Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Tuesday 21st May 2019.... walking day!!!

Today was a little different as last Jonah was sick and his parents took him to the doctor last night he has a fever and they gave him some medication...and decided to keep him home from day care today but this morning he was feeling much but they wanted him not to go to school but also not to get too close to Izzie...


So after breakfast the sun was shining and I took Jonah for a really long walk in the stroller...he seemed to enjoy the fresh air and then after a while fell asleep...we did not get back till almost mid day!! 


We stayed home for a couple of hours eating lunch and watching some cartoons. Fore going off for another long walk...he was feeling much better and we went to a park where he saw the ducks and played on the swings before coming home!!


Tonight Gracie and I went out for Chinese food which we both enjoyed!!


So glad he is feeling better and that now it seems the sunny days are here to stay!!


Yashi Kochi!!

Monday, May 20, 2019

Monday 20 th May 2019... in the movies!



When I took Izzie out in the stroller this morning about five minutes away is this restaurant and there was at least 100 technicians and film crew around....


A scene from the 2007 series finale of "The Sopranos" filmed at Holsten's in Bloomfield. The ice cream parlor and candy shop is also being used for the prequel movie "The Many saints of Newark”

It was the last place “Sopranos” fans saw Tony Soprano, munching on some onion rings with his family, before the abrupt cut to black in the series finale.




Now, Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery, a Bloomfield ice cream parlor and candy shop, is set to become a part of “The Many Saints of Newark,” the forthcoming movie that will serve as a prequel to the show.

Holsten’s staff said the filming, delayed because of rain, would begin on May 20.

The movie, which is partially set in 1967, during the time of the Newark riots, filmed for a week in Newark starting on May 7 at Branford Place near Halsey Street and Hobby’s Delicatessen.

As of Friday, the production had installed a vintage-looking advertisement for Sprotts Bread (“Fresh-Baked Goodness”) on the side of Holsten’s.

"

On Thursday, Holsten’s shared an image of retro signage being installed and assured customers the business would stay open on filming day.


For the Newark set, storefronts were transformed to look as if they existed more than 50 years ago. The old Adams Theatre was resurrected, marquee and all (playing “The Dirty Dozen,” a release from the summer of ’67). Streets were drenched with water and strewn with debris as background actors played Newark residents, police and National Guardsman in armored vehicles. Cameras captured the action from the street and a crane high above the scene.







Alan Taylor, the film’s director, and one of its stars, Alessandro Nivola, could be seen on set in Newark in recent days.

Nivola plays Dickie Moltisanti, father to series regular Christopher Moltisanti. The actor stars alongside a cast including Michael Gandolfini, son of James Gandolfini, who originated the role of Tony Soprano and won three Emmys for his performance in the show. The elder Gandolfini, who was born in Westwood and grew up in Park Ridge, died in 2013, at the age of 51.


Michael Gandolfini, who just turned 20, will play a young Tony. In March, he stopped by Holsten’s and took a photo in Tony’s booth.

We got onto the set of 'The Many Saints of Newark,’ the ‘Sopranos’ prequel. See the first photos.

The movie, which filmed in Newark on May 7, took the city back to 1967.




“Sopranos” creator David Chase co-wrote “The Many Saints of Newark” with Lawrence Konner. New Line Cinema is slated to release the film in theaters Sept. 25, 2020.

Other “Many Saints of Newark" cast members, whose roles are unknown, include New Jersey natives Ray Liotta (“GoodFellas”) and Vera Farmiga (“The Departed”); Leslie Odom Jr., who won a Tony for “Hamilton”; Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher”); Corey Stoll (“First Man”); Billy Magnussen (“Aladdin”); Jon Magaro (Chase’s “Not Fade Away”); and Italian actress Michela De Rossi.


At least 3,000 people auditioned for a chance to be an extra in the movie in Newark on April 25.


Yashi Kochi!!!

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Sunday 19th May 2019..... scenic drive!!!!

We had a wonderful fresh and home cooked breakfast this morning at the air bnb..this really was a ten star accommodation!!!


