Dennis and Deborah DeLong 2011 Holiday Newsletter

Our Sixth Year in Ossining Overlooking the Hudson River

Greetings! Every year we share the news of our travels, visits and family events. This year, we want to condense our newsletter to give highlights - but you can find out more by visiting our website at www.ddelong.net. For an assortment pf pictures depicting family events in 2011, see 2011 Photos

December 2010 - We spent the weekend of 12/18-19 at the Loyas and then on Christmas Day we visited Dennis' Mother, brother Doug, wife Linda and their granddaughter Kylie in Norwich. Later in the day we joined Mike and Pat in West Laurens for their family dinner and then spent Christmas night in the "Just Memories" B&B in Norwich. December 31st we flew (via Newark) to Ft. Myers to spend a week at the Condo. That evening we celebrated New Year's Eve at our favorite Ft. Myers “watering hole,” The Roadhouse Cafe.

January 2011 - Our week in Florida included golf at El Rio and dining at several other of our favorite restaurants. Including another visit to The Roadhouse Café. During our vacation, our fabulous neighbors again helped us, with Diana kitty and house sitting all week and after a huge snowstorm, Peter had cleaned-out our driveway. Grandson Sammy had his 7^th birthday on the 15^th. Dennis accompanied Deb to the Albany area for a meeting of the NYS Rural Housing Coalition (Deb is on the Board of Directors) and later in the month, Dennis traveled to Norwich again to visit his Mother, this time stating overnight with Mike and Pat.

February - We were both pleased to witness the Packers win Super Bowl Forty-Five, especially Deb who is a Green Bay fan – but Dennis rooted for them too. We traveled to VA to visit the Morgans and used of a coupon to stay overnight at the Vandiver Inn in Havre de Grace, MD on the way. We enjoyed our visit to VA, spending time with grandsons, Jack and Charlie (and Andrea and James too). At the end of the month, the Loyas visited us and we treated them to an Ethiopian meal at the Lalibela Restaurant.

March - Dennis ventured again to Norwich to visit his Mother and overnighted and dined with Mike and Pat. Later in March, we flew to Ft. Myers for our 2^nd vacation. This stay featured a number golf matches, raw bar at Pinchers, Mexican food at La Casita and jazz night and a meal at the Roadhouse Café and a one-day journey to Naples, FL which included lunch at Campiellos. Daughter Andrea’s birthday was on March 6. March also was Restaurant Month in Westchester County (featuring “prix fixe” meals and therefore more affordable prices). Among other great outings, we dined at the “Kittle House” (a favorite of Bill and Hillary Clinton) and “Half Moon” with its wonderful setting on the Hudson River.

April – Early on this month, Spring seemed to come not only officially but actually. Beyond our usual social activities during April, we expanded our vegetable garden and finally began to gain control of the “thicket” along our SW property boundary, including trimming back a humungous wild rose bush. We traveled in April and, of course, a number of birthdays occurred – Rob on the 18th Tami and Doug on the 20^th, and Nancy the 21^st – as well as our 15^th wedding anniversary on the 26^th! Our travels included a visit with the Loyas and Dennis made a solo trek to Virginia to visit the Morgans for four days during which he taught Jack and Charlie to fish.. Easter weekend the Loyas visited us and the Easter Bunny deposited many eggs and pieces of candy for Sarah and Danny. Grandpa Grump (Dennis) always threatens to trap the Bunny but so far has been unsuccessful! At the end of the month, Mike and Pat joined us in Rhinebeck to celebrate our anniversary. As is usually the case when we are in Rhinebeck we all lodged in the historic Beekman Arms Inn.

May - Dennis was named to the Board of Directors for the Interfaith Council for Action (IFCA) in Ossining – a not-for-profit organization providing affordable housing and other services to low-income persons. We resumed our practice of coordinating Deb’s meetings in NYC with an evening dining experience at yet another new restaurant: this time Gente's in mid-town. On the weekend, Dennis and Deb drove up to the Capital District to visit the Loyas, watch softball and baseball games for Sarah and Danny and then treated for dinner at Dennis’ favorite Italian restaurant in Albany, Sams, where he still is remembered by several of the waitresses. Dennis and Deb are always welcomed back by Sams’ owner Carmen (daughter of the founder). Dennis also traveled to Norwich to see his Mother and stayed with Doug and Linda. The end of the month featured our annual trip to see the Memorial Day parades in Oxford and McDonough, another stay at the B and B, Just Memories, in Norwich and a special treat. Doug had arranged for a medical van to enable Mother to watch the McDonough parade and visit McDonough and Oxford cemeteries. This trip also included a meal with Doug, Linda, Nancy, Tom, Mike and Pat at Fred’s Inn.

