Madeleine shows off her bravery and pool-diving skills. Before we allowed her into the Deep End, I made sure she could swim a full lenght of the 25 meter pool doing the crawl. Her dog-style persists, but we are reasonably happy with her progress, and the many swim lessons in London pay back in droves.
Madeleine and Moe share a special moment. She: "Moe! listen to me talk under water!" Various whale and porpoise noises are made, which are interpreted as conversation somehow.
Sonnet and I leave the kids with their grandparents and drive to the trailhead, departing the cabin at 6:00AM. We have done this route before, pre-kids, which concludes at an alpine lake at about 8,000 feet. The weather is fine and summer-like, and the path winds through alpine terrain, forrests and open meadows. We are treated with wildflowers, which open their blume on our return once the sun has warmed the ground.
This an archive photo I like - Madeleine willingly includes her most expressive possession in this early morning portrait of her, on our way to Montessori school.
Madeleine (and Eitan) discover a pine cone. London does not offer many opportunities to explore nature unless you consider Hyde or Richmond Parks. Both quickly adapt to the setting, however, even if they seem a bit cautious by many of their new experiences. My dream is to walk the John Muir trail with them one day.
Eitan finds his spot at the cabin (27/7/07). Not surprisingly I suppose a battle broke out between the kids on usage time - settled with the kitchen timer (Madeleine can be seen waiting in the background).
Moe remains an aqua enthusiast, dating to at least my grade school when he supported my, and Katie's athletic agenda by swimming laps during our 6:30AM morning workout. This was extended at some point to double work-outs and even the odd triple when he would sneak a swim at the Bay Club in San Francico during lunch. Today, Moe has bonded poolside with Eitan and Madeleine, and remains an enthusiast for their development in this family discipline. This photo taken at the Shashone rec center, 29/7/06.
This photograph taken at my parent's cabin near Dorrington (pop. 9) and Bear Valley (pop. 150) (29/7/06). The property was purchased in 1984 with the Farnsworth and Saperstein families
, who designed the place to spec. Our road is off route 4, a two lane black-top that is closed for four months of the year due to snow at Ebbett's Pass (elev. 8,500 feet). This presents a 60 mile dead-end, which has slowed the pace of development and traffic, and so the area retains its peace and scenic beauty. While we have enjoyed it here since highschool, it is equally suited for Eitan and Madeleine who revel in the general freedom to explore the outdoors (at least within a 100 yard radius).
Madeleine practices her back-start in Los Angeles (21/7/06). The kids can spend hours in the pool, entertaining themselves in various ways. A favorite is the 'time trial' where I simulate the '08 Olympics: "Swimmers prepare yourselves for the 50 meters freestyle. Take your marks - beep!" The kids belly-flop into the pool and flail about until they reach the other side. It is surprisingly competitive even for them, and usually ends in shouts of protest from the loser even though a silver guaranteed.
From Catherine's wedding in LA, we drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway (route 1) passing Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Montery and Point Lobos state park, where I take this image on a foggy coastal morning. The point is home to sea lions, otters, pelicans and many other critters as well as wild flowers and grasses and craigy vistas; the air smells of salt. We spend an hour or so watching the kids make a fort of washed up branches then hit the road for a sandy beach and Berkeley.
Sonnet and I celebrate Catherine and Peter's union on July 22, 2006. The wonderful wedding took place at the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, on a boiling hot Southern California day quite appropriate for the spiritual setting of the service. Sonnet and Catherine have known each other since freshmen year at Smith (er, 1986) and remain steadfast friends (Sonnet was the Maid of Honour this weekend; Catherine was at ours in 1997). Peter is Chinese, and the reception a mix of Asian toasts (Peter's younger, unmarried brother took the burden of his father's 'roast') and food (10 courses) combined with good old rock-and-roll. Other Smithies include Halley, Nita and Jenn. The newlyweds now in Hawaii.
