photos of Mammoth Summer

Click Here:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Mammoth%20Summer.html

July 2006 - Sierra and Jim came to Mammoth for a week of fun. Kayaks at Lake Mary, mountain biking and hiking, fabulous flowers, and a gig with friends and their kids. Perfecto!

Dad's new CD

Check it out:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/smart2

Mammoth!

Sierra is in Mammoth, noticing that her name is on a lot of the buildings and signs around here.



We hiked around Lake George. These 4 year old girls were troupers; the adults were challenged, but the girls loved it!



Jay and Jim fight back against the only child syndrome.



Grampa Jim and Sierra have lots of fun sneaking up on people with snowballs and reading stories.



A chatty dinner for three girls who are almost exactly the same age: Ruby, Sierra, Devon, at the Cole's house.

Sierra at Disneyland

Sierra and Dad went to Disneyland with Gramma Jackie. Since we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for 2 nights, we were able to hit the park at 8:00 and do all the rides for 4 year olds in the morning with no waiting, no lines. It was a blast. Then it was hot and crowded, so we napped in the AC of our hotel room before charging the other park, California Disney Adventure:



That park had no lines, so we did all the shows and rides with no waiting again. Sierra loved the Electric Light Parade, resurrected from the 70s, and the Soaring ride where you fly all over California. That park closes at 10:00, so we went back to Disneyland until midnight, then back to the hotel.

Some strange changes were made to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Johnny Depp has been added in three places, peeking out behind barrels or gloating on a pile of treasure:

Shari's update

While I'm waiting for my photos to upload let me tell you about the last few days. The Neushul's were in town until Sunday morning. We played at the beach a lot. I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted to, but what I got was cute. The adults (Cathy, Peter, Steven, Suzanne, Jim and Shari) had a great dinner at Roy's the night before they all left. On Sunday morning, while they were heading to the airport, I got a little gurglie in the gut. After six hours laying on the bathroom floor with "bowl" disease (you know, the one where you can't decide whether to sit on or in front of the toilet...) Jim finally decided to take me to the ER. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Today my gut is funky but I'm finally vertical again. I went to work and ate food, and now I'm practicing my new iWeb skills. Here are some photos of the Nesuhul's when they were here last week.

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Neushuls.html

Love and Hershey Squirts to all,
Share Bear the Boring

Kona Scuba

Jim & Jay went to Kona with family friend Dave Hoffman for an outrageous SCUBA adventure. We made new friends with a Mammoth guy called Karl Lizza, who took the time to dive with us with Konaquatica, set us up for a killer dinner at the Kona Inn, and play the violin for us. What a guy! We travelled on go! airlines, the new kid on the block, for $39, and stayed at the King Kam Hotel.

More photