Frank Picchione

East River Beach

They've recently built a big new dog run right on the East River. The turf is made of a sandy, gravelly substance that is supposed to neutralize odors, which it seems to do. Dudley loves to gallop through it, and he leaves the park with a mouth (and beard) full of the stuff. In the warmer months they keep a kiddie pool for the dogs. Dudley runs straight for it, hops in, and wades about. It is a peaceful setting, and I really enjoying sitting there, watching him play. When the sun is out, reflecting off the river, and the sky is very blue, you can almost imagine you are at the beach as you gaze across the sand and out over the water. That is until you realize you are staring at the 59th Street Bridge. 

Brandy - Right Here (Departed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXf-2kJ9kkQ

When you feel your hearts guarded
And you see the breaks started
When the clouds have all departed
U’ll be right here with me

B rock…
Darkchild..
We back..
U’ll be right here with me

You’ll be right here with me
oh, oh x16
You’ll be right here with me

When your life is going to fast,
off the train tracks
I can slow it down, oh
just when you think your bout to turn back
‘Stead you might crash
I’ll be your ground, oh

oh when you feel your hearts guarded
and you see the breaks started
and when the clouds have all Departed
you’ll be right here with me
and when your tears are dry from crying
and when the worlds turned silent
so when the clouds have all Departed
you will be right here with me.

oh oh x10
(x2)
i will be right here with you
you’ll be right here with me

when your trapped and there’s just no key
and you can’t breathe
i breathe for you
the fire’s got you down on both knees
and the walls are closing in but i will
break it through
and when you feel alone
im a be at home
whenever comes and go
you know i got you

oh when you feel your hearts guarded
and when you see the breaks started
and when the clouds have all Departed
you’ll be right here with me
(you’ll see the sun)
and when your tears are dry from crying, crying
and when the worlds turned silent, silent
so when the clouds have all Departed
you will be right here with me.

I will be here right beside you
every step you take, yea
i will be your strength your shelter
shield you from the rain

(x2)
(oh when you feel), oh when you feel your hearts guarded
and when you see the breaks started
and when the clouds have all Departed
you’ll be right here with me (right here)
and when your tears are dry from crying
and when the worlds turned silent
so when the clouds have all Departed
you will be right here with me.

(x4)
i will be right here with you
you’ll be right here with me

yea

Painted Toes in a Twilight Pool

More Leona, 'Cause I Can't Get Enough of Her

 
It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going coming thought I heard a knock
Who's there no one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
If you didn't notice you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'ma be ok

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

I couldn't turn on the TV
Without something there to remind me
Was it all that easy
To just put aside your feelings

If I'm dreaming don't wanna laugh
Hurt my feelings but that's the path
I believe in
And I know that time will heal it
If you didn't notice boy you meant everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'ma be ok

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

Since there's no more you and me
It's time I let you go
So I can be free
And live my life how it should be
No matter how hard it is I'll be fine without you
Yes I will

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis

Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy (hey baby)

but I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding I
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

Pat Flew the Coop

Today, Saturday, August 23rd, Pat seems to have flown the coop for the last time.  A couple days ago I received this email from Lori, so I raced down the hall to get a few last photos.  Pat had moved from the filthy air conditioner to the other window sill. 

"I wanted to send you some updated pictures of Pat as I think that his days left with me are few.  He is really grown up now.  When I go up to the wall, he is not phased by my presence and no longer pecks on the window.  He is spending most of the day practicing flapping his wings.  While I haven't seen him practice flying yet, he does get right on the edge of the air conditioner and flap his wings so fast that I get dizzy."

Strangely, Lori and I miss Pat now that he is gone.  The super came and took the air conditioner out of the window.  It seems like yesterday that we stood there and looked out at the eggs on the pile of sticks that would become Pat's nursery.

Farewell our Pat - good luck out there in the big city.

To look back on Pat's early days click on the following links.
http://www.frankpicchione.com/frank_picchione/2008/08/happy-birthday-dudley.html
http://www.frankpicchione.com/frank_picchione/2008/07/baby-pat.html
http://www.frankpicchione.com/frank_picchione/2008/07/berries-and-birdies-updated-together.html
http://www.frankpicchione.com/frank_picchione/2008/07/pet-pigeons.html
http://www.frankpicchione.com/frank_picchione/2008/07/mice-not-rats-and-pigeons-continued.html

Post Corner Pizza, Darien

We all went on a big family outing to Post Corner Pizza in Darien.  We have been going there for at least 20 years, and the pizza and Greek salad are as good now as they were then.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Here's to my dear friends Bill and John, who have been together for many, many, many years, and are finally getting married today in Massachusetts, now that it counts in New York.  Even though you are acting like it's no big deal I am beyond excited for you both.  I love you guys, XX

Rooms with Views of Beirut

Sara just got back from her parents new home in Beirut.  From her pictures it looks as though they were just moving in.  There are many beautiful features, but my favorite is the pool house in the first photo.  Apparently the house is up in the mountains, but Sara failed to photograph any of the views, so we can only imagine what the pool looks out upon.  Incidentally, and excitingly, when Sara arrived her parents said they had just seen me on television.  I guess Martha is in syndication.  In Lebanon!    

Happy Birthday Dudley!

Today was Dudley's fourth birthday.  We celebrated with a pile of treats, a new kong, and two walks along the East River with our neighbor, Lori.  Speaking of Lori, this photo taken today of our buzzard Pat really shows how its grown up feathers are coming in.