I had planned a circular route through some of the small mountain passes and the drive was really nice...quiet small roads!!!!





Scenery along the way....















We then parked and did this walk...
















It was a hit after but the wind kept us cool...


Great views!!!


The drive back was good until we reached the George Washington bridge and it took us a while with all the traffic...


It was nice to get away for a couple of days and we enjoyed the peace and tranquility!!!


Tony we start our three days in a row of babysitting!!


Yashi Kochi!!!

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Saturday 18 th May 2019...road trip!!!

A great day for our mini road trip to the Catskills area.......the drive was lovely although we did have to do some interstate driving....we went to our air bnb first and dropped off our bags it is an amazing old stone cottage located right on the river...breakfast included and the have a tub!







We then took a really scenic drive through the hills and valleys to the famous small town of Woodstock.......



Did not know this about Woodstock!!!







Walked around a little had some lunch and we found a flea type market area and we both treated ourselves to a pair of polarized sun glasses...I have never worn them before and boy what a difference they make and a great price too..20 dollars !!!











We then continued on a scenic mountain pass to these lovely water falls..





A short hike to the viewing area!!


Just beautiful!!!





Then back to out guest house..they supply tea and coffee and tea and we were still full from our lunch....so relaxed with tea before I jump in the tub!!


Will have to work on a route back home for tomorrow..I have some ideas so stay tuned!!


Yashi Kochi!!

Friday, May 17, 2019

Friday 17th May 2019...hiking day!!

Another lovely day and perfect my hiking day to here





About a 35 minute drive away...


Enjoy the views of the waterfall hike and then the hike around the reservoir ...



























It was about six miles and felt good to be out in the quiet woodlands...


I went to pick up Jonah after day care and we went to the park which he always loves....


Emily and Ryan are going out for dinner so we have night time duty!!!


Tomorrow taking off to the Catskills for an over night trip it will be my first time there..stay tuned!!


Yashi Kochi!!!

Thursday, May 16, 2019

() Thursday 16th May 2019.... a drive around!!!






Beautiful sunny day and Emily is now off work for the next two days so later on in the morning I took the girls and baby Izzie on a drive to all the parks I had seen when I was walking and we finished up at the lovely waterfall park!!!











Then we drove around some of the roads with the huge homes with manicured lawns and gardens and finally finished up at a great restaurant for delicious pizza!!


Around 4 pm I went to pick up Jonah from day care but this time because it was so nice I took the stroller and walked to get him.....we walked back through the park and then stopped to kick the soccer ball around before finally coming home via another park to see the ducks!!





Lots of fresh air today!!!





You don’t have to be a sports fan to think the following story is so sad....here is a man with so much talent a talent which millions of kids including myself wished we possessed  and he does antics like this.....

In my humble opinion as well as the fines imposed he should also personally give every ticket holder their money back plus fifty dollars!!!!



Kyrgios throws his racquet and a chair before forfeiting match

Nick Kyrgios admitted "emotions got the better of me" after forfeiting his second-round match with Norwegian Casper Ruud at the Italian Open.

The Australian, 24, was in the deciding set when he was given a game penalty, reportedly for swearing, to trail 2-1.

He then kicked a bottle, threw down his racquet, hurled a chair on the court, picked up his bag and walked off.

Kyrgios was fined 20,000 euros (£17,461) for unsportsmanlike conduct and also lost his prize money.

In addition to the prize money of £29,366, he forfeited the 45 ranking points gained during the tournament and was told to cover the costs of his hospitality.

Writing on Instagram, he said: "Very eventful day to say to the least. Emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to say that the atmosphere was crazy out there today, just super unfortunate that it had to end in a default.

"Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe."

Kyrgios has a history of fines for poor behaviour on court and in March clashed with a fan at the Miami Open.

Earlier this week he served underarm during victory over Daniil Medvedev, while his actions on Thursday came as it emerged he told a podcast interview that he "could not stand" Novak Djokovic - who he described as "cringeworthy" - and called Rafael Nadal "super salty".

