27 Jun 2016 – Soda City Market
Sat: deeply saddened by the news of Marlene’s passing. May she RIP. Our thoughts and prayers are with Alonzo&family and Jan&family. Jan and I go back to the days when we were in the same travel school together in the late 1980s FL, and we have celebrated many family Bdays together – her first-born and I share the same date and Linn shares the same date with Al, her husband.

Bright and early up to get downtown to Soda City Market (Main St) which happens every Sat where local vendors are there selling fresh produce, food&drinks, arts&crafts etc etc etc. Soda City is a nickname for CAE. Locals often refer to the city with the abbreviation of Cola. and hence the term Soda City.

Like this piece of Palmetto decor which will be a present to L&J.

Main St has many exciting and interesting buildings+historical landmarks.

One of my favourties – Sheraton Hotel is the first (1913) high-rise (18storey) and once tallest building in CAE then is an excellent eg of early 20th century skyscraper sheathed in Gothic revival detail with use of the palmetto tree motif (SC state tree).

Starbucks in the basement with a pleasant blend between historic landmark and modern convenience.

It was perfect timing to make my first visit to SC State House located at the end of Main St sitting on 18beautifully landscaped acres.

http://www.knowitall.org/letsgo/lgsh/welcome.html

Talk about a small world, walked up the steps to have a view of Main St. Watching life from there, saw this guy was carrying his bike up the stairs. Told him how impressed I was to see someone so fit and we got to chatting to discover that Greg knows L&J from church…

Had fun taking pix inside and was the only visitor in the building when it opened its doors which made it most enjoyable in this Greek Revival style building.

Fascinating ornate ceilings and trimmings on the 2&3floors. Wonder what the designer was thinking with these demon-looking heads at the end of every support corridor for the 3level??? Like the openness between those floors ie that they share the same dome ceiling.

The Museum Gift Shop has the most amazing quilt handing on the wall with the SC State song stitched discreetly into the background. The lady working there was most informative and helpful – nowhere in this world can compare to the SC courtesy and graciousness.

http://www.columbiacvb.com/listings/South-Carolina-State-House/15796/

Columbia Museum of Art – the exterior was on my list for viewing…

but seeing the chandelier in the lobby got me to pay S10 (senior) to walk thru’ 2floors of exhibits! Just picking a few contrasting random pix.

One of Dale Chihuly’s (my favourite glass sculpture artist) chandeliers which the museum purchase with funds provided by The Contemporaries. The design was chosen to enhance the asymmetrical shape of the Museum’s atrium and a ‘Carolina Sunset’ color-scheme incorporates Columbia’s ‘Famously Hot’ shades of golds, oranges and reds.

These very contemporary wall-murals are quite neat.

That was all this tired body and mind of a happy tourist could digest and handle – starting from 0800hrs and got back by 1430hrs. SC State Museum originally on the list will have to be another time in one of the future trips – blame it on Chihuly 🙂

Sun: completed last-minute errands@Walmart&Staples before packing. Treated myself to my favourtie Ultimate Omelette@Denny’s and as usual had to doggy-bag half of it.

Have been trying to take a pix of this old barn. Finally today managed to pull into the driveway to buy 1watermelon, 1cucumber and 1tomatoe, all for $4 which are grown in Chapin and not anywhere near this barn on Weed Rd!

Even Zuno got a Sun treat! Hope that this rough map of Lake Murray will do its job for a very rough guideline to see how big and also whereabouts on the lake we are when on the boat! Family arrived home before mid-night, all happily exhausted.

24 Jun 2016 – 51.9% YES to Pulling Out of EU

Thu: week3 of Irmo XC summer conditioning! Linn and the other 2 coaches are coaching the team with first a 1m run followed by a swim workout and breakfast here today…

while the FaBulous5 (pix credits of them to Terry) are having a blast in some river in NC. Looking forward to seeing Katy’s pix. Good to see such an active sporty bunch of young people enjoying the lovely summer weathers. Happy Summer to All…

A successful shopping spree (total spending app US$200) for a few hours with some good deals at Old Navy, Ross (a perfect T-shirt, summer shoes and a set of underwear $21.37) and Nordstrom Rack, new for me (2shirts $29.90).

There is always something I can get at the DollarTree (like Daiso in SIN). 1storage-box, 2sunglasses with 2cases, 2packs of greeting cards & 6packs chewing gums, all for $20.

