Yesterday, September 1,2010...

...Michael Anthony's first day at school

Submitted by frank on September 2, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...and Mike and Nancy went with him, Mike documented the BIG DAY and here is a little summary. So after a long early morning Michael Anthony was out front and happily waiting to go into the school. A user submitted image.

...and no, he didn't go on the bus--he will either walk or get driven by car since they live too close for the bus---but the bus makes for a decent background shot I guess.

After a while, they all bunched up out front waiting further orders from THE TEACHERS..... A user submitted image.

A minute later and at the door Michael thinks "hmmmmmm I am not really sure about this".... A user submitted image.

...and thinking "should I actually go in??" Once inside though, and bunched up with his classmates, things seemed to be much better and as nice as he had expected... A user submitted image.

I guess the rest of the day went fine because here he is displaying his cool name tag in the shape of a car after school looking like he knew it would be a breeze all along... A user submitted image.

And while that's the end of this story, it's only just begun... to quote an old song from some old group known as the Electricians, or plumbers or...no ...wait... I will get it in a minute.

Fireworks

at Hartford

Submitted by steve on July 13, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We try to go see the Hartford Riverfest fireworks every year, they are pretty consistently great. This year was no exception. We sit right across the river from the barge, for maximum volume.

Interestingly I actually work with one of the guys who does this fireworks show! He was there from 5 in the morning setting up the show on the barges, and then until 2 AM cleaning up. It's all computer controlled, I asked him "so you just press some big flashing button and it runs by itself?" but it's even better than that, the show is activated by a radio signal from the show DJ so it can sync with the music. They just need to set it all up, and wait.

The West

I'm amazed I remembered how to log in here!

Submitted by steve on July 6, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Jenny and I just came back from a trip with her family to Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Utah. Here are our pictures!

Not a new story.....

but better late than never

Submitted by frank on April 8, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I was going to try to put this up last October, but I lacked both the technology and the wherewithal, This is a digitized version of a 16mm silent movie of when Mrs and I got married in October 1959.

I have wanted to get this transferred and transformed to digital format from the VHS tape I had done a few years back and I finally did it. Then I figured out how to get it into a form that I could upload to youtube and ultimately put a link here.

Here is the link, but I have forgotten how to actually make it a link.Unless this works. In case it doesn't, here is the URL http://www.youtube.com/user/frankminutillo?feature=mhw5.

For those of you who may not know many of the people who appear in the short movie, there are among others, Marilyn, Me, Bob Shortell my best man, my mother and father, Mal's mother and father, Mal's younger sisters and a brother, some of my mothers sisters ( the ladies with big hats and lowcut dresses) my grandmother, a couple of my brothers, many of my fathers cousins and their wives, my mothers oldest brother Tony and his wife Jeanette and Jeanne and Anne their kids,My cousins Tommy Mazzarini and Sandra Nolan, Mals wedding party ladies, Louise Bannville her maid of honor, and Donna her 16 year old sister, a few of Mals friends, (the four young ladies walking up the steps together) a couple of teen aged 50's looking punks who may have either been alter boys or just punky guys hanging out and myriad others like Mary and Bill Upton, The late 50's looking white fin-laden Cadillac car belonged to Vic Mazzarini, my Aunt Gilda's husband. I add that bit of information because nearly everyone who sees this little movie seems to really like that car. A final note, the movie was shot by my aunt Inez' husband Jack Rein. Jack was sort of a freelance news photographer for the emerging local TV news industry so he shot this for the fun of it I guess. And no, it never did make the local TV news despite my aunt Gilda's wicked cool black dress and Marilyn's gorgeous gown.

That's it for now.

Mexico

I chose sun instead of Wii or Kindle

Submitted by Cassi on February 20, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

Dad kept asking if I bought a Wii or Kindle...well I got neither, I decided to run away to Mexico.

And I think I made the right choice! My friend Jamie and I booked one of these cheapy all inclusive trips to Akumal Mexico.

Here is our room view A user submitted image.

and the beach A user submitted image.

We spent our days searching for coral, snorkeling with the fish,shopping, and drinking pina coladas!

A user submitted image.

Our beach was lined with coral reefs.

A user submitted image.

Tequila! The coffee infused one was the best.

A user submitted image.

One of the days we took a trip to visit the Mayan ruins and a jungle adventure.

A user submitted image.

This is the zipline...so much fun!

A user submitted image.

This is the cenotes. The jungle above is very dense, but short. This is because there really isn't any soil you see the roots that make their way through the ground to find water. The ground is all limestone, where it opens to expose the river below is a cenote. The water below is crystal clear and clean. We were allowed to snorkel in these underground rivers. I'd love to go back and dive, the rock formations were wild.

A user submitted image.

Then we went to visit the ruins at Tulum A user submitted image.

And one last spectacular view of the beach at Tulum A user submitted image.

It was really hard to come back to cold gray Chicago :(

A Fall Outing

Russell Orchards and Crane Beach

Submitted by Nicolas on October 21, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

We all went on a little drive, Zipcar for those of you keeping score, up to the North Shore.

First we stopped at Russell Orchards to pick apples (and eat apple cider donuts).

You take a hay ride out to the orchard:

Hay Ride.

and then we picked a peck of apples (apple crisp has been made and devoured, apple pie is next).

A Peck of Apples.

After a nice hot cider donut:

Apple Cider Donut.

we drove a few miles to Crane Beach for a nice walk on the beach. Here is the whole family.

One Small Family.

Gosh Dante is tall, you are all thinking. Twirling his hair is a newish nervous tick, what can you do?

Sandy took all these pictures - with just her phone camera - this one of Dante near the sea is my favorite.

The Sea.

And here is Dante, running down the beach.

Boy, Running.

All in all a nice fall day (the weather was pleasant, there were no crowds and the beach was serene and calm).

He Scores....

...not exactly

Submitted by frank on October 8, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Mitchell is now in high school. Yes, time truly flies.Cheney Tech High School, in Manchester.After some thought, he decided to try out for the football team...no, not that football, this kind of football.

A user submitted image.

Well, he is pretty good so he made the team and is a starter at "striker" or forward or whatever they call that position. In his second game ( we did not see it ) he scored a gooooooaaaaaal. His team won the game. But after that, they haven't done as well. They tied one and lost big time in a couple of others. In fairness, his team, The Cheney Tech "Beavers" are mostly freshmen like him and their best player broke his leg early in the season.

Mrs and I went to a game yesterday. The other team all looked to be about 18 to 20 years old and were very intimidating. They did some of that funny Samoan type yelling during their final warm-up exercise. Here is a picture of Mitch and the one gigantic guy on his team looking on in awe as the Abbot Tech guys took the field.

A user submitted image.

Play began shortly thereafter and not to say the game was one sided, but it was sort of like this throughout. Mitch and one of his other freshman trying to score against a bunch of giants who always seemed to have them outnumbered.

A user submitted image.

Cheney put up a valiant effort, but the outcome was predictable.

And that's the end of this story.

addendum: final score was other guys 4 Beavers nil---as they say over there.

Mitchell...

.....promoted from 8th grade

Submitted by frank on June 19, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...and we all went to witness the event. It seems such a long way from this sunny day back when Mitchel started kindergarten A user submitted image.

to this... A user submitted image.

So, congratulations to Mitchell... A user submitted image.

...and his Dad.

...and certainly not forgetting Mom... A user submitted image.

...

Korea

we went there!

Submitted by steve on June 10, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We've wanted to go to Korea for a while, and when our friend Kyung invited us to go along with her we jumped at the chance! We were in Seoul at an "interesting" time, for both the suicide of an ex-president, and a North Korean nuclear test.

Many foods were eaten, palaces and museums visited, and streets shopped. Some pictures are available at Flickr.

The concert

untitled

Submitted by Dante on June 5, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Dante.

In the Hurley school, we had a concert. Click here to view the movie.

Cinema Verité

From the Minutillo/Larson Family

Submitted by Nicolas on May 3, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

At Christmas time Steve and Jenny gave Dante some 'Tickle Me' plant seeds.

Well, spring has sprung, so Dante planted them. Here is the result of the experiment.

Retirement

finally

Submitted by rgminutillo on March 7, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

After 15 years at Brown Brothers Harriman, I'll be retiring at the end of April. While Brown Brothers was not hurt like most banks last year, and actually did pretty well, they're anticipating a not-so-good year this year and figured they'd trim some staff with a 'voluntary early retirement package.' It's a fairly generous package, and it made the decision quite easy, at least for me. Somehow appropriate that International Worker's Day will be my first day as a retiree.

A Mitchell up-date

...on the academic side of things

Submitted by frank on February 6, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Mitchell called us lat night to announce that he has been accepted as one of a hundred or so applicants out of over seven hundred to attend Howell Cheney Technical High School.

He has been aiming at this for the entire school year and he is as pleased as we are that he has been accepted. After the first couple of years at Cheney Tech where he will get a solid academic base, he will be allowed to pick from among many skill fields ranging from culinary arts to old fashioned carpentry, and just about anything else in between to equip him to face whatever economy may still exist in four years.

Oh, and by the way, his basketball team at school will be playing in the quarter-finals of the end of season tournament today.

And one final note...It's Truck Day , which means that baseball is just around the corner.

Italy 2008

Hometown Visit

Submitted by rgminutillo on November 22, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Bob and Maryann and Dorothy and I are back from a brief but intense visit to Italy which included a stop in Foiano di val Fortore, which is the ancestral home of the Minutillo's. Specfically, our grandfather Nicola was born there.

This was Bob's third visit to Foiano, and my first.We got a little more genealogical research completed, noting two significant facts about Nicola's father and our great-grandfather, Pellegrino Minutillo. First we pinned down Pellegrino's birthday, March 18, 1837, and second the town archivist, Giovanni Tutulo, was able to make out a reference to Pelligrino's profession: a pizzicagnolo, which is an old Italian term for

"In origine venditore di pizze o di formaggi, (v. Pizza) ovvero di altra roba che pizzica, che stuzzica come I salumi, e poi anche di salami e simili (v. Pizzicare)."

see http://www.etimo.it/?term=pizzicagnolo

In other words, he ran a deli, probably made sausages. At least I'd like to think so.

Anyway, the trip was a lot of fun, and the usual assortment of photos and videos is available at http://www.fabbnet.net/Italy2008/italy2008.htm.

RGM

First Game of The 2008...

... Bolton Middle School Varsity Soccer Season

Submitted by frank on September 17, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...and Mrs and I went to see recently named team co-captain Mitchell play, here he is at the coin toss huddle in advance of the action:

A user submitted image.

And it was a cool cloudy day, but Mitchell was ready for the game and is seen here "firing up' the team just prior to kickoff or whatever they call it in this version of football.

A user submitted image.

The game started and along the way Mitchell was involved in the action.

A user submitted image.

Before the game and during warm-ups I did manage to get one picture that showed more of him than the number on the back of his jersey. Not the best, but Mrs said she likes it so here it is...the co-captain getting ready:

A user submitted image.

At the end of the first half, the score was 2 to 1 in favor of the visiting team from the Nathan Hale School in Coventry. Being somewhat less than perfect grand parents, we left after the half and do not know what the final score was...as an aside, soccer is a fairly boring game played at levels below world cup standards.and at eighth grade school levels, you can only imagine. Hence, combined with a coolish day, no chairs to sit upon---we forgot to bring any---you may begin to understand our less than perfect grandparent behavior and early departure.

That is the end of this story.

A few days ago...

I got this surprise

Submitted by frank on July 29, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

And I decided to post it here because the older I get the more I succumb to "cuteness". And that is that.

The @#&**#$ youtube embed device sticks the reply tool over the last frame which is the cute frame so here it is A user submitted image.

PS substitute any name for the little persons use of the word "Grampy" and this can be considered as a generic birthday wish for all who might see this on or near their birthday.

Now that finally is the end of this story.

Christmas 2007

Submitted by Nicolas on December 27, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Straight from Santa's workshop.

A user submitted image.

Click me!

The elves have been busy.

scoot

a late b-day story

Submitted by Nicolas on October 28, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Dante got a scooter for his birthday (it came from Grammy and Grampy).

A user submitted image.

Off we go to give it a try.

A user submitted image.

Going.

Gone.

Next it's off to the park.

A user submitted image.

This could be fun.

A user submitted image.

Other than that, we had cake and singing, just we three and our neighbor-friend Cecelia. We sang happy birthday in Spanish and English, as he wanted.

He's FIVE!

Dante's Train?...

...could it have been...

Submitted by frank on August 30, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I heard that Dante and his Mom and Dad were going to New York on a train. The train would have gone over the little bridge over Shaw's Cove in New London Connecticut where Grampy's friend Don keeps his sailboat that Grampy and Don sail on a lot.

The other day we were going for a sail and we had to go through the bridge and this is a picture of the bridge open to let us through. A user submitted image.

Before we left we saw a train going across the bridge and I thought, "Could that be Dante's train?" A user submitted image.

And then there was another one that we saw later, an Acela train and maybe that was the one... A user submitted image.

Or maybe none of them...I don't really know.

Oh, while we were out sailing that day the wind stopped and while we were waiting for the wind to come back, my friend Don's "little boy"---ha-ha-ha just a joke, decided to go fishing and he caught this little fish called a flake---whoops, it's a fluke, not a flake. Just goes to show what I know about fishes.---. we took his picture and then he put the fish back into the ocean. A user submitted image.

The end of this little story about bridges, trains, little boys and fish.

And Speaking of Miracles...

Submitted by frank on July 22, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Since I was humble in acknowledging my error in judgment by sending the ultimate compliment when the salad is particularly good, I was rewarded with this special miracle this morning as I was preparing my toast and coffee....

A user submitted image.

I am not quite certain about what the message is though...a genuine reward or just another item for eBay?

Garden Update

A small salad appeared

Submitted by sandy on July 21, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Grampy doubted we would ever get a salad out of our little urban garden. Well, today we harvested the first item!

Here it is: tonight's salad, ready to be dressed with oil and vinegar and shared between the three of us.

A user submitted image.

Michael Anthony......

...a birthday story

Submitted by frank on July 1, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Yesterday Michael Anthony who turned two just the other day was given a little party to celebrate the occasion. And we all had fun..... A user submitted image.

...especially him!!!

