Congratulations to the Iselin JFK HS Class of 2011!

It was a lovely afternoon for the JFK High School Graduation. The whole ceremony was held outdoors on the football field, with slightly overcast skies and a few rain drops brightening as the day went on, becoming sunny and lovely.
Speeches by Valedictorian Shifa Gandhi and Salutatorian Pranav Badami, and by the Class of 2011's President, Anthony Williams, were very nicely done - as were the speeches by the dignitaries.
I took a bunch of photos - but I must admit I took mostly photos of my own kid, sorry! I have a short video, too, but I'm trying to figure out how to work that. It isn't that good yet, but maybe I can make it a little better. I'll try to download it later.
Here are some of the photos I took... but if you have photos of your own that you would like me to put up here, email them to me at iselin.home@yahoo.com!

Congratulations to the Graduates of Iselin Middle School!

Congratulations, Graduates! I wish you all the best... I'm sure you'll do great in High School!

My own kid doesn't go to IMS anymore, so I didn't actually go in to the ceremony. I would like to have put better photos up on here, but this was all I've got. HOWEVER, if you were there and you want to send me YOUR photos, I'll try to put some of them up! Email them to me at Iselin.home@yahoo.com!

Into NYC for the Eddie Vedder Concert at the Beacon Theater

One of the best things about living in Iselin (I know, I say this all the time) is how close you are to everything else.
Last night, we took the train into NYC so we could go to the Beacon Theater for the Eddie Vedder Solo Concert.
I wanted to do a whole story on the train, as well as on the concert, but it just didn't work out for me. I'll have to do a story on Metropark another day.

The Concert was WONDERFUL. Eddie Vedder, normally the front man for the rock/grunge supergroup "Pearl Jam", has put out a new solo album - "Ukelele Songs." This concert was a solo concert in support of the new album. He also mixed up the set list with songs from his previous solo album, "Into the Wild," and with a few Pearl Jam classics. He also played a few songs in collaboration with other artists - he had a string quartet for a while, played a few songs with Glen Hansard, who opened for him, and a few great songs with Neil Finn (from Split Enz and Crowded House.)

I would have taken pictures and video myself, but the Beacon employees made announcement after announcement that NO CAMERAS where allowed.  So I expect that this video might not last too long on youtube; I won't be surprised if it's taken down.  Anyway, I wasn't about to get a camera taken away from me, so I didn't bother trying.  Plenty of other people ignored the security though.  It was almost funny.

The music was pure and beautiful, opening with a whole set of ukelele tracks. Eddie is really great at expressing emotion through his lyrics and his voice. The peak moments for me were when Eddie played "Long Road" in tribute to Clarence Clemmons, "Millworker"- after referring to the lawsuit in the news lately (Walmart), "Unthought Known", and "Hard Sun."

I guess the down-side to the concert was some of the audience, who must not have known what to expect. Anyone walking into the concert expecting it to be a Pearl Jam concert in a small venue must have been disappointed. I had been to the Newark solo concert last time around, so I had a better idea. The "audience participation" was great when it was a sing-along in support of the show, and not good at all when it was the audience just trying to mouth off - for example, yelling out the names of Pearl Jam songs they wanted to hear. Please.

All in all, though, it was a great experience. I wish I had tickets to tonight's show, too. I'm not sure if they are sold out - I imagine they are, though.

From the Eddie Vedder FAN CLUB WEBSITE:

Eddie Vedder at the Beacon Theater, New York, NY -- June 21, 2011
Show 1 Set List -- 01. Sleeping By Myself 02. Without You 03. Goodbye 04. Can't Keep 05. Light Today 06. You're True 07. Long Road 08. Sometimes 09. Betterman 10. I Am Mine 11. Millworker-(James Taylor) 12. No Ceiling 13. Far Behind 14. Long Nights w/ Glen Hansard 15. Guaranteed 16. Rise 17. Just Breathe w/ string quartet 18. The End w/ string quartet 19. Unthought Known 20. Arc


Encore Break 1 -- 21. Wishlist 22. Sleepless Nights w/ Glen Hansard-(Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant) 23. Society w/ Glen Hansard-(Jerry Hannan) 24. Throw Your Arms Around Me w/ Neil Finn-(Archer, Falconer, Howard, Mills, Seymour, Smith, Waters) {Hunters & Collectors} 25. I Got You w/ Neil Finn-(N. Finn) 26. Lukin 27. Porch


Encore Break 2-- 28. Hard Sun w/ Glen Hansard & Neil Finn-(Peterson) 29. Dream A Little Dream-(Gus Kahn, Wilbur Schwandt, Fabian Andree)


String Quartet Members: Lorenza Ponce Violin 1 Robin Zeh Violin 2 Amy Kinball viola Amy Ralske cello

In case the Beacon video is taken down, here's a version of Long Road that I expect will be OK.

