"War Reenactments of the Lake George Region"

The Lake George Region, of Upstate New York, is a region rich in history. The birth of a nation happened here, and several wars were fought along this corridor to obtain it, such as The French and Indian War, The War of 1812, and The Revolutionary War. Each year folks gather to watch men and women alike come together "in peace" and try to re-create how people lived through those times of long ago. Demonstrations on the field of battle, aren't the only displays you'll see or hear either. You'll also learn about the clothing they wore, the jewelry they made, the food that was prepared, the music that was played and sang, the games that were played, and a host of other tid bits that will enlighten and surprise you, I promise! I believe it is healthy for a person to be able to have a glimpse of the past occasionally. We can get so caught up in today's hectic world, full of greed and materialism, that we lose sight of the "simple things in life"! In the end it's all about spending quality time with family and friends. So if you're interested in a hands on history lesson, checkout a reenactment.     

"The Home I Roam"

I love my home, the home I roam, the Adirondacks I call my own. A stolen land, from a people not known, with trickery and deceit, just to dethrone, but I came long after all of this, and even I am on their blacklist. In this land my roots run deep, their way of life I try to keep! I love my home, the home I roam, the Adirondack-s I call my own. Today the greed runs deep to the bone, and at times I think of leaving my home, but all it takes is a beautiful sight, to make my lips get really tight, to think of me leaving it, I can't condone, unprotected and all alone! So I'll stay and fight the good ol' fight, this I must, fore the greedy ones I just can't trust! I love my home, the home I roam, the Adirondacks I call my own...

"The 2009 Adirondack Balloon Festival, Thurs. Sept. 24th thru the 27th"

The Adirondack Balloon Festival will be celebrating it's 36th year, when they take flight on Thursday September 24th, from Crandall Park in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Rte. 9). Opening ceremonies along with the first launch (which will be limited to only a dozen or so balloons) will start at 5pm. The Stony Creek Band will also be performing in the "Shell", which is a new outdoor stage. Get there early, because the traffic will be thick! On Friday the 25th, the festival moves to the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury, where it stays untill it's end on Sunday. Friday's lift off is at 5pm, and will consist of roughly 60 balloons.

If you're looking for "the big show", then the weekend is where it's at! Make sure you get some sleep, and plan on getting up before the Rooster crows, because the morning launches both start Sat. and Sun. at 6:30am, with nearly 100 balloons participating! With high volumes of traffic a definite, the early bird not only gets the worm, but a good parking space! There will also be two afternoon launches Sat. and Sun. at 5pm, for the not so early birds. The Sat. afternoon launch will consist of 90+ balloons, with Sunday only having around 20, but will be offering (for a fee) rides to the public. There will be a "Big Balloon Breakfast" both days in "The Hanger", from 5am-11am, as well as food and drink provided by different civic organizations, Sat. 6am-7pm, and Sun. 6am-5pm. In addition to the balloons, there will be activities to help keep the children occupied, such as kite flying and a rock climbing wall. Kids can also show their creative side by participating in a Balloon Art Show! There will also be a display of different military aircraft to enjoy. On Sat. from 2-5pm there will be a DJ on hand at the Entertainment Tent, and on Sun. from 2-5pm The Jonathan Newell Band will perform. On Sunday (starting at 8am) the Entertainment Tent will also host a Catholic service, followed by a Protestant service at 9am. Entry into the festival is free, so hope for great weather, bring the camera, and enjoy! See ya there! :-)

"September 11th, 2001 "Never Forget""

"From Fair Dayze to School Dayze"

For my family, the last big events of the Summer are the fairs, then it's back to school! There are several fairs in my area that are worth checking out, but the one (that's not too big, and not too small) that I've been going to, just about every year since I was a young boy, is the Vermont State Fair. Located in Rutland,Vt, surrounded by the beautiful Green Mtns., this state fair offers a host of many things to occupy not only the children, but dads and moms alike. They have everything from food, games & rides, to a magic show, pig races, bear show, demolition derby (and other vehicle demos) live music, farm animals, a wildlife and forestry build., and my two personal favorites, a Maple Sugarhouse & Dairy Center, with much much more!

Fairs bring friends and family together! Explore all that it has to offer, and learn a great deal about the history, culture, and people of the area. So put aside your troubles, get off your butt, get your kids away from their video games, and enjoy the simple life of a fair! Looking back years from now, you'll be reminiscing about your favorite times there!

"Hurricane Season in the Adirondacks"

This photo was taken of me negotiating one of thousands (if not more) of downfall caused by Hurricane Floyd in the Adirondack High Peaks Region! My brother and I were hiking the Gothics and Armstrong just a couple days after Floyd came through! We met some guys that were insisting that we turn around and go back, due to the constant loss of trail. We decided to carry on with our "adventure", and in doing so, we payed a heavy price for our decision! I remember standing on top of Armstrong, watching the Sun disappearing under the horizon, with a profound sense of uncertainty, knowing we still had hours before we reached the trailhead, "if" we reached the trailhead! Completely exhausted, and running on fumes, we finally reached the vehicle at 2:30am!

These first few weeks of September mark the 10 year anniversary of the development and wrath of Hurricane Floyd, which at it's most intense became a Category 4 storm! Over 4 Billion in damages, and nearly 60 deaths in the U.S.! For the most part, we live in a pretty safe part of the country. We "generally" don't have to deal with massive flooding and mudslides, raging forest fires (threatening 1000's of homes) Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Volcanos, Tsunamis, etc... Yes, we get our occasional blizzard, ice storm, Earth tremor, smaller forest fire, light flooding, and the tail end of a hurricane, but I'll take any of those any day over some of the other natural pains that pose a serious threat to the "Human Condition"!

"How Times Change"

When I was young, my gram told me several stories about how things were back in the "olden days". One time she told me how back in the late 20's/early 30's, she used to cook for the prisoners being held at the jail, which was under the old courthouse in Lake George (Caldwell). She told me how she used to peel and cook up 50lbs. of potatoes for one meal!

When she was still in school, she used to do housework for the Jewish families, that vacationed at Fourth Lake every Summer. The kids there used to call her "Rite", because they had a hard time pronouncing her name, which was Marguerite. She bragged whole heartedly about how she made fourty dollars for the whole Summer, which she used to buy all her school supplies and clothing, and still have enough left over to treat herself to some candy! Boy, how I miss my Gram! She loved us unconditionally, and had a profound influence on who I am as a person today!