RPI Ballroom Competition 4-10-2010

Here are the videos that Jeff promised. Hannah did a wonderful job! She placed 9 times and brought home 8 ribbons, including a 2nd place in Silver Cha-Cha and 1st place in Bronze Jive!!!



Ill post more soon! Suz

RPI Tournament and Saratoga Battlefield Tour

Yesterday, Susan, Hannah and I set off early for the RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic) Ballroom Competition in Troy, New York near Albany. The morning session was reserved for the smooth and standard dances that aren't Hannah's favorites, with the afternoon reserved for traditional Latin and rhythm dances like the Cha-Cha, Rumba, Jive and Swing.

Knowing that we had a few hours before the events where Hannah would really shine, Susan and I drove north to visit The Saratoga National Battlefield Park near Lake Saratoga. OK, I think I dragged Susan. Once a history geek, always a history geek.

The 1777 Battle of Saratoga, or battles of, were pivotal to the American cause in the Revolutionary War. New York and most of New Jersey had been lost in 1776 after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 2nd. France was on the sidelines waiting for a signal that the young American country could succeed. The capture of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga was that signal and the War of Independence took a dramatically different turn after that.

There's something about seeing the terrain in person that get's lost in a book. Standing on Bemis Heights inside the American lines, one can see why Gates and Kosciuskoo choose the location that they did, why the British tried a flanking maneuver at Freeman's Farm and why Benedict Arnold's final assault was so pivotal.

That's right, Benedict Arnold, the famous traitor was a hot headed but talented officer who rallied American troops that had been repulsed from the Balcarres Redoubt assault and brought them in behind the Breyman Redoubt as Daniel Morgan's Continentals attacked from the front. This rolled up the British flank, forcing their retreat and ultimate surrender. Arnold was shot in the leg during that assault and carried a limp for the rest of his days. A 'boot' monument marks that spot today.

Just finished reading an excellent biography on George Patton. A brilliant tactician, his strategies often boiled to “hold him by the nose and then kick him in the A$$.” Standing there 233 years later, one can clearly see that's exactly what Arnold did.

Susan will post more today about the competition. Hannah came back in the afternoon and took home eight ribbons including a first, second and third place.

93 Degrees Yesterday

It's hard to believe that the mercury hit a whopping 93 degrees yesterday, especially on April 7th in Connecticut. It would seem that we've transitioned from a four season climate to a two season one: hot and cold.

Last week we had quite a bit of rain and some flooding. No real damage to anything, just created a traffic nightmare as the number of roads over Talcott and Avon mountains were reduced.

Had a nice Easter, 85 and sunny. The whole family was here. We hope that yours was outstanding as well.

Gavin, Evangeline and I visited the Wadsworth Antheneum, Hartford's art museum, the day before EASTER. They both had a paper to turn in and needed to do some research there. I'm always a sucker for art museums, so I went along for the ride.

For a small town like Hartford, they have a really impressive collection. There were several Picassos, Rembrants and Van Gogh's - including this self potrait. I imagine that between the Colts and the big insurance companies that there has been some significant patronage over the years.

This coming weekend, Hannah will compete at the RPI in greater Albany. She's to move up and will dance at the Silver level. Hopefully, we'll have a few new photos and what not to share via the blog.

Take care all.

Websites and Blogging

Hannah and Susan left this morning at 5am for Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Harvard Invitational Ballroom Tournament. Left to my own devices for the day, I managed to keep up with the laundry and didn't even turn anyone's socks pink.

While bumming around the house, I got started on my latest project: a website for the Simsbury Farmer's Market. I had responded to a call for volunteers in the Simsbury Post. As it turns out, they were looking for someone to build a website and blog as well as start an email newsletter. For some reason, I volunteered... and I'm quite glad that I did.