Most expensive ($45.11 for 1large jar/750ml and 8shorts) shopping today was@Kroger’s Liquor Store. Palmetto Moonshine made in Anderson SC, and the signature award-winning White Lightning is determined to preserve the rebellious spirit and southern traditions of the moonshine culture. It is an un-aged/young! corn whiskey made from a recipe handed down from generations of moonshiners. Produced using custom copper still built by a 5th generation moonshiner to call this SC’s first legal moonshine.

http://www.palmettomoonshine.com/#!palmetto-moonshine/col1

Not forgetting US$28 to fill gas in the car and that will let me drive for app 360mi (14.2gal@$1.91pergal). $50 for tenderloin+lobster tail, Portabello mushrooms dinner for 3, and some kitchen and toilet paper towels.

Sankthansaften is celebrated on 23Jun in Norway and that is tonight. In present days, the main event is the burning of a large bonfire. Happy Mid-summer night and sweet dreams – it is also said that, if a girl puts flowers under her pillow that night, she will dream of her future husband. Certainly no flowers under my pillow tonight and still paranoid about fires!!!

And sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow’s eye, Steal me awhile from mine own company ― William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Fri: UK made history by voting (51.9%) to leave EU and David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU. Well wishes for UK and EU in these uncertain times ahead. This brought back memories from 1975 when Norway voted to not join EU.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028

Turbulence and Uncertainty for the Market After ‘Brexit’… as if anyone can predict the future here!!!

TGIF and my last Fri here in the US for this trip. L&J will be off for a weekend trip to meet up with Matt (pix credits of the Bowmans to the Bowmans), Scott (pix credits of the Tubbs to the Tubbs), their spouses and another couple from school-days.

Have know these boys, now middle-age men 🙂 since middle school days, 1980s! Safe journeys to them and for sure they will have a good reunion.

Dog and house sitting this weekend and looking forward to exploring downtown CAE tomorrow!

23 Jun 2016 – Over The Highways And Mountain Roads!

Sun: Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and to Jeff, the best father the FaBulous5 could have! As he was saying over dessert that if all the FaBulous5 decide to have a family and if they average 3each, then there will be 15great-grand for me but will not live to see that!! Wonder if putting them on a boat will get all their attention to take a pix then 🙂

Father’s Day humour – both Jeff & I are fans of Calvin & Hobbes.

Mon: and they are off to spend the week with Dee&Terry+their 3cousins in NC. Linn is driving them to meet with Terry half-way. Wishing them all a fun and safe week. Will be strange and quiet in the house with a middle-age couple+their dog – hahaha, but hopefully will get to try out some adult! eateries in the area.

Dinner at Alodia’s***and the way to see how good an Italian place is to taste their simple classic pasta. The Crab Cakes were good; the Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo was thick&creamy, but lack the umph! Was on the rich side and had to doggy-bag. Tkx Linn&Jeff for dinner.

Time to get the boat out of the driveway now that it is dry after the Father’s Day weekend boating. Being a weekday night, decided against a boating as the middle-age couple had to get early to bed 🙂

Beautiful evening and Happy Summer Solstice to those celebrating. Lovely walk in the neighbourhood moon and star-gazing. Young people fishing and such good sportsmanship when he unhook the little fish to let them back in the water while keeping the big one for dinner. The view of the lake is just so serene that it is impossible to be tired of it.

Amazingly bright full moon, but no strawberry as the strawberry season is over here – blueberry now. Looking forward to Linn’s blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice-cream, yum! Goodnight Moon, goodnight trees, goodnight house, goodnight flag, goodnight road and goodnight to all. Tomorrow will be a new day and the days will start to get shorter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/20/summer-solstice-2016-first-day-of-summer-longest-day-strawberry/

Tue: nice that Jeff was able to join us for lunch. Spotted Salamander****2nd time round, will certainly return again next visit. Smoked Summer Squash Soup has good flavours and Tomato Pie Fried Chicken with basil, stew tomatoes, Pimento cheese, pie crumbs and honey basil mayo was delicious. And no Jeff was not wearing a tie 🙂

Fresh produce shopping at City Roots,  SC’s first urban sustainable farm where they grow a variety of vegetables for local farmer’s markets, restaurant sales, and for our market on site. Thought I had pix of City Roots from when Linn was racing the 2014 Crawdaddy Dash, but sadly to discover that 2014 has gone missing from my hard-disk and a total void 🙁 thank goodness for 2014 blog postings even when I do not post all my pix! 3 above pix of City Roots downloaded.

