Newest Shank

His name is Harvey.  He is a Goldiedoodle, part Golden Retriever (family friendly, happy, playful) and standard poodle (smart, non-shed hair).  He is copper colored and curly.  He is terrorizing Cassi, but she’s coming to grips with it.  Pasha seems to enjoy his antics and is happy to wrestle him.  He absolutely hates the summer heat.  He looks for a dirt hole to lay in as soon as we go outside or heads back to the door as soon as he’s finished his task.  He lays on top of the HVAC vents in the house to let that cool, cool air wash through his hair.

Song: I Wanna Be Your Dog (Stooges)

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Dancing Angels

Last night was the culmination of 8 months of hard work and dedication for Madeleine and Vivian…the 2010 Dance Machine Recital.  They were stupendous and made their Dad so proud.  They showcased their talents in ballet, tap, clogging, hip-hop, point and jazz.  Dad’s jeans, shirts and motorcycle boots played a part, too.  What a show!

Song:  For a Dancer  (Jackson Browne)

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Invasion of the Armor Men

New art installation at my favorite NYC park, Madison Park.  There are 31 of these guys in and around the park, but most of them are atop nearby buildings, making it fun to “spot” them.  Some are as many as three blocks away.  One is right in the middle of Broadway.  My favorite is on top of the Flatiron Building.  Artist: Anthony Gormley.  Here’s a couple on street level and a few from above…

Song:  “Mr. Roboto”  Styx

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Cassi in 7th heaven

Hunting certain animals is the result of generations of evolution.  For Cassi, our Bijon Frisee, it’s chipmunks.  Squirrels are only minimally interesting, moles traverse the yard undetected, rabbits aren’t on her radar…but, chipmunks…now there’s a quarry worth complete concentration and relentless pursuit.

Yesterday she ran one up a discharge pipe to the house central vac.  She often corners them in a pile of bricks under our deck.  That’s hours of fun as she demolishes the pile.  Eventually, the chip finds an opening and makes a break for freedom.  I’ve never seen her get one.

She had her nose up that pipe for an hour taking breaks only to yap.  After a while I had to go pick her up and crate her so the yapping would end.  She drifted off to sweet dreams.  Another day, another campaign, another struggle of wits against her wily foe.  What joy!

Song: The Chipmunk Song

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Demolition Derby Class…Getting the Car ready

18 feet of yellow thunder

I signed up for a two-Saturday class to prep a car for the Wilson County Fair demolition derby this summer.  We’ve got a 351 cubic inch ’78 Ford LTD.   There are 5 of us + Kirk, the driver.  He’s done this several years.  It’s a lot easier to strip the car of all its trim, windows, back set, header, air conditioner, fan, move the battery and gas tank inside with a group than by one’s self.  It’s ready for paint (black house paint applied by roller) and headers on the engine.  Kirk will run it next August.  I’ll be there in “pit row” or sitting on a hay bale.

Ripping out the interior

Wielding the sledge

Damage done

Still shot off TV of Kirk's run last year in a Plymouth Fury

Good guys.  Interesting project.

Song:  “Hot Rod USA” (The Rip Chords)

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The BIG Ad

Still my favorite, hand-painted, large scale display ad space in all of NY…13 stories of it.

Song:  On the Sidewalks of New York

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Warehouse Madhouse

Twice a year, Barney’s, the high end fashion retailer, holds a 10-day warehouse sale.  You can get some deals.  $2000 suits for $500.  I was stuck in NY last week because of the snow and managed to catch the last day of the winter event.  I stay away from the sweaters bins.  You can see why.

Song:  Shop Around (Smokey Robinson)

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Planes, Trains and…Sleds?

It's all downhill from here.

After a good week working in NY, I had some difficulty getting home due to the “big snow.”  Actually, between 4-10″ fell on Nashville Friday topped off by a freezing sleet.  Pretty much shut everything down.  Of course, the girls and Gwen were off school…and it’s unlikely they’ll be going tomorrow, the roads are still covered with a sheet of ice 2″ thick.  The country roads throughout Williamson County will never be ready for school  bus traffic  by tomorrow.

We’ve had a girl camp sleepover with Viv’s friends.  Maddie has been out for two nights with her friends.

I was happy to get a 7 a.m. flight on Saturday.  Not really a deprivation to spend one extra night in a nice hotel, eat a wholesome meal and get a good night’s sleep.  If you like watching planes land and takeoff, this was the dream room at O’Hare.  My view:

I was glad to have a new ice scraper in my truck (a souvenir from my January 7th Ohio blizzard drive) as my truck was encased in ice.

Today the sun is blazing and by midweek all the snow will be melted as temps are headed into the 40’s.

Song:  Good Day Sunshine

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Reviewing books…it ain’t all pretty.

This is what a typical book review editor’s office looks like.  Somewhere in that pile is the next bestseller.  Somewhere in the computer is the reviewer’s opinion.  Somewhere “out there” the two will come together and make a reader happy.

Song:  The Book of Love

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Punta Cana Posse

Viv, Em, Maddie, Cat, Katie

The greater Shank family gathered at the fabulous Dreams Palm Beach Resort on the beaches of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, courtesy of my adventure-minded mother.  It was wonderful.  We all arrived the day after Christmas and stayed through to New Year’s Day.  New Year’s Eve was a rockin’ memory for all of us as fireworks lit the sky above palm trees swaying in the wind…we were all together dancing to a rock band and did the 10-9-8 countdown.  What fun!

The resort is one-price-buys-everything.  All our food and drinks and service included.  The girls would order room service at 2 a.m. and the waiter would bring it over…no tip, all smiles.  The amount of liquor served on New Year’s was astonishing, especially the after dinner drinks tables set up in the courtyard…a help-yourself bar.

We loved seeing our relatives and the girls had a blast hanging with their cousins.  Thanks, Mom.

Song:  Girls On The Beach (Beach Boys)

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