June – We began the month with our attendance at the annual awards banquet for the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation (WMPF) at the beautiful & historic Whitby Castle (Rye Country Club), an opportunity to meet socially with many municipal and county officials. Later in the month, we enjoyed a visit by one of Deb’s long-time friends, Marguerite, from Wisconsin. Marguerite used the visit to travel by Metro North several days to NYC for sightseeing, plays and concerts. The three of us dined together during the week as well, including the Eastchester Fish Gourmet Restaurant and its wonderful and affordable raw bar. That evening became quite an event in that grandnephews Mike and Sam Osterhaut were stranded at JFK airport due to massive thunderstorms in the region. The three of us drove through tremendous rain and traffic to rescue the boys, who stayed overnight. The boys rode up with Dennis who was joining his brother Doug and friends Mike and Craig at the Beaver Kill for trout fishing, then connected with the boys’ Grandmother Linda and Uncle Bruce to finally make it for their visit in Norwich. Deb also journeyed to Troy to visit the Loyas and witness Sarah’s 5^th dance recital.

The month of June became even more significant during another trip to VA by Dennis to help out with the boys as Andrea’s delivery date (early July) approached. Andrea’s MD decided to move up the date and the twins, Nicholas and William, were born on June 15^th! Dennis got to see the babies and Mom in the hospital and then was relieved by James’ parents. He returned to Ossining to participate in his first IFCA meeting. Near the end of the month, Dennis and Deb flew to Denver for a HUD conference for Deb. We had fun having dinner one night with Deb’s nephew Sean Bazewicz and his wife Carrie. The end of the month ended tragically with the death of six-year-old Leah Osterhaut, daughter of Bruce and Melissa and granddaughter of Doug and Linda. Dennis and Deb traveled up there for the very moving but excruciatingly sad funeral service.

July - Deb and Dennis traveled up to Norwich to visit Dennis’ Mother for the 4^th. We stayed at Just Memories and dined with Mike, Pat, Doug and Linda at Fred’s Inn. We started our New Hampshire vacation by stopping over in Whately, MA to dine and lodge at the historic Whately Inn. The next day, we met Mike and Pat for a raw bar lunch at the Dinnerhorn Restaurant in Portsmouth, as has become our tradition, before checking-in to our usual pair of cottages at Crown Colony at Rye Beach. On the way to NH, Deb and I continued another tradition – breakfast at Cliff’s Café - a cozy little spot in the lovely little Northern Massachusetts settlement of Townsend. The week in NH with Mike and Pat was its usual wonderful adventure full of ocean vistas, great meals and golf.

Later in the month, Dennis journeyed to Albany to fetch the little Loyas (Sarah and Danny) who spent four days with Papa Bear and Grandma. Since Deb worked two of the days, Papa Bear was in charge of entertainment and meals, It went pretty well although Papa Bear probably was too bear-like a few times. Thanks to our wonderful neighbors, Diana and Peter, the kids enjoyed their pool every day of their visit! On Sunday we played golf with them at Fishkill Golf Club, where the big Loyas joined us for lunch and then reclaimed their children. At the end of the month, Dennis traveled to Norwich again to see his Mother and stayed overnight with Mile and Pat. He also got a chance to see Linda (maiden name. Emmick) Ormon, his classmate from Oxford Academy’s Class of 1959, who joined Dennis, Mike and Pat for dinner at Fred’s Inn.

August - Dennis started an online course, as a part-time adjunct with Online South University, to teach an undergraduate course in American Government – a course he will repeat in December. These are five and a half week courses and are very intense. Seventeen students from all over the US were enrolled. The writing-intensive course kept Dennis very engaged commenting on and grading small papers and online discussion items. Dennis also took a ten-day trip to Missouri to visit and help-out the DeLong/Federman family as Rob and Belle began the Fall semester at Missouri State University where they both teach, and grandchildren Sammy and Clare began school for the Fall. Dennis’ teaching duties made the visit even more hectic but enjoyable nevertheless. Dennis flew to Kansas City where Rob picked him up and they attended a Yankees/Royals baseball game before heading for Springfield. Rob, Clare and Dennis played golf and Clare, who is on the Central High Women’s Golf team, whupped both her father and grandfather! We all attended Sammy’s welcoming (to second grade) experience and a piano recital and generally spent quality time together. Later in August, Dennis and Deb traveled to Norwich to visit Dennis’ Mother and enjoyed another stay at “Just Memories.” It is noted as well that grandson, Jack Morgan, turned six on August 3^rd.

