Paul Simon performs for home town crowd

Dan writes:
Paul Simon is one of my all-time favorite musical artists, from the folky early days of Simon & Garfunkel through Rhymin' Simon, Graceland and beyond. A lot of that has to do with my appreciation of a well-turned lyrical phrase, at which Simon excels.

I'd never had the chance to see him perform live, however, until he conveniently scheduled a concert near me (in Newark), at a time when I could get there (a Sunday evening), and put the tickets on sale at just the right time (for Julie to buy them as a present for my birthday).

So on Sunday night, Julie and I got to enjoy An Evening with Paul Simon in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's beautiful concert hall. Backed by an eight-piece band, he played selections from just about every phase of his career, from "Sounds of Silence" and "The Boxer" to "Dazzling Blue" and other songs from his latest album, "So Beautiful or So What."

Here I've strung together a few video clips I took, straining the capability of my pocket digital camera. The spotlight on Simon washed out his face except when I used the digital zoom for extreme close-ups, which then look grainy. And I only shot parts of a few songs, so these aren't necessarily the top highlights. But if you're a fan of the now-70-year-old Simon, you may enjoy seeing and hearing him perform some of his most familiar tunes.



At one point in the show, Simon explained that his reggae-influenced "Mother and Child Reunion" was inspired by a Jimmy Cliff song about a mother's son killed in Vietnam. He then introduced Cliff, who performed that song, harmonized with Simon on "Mother and Child Reunion" and sang his own hit, "The Harder They Come."

Jimmy Cliff, at right, sings "The Harder They Come"

It was amusing to watch members of the audience - mostly young guys and gals around our age - bouncing in their seats and singing and clapping along.

Brian's Movember 'stache

Who is this mustaschioed gent? That's Brian, who participated in "Movember," an international campaign to raise awareness of men's health issues.

As explained at the program's web site: "During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the U.S. and around the world. With their Mos, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men."

Visit Brian's Movember donation page.

Marie says: "In addition to awareness, the mustache raised a lot of laughs! He has decided it's not quite his style and he'll be retiring the 'stache until next Movember."

Thanksgiving, home and away

How did you spend Thanksgiving?

Dan and Julie had a relaxed holiday at home with Christine and Andy. Christine has finished her first trimester at RIT, and after wrapping up all her end-of-term projects, was able to fly home for a 10-day visit.

RIT junior Rebecca, meanwhile, has been spending much of her break traveling and curling, Her team competed in a bonspiel in Boston and another in Washington D.C.

Marie, Brian and Xander opted for Thanksgiving at home, with Marie and Xander just back from their visit to Disneyworld.

Genevieve and John spent the week in Delaware visiting John's mom, grandmother, sisters Kellie and Lindsay and Lindsay's husband, Marc. They also helped put up the family's Christmas tree (seen at right). Yep, one holiday season leads right into the next!

Vivien was at work making sure Thanksgiving dinner went smoothly at Brookdale Senior Living's Hallmark of Battery Park City. But we hear she got up to Scarsdale in time to have pumpkin pie with parents Kathy and Ted and brother Patrick, who was home from Johns Hopkins.

Where was everyone else - and with whom? Please share your holiday stories

A double holiday!

The national holiday known as Thanksgiving happened to fall this year on Nov. 24, meaning it had to share the spotlight with Shanna's Birthday.

On Wednesday, Shanna's co-workers at Ann & Andy Child Care honored her with this Birthday Princess crown.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving

The Birch Street Web wishes a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our extended family.

If you're traveling, arrive safely. If not, enjoy being home. If you're cooking, enjoy creating the meal. If not, thank the cook. Whether in a big crowd or an intimate gathering, whether host or guest, enjoy your feast and fellowship.

And please send a note or a photo about your Thanksgiving. Remember to keep in touch!

A tour of the Southern coast

Dolores and Hugh took a 10-day tour of the Southeastern U.S. this month, starting with a visit to Charleston, S.C., followed by an American Cruise Line excursion down the coast to Florida.

Along with the photos below, Hugh sent along an account of the trip complete with local color and history. Read it here.



Charleston (which we know is one of Tish and Owen's favorite places) is a hot travel destination these days. It was voted "Top City in the United States" in the 2011 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards.

Xander meets the mouse

After hosting Genevieve and John at his California estate, jet-setter Mickey Mouse flew east to his Florida digs to meet with one of his younger fans, Xander.

Xander also got to hang out with that silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh. We're not sure why Mickey and Winnie seem to be dressed for snow, considering the temperature was around 80 degrees.

Xander is visiting DisneyWorld with his mom, Marie, and grandma Anne Marie.

Besides meeting with celebrities, they went on the Kilimanjaro Safari tour of the Wild Kingdom.

Say... is that Dumbo and his mom?

Grand finale to marching band season

Andy marching and drumming at Allentown competition

Click image to see more

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Marching Band put on another great performance at the USSBA Nationals competition in Allentown, Pa., on Nov. 13.