NYC After the Show - still awake and alive!

Woodbridge Wednesday Music Tonight!

Every Wednesday this summer, there is a "Woodbridge Wednesday" free concert at 7:30 PM at Parker Press Park, 400 Amboy Avenue in Woodbridge. Bring a lawn chair and relax to some new music! Tonight, the band is Girsa, which is Irish Folk Music.

On Graduation Day

The big day has finally arrived. It's GRADUATION DAY at John F. Kennedy High School in Iselin. The ceremony will be held today at 2:00 PM.

If it rains, you'll need tickets to get into the gym; each senior was given two tickets. I'm hoping for a nice sunny day, in which case the ceremony will be held on the football field. Of course it's looking like a 50-50 chance of thunderstorms; it figures. I'm bringing a rain poncho.

My youngest son will be graduating today, so I'll definitely be at the high school, and hopefully I'll have some photos to post later.

I also have a few words of advice for the class of '11, but I doubt they want to listen to me. I didn't want to listen to old people when I graduated, either. But for what it's worth, this is what I have to say.

Think. Think about what you want out of your life. Spend a little time day-dreaming about it. Day-dreaming isn't always a bad thing. Set some goals - some that you know that you can reach, and some that are grandiose dreams that you doubt you'll ever achieve. Some practical things, and some amazing things. And then spend some time thinking about one little, tiny thing that you can do TODAY to get one step closer to those dreams. And write down those ideas and goals and little tiny steps, so you can look at them and think about them again later.

Your life grows one step at a time. Every little step you take, every action, every decision, as small as it may be, sets you off in a direction. Make those little steps count. You'd be surprised at how fast time goes by - try not to waste it. Don't veg out too often. Try to take a few little steps in the direction of your dreams, every single day. Sooner or later, you'll get to where you want to be.

Don't be afraid. When you think about your dreams, a lot of times your mind will start playing tricks on you. You'll hear your common sense say something like, "That's just silly," or "It's too hard to do that." Or maybe you'll just get REALLY TIRED, and need to lay down a few minutes, or you'll decide to zone out with a video game for a while. Don't listen. Instead, take one, little, tiny, step. Move forward.

Don't get so attached to STUFF. Things won't make you happy.

Don't get involved with the drama. A lot of people SAY they hate drama, but get involved with it anyway. Why do so many people seem to LOVE the drama? It's exciting, it's addicting. But it isn't healthy. You need less excitement and less drama and less STUFF than you think you do.

Instead, try to find JOY in life. Joy is way better and more fun. I can't tell you where to look because it's different for every person. But I can suggest that it's hidden in peace, and in appreciation, and in love, and in thanks. It's also hidden in working hard - no one seems to expect to find it there, and you might not see it at first, but you can find joy in hard work if you keep looking in the right place.

Congratulations on your graduation. Good luck and best wishes. I hope you find all the joy your heart can hold. There is plenty to go around.

The Quote of the Day

Success

To laugh often and much, 

to win the respect of intelligent people 

and the affection of children, 

to earn the appreciation of honest critics 

and endure the betrayal of false friends, 

to appreciate beauty, 

to find the best in others, 

to leave the world a bit better, 

whether by a healthy child, 

a garden patch, 

or a redeemed social condition; 

to know even one life 

has breathed easier 

because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded! 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.quotegarden.com 

Ukelele Tuesday

And did I mention, I'm going into the city tonight to see the Eddie Vedder Solo concert??? VERY EXCITING!!! At the Beacon Theater - You can try for tickets at their website, which is HERE.

I'll tell you all about it late tonight, when I get home! :)

North East Corridor delay

According to www.njtransit.com, New Jersey Transit's web site, at 8:35 AM when I looked at it,

Northeast Corridor service between Trenton and New York has resumed as of 6:45 a.m., subject to 10-15 minute delays due to residual power problems.

