Trevor's Indoctrination into the Military Regiment SUNY Maritime

We were off to the Bronx again on Saturday for the Indoctrination Graduation at SUNY Maritime College. Trevor completed his two weeks of "boot camp". 
We proudly watched the cadets march in formation and recite the SUNY Maritime Oath. They also sang a fine rendition of "Anchors Away". 
On the car ride home, Trevor told us all the details of being a "MUG" at Maritime.  Cody, Ignacio and I decided the toughest part was sitting indian style, with a straight back for two hours every day with your arm raised at a 90 dgree angle reading a book....we were not ready to sign up! 

Commanders Salute Squad 9, E Company

Trevor's squad, he 3rd on back on left

Taking the Maritime Oath

Ignacio and Trevor and Cody's  Aunt Anne

Trevor and Matt Helms

The driving range and Wednesday Night at the Movies

Wednesday, August 25th
Will, Mark, Cody and Ignacio went to the driving range at Paxon Hollow Golf course today.  $5ucket of gets you a bucket of balls and the boys were able to practice their swing.  Cody said Ignacio definitely got the hang of golf!

The Inception was the Wednesday Night at the Movies choice.  I heard it was good but very hard to follow...we decided it was best that we see it again with Spanish subtitles since it was so complicated and Ignacio found some of the dialogue hard to follow.

The Dale Laners

Ignacio had a chance to meet most of my neighbors on Dale Lane on Tuesday night. Marie and Bob were kind enough to host the group for a barbeque.  It was a chance to meet and mingle with Ignacio and catch up on the Dale Lane news.  The Lucci family could not attend as they were dropping Matt off at Boston College.  Katie is leaving for Lehigh University on Thursday.  The dining room table was filled with lots of stuff for the college dorm.  Hope it all fits in the car!

Thanks again Marie and Bob!
Great to see everyone.

Ignacio, Cody, Katie, Zac and Emily

Jeff, Rita, Marie and Patty

Wildwood, another Jersey Shore town

Monday, August 23rd

Ignacio spent the day with Chris and Rafa, the other exchange student from Chile, in Wildwood. Chris's parents have a condo in Wildwood Crest.

Wildwood is best known for it's extensive boardwalk with rides, a water park, games and more.
Ignacio did not get a chance to see the boardwalk yet...we are planning to do that on Labor Day weekend.
Check out the link to Wildwood.
 Wildwood's website

At the beach in Avalon and a swim in the bay at Pierce's Point

On Saturday, we spent some time swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in Avalon.
Cody worked on perfecting his skimboarding tricks while Ignacio rode the waves.

In Avalon

At Pierce's Point along the Delware Bay

Catching bait fish

Bozzi is swimming too!

Ignacio and Cody with Ian and Dylan

Fishin' Friday

On Friday, Cody had to work so Ignacio and I headed out for "Fishin' Friday".  My friend, Frank Marshall, was our host for the day.  We fished in the back bays of Avalon near the 30th Street bridge.  I caught the first fish which was a very small sand shark along with some sea robbins and sea bass.  None of the fish were keepers.  Ignacio caught sea bass, sea robins and a flounder.  We were hoping the flounder was big enough to keep, cook and eat but it was on the small side. 
Check out these great fish photos:

our bait fish, bunker

Sea Robin

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Flounder

Ignacio on the "Fishin' Frank"

At the Jersey Shore

We headed to the shore on Thursday evening.  Dinner that evening was at Lucky Bones in Cape May, NJ.  There was a very good band playing and we enjoyed our dinner. Ignacio had Sauteed Salmon and Cody and I had Tuna.

Behind The Name Lucky Bones



Lucky Bones Backwater Grille traces its name back to the days when Cape Island was a whaling village and when superstitious sailors never set sail on Friday. These brave watermen would stow away good luck charms to protect them from the perils of the mighty sea. The "LUCKY BONE" refers to the odd hook-like claw found only on male horseshoe crabs it was worn by these men to keep them safe between the wind and the frightening mighty water, so they may return safe to their loved ones at home


Cape May is the southern most point in New Jersey and it has alot of great restaurants and shops.  The architecture is laregely Victorian which makes it very different from other towns along the Jersey Coast.

Trip to the Orthodontist

Ignacio got to meet Cody and Trevor's orthodontist, Dr. Francis Forwood.  Dr. Forwood was kind enough to fix Ignacio's broken retainer.  Thanks Dr. Forwood!

GloFrisbee

Ignacio was introduced to GloFrisbee on the turf field in Swarthmore.
Really Cool!

The Prep and a backyard pool party

We spent the morning touring the Prep.  Matt Fitzgibbons welcomed Ignacio and Raffaele and introduced them to some of the prep faculty.

In the evening, we joined my family for a backyard pool party.  Ignacio met Cody's cousin's Will, Lexi, and Kellen as well as my sister Karen, her husband Karl and my brother Bill and his wife MJ.
The highlight of the evening was the jacuzzi.

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Cody Airborne!

Ignacio

Cody, Will, Lexi and Nacho in the Jacuzzi

Visit to Fordham University

After our morning at Maritime College, Cody suggests a visit to Fordham University in the Bronx.  We navigate to the other side of the Bronx and take a short tour of Fordham.  The campus was beautiful and we could hardly believe we were NY. The architecture of the buildings was magnificent!  Too bad we didn't have more time.  The Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens were right next to the campus.  Maybe next time!

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Michaelangelo's on Arthur Ave, Little Italy, Bronx.  Our waiter, Beitria, recommended the Calzone which we loved.  Beitria told us he had moved to the United States 2 yesrs ago by himself and did not know a word of English.  He was orignially from Albania but had lived in Kosovo prior to moving to the US.  He and Cody had a nice chat about Kosovo when Cody explained he had driven through Kosovo on his way from Greece to Dubrovnik with his dad several years ago. He spoke 5 languages including Spanish so he and Ignacio shared a few words in Spanish.  When we asked about leaving his family and moving somewhere where you didn't know anyone and didn't speak the language, he told us "Life is short, and I am living to the fullest."  We all agreed he had a lot of courage and joie de vivre!

Trevor is off to College

August 15, 2010

Cody, Ignacio and I spent the day at SUNY Maritime College.  Today was Trevor's first day of school.  He began the military regimental indoctrination at Maritime.

We arrived at 0800 hours with two bags and a pillow and lots of enthusiasm.

Trevor is rooming with his friend Matt.

Today they packed their "sea bag" for their 2 week stay aboard the SS Empire State, got in their uniform workout gear and got their heads shaved.  Boot camp officially started at 1300 hours.

Ignacio and Cody explore the SUNY Maritime Campus

Welcome Ignacio

August 14, 2010

Trevor, Cody and I welcome Ignacio at University of Delaware.