Garden

A small garden for a small family

Submitted by Nicolas on May 27, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Our building offered tenants the opportunity to plant a garden in small plots in our courtyard. Of course, being an outdoorsy, back to the earth kind of guy, I jumped at the chance.

First a little planning session:

A user submitted image.

For some reason (perhaps just four year oldness), he had to run around the courtyard pretending to be a butterfly. (He is a mother butterfly and when playing that game Sandy and I are just caterpillars--he loves to teach us things.):

A user submitted image.

Here we all are working the soil:

A user submitted image.

Next step planting (we've planted green beans, radishes, lettuce, peas, a watermelon and a pumpkin -- we have no idea what's going to work):

A user submitted image.

Now some watering:

A user submitted image.

Next, we wait 2 to 3 weeks and then we should see some seedlings. Salad in late July will be straight from garden (or maybe Whole Foods if it turns out we know nothing about gardening).

Snow!

Finally!!

Submitted by Nicolas on March 19, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Oh, round about October, we reminded Dante how much fun the snow was. Sledding, snowmen, snow angels and all that. Then we had a winter with no real snow. Just when we had given up, a little snow arrived.

Here is what happened:

We were out at the height of the storm, so it was snowing and pretty windy. Was this really a good idea?

A user submitted image.

The snow was a bit dry and grainy, but I gamely tried to make a snow man. More like a snow marshmallow peep when I finished, but it was our only chance.

A user submitted image.

After a little while we realized that the most fun we could have was a running game of tag.

A user submitted image.

Now we were all pretty excited. Dante tried to catch some snow flakes on his tongue.

A user submitted image.

At about this point the grownups were ready for some hot cocoa, but someone was having too much fun and stayed out for quite awhile.

A user submitted image.

All these scenes are in our courtyard, in case you're wondering.

Morning Kid Sitting...

by the Geezer, would you believe...

Submitted by frank on February 16, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...and it's true enough. The story behind the story is too complicated and too long for explanation here. But I found myself kid sitting for Michael Anthony over at his place this morning. Before everyone becomes too amazed, it was around 10:00 AM and only for a short 20 or 25 minutes.

I get there and take off gloves, scarfs, coats, and hats and immediately, Michael Anthony decided to give me a little fashion show with my infamous and sort of scruffy hat... A user submitted image. ...sort of a posing picture.

And this too... A user submitted image. ...but then he decided that we should go play with all of his stuff and we did for a while until he decided to tell me a story......yak yak yak , all in some semi intelligable kid talk, along with a gesture or two....

And that's the end of the story without too much of a point except it is an excuse to put up a snapshot or two of the little guy for everyone to see how he is doing these days.

MitchCycle

Mitchell on his new Unicycle

Submitted by Nicolas on January 19, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

By now he's probably an expert (who knows?), but here is what his first encounter with his Xmas cycle looked like.

go Go GO GO!! Keep trying! You'll get it!

A user submitted image.

Dizzy yet? Here are a couple of stills.

A user submitted image.

Christmas Eve in Connecticut...

worked out to be a very nice time...

Submitted by frank on December 26, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...and it was especially fun to for all the kids. We were all there, Cass here for 20 hours or so from Chicago; Dante, Nick and Sandy up from Boston for most of the day; Steve and Jenny too all the way from North Haven; and Michael Anthony, Mitchell, Christopher, Samantha, Nancy and Mike here from a few blocks away on Lydall Street.

While we were all waiting for a giant bowl of rigatoni and Bolognese sauce the kids asked for permission to each open a present. They got it.... and were pretty much content to wait out the couple of hours or so till we were going to eat and then have our traditional pre-Santa open up some presents and do all the appropriate oooohhhing and aaahhhing.

While they were waiting they studied and played with one of Cass's little presents for Christopher ( I think it was his )... A user submitted image. ...and here they are.

A little later, after careful observation... A user submitted image.

Dante took a turn playing despite a few extra arms and a hand or two... A user submitted image.

Then we finally did get to that big bowl of rigatoni followed by ice cream pizzele and chocolate cream pie. Then our long awaited present openings. After that event, this image was seen outside floating in the woods off our neighbors back deck... A user submitted image.

We decided that we better wrap it up and we did. Everyone went home to have that " long winter's nap" and wait for the Jolly Guy...( the other one, not your author who is also known to be that fun loving jolly guy).

The end of our 2006 Christmas Eve Story........

It's Done!!!

The new kitchen

Submitted by Cassi on September 25, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

As of about 1 hour ago my kitchen is done. I know I said Labor Day....but that is the big contractor lie, kind of like the check is in the mail.

The project turned a little scary in the middle. It all started when I said I'd like a new outlet on one wall, simple enough right? Well when they opened up the wall to run the new wire through things got ugly. My building is about 100 years old and I use to have plaster walls. So at some point a long time ago they had to update the wiring. The developer at the time took as many shortcuts as possible. Instead of running the new wire behind the old wall and through the studs like you're suppose to, they chose to run the wire over the old wall and then dry wall over that.Not only a fire hazard it makes for a very lumpy wall.

Then we found an electrical box with all of these wires coming into it and going no where. Live wires!!

Everyday I would come home to new gaping holes in my walls. I wanted to take pictures of the scary wires and holes but my contractor said "Get out of the %#&*%%$ kitchen". I guess something’s you don't want documented.

Well I now have a new outlet and a completely re-wired kitchen. Here are some pictures:

A user submitted image.

The cabinets are maple, and I got the tall ones. I had to go buy a step stool so I could reach them. The stove is my favorite part of the entire kitchen. It is a convection oven, with 5 burners. My friends are all teasing me that I need to cook now.

A user submitted image.

Here's a close up of the sink and counter tops. I paid more for the sink and mounting than the fridge....so oooh and aaaah appropriately. The pictures don't do the granite counter top justice. It is various shades of green and black. The lightest green is more like putty color. That's what I painted the walls. It looks really nice all together.

A user submitted image.

It's really hard see how pretty it is in these pictures. You'll just have to come out and see for yourself. There's only one problem. My kitchen opens up to the dining room and now that looks a little shabby. On to the next project......

The Destruction has begun...

My new kitchen

Submitted by Cassi on August 24, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

The destructuion, I mean contruction has begun on my new kitchen. I'm excited and a little scared. It seems like a never ending process. I am gutting the kitchen and getting all new cabinets, fixtures and appliances. The only thing that is staying is the floor. The plan is to be complete by Labor Day....we'll see.

Here is my ugly before kitchen:

A user submitted image.

As you can see lots of room for improvement A user submitted image.

One more before shot A user submitted image.

I hired two of my friends to do the contract work. They are great and have helped every step of the way. Sometimes I think that it's not my kitchen but their's.

Here is the place being ripped to shreds A user submitted image.

Now everything is gone, all I have is bare walls and holes. My friends assure me that this is not bad at all, so far they haven't found too many surprises.

A user submitted image.

And finally here is the before and after......

A user submitted image.

Old cabinets gone...New ones arrived A user submitted image.

To be continued.......

Sort of Proving That...

...the old man's summer is fairly...

Submitted by frank on August 12, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...predictable, even as it is easy.

Once the sailing season got under way it has continued. This is last weekends story.

A Sunday sail with Don...

...yes it was Sunday, and I went for a longish sail with Don, aboard his cruising 36 footer CHIMAERA. Not a bad day at all. Pretty nice wind most of the day, very favorable tides all day, and it was what it was supposed to be.

While we were sailing back to New London, I had a chance to gawk at other boats like I like to do.

. A user submitted image.

I saw this pretty looking catboat sailing a parallel course to us but in the opposite direction. And then there were the houses of the Fishers Island kazillionaires to gawk at too, but I am not inclined to do that.

That's more or less it. The wars went on, the RedSox lost, The Yankees won, but this geezer had a good day anyway. Everyone ought to have a friend, especially one with a nice sailboat.

Oh, and not forgetting the other part of the story, After returning to the dock and securing the boat till the next time, we went over to the nearby lobster shack, right next to where the lobster boats berth, and picked up a couple of very classic cold lobster rolls to bring home so that Mrs. could enjoy her favorite part of this geezers sailing day too.

Storyland

Submitted by Nicolas on August 9, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

It started like this. Last weekend we all got in a zipcar and drove out to Western Mass. where we went to Mass MoCA (a contemporary art museum). Dante was very well behaved and even looked with some interest at the exhibits. Then we went into an exhibit called "Amusement Park", an odd exhibit really, just some restored amusement park rides running slowly in a large dark room. Dante's eyes lit up, "What's that?" he asked, "Can I get on it?" Sandy and I felt bad, he seemed to think it was all a cruel hoax, so we promised him we would find a Real Amusement Park and that would be our next adventure. Enter Storyland, a theme park for the little kid set.

We all got up at 6:45 am (it's a 3.5 hour drive) and off we went. Don't worry, this is no tale of woe. We all had a wonderful time.

Dante had seen some pictures of the park on the web, so when we got there he announced "I want to go on the Flying Fish!". I had thought that it was too scary and we would start on a toddler ride, but there was no arguing with him. So we hopped on the little train across the park and there it was.

Sandy and Dante are in the distance, but you can see them. He loved it!
(I went with him on his second ride at the end of the day, I did not love it.)

Next up a tilt-a-whirl like ride called the Twirling Turtles.
Note that brave old Dad is getting in with him.

Storyland also has play areas for little kids like a Sprayground with water squirting everywhere. We went into the Sand Castle Maze and Dante was quite pleased to come upon this.

The machine blows air; holding the balls floating, like magic.

Jumping for joy.

We went on almost all the rides: Whirling Whales, Bamboo Chutes (a funny picture to follow when we get it scanned), a raft ride (poor Sandy got soaked). Here's what their Ferris Wheel looks like.

"Are those real ballons?", he asks.

It was pretty fun.

This was a favorite. The Flying Shoes are all equipped with a handle that allows you to control whether you go up or down.

Note who is firmly in control of his shoe. Up, down, up, down. "I'm flying my shoe!!"

What a great day! After a quick dinner in Conway we drove home. Dante slept.

Finally, we managed...

...and at long last

Submitted by frank on July 16, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...Don and me that is--to get in a long day of pretty good sailing out aboard Don's CHIMAERA. The sailing was nice and easy out on the Sound's,--- Long Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound---

Tranquil and quiet as we sailed by North Dumpling Island home of the famous, enigmatic, eccentric, genius, famous Worcester Polytech dropout, inventor of the device that is planted in Dick Cheny's chest keeping that Darth Vader like character alive, and the creator of the infamous "It" which was supposed to change the world, and still might. ---but I wander--- The person is Dean Kamen, the machine is Segway and this is his island retreat.... A user submitted image.

So we had a slightyly closer look as we usually do hoping to spot the mystery man.... A user submitted image. ...and behold, could this be him?

...you decide. Maybe a slightly closer look... A user submitted image.

Despite this unusual and spooky "famous enigmatic guy" sighting the day was just fine and normal until on the final leg home up the Thames to our dock this evil machine loomed large... A user submitted image. ...followed by dozens of others of similar ilk. They were roaring and racing.

A user submitted image.

and racing and roaring... A user submitted image. ...and

Well, you get the picture. Strange giant speedboats on the Thames, a sight never before seen, after the strange man himself appeared out of the haze in his lighthouse. Not to put too much of a point to this, but I sense that this is NOT the end of this story......

Making a Long Story Short...

....get it???

Submitted by frank on June 22, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

In a reaction to the many comments about long hair......

...this... A user submitted image.

...and this too... A user submitted image.

....stay tuned.

The Red Headed Soccer Player

...a little picture essay

Submitted by frank on June 5, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Yesterday, Mrs and I went to see a soccer game. This is some of what we saw and at times, the action was nearly worthy of this

A user submitted image.

And in the end, congtatulations to all.....

A user submitted image.

The End......

Strange Sighting on Lydall Street

...while on the way to the Stop and Shop...

Submitted by frank on May 23, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...we spotted this strange sight in front of Nancy and Mikes's house.

A user submitted image.

Since Mike has alwys thought that Mrs. was a little...shall we say eccentric...for her use of an occasional Pink Flamingo or two in her outside decor, we thought this simply couldn't be.

So we took a closer look......

A user submitted image.

...and as they say ( or at least some say) "O my God..it is a kazillion Pink Flamingos. What is going on????????

A picture from ca. 1911

...looking way back

Submitted by frank on May 1, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I have been exchanging emails for the past few days with Bob Minutillo and Richard Minutillo as a result of Bob's seeking information about paternal family ties back to Italy. That search hasn't revealed much, but in the exchanges, some other family stories have been revealed and some photographs that I had never seen were scanned and exchanged.

I have decided to put a small version of the most interesting one here for all of you to see.

A user submitted image.

The photograph was made around 1911 to 1912. The small child in the photograph is my father, Frank P. Sr. and he was born in 1909. In this picture he is probably 2-ish. The man to the left in the photograph is Nicola Minutillo, his father, my grandfather and great grandfather to some of you and great great grandfather to Mitchell, Dante and Michael Anthony. The woman to the right in the photo is Josefina Minutillo (nee Vallone) his mother and my grandmother. The older woman is believed to be my granmother's mother or my greatgrandmother. We have not yet determined her name, but it is believed that her maiden name was Piacitelli.

The others in the photograph are Louis Vallone, the younger fellow to the extreme left, Peter Vallone the smiling man with his arm over my young grandmothers shoulder and his other arm resting on Liberato Di Paulo who is the husband of Zia Caterina my grandmothers sister who is seen here standing on the right.

I have obtained a bunch of other photographs from Richard and if anyone is interested, I can send hires copies of the picture here and copies of the others too which include pictures of my father and mother from the late twenties and early thirties.

The End of This Story......for now

Jenny's plant Story...

....a resurrection of sorts

Submitted by frank on April 21, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

OK, here is the deal. Jenny along with Steve are off in far away Asia, probably in Tokyo today or maybe Singapore. Jenny has this plant which she is bringing back to life from last year. It has shown signs that it might actually flower, but, the trip to far off Asia was going to prevent her from seeing the results of the long and devoted effort, so she brought it over here for Mrs to witness in her absence. Mrs asked me to document the process for Jenny to see upon her return. I did, but why wait I asked ?....so here in sequence is the resurrection captured in some of it's glory on the table in the kitchen under the window etc etc etc...

Sunday..... A user submitted image.

Monday........ A user submitted image.

Tuesday.......... A user submitted image.