Apparently there was a transformer fire in New Brunswick.  You can read more HERE on CBS Local.com

I hope it all clears up soon!
I'll have another story on train travel from Iselin tomorrow.

A summer photo... and the Quote of the Day

Today is a great day for a trip to the beach.  I took this photo last summer, and I can't wait to take more some time soon.

Of course, most of us have to go to work today.  If you are working too, just stare at the photo for a while and daydream; that's what I'm going to do...

“The cure for anything 
is salt water - 
sweat, 
tears, 
or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

www.beach-therapy.com

Happy Summer!

Today is the Day!  Summer officially begins on June 21, 2011, at 1:16 p.m.

According to www.almanac.com,

"The word solstice comes from the Latin words for "sun" and "to stop," due to the fact that the Sun appears to stop in the sky. The Sun is directly overhead at its most northern point at "high-noon" on the summer solstice, creating more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere on this day then any other.
On the solstice, we also hit the longest day of the year. From here on out, the days begin to get shorter."

The Almanac.com also gives the times of sun rise and set; today, we will have 15 hours and 6 minutes of sun.  The sun rises at 5:26 AM and sets at 8:32 PM. It also gives the rising and setting time for other planets, and the REALLY long range weather forecast, if you are interested.  The Almanac says,

Summer will be drier and slightly cooler than normal, with the hottest periods in mid- and late June, early July, and early to mid-August.

Hmmmm... that sounds like a good bet!

“On Monday, when the sun is hot,
I wonder to myself a lot:
Now is it true, or is it not,
That what is which and which is what?'”

A. A. Hodge quotes (American Biographer, one of the Princeton greats, son of protestant theologian Charles Hodge, 1823-1886)
thinkexist.com

Today is another hot Monday, and this quote reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.  I've got an "Alice in Wonderland" theme in my head today because I've started a painting of the Tea Party.  But now, I must go, because I'm Late! I'm Late! I'm Late!

RIP, Clarence Clemons

Happy Father's Day!

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown


glitter-graphics.com

Happy Father's Day to all!

COACH JERRY SMITH APPOINTED HEAD BASEBALL COACH AT NEW JERSEY CITY

I was scanning the news online today, and came across this article. Now, I'm not a sports person, so normally I don't read the sports stuff at all. But I know this guy from JFK High School! So, I reprinted part of the article here. I haven't had a chance to talk to Coach Smith at all, but I want to tell him - Congratulations Coach Smith! I hope you hit it out of the park! (Or whatever the appropriate sports metaphor is!)


Click here to see the whole story: New Jersey City University - JERRY SMITH APPOINTED HEAD BASEBALL COACH AT NEW JERSEY CITY

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Accomplished high school coach JEREMIAH 'JERRY' SMITH, JR. has been selected as the 11^th head baseball coach in the 65-year history of the New Jersey City University baseball program for the 2012 season.

Smith, 33, makes the jump to the college level after seven successful seasons at JFK Memorial High School in Iselin, NJ, where he posted a 120-70 record (.632) from 2005-11, culminating in capturing the 2009 New Jersey Group III state championship and the North II, Group II state sectional crown. The 2009 Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) and 2008 Home News Tribune Coach of the Year, he guided the Mustangs to GMC division titles in 2008 and 2009.

The Quote of the Day

"Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party."

Jimmy Buffett

from www.great-quotes.com

so on my scavenger hunt today, I'm looking for:
a recipe for monkey bread
a nice head of lettuce
suntan lotion
the perfect shade of nail polish
a baby pool
a really good book
three empty laundry baskets
and a frozen margarita.


What are you looking for? 

Woodbridge Township School District Book Fair at Barnes and Noble

Please come out and support the Woodbridge
Township School District fundraising and literacy campaign!
This event will benefit all 24 public schools in the district!

Come out for guest readers, student performances, raffles & prizes.

 
Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online from 06/16/11 to 06/20/11 by entering Bookfair ID10489284 at checkout.

