Onteora Candids

I shot several thousand still images on a 35mm Honeywell Spotmatic in the mid-1970s. The vast majority where shot on bulk-loaded Kodak Plus-X that I would usually push a stop or two. Being a teenager at the time, many of those photos were shot around my high school, Onteora Central School, on the days I actually attended. Many of the better shots, not necessarily the ones without gratuitous “birds” and “moons”, went into the `74, `75, and `76 OCS yearbooks. Most just sat in glassine envelopes for decades.
There are more than a few duds, but certainly some kind gems among this first tranche of 700+ “Onteora Candids”. A few of my faves, among many, are below; the rest in Smugmug on clicking through. Enjoy!

Fran and Lacey

Bianca

West Shokan Bus

Jason and Tony

Mr. Fiedler

Marjie

Andy

Barb

Mr. Wesselmann

Mike

Ellie and Sherry

Phish at Phenway

It's been a whirlwind getting the proverbial deck clear for next week's Bonnaroo run. But not so busy to pass up seeing Phish at Fenway park on Sunday - my first show since the 2-night run at Tweezer ahead of Coventry.

Decent Seats

Blinky Lights

The Best Just Ahead

It seems too easy reminisce about the past. We have all these facts, this evidence, that proves how great things once were. Fine: the past is fixed; but the future is not. So while a quantitative measure of ones decrepitude may be trending downward toward a ground state; the upside is limitless insight, wisdom and opportunity. Me thinks it's a good thing.

Shep, Lori, Chris (ca. 1990)

Post Lake

I fondly remember summertime in the early 1970s at Post Lake in Wisconsin. I was in awe that Barb and Judy could easily get up on one ski. At the time, I couldn't manage to get up on two. I think to some degree that "wanting to be same" stuck with me; and maybe that is why skiing remains such a passion of mine.

Post Lake 1972
I'd gone back to Post Lake a few more times in the late-70s and early-80s; it was great, but it wasn't the same vibe.

Post Lake 1975

Prison of the Rhythm

We're getting into the swing of things as Memorial day weekend lies just ahead. Rhythm is a good thing. A great thing , really. Both in the pendulum-like accelerations behind the boat; and in the pattern of simply being at the pond on a regular basis. The good stuff.

Paul Turns at 4-ball

Jack the Judge

Shore Station

The boat lift is in. It turns out you still need a driver, but there is no dispute there is less dock faff when the boat is ready, held just above the water.

Paul Leans Against Air

Skiing to the Handle

The pond warms up quickly. Gone are the chills and the spray burn. Thoughts start to return to technique. Maybe escalate to two sets tomorrow if my patella allows.

Tech Talk

Brooke's New Ski

Brooke was smiling as she got the feel of her new ski.

Early May Set

All Work, No Play

Just back from meeting with a client and their client. Brilliant view, despite the clouds.

Nice View

Work and Play

I managed a quick set yesterday and today. The water and air were chilly, but today the wind was down and out of the south. This made actually getting around all buoys possible. "Work" remains the compliment of "Play"; and thankfully there is some balance. A busy week ahead, and just five weeks until Bonnaroo!

Spray Burn 2009

Brian and I skied an unhurried set this morning, my fourth day out this year. Whereas the past three days I had been whining about it being cold; the subject of blame has now shifted to that of spray burn. Ahhh, that tender spot on your trailing calf where hydrodynamics and physiology come together to make Mr. Ouchy. I searched this blog and was pleasantly surprised to find when I last brought up this topic in 2006, it was already June! So the good news is that we are about a month ahead of the game. Right on!

On the Water

The air temps in the mid 80s and a sunny late-April day. The gang gathers and we are back.

Paul Leans with Care

Dubes 2009 - Day 2

A week goes by and I peg any sort of warming trend incorrectly. The air is a few degrees cooler (but the breeze lighter) and the water the same chilly 55. What a fool I am for not bringing any neoprene. The water is higher and there is almost a current on the pond as evidenced by the busy spillway. Anyhow, we did some course work, and I tried not to whine; and had one short, sweet set. Noon tomorrow, the gang will be there, photos to follow. Psyched!

Dubes 2009 - Day 1

This is season 18, 19, or 20 at Dube's Pond. Dave isn't sure. But we think it is one of those three. Along with Brian, we braved the 55 degree water and 65 degree air to get our first passes of the 2009 season. Brrrrr. Windy Too. But it felt good to get out and now be pleasantly sore. Quick estimate: 20 seasons, 50 days a season, two sets a day, six passes a set... that 12K passes. And we're still not perfect (yet).