Wednesday......... A user submitted image. ...looking not so good.

Thursday... A user submitted image. ...looking much better...

also Thursday... A user submitted image.

,...and today, Friday... A user submitted image.

The End of This Story..... A user submitted image.

(...I hope they have all their technology connected so that they can see this way over there.)

Cass, and the small Minutillo family went to Paris

A few pictures

Submitted by Cassi on March 28, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

I joined Nick, Sandy and Dante in Paris. They're still there, but here are a few photos from my trip.

We went to visit the Efile Tower, something you must do when you go to Paris.

A user submitted image.

Here's a cool picture of Nick and Dante on the Carousel.

A user submitted image.

One morning Nick and Sandy took off to go to a museum. Dante and I didn't feel like joining them, so we went to the park. We were going to just go to the playground, but on the way we saw ponys. We had to go check it out and come to find out they were offering rides to kids....

A user submitted image.

Our hotel was right by the Pantheon A user submitted image.

It took us a day or two to figure out what all of the daffodils were for. There were women all over the street selling them. And the Pantheon was covered with yellow ribbons. http://jonquille.curie.fr/ We went to visit the Opera house, I was bummed we couldn't go in, but there was actually a performance going on. I have never seen the inside, I guess this gives me a reason to go back.

A user submitted image.

We did a TON of walking around. Dante of course got carried most of the way. How do I get that great gig! Here we are heading back to the hotel.

A user submitted image.

Sledding

we didn't get a blizzard, but it did snow

Submitted by Nicolas on February 18, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

So we took Dante sledding in the morning. Here's a little video of the event: Wheee!.

We took the video with our digital camera, we hadn't brought the video camera. I held the camera sideways because I thought it framed the scene better. It took forever to find some software that could rotate a movie 90°. (Final Cut Express will, but as I am no expert we got this large black border.) Another hour of work and I could probably have figured it out, but...

Pre-Blizzard of '06 visit

Nancy and Mike and Michael Anthony dropped by yesterday for a ...

Submitted by frank on February 12, 2006— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...nice little pre-blizzard of '06 visit. Of course, we didn't know that it would be a pre-blizzard visit at the time. But, I digress. In fact it may not even be an actual blizzard here.

Back to the point. They came over to show us some of Michael Anthony's new skills and new teeth and all that sort of thing. But, the little guy took one look at me and turned to his Dad and said, " Did you see that guy with the whiskers !!!" or words that had that meaning.

Here, see what I mean... A user submitted image.

well, after a while he decided that maybe it would be OK... A user submitted image. ..but he still had to check with Dad.

He then proceeded to demonstrate a lot of his new skills while playing with Grammy, but he still had that skeptical eye for Grampy,

Once again... A user submitted image.

Then, just to show me that he wasn't going to hold any long hard feelings, I did get a little smile.

I think that being held by Mom and hearing Dad say it's time to go... A user submitted image. ...had more to do with it though.

...anyway all was well and off they went A user submitted image.

The end, well sort of the end of this story. I used a new camera and as Mrs would say, there were a series of "pilot errors". This whole digital business may make a luddite like person of me yet.I did try again this morning and managed this through my slightly fogged window... A user submitted image.

OK, now it is THE END of this story.

Greetings from Bethesda

Richard and Bob say hello

Submitted by rgminutillo on December 28, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

This is Bob and Maryann, Bob's friends David and Barbara Bloch, Alyssa and Roberto, and Richard and Dorothy at a semi-traditional gathering at the home of Bill and Maryann Rooney, also in Bethesda. A user submitted image.

Christmas Fun

...from Mike, Nancy and Michael Anthony

Submitted by frank on December 19, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

The other day Mike, Nancy and Michael Anthony went to visit Santa...and they all want to say, "Merry Christmas" to everyone...

A user submitted image.

Thanksgiving at Grammy's House

...this story stolen by me

Submitted by frank on November 30, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

This story is about the Thanksgiving snowstorm, well sort of snowstorm, that happened this Thanksgiving Day at Grammy's house in far off Connecticut. We were all sitting around and Aunt Jenny was taking a couple of pictures of Dante who was reluctantly posing...

A user submitted image. ...This was all fine and then Nick said to Dante, "Lets go outside and build a little snowman on Grammy's deck. See all the snow out there...

A user submitted image. ...a proof of the storm's result.

Then everyone got all bundled up and out they went to start the fun. Dante wasn't sure that it was really going to be all that much fun, but trooper that he off he went...

A user submitted image. ...Looking at Nick's effort Dante becomes skeptical of the result.

But a few seconds later, after a brief study of the final handiwork...

A user submitted image. ...Dante begins to change his mind and...

...he declares that the result was worth the effort. He declares that it is cold and taking a final look at the snowy scenes...

A user submitted image. ...like this one he says, "that was fun, now let's go back in"

A user submitted image. ...and they did.

The End... any resemblance to the actual events is a pure coincidence.

Halloween

"Is Halloween a little scary?"

Submitted by Nicolas on November 1, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

This year Dante was a ghost for halloween. He thought he was a scary ghost. His whole act was well practiced, "Boo! Trick-or-Treat!", followed by a thank you. I ended up being the one to make the ghost costume, (Sandy was quite busy with Brenda's baby shower). Luckily Dante is not a harsh critic, so a simple costume would do. He didn't like wearing the head, which was just fine, I didn't like it much either.

A user submitted image.

The original plan was for him to be a mouse. He thought a "mousey mask" would make a good Halloween costume. Sandy had made a great little handmade mask for him, we were all set. Then he got it into his head that he would be a ghost, Mommy would be a mouse and Daddy was going to be a frog, just like the king frog in the new puppet theater that Grammy and Grampy gave him. Sorry no frog costume.

A user submitted image.

Trick-or-treating was fun. But one of the first houses we went to had some people in pretty scary looking costumes handing out treats. Skeleton costumes creep him out. "Is it time to go home now?" We tried one more house, but by then he was sure that scary people would answer the door, so home we went. Dante now knows what candy is, and he got a big bag of cookies from Annette at the Italian bakery (she really likes Dante).

A user submitted image.

Michael Anthony and...

his Mom and Dad ....

Submitted by frank on October 23, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...all dropped in for a short surprise visit yesterday at noontime. As is my usual pattern at that precise time, I was eating lunch...beans and a frankfurt and Marilyn was just finishing her paper, late AM shower, and getting ready for her noonish repast.

Naturally I offered little Michael Anthony some beans and franks too, but just as naturally, his folks thought better of that idea. So the little guy just had to watch me finish my lunch alone and with some amusement too.

Later in the visit, Michael Anthony asked if he could just sit in Grammy's big chair for a few minutes and of course we agreed. While he was there I took a couple of quick snapshots...

This one first...

A user submitted image.

...and then this... A user submitted image.

And a little later this one... A user submitted image. ...When he sort of shouted to me "..Grampy, can't you see that this sitting business is getting old and I am becoming all scrunched and un-amused!!"

I have to say that Michael Anthony never lost his cool, but I did stop with the picture taking.

Later, Nancy, Michael and Michael Anthony all packed up and went shopping. ...THE END of this story

New York, New York

what a wonderful town

Submitted by Nicolas on September 27, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

A while ago now (about a month) Dante, Sandy and I took a little trip down to New York City.

Dante was very good on the long car ride (next time we will take the train, even though it's more expensive than the car and parking, it will just be more fun).

A user submitted image.

Once we got there he was eager to go out and explore.

A user submitted image.

There was a lot to see.

The first short day we took a train to Central Park (Dante insisted on knowing the names of all the train stations, in Boston that works well--Harvard Square station is in Harvard Square, in NYC he was just a little confused. He asked "Is the playground in 68th Street?").

Here he is taking a little cheerio break outside Central Park (he carries his own snacks now in his little backpack).

A user submitted image.

We got caught in the rain on the way back so we ducked into a little (not too good, not too bad) Italian restaurant.

The second day was full of site seeing. On the way to the sites we passed the public library, which he recognized from a book about New York City that he and Sandy had checked out of the Boston public library.

A user submitted image.

Then came the Empire State Building, back to the playground, a quick visit to the Metropolitan Museum, a nice take out meal for Sandy and I. Quite a day.

A user submitted image.

The last day we all went to a nice little place in SoHo for breakfast. When Sandy and I last visited SoHo, a couple years back, it was full of art galleries and artists, some blocks where starting to gentrify. Now almost every old building is being converted to high end condos and the galleries sell sculptures of dogs. But the Lucky Strike is still a nice place for breakfast.

Enough of that. This is my favorite picture of a little boy in NYC.

A user submitted image.

little "Mike Tony" visits

... along with Michael

Submitted by frank on August 21, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Michael brought little Michael Anthony over for a visit yesterday. The question is, just what do we call him. Mrs and I discovered that we can't call him Michael and that Michael Anthony doesn't fit yet, so for the purpose of this narrative I have settled on " little Mike Tony"

Anyway, all he wanted to do was sleep and sleep he did.

A user submitted image.

Later and after some nuisance poking and proding, he did wake up and produced this rather "..what do you want" look.

A user submitted image.

After a little more coaxing he decided we were OK and did produce a little smile.

A user submitted image.

After a little while he decided to tell us a few jokes and ran around some, but he still is only seven weeks old and the jokes were lame so to spare him from embarrassment I shut down all recording devices.

The End of This Story

Wisconsin Vacation

and Minneapolis, too

Submitted by sandy on August 11, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

We went to visit my family in Wisconsin and Minnesota. On July 19 we flew into Milwaukee, WI and began a lengthy drive to northern Wisconsin. We first stopped in Madison and brought Dante to a park in my old neighborhood where I lived from age 6 to 16. Then we went to the Union Terrace at the U of WI, on the shore of Lake Mendota. My sister Sharon and her son Peter met us there for bratwurst, hamburgers, and corn on the cob all cooked on an outdoor grill on the terrace. (We took no pictures in Madison, unfortunately.) Next we stopped in Eau Claire, about 3 hours north, to see my 101-year-old grandmother Larson. Dante was excited about seeing "a great-grandmother!" (sort of like seeing a moose or a deer along the road it seemed) and "a nursing home!" Here is a pic Nick took with his cell phone camera.

A user submitted image.

We didn't stay long, as she tired quickly, but she was alert and aware and happy to see us.

Another hour and a half or so on the road and we arrived at Long Lake. Besides my parents, my sister Janet was there with her three teenaged kids and one of their friends, so it was a pretty full house. They stayed through the next day and then headed home to Kansas. Oops, no pictures of them, either!

Dante re-discovered the joy of walking around in the shallow water near the dock, and this year he has a favorite toy -- a plastic fish mold that he fills with sand and "makes a fish." Here's the happy boy.

A user submitted image.

Contemplating the nature of the universe (or maybe just nature) with fish mold in hand.

A user submitted image.

Dante and Daddy enjoying their morning coffee and pastry on the dock. With pink fish nearby.

A user submitted image.

The cottage is on a former island, now attached to the mainland via a gravel road. The end of the island is a favorite sitting/gazing place. Here's Dante at "The Point."

A user submitted image.

We discovered a set of bocce balls, which was good for lots of fun. Dante helped Grandpa Larson put the balls away. (Hey, wait a minute, which one is the Italian Grampa anyway??)

A user submitted image.

Here are a few family pics.

Dante and his Grandparents Larson.

A user submitted image.

One small happy family, self-portrait.

A user submitted image.

My sister Diane came up from Rochester, MN, and my mom's cousin Susan has a cottage nearby, but we didn't end up with any good pictures showing them.) And a few other miscellaneous pictures. Dante has a new backpack that he's thrilled (most of the time) to carry.

A user submitted image.

We went to a park in the nearby town of Rice Lake, and he found a fun bouncy skunk. (And that's where my brand-new cellphone seems to have disappeared into the trash along with the remains of our picnic dinner there...)

A user submitted image.

Here he is telling us all about the day's news.

A user submitted image.

(Actually, Grandpa had found an article remembering an amazing fish catch in 1955, and pointed it out to Dante. It's a picture of many men posing with many huge fish.)

At the end of our trip, we spent 2 nights and a day in Minneapolis, where my brother Steve lives. Aunt Elaine had all sorts of toys ready for Dante's visit, plus they have two cats, so Dante found their house to be very exciting and fun! (Elaine also did us the saintly favor of suggesting that we parents go out in the evening for a bit after Dante went to bed, and we went "uptown" and had a lovely drink and dessert. So the visit was pretty great for us, too.)
We discovered we really like Minneapolis. The city and the downtown seem, strangely, bigger than Boston, and yet it has many lakes with little beaches and walking paths, right in the city. And we didn't even get to the banks of the Mississippi River, also right in town.

We visited the Minneapolis Sculpture Park and here was the most eye-catching piece:
A user submitted image.

Oops, no pictures of Steve and Elaine and their kids, either.

We flew home from Mpls on July 26. It was a lovely trip that included farms and woods and lakes, lots of family time, and one good dose of big city to top it off.

Michael Anthony Minutillo

...at about 21 hours old

Submitted by frank on June 30, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

We just got back from a short visit with Nancy,Mike and the new little person. All are well and feeling fine.even Mike. I took a few pictures and here are some that have been cleared for publication here.

Up close...

with Mike and Nancys hands... A user submitted image.

With Mrs... A user submitted image.

Hinting that times up... A user submitted image.

And with that, we left him to get ready for his lunch. They will all be going home on Friday.

And that's just the beginning of this story...to be continued.

Michael just called...

and announced that ...

Submitted by frank on June 29, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...he and Nancy have a son, and Mrs. and I have a new grandson, Michael Anthony Minutillo, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz. and measuring 21 1/2 inches in length. "Sonny" as Mike says he will call him or "Tony" as I threaten to call, him was born this afternoon at Manchester Memorial Hospital.

Mike reports that the baby has brown hair, and is very cute. He also reports that Nancy is fine and feels fine and the new baby is fine and feels fine.Mike is fine and feels fine too.

There will be pictures and more information posted here tomorrow.

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE AND NANCY

Cottage by a Pond

Pierpont Meadow

Submitted by Nicolas on June 17, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Sandy, Dante and I went to an Audubon Society nature preserve a few days back. While we didn't see many birds ("Where are the ducks?", he asks) we did have a nice time and we taught Dante to use the camera.

Here's the cottage:

A user submitted image.