This weekend's assignment was to create a simple place holder site and style sheet that could be used for a larger site. Most of my work has been industrial and business to business, so the look and feel of this site were a little bit different. Plenty of work still to do, but it's headed in the right direction. Check it out: http://www.simsburyfarmmarket.com.

I've also spent a bunch of time on bouldenhistory.org, our family genealogical site. Having studied history in college, I've always been drawn to my past. Working on the lineage charts has helped me understand the connections that link one generation to the next, and encouraged me to learn more about the individuals on the chart.

The narrative histories collected by my father have provided an education. I never knew that William Louis Boulden fought in the War of 1812 and used his bonus to buy his wife out of indentured servitude from the governor of Delaware. Neither did I know that her descendants came to the colonies because they were on the wrong side of Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War.

Pretty cool stuff. Alright, no more blogs about Boulden history for a while.

Derrick Leaves for the US Army

Over 100 of Derrick's family and friends gathered last Saturday evening at Simsbury's Coon Club to say goodbye to him. He left the next day to be sworn into the United States Army at Westover Airforce Base in Massachusetts before proceeding to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for 10 weeks of basic training. Upon completion, he will progress to Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) and ultimately Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia before joining the 82nd Airborne's Rangers.

Susan and I provided our home made pizza for the event. It took most of the day, but we were able to provide sheets of Cheeseburger, Barbeque Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper for the event. In the spirit of the Coon Club, a hunter's getaway, there was also Southern Barbeque and a roast leg of venison grilled over an open flame. A good time was had by all, except for my belt which suffered repeated assaults as it was loosened throughout the night to cope with all of the food.

Derrick, Erick, Gavin and Fred had really become the four Amigos over the past year, doing everything together. Derrick was in many ways like a third son to us. In fact, he joined us on our August trip to the Jillson Cottage in Empire, Michigan. A polite, respectful young man, we wish him the best and will hold him in our thoughts and prayers throughout training and his eventual deployment.

Gavin and Erick have not rushed down to the recruiter to join up and follow Derrick. They are both continuing in their present course at Tunxis Community College. More to come.

Holy Croos Ballroom Competition 3-13-10

Yesterday, Hannah competed at the Holy Cross Ballroom competition. She had to be at the bus by 5 am and then I left at 7am. While she was dancing her heart out I was video taping her. I left at 2:30 to return home and poor Hannah did not get home until after 11:30pm. I always love watching her dance so I thought I would post a few of her dances for viewers to see:)

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Itching for Spring

Yesterday it got warm. The weather channel reported a balmy 57 degrees. It warmed the face and the back of your neck as you walked around outside. The kind of warmth that hadn't been seen around these parts in at least five months.

It was also the perfect day to take one's dog for a long walk. Setting out just after 1pm, Sadie and I walked nearly eight miles up Iron Horse Boulevard and alongside the Farmington River. A few miles down stream from the Tarrifville rapids, the river meanders through farmlands and open fields. Thank goodness that the Town of Simsbury and the State of Connecticut set aside large tracts of land adjacent to the river as a nature preserve, closing it to development. The combination of the openness, lighting and warmth made it just beautiful.

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This was also the first time that little Sadie (all 80lbs of her) had the chance to spend some time with other dogs. The first dog she encountered was an Irish Setter. Approaching very gingerly, she touched noses and then backed away quickly. OK, a little intimidated. Later in the walk, we ran into a Jack Russell terrier who had the nerve to bark at her, sending a terrified Sadie behind my legs. I could almost hear her say "Dad, protect me." After the taunting by that 12lb dog, she was done. Geriatric Labradors sent her scurrying for cover. We'll have to work on this.

Before leaving, I spent a little time looking at content management solutions for www.bouldenhistory.org. Wordpress has been suggested by a number of sources as a great 'off the shelf' content management solution. While researching Wordpress, I came across this cool blog posting about Haiti, from Dispatches from a Fragile Island. Unable to stay on task, I had to check out the photos. I know nothing about the author or his project, but was struck by the photos: happiness in the midst of tragedy.