Many interested viewers thought it was their best show of the season. The judges, however, ranked SPF third -- although only about half a point separated the top three scores.

So another fine SPFHS marching band season comes to an end, but Andy plans to continue drumming in other music programs at the school.

Famous mouse hosts anniversary couple

Genevieve and John were invited to the home of movie and television star Mickey Mouse to celebrate the second anniversary of their wedding.

Mr. Mouse threw them a huge party with thousands of guests. They roamed the fabulously wealthy mega-star's enormous estate, which is fitted out with rides, games and entertainment.

To mark Genevieve and John's special occasion, the spare-no-expense host treated all his guests to a fantastic light show set to music.

The Hollywood crowd is bound to be buzzing about this party for a long time!

Season's best performance for SPF band

Andy at center on quad drums

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Marching Band placed second among similar-sized bands at the U.S. Scholastic Band Association's New Jersey Championship on Nov. 5. The scoring was very close: 96.600 for the first-place band and 96.050 for SPF, the band's best score this season.

"Band dad" Dan recently set up a web site featuring his photos of the SPF band over the five seasons since Christine's freshman year. Below are his photos from Nov. 5, from warm-ups through performance. To see the full collection, visit the new site.

Hilliard Darby "Superior" in season's final competition

Chris' first season as a member of the Hilliard Darby High School Marching Band culminated Oct. 29 with the band's performance in the Ohio Music Education Association State Marching Band Finals.

For the 14th season in a row, the Darby band earned a "Superior" rating from the judges, the top rating on a five-level scale. Congratulations!

Geared up for Halloween (Updated 10/31)

We hope everyone's had a fun Halloween. Here's a look at some of our family's costumes.

Sheriff Woody (Xander) met up with Jack Skellington at a local store's trick-or-treat party in Fredericksburg on Saturday.


Where are these Waldos? We think they were found at Johns Hopkins.

And Who are these two? Yes.

This zombie (Andy) provided some of the frights at a "haunted house" party held Friday night at one of the schools in Scotch Plains.

On Halloween, Andy transformed into a gentleman of the Steampunk era - that is, the 19th Century future.

















Up at RIT, Christine became BLU Scout from the video game Team Fortress 2.










Even Rebecca's pal Pete got into the Halloween spirit.

Who were you for Halloween? Let's see! Send us a photo!

Autumn leaves, snow on the trees

The morning after the October Snow of 2011.

Seriously, October?

It's October. It's not even Halloween yet. We're still on Daylight Savings Time. Yet many of us in the Northeast are getting hit with a snow storm. Really? Really.



Outside Birch Street Headquarters in New Jersey, the wet, heavy snow is weighing down the still-leafy trees.

Julie chimes in: "I'm dreaming of a white Halloween..."

Or as Kathy put it when she posted this photo on Facebook: "Merry Halloween!"

By 6 p.m., weather.com was estimating 3.3 inches had fallen at Fanwood, 2.8 inches in Yonkers, 1 inch in Towson - and nothing at all in Rochester!

Remember, you can always check our Weather Station for the latest data from our extended family's home towns.

Let us know if you get frosted, and pass along pictures if you capture some flakes!

A quick visit from Mom

Julie paid a visit to Christine during "Parents Weekend" at Rochester Institute of Technology Oct. 15-16. Christine has been very busy with the work of a first-year art student, but found time to show Mom around the campus. They also went shopping together, preparing Christine for the Rochester winter ahead.

Lizzie selected for National Honor Society

Lizzie has been accepted into the National Honor Society. A junior at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, she will be inducted at a ceremony on Oct. 27.

The National Honor Society was established in 1921. Students do not apply; they are nominated, complete an application process, and then have their files reviewed by the principal and a committee at their school.

The letter from her principal notifying Lizzie said, "You were selected for induction this fall because you met the criteria of Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship."

Walk to End Alzheimer's 2011

Four the fourth year in a row, our family team won the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's in Manhattan's Riverside Park on Sunday.

Okay, that's a joke, but the team led by Shanna did raise more than $1,000 for the Alzheimer's Association, and its four-year fund-raising total now stands at $2,990.

Shanna, her parents Kevin and Kathy, brother Kevin, cousin Vivien and Uncle Dan were this year's walkers, joining a crowd of a few thousand who turned out on a cool but pleasant fall morning.



Thanks to all who donated, joining the walkers in spirit. For a limited time, donations to the Alzheimer's Association can still be credited to our team, via its web page.

Autumn Glory in windy Garrett County

It was Autumn Glory time in Garrett County, Maryland last weekend, and Hugh and Dolores went out to their place on Deep Creek Lake to see the festivities and the colorful leaves.

Rain and fog made for a dreary Friday, but the sun was out for Saturday's parade in downtown Oakland.



Hugh writes: "We saw dancers with hula hoops. We saw Shriners in little yellow cars. We saw floats. And, of course, we saw bands."

Just one problem, adds Dolores: "The wind blew away all the color on the trees. So winter has arrived at Deep Creek Lake now."