Wed: the heat and humidity is back and time to hide indoors unless before sunrises or after sunsets! Even a short shopping trip at Old Navy gave me a headache! Take-out dinner from Fusco’s Market****Italian night. Fresh Mozzarella and Livingston Farms tomatoes; Mussels Milano with garlic, lemon,white wine, and Sicilian olives. Served with Ciabatta Toast for dipping, all fresh and  yummy. Their Red Velvet cake is so-so.

The saying that you can’t eat your cake, and have it too. But you can have your cake if you eat someone elses or bake another cake. With my present attitude and mind-frame, I do not want to eat it or have it 🙂

Blame it on the full moon…

19 Jun 2016 – Happy Father’s Day

Fri: TGIF and the last day of VBS where #2&3 completed their whole week. #1, 4&5 did not attend today. And so concludes 2016 VBS at Shendon Baptism Church where #1 got to enjoy the volunteer lunches as she was helping out. The carved water melons are just some of the foods displayed served to the volunteers. #1 ensured me that she ate well for the week 🙂

Golden Corral is not the same as my previous visit! It is now an all you can eat buffet-joint with 150+items. We were fortunate to be leaving when 2bus-loads of people arrived! Perfect place for very active people who need to fuel their body – all you can eat for US$8 for seniors! But most of us do not need to eat like there is no tomorrow.

#2&3 were excited to experience such a tall chocolate fountain – today they first had to take some proper lunch before they were allow to eat all the dessert they wanted – ice cream, all kinds of foods dipped in chocolate, cakes&cookies, etc.  Just looking at them consuming those sweets was enough for me 🙂

Saw this interesting hair-do and at first thought it was a hat!!! Bad traffic with accidents on I-26+storm warnings in various counties on the way home.

Sat: bright and early out to Sesquicentennial State Park where Linn&Co are running. Located in the Sandhills region in the suburbs of CAE, this 1,419acres park includes a 30acre lake. Was there before it was opened, so parked at Murice’s BBQ lot (across the road) and walked for an hr before driving the car into the park (US $3.25for SC seniors).

The weather was at its best for walking.

Beautiful flowers along the way.

The spider-webs are of sizes like these – where they are by the road and assuming that most people drive into the park, thus not disturbing these weaves.

It is an amazing morning and was pleasantly surprised

by a flock of geese and the lovely water-lilies on the lake.

Unfortunately did not have the time to get onto the trails, but they do look inviting.

The Columbia Running Club was hosting their annual Summer Social and it was breakfast time for Linn & her running group who started at 0600hrs and ran from 9-18miles. First taste of a warm Krispy Kreme doughnut and it is yummy! Also time to bid farewell to this group. Appreciations to all for allowing me to take pix and to observe their practices and training.

Tomorrow is Sunday and Father’s Day – plan to prepare a Bourbon Salmon late lunch  with Irish Creamed Potatoes for the family while they are at church.

The more civilized man becomes, the more he needs and craves a great background of forest wildness, to which he may return like a contrite prodigal from the husks of an artificial life – Ellen Burns Sherman

17 June 2016 – There Is Always Food & Shopping…

Tue: Orlando, FL – the Magic Kingdom World (home to Linn, May&I from 1987-2000) has really been hit with more than its fair share of tragic news within a week. They certainly need more than magic to console all those who are affected.

Christina Grimmie shooting
Pulse nightclub massacre 
2-year-old boy was snatched by an alligator from a lagoon at a Disney hotel

Why Orlando? City Reeling From 3 Horrific Events in 1 Week

Kids at VBS this whole week. Today we were at Whole Foods Market****where one can buy Norwegian Smoked Salmon and Snøfrisk=SnowFresh (white Norwegian cream cheese). Julie/NC mentioned AKA ‘Whole Paycheck’ store and Larry/TX agreed! Definitely over-priced but that is what happens when you do not buy local, hence with just intentions of just browsing only but found this wine for US$2.99per bottle, not bad! Believe in shopping local, especially at the weekend Farmers’ markets.