Event Schedule
Enjoy a Custom Smoothie -- the Mustangs Muscle Maker
Thursday, June 16
Featured Schools: #1, #4/5, #9, #11, #14, #23, #25, #28, AMS, FMS, WMS & WHS
WTSD 2011-2012 HW PASS (any school, any subject) for every child entering 1-6pm
FREE ITALIAN ICE COUPONS FROM RITA’S for every child entering 1-6pm
Store Scavenger Hunt with McDONALD’S & DENNY’S PRIZES while supplies last
2:00 pm -- School #4/5 Choral Group
2:15 pm -- Middle School and High School Student Readings
2:30 pm -- WHS Step Team
2:45 pm -- WHS Drum Line
3:00 pm -- Special Guest Reader -- Director of Personnel Mrs. Joanne Shafer
MAIN BAGELS RAFFLE
3:15 pm -- WHS Jazz Choir
5:30 pm -- School #11 First Grade Reading Celebration
PIZZA TIME & MAIN BAGELS RAFFLE
Friday, June 17
Feature: Teacher Appreciation Day & JFK Student Art Display
WTSD 2011-2012 HW PASS (ANY SCHOOL, ANY SUBJECT) FOR EVERY CHILD ENTERING 1-4PM
FREE ITALIAN ICE COUPONS FROM RITA’S FOR EVERY CHILD ENTERING 1-4PM
STORE SCAVENGER HUNT WITH McDONALD’S & DENNY’S PRIZES WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
12:00pm -- Elementary Literacy Coaches Meeting, Café
1:30pm -- Award-winning poet Edwin Romond (www.edwinromond.com), author of
Alone With Love Songs and Dream Teaching, shares his faculty program Teaching Life
D’ITALIA ITALIAN RESTAURANT GC RAFFLE
2:15pm -- Grade 2 Curriculum Celebration & Debriefing Meeting
3:30pm -- G&T Student Readings
WOODBRIDGE DELI GC RAFFLE
Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19
Feature: Dedicated Shopping Days for Father’s Day, Graduations, and Summer Reading
Shop in the store or online for the duration of the event 6/16-6/20 with VOUCHER ID # 10489284
or tell the cashier you are with WTSD. Remember to pass along vouchers to everyone you know!
Monday, June 20
Featured Schools: #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #24, #26, #27, CMS, IMS, CHS & JFK
WTSD 2011-2012 HW PASS (ANY SCHOOL, ANY SUBJECT) FOR EVERY CHILD ENTERING 1-4PM
FREE ITALIAN ICE COUPONS FROM RITA’S FOR EVERY CHILD ENTERING 1-4PM
STORE SCAVENGER HUNT WITH McDONALD’S & DENNY’S PRIZES WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
2:00pm -- School #21 Choral Group
2:15pm -- Special Guest Reader
2:30pm -- School #18 Physical Education Teacher Story Share
KNOT JUST BAGELS RAFFLE
2:45pm -- Middle School and High School Student Readings
3:00pm -- Special Guest -- Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Crowe
PANERA BREAD BAGELS FOR A YEAR RAFFLE
3:30pm -- CHS AcaPatriots
KNOT JUST BAGELS RAFFLE

Photos of the Car Show on Main Street in Woodbridge

The car show was tonight... I am so glad I got there! Here are a few photos. Well, maybe more than a few. I couldn't BELIEVE how many cars showed up - and each was more exciting than the one before!

The next Car Show will be July 20th. If the weather is as nice as it was tonight, make sure you get there!

The Last Full Day of School!

All schools in Woodbridge Township have scheduled early dismissals beginning tomorrow, Thursday, June 16, through and including the last day of school, Wednesday, June 22, 2011.
High schools will be dismissed at 12:10 PM.
Middle schools will be dismissed at 12:45 PM.
Grades 1 through 5 will be dismissed at 1:10 PM.
A M kindergarten, and A M pre-school disabled, will be dismissed at 11:35 AM.
P M Kindergarten, and P M pre-school disabled, will begin at 10:30 AM, and will be dismissed at 1:10 PM.

But... you already knew that, didn't you?

Anyway, I hope you did.

I'm really going to miss getting the Honeywell Alerts when my youngest son graduates high school next week!

Main Street Woodbridge Car Show

It seems like there's something going on almost every night this summer in Woodbridge -- you never have to stay home!  Tonight, it's a Classic Car Show on Main Street. A nice place to go after dinner, take a little stroll around, and day dream about the car you had when you were a kid. Or maybe the car you WANT to have when you have the cash!