I arrived in California Sunday, July 16 to do a few days work for the Walden fund, then welcomed the kids at SFO on the 19th. After a night in Berkeley, we headed south to L.A. for Catherine Majkit's wedding to Peter Ciao (more on this later). Here, I photograph the Disney Opera House in dowtown Los Angeles. We are connected to the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County via Sonnet's uncle Shelton Stanfill who was President and Chief Executive until 2001 when he left to run the Woodruff Center in Atlanta. Among other things, Shelton was responsible for funding the development of the music hall, famously designed by Frank Gehry
and today home of the Philharmonic Opera. Our visit was yesterday, Sunday, so we had downtown to ourselves and could fully appreciate the beauty, and wackiness, of Gehry's design.
Eitan in costume. As at this writing, our web slinging hero has declined in popularity, replaced by the Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers and (at my suggestion) Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Frank Lampard (says he: "Dad! He's not a super hero!" Nb after this World Cup and 0 for 21 on goal shots I have to agree). For a while though every night was capped with a bedtime story about Peter Parker, Aunte May, Mary Jane Watson, a host of villians including Green Goblin, Vulture, Kingpin and others and of course our dear Spider Man.
St Paul's Cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren, is on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London and the seat of the Bishop of London (nb to be a city in England, there must be a Bishop). The present building dates from the 17th century, and is generally reckoned to be London's fourth St Paul's Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral. This photograph taken from the Bankside Power Station; the Millenium Bridge crosses the Thames.
With long-time London friend Arthur Garrison, I bike to Oxford or about 100 kilometres. The trip begins from my house where we meet for a coffee, and passes through Richmond, skirts around Heathrow, crosses the Thames three times while traversing the countryside via Marlow, Fierth, Fingerest, Pishill and other charming and small villages then brings us to our destination via a dual carriageway and rather hard ride in. An occassional random red phone booth is spotted. Seven hours later we are at Oxford Startion and the train ride back to London. Arthur, fyi, is a satellite engineer at TRW and thanks to his mapping, compass reading and odometer, we are not lost even once.
This photograph of Ynon taken today on the Chiswick High Road, London, following a late Sunday lunch at "the Giraffe" (yes, child friendly). Yuval sometimes belongs to Shai and Ada otherwise he is running around like crazy. Afterwards and with Mary and fiance Philippe we visit nearby Turnham Green to spend our Sunday afternoon. The green is wedged between a gothic church, the town center and the busy high street and brings back memories of lazy afternoons spent in Central Park, NYC.
My favorite plant, the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is annual and in the Family Asteraceae, with a large flower head (infloescence). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall with the flower head reaching 30cm in diameter. Sunflowers are native to the Americas, and were domesticated around 1000 B.C. Francisco Pizarro found the Inca subjects venerating the sunflower as an image of their sun god, Gold images of the flower, as well as seeds, were taken back to Europe early in the 16th century. Helianthus is the Greek word for "sunflower" (9/7/06; definition from Wickipedia).
Our Agnieszka, or "Aggie," is from a small town in Poland and has lived in England for five years. She is well known in the community and still baby-sits for several nearby families. Aggie has a University degree in education, speaks three languages and is a delight with Eitan and Madeleine. While different from Letty's disciplined and direct approach, Aggie fills our house with her own warm vibe and keeps the kids on top of their game. This photo during books (NB Eitan saw the camera and bolted).
Madeleine wraps up her last day of school (7/7/06). While not an especially well framed image, the photo gives a broad range of action, which I like. The kids have fun, in the spotlight of their parents, who sit excitedly in the make-shift auditorium. Two years have gone by quickly, and now Madeleine is ready for reception (kindergarten).
On today, the last day of Montessori, the school celebrates with physical education, known throughout the Western World simply as "PE." Races include the potato carry, hat-pick-up-and-cone-dash and relay. Some of the younger kids are scared out of their wits by the audience of enthusiastic parents clapping and encouraging onward their future Olympians. Madeleine was quite calm, winning her "competitions" handily and anchoring the final leg of the relay. It is hard to believe that following three years Montessori will no longer be with us. Both kids will attend "Big Boy School" come September. Happily many of Madeleine's friends will join her and of course Eitan will be able to help smooth the way (Eitan: "I won't!").
