If it isn't one thing it's another

I had a biopsy of my prostate last Thursday.  Of course it got infected and I wound up in the ER on Christmas day.  I find out the results on January 4th.  I'm a miserable old man.

Our 2nd Christmas

Last night was our second family Christmas.  All our kids and grand kids for dinner and presents. This is Cindy, Angelina and Austin.  They should all be models! 

Fiocca Family Christmas Party

Today was the Fiocca family Christmas party, hosted at my brother John's house. This is a picture of my nephew Jimmy who was our Santa this year.....kind of looks like the bad Santa!

Here we go again

Had my annual check up yesterday.  Doctor found a nodule on my prostate.  Have to go see a urologist on Friday.  What a pain in the ass....literally!

Some photo's of Jills wedding..Photo's by Patti Deveney

Family camping trip 2009

Camping trip 2011

It's all over

Well, it's all over.  The wedding was a great success.  Jill went to Mexico for her honeymoon, and had a great time.  They are a great couple, and I just love watching them together.  They have so much fun.  A good thing.  Here is the pre wedding video:
 http://www.midwestvideoproductions.com/jillian_&_gerry.htm 

Rehearsal Dinner

Tonight is the rehearsal for my Jill's wedding.  It's going to be here at my house.  The wedding is Saturday, and that will be the last of my kids to get married.  Jill took long enough....she's 32, but I'm glad she waited for the right guy. Jerry Shanahan.  Really a nice man.  Best of all he has a job, and has had it for over two weeks.  Actually 11 years, so I'm pretty excited for them and their financial future.  Jill is so excited!

3rd annual family camping trip

On Columbas Day we had our 3rd annual camping trip at Comlara Park in Hudson Illinois.  All the kids, all the grandkids!  Lots if food, none of it good for me of course.  Even the dog had a good time.  Jesse just had the time of his life as you can tell by the photo.

A new relative. Sabrina Catullo

A distant relative from Italy found me on Facebook today.  Her name is Sabrina Catullo. Her great grandmother was a cousin of my great grandmother Antoinetta Fiocca.  This is a picture that includes my great grandmother, my grandmother and my Uncle Bob.  It was taken in 1952.

Last day of August

         Where the heck did summer go?  Yesterday was Pauls birthday, and that is alwas a sign that summer is coming to an end.  I'm at Lakepoint this week.  Trying to replace a bad spot in the ceiling.  Got to fix all the water leaks on the outside of the trailer before everything rots away. 

Deven's fist day of first grade

This is the first day of school for Deveny.  She starts first grade today.  It is really getting scarey how fast the time is going by.  Before I know it she will be in college, and I'll be really really old! 

Went for a long bike ride today.  It was a perfect moring for a ride, so I went South to Hoff Rd and back.  It took about 50 minutes, and I was pretty tired when I got home.  Got to get rid of this spare tire I've developed.  It would probably get me off the blood pressure medicine as well.

Jesse Thomas Darlinger

My Grandson Jesse Thomas Darlinger was baptised today.  My first day in church in a long time.  Nothing has changed!  Had the party at Carl's house as it was Alliyha's graduation party too.  She's now a freshman at Lincolnway Central.

Yesterday was brother John's birthday.  We picked on him all day on Facebook.  He was a good sport about it though.

Another great weather day.  This must be what it's like to live in San Deigo

At Lakepoint Club

Today is one of the best weather days of the year.  Nothing like riding a bike in this kind of weather in a favorite recreation area.  Living the dream.  Doing a little fishing later tonight. 

Nani's birthday

It was my mothers birthday yesterday.  She turned 82 years young.  We went to Ghatto's for dinner.  John and Mary Ellen  and Johnny were there too.  Heat wave all this week.  We have been in the upper 90's all week and no let up in sight.  We need rain really bad.  The grass looks like a wheat field.  Hope it comes back. 

Viking Island and Outposts: Eagles of Viking Island

Viking Island and Outposts: Eagles of Viking Island: "Thank you Andy Chramowicz"

Viking Island and Outposts: What Happened to the Game Cam

Viking Island and Outposts: What Happened to the Game Cam: "Matt and I are having fun with a Game Cam that Arthur gave Hugh for Christmas. We've seen bald eagles, turkey vultures, squirrels and crows..."

Back from Canada

Back from Canada.  Actually we have been back since June 3rd.  It was another good fishing year, but a terrible weather year.  Rained almost every day.  I was surprised we got out of the bush when we did as it was raining and the clouds were low over the horizon.  We were about to settle in and wait until the next day for the plane, when it flew over the cabin and landed.  He only took four of us, so Larry and I waited a few more hours for his return trip to take us out.  By then the weather was fine.  Butch got hooked again, and then Dick had to follow suit and hooked himself in the exact same spot as Butch.  Don't need any more of that.  Now the countdown goes on waiting for next years trip.  340 more days!

Two more days

Two more days and we leave for Canada.  This trip seemed to to take forever to get here this year.  I'm really looking forward to the fishing....hate the long ride to get there, but everything else about the fly in makes you forget about the hours in the car.