In July - 
the Car Show will be held on July 20th... Be there or be square!

glitter-graphics.com

Quote of the Day

Who says nothing is impossible.  

I've been doing nothing for years.  

~Author Unknown

www.quotegarden.com 

Happy Flag Day!

I remember when I was a kid, celebrating Flag Day in school, we would sing "You're a Grand Old Flag," and we'd color in the Stars and Stripes...
...and when my kids were little, in Cub Scouts, we would have a special ceremony at the T. Nulty Post 471 American Legion, where the gentlemen of the post would teach the Cub Scouts (and anyone else who was interested) all about how you officially retire the colors.
This year, I'll probably just celebrate Flag Day by hanging up my American Flag... as long as it isn't raining.

For more information on the history of Flag day, you can go HERE

Quote of the Day

I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color,

a symbol of yourself,

the pictured suggestion of that big thing 

which makes this nation. 

My stars and my stripes are your dream and your labors.

They are bright with cheer, 

brilliant with courage, 

firm with faith, 

because you have made them so out of your heart. 

For you are the makers of the flag 

and it is well that you glory in the making.  

~Franklin Knight Lane

WWW.Quotegarden.com

Dear Sixteen Year Old Me,

I saw this video on Facebook called "Dear Sixteen Year Old Me,"
and I have to admit, it made me cry.
(I can be very mushy some days. Not every day, mind you, just SOME days.)

You should watch it.
Anyway, it reminded me of The Sunscreen Song. The Sunscreen Song was full of good advice for people graduating and moving on to the next stage of their lives.

So in honor of the end of the school year, and the beginning of summer, I bring you these videos.

(If you receive my blog posts in an email, you might not see the videos. You might have to come right to the blog... )

Elementary School Field Days

When my kids were in Elementary School, they had so much fun at the Field Day, right before summer vacation. Field Day at Robert Mascenik School 26 is going on today - have fun, kids!

The Quote of the Day...

Monday is a lame way to spend 1/7 of your life. 

  ~Author Unknown

www.quotegarden.com 

End of the Year Activities

The school year is winding down to a close finally.

HIGH SCHOOL - FINAL EXAMS FOR BLOCKS 1 AND 2:
JUNE 16, 2011

HIGH SCHOOL - FINAL EXAMS FOR BLOCKS 3 AND 4:
JUNE 17, 2011

8th Grade dance at Iselin Middle School:
JUNE 17, 2011 - 6:00 PM

HIGH SCHOOL - MAKE-UP FINAL EXAMS:
JUNE 20, 2011

So I guess you should be studying, if you are in High School!
And then... the main event...

8th GRADE GRADUATION IS AT 10:00 AM ON JUNE 22, 2011
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION IS AT 2:00 P.M. ON JUNE 22, 2011

The Quote of the Day

I found this quote HERE on Stumble Upon - one of my new favorite ways to waste time!
It was a quote by Diogenes, which was done in graffiti by Banksy, which was shown in a website called "My Modern Met", which was reprinted on Stumble Upon. I decided I liked it enough to quote it.

Ahhh, irony.

Photos from the Relay for Life

Survivor Cindy Lizzano and Organizer Michelle Daichman

The Relay for Life kicked off right on schedule tonight.  It was a misty, cool evening, and it would have been fine... we set up tarps and canopies... but then we heard it was possible that thunder and lightning was on the way.  So we didn't make the whole night.  I wonder if anyone else is still out in the field?  Some tents were set up that looked like they were in it for the long haul.

The Relay's opening laps honored cancer survivors and their caretakers.

The luminaria were lit around the track, and they looked beautiful.



My team and I only lasted until 11:30-ish... but we had a great time.  Next year, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

The Relay is Still On!

Tonight is the Relay for Life at Alvin Williams Park in Sewaren... and so far, it's still a go, rain or not here we come!

I'm going to be there! My original plan was to be there from early in the afternoon, grilling and chilling in the sun, and staying all night under the stars until the dawn broke over the oil tanks across the Arthur Kill. My new, adjusted, rain plan ... is to at least show up and see what happens.

Wait... you DO know all about the Relay for Life, don't you?

Well, it's a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.At the event, our team will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

IT IS A LOT OF FUN!

Saving lives from cancer starts one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time. Our team is doing our part to make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone's life.

