2013 - The Year of Living Vicariously - Year in Review -

As it turns out, these pictures are in reverse chronological order. Oh well, consider it a trip back in time...

Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo

We took a trip to the Toledo Zoo Friday, along with our daughter, son in law, and 9 month old grand daughter.  Had a great time watching the animals, and I believe that many of them had a great time watching us and the other humans on display on our side of the walls, fences, etc.  Here is a pictorial summary of some of the critters we saw Friday.... 

THE IDES CAME AND WENT

Wow, talk about NEGLIGENT.  I admit it, blog.  I left you for another, mainly Facebook and Linked In.  But I am back.  I should not neglect you.  You provided me with a lot of fun back in the day.  Weird Object Fridays.  Alphabetical memes.  I think that's the word.  I am of a certain age and am not really sure I am up on all the lingo of the time, including "meme".  I am more sure of other words, like "avatar".  But anyway, it seems like the blogosphere cooled down for me, considerably. 

Anyhow, just to stay in the game, let's post a picture that I put up on Facebook some time ago, but I think it is really cool in an otherworldly way.  Here it is:

Then there is this more thisworldly picture I took a month ago at Tappan Lake in eastern Ohio.  I will be going by that same lake tomorrow and will probably have my camera with me, but I will be in more of a rush tomorrow with meetings three hours away followed by meetings here at home.  Perhaps I will snap a shot as I fly by.  Anyhow, I give you...two frigid-looking shots of Tappan Lake... 

...and finally, for good measure, a four-goose flyover and touchdown.  More later.  I promise. 

2012 In Pictures

Here are a few of the "highlights" of the past year...

Top story in our family came in October, with the birth of our first ever grandchild, Charlotte.  Here she is, an hour or two old. 

They change quickly.  Here she is at (how can I tell?) two months.  The other sizable news involved...

our son's engagement to Megan.  Wedding planned for spring of this year.  

So 2013 is guaranteed to have at least one "big event"!

OK, on to relatively lesser items culled from the 2012 archives...

The dogs that fill our otherwise empty "nest".  They keep it real.  They keep it jumping.  

And the beagle opines too much, in whines and yowls and woos and such.

Grand-dog Lily rocking the baby swing.  A precursor of a blessed event to come...

The view from our seats at Severence Hall for a concert.  No, not "Night on Bald Mountain" 

(I apologize to the guy one row up; that is cruel). People did show up and play and sing.

  

Celebrating 3/4 century for our brother in law, Doc, in Marion - he's the one with the cool hat.  

Obligatory Nature Picture - out at the Norwalk Reservoir.  

Touching rays...and touching rays...and then touching more rays...at the Cleveland Aquarium.  

We couldn't get her away from the "touch tank".   

Obligatory Urbanscape Picture: Cleveland, City of Light, City of Magic.  

Second obligatory Urbanscape: Baltimore: The Homeland (from our trip there last summer).  

The band from church, "Give 'em Heaven", after pulling off our second annual "Gazebofest".  

Ok, not the real name.  Also known as "Praising in the Park".  

 Linda's mom and dad back in the day.  We lost her mom in August.  We miss her. 

The last NEARFest, ever, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.  Renaissance and Annie Haslam of the zillion-octave voice. 

Made it up to the beach.  Caught a cool rainbow before we left.  

Another moocher at the African Wildlife Safari park.  We also inducted/initiated/hazed Megan with some bison slobber.  She passed the test and may thus marry our son.

Day trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The dynamic duo becomes a triumphant trio...

Cheers!  Best wishes for 2013...