A little later it was raining a bit, Dante wants in:

A user submitted image.

We went for a little walk, here's Dante looking at the trees. He was fascinated with the blue and yellow trail markers on the trees:

A user submitted image.

We let Dante take whatever pictures he wanted. So we got a few trail markers.

A user submitted image.

Here's a little slide show of all the pictures he took.

Memorial Day Weekend

and sunshine, finally

Submitted by sandy on May 30, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here are a few pictures from a sunny Sunday at Grammy and Grampy's.

On Saturday Cassi and Steve and Jenny and Mike and Nancy and Mitchell were all there, and we had cake and ice cream and gave Nancy and Mike some gifts for the new baby expected next month. (We forgot to have a camera out for that event, though. Sorry!)

Here's Grampy refilling the birdfeeder with Dante's help.

A user submitted image.

Dante added a little flamingo to Grammy's garden, a companion for the big one. It doesn't flap its wings very often, but everyone tried to help it along.

A user submitted image.

And here's Dante, his hair reflecting the much-appreciated sunshine.

A user submitted image.

Did you go to the zoo?

Yes you did!

Submitted by Nicolas on May 28, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

We all went to Providence, Rhode Island to see the Roger Williams Zoo. It was cold and rainy, but then again it's always cold and rainy. We all had a great time--we are stout folk.

Here are some of the things one sees at the zoo:

A user submitted image.

Elephants.

A user submitted image.

These monkeys enchanted Dante.

A user submitted image.

See?

Ducks!

Is this a giant eight blade fan? He ran around and around, pretending that the fan was spinning.

A user submitted image.

The cottontops were found in the 'warm monkey house', our respite from the rain and cold.

A user submitted image.

The spittin' image of his toy emu, ugly ugly ugly.

Also cheetahs, giraffes, zebra, a wolf, flamingos and a toad.

Did we have fun at the zoo? Yes we did!

Down by the Riverside

.....slowly

Submitted by frank on April 27, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Mrs and I were down by the riverside yesterday and were forced to comply with this official request...

A user submitted image.

...just kidding. We couldn't have walked any faster anyway...

Contest

Submitted by rgminutillo on April 22, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

I want it - rgminutillo

The Official Minutillo.info Flickr Pro Account Contest!

Submitted by steve on April 22, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

In celebration of being bought by Yahoo, Flickr is allowing everybody who bought a "pro" account in the early days (which includes me) to give away two free (for one year) pro accounts! I've already given out one of my accounts, and want to give the other one away to some lucky Minutillo.info member.

Here are the rules of the contest:

1) To enter the contest, you must have a Flickr free account.

2) Whichever Minutillo.info member first posts "I WANT IT!", along with your Flickr username, wins!

3) The Contest and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the United States. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, in its sole discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any entrant's participation in the Contest should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor's control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Contest or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Contest as planned. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Contest or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. By entering the Contest, you release Sponsor, participating sponsors and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agencies (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. Sponsor, all participating sponsors and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees and agencies will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

...Sandy,Nick and Dante visit this weekend

Submitted by frank on April 17, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

So Dante, Nick and Sandy came to visit this weekend. A fun visit for all of us and especially for me and Mrs. One of the many highlights was a game of baseball with Nick and Dante. Preceded by a rousing chorous of the classic baseball tune. Here are a few highlights from the game with Nick and a possible future shortstop for the BoSox.

Here's the pitch... A user submitted image.

Ready... A user submitted image.

and the swing... A user submitted image.

There's a drive... A user submitted image.

Way baaack.... A user submitted image.

Dante runs.. A user submitted image. .....

and back again.. A user submitted image. And the next pitch..

And the game continued....The End of This Story

March Madness.....

Eastern Connecticut Youth Basketball Style

Submitted by frank on March 11, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Last night, at the invitation of Chris and Mitchell, Mrs and I went to a round two game of the referenced tournament featuring Bolton D ( Mitchell's team ) vs. Andover C.( a powerful looking team from a bordering rival town ) The game started out with it's own version of NBA type light shows and player introductions:

A user submitted image.

Then the game started and it was the Mitchell show. From handling the ball for the first drive of the game like this

A user submitted image.

...to this pretty good Bob Cousy look

A user submitted image.

and shooting foul shots with a verve (even if unorthodox) approach

A user submitted image.

and power moves like this

A user submitted image.

The little guy ( not to put too much of a brag on it) led his team to a hard fought victory over a much bigger and tougher looking team. He scored 11 points, made countless great defensive plays, had two assists, and scored the final basket in the squeaker with only about 40 seconds left with a great assist from his teams other guard. Here they all are after the victory

A user submitted image.

They now have to play and win two more games to earn the tourney title.Will this team of little guys succeed?

A user submitted image.

....to be continued.

Rantings & Ravings...

...in the mind of this geezer pensioner

Submitted by frank on March 1, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

OK. So it's only a few inches and it's not really all that cold...

A user submitted image. ...but, enough is enough. This starts month five of this winter.And Why would any geezer pensioner want to live out his golden years here

A user submitted image. When there are places like this.....

A user submitted image. and this...

A user submitted image. alright, maybe not really like that, but like this...

A user submitted image. and this...get my drift

A user submitted image. and finally places like this where this geezer pensioner could spend his time worrying about whatever he feels like but not enduring the lousy winter and Bush and the right wing wackos.....

A user submitted image.

Sighhhhhh, period and end of story A user submitted image.

70A Cliffside's semi-blizzard story.

...the front window

Submitted by frank on January 23, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I was peering out my front window as I am wont to do these days and I spotted these two birds in the bush.

A user submitted image.

Here they are closer up through the foggy window still.

A user submitted image.

This pair my be the one often talked about in the bird in the hand being worth two in the bush aphorism, then again maybe not.

And here is a semi-pretty semi-blizzard scene; again as seen through the foggy window. Probably would have been better than "semi" if I hadn't been so lazy.

A user submitted image.

And that is The End of this story.

Blizzard!

The view from our house

Submitted by sandy on January 23, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

They predicted a blizzard and it's actually happening! Nick snapped this picture from our front window this morning. Notice the buried car. And it's still snowing steadily a couple of hours later.

A user submitted image.

More Flowers

not scary

Submitted by sandy on January 20, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Steve's story reminded me of some flower pictures I took a while back.

A user submitted image.

Taken in June, 2001 at Monet's pond in Giverny, France.

Giant Scary Star Trek Type Flower

hasn't shot us with spores just yet

Submitted by steve on January 20, 2005— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

O Christmas Tree

Submitted by sandy on December 16, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Once again, we the car-free gathered a Christmas tree (somewhat) near our home and hauled it home by foot. And we knew you would want to see pictures, so here goes:

A user submitted image.

Here's Nick with the tree we picked out. The nice men (see left) wrapped it up and snickered a bit, perhaps doubting that my husband would really make it home with this thing. Meanwhile, Dante was more interested in something on the ground.

A user submitted image.

Still feeling strong a block from the lot.

A user submitted image.

Proud in Davis Square, city-provided wreath in background.

A user submitted image.

It's getting harder....A few more blocks to go.

A user submitted image.

In the door, up the stairs, and he's just about had his fill of being photographed.

A user submitted image.

Yet-to-be-decorated...and tall. Dante wondered aloud several times why the tree wasn't outside, and should we put it outside?

A user submitted image.

The next morning he was properly stunned to find the tree full of lights.

A user submitted image.

Still taking it in.

A user submitted image.

One of the ornaments Dante likes.

A user submitted image.

The precious MBTA green line train ornament.

A user submitted image.

There are now a few presents underneath, and Dante is wondering when this "Christmas" thing is actually going to happen.

Gingerbread Man

Submitted by sandy on November 21, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

We made gingerbread cookies this weekend. The rolling pin scene was pretty frightful, and in a flour-strewn kitchen with dough stuck to everything, I decided to just throw the last blob of dough on the sheet without using the cookie cutter.

The decorated "blob" turned out to look a little like Grampy, we thought, with his hip Guatamalan(?) cap on. Here is the Man surrounded by the more traditional types.

A user submitted image.

First snow of the year

and a celebratory snowman

Submitted by sandy on November 16, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Snow arrived early this year, on November 12-13. For once, we in the city (well, less in the city than we used to be I guess) got MORE snow than predicted! Dante is old enough to appreciate a snowman now and we built one without delay. He is still a little unsure about touching the cold white stuff, though.

We understand everything Dante says, but if we were to subtitle it for those who don't hear him every day, we would include the words Snowman?, arm, mouth, nose, and buttons! buttons! buttons! His last word of the film is pretty clear.

Play movie

The clip is a little over one minute long and of course may take a little while to start the first time.

We're Back

(Italy 2004)

Submitted by rgminutillo on October 11, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Bob and Maryann, and Richard and Dorothy reprised their trip to Italy act. Richard is hard at work preparing the photos for another web layout on fabbnet.net, and Maryann will be editing the menus during her upcoming two weeks in Mongolia (which is another story!)

No, we didn't go to the town in the picture; that's a little hill town we admired on our way either to or from Parma, which was the second last of five stops for Richard and Dorothy, seven stops for Bob and Maryann.

Pause

smell the coffee

Submitted by Cassi on October 5, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

It's a done deal. I'm now part owner of a coffee shop!

There are 7 of us in total who ended up contributing to the shop. Alan and Michael own the majority, Alan will be running the day to day operations. I am on the board with 4 others, so I will be able to stick my nose into the business. My first order of business is to secure a hefty discount for all of my coffee consumption.

Here's the front of the shop A user submitted image.

Come inside......

A user submitted image.

Order some coffee and take a seat A user submitted image.

or here for some people watching A user submitted image.

Or surf the net...

We have free wireless or you can log onto one of our computers A user submitted image.

Finally a few more shots of the decor and you can see Alan already hard at work!

A user submitted image.

Pizza Night

Sandy, Dante and I make a pizza

Submitted by Nicolas on September 27, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Sunday was Pizza Night!

If Dante sees us cooking he'll say "need help." In this context that means he wants to help. We thought it would be fun for him to help us make pizza. We made the dough from scratch. He measured the ingredients, saying "half-a-dee-poon". "Dumped" the flour and water together. He helped knead, but he was very concerned that his hands were getting dirty. Lots of "uh-oh"s, but he persevered. Punching the air out of the dough was fun.

He's very good at adding toppings and shaking spices. We had a simple mushroom, basil and tomato pizza, with mozzarella cheese.

The pizza came out pretty well for a first try, the crust was crispy and thin, it was cooked just enough. Next time we will be more generous with the toppings, but all and all a success. That is, if you ignore that fact that Dante (it turns out) doesn't really like pizza.

I'll let the pictures tell their own story.

A user submitted image.

Percy and Mitchell

...not exactly birds of a feather

Submitted by frank on September 24, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

So, where to begin. Mrs and I are bird sitting Adele's latest pet bird 'Percy'. It's a long story,The bird is of the cockatiel variety and they need to be with other people or birds or they go nuttier than they are in the first place.We have this little beast for a week or so.Mitchell we have from time to time. He is not a little beast.And he loves the idea of a bird in the house for some reason known only to him and others of the same strange persuasion. This is the story of their little visit.

Making friends...

A user submitted image.

They hit it off: A user submitted image.

Reading the news.. A user submitted image.

Doing their homework.. A user submitted image.

Oh,Oh...stuck.. A user submitted image.

Whispered help.. A user submitted image.

And the story ends with bird and boy bonded and happy.

Organic Farm

Dante goes on a field trip

Submitted by sandy on September 18, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Friday morning Dante and I went on a trip sponsored by a local group for parents and toddlers. We got on a school bus (very exciting for him) and went to Gaining Ground, an organic farm in Concord.

Here's a big view of the fields and Dante. (He's pointing out something he thinks is "broken" -- which distresses him frequently these days...)

A user submitted image.

We were put to work immediately. Here's Dante putting freshly pulled-up leeks into a bucket, while 4-year-old Alice looks on.

A user submitted image.

I had never seen leeks growing before. Here's what they look like in the field.

A user submitted image.

Later Dante picked tiny Mexican Gherkin cucumbers off the vine.

A user submitted image.

Our guide and taskmaster Claire (below at left) served us a fresh watermelon snack. Look closely to see Dante in the background doing his own thing, as he often does.

A user submitted image.

The last task was washing potatoes. Dante quickly took charge of the wheelbarrow.

A user submitted image.

It was a fun day, and we came home with a bounty of leeks, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, baby carrots, and fresh basil. And on the way home we saw some sheep, another highlight for Dante.

Besides giving it to nice mothers and toddlers like us, Gaining Ground donates their organic produce to local hunger-relief programs and shelters. See their story here.

Nancy and Mike's new House

...and they are tickled pink

Submitted by frank on August 13, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Nancy and Mike just bought and moved into this house on Lydall Street in Manchester, CT. They were still moving in when we showed up to see their progress and Mike said "...take our picture". So, I did.

And here it is...........

A user submitted image.

...and that's the beginning of this story.

The end of Folly

...another eBay victim

Submitted by frank on August 10, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Going....

A user submitted image.

Going.........

A user submitted image.

Gone.............

A user submitted image.

They say that the happiest day and the saddest day in a boaters life is when he sells his boat.They are wrong. It's much more complicated than that!

....sigh..........and the end of this story.

Glacier

Big Sky Country

Submitted by Cassi on July 24, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

Here is just a peak of my trip to Montana. I went to visit a friend and spent one day hiking in Glacier National Park. We started the day at 5 AM to drive from Great Fall to Glacier. We took a boat ride across a lake to hike a short trail. We had a great view of Salamander Glacier. I still can't really tell the difference between the glacier and the snow.

A user submitted image.

The picture above is the boat and the first lake. We took the boat to the other side and hiked over a short path to come to a second lake. Here you see the glacier, it's the big thing of snow in the middle of the picture.

A user submitted image.

We hiked along the side of this lake for about 1.5 miles. I saw a sign half-way down the hike to a hidden waterfall. This was a short hike up to this great view.

A user submitted image.

We took the boat back and then drove through the park to another hike. This one was along the side of a mountain.

A user submitted image.

Finally a couple of shots on the way down the mountain.

A user submitted image.

Fireworks!

Boston, July 4, 2004

Submitted by sandy on July 6, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Dante took his second trip to watch the fireworks over the Charles River. He was only a little scared. It was two hours past his bedtime and he watched most of them half-asleep with a bottle in one hand and his favorite doggy in the other. Here are some pictures:

A user submitted image.

Who's waving that glowstick in the dark?

A user submitted image.

This happy boy, waiting for the KABOOM to start.

A user submitted image.

The smile disappears for a little while as the first fireworks explode above.

Eventually, back in his cozy stroller, he flashed a sleepy smile here and there at some of the prettier ones. Here's a small glimpse of what we saw.

A user submitted image.

(That last one was stolen from the Boston Globe site in case you're wondering.)

We and the other 449,997 watchers were pleased with the show.

Then Dante and Nick and I walked back to our new apartment in Davis Square. Not as close as our old place, but we can still walk...even if it took 1.5 hours.

A Helicopter Story

aka The Final Flight of the Osiris

Submitted by steve on June 25, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Jenny got me this remote control helicopter last year on Christmas. You can't fly it in cold weather, and due to our fast paced lifestyle, I haven't had a chance to fly it, until this past weekend.

Here's Chris flying it, and almost getting killed. The helicopter has two controls: up and down. When you push up, it sort of goes up and forwards. When you push down, it goes down while turning. You can almost control it by going up, then easing off and letting it turn, and then going up again. Almost. It sort of zips around, always seeming to be right on the edge of completely losing control, but managing to remain in the air. Unless you hit an obstruction, in which case the speed of the rotors cause the craft to ricochet off, tumbling through the air, until it smashes into the ground. Luckily it's really strong, and survived several really violent crashes.

A random picture of Janice.

Jenny, preparing a flight plan.

Here's Jenny flying, with Sharena and Alexis watching. Chris, his brother Kevin, Jenny, Ellen and Sharena all had a turn flying, and the best pilot was... Sharena! Whenever I flew I kept running into trees and crash landing. But Sharena somehow had an instinctive ability to fly really well. She took off smoothly, circumnavigated Chris and Ellen's yard, and came in for a perfectly smooth level landing. Amazing. Later she told Jenny the secret of flying: "push up, then down, then up, then down, then keep doing that."

This is Ellen, just after take off. As is Minutillo tradition, at this point the craft was lost forever. Their yard is surrounded by forests and swamps, and the helicopter ended up in one, we think. Ellen flew really really amazingly high, while we cheered her on! ...But then started to yell "Nooooo! Come back!!" It was too late. She was over some trees, and scared that if she came back down, she'd get caught, so instead she went onward, and upward... until we couldn't see the helicopter any more. Heroic efforts to locate the helicopter were undertaken, including traversing swamps and climbing trees, to no avail.

I think it's in the genes.

Pancakes

9 and M and a giraffe

Submitted by Nicolas on June 7, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

This morning Dante and I made homemade pancakes. He scooped the dry ingredients and put them (mainly) in the bowl. I measured. He also helped pour the milk and stir. I decided to make a few in shapes he would like. We made a giraffe, an M and a 9. Actually, Sandy made the giraffe, I'll stick to simple symbols.

A user submitted image.

Dante ate his 9 right away, about half way through the M, he stopped saying "M, M, M" and started saying "V, V, V". The V part of the M was pretty good so he finished that too. By the time we thought about taking a picture all that was left was the giraffe.

When Dante isn't busy climbing up and down steps, or chasing pigeons, or petting dogs, or looking at ceiling fans, then he has been carefully studying the set of alphabet books that Cassi gave him for Christmas.

After many readings and re-readings of the little books he now knows the letters: A, B, D, E, F, H, L, M, N, P, and V. Sometimes he'll recognize a few others, but these he really knows. He also knows the number 9.

Lowercase letters are a complete mystery to him. Cassi's little books don't use them and those are his favorite alphabet books. He might know the number 8, we aren't sure.

Why he decided to learn his letters I can't say. But neither can I understand his fascination with fans.

A nice visit....

Sandy and Dante in Connecticut

Submitted by frank on May 29, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Sandy and Dante left the sidewalks of Boston behind for a day and drove down to Connecticut for a visit with Mrs and me and later in the day, cousin Mitchell. A nice and easy day of just hanging out here. We took a few pictures. Here are some of them.

A user submitted image.

the only picture of Mrs with Dante and Sandy.

A user submitted image.

Dante gets ready to pick a pretty flower

A user submitted image.

Here Dante shows Mitchell his stair climbing skills ( no tumbles this time)

A user submitted image.

...and now for a baseball game

A user submitted image.

...here he is zooming by Mitchell.

A user submitted image.

Near the end of the visit now and Dante poses for a portrait or two.

This is a small glimpse of a really nice day.

.......The End of this Story......

Mother's Day Gift

My new toy

Submitted by Cassi on May 9, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

I got a new cell phone the other day with all kinds of cool features. One of them is a camera. I will start sending picture emails to everyone! I thought I would put it to good use and show Ma her Mother's Day gift. It's not quite done yet. Here it is in the beginning stages.

A user submitted image.

Now you can see it starting to take shape.

A user submitted image.

Hopefully it will be done before the next big holiday, Maybe a Memorial Day gift.

Here is the last one I made myself.

A user submitted image.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Our Weekend with Dante...

...well part if it anyway.

Submitted by frank on April 12, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Dante came down to Connecticut to stay with us for a while this weekend. He had Mrs and me in his custody from early Saturday morning when his folks left for an overnight in the big Apple, until mid-day Sunday when they returned. He had fun ( we think) and so did we. Here are a few pictures A user submitted image.

...here he is having some lunch.

A user submitted image.

..and here posing impatiently with me while only wanting to get started on his favorite activity of the weekend.

A user submitted image. ...ready to go.

A user submitted image. ...concentrating well sort of...

A user submitted image. ...no hands, no problem...until

A user submitted image. ..and

Other images in this sequence are redacted for the sake of all involved.

After a very brief trip inside to calm Mrs M's and my pulses, here we go again with Mrs looking like she is not sure.

A user submitted image. ...but Dante is.

And that is the end of part of the story of Dante's weekend with them.

Nancy and Mike get Married!

...and we all had a nice time.

Submitted by frank on March 22, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

On Saturday March 20, 2004 Mike and Nancy got married in So. Windsor Connecticut. The Minutillo family was represented at the proceedings by Mrs. and me; Nick, Sandy and Dante up from Boston; Cassandra, who came out from Chicago; Steve and Jenny from North Haven; and, of course, oldest grandson Mitchell Minutillo of Bolton.

Thanks to Jenny we have a picture of the decisive moment to post here.

A user submitted image.

Congratulations to Nancy and Mike!!!

The Edge of the Ice

Submitted by sandy on March 13, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

The Charles River was thawing, and I happened to have a camera as I walked across the Mass Ave Bridge. Here are a few images.

A user submitted image.

(I like the sky in this one.)

A user submitted image.

(??? This was a surprise.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roberto Gets Married

Announcement

Submitted by rgminutillo on February 11, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Roberto Minutillo, Bob's son, married Alyssa Voss on February 7 on the beach at Key West Florida. I'm working on the usual bad videos, but here's am image of the happy couple with Bob and Maryann. A user submitted image.

Patriots Homecoming

Dante goes to a parade of sorts

Submitted by sandy on February 3, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Dante and I watched the beginning of the Patriots "welcome home" parade today. We stood outside for a long time, but when Dante's patience ran out, we moved inside the Boston Public Library and watched from a second floor window.

Much of what we saw really had more to do with security than celebration, as shown here:

A user submitted image.

Tow trucks poised to pounce on any illegally parked cars.

A user submitted image.

A strong police presence. (I wondered if there were any cops anywhere ELSE in Boston during this time.).

A user submitted image.

Dante's favorite part was the numerous helicopter sightings.

A user submitted image.

Here he is in his excellent spectator seat inside the library.

A user submitted image.

I think the first "duck boat" has quarterback Tom Brady in it. The other one contains cheerleaders.

A user submitted image.

About 20 minutes after the start, the party's over and the street sweepers are alone on the empty street with the debris.

A user submitted image.

Then the first traffic is allowed on Boylston Street, and it's back to business as usual.

A mid-winter visit

and we all actually watched the superbowl...

Submitted by frank on February 2, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

but that's another story....... Nick,Sandy and Dante were down in Connecticut for the weekend.Nick and Sandy went to an artsy play (Russian actors,directors and language) in New Haven Saturday night, Dante stayed home with "them". Nick and Sandy had a good time, liked New Haven.

Dante?.... well Dante wasn't as sure. They (Mrs and me) had a re-learning experience.

Here is a picture of Dante being puzzled by me. A user submitted image. ...but trying to placate me.

Here are Dante and Nick heading out to the car to drive to Manchester along with Sandy for a winter-time walkaround followed by a visit to Shady Glenn. . A user submitted image. ..they all had a good time.

Snowy Tree

still need haily, foggy, icy... what else?

Submitted by steve on January 18, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Here's what my little tree looked like today covered with snow:

For reference, here's what it looks like in the rain, and in the sun.

Still messing things up

Redesign part two

Submitted by Nicolas on January 10, 2004— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

I am continuing to change the design of Minutillo.info. Today I put the personal zone icons back, but I moved around the introductory information.

I will restore the full calendar function tomorrow.

Also the format of comments (when next to the control panel) is broken (at least in my browser).

Screenshots of especially ugly things are always welcome.

Update: Fixed a couple of problems on the homepage (mismatched tag dumbness). Just a couple of things to address then I start looking at the aesthetics of the design.

Mira

Mira - Miracle - Myrrh

Submitted by steve on December 31, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

This is Mira. She's just 4 days old in this picture.

Cousins

Dante, Mitchell, and a Horse with no Eyes

Submitted by sandy on December 27, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Since I do not maintain a blog

...I will use this to point to this...

Submitted by frank on December 3, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

NEAT SITE

Yvonne's Birthday

starring Dog and Cake

Submitted by steve on November 25, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

It was Yvonne's birthday this past weekend, and she came to visit us. She gave herself a really good present.

This dog lives across the street from us. Ever since we bought this house, and Yvonne came over to help Jenny paint, she's been eyeing it. She really really really likes dogs and especially super duper extra mega likes whatever type of dog this one is. She comes over and watches it out the window the same way Jenny and I watch the leaf picker-uppers and keeps mumbling to herself "I wonder if I can go play with that dog... Will they think I'm strange if I ask to play... I really like that dog..."

As you can see, she couldn't stand it any longer, and went for it! The dog's owners were really nice and said of course, go ahead, play all you like.

They both appeared to have a great time, especially after I found a tennis ball to play fetch with in the basement.

And then we all had Cake.

A new picture of Mitchell

...his current school picture

Submitted by frank on November 22, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Chris and Mitchell stopped in for a visit tonight and brought some ribbon candy for Mrs and a copy of Mitchell's latest school picture. Chris said I ought to post it on minutillo.info. She was right. School pics are usually so bad and this one is actually pretty good. So here it is.

A user submitted image.

That's it. The end of this story.

One of several reasons why I like the cyber-world...

no kids, no new houses......kidding...

Submitted by frank on November 7, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Lately, by that I mean over the past several years I have been noticing that a strange bug keeps trying to get into the condo in the Fall. This is a pretty big( well it is about 3/4 of an inch long excluding it's antenna) and ugly sort of bug which flies a little and scampers around too. I am bugged by this bug and need to know what the heck it is and why am I seeing them so often. So finally, I take a picture of it and decide to go to the internet to figure out what it is. This becomes a daunting task. The closest I can come is to see a bug called a box elder bug on some exterminators web site and it sort of looks like my guy. But I am not sure. It dawns on me, with a hint from Steve, that the good old fashioned things called newsgroups might help.

A search of the groups that may help comes up with this one. sci.bio.entymology.misc. I have a look and yes they do look like they could help, only problem is they do not accept pictures so I have to put the picture up somewhere else. I use my ISP where I am allowed seven sites and post this using up one of the spare ones.

Then I write a simple query to the newsgroup with the question"...and can anyone help me identify this bug that keeps trying to get into my condo?" A little later I get a response from some guy which says "...it would be helpful if you could state where you or the bug are" This makes senses so I post a new note and clearly give my location.

Here is the best part. A little while later I get a reply from some academic over in England who tells me "...I think this is your Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, Known from Connecticut since 1985" and then he gives me this reference to a web page where I go and find out that the page is from some scientist working here in Connecticut down in New Haven. This is in the catagory of what goes around comes around and/or everything is just a few degrees of separation apart or some combination of both.

So now I know what the bug is why it is trying to invade my house and all that stuff thanks to the neat and huge world of information and knowledge out there for anyone to access. Now if there was only a newsgroup or website that could tell me how to.......

The end of my story that doesn't include grandkids, nor kids(except for one small mention), nor new anything, nor trips.......

New Look

You caught us in the middle of changing the style

Submitted by Nicolas on November 5, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

I'm working on updating the look of Minutillo.info. That old look was so 2002. I'm right in the middle of the project. I've probably missed something. But there you have it. You may feel free to comment on the new look.

P. Diddy vs. J. Wizzy?

whose cuisine will reign supreme?

Submitted by steve on November 4, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

This past weekend "P. Diddy" Sean "Puffy" Combs, some sort of celebrity, ran in the New York marathon. He finished in 4:14:54.

We also know somebody who occasionally runs in marathons. Searching for his name brings up pages and pages of marathon results. With all this practice, clearly he should easily beat relative newcomer Mr. Puffy. Right?

You can look up the shocking results here, but this is the answer:

Sean Combs    :  33M NY, USA  :  11337th place  :  4:14:54
John Wizgird  :  38M IL, USA  :  24204th place  :  5:03:45

Halloween 2003, Boston

The Little Devil

Submitted by sandy on November 1, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here's how our Halloween went. We carved a pumpkin after hours (after Dante's bedtime) since sharp knives and curious 1-year-olds don't mix well. Here's our jack-o-lantern in its glory:

A user submitted image.

Dante isn't old enough to get a thrill out of being in costume, nor is he old enough to eat candy, but still, he made a good little devil-boy, and we took him around the block. The owner of the little store downstairs had anticipated our visit and brought a home-baked cookie for Dante. The cookie temporarily kept him from taking his horns off.

A user submitted image.

Does anyone think he's starting to look a bit like another little devil from long ago??

A user submitted image.

