Thanksgiving 2008 

We celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with the Republican side of the Kent Family greeted lovingly by a bill on the front door. The Democratic Kent Family (including two foreign diplomats) provided the h'ordeuvres and drinks. In typical Democratic fashion, we gave them away. 

Kaiser, the Kent's puppy, enjoyed battling Peter and Alex, and as always tormented Bo-Bo the cat (seen hiding behind the television). Pam's mother Maggie provided about as much entertainment as anyone would want–none of it publishable on an open blog. The highlight of Thanksgiving had to have been the fabulous meal prepared by Pam and her mom. We left full and happy and with leftovers of the incredible pie and cake! 

View from the Kent's home on Hall Hill, 

the arch conservative Republican, and the chef.  

Alex sacrificing a toy to keep his arm.

Peter tug-o-war with Kaiser. 

Bo-Bo the cat: the smartest of them all.

Maggie teaching the boys that your 80's is when you begin to live!

The feast

Bored on a Snowy Storm Day 

in Rumford

Falcon Soccer 

Awards Night 

Soccer Awards Night:

Coach Dumas sharing the stories of the year

Soccer Awards Night

The boys give Coach Dumas a group hug after the Falcon Boys' Soccer awards. 

A Night in Lewiston

Lugging Wood Pellets

We carried two tons of wood pellets last week with my brother Fred's truck. It wasn't so much the lugging of pellets as it was the back and forth of driving that made this a long-long afternoon. But, we're warm. 

We had a ski season kick-off dinner on Saturday night with the Bennett Family of York, Maine. Kathy & Jim and kids have a ski home in Rumford Point and have a family ski pass at Rumford's local area, Black Mountain of Maine. Here's to winter dinners and movie nights in 2008-2009... and lots of snow! [Click on photos to enlarge]

Today in Rumford...

Four years ago...

I'm reminded this morning by an email from Dr. Jane Cicala of Slovakia that four years ago Michal was living through the election (defeat) with me in Rumford. The upside four years ago was that the Red Sox won the World Series after some 80+ years of not winning. 

Here's to Michal and his studies in the Prague! And here's to Obama & Biden!

--Rich

Affluence of Later Autumn

Even in November—
leaves aren’t really falling
as much as trees are giving
fertility to earth

—everywhere is full
in possibility.
I’m overwhelmed by air
just recently released

in space once occupied
by greenery—the sky
revealed! Returning south,
abundant snowbirds fly.

~Son Rivers 2007

NOVEMBER PITCH
...for my players

The whistle, shrill and chilling,
Calls an end to the powerful quads
Dashing the field and
Stills the goal-ward snap-headers.
The ‘keepers, scraped and bruised,
Sit back on their heels as the
White chalk settles from the final corner kick.
The orange flags give a weak
Wave, then die unnoticed while the
Nets, touched but once, sag.
A light cloud of dust scuffed up
By molded soles whisks into the
Dead grass near the woods.
With blazing forwards and
A blinding low sun
Victory graced the home team; while
The pitch, cold with November, knowing
Nothing of nothing to celebrate,
Waits to be put away.

rk