The opening of Fusco’s Market****Wonderful to have a deli within 5mins drive! Place was packed in-spite of the rains! Bought their Shepherd Pie and Pecan Brownies – they were delicious and reasonably priced. Their meat section made me want a steak…

Wed: in memory to 2 of my favourite men, my father LAM TinYue(1911-1996) and ex Norwegian father-in-law, John HALD (1923-2008) who shared the same bdates! Supposedly window shopping, but bought some red, white&blue decorations, napkin rings (US$3.99×2), party crackers (US$14.95 Pier1Imports) for any celebrations with those colours. Found this insulated cup (US$4.99 BedBath&Beyond) that looked like a soda-can – neat, as anyone who knows me well also know that I hardy drink soda!

First experience at Zesto, but do not rate fast food-joints. Food was good for the price.

Had a small chocolate milkshake and it was yummy. The FaBulous5 did good jobs on their fried chicken-lunches with fries&biscuits before attacking their medium-size ice-cream cones and ate the entire cone, including #5 – no wonder they have sooo much energy!!!

Those cones reminded me of Teddy’s Ice in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland when it was sold from a window on the wall! It must be good as they are still selling it there, but from a shop now – wonder if the window is still there?

Great News!  AT&T Abandons Development Plans in VA

http://loudounnow.com/2016/06/14/att-abandons-short-hill-development-application/

After expressions of strong concern from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), other members of the Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance, the National Park Service and, most importantly, a groundswell of support from the people of Loudoun County, Virginia, AT&T has abandoned its application to develop a two story, 161,000 square foot facility atop Short Hill Mountain.

http://appalachiantrail.org/home/community/news/2016/06/07/appalachian-trail-conservancy-expresses-strong-concerns-about-proposed-at-t-facility-on-short-mountain

Thu: what a treat to be able to test out these fast food joints, tkx to the FABulous5 for their VBS. Today was Cook Out across the road from the church. This is a privately owned fast food restaurant chain founded in 1989 Greensboro/NC and at present there are 170locations. The 1/4lb burger was good and moist; yummy Coleslaw and the milk-shake, rich&thick. Had to be eaten with a spoon.

Crowded and had to wait for a table, but the kids enjoyed it.

One more day of fast food and then it will be just Linn&I for lunch next week! Some interesting billboards and signs on the roads, how about naming a gas-station el cheapo!  – pix on the blur side as taken thru’ the car wind-screen!

14 June 2016 – An Act Of Terrorism

Sun: awoken to the sad news this morning and having lived and worked in Orlando for over a decade makes it another home for me there. Thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and all those affected.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/index.html

49 killed at Orlando gay nightclub marks deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history

A plea to People on Planet Earth
Regardless of beliefs, culture, race, religion, sexual preference, etc
Why can’t we just accept and respect our difference?

Life is a gift to be celebrated
Differences to be appreciated
Compassion to be achieved…

Wrote this over a decade ago hoping for a more peaceful tomorrow, but peace still seems out of reach 🙁

Good to meet up with Susan, Jay and their kids who have been and still is living in Niger, Africa for the past 5yrs. The last time we met was in 2002-03 when they were en route to ? via SIN. They stayed with me then and poor Susan was ill. They were in UFMed School with Jeff and then together in OKCity for internship. Today there is Anna, Samuel, Sara and Johnathan Kraus (easier to train the memory when you write!) who are the same ages as #2-5 (with numbers, the names will not get mixed-up 🙂 ). Here are 2 wonderful couples who are now middle-age! and doing good jobs to raise their flock of 9!!

Can understand why we address our aunties and uncles by numbers, especially when they are up to the count of 18, and not kidding!

Mon: the kids are at VBS except for #2 who is with her friend at Carowinds, an amusement park in SC/NC state-line. In this heat and humidity how does one survive in the outdoor rides?

Not dealing well with all the hate and politicizing of this tragic event and not my usual self. The Monday Blues + what just happened in Orlando was just too much that even words cannot console the hopelessness feelings as to if PEACE can ever be achieved. Was it just an idealistic era with John Lennon’s Imagine and the Hippie Flower Power to think that it is possible???

Hippies was about being happy, but what made it bad was when drugs such as marijuana and LSD were integrated into their culture as a means to explore altered states of consciousness. Some argue that the movement ushered in more liberal press and movies which has led to a degradation of our cultural values and ethics. And the embrace of spontaneity and worship of the ‘primitive’ have turned many towards mindlessness and violence – some points to reflect on!