Cute and Scary... (an oxymoron...) : a comment by frank on November 1, 2003

Dante makes an impish looking little devil!! And the carved pumpkin looks almost too scary.I am not sure about the question.(I will ask Mrs) But I do remember way back that Nick dressed in a similar costume for one Halloween but I think he may have been five or so.

Nick and devil...another fridge picture

a revision:

Mrs informs me that Nick's early costume that I remember was NOT a devil, perhaps, she suggests, I am confusing that with a devil costume worn by Steve when he was a tyke....further revision: Mrs says that there MAY be a resemblence between a young Nicolas and Dante...

Dante's Birthday

A few pictures

Submitted by sandy on October 13, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here are a few pictures of the birthday boy before and on his birthday.

He opened one package a day early, from Aunt Sharon and family. Cousin Alison knitted him a beautiful soft blankie...

A user submitted image.

...and they also sent a little cow, which he is clutching tightly here:

A user submitted image.

On his birthday, we went into a flower shop, and when they found out it was his birthday, they gave him a rose and a balloon. So he moved about town the picture of an honored birthday boy.

A user submitted image.

Here he is being goofy around lunch time:

A user submitted image.

Before evening guests (Brenda and Clare) arrived for cake, we gave him this old-fashioned push-toy chime thingy. It was hard to get a good picture since he moved around so fast with it:

A user submitted image.

And here is the birthday cake with plates and forks for all; and a little later with its solitary candle lit.

A user submitted image.

And finally, he's ready to blow out the candle.

A user submitted image.

What did he wish for, I wonder?

Dante's First Steps

A Short Movie

Submitted by sandy on October 11, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here's a glimpse of Dante doing his latest trick.

Minutillos and Computers

Second Try

Submitted by rgminutillo on September 5, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

I actually tried to submit this a couple of weeks ago, but it didn't get in. (Pilot error) Anyway, this is Bob and Maryann with me at my place on the cape, exploring the possibilities of fully wired computing. Bob and Maryann were staying for a few days before heading up to Saratoga for their annual visit. A user submitted image.

As for Email attacks and computer hijacks... well, that's why I don't run my own email servers anymore. One of my ISP's waqs threatening to shut me down because somebody had figured out a way to bounce spam off my firewall, no less. When you can get 5 mailboxes for $9 a year, why bother with do-it-yourself.

As for Saratoga, Bob reports a good time was had by all.

My Strange Computer Mystery

and other crazy stuff

Submitted by frank on September 5, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

The other day someone usurped my domain name thereyouhaveit.com and started using it as a pseudo source for spam being sent to kazillions of aol users. I discovered this when I began to get dozens of "bounced" mail from accounts no longer in use.

Then, I started to get very long downloads of mail routed from various email addresses I use and that I have sent to me via Outlook Express.My Cable ISP Provider said that they had been having worm attacks. I checked my machine with my virus and worm scanner and came up clean. Then, last night as I was reading some email, my machine warned me that I was dangerously low on hard drive space which is immpossible since I just bought a machine with an incredible 100gb drive and the last time I looked I was only using about 35 or 40 percent of it.

Well sure enough I am now using nearly 90 percent of it and that seems immpossible.I did some preliminary cleaning and got it down to 75 percent.

I am now in my computer has me baffled mode and will not sleep eat drink or anything else until I figure out what's going on.The only thing I can think of is that somehow my machine has copied all of it's contents to itself once or even twice, but so far I can't seem to prove that.

It all makes the idea of becoming a total luddite(sp?) attractive. Pens, paper, typewriters, newspapers, envelopes, stamps, books, magazines, pencils, magnifying glasses, adding machines, radios,film, scrapbooks, dictionarys,ink,erasers,clocks,(insert other neat old stuff here). Maybe the late Captain America was right.

Moved in!

new information

Submitted by steve on August 25, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We moved in smoothly on Saturday. I spent the weekend hanging drapes and towel rods and other miscellaneous stuff, wondering how you're supposed to know that you aren't about to drill into an electrical wire and die. Here is all our new contact information:

18 McArthur Road
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 777-7408

Isn't that a cool phone number? The phone lady was about to give me a 946- number, but then I mentioned how I noticed some businesses in North Haven have 777- numbers and I thought that was cool. She said "hold on a minute..." and came back with 777-7408!

DSL still isn't up, but everything else is on. Cable guy came this morning. We're starting to get lots of calls from businesses who somehow found out we bought a house, congratulating us, and then trying to sell us all sorts of stuff we don't need.

We are back

and all that

Submitted by frank on August 25, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

We returned from St George Island FL tonight (Sunday the 24th) and all went well there. More about that later maybe. I wanted to put up an image but I am too tired to lug up the suitcase and unpack it and the camera is in it and...well, you get the drift.

OK, I am awake now so here is the picture that sums up my trip. Mal's summary pic will follow after she gives her editorial approval.

A user submitted image.

I spent a lot of my time out on the back deck watching the sun come up.

Mal has given her seal to this picture...

A user submitted image.

...of her walking down to the beach for one of her frequent solitary mind-cleansing beach walks, this one during one of the many cloudy intervals we had during the week.

End of the Florida Wedding 2003 Story

Just one more thing here

Mrs and I are leaving...

for Florida

Submitted by frank on August 8, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

We are off( on August 17)to St George Island Florida for a week which will end with the wedding of Kate Schofield and Brent Ache. Now after ten years of planning, they could have picked a better combination of place and time wouldn't you think.

We will be back the 24th of August.

this was supposed to be a calendar event. either I am making what Mal calls a pilot error or the site isn't working right.

New House

Announcement

Submitted by steve on August 1, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

My new house!

My new giant tree!

My new other tree!

Want a swingset? It's in perfect condition, as long as your back yard is on a very steep incline:

Mine, unfortunately, is not:

Here's the reverse angle:

The back yard has a cool sandy pit where a swimming pool used to be.

Let's see the inside. First, three views of the breakfast bar:

Jenny, finding faults:

And one of the bedrooms:

The closing went very smoothly, the seller did actually more than we expected, and even threw in some money to get the sarlacc pit filled in. Our immediate plans are to clean and paint, and move in sometime mid-August.

Mitch and Frank Fly a Plane

a misadventure

Submitted by frank on July 14, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

So, last Christmas we got Mitchell this neat remote control airplane. We kept it out of his pile of stuff to be used this summer. It is summer, so today we took it out and gave it a whirl.One big problem. After all my words of caution to Mitch, like don't let it crash, keep it close, be careful not to lose it...all those words and I lost it by letting it get too far, not turning it properly and off it went into it's own great blue(and gray) yonder and probably landed in some woods, or some pool, or some yard guarded by a giant dog. It's gone! But, it was fun for a little while.

Here are some pictures.

A user submitted image.

not related to to story, but this is Mitch with his "you lookin' at me" gangsta look

A user submitted image.

the plane flying away...

A user submitted image.

Mitch doing it right.

A user submitted image.

Here we are when it was all going smooth.

Well, somtimes things don't go quite as planned.We had fun, for a while anyway.The end of the great plane flying mis-adventure.

Fireworks!

it didn't rain

Submitted by steve on July 5, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We went to see our little Hamden fireworks today. Maybe tomorrow if it doesn't rain we can see the bigger and louder Hartford ones.

We packed up our two portable chairs, books (and iBook), water, and walked it. It's quite a distance from where we live to where the fireworks were, so we were real tired by the time we got there. But we found a perfect shady spot to set up and spend the time waiting for the show. This is what it was like when we got there:

Soon it started to fill in:

By the time the show was on, the whole place was packed. It seemed like the whole town showed up. I spent the time waiting for the show working on Feed on Feeds:

Jenny listened to music and watched people. It turns out our choice of seats was perfect. The launchers were directly ahead of us, and the explosions were right over our heads. Just the *thoom* *thoom* of the launches was loud, the actual explosions were almost deafening (this is good). But, our pictures of fireworks didn't come out too well:

This movie did:

Boom! Boom boom boom! BOOOOOM!! *oooooooooh* *aaaaaaah*

The display was pretty good, but the finale was somewhat weak. I like when they launch 10,000 of those ones that make a huge flash and a giant BOOM all at the same time. I want to feel like the world is ending. It should be like this:

Dante Goes to the Ocean

See the movie!

Submitted by sandy on June 28, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Jill invited the baby and me to Martha's Vineyard (while Nick slaved away at the office). I took a little video when I wasn't entertaining or feeding or sunscreening Dante or keeping sand out of his eyes. Click the picture to see a 2.5-minute movie.

It's a large file, so you may need to be patient for a few minutes. (Play it over and over - it'll get faster....and you'll never get tired of it!)

This just in...

Moblog

Submitted by Nicolas on June 22, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Sandy and Dante left early this morning for a trip to Martha's Vineyard with Jill. They will be gone until Tuesday night. I am staying home, going to work and all that dull stuff.

Jill has a cell phone with a camera this was email directly from the phone to me.

A user submitted image.

It's Sandy and Dante on the ferry on the way to the Vineyard.

Sandy brought the video camera, so stay tuned for "Dante and the Sea". (If it stops raining!)

Boring Technical Announcement

Login and comments.

Submitted by Nicolas on May 26, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Now that Steve's site is king of the world and has been noticed by alphageeks everywhere, I not sure why I bother with this barely used little family site. But the show must go on.

Our extensive user interface testing and customer surveys have revealed that the comments feature is under used because you have to login to use it and that just takes way too much work.

Comments are cool and we want them well used. But, we don't want just anyone commenting on our stories. So we have to simplify logging in.

Here's how it used to work:

1. Your session expired after 0.5 hours of not doing anything. [This already has bothered the more ponderful of our story posters. Imagine the horror of working for an hour on your excellent tale only to find out when you try to post it that you have been logged out.] 2. When you visited our "homepage" (index.php) you where actually logged out. Long story. Don't ask why.

Here's how it will now work.

1. Your session now lasts a month (okay it lasts 31 days).

2. When you visit www.minutillo.info or www.minutillo.com/info you will enter via the member.php page and you won't be logged out. So you can just quickly comment on the most recent story posted.

You might ask, do I have to do anything?

1. Maybe, if you bookmarked this site and your a member make sure your bookmark is for 2. Log in, now. Then check the site at least once a month.

http://minutillo.com/info/member.php or just http://minutillo.com/info or even pithier http://www.minutillo.info/ If your bookmark ends in index.php you will still be logged out (and it's still a long story).

Finally, I fixed the bugs in the rss feed.

Mother's Day

...and good son(s)

Submitted by sandy on May 11, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

It's Mother's Day, and I am one of the moms for the first time! Dante, with a wee bit of help from his father, made me a lovely booklet with construction paper, pipe cleaners, and a glue stick. It contains pictures and hand print cutouts. Here he is hard at work earlier in the week:

A user submitted image.

And here's the cover:

A user submitted image.

In the "better late than never" category, another son does his best:

A user submitted image.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

pictures

Submitted by steve on May 11, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We're on a roll with pictures. Here's more from today. We went to Judy's place and played with the kids.

Alexis can go from lazy....

...TO SUPER FAST!!

Sharena attempting a cartwheel.

I had to try it too.

Janice and Jenny's Mom, who is the person we came to see in the first place.

Alexis

pictures

Submitted by steve on May 5, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We went to help Chris and Ellen build their house a bit more today (status: heat and electricity should be hooked up this week, possible move in in two weeks). We grabbed some pictures of Alexis while we were there.

Pao

This is her new thing. She grabs your hand or pushes you and says "跑!" which means "Run!". You're supposed to run in circles with her around the nearest object.

Pao

So far she's pretty bilingual, I think she understands English and Chinese equally well, but some words she says only in Chinese and others in English. She'll say "跑!" and I'll say "You want me to run with you?" and she'll say "Yeah!"

Next we had some fun playing with and naming all the various things around this tree in the yard.

Tree

Finally we hit the sandbox.

Sand

She was digging in the sandbox, and accidentally flicked some sand towards me. I said "Hey, you threw sand in my face!" I think she understood only part of that sentence because she immediately grabbed a huge handful and threw it right at me!

Here we're done playing, and I'm teaching her how to wipe the sand off her hands.

Wipe

Springtime, and a baby's mind turns toward...

Swinging!

Submitted by Nicolas on May 3, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

We took a little walk down by the river and came across a park. Little did we know that Dante would love to swing. Now we have to go all the time.

A user submitted image.

Paris Redux

mystery guest???

Submitted by frank on May 3, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Now it can be revealed that Cassi secretly travelled to Paris with a mystery guest?, friend? who, it seems, was seen everywhere with her. He first appeared in the race---see the last picture in her marathon series. Then, wouldn't you know it, he was tired and had to be carried for the last few miles, but the capper is when he was also spotted with her atop Notre Dame.

Look here A user submitted image. and hereThis mystery has to have an explanation...................Demand answers!!!

Spring is (almost) here

and Dante wears shoes for the first time!

Submitted by sandy on March 18, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

It was a warm and sunny day. We didn't realize how warm at first, so Dante and I went out a little overdressed. He is now big enough to face forward in the frontpack, and we had worried that it might prevent him from being able to sleep while riding in it. Obviously not the case.

A user submitted image.

Later we all went out in more spring-y clothes. Instead of his usual warm fuzzy booties, Dante sported some cool hightop sneakers from Japan. (Nick wasn't fully convinced - note the sweater.)

A user submitted image.

And here are two more gratuitous happy boy pictures:

A user submitted image.

A Birthday Story

Oh the lengths we sometime go to

Submitted by frank on March 17, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Yesterday, realizing that it was close to Steve's birthday (see late notice on the calendar), we decided to make a cake, an awful yellow one at that, and in case he and Jenny showed up like they often do on a Sunday, we would surprise him with the glorious creation A user submitted image.

well perhaps not so glorious but the thought was nice. Well as fate would have it, they didn't show up.I ate some of the cake as did Mrs.M, but before we did it she said take a picture of it and post it on the minutillo info site for all the world to see.

So that's the story and it's also the end of the story.

Judy, Janice, and Sharena

visiting

Submitted by steve on March 2, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Jenny's sister Judy and her two kids came yesterday to visit. Here's Janice showing off her new trick, standing. She can also stand without holding on to anything.

Jenny and Janice

Her other new thing is this squinty cute face she makes when you smile at her.

Janice squinting

Then I was uploading those two pictures and Sharena came over and said "Can you go to pbskids.org?" I was impressed because she said it right, like "P B S kids dot org". So I typed it in for her and she immediately went to the Animal Karaoke section. Here she is surfing away.

