THANKSGIVING 2006

Marcia's turducken was the best ever! And everything else was delicious. A good time was had by all although there were fewer friends around the table then usual and we especially missed Mel and Lesley. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

TWO NEW DOG PIX

CHURCH AND STATE

Still in the clouds over the results of this week's elections?

Here's some factoids about the latest group of chosen people to pray about:
* It seems that this year, 87 percent of the Jews who voted cast their ballots for Democrats.
* There will be 43 Jews on Capital Hill next year -- more than ever before.
* The number of Jews in the Senate rises from 11 to 13.
* Six new congressmen boost the number of Jewish representatives to 30.
* And here's another factoid that may or may not be the start of a trend, Minnesota elected the first Muslim congressman to ever invade Washington. Keith Ellison will also become the state's first black congressman.
For more information, click here.

WHATEVER GRETCHEN WANTS

Gretchen wanted a photo of her under my beard. Here it is babe.

GREAT NEWS

Oct 31, 12:09 PM EST
NASA Says Hubble Repair Mission Is a Go
Video: Shuttle to Repair Hubble Telescope
By MIKE SCHNEIDER

Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA will send a space shuttle to repair the 16-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, agency Administrator Michael Griffin announced Tuesday, reversing his predecessor's decision to nix the mission.
Griffin's announcement was greeted eagerly by astronomers who feared Hubble would deteriorate before the end of the decade without new sensors and replacements for its aging batteries.
The rehab mission, likely launching in May 2008 using space shuttle Discovery, would keep Hubble working until about 2013. Its estimate cost is $900 million.

MORE SHAMELESS DOG PIX

Moe (right) and Curly (below)

SCENES FROM A WEDDING

Some pictures of the happy Lison family and old friends from last weekend.

SHAMELESS DOG PICTURES

That's Moe on the left and Curly on the right.

Cute, eh?

GREATEST PHOTO EVER TAKEN

See: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061016.html to find out why.

CURLY UNDERCOVER

Marcia just realized there were no pictures of Curly, so here's one recently taken.

MORE WEDDING PHOTOS

MARITIME MAX

Which one do you like for the yearbook?

EVEN MORE PIX

I admit I am having much trouble since my computer was "fixed," including disappearing temp files. Experts: postmarc@earthlink.net. (Richard need not apply, please.)

MORE PHOTOS

Here's some more photos taken by me, Phyliss and Richard. You know the usual suspects. More pix to come soon.

THE WEDDING AND OTHER PARTIES

It's been a long time since I last posted but a great deal has happened. Both my laptops died and had to be brought back to life, I continued my protocol of chemo, Marcia and I were graced by an extended visit by Richard, Norma, Dana and Sean and, of course, Liz and Matt were married.

MAX'S DAY OUT

This Monday, Max, who is home from camp, decided he wanted to go to work with his mother. Marcia was assigned to cover a press conference with Governor Pataki at Ground Zero. The Governor's photographer was nice enough to take this photo and pass it along. Thanks.

The Secrets of Life / Part 1

Getting through life involves learning its secrets. Some secrets, like The Secret, are big (and usually universal and simple) but there are many small, but useful, secrets that mankind has accumulated that help people get through the day. Like learning how to tie a shoelace so it won't come undone during the day that was taught to me by a friendly knowledgeable shoe salesman. Or how to tie a necktie so it gets that perfect dimple in front - taught to me by Albert, my late, great haberdasher, but never mastered.

So part of the purpose of this blog will be to archive those secrets that I have learned (and can remember) and to accumulate more from any passing readers who are asked to share their knowledge.

We'll start with a secret I learned and confirmed this past weekend - The Best Way to Clean Your Barbecue Grill. It's simple and it works great. After grilling, turn up all the burners and close the cover for about 10 minutes. When the grill gets about as hot as it's going to get, open the top and turn off all the burners. Take your favorite grill brush and - here's the secret - dip it in water before scrubbing the hot grill. The water will boil and steam when it hits the grill and knock off everything stuck to it. Give it a shot.

We'll talk rib recipes - and tying those shoelaces - later.

(Incidentally, the secret for tying most knots is not how you tie them, but how you tighten them.)

First of many dog pix.

I just found this photo of Moe, as a puppy, during a very rare moment of non-movement.

(Sorry, I'm still having fun just discovering posting.)

You have to start somewhere!

It's fitting that a picture of my beautiful wife Marcia opens this Webpage.You might as well start with your best impression. Watch this space for other pictures of Max, Margot, Morris, Moe and Curly. You might even see a shot of Marc occasionally.