So what kind of era are we in now?????  Not referring to technical or geological terms! In circumstances when God is mentioned in any of my postings, it is not referring to any religion but to a higher power or omnipotent.

Monday, Monday, so good to me
Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday mornin’, Monday mornin’ couldn’t guarantee
That Monday evenin’ you would still be here with me… The Mamas & The Papas

12 June 2016 – Bye-Bye Trees 🙂

Fri: Jeff, #1, 2, 3 and Zuno left for camping. Jeff was in Boy Scouts, so he knows what he is doing. John is now in it, and excited about this trip. Looking forward to seeing pix and hearing all about it when they get back.

Katy is using my old pack from the 2005 AT thru’hike, too heavy for me as we are now spoilt with these new light-weight gears!  Ellie got to borrow my SW Hyperlite MtGear – tkx to Calvin of Campers’ Corner.

Let’s hope that it will help as she is  apprehensive about this trip. Pix of them loading the car brought back memories of the AT where –

how many of our 2005 AT thru’hike days ended like 🙂  →

Cutting down a total of 10 large trees – 3 large ones by the driveway, 2 by the neighbour and 5 in the backyard, a mixture of pine & gum over the past 3 days in this heat is NO joke! Job professionally executed from the beginning to the end. Was indoors watching and feeling sorry for anyone who had to be working outdoors in this weather. Was thinking of my young friend Chris@CC when I saw their safety harnesses…

Would highly recommend Boozer’s Tree Service and their crew to anyone who is in need of any advice or work from them. Am impressed with their efficiency and graciousness.

http://www.boozerstreeservice.com/

Edited 14 Jun: did not want to miss posting this amazing tree. Tkx to Kiat for sharing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3619890/He-shrubs-nicely-Bizarre-tree-looks-just-like-real-person-spotted-Bulgaria.html#ixzz4BMYeaZ2x

An unusually quiet Fri evening in the house was quite a change!

Sat: Sophie had a friend+the mom and little sis for a belated Bday celebration – at that age, the celebrations can last for a week 🙂 Was certainly not brave enough to join them at the lake when the temps are in the mid 90sF+a humidity of over 45%!

http://alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/chattooga-trail

The gang got home before 1900hrs from their overnight camping trip at the Northern section of the Chattooga Trail, Sumter National Forest Oconee County where they hiked app 8miles total for 2days in perfect weather.

Exciting to hear about their adventures from all in different versions. Starting from Burrells Ford Rd where the car was parked (nearly 3hrs drive from home), they backpacked to the campground and from there further north to pitch tent.

Following the Chattooga River which borders with GA, they daypacked to Ellicott Rock and back to camp where they spent the night. Next day they packed up and headed home. Poor Ellie was not feeling too well but marched on like a true trooper.

All camping pix credits to John where he even managed to capture a snake – looks like a Copperhead to me. And here is Zuno home after his 8x5miles! hike, seriously if you have seen dogs on the trials you will know that they run about everywhere sniffing marking their territory!!  Just glad that everyone had a good time and are home safe&sound.

9 June 2016 – Happy Dragon Festival

Mon: a wet and rainy day, perfect for reading and snoozing. The AC service and the Tree People had to reschedule. Good day to sleep in as summer running practice does not start until tomorrow. Sophie announced that she did not want to do swimming this summer – just as well as they get to swim to their hearts’ content in the lake.

Experiencing a pinch on up top upper left thigh. Can hardly walk because of that. Being on blood thinner, am not sure what I should take? Might have stretch some muscle while trying to cover the boat yesterday. Age is taking its toll, and lacking energy…

Tue: the AC people serviced that AC and the temperatures are more comfortable. The pinch got worst early morning, decided to sleep it off and it got better in the afternoon. Seems to be better and decided to go ahead to boat for Justin’s early Bday dinner. Thank you for a serene evening (without kids!) in good company of Linn, Jeff, Barbara & Justin at Rusty Anchor Restaurant***

The sunset was absolutely stunning and such a clear sky that Mars was distinctively visible with its slight red glow. Pix credit to Linn for the group shot on the boat.