The kids climb a treet (1/7/06) while I observe from away, and hope that there will be no broken bones. It is bound to happen and as my own doctor told me with a broken collar bone in third grade: "well son, no boy gets away scott free." And there you have it.
Eitan at our local wine restaurant. Now that the sun sets at 2100 and the tempature warm-like, I take the kids for a lemonade and run-around while I answer emails. From this photo, Eitan's baby teeth are not falling out while his permenant teeth come in. This will require the old hook and tongs at the dentist (local anethestic to be applied). The Boy, well aware of his plight as he has been forced to wiggle the fixed whitecaps for some months now, is quite eager for the Tooth Fairy regardless.
Madeleine proves herself to be a venerable traveler on her way to Denver, CO (19/6/06). Sonnet and her together for the week of Maire's wedding while I am Mano-a-mano with the Boy (me to him: "men together drink beer, look for foxy babes and stay up late watching TV." Eitan: "No way dad! but can we stay up late and watch TV?"). On the long-haul, Madeleine makes friends with two same-age girls and much of the trip is spent crayoning and watching in-flight entertainment. This photograph taken at the Marriot.
England's World Cup dreams end at the quarter-finals in the cruellest way - a penalty shoot out following extra time (2/7/06; photo from The Sun). The team played heroically weathering Wayne Rooney's ejection for stomping on the balls of Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho (red card; 10 on 11) and without captain Beckham due to injury. Despite the player disadvantage England kept the score nil-nil through regular time and two overages. Owen Hargraves, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville played decently and goal-keeper Paul Robinson above his average. Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon came off the bench and nearly pulled an historic victory but, alas - the penalty kicks decided the game and we missed three of four attempts from 10 yards out. Sadly this was the same outcome in the '04 game vs Portugal (the most exciting I have ever watched) and before that Argentina (World Cup '98), Germany ('96), and West Germany ('90). Thus ends the run of perhaps England's best assembled team ever... at least on paper.
This ancient Redwood rests in Big Trees national park, California, in a grove well suited for the gentle sequoia. From Wikipedia 'it is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious treet living for up to 2,000 years, and commonly considered the tallest tree in the world, reaching up to 112 meters in height and 7 meters diameter at the base. It is thought to be named after the Cherokee India leader, Sequoyah." Cool.
Madeleine tries on finger paints during a play-date with Kitan (30/9/04), art-work thanks to nanny Aggie whose energy keeps the kids on their toes. 
I attend a rather dry investors conference in the Swiss canton and town of Zug (22/6/06), where I recall from my year in Geneva that not much happens in Switzerland. Thus is the case here. The German-speaking town is next to the Zug lake, and foot of the Zugerberg (3,225 feet). The setting is charming, the people are fit and the vice underground. I took the photo with my phone camera, so the quality not as good as it could be. Still, I like the light reflected from the water, and the sunset quite lovely. 
England awaits the World Cup quarter-finals tomorrow Saturday. Eitan's heros include the obvious David Beckham who, despite general mediocre performance, remains a world-class set-player and has kept England in the tournament with two excellent bending corning kicks against Paraguay and 
Ecuador. Michael Owen, another favorite, is out following a freak accident in the opening minutes against Equador. We also pull for Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard and Joe Cole, who are playing to expectations and carry the weight of England's dreams. Dear reader do not under-estimate how important this game is.
Madeleine and her second cousins Bella and Lola take a ride on Charlie, a patient 26-year old horse at Aunt Martine and Bill Minnis's ranch in Colorado.
Participants gather for the wedding rehersal - 22/6/06. Maire and Scott's wedding took place in this field next to the Minnis ranch. The vista included rolling clouds, mountain ranges and tall grass. The ceremony was conduced by Maire's father, an Episcopal priest. The bride was delivered to the site in a cart drawn by Charlie and driven by her sister Molly, maid of honour. The bride wore a white full-length gown trimmed with blue and white check gingham ribbon, along with cowboy boots.
