Not an endorsement

Picture Day

This is Lucy all dolled up for picture day at school. The plan for her was to let her hair down and brush it out before the picture was taken. Not sure how that worked out. She lost her brush so we, at least, know it was taken out of her backpack. The kid can't take a bad picture, in my opinion, so I'm not worried.

Running a 5k

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I got into a conversation with some one going by the name of Bigoil on my fitness blog and he suggested I sign up for and run in the Green Camp 5K coming up on Sept. 13. I have never run in any organized race of any kind.

I have been doing some running workouts around my little 3-mile route and I know I can cover the distance before the race organizers pack up and go home for the day. So, I signed up.

Last week I did the route by walking the first five minutes as a warm up, then I alternated running with walking in 90 second intervals until I got to the last 2/10 of a mile from which I concluded the course running. It took me 34 minutes.

Last night I decided it was time to see what I could do. I knew I was not going to run the entire course, but I figured I could run more than I had been. So I ran for the first 10 minutes, then I walked for 90 seconds and ran again for as long as I could before resorting to two minute running intervals with 60 to 90 second walking intervals. I ran the final 2/10. It took me 34 minutes.

I guess if I were to be accurate I should go back and replace all the “rans” with “jogged” but I think you get the idea. I am not so much running as I am clumsily walking with little jumps instead of strides.

I am afraid to put too much running (jogging) into my work outs for fear of injury. I need to weigh a bit less before I start pounding my knees too much. I will be there in Green Camp. I committed money to it. I would like to finish in less than 30 minutes, but I am not going to kill myself.

This morning I want to ride 62 miles on my bike but right now it is a bit foggy. I think I need to wait until that clears a bit

Goodbye middle age

Hello old age! My first AARP solicitation arrived in the mail this week. I won't be 50 for about a month. I don't think I am going to join. I have not been to Denney's since the night the U.S. Soccer team beat Mexico 2-0 at Crew stadiumto qualify for the World Cup.


These guys didn't see the loss coming. But then, I didn't see the AARP card coming either.

Second Day of Second Grade

First Day of School

Lucy is a second grader

Lucy dressed up for open house

Vacation Slide Show

I couldn't get the music right and got tired of trying.

Ad libbing on Lyon Mountain

Every movie is unscripted

The movie of our ascent of Lyon Mountain on Monday, Aug. 4 2008.

The girl can climb

Lyon Mountain was the toughest of the three Adirondack mountains we have climbed thus far. She flew up the final, very steep, mile and was full of energy on the top. The crazy hat is worn only on mountain climbing expeditions and has been up all three peaks with us. If she looks a little muddy it is because the entire climb went up a fairly-fast-moving-stream bed. Hurrah for Lucy! More pictures are posted below and there are some videos coming.

A Frog Story

Lucy bought a grow frog at the aquarium. She checks its progress every few minutes. So far, it has not grown much.

The reason for the trip

Front row: Austen, Mom, Dad, Lucy
Back row: Michael, Ellen, Carol, Tom

Ferry to Vermont

We took the ferry from Port Kent, New York to Burlington, Vermont to visit the ECHO aquarium.


Aunt Carol, Aunt Ellen and cousin Austen were along on the trip with us.


On the Vermont side of the lake you see a lot of Lake Monster stuff that you don't see in New York. Is it just crafty marketing or are Vermonters a little more willing to believe? I don't know.


It has been said that the best thing about Vermont is the great view of the Adirondacks. It is a great view, but I wish we had more time to spend in Burlington. I have always had a great time there.

Lucy wants to go back.

Two People, Two Summers, Three Towers

We made it! It was a muddy slog up a mountain stream bed, but we made it. Lucy and I, in the company of my siblings and a nephew got to the top of Lyon Mountain Monday morning.

Back row from left to right. Ellen Schvetz, hiking out of Evergreen, Colorado; Mike Graser, hiking out of Liverpool, New York; Lucy Graser, hiking out of Marion, Ohio; Austen Halpern-Graser and Carol Graser hiking out of Galway, New York. The front row is Tom Graser of Marion, Ohio.




Lucy and Austen were the first climbers to reach the summit. They really pushed hard through the last mile, which was very difficult. They celebrated later in a hotel room party which consisted of root beer, popcorn, sugarless cookies and "American Gladiator""


The top of the mountain was very foggy and the view from the fire tower was no better than the view on the ground. Lucy, however, while gleefully informing us of her fear of heights, scaled the tower to complete her climb.


Uncle Mike was the first one up the tower, but the fourth climber to the summit. He was also the first climber back to the parking lot.
It was the first time the four Graser siblings had ever been on the top of an Adirondack peak together without the aid of an automobile!