Wed: not a restful night – was trying to move in every possible position so as to avoid the discomfort. Tried massaging and maybe that helped. Less pain the morning but was still careful to not over-do the standing. Sat with my legs propped up when not in thee kitchen that seemed to help.

Being a tree lover, am sad to see 8 of them go but go they must as they are destroying the driveways, AC-compressors, underground water pipes and eventually the house! Was having flash back from my 2007 Siem Reap trip seeing the power of these tree-roots in the ruins. Pix of Siem Reap downloaded. No blog pix until 2008!

Summer is full-bloom in the air. The gang and their friends were enjoying their times together on the lake. Pix credit to Linn. Lake Murray is a reservoir here in SC. It is approximately 78+sq mile and has roughly 500miles of shoreline. It was impounded in the late 1920s to provide hydroelectric power to SC. We are in one of the coves at the end of Irmo! Maps down loaded from various sites…

Just to get things in perspective – SIN is app 277+sq mile with a coastline of 120miles and a pop of 5.7million people!!! SC is app 32,020sq miles and a pop of 4.8million!!!!

Thu: Happy 7Bday Sophie, who wanted to bake her own cake – seemed like yesterday she had her first bath in the kitchen sink! Linn had to bathe her in the kitchen sink as that was a perfect height after being in the hospital for a blood clot on her pelvis, SPT. Not good with that blood clot, runs in the family and in this case both maternal and paternal sides 🙁

Even Zuno had fun at the yummy Low-Country Shrimp Boil dinner Linn made for dinner.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival – pix downloaded from various sites. Wonderful memories of my paternal grandmother making bak zhang, stuffed with pork, water chestnuts and mushrooms. And kee zhang has no filling and is eaten as a sweet, dipped in sugar or gula melaka (palm sugar in Malay) syrup.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/06/17/dragon-boat-water-water/

6 June 2016 – Non-Stop Activities!

Fri: only in the USA and takes a runner to tell me this – Happy National Doughnut Day (1st Fri in Jun). Tkx for the doughnuts, Linn. Started in 1938 by The Salvation Army, National Doughnut Day started as a fundraiser to help the needy and to honor the women who served doughnuts to the soldiers during World War I.

Here is Sophie having her 2nds and this is where the saying is most appropriate – having eyes bigger than one’s stomach…

Was told by Larry that I am in Krispy Kreme territory, and Dunkin Doughnuts is from Boston – Yankee!!!! To me Yankee or otherwise, it is still a sweet dough with a hole but without nuts 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend and go get your doughnuts on this 1st day of the summer holidays…

Wow! AR Cards – where have I been all these times?? Thank you John for the demonstration. Looking forward for him to showing me more of his high-tech games over the summer holidays! Will be the most up-to-date grandmom for these games – NOT!

While Linn & her gang is by the lake, indoors here having fun taking pix and seeing the various effects with the different lamp shades in this house. All of the shades came along with the house except the bell-shaped one (my favourite) in the kitchen which Linn bought. The others are the usual type with the fan attached on top, not too exciting, but we do need the fan in this hot humid summers.

Sat: collected 10pizzas at Little Caesar. Memories of all the pool gatherings at Carmel By the Lake Clubhouse in FL when Linn was in high school. Somehow, May did not like crowds and still does not! Glad that Little Caesar is still around – US$5per pizza is affordable to feed  a bunch of growing kids!

Jeff had 5interns (Brad, Brett, Andrew, Kevin and Joey, now even I am impressed to remember their names 🙂 ) for boating and skiing from 0900hrs-12n. Just for the fun of it, I asked them to pose for me as I did with Linn’s running buddies. 5young hunks in their 20s, 5runners in their 40s&50s and 4long distance hikers in our 40s&50s (pix from 2005) – this is how people who enjoy outdoor activities look like…

Sophie’s early 7thBday celebrations 12n-1500hrs. Was there to take the pix, said hello to everyone and had to take cover indoors. May and I are alike in that the heat and crowds are not our forte. That is why she moved to Norway!

The family has been on and by the lake since 0900hrs. It is past 1700hrs and they are still there! Tonight will be an early and quiet one… just look at the skin colour for #1&2!!!

