Fouth of July Adventure, 2009

It began innocently enough, at Jungle Jim's Water Park.

Of course, when the fat man came down, he knocked over the life guards!
I'm proud of that...

The next day, the fourth, I showed the children the fine art of making dribble castles.

Caroline was not amused.

So Janice taught them the fine art of Boogie Boarding. Bethany went first,

Solo.

Caroline was next.

Solo!

Back home, they quickly enjoyed "crabbing."

Caroline filled a bucket with canal mud!

And she nabbed a crab!

After dinner...

...our neighbor, Captain Chuck, invited us out to watch the
fireworks from Assawoman Bay!

OK! Out we go!

Captain Chuck dropped anchor.

Janice looks on!

But then, the motor wouldn't start!!!
Captain Chuck was worried.

We remained calm.

Janice and her mom called for help. We signaled SOS (we think) with our flashlight. A neighbor, Ed, 12 sheets to the wind, came out to rescue us! We zig-zagged across the bay, hitting the shore several times. A Coast Guard boat arrived, too! We were saved!

World Trade Center Reconstruction

The "Pit," 16 acres.

The street memorial to the firemen who perished.

Heartbreaking memorial wall- ad hoc, of votive candles and
children's prayers.

The viewing line runs around the block.

Looking east. This will be the new Freedom Tower, 1776 feet high.

This is a continuous pour of concrete, four feet thick.

The new Transportation Hub.

The active subway station, Truman (the movie) style.

Tower 7, the first one re-built. Freedom Tower will be about twice as tall.

Beneath the Freedom Tower.

Part of the original "slurry wall" from the WTC.
The slurry wall holds back the Hudson River.
We're about 4 stories down.

More of the slurry wall that will become part of the memorial.

This is a "jump crane" that builds its own support structure as the building grows.

How The Magic Happens!

Reminds me of The Captain's, Old Farts at Play.