Sharena on the iBook

Sharena says: "I wish you Happy Valentine's Day!"

(this same story was posted at my weblog, and you can make comments there if you like)

The Visit

not about the storm

Submitted by frank on February 18, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Dante, Sandy and Nick came down to Connecticut to visit over the past weekend and the only picture from the entire event is this one that Mike took.

A user submitted image.

You may not like it because it's a little blurry and oddly colored, but I do, so here it is anyway.Jenny and Steve came for supper along with Mike on Saturday night and Dante enjoyed seeing them and showing off all his great tricks, mostly smiling, laughing and being way cool.

I almost forgot, Dante ate his first vegetable, Nick's famous home cooked squished carrot.( possible candidate for inclusion in the meal section of ponderful.org)...... He loved it

The End.......see, no storm stuff

Animated Dante

We just can't help ourselves

Submitted by Nicolas on January 25, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Christmas Travel Part 2

...including a video clip

Submitted by sandy on January 22, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here's one more photo from the snowy walk through quirky Andersonville. We came across this store on Main Street.

A user submitted image.

We didn't capture much of the present-opening extravaganza at Cassi's, but here she is enjoying one of her gifts from Mom and Dad. (This is a still image from a rather low-lit video.)

A user submitted image.

Cassi gave Dante a smiley-face sun with all sorts of things dangling from it. A few weeks earlier he would have ignored it, but take a look at how he responded to it on Christmas Eve! (Warning: this video clip, though very short, may take a while to download. Be patient and you will be rewarded.)

OK, on to Wisconsin. We got up early on December 25, brushed the snow off the car, and took a three-hour drive to Madison to Sharon and Fred's house, where the geographically able family members congregate for dinner, gift-opening, game-playing and Christmas cheer. Usually unable to be present are Dave and Lynne in Oregon, Mom and Dad in Arizona, and Janet and Thom in Korea, and Sandy and Nick -- but this time we braved the holiday airport scene so Dante could meet some of his more western relatives.

Here is a table full of cousins ranging in age from 21 to 11 except for one odd member of the set who is of course only 3 months.

A user submitted image.

Here is the Best family (Fred, Peter, Sharon, Alison) with Peter holding the newest cousin.

A user submitted image.

Sharon's house was too crowded for more overnight guests, so we stayed right in the center of town. Here's the view of the state Capitol building, from our hotel window.

A user submitted image.

And finally, one more relative to meet, Dante's great-grandmother Larson in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 3 hours north of Madison. She is nearly 99 years old, and was very, very happy to meet the baby. She can't see very well anymore, but she could feel his fluffy head of hair and hear his cooing just fine. And she could definitely tell that we are pretty proud new parents!

A user submitted image.

On Friday, we drove back to O'Hare, returned our rental car after putting 706 miles on it, and flew home. Dante proved himself an excellent traveling companion, but we all needed a few days to rest and recuperate after we got home.

Christmas Travel Report, Part 1

Skyscrapers, Family, and Christmas Eve Snowfall

Submitted by sandy on January 22, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

Here's the long-awaited story of our Christmas trip, where we visited Cassi and Larson relatives too numerous to name here. (I guess it's not TOO late, since we still haven't disposed of our poor wilted Christmas tree.) We arrived in Chicago a few days before Christmas and stayed downtown in the Loop so we could explore the big city and do some shopping. Then we spent Christmas Eve with Cassi and John and stayed overnight in Cassi's spacious new condo.

Marshall Field's was right across from our hotel (The Hotel Burnham). Here's a glimpse of their spectacular festive decorations:

A user submitted image.

Nick and Dante do some last-minute shopping.

A user submitted image.

Chicago (as you no probably already knew) has a lot of VERY TALL buildings. The skyscraper photos are a story in themselves, which we will put together another day. Here's a sneak preview:

A user submitted image.

On Michigan Avenue, silver bells rang at every corner, and the shoppers rushed home with their treasures:

A user submitted image.

We escaped the glamour and found a more down-to-earth place for lunch. Sandy had a "Polish" (sausage) and Nick had an "Italian" (sausage). It's the kind of place where you have to stay very alert because you never know when they're going to fire another question at you, like "hot or sweet?" (peppers). No Coke, Pepsi for Nick.

A user submitted image.

Cassi joined us and we wandered about until it was too cold and raw. Here Cassi points out details of her adopted city to Nick:

A user submitted image.

After a delicious Christmas Eve dinner of beef bourguignon made by Cassi, we took a walk through the new snow around part of her neighborhood, the longtime Swedish stronghold of Andersonville.

Here's one household's (Swedish? We guess no) yard scene. Jesus, Mary, and Santa all together!

A user submitted image.

Daddy and Baby in the snow. Dante loved it, and tried to capture snowflakes with his mouth (really!).

A user submitted image.

OH-OH, baby is crying and must be fed. Part 2 will be posted at a later date (or hour)....

But first here's one more picture of something you can only see in Chicago. A close-up detail of the tin wall of the El station.

A user submitted image.

Dante

in some overalls

Submitted by Nicolas on January 8, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

I am beginning to realize how hard it is to take a good picture of a baby.

But we think these two are kind of cute. Dante as grown into some new (awfully boyish--instead of babyish) outfits. We thought you would like this one:

A user submitted image.

Here is another:

A user submitted image.

If anyone really likes them we can send you the original (large) image files or arrange for prints to be made.

P.S. This story was edited using Apple's new browser "Safari".

Just because we feel...

like being stinkers

Submitted by frank on January 6, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Not as much as some recent years, but just to rub it in a little to you City Folk, after the New Years total melt, it snowed some on the 3rd and some more on the 4th, a little more yesterday and even a quarter inch more today and Mr. weatherman says a little more coming Wednesday and a tad more Thursday, then a respite for a few days. Here is a familiar view out the back door taken just minutes ago.

A user submitted image.

nyah, nnyaah, nya, nyah, ynaaahhh

The End

by FPMJr inspired by a suggestion from MFM

Happy New Year

happy new weblog

Submitted by steve on January 2, 2003— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

I started this about a month ago now, not knowing if I'd be able to find something at least halfway interesting to post every few days. So far it does seem to have some life to it, so I'm going to publicize its existence:

Steve Minutillo - now in tasty Weblog™ flavor!

Sandy and Dante

Water Color Photo

Submitted by Nicolas on December 30, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

There aren't enough pictures of Sandy with the baby, so I thought I would post one. It is one of a series of four photos taken in Wisconsin on Chirstmas day. We applied a few digital effects to the picture to give it a water color painting look.

A user submitted image.

Christmas Eve....

...still early, just after lunch

Submitted by frank on December 24, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Here is a picture of Marilyn,me and Mitchell getting ready for Christmas Eve. Mitchell just made some wise crack... A user submitted image.

...as you can probably tell. By the way, I am invisible in this picture, but I am in it.

But wait, what's this present doing here under the tree?

A user submitted image.

Baby stuff????on a wrapped box????

Season's Greetings

Another Solstice

Submitted by rgminutillo on December 23, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Regards to all for 2003

A user submitted image.

Strange Birds

...very strange

Submitted by frank on December 12, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

The other day I whiled away some time watching the snow melt as some of you may have seen here.

Well, yesterday I saw something huge fly by my room's window. I went downstairs to see if Mrs. M had seen it and she was peering out the window with the little binoculars we keep in the kitchen and seeing this. A user submitted image.

This is with a telephoto of about the same power as the binoculars.A closer look reveals thet the huge birds are wild turkeys!!! A user submitted image.

Who would have thought that these wild creatures who have invaded and taken over our little back yard area could fly anad now threaten to sit lurking in trees watching and waiting for WHO KNOWS WHAT!!!!

ps I tried to get a short video of the giant stupid things actually flying but they didn't cooperate.

THE END

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

everywhere you go

Submitted by Nicolas on December 10, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Just a few blocks from our house, off Columbus Avenue, we found a nice Christmas tree lot.

A user submitted image.

Now we just have to carry the tree home. First we passed Bob the Chef's, a soul food and Jazz place.

A user submitted image.

Next stop Wally's a great little Jazz joint (no food, just a small bar and live music).

A user submitted image.

We pass the Mass Ave T stop (Orange line) on the way home.

A user submitted image.

Symphony hall, no crowds when we went by.

A user submitted image.

Tiger Lily is more appreciated for its big tropical drinks than its food. We are almost home.

A user submitted image.

The Parkside, where Sandy and Dante and I live.

A user submitted image.

The tree is home, waiting to be decorated.

A user submitted image.

My tired little helper.

This Time of Year

Looking around for connections...

Submitted by frank on December 7, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I re-discovered this site today.

It belongs to my youngest brother who is a very infrequent contributer to Minutillo.info.

I had a look at the most recent post to his site, a video of his POTM (I prefer to say poem of the month) which is the latest in a series that he posts from time to time.

Have a look.

by the way, the windows version worked best for me.

The End

Thanksgiving Visit

...Dante and others

Submitted by frank on December 1, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

This years Thanksgiving visit not only included the family's new star attraction, we had two pretty good snowfalls.

Dante came for an extended stay along with his parents. Cassi came for a slightly shorter stay. Steve and Jenny came for the usual events and Mitchell was here for a nice all day visit Wednesday. Mike and his new friend Nancy were here for the Wednesday night pre-holiday bowl of macaroni.

Here are some pictures of some typical events.---hopefully more and cuter ones will show up over on Dante's place.

A user submitted image.

This happened a lot.

A user submitted image.

...and he kept giving me this "enough already' look

A user submitted image.

Then some more of this

A user submitted image.

Dante and his cousin kept tyring to concentrate on the game, but here I am caught with a 'get out of my face. We are trying to play here'look

A user submitted image.

and much to quick dressed and braving the storm and good bye for now

Oh yes, in between the story above, there were lots of smiles, games, goos and gaa's and a sentence or two and lots of just nice holdings and cuddlings. Great time

New Dante Movie

Dante Learns to Sit

Submitted by Nicolas on November 24, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

We posted a new Dante movie. The title is a bit exaggerated, but it is a funny movie. It is available in Dante's personal zone or by clicking on the picture below.

Last Sail of the Season

and other recent events

Submitted by frank on November 10, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Today I went sailing with Don S aboard his CHIMAERA. Winds steady out of the SW at 15knots,Fairly warm and just fine sailing. There is nothing else to say. Period and end of story.

The other day Mrs. M and I went up to Boston to visit Dante and Sandy and Nick.We discovered that it's not such a difficult trip. We had a good time. We took these pictures. A user submitted image.

The end of this story.

Happy Halloween

Nine Pound Pumpkin

Submitted by Dante on November 1, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Dante.

See more of my Halloween pictures here.

Dante's Zone

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Submitted by Nicolas on October 5, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

To prevent Minutillo.info from becoming all Dante all the time. I have set up Dante's personal zone. Here you will find all of his latest pictures. This is really his mac.com homepage, but we have added a couple of new pictures.

We promise no cute stories written by Dante. So you won't have to read "Hi, am Dante. Today Mommy and Daddy took me to Au Bon Pain." Of course, Sandy and I could go crazy and start thinking such things are cute.

Anyway open the personal zones box and check out Dante's personal zone.

Dante Julian Minutillo

Submitted by Nicolas on October 3, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Pictures from his first day of life.

A user submitted image.

In his mother's arms at 1 minute old.

A user submitted image.

Comfortably swaddled at 1 hour old.

A user submitted image.

... and baby makes three.

There's the first few pictures.

---We are home now and ever so happy.

Book Reviews

Zippy and other comments

Submitted by Nicolas on September 23, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

I decided that it wasn't good practice to be advertising books in the partners section of Minutillo.info without providing book reviews. You shouldn't judge a book by a jpeg of its cover after all.

So I set myself the task of writing a few book reviews. The first one for Language Learnabilty and Language Development I placed on Amazon.com (to make up for a rather unfair review, by another Amazon customer).

It can be seen here. I was about to write a review for The Illusion of Conscious Will when I found the following old Zippy cartoon:

A user submitted image.

There is nothing more to say.

A Minutillo.info note: Stephen is the lucky poster of Minutillo.info story #25. I am still working on Stephen's prize. Recently Minutillo.info has been all about Stephen, but in a week or so that should change.

Jenny Yu -> Jenny Minutillo

my name remains the same

Submitted by steve on September 13, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

We're now married, and on our honeymoon in Japan!

When I get time, I've been posting pictures and little stories here:

http://minutillo.com/steve/travels/

Steve....

a short pre-wedding pictorial bio....

Submitted by frank on September 4, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

This is him in late 1974

A user submitted image.

...now it's a few months later

A user submitted image.

now a few years have passed

A user submitted image.

and here is now or now is here, whichever........Time has whizzed.

A user submitted image.

To be continued......

Picture-in-picture

(...in-picture...)

Submitted by steve on August 27, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

My new favorite toy.

I Can't Resist II

more little birds

Submitted by frank on August 23, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Here are two more of the little birds. They seem as obsessed with my feeder as I am of trying to take the pictures.

A user submitted image.

this guy thinks I am Francis of Assisi

A user submitted image.

This one isn't as sure.

THE END

While Sitting Around and....

...Waiting for Events...

Submitted by frank on August 19, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

...so I have taken to my deck, endured the heat and tried to take pictures of hummingbirds. The results are not quite ready for National Geographic, but I present the only three that have recognizable results.(Note to Nick----I need a spell checker built into the story editor)

Yesterday's grab shot

A user submitted image.

This first was published in Timeshots, but is repeated here anyway.

This one from today seems to be a shy one, but I just shot from the hip and miss aimed. so the umbrella post got in the way.

A user submitted image.

And this one, also from today taken thru the glass and screen door from inside because I got sick of sitting outside.

A user submitted image.

I don't know why he is trying to eat the dead flower, but he was.

THE END.......back to waiting for events

2944 Miles

Four Lakes and a Root Beer

Submitted by sandy on August 15, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

We took the northern route from Boston to Wisconsin and returned in a straight line, right across Lake Michigan (on the coal-powered S.S. Badger ferry boat, operating since 1953). Here are a few pictures of what we saw along the way.

We stopped in Seneca Falls, NY, with a vague sense that it had some historical significance...and were soon educated as to what that was.

A user submitted image.