Gave up taking pix after I saw this crowd! Don’t ask me who is who here. Besides The FaBulous5, I have no idea!! Rough enough for Jeff to be driving the boat with this gang, he does not need to deal with my heart attack!!! Bigger pix credit to Linn…

Sun: family is busy with church, functions, more Bday party for Sophie. Had a quiet day doing laundry, reading and cat-napping. Would not have survived another day like yesterday. Seems like even the kids are now not feeling their top perky selves this evening, and who would be after all these activities? They need to rest for at least until tomorrow…

Angel Oak, Johns Island SC is probably the oldest and largest Live oak estimated to be 300-400yrs, stands 65ft/20m tall, measures 28ft/8.5m in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000sq ft/1,600sq m. It is one of the most magnificent trees seen! Pix from Nov 2012.

Edited with the latest incoming news. Family and friends who might be affected in these areas, plx take care and stay safe. Pix downloaded from various sites.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/how-the-storm-will-affect-your-trip-to-work/news-story/773db699374900280a38884c689042e7

2 June 2016 –  RIP Harambe

Tue: Happy Birthday Morten.

This is sooo very sad. Do NOT agree with wild animals being caged or in captivity – NOT a fan of zoos and always feel sorry for the wild animals that are not in their natural surroundings. Second, are some young parents of today letting their children behave with less supervision than that of my era in this case??

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/31/us/gorilla-shot-harambe/index.html

Or parents with no common sense – after lion , gorilla , now bear will be shot next… 🙁 🙁

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/boy-thrown-out-of-car-as-punishment-missing-in-japanese-forest-a3259441.html

Feeling lousy today and the above news are not helping. In additional, James was not well and threw up this morning. He slept until past noon and then manged to get a bite. Amazing how fast he bounces back at this age.

Wed: what a morning – Ellie’s 5G Recognition and at the same time Katy’s Award Ceremony at the Middle School. Lost count of the recognition Ellie received this morning. Could only be at one place while Linn, being a good mother timed herself well for being at the right places at the right times. Hats off to her (running like the Mad Hatter) and #1&2 for all their achievements, awards and recognition.

Pix credits to Linn and Julie for Katy’s Awards Ceremony. From left – Dakota, Kyle, Katy, Mark, Tanvi, Ben and Ari. Proud of her for making the Principal’s List, Science Award+another.

These people in the Irmo School District need to get their act together to co-ordinate functions according so that parents and families are able to be present to support all their children. And I wrote to tell them so! Was rather disappointed and upset that I was not able to be at Katy’s Award ceremony, especially when she is the Student of the Year for Chinese 1.

Great that Cindy+Kristy and her kids (cousins to The Fabulous5) could be there. Good to meet up with Barbara&Justin and their families – just look at Justin’s expression when I suggested for him to hike the AT 🙂 Forever grateful to Barbara’s parents for letting us use their condo after the house burnt down in Sep2013.

#1&2 had a busy social afternoon and Linn was there to help set up. #3, 4&5 were with me swimming in the lake. The sun is not friendly to the head when getting up in age! Swam for a short while – perfect temps but did not like the smell in the water.  Stayed mainly under the shade. #1 joined us later and that was really helpful. She is such a wonderful older sister to all her younger siblings.

Lovely pottery work at school by Ellie, John and Sophie.

Thu: Happy Birthday KK. Last day of school for the FaBulous5. At long last they can sleep in after today. Let the summer holidays begin…

Edit: What a prompt reply from Irmo Elementary!

Good morning! I do apologize for the inconvenience that you had about timing for our celebration. We do try to coordinate with other schools throughout the year. The end of the year does get a bit hectic and we overlap at times. I apologize that this created an inconvenience for you. I know how important it is to be present at all family events. We will try to keep this in mind for future years. Thank you for your support!

Tina McCaskill
Principal
Irmo Elementary
803-476-4210
tmccaski@lexrich5.org

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

1 Jun – Happy Bday Morten

2 Jun – Happy Bday KK  & Richard LEE

4 Jun – Happy Bday Erik K

6 Jun – Happy Bdays Dika  & Harry

9 Jun – Happy Bday Sophie

15 Jun – Happy Bdays to my father LAM TinYue and my children’s grandfather John HALD III (both not with us any longer but the two men I have most respect and admiration for). Happy Bday Amy J

19 Jun – Happy Father’s Day

25 Jun – Happy Bdays John/Choon, Clement & HUANG

28 Jun – Happy Bdays Jeff, John WILSON & Adriane

30 Jun – Happy Bdays JenMun &  Annie