Seals! Here on Long Island!

Never in a million years would I have dreamed that there were seals on Long Island, and that they would be just down from where I used to swim as a kid in Zach's Bay!!! But there they were yesterday, frolicking in the icy water just off the shore line. The were beautiful to behold.

Ten True Things About Long Island

http://www.movoto.com/ny/long-island-stereotypes/

Tonight

http://longisland.news12.com/news/weather-update-blizzard-warning-issued-for-li-1.6709568

A Long Island State of Mind

I lived ON Long Island not IN Long Island; When I leave New York, I say I am from Long Island and everyone is expected to know where that is. II say "yo" often and cal people by an abbreviated form of the name. For instance my name is Larry but I am called "La". 

Mustard should never be considered as a burger condiment and I know what real pizza and coffee taste like. I know that a bagel is more then just a roll with a hole in the middle and it's a hero, not a hoagie, or a sub, and I wash it all down with soda, not pop or cola.  All good nights must end at a diner. Every town has one. It is the place where all out of town visitors want to go. 

Yea, it sounds like I spell "walk," and "talk" with W's in them but you're the one that actually tawks weird (and do not try to tell me that "dog" rhymes with "log"). I don't go down to the shore, it's called the beach and I have one 20 minutes away in every direction. I know that 55mph really means 90 and a yellow light means floor it. When someone cuts me off they get the horn ... they expect it. 

The sun shines here most days. We have four distinct seasons and although we complain about the humidity in the summer and the cold in the winter we love it here. Fall is our best kept secret. Come here in September or October and  you will understand.

I go to The City, not Manhattan and I am not dumb enough to take a car there when I do. "New Yorkers" who are not from The Island or from The City, are "upstate" and therefore not really from New York. I'm from Long Island and we are self contained. We never see a need to leave and when we do can't wait to get back.

Riding my bike to the marina this morning brought some special treats. The bay was nearly placid. The only thing that disturbed it were the Fire Island Ferries. Several blue law crabs swam effortlessly along side of the dock. A loon dove for fish. Just a handful of people were there.

A Swallow dove for me then turned at the minute. The splash pool was empty. The sun rose quietly. A lady was at the water's edge sitting looking over across the bay to the barrier island and the lighthouse.

I love Long Island's south shore.

Last Evening's Thunderstorms

Having grown up on Long Island, I can recall some pretty wild summer thunderstorms. However many time because of our topography and geography we can miss the boomers that New Jersey and Upstate NY get hit with. Long Island's weather is unique. We can get rain when the rest of the state is shoveling out snow. We get lots of sunshine.


Yesterday afternoon we got hit with some tremendous storms, knocking out power and causing local flooding. I happened to be in my Bronco with 2 grandkids when they rolled in. We had gone to the Great South Bay to swim and had enjoyed some fun when the dark clouds rolled in. The kids  wanted to stay and watch the storm come so we did. Lightening was striking all over. Wind and rain came. It was a sight! Watching it with two children I dearly love added to the excitement.


Life can bring storms. Sometimes it can bring a steady rain. Financial trouble in this economy is widespread. Stress on families is great. Sometimes an ongoing medical condition can bring unspeakable steady stress. I love the saying my daughter has up in her living room. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is learning to dance in the rain."


Jesus told about two men, a foolish one and a wise one. The foolish built his house on the sand, the wise on the rock. The storms came, the floods rose and beat against both homes. The foolish one's came down with a crash while the house on the rock stood firm. He is the Rock of Ages. Build your life on him and you will weather life's storms.

Roosevelt Field

Back when Roosevelt Field was a shopping center, before it was enclosed into the huge mall it is today, there were little huts where Hot Pretzels were sold. I believe they were 3 for 35 cents. I remember my dad buying them for us and enjoying one himself.

Life was certainly much simpler back then. We didn't have all the technology we have today. We talked and played more together.

Can I suggest something to those who are parents, grandparents and uncles and aunts? Children still very much need and want time, our undivided attention and to be with them, enjoying what they enjoy. It is amazing how Little League is still Little League and how the backyard is still an adventure for kids when an adult is there to converse with them.

Father's Day is a week from Sunday. Children are in need of their Dad. Some do not have one. Be a Dad to them! If you have children, grandkids or other relatives who are young, the moments spent with them are priceless.

Some thoughts from the Island this day.