Madeleine and Sonnet spend the week in Colorado at Maire Minnis's wedding and celebration (25/6/07). Sonnet's family is re-united including mom Silver and her three sisters Robin, Missy and Martine and their husbands, brother Marcus, cousins Bru and Brooke and Molly and many others. This photograph taken in front of the local drugs store on a lazy afternoon.
Tim Larrison and I visit the Normandy beaches (17/2/02). We were blessed with fine weather, and guidance from uncle Larry Lee who provides a schedule of must-see places (Larry went to the 50th anniversary with John Eisenhower and Bill Clinton). What strikes immediately is the emptiness of the place, and the sand cliffs which provide the perfect vantage point for a downward pointing gunnery.
This photo taken in our Maida Vale flat, July 17, 2001.
Sonnet is under the covers likely exhausted.
Eitan scores a giant lolly at the the school fair, organised in part by your's truly. On a hot day in the UK (ok, about 85 fehrenhait) the community turns out to support the local institution, participating in auctions, inflate-a-slides, jumpy-castles, bbq and of course candy floss, popcorn and other forms of junk food. The fair is the school's largest money rake, beating out Christmas by a whisker. There is a lovely sense of community as mums and dads sweat out the stalls, while the kids run amok wired by sugar and the heat. The theme this year was 'circus' and while there were no cages nor animials, Zippo's suppled a cadre of clowns and jugglers. All in all, an A+ afternoon.
Christian Wright visits Germany and the World Cup (15/6/06), which began 9 June and matches the 32 qualifying clubs vying for the championship one month later in Berlin. Christian's itinerary includes London to see his England play in a proper setting - a smokey pub filled with maniacal fans drinking, cursing and sweating for the red and white. Fortunately for this afternoon, the boys eek out a 2-nil victory against Trinidad & Tobago, a team they should have beat handily. Still, the Capital erupts in joy; we celebrate at dinner on the Marlybone High Street.
Madeleine get's in on the action (17/6/06)
. Unlike Eitan who scarffed his treat on the day, Madeleine savours the experience and lords it over her brother' the rest of the weekend. The sticky gathers dirt, hair, dust... but this fails to pursuade Madeleine to throw the thing out. Sonnet and I try, but the screeches of protest unbearable. The final straw is the trail of blue, yellow and red across the couch, wall and any other exposed space under five feet.
Sonnet and Madeleine in front of 123 Lauderdale Mansions (19/10/02).
Madeleine up from a nap, and collecting herself before letting loose.
Eitan discovers the sand-trap at the local race track in Maida Vale (5/10/02). For a good hour or more he amuses himself - impressive when one considers that he has been walking for six months. Nb this is where Roger Bannister trained to become the first person to break the four minute mile. For my part, I pound away on the stationary bike or treadmill at the adjacent gym while recovering from various running related injuries.
I took this after-hours photo of two Mannequins on rue du Faubourg St. Honoree in Paris (9/6/06).
The kids hard at work at our local wine restaurant. Outside of the photo - dad with his glass of chianti.
This sculpture at the Royal Academy by Damien Hirst, b. 1965, perhaps the best known of YBAs (Young British Artists)(7/6/06). Death is a central theme in his work. He is best known for his Natural History series, in which dead animals (such as a shark, a sheep or a cow) are preserved, sometimes cut-up, in formaldehyde. His iconic work is The Physical Impossibility Of Death In the Mind Of Someone Living, an 18ft tiger shark in formaldehyde in a vitrine.
A beautiful day in London sees us in Richmond Park for a picnic and some piggy-backing. This weekend otherwise spent watching England vs.Jamaica, known here as the "raggae-ists," in a "friendly" football match before next week's World Cup. England's 6-0 victory spreads hope and elation across the island. Eitan, Madeleine and I have our all-England gear for Paraguay 9 June. Other activities include pool-side romp, bbq and Sonnet's chocolate pudding pie and Steve & Louisa's 10th anniversary party. To work tomorrow for some rest.
