#375. Xavi the lady's man

Been here 4 years now and Sunday we went down to Tribeca for our annual celebratory meal to mark the anniversary, this time for Sunday brunch at the popular "Bubby's" on N. Moore St, which is very Park Slope/Paddington/Prahran. Xavi put on all his charms when meeting this cute little girl while we were waiting for a seat. He was also amused by the wooden cow out the front. After his midday nap, we went over to the Central Park Zoo where he had close encounters with several other species including the penguins and tropical bird shown here, as well seals, snow monkeys, and a mongoose. Between the thunderstorms we also visited the High Line so Xavi could have a play in the water feature, which Maxi had done a year earlier...

Severe storms hit Ohio, Pa., N.Y.; possible tornado reported

In the 30's deg C again today. According to USA Today newspaper, severe thunderstorms that spawned at least one possible tornado raked Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York this afternoon before rolling across other Mid-Atlantic and New England states.Chemung County (in south-central New York state) emergency officials said a tornado went through the middle of Elmira township, just after 4 p.m. No serious injuries have been reported. More than 120,000 utility customers are without power in the three states. New York City and Philadelphia were next in line to be hit, followed by southern New England.

Ligthining in upstate NYC, pic courtesy of USA Today. 8pm update: the storm comes to NYC. The storm system is expected to stall near the City with thunderstorms hanging around until Monday. Looks like Xavi will have to get used to playing inside (great...)

Xavi's belated 12 month well baby visit

We went to the Pediatrician at Cornell today. As you can see he is really thriving. He is 20 pounds (9 kg), 31 inches (75 cm), and had his shots for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A and one other. He is doing all his milestones on time. He has a vocabulary of 5-6 words and jargonizes (e.g. nana (short for banana) = any type of food). He does still have fluid behind his ears so they want him to see an ENT surgeon. They also want him to see a podiatrist because he rolls in on his right foot a bit. Lucky we have good health insurance!

Xavi back in NYC

After a week, he's finally over his jetlag. Here he is having fun at the local playground this afternoon, especially in the sprinkler. His red Crocs are very cool!

"Aussies aim for 50 medals but come up far short"

This is the prediction we are getting over here from Sports Illustrated. They are expecting Australia to win 40 medals (16 gold) and finish 6th. They are projecting the USA to retain the overall crown (99 medals, 42 gold) with China once again close behind and GB 4th but adding the most medals by far to its Beijing tally. James Magnussen, Stephanie Rice, sailors, track cyclists and the Kookaburras are expected to do well. They note the Aust women's basketball team has last 3 straight Olympic finals to the US.

Too bad it wasn't the grand final

Summer sunset cruise on the Hudson last night

This 2-hour event was organized by the American-Australian Association. It was free, but with a cash bar and Pie Face products for sale. As you can see below, it was a beautiful night for it, fine and warm (77 deg F = 24 deg C) and only a light breeze blowing, and the sunset was spectacular. As I've blogged before, the waterways around NYC (Hudson River, NY Harbor and Jamaica Bay)are a massive body of water rivaling Sydney Harbor in size, although not in beauty. The images below are iconic and don't need captions, although the three bridges in pic No. 7 are the Brooklyn (closest to camera), Manhattan & Williamsburg.

Rabbitohs injury toll mounts!

Summer in the City - happy 4th of July

Seems all the fireworks have been at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn.... http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mccarrenpark/facilities/pools Officer Punched at McCarren Pool By THE NEW YORK TIMES Published: July 2, 2012 Just three days after a raucous crowd attacked lifeguards at the McCarren Pool in Brooklyn, a police officer was punched in the face there on Monday and another officer’s arm was injured in an altercation with swimmers, the police said. The police on Monday were assisting lifeguards after three youths refused to obey orders to stop running and diving into shallow water, the authorities said. One youth was charged with assaulting an officer and the other two were charged with disorderly conduct. The pool, on the Williamsburg-Greenpoint border, had been closed for 28 years and reopened on Thursday. Since then, guests have filled the facility to its 1,500-person capacity, the Urban Park Service said. Lifeguards Attacked at McCarren Pool By THE NEW YORK TIMES Published: June 29, 2012 An unruly crowd at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn attacked the lifeguards Friday evening, leading the city’s parks department to close the pool early just one day after its reopening. A fight broke out shortly after 6 p.m., about an hour before closing on what had been a sweltering day, when some teenagers doing back-flips into the pool refused to follow the lifeguards’ command to stop, said Vickie Karp, the department spokeswoman. The teenagers then attacked the lifeguards. There were no serious injuries, Ms. Karp said, but the episode soured what was supposed to be a celebration, with the pool, on the Williamsburg-Greenpoint border, filled with swimmers for the first time in 28 years. The city spent 30 months and $50 million to restore the pool to its former glory. The pool is expected to open on time Saturday.