not wear hearing aids when driving.
Park far away from store.

IS IT THIS WAY?

Liam waits at home. He knows I went to the Apple store.

SO TIRED OF WAITING

 Woof, Woof