My team is Venture Crew 125. Yup, we're based in Iselin - the Venture Crew is sponsored by the Woodbridge Ambulance and Rescue Squad. We've got a lot of team members who want to walk. If you want to donate to the American Cancer Society, we'd be thrilled if you'd donate through our team!!!

You can donate by clicking HERE! :)

Anyway, I've got a lot of things to do to get ready. So maybe I'll see you at the relay in the rain?

The Quote of the Day

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head 

with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
Langston Hughes

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/rain_4.html#ixzz1OsM0Yoo7

Safety Day at School 26 today

"Safety Days" at Robert Mascenik School was held today. All of the students were given an opportunity to talk to local emergency responders - the police, firemen, EMT's, and other trained professionals - to learn about the equipment, the procedures, and the jobs that need to be done in an emergency situation. It's a great learning experience for the students!

Emergency responders from all over our area participate in The "Safety Days" program, which is organized by Frank Sutphen and The Woodbridge CAP. The Woodbridge CAP is an advisory group whose mission is to keep the lines of communications open between the Municipal Government, the residents, and the local chemical companies.

Kennedy Park School #24 will host a "Safety Day" on June 14.

Did you feel an Earthquake in Iselin last night?

I didn't feel it.  But... this is what I read this morning, on the USGS Web Site!
 

Earthquake Details 
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude 1.6

Date-Time

Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 16:21:51 UTC
Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 12:21:51 PM at epicenter

Location 40.568°N, 74.400°W
Depth 5 km (3.1 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region GREATER NEW YORK AREA, NEW JERSEY
Distances
2 km (1 miles) SE (141°) from South Plainfield, NJ
4 km (2 miles) NNW (331°) from Edison, NJ
4 km (3 miles) NW (312°) from Metuchen, NJ
19 km (12 miles) WSW (237°) from Elizabeth, NJ
43 km (27 miles) WSW (250°) from New York, NY


Lamont-Doherty Cooperative Seismographic Network (LCSN)

Event ID ld60019036

The QUOTE of the DAY

Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while.

Kin Hubbard

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_nature2.html#ixzz1OsFUumli

The Quote of the Day

Summer has set in with its usual severity.   

~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

From Quotegarden.com

Early Dismissal Again!

Due to the weather forecast for excessive heat in our area, all Woodbridge Township schools will follow the early dismissal plan for Thursday, June 9, 2011. High schools will be dismissed at 12:10 PM. Middle Schools will be dismissed at 12:45 PM. Grades 1 through 5 will be dismissed at 1:10 PM. AM kindergarten will be dismissed at 11:35 AM. AM pre-school disabled will be dismissed at 11:35 AM. PM Kindergarten and PM pre-school disabled will begin at 10:30 AM and will be dismissed at 1:10 PM. After school child care is cancelled.

Baby, it's HOT outside!Watch out for Heat Stroke!

ARE YOU STAYING COOL AND DRINKING ENOUGH WATER TODAY??? It's important not to over do it, or to dehydrate in this heat!

I got a lot of information about Heat Stroke from this article on Medicinenet.com.

Heat stroke is extremely dangerous - it can even be fatal, so be CAREFUL today! Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, which are less severe but still dangerous, heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated. But if you're having heat cramps, it's a good time to cool off right away so it doesn't get any worse!

Your body is usually able to cool itself down by sweating - which cools you as it evaporates - or by just plain radiating heat through your skin. But when it's REALLY hot out, in extreme heat, high humidity, or when you are working or exercising hard under the sun, your body may not be able to get rid of the heat fast enough. Your body temperature rises, and if it goes too high it can be a serious problem. Another BIG cause of heat stroke is dehydration. A dehydrated person may not be able to sweat fast enough to get rid of the heat, which causes the body temperature to rise.

Those most susceptible individuals to heart strokes are infants, the elderly, athletes, and today - basically anyone who does anything outside!

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
nausea,
vomiting,
fatigue,
weakness,
headache,
muscle cramps and aches, and
dizziness.

However, you might not even notice the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Some individuals can go right into symptoms of heat stroke without warning.

Some of the common symptoms of heat stroke include:

high body temperature,
the absence of sweating,
with hot red or flushed dry skin,
rapid pulse,
difficulty breathing,
strange behavior,
hallucinations,
confusion,
agitation,
disorientation,
seizure, and/or
coma.