In the 50-minute interview, Kyrgios, who last year said he was talking to psychologists to address mental health issues, was asked about his opinion on a number of tennis stars.

After branding Roger Federer the "greatest of all time", he went in on Nadal, calling the Spaniard his "polar opposite".

But he had nicer things to say about Britain's Andy Murray, currently out of the game following hip surgery.

"It sucks not seeing him around here, in the locker room he was the best," he said




Kyrgios' past controversies

  • In 2015, having already been fined for an "insulting remark" to opponent Stan Wawrinka, Kyrgios was given a suspended 28-day ban and £16,200 fine for making lewd remarks about the Swiss player's girlfriend.
  • The following year he was banned for eight tournament weeks and fined £20,560 for his behaviour - including "lack of best efforts" at the Shanghai Masters. During the match in question against Mischa Zverev, Kyrgios also argued with a fan and received a code violation for swearing, after which he was fined for breaching the ATP code of conduct.
  • In the same tournament the next year, having earlier received a warning for smashing two balls out of court in frustration, he stormed off midway through his first-round match against Steve Johnson. He was later fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • The Shanghai Masters was again the venue last year when he was involved in a prolonged argument with French umpire Damien Dumusois during his first-round exit.

Analysis

BBC Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:

In October 2016, having shown minimal effort in a match with Mischa Zverev in Shanghai, Kyrgios was suspended from ATP tournaments for eight weeks.

A year earlier, in Montreal, Kyrgios had been given a suspended 28-day ban for making a lewd suggestion about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend.

This time, the Australian can expect at least a heavy fine.

He will be one of the most talked-about people at Roland Garros when the French Open gets under way in 10 days' time. But not because he is thought to have a chance of winning.

Kyrgios is an entertainer, both with a racquet in his hand and when airing his unfiltered views on a podcast, but regularly laments his lack of conditioning.

He is happy to admit he plays too much basketball.

And he knows a coach would probably be a very good idea, but prefers the freedom of only having to answer to himself.


Yashi Kochi!!!

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Wednesday 15th May 2019...I got real lucky!!!!!




Beautiful day but started out with an almost disaster..we decided to take Izzie out in her stroller which was in the garage..funny when I went into the garage yesterday I said to myself this is dangerous because after you open the door to close it you need to pull down on a slot in the door and I said to myself this is not good you could get your fingers smashed in the slot..so this morning I got her stroller out pulled down on the slot and turned to say something to Gracie and the next thing I had smashed my fingers in the slot I let out a terrifying scream and Graciela came running..I was on my knees I thought I had broken all my fingers

Looks pretty innocent...

This is what got me...






Even the kind man next door came running over....it took some minutes to calm myself and I knew I was very lucky that my fingers were not broken but three of them were blooded and swollen and hurt like heck...

Went inside and Gracie got me a dish with ice and I soaked my hand and really the pain almost went away....I could move the fingers and I felt ok...My fingers are sore and I know my nails will turn black....but could have been much worse....





....we continued to get Izzie in the stroller and went for a lovely walk around the park...

Some shots along the way...









The tennis courts are a long way from being ready!!








This afternoon we just did some computer stuff whilst Izzie and the later on I went to pick up Jonah..we haven’t been able to do much the two days because of the weather and he does love to go see the ducks so after school today drove him to a new park where he enjoyed seeing the ducks and then using the play ground equipment....











This evening we sort of have a routine..it gets a bit hectic when everyone is home with feeding ..bathing..cleaning up and bedtime..so Gracie and I take this time to be downstairs and we watch Jeopardy and then an episode of West Wing....I know it has been out many years but if you have not seen it well worth watching...lots of seasons and episodes....


Then usually around 9 pm Gracie goes upstairs and plays piano and studies Spanish and I stay downstairs and watch the live hockey games that are on most every evening!!


Well a different day for me just so glad to be relatively unharmed from my accident!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!

Thursday 5 th January 2023…it was a great run!!!

 This was my first ever blog post back in November of 2006!!! With just a couple of days off I have written a blog every day since and I hav...