NARNIA, the MOVIE

Junior saw the recently opened "Chronocles of Narnia" movie today at the local Loew's Ten-Plex in the company of his nephew Bones. The nephew enjoyed the movie very much. Never having read the books, Junior experienced this well known tale for the first time. Although directed towards a more juvenile audience, he found the plot engaging, the characters appropriately one dimentional and the effects state of the art. The Christian themes of virtue, obligation, love, sacrifice and redemption, while obvious, did not overly intrude on the action. However, it had always been Junior's understanding that he will find salvation through the "Lamb of God" not the "Lion of God".
Rated: 2 1/2 *'s

Snowmen Winter 2005

New Jersey has already had more than three times its normal amount of snowfall for the month of December. This has resulted in a bumper brood of snowmen throughout the colder climes of the State. Most of Junior's neighbors find the local snowmen amusing. They are, after all, seasonally decorative. In addition, they make no noise, do not eat and require no supervision. There are, unfortunately, some people, whom shall remain nameless, that find the snowpersons a nuisance. Such seasonally inhibited individuals are also known to complain of the noise made by the fluttering of flags on Independence Day.

Snowman with snowchildren.


Rare sighting of a woodland snowman in the wild.

First Snow Winter 2005

He woke to the first snowfall of the winter.

Aunt E's 80th Birthday party

He was at the 80th Birthday Party for his Aunt E.

Thanksgiving 2005

He had Thanksgiving with his family.















This photo shows the thanksgivers about to dig in to the antipasto.














Impatient for dessert, Spider is caught in the act of sneaking a taste.

The Winter Giraffe Migration in New Jersey

He was at the winter Giraffe migration.








Since the ban on giraffe trapping instituted in the
state in the late 1950's, the giraffe population of
the North Central Highlands of New Jersey has
increased dramatically. The increase in the population
usually results in a serious overgrazing condition
in the central and northern forest habitats of the
giraffe by the early winter time. The scarcity of
food causes the principal giraffe herds to migrate south,
across the Newark Plain and into the southern Pine Barrens
region in search of a reliable source of food.
The photograph shows the Valley of the Blue Brook herd
as it leaves its home in the first ridge
of the Watchung Mountain Range in Union County
on its way south this past week.

Battle of Monmouth

He was at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, New Jersey today. The monument to the Battle of Monmouth stands in front of the courthouse.

Monument to Battle of Monmouth 

Washington's council of war at Hopewell 

Pumpkin Jack Sighted

He nearly spotted Pumpkin Jack.

The morning paper reported several sightings of Pumpkin Jack, a.k.a. Jersey Jack Scarecrow, on Halloween night. The closest encounter to Junior occurred on the Red and Green Road in the Watchung Reservation. A purportedly sober witness told local authorities that as he was driving through the reserve, a tall, gaunt figure suddenly stepped into the road ahead of him causing him to brake his car sharply to a stop to avoid a collision. When he collected himself, the driver said that he saw a seven foot tall man in a faded red coat with a grinning Jack O' Lantern face staring at him through the front windshield of his car. Then, in a flash, the figure sped away up the ridge and was lost to sight in the dark forest.

Sightings of Pumpkin Jack, while not common, occur on a regular basis, especially at Halloween time.

The illustration is a drawing of Pumpkin Jack taken from " A History of East Jersey" by W. P. Gadston, published in 1888.

Halloween 2005

He was spotted 'Trick or Treating' with a niece in Berkeley Heights.

Chiller Theatre Expo October 2005

He was with Larry Hagman at the Chiller Theatre
Halloween Extravaganza Expo in Secaucus, New Jersey
on October 30, 2005.


Major Roger Healy was there also.















Additional photos from the October 2005 Chiller Expo may be found here!

The Far Hills Race Meeting 2005

He watched the races at "The Hunt" in Far Hills on Saturday, October 22, 2005.

1770's Festival at Lord Stirling Park, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Colonial Couple

William Alexander, Lord Stirling, was an ardent patriot and close friend of General George Washington. He served throughout the Revolutionary War as a General in the Continental Army until his death from disease in 1781. He fought with distinction in the Battles of Long Island, Trenton and Monmouth as well as in many smaller engagements. His estate in Basking Ridge is now a part of the Lord Stirling Park. Lord Stirling Park is located within the Great Swamp, a wetland remnant of a great glacial lake that covered the area 15,000 years ago. On the first Sunday of October, the Somerset County Park Commission holds a 1770's Festival on the grounds of Lord Stirling's estate.

Baseball Hall of Fame

He squeezed in a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York on Tuesday, September 27, 2005.


The Hall of Fame

PGA Championship 2005

He wandered about the Baltusrol Golf Club
in Springfield, New Jersey during the
87th PGA Championship held August 8-14, 2005.

Re-Enactment of the Battle of Springfield

He was at the re-enactment of the Battle of Springfield on the occasion of its 225th anniversery. The re-enactment was conducted on the site of the original battle which is located on the campus of the Jonathon Dayton High School.

Redcoats and their Tory and Hessian allies advancing on the New Jersey Militia and Continentals at the Battle of Springfield.

The 3rd New Jersey Regiment going toe to toe with the Redcoats 

Where's Junior?

Who wants to know?