If you or anyone around you start exhibiting these symptoms, cool them down immediately, and call for medical help. It's not something to take lightly!

Woodbridge Wednesday Music Tonight!

Every Wednesday this summer, there is a "Woodbridge Wednesday" free concert at 7:30 PM at Parker Press Park, 400 Amboy Avenue in Woodbridge. Bring a lawn chair and relax to some new music! Tonight, the band is Red Molly, which is a Bluegrass/Americana style band.
Bluegrass just happens to be my favorite, I hope I can get there!  See ya tonight!

Get your Passport at Woodbridge Town Hall tomorrow

Woodbridge Town Hall will host a one-day Passport Satellite Office tomorrow, June 9, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Applications for U.S. Passports will be taken in the Council Meeting Room (First Floor), Woodbridge Municipal Building , at 1 Main Street in Woodbridge.

The passport application fee for an adult passport (age 16 and over) is $135.00. Payment must be made via check or money order in the amount of $110.00 payable to the U.S. Department of State and a separate check or money order for $25.00 payable to the Middlesex County Clerk. The fee for a minor passport (for someone under the age of 16) is $105.00 (check or money order in the amount of $80.00 payable to U.S. Department of State and a check or money order for $25.00 payable to the Middlesex County Clerk.) Expedited service is available for an additional $74.96 per application (plus overnight express mail at a cost of $18.30). The passport is valid for ten years.

Persons applying for a passport must present evidence of U.S. citizenship in the form of a certified birth certificate with a raised seal, name of parent(s), and a file date from the registrar of vital statistics from the state, county, or municipality the applicant was born in, or a previous passport for natural born citizens. Hospital birth certificates and baptismal certificates are not acceptable. Evidence of U.S. citizenship in the form of a naturalization certificate is required for foreign-born citizens who became U.S. citizens through naturalization. Additional required information includes:

· Two identical 2"x 2" regulation passport photos taken within the last six months. The photographs must have a light or white background and be full face forward. School photos and vending machine photos are not acceptable;

· Identification in the form of a valid driver's license, a school photo ID, or an employment photo ID.

· All applicants must appear in person. If applying for a passport for a minor under the age of 16, both parents and the minor child must be present at time of application. The minor passport is valid for five years.

Processing time is approximately four to six weeks. Expedited applications take two to three weeks to be processed.

Today's Quote

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine
-- Quotegarden.com

A Berry Tree grows in Iselin

This is a mulberry.
It's growing in my front yard.
It hangs over the sidewalk - I'm sorry if it hits you in the face as you walk past my house, I haven't gotten around to trimming it lately, I plan on pruning it but time is short! :)
I didn't plant it. It sprung up whole from the ground, planted by a bird, I guess.
I first noticed the weedy shrub in my garden a few springs ago; I noticed it because the leaves are all different shapes. (I didn't notice it because it was a weed in my garden. That is very common, unfortunately.) But a few different shaped leaves all on one tree? That was kinda unusual, I thought. So I let it keep growing.
When I finally got around to looking it up, I learned that it was a mulberry. That was when I decided that I had to keep it.

I remember when I was a little kid, walking to Merrill Park with my Dad. We would walk along the railroad tracks, and there were a few trees - they might still be there - that had black berries hanging from them. My Dad would pick a few, and eat them, and pick a few more for me, and let me eat them. They were mulberries too, of course. So a mulberry tree in my own yard seems like a wonderful thing, a childhood memory come back!
Not to mention my Gram, singing "Here we go round the mulberry bush, so early in the morning!" Another childhood memory.

Well, last year we got a pretty decent crop of berries. The birds loved them. I ate a few, and froze a few for later.
This year, though, I have high hopes.
I want to pick a whole bunch, and make mulberry jelly.
Or maybe mulberry wine - but that seems MUCH more complicated.

OK, maybe I'm crazy. Because you'll notice all the things I DON'T have time for, right? I haven't gotten around to weeding the garden, or pruning the tree. It took a long time to even look up what kind of tree it was. But now I want spend a lot of time picking ALL the mulberries and then I want to learn to make wine.

I can't help it. My priorities have never been sensible.

Early Dismissal from Schools Tomorrow

If you have a child in a Woodbridge Township school, I guess you must have gotten your "Honeywell Alert" message!