Ye Olde Connelly

Happy and Bleeding

After a morning of noodling around with Python, "Pythonizing" as I described it to Steve, I succumbed to the mood of the day and started listening to tunes. It's hard to grasp that it has been almost two decades since PJ Harvey's "Dry". A fave of mine, which harmonized well with Wendy&Lisa and JH for many long, bliss-filled summers at Rangeley.

Hunter Cove (ca 1992)

Portland

Although only 90 minutes away; we just don't get to Portland often enough. Last night a gallery opening, and a good sushi dinner at Benkay.

Gilbert's Chowder House

Limpy the Deer

About a year ago we were distressed to encounter an injured deer that didn't look like it had a chance. This past month, Limpy, as we have come to call her, is back on the hill. It's uncomfortable watching the slow movements; but she looks healthy and alert.

Limpy (March 2009)

Five Great Days

Back at work after five great days. The photo below showing Upper Plunge with the fun not nearly used up yet...

Skier: Gidget

KTEX2009 Day 5

It was forecast to be snowy, but the day was blue skies and some wind. I found that the skiers right of everything on 9 was great. Speaking of Blue, air-Blue arrived in the afternoon, we had dinner at Hongas, drinks at Excelsior, then Noir Bar where Steve is still MIA.

Andy and Danni

Shep, Chrissie, and Clara

KTEX2009 Day 4

First tracks in ankle-deep pow down Plunge and Lookout. Any other commentary is superfluous.

KTEX2009 Day 3

A gorgeous, sunny day, if a little bit windy at times. Skied with the girls in the morning, then rendezvous with Gabriel for his 2PM local's "early start"...

KTEX2009 Day 2 PM

You just never know you may run into in this old mining town.

KTEX2009 Day 2 AM

Sun shining bright, I rode the fourth chair up 8 and the second up 9. Lookout, Bushwacker twice, and then Lookout to Cats Paw (still soft) to come back an meet Heidi at the airport. Sweet!

859AM at Chair 8

KTEX2009 Day 1

Day one was great. There was nearly a foot of fresh, dry pow on the hill as I got out to ski for the first time this season (yikes!). Serious electrostatic forces pulled me to Chair 9, where I found they have added a footrest and safety bar (yawn). My fave of the day, which I must have ran five times, is hard skiers right down the start of Lookout. It was essentially fluffy, nearly untracked stuff, with few bumps to throw me off... well, I did go out the front once in a painless powder face plant. ... The sun is out this morning, and another fine day is in store

Tuesday Morning Downtown Telluride 705AM

Telluride Arrival Drama

Over perhaps a dozen trips to Telluride in the winter, I believe I've only been diverted on the inbound once. Well twice now! Came in from Phoenix on a Dash-8, practically a jumbo next to the Beech 1900s. Below minimums, we diverted to Montrose. Picked up 5000 pounds of Jet-A; and 22 passengers got off while 3 of us stayed on. Gabriel said the weather was looking OK, and sure enough, we shot the approach at 2000 ft ceiling and 2 mi visibility.

Our Dash8

Ulster County in the 1970s

There has been a revival of interest in the historical record of Ulster County, Woodstock, and Onteora High School from the 1970s. I took a whole bunch of photos back then, and some of them have found their way onto my Smugmug account linked below...

• Onteora 1976 Yearbook
• Onteora Candids
• OCS Senior Class Trip
• Onteora Era
• Bearsville Era (late 1970s)
• Bushkill (West Shokan) 1970s
• 1970s Faves (mixed bag)
• Bushkill Video Highlights

Don Jennings (1974)

Linus-Like Behavior

Linus has been a handful lately. Our mellow male bully sometimes wakes from sleep and gets all up in the face of his bed. I doubt he's possessed, although I can't prove it. Will have to pay more attention and seek professional help.

Stink Eye

Eleven Years On

It's been eleven years now without Chris. What makes a spirit so strong that years, even decades later, it illuminates ones life? I miss and curse Chris at the same time.

Coming Home From Killington, 1980s, Susan and Chris in Vermont

When I Grow Up

It was November 1992 when Chris and I were driving to Killington in his Jeep for some early-season skiing. The Lemonheads “It’s a Shame about Ray” had become a hit that fall with their cover of “Mrs Robinson”. On the way home, after a few beers; Chris, in his warm, Texas drawl started singing “there’s still some of the same stuff we got yesterday…” over Evan and Juliana. And so it was through Chris’ atonal mashup of “My Drug Buddy” that I discovered Juliana Hatfield.

I quickly discovered the Blake Babies– I had probably heard them on WFNX in the late 80s. And with “Hey Babe” and “Become What You Are” I was hooked. Juliana’s music would be the soundtrack to many 90s summer weeks on Hunter Cove in Rangeley. Well Juliana, PJ Harvey, and The Golden Palominos. Through the 90’s I made it to perhaps six JH gigs. Most memorable: 1995 at Avalon with Jeff Buckley opening.