Like most of the towns in upstate New York, it was once a mill town.

A user submitted image.

Young "sposini" like us must of course experience the romance of Niagara Falls...

A user submitted image.

...though since we did not travel with a photographer, Nick appears alone here.

Escanaba, in the upper peninsula of Michigan, is my birthplace. I only lived there for a few weeks, but we wanted to take a trip down the Larson family memory lane. With directions from my dad, we found the old house. Here it is, through a blurry rainy car window, like a recovered memory:

A user submitted image.

We traveled along (or on) four great lakes: Ontario, Huron, Michigan, and Erie. Nick finally believes me that they really are so big you can't see the other side.

It was a dark and stormy day at Port Sanilac, MI. It was really COLD, and the spray crashing against the breakwater was a little scary.

A user submitted image.

But, later that day we took a side road hoping to find an interesting lunch spot, and were amazed to find a big beach on Lake Erie. The town was a real beach town complete with a strip of junk food stands, T shirt shops, and local girls in bikinis. (Sorry, no pictures of them.) It had become a blazingly hot day somehow, in a few hours and a few hundred miles.

A user submitted image.

Nope, this water would not taste a bit salty.

We took every opportunity to stop at local eateries. Here are a few of the best:

A user submitted image.

Twin's Cafe in Seneca Falls, NY.

A user submitted image.

We're pretty sure not a single detail has changed in this place since 1961. They served us a lovely lunch including mashed potatoes and gravy, side dishes of mixed vegetables, and tulip dishes of jello for dessert. Clarke's restaurant is on Main Street in Aylmer, Ontario (southeast of London). The Greek Canadian proprietor was delighted that "a new customer" was on the way, and gave us a lollipop for the baby.

And amazingly, an actual old-fashioned A & W Root Beer stand (near Escanaba) where they still bring trays of frosty mugs out to your car!

A user submitted image.

On our first pass through New York, we eventually realized we were following the Erie Canal. On the way back we stopped at LOCK 9 and explored a bit.

A user submitted image.

We were surprised that we could walk right up to the controls for the gates to the lock!

A user submitted image.

Here's a closeup to prove how much damage we could have done. There was a caretaker (lockmaster?) around, but he was reading the paper or something in a little cottage. We roused him to get a little information, and he reported that a barge had come through about an hour earlier. He didn't say much else - apparently he doesn't get many visitors.

A user submitted image.

We didn't have a single argument and we only sort of got lost a couple of times.

Our Hotel in Japan is Chosen

12,000 yen is considered cheap

Submitted by steve on August 9, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

HOTEL KAZUSAYA

Sort of reasonable walking distance to Tokyo Main Station, the Imperial Palace and Akihabara, also close to a million subway stations.

See, here? Look in section E2, and find Kanda Station. That's where we'll be.

Mal's Strange Hibiscus...

in a spaghetti sauce jar, no less.

Submitted by frank on July 23, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

This is it...and here it is again proving the jar part.

A user submitted image.

Tonight in Boston

Number 9

Submitted by Nicolas on July 23, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

This is the view outside our window:

A user submitted image.

Taiwan Redux Redux

more totally sweet panoramas

Submitted by steve on July 17, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Jenny found some more pictures from Taiwan that I never bothered to turn into panoramas:

Me and Jenny's cousin sitting on a rock pretty near the southernmost point of Taiwan.

A temple of Matsu, the goddess of the sea, in Tainan. Jenny's Aunt is orange, her mom is purple. When we got there, the street was completely littered with exploded firecrackers. It turned out that just the night before had been a gigantic festival for that goddess.

Taiwan Redux

Plus a bonus song

Submitted by steve on July 15, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

I recently got some new software for putting together panoramas from individual pictures. It is totally magic! All you have to tell it is what order the pictures go in and it figures out how to line them up and stretch them to compensate for the perspective. Here is a panorama shot taken from the top of a mountain in Taiwan at sunrise. I was never able to assemble this picture this nicely before. Click on it for a larger version.

The mountain I was standing on is called Ali Mountain, or "Ali Shan". The mountain you can see across the way I believe is Jade Mountain, or "Yu Shan". Ali Shan is famous, it has a song about it and the aboriginal people that live there.

Click for song - not a very good version

The lyrics of the song, translated to english:

Green is the high mountain, blue is the mountain stream. The girl of Ali Mountain is pretty as the water, the young man of Ali Mountain is strong as the mountain. Mountain forever green, water forever blue. The girl and that young man never will be parted, like the blue water flows around the green mountain

I Can't Resist

Zippy Rules, as some might say

Submitted by frank on July 9, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

I can't resist posting this as though it was my own.

Look here

If it doesn't work the way I hope it does, or ought to, go somewhere and find todays (7/9/02) Zippy.

And no, this is not a signal that thereyouhaveit.com or anything like it is being revived

It's just that Zippy really has it( or most of it) figured out.

Nova Scotia Movie

Sneak Preview

Submitted by sandy on July 1, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

It's movie time! While we work on our full-length feature film of our recent Nova Scotia adventure, we have a short trailer you can view now.

If you already have QuickTime, just click on the picture to see the short film. Be aware that it's a large (6.4 MB) file so it may take some time to download.

If you don't have QuickTime, click here to get it right now for free.

Look at this bug

I think it's cool

Submitted by steve on June 11, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

On my way to work this morning, I noticed this bug on the apartment across from mine. I couldn't believe it.

You can get a good idea how big it was from this picture:

That is one fancy bug!

Sandy's Birthday

Some pictures

Submitted by Nicolas on June 11, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Sandy, Brenda (a good friend) and I all went to Block Island for a birthday day trip. We left Boston at about 9:15 in the morning and drove to Point Judith in Rhode Island (the port town of Galilee). We had a seafood lunch there and then we boarded the fast ferry (30 minutes) to Block Island.

A user submitted image.

As you can tell from the Birthday girl's outfit and hair, it was a cool and windy day. But, we took a half hour walk along the beach and found a nice spot up against the dune to relax and enjoy the sounds of the ocean. Maybe Minutillo.info needs an include a sound button?

Here's Brenda, bundled up as well. But at least the sun was out.

A user submitted image.

Sandy had made it a tradition to celebrate her birthday on Block Island, but for the last couple of years she and I have made other plans. We thought it would be a good idea to return to her tradition. Next year we will do some bike riding. This year we decided to take it easy (her doctor, who has been very laid back about the pregnancy, cautioned against it).

I couldn't resist taking some artsy pictures (with Minutillo.info in mind), so here they are.

A user submitted image.

and:

After an ice cream cone and a slow ferry back to Point Judith (1 hour and 10 minutes) we drove home to a fruit tart and some birthday presents.

All and all--a good day.

A user submitted image.

September 7th, 2002

Keep this date free!

Submitted by steve on June 9, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Don't make any plans for this day. More information coming in about one week.

Announcing the SteveCam

(until I get yelled at and have to take it down)

Submitted by steve on May 28, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

For some project at work, we all had to set up little webcams at our desks. It was just one extra click to publish the images to the web, so...

The SteveCam

Just Back from Italy

Submitted by rgminutillo on May 22, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Bob and I have been talking about a trip to Italy for a long time. We actually planned one last year, but Sept. 11 intervened.

This year, Bob and Maryann and Dorothy and I went and spent most of the first two weeks in May travelling around Florence, Perugia and Rome.

I'm (slowly) assembling pictures and, eventually, movies over at my site.

Come and visit.

Nick and Sandy's baby

Everything there is to know.

Submitted by Nicolas on May 22, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Here is a link to everything you might want to know about Nick and Sandy's baby, who is due on October 1st. The arrow points to a trait that he shares with his father.

The Ballgame

well, sort of anyway

Submitted by frank on May 4, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Mitchell asked me if I'd go to his "farm league" baseball game today. Now granted that six year olds and baseball don't fit. But being a sometimes nice person, I agreed, despite the fact that the sacred game might not be fully realized by these small folks.

So, to my surprise and pride, Mitchell looked downright baseball proper in his at-bats.

What do you think!!

A user submitted image.

and this too!!!

A user submitted image.

I think the little guy looks good before the swing and leaving the box to leg out a single.

Venice

Working Boats

Submitted by Nicolas on April 28, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

One of the first things you notice when walking around Venice is how quiet it is. It took a while to figure it out why. There are no trucks, no cars and no scooters at all.

While Venice's only industry is tourism, goods must still be delivered, construction projects continue and life goes on. All of this happens on the canals. I became fascinated with the variety of working boats you would see in Venice.

Parcels on a Boat

Parcels, which you would expect to come on a mail truck, arrive by boat. They are then delivered with hand trucks and push carts to their final destination.

Delivering Bottled Water

These are not the fabled gondolas of Venice, but simple working boats. When Sandy and I first arrived in Venice, we had not yet figured out the system of public transportation. We had been traveling for at least a full day and just wanted to get to our hotel. So when approached with an offer of a boat ride we accepted, knowing we were probably paying too much. We really didn't care. We were exhausted. The ride we got was in the back of one of these boats. It was great!

A user submitted image.

Construction equipment is no exception. Cranes are on barges. We saw a variety of what would be trucks at home—all mounted on flat bottom boats.

Even the hearses are boats in Venice. This boat is bound for the cemetery on the mainland.

A Hearse

Not Exactly Spain

Cassi is buying a Condo

Submitted by frank on April 21, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

This is Cassi's story actually, but since Cassi told us that she is buying a place in Chicago, I have been getting bugged by some to plan to visit her. The last time that we visited her we stayed here :

A user submitted image.

and here:

What will the new place look like?

By the way, these low quality pics were grabbed from an old 8mm analog video tape using a very hard to use and not very well designed piece of hardware and software that I have since sold off on eBay.

California Trip

Story and Photos

Submitted by sandy on April 20, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

I just returned from a short trip to California (Oakland, SF, and up the coast a bit) to visit my friend Kathy and see how her 2 1/2 -year-old boy has changed since I last saw him (at six months old!). I also rented a car and drove north of San Francisco on a misty, rainy day to Stinson Beach and Point Reyes national seashore.

Here's one picture, and you can see more in my personal zone.

Venice Photos

This site has photos too!

Submitted by Nicolas on April 19, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

You can include pictures with your stories

Here are a couple of classic photos of Venice that we took when we where on our honeymoon. Its hard to believe that it has been a year and a half since we were there. I've only just recently gotten around to scanning the photos.

A user submitted image.

Announcement

Here is Minutillo.info

Submitted by Nicolas on April 19, 2002— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

While I was lucky enough to get the Minutillo.com and Minutillo.info domain names, I have always wanted other members of the family to use the site. So far the most successful part of the site has been the email facility. Everyone uses it.

Then I gave everyone their own directory on Minutillo.com. This met with limited success. There were probably two problems here. First, Frontpage publishing turned out to be difficult for everyone. (The users are mainly PC people, so it was a bit of a surprise.) Second, and probably more importantly, if you told your friends about your site they had to plow through the very Nick centric front page. Many of you were probably slightly embarassed.

Minutillo.info and the newly redesigned Minutillo.com seek to remedy that problem. My role as owner has been purposely limited. Now that Minutillo.info exists everyone is an equal. I cannot (by design) exert any undo control over the site.

Of course, you might guess that all of that is just a rationalization. I really just wanted to learn PHP and MySQL and this was a good excuse. None the less its here. So use it.

Explore the site. Read about Minutillo.info. If you haven't recieved your invitation in a couple of days request one. Its your site now.

This story, like all the stories here, was created using Minutillo.info and its built in story editor.

Yesterday, September 1,2010...

...Michael Anthony's first day at school

Submitted by frank on September 2, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Fireworks

at Hartford

Submitted by steve on July 13, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

A very GRAND finale... : a comment by frank on July 13, 2010

The West

I'm amazed I remembered how to log in here!

Submitted by steve on July 6, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

Not a new story.....

but better late than never

Submitted by frank on April 8, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Nice job (keep them coming) : a comment by Jenny on April 9, 2010

Mexico

I chose sun instead of Wii or Kindle

Submitted by Cassi on February 20, 2010— Link to this story | Other stories by Cassi.

Our Adventure... (...was not quite) : a comment by frank on February 20, 2010

A Fall Outing

Russell Orchards and Crane Beach

Submitted by Nicolas on October 21, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Now that's a Nice Day (...and some good pictures) : a comment by frank on October 21, 2009

He Scores....

...not exactly

Submitted by frank on October 8, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Mitchell...

.....promoted from 8th grade

Submitted by frank on June 19, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Congratulations : a comment by Nicolas on June 20, 2009

Korea

we went there!

Submitted by steve on June 10, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by steve.

The concert

untitled

Submitted by Dante on June 5, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Dante.

Hi Dante (...about the concert) : a comment by frank on June 5, 2009

Cinema Verité

From the Minutillo/Larson Family

Submitted by Nicolas on May 3, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Shy Plants ((in Taiwan)) : a comment by steve on May 3, 2009

Retirement

finally

Submitted by rgminutillo on March 7, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

Workers of the World Unite! (...yeah right.) : a comment by frank on March 7, 2009

A Mitchell up-date

...on the academic side of things

Submitted by frank on February 6, 2009— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Italy 2008

Hometown Visit

Submitted by rgminutillo on November 22, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by rgminutillo.

The Sausage Maker... (...and the cobbler) : a comment by frank on November 22, 2008

First Game of The 2008...

... Bolton Middle School Varsity Soccer Season

Submitted by frank on September 17, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

A few days ago...

I got this surprise

Submitted by frank on July 29, 2008— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Christmas 2007

Submitted by Nicolas on December 27, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

scoot

a late b-day story

Submitted by Nicolas on October 28, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Hi Dante, : a comment by frank on October 28, 2007

Dante's Train?...

...could it have been...

Submitted by frank on August 30, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

We did indeed... : a comment by sandy on August 30, 2007

And Speaking of Miracles...

Submitted by frank on July 22, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Garden Update

A small salad appeared

Submitted by sandy on July 21, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by sandy.

What can I say.... (except.....) : a comment by frank on July 21, 2007

Michael Anthony......

...a birthday story

Submitted by frank on July 1, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by frank.

Garden

A small garden for a small family

Submitted by Nicolas on May 27, 2007— Link to this story | Other stories by Nicolas.

Insalata.... (...well, stranger things have happened I suppose...) : a comment by frank on May 27, 2007