Early Dismissal - Excessive Heat

Due to the weather forecast for excessive heat in our area, all Woodbridge Township schools will follow the early dismissal plan for Wednesday, June 8, 2011. High schools will be dismissed at 12:10 PM. Middle Schools will be dismissed at 12:45 PM. Grades 1 through 5 will be dismissed at 1:10 PM. AM kindergarten will be dismissed at 11:35 AM. AM pre-school disabled will be dismissed at 11:35 AM. PM Kindergarten and PM pre-school disabled will begin at 10:30 AM and will be dismissed at 1:10 PM. After school child care is cancelled.

Wow, I knew it was going to be hot, but I didn't realize it was going to be THAT bad~

Primary Election - Vote Today!

Are you going to vote today?
You should!
Make your voice heard! Have your say! Speak Up! Vote!
Today is a Primary Election.
According to Wikipedia,

A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election.

Polls will be open today from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Basic information on voting - registration, locations, procedures - can be found HERE.

The Quote of the Day

People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. ~Walter H. Judd

From Quotegarden.com

So, How was the Iselin-JFK Prom?

I just read a very nice article about Kennedy's prom in the website called "Woodbridge Patch." It was written by Megha Vyas, and it included a lot of great photos. If you want to read it too, take a look HERE!
It seemed like a lovely evening, and everyone looked fabulous!

Peace, man

And here's another music video for my own entertainment on my hippy music weekend :)

Last Chance to give your old clothes a new purpose!

Today is the last day! The Banding Together Foundation is hosting a clothing drive with a company Cash for Clothes.  They will give the Banding Together foundation 15 cents for every pound of unwanted clothing and shoes. But you need to drop off your clothes by this afternoon!

So don't you think now is a good time to go through your closet and get rid of the stuff you haven't been wearing?

Please bag these items and bring them to one of our drop off locations: Transitions Salon St George Ave. Avenel, and Iselin Volunteer Firehouse District 9, Green Street, Iselin.

If you have any questions or have difficulty bringing the bags of clothes, you can even contact Kimberly Burkhardt (732) 331-7958 or Joelle Slossberg (732) 841-1381.

Soul Shine Music

(I posted a video from Youtube... I can only hope it shows up...)

Hope you have a groovy weekend!

Peace, Love, and Music :)

glitter-graphics.com

RUSH HOUR ALERT: Avoid Merrill Park Tonight!

Ahhhh, Prom night. It's lovely, isn't it?

Well tonight is prom night for BOTH Kennedy AND Colonia High School.
(The Woodbridge prom will be held next Friday.)
Photos are often scheduled for Merrill Park before the prom... and I can only imagine how crazy the traffic is going to be through there.
So make your plans now; avoid Merrill Park between 5:00 and 6:30 tonight!
And... if you are going to the prom tonight, have a great time. But keep in mind, it's only one dance. You will have your whole life ahead of you and plenty more dances that are just as exciting... so be careful!
(I can't help it, it's the mom in me!)

glitter-graphics.com

Tornado Watch for ISELIN

But don't worry yet, because a Tornado watch doesn't mean that they've SEEN a Tornado. It just means they are LOOKING for one. Conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but that doesn't mean it WILL.

From the Weather Channel:

Local Weather Alert
Tornado Watch for Middlesex County, NJ
until 8:00 PM EDT, Wed., Jun 01, 2011
Issued by The National Weather Service
Philadelphia, PA
Wed, Jun 1, 2011, 2:24 PM EDT

TORNADO WATCH 411 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN NEW JERSEY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Severe thunderstorms produce hail 3/4 of an inch in diameter and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

A severe thunderstorm warning means that a severe thunderstorm has been observed by spotters or indicated on radar, and is either occurring or imminent in the warning area. These warnings typically last for a period of 30 to 60 minutes.

Tornado Watch

A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and multiple tornadoes in and close to the watch area. People in the affected areas are encouraged to be vigilant in preparation for severe weather.

Tornado Warning

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar, and is occurring or imminent in the warning area. If a tornado warning is issued, people in the affected area are strongly encouraged to take cover immediately.

Shannon Rose salutes Police, Fire and EMT's

Badge Day at the Shannon Rose in Woodbridge today! $2 off all drinks & beer & 1/2 Price Appetizers for all Police, Fire & EMT ALL DAY.
You can see the Shannon Rose website HERE!