For well over a decade Juliana’s music has been a catalyst for reaching my emotions. Sometimes pleasantly painful, like listening to her early 90’s work when I’m just pissed at Chris for being dead. Sometimes deep, like the riff at the end of “Ten Foot Pole”, which to me, is the quintessential, instantly-identifiable JH guitar vibe. Sometimes pissed-off – why didn’t Gods Foot get released? And how do I fix that?

Juliana’s memoir “When I Grow Up” was an enjoyable, illuminating read. The cadence of the book is not unlike a Beckett play; especially if you have some suspicions on how things might turn out… or not. Keep going!


Juliana (Manchester, NH - May 12, 2000)

Christmas 2008

We went with Ed and Claudia to Pesce Blue in Portsmouth for the traditional "Seven Fishes Feast" on Christmas Eve. Yummy. Then a mellow, mild, day with no stress at all - and the dogs happy to get out of the house.

Spring Conditions (Mine Hill Christmas, 2008)

Blue Skies Up Ahead

My emotions are amplified this time of year. What is it about the "holiday spirit"? For children, this should be a magical time - indeed, what isn't magical in your youth? And why does that fade for some? The news of Tery this year, like other tragedies that have worked to align with the stars, makes me even more in awe of this life's great arc. Good and bad.

Pig-Pen Party: Maureen, Tery, Andy, Kathy, Mike, Rick, Shep (1977)

Missing Tery

I remember Tery carrying around that Pink Floyd album with the Hipgnosis cover. Shit, that's ambiguous. The one with the man shaking hands on fire. Wish you were here.

Tery (1975)

The Ice Storm of 2008

After four days "off the grid", power, landline phone, and broadband found their way back to us. We are fortunate that we are off of a state highway that has been well maintained. It was still an ordeal. More pics on the click-through.

An Attractive Nuisance

About the year we moved into Manitou House, the Town of Olive had cleared trees and established a roadbed for what would become Hillside Drive in West Shokan. When the snow fell that December, the fat and gullible city kid would be one of the first to challenge it on sled. Of course, I went right past Rick's driveway and into the creek.

I garnered a small amount of `cred, in that I could actually hurt myself. A year or two later, "the pit", became the focal point for much mini-bike activity. I don't think I ever damaged myself too bad, although the possibility surely was there. And in time perfected my cross up.

A Vinyl-Only Evening

We stayed close to home this Thanksgiving. Ed and Claudia cooked an amazing dinner. I got to see Zoe and David. And Susan and I had a "vinyl-only" evening. I think the vinyl-only bit is vital. Three decades later, my early 1980's Technics SP10 still works fine. The LP of the evening... the original Utopia album from 1974. Frog included. Very cool.

Griff and Geo abhor daylight (Bearsville 1979)

Geo

I spoke with George today: my dear friend from "The Bearsville Era" is on the mend. It seems like only yesterday Carol, Geo, and Eddie had their digs in Mt Tremper. That was thirty years ago. Frick!

George in 'B' control at the Ted Rothstein-modded Quad-8 desk

Super Freak

Dee called and said "Halloween Party" and so we were up for it. Susan was much more into her 70's revival than my 80's rock guy move.

Rick James

The Great Depression

Perhaps because I was viewing it through the rosy gloom of youth, that last recession in the 1970s didn't seem so bad.

The Bushkill Boys (1974)

Hint of Fall

Team Nautique, Malibu, and Mastercraft each took a one-third share in a boat lift for the pond. We reason that this is a productivity tool; making it easier and quicker for us to get on and off the water. I'm missing the ROI analysis; but the idea seems sound. Water now in the 50s; the ski set days are numbered, maybe one or two.

More Dog Days

This summer, like many before it, seems to have slipped away. This isn't such a bad thing. Without question, fall is my favorite season. I find it hard to find any fault will fall. Even the raw, cold, rainy days. Yet strangely, I'm missing this summer already. These past twelve weeks have been uncomfortable at best. Plans to visit friends and family unfairly disrupted by the uncertain economics. But life is good - and the water is still warm. Well warmish.