Viking Island and Outposts: Ready to Fly, Waiting for Weather

Viking Island and Outposts: Ready to Fly, Waiting for Weather: "Russ Stephenson and Tim Kachur have the base cleaned up, the outboard motors checked and the floats pumped. They are hanging out on the doc..."

A great picture of Jesse.

Jesse on his firt Harley ride....with no helmet!

Alison finally named the baby Jesse Thomas Darlinger.  This picture should win an award.  It was taken by a friend of Alisons who is a professional.

Baby Darlinger Day

Alison had her baby today.  A boy.  No name yet!  They can't agree on a boys name, so we will have to wait.  This is grandchild number 8.  Now it's even....4 boys, 4 girls.  Got to go see the baby now.

Fishing in the neighborhood

First time fishing in the neighborhood today.  I have about 3 stocked ponds that are within walking distance, so I decided to walk to the closest one today.  No fish, but a good day on the water.  I have to construct a cart to attach to my bike, so I can bring everything I need with me for a afternoon of fishing in the neighborhood.  Maybe a baby cart?  Have to look into that.

Still to cold to ride.

It's still a little bit too cold to go for a bike ride down the trail by the house, so I have resigned myself to walking with the dog until it gets warmer.  The trail has almost no one on it yet, even the die hard runners.  Next week looks a little better, and hopefully we will hit the sixties.  Bella, my dog, can use the exercise as she has gained some weight since I went to Florida.  She just loves to be out in any weather.  Dogs never complain.  They just go where you want to go, and do what you want them to do.  If only they could cook!  28 more days and Lakepoint opens.  I've got the itch to be there now and do some fishing.  70 more days and I'll be on our Canada fly in fishing trip.  Patience Grasshopper!

Rain Rain Rain

Raining all day.  I'm stuck in the camper, reading and eating the time away.  I went for a quick bike ride, but it started raining about 20 minutes into my ride, and it has not stopped since.  I sure hope this camper floates!  I don't think I've been in rain this hard and this long, ever.....ever.  This is my first full day at this campground, and it's not been one of my better days in Florida. They say it's going to get bad tonight with high winds etc., so I rolled up the awning and put everything that can get wet inside.  Tomorrow will be a better day if I don't float away.  If I lose electricity I will be pissed as the TV is the only thing that will keep me from going nuts!  Please...............no brown out.

Speed Bump

These speed bumps hurt if your not paying attention.  It rained in the morning, but turned sunny about 9:00 today.  Went for a bike ride and almost killed myself on this speed bump.  Going to the dog races today, and maybe get a hair cut along the way.

Only in Florida

Only in Florida would you see this sign.  Went riding about 8:00 am to beat the rain.  I saw this sign and had to laugh.  Only in Florida would you see this.  Went to Bass Pro Shop in the afternoon to buy a fishing licence.  $47.50 for an out of state licence......geeeeez!  Hope I catch a fish or two!

Riding in Florida

Pretty nice riding my bike in Florida.  I'm riding around the subdivision Butch lives in.  It's about a 7 mile trip if you go down every street.  We have been doing this almost every day I've been here.  It does make the time go by.

Day 5 Florida

Spent the day at Butch's house.  Went fishing in the ponds and took a ride on his golf cart.  The golf cart ran out of juice and I would up puching the damn thing back to the house.  That was fun.  two 63 year old guys pushing a golf cart about a half a mile.  Sat by the pool and recovered.  Rode our bikes for about 45 minutes around the neighborhood.  Feels good to ride again.

Day 3 Florida 2011

Today I finally arrived at the RV Resort I'm staying at until March.  The photo is home sweat home until then.  I'm leaving the RV at the campground and driving to Fort Myers tomorrow to stay with 3 fishing friends from Illinois until January 24.  Butch has a house in Lehigh Acres, and we are lucky enough to be invited there for the third year in a row.  On January 24th he goes back to Illinois for a week or two and I'm going to be here at Crystal River, Florida until March sometime.  I love retirement!!!

Day 2 Florida Trip

I made it to Ozark Alabama today.  I started out driving in snow all through Kentucky, and most of Tennessee.  When I hit Alabama, the sun came out and I drove with sun glasses on all the way to Ozark Alabama.  Alabama is a beautiful state.  Great roads, scenery to die for, and friendly people along the way.  Weather is still kind of cold, and a storm is coming tomorrow night so I have to get to Florida ASAP tomorrow.  Hope I make it without driving through freezing rain.  Ugh! 

Day one of Florida Trip

What a day.  I left Manhattan at 7:15 am and had good weather until I passed Paxton, IL.  After that I was in constant snow and freezing drizzle until I reached KY.  Semi drivers are assholes!  They will run you over if you don't go over 75.  This is the first time I'm taking my RV on a long road trip, so I'm a little nervous about driving in the snow.  Well, I made it to Paducah Ky and  pulled into the first open campground I could find.  Not bad....$24.00 for the night, and they have cable TV.  No water...too cold.  No problem, I have my own.  Going to make a double manhattan now and relax.  Hope tomorrow brings better driving conditions.