September – This month was planned to include a family outing to Yankee Stadium for Deb, Dennis and the Loyas. Unfortunately, Tami suffered a gall bladder malfunction and had surgery. Consequently, Tami and Dan weren’t able to make the trip to the Stadium. Dennis and Deb journeyed to Troy to visit Tami in the hospital and fetch the little Loyas. So, on Sunday September 4^th, Sarah and Danny accompanied Grandma and Papa Bear to the Stadium where our friends Treacy and Pete joined us all for the game and then dinner at the Hard Rock Café. This trip was enabled by the new Metro North stop at the Stadium, which allows travel to games in a bit over 30 minutes. The outing was fun bur everyone missed Tami and Dan, especially since the whole idea was largely Tami’s.

There were complications following Tami’s surgery, so in addition to returning the kids, Dennis and Deb spent a few more days there to help-out and assure that Tami was recovering. Dennis’ online course ended September 10^th making his life a little less hectic and allowing a trip to VA with Dennis’ sister, Nancy. She came by Amtrak to the nearby Croton-Harmon Station from Rochester and then the following day she and Dennis drove to the Morgans to spend five days assisting with the four boys. Nancy, now labeled “Great Aunt Extraordinaire,” was especially helpful with the babies. While there we celebrated Charlie’s fourth birthday on the 23^r and Dennis took Charlie and Jack fishing again – this time Jack insisted that we bring the eight sunfish home alive. As you can imagine, the sight of the fish thrilled Mom Andrea! The fish, in Iroquois tradition, now are fertilizing Andrea’s rose bushes. Upon our return to Ossining, Nancy returned home via Amtrak. We noted also, Danny Loya’s seventh birthday (on 9/22) and the 19^th Anniversary of Rob and Belle (on 9/4).

October – This month is notable for Sarah Loya’s 10^th birthday on October 3^rd and the Wedding Anniversaries for Tami and Dan (12^th) on October 10^th and Andrea and James (8^th) on October 12^th, otherwise the month was fairly quiet. Dennis and Deb traveled to NYC twice early in the month to join friend, Treacy for Art openings and dinner. Later in the month, Dennis again went to the Norwich area to visit Mother and go bird hunting with his brother, Doug. While there, Dennis, Doug and Linda dined at the Ontario Restaurant in Norwich and saw Cynthia Rogers, Dennis’ former classmate, who operates the restaurant. As in past years, Tami, Sarah and Danny visited us to take in the Blaze with Deb. This is an annual event at the Van Cortlandt Manor featuring thousands of pumpkins in creative displays. During the stay, we all dined at the Umami Café – one of Grandma Deb’s, Tami’s and the kids’ favorite places. Long-time friend, Ande Szabo also came up on that Saturday evening to spend time with the visitors, and to celebrate his birthday with us.

November – This month, noteworthy trips included a Veterans Day weekend during which we traveled to VA to visit the Morgans – Deb’s first time with the twins. It was a nice visit with good bonding with the older grandsons and quality time with the little ones. We all made it out to the Potomac Park for one afternoon, and we treated the family with take-out from the “Outback.” Dennis’ deer hunting trip was enjoyable although typically fruitless. He did appreciate the card playing, meals and camaraderie with Doug, friend Craig and son-in-law, Dan Loya. While the guys were off deer hunting, Deb traveled to Troy to visit the rest of the Loyas. To celebrate Thanksgiving, it has become sort of a tradition every other year for Dennis and Deb to spend time alone away from children and grandchildren and travel to a “exotic’ (loosely speaking) location. Past years this taken us to Cape May; Long Beach, NJ; Montauk and Boston - as well as to Santa Barbara and Grand Canyon during our time living in California. This year, we traveled by train to Philadelphia, stayed on the 27^th floor of the Embassy Suites with great views, ate in two fabulous restaurants, toured the historical sites, and visited the famous Reading Terminal Market. We also shared and received calls for both notable November birthdays: Deb’s on the 24^th, and Clare’s 17^th birthday on the 25^th.

December - As the Newsletter is being written, we are preparing for Christmas and Dennis’ 70^th Birthday party. Dennis visited his Mother, giving her a Christmas present and was joined by Doug for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Nursing Home. Once again, Dennis stayed with Mike and Pat and dined with them at Bella Michael’s restaurant in Oneonta. For Christmas we will join the Loyas and will experience Santa’s visit and the kids excitement on Christmas Eve and Day. At the end of the month, Dennis and Deb will journey to Arlington, VA and join others for Dennis’ birthday and New Years at the Key Bridge Marriott.

Dennis is also hard at work on his second on-line course for South University, which has just begun.

Of greater note is the culmination of a lengthy process through which Dennis has updated, revised and finalized his science fiction novel entitled: Encounter with the Trigorian Extraterrestrials. CreateSpace, a division of Amazon, is publishing the book. Dennis will be in contact with all on how to purchase the book, (hard copy or electronic version) later in the month.

We are pleased to share our 2011 with everyone and wish you very happy holidays and a great 2012!

Dennis and Deborah DeLong

Ossining, NY

December 10, 2011

Written by Dennis - edited by Deborah