Leona all better

Dog Days

Leona became sick after after a prey-drive toad encounter, so I regrettably sat out today's event. Brian provides some play-by-play. Scott's pics are here.
Good to hear Leona is doing better. Record books are probably not going to change dramatically, but it was a truly great day. The pond was kind to most, and I know a couple of personal bests were set or equaled. Team mastercraft and nautique both performed flawlessly. Dave had a strong 38 showing. Brooke ran 30 consistently, and got well into 32 when I was in the boat. Unfortunately I missed her second round, so I'm not 100% on the whole day. I skied marginal, mid 32's, couple mistakes cost me big. Anxious to get some skiing this week...
Julie Hommel- definitely most improved over June
Jim Degnan- 2 @ 35
Skip, Pat, Paul, and Bruce all saw 38
Justin Peterson- 1 @ 35
Dan Warner- 4 @ 35
All I can remember.... It was a great weather day and lots of fun. Ski soon, Bd

No Toads Here - Leona on a toad-free day (2008)

Terzo

I have purposely forced my way into paying a dinner tab by saying something like "I'm doing OK, when you are doing better, you can pick it up." I had used that line some time ago, and perhaps more than once, with Heidi. So this time around, despite being all camped out on her couch and all, she used the same logic right back at me: I was treated to a fabulous meal at Terzo. Highly recommended in a city where the food is better than the superlatives.

Remembering the 1980s up on Alpine

Whipple Ave.

27 years ago I flew JFK/SFO on a DC-10 for my interview with Ampex Corp in Redwood City. I remember my doe-eyed stare out the left side of the plane; my first adult view of the peninsula. Although I had never gone through that sequence of events, everything seemed natural: the plane flight, renting the car, driving for my first time southbound on 101, the warm evening air blowing in the windows, drowning me with excitement, like a fly in “absinthe classic”. My destination was an orange-roofed Howard Johnsons (is there any other kind?) on Whipple Ave where I would stay the night before the interview.

I repeated a similar but different sequence of events this morning: a BOS/SFO flight I’ve flown countless (80?) times, renting the car, and then a strange thing. I’m driving south again on 101 to have coffee with some friends when I exit on Whipple Ave and drive past that (still) orange-roofed Howard Johnsons. A warm feeling comes over me. The actions portend something good, I believe, just as it did back in 1981. I hop back on the 101 to meet my friends, just off Willow, not Whipple Ave.

Another Terrific Weekend

A too-short visit with Ron and Faith up on the coast of Maine. No drama. A birthday for Ron. Lobsters. Beach. Sun. And just down the street - so to speak. Nice!

The Gang

Team Mastercraft

Brian took up the slack (literally, but not so well at his -35 one ball) this week as I've been anxious about my upcoming travels. It was nice to get in drama-free daily sets, even if I've slipped back a few buoys. I'll blame it on the cooler, more-dense, roller-y water, even though I know it is in my head.

"The ski doesn't know if you are having a bad day."

A Terrific Weekend

The flight back was a mess. Eighteen hours to go LAX/BOS on what was supposed to be a five hour non-stop: Two planes, one with a stubborn rudder.  Three mechanical incidents and one medical incident. Everyone OK, life goes on. ... My "LA Weekend", however, was bliss, and the photo below captures the feel...

The Arts and Crafts Vibe of West Hollywood (2008)

Relentless Blue Sky

A stinging, omnipresent blue radiates from the southern California sky. Well in the day anyhow. No doubt this is considered a virtue by some. I'd prefer some variation, but for now - no complaints. Today (so far) we've had all sorts of activities, not all unique to la-la land. An F250 pickup truck moves back less than a foot and disfigures my friend's pristine E63. Bummer. The cats go to the vet and move closer to town. Cats aren't so pleased. Sushi (at Sushi Roku) for lunch. Much better. And for dinner we plan to meetup with an old college pal. Things are looking up for that blue sky.

BLD Restaurant

Dinner at BLD was nice - the conversation was better. Cindy, Tamara, Kurt and I yap it up.

Walking in LA

Hearing Dweezil cover some of his dad's material from the Missing Person's era got me thinking about, well, the Missing Person's era. So I'm here in West Hollywood and will take a stroll up Melrose with my camera and see what turns up. In theory, as I take each photo, it is tagged with the GPS data in the EXIF field and placed here on the map at the bottom of my SmugMug page. While I work the bugs out of this, another approach is to hit my TravelSmugShots gallery, select any picture, then click the "map this" button in near the top right of the page.

Zappa Plays Zappa

What a terrific show! And a watershed of ideas for things I hope to write about. There is no doubt this music speaks to me... I remember Mike Mondor at the Woodstock Youth Center, the older one (~1972) down by Tannery Brook, not the new one (~1974) up on Rock City Road, playing "Willie The Pimp". Then there are countless adolescent moments that had FZ as a soundtrack. And finally, my mind drifts back to the summer of 1977 where my Joyous Lake gig had many great moments. In any event, Dweezil is amazing. He's his own man, but he is also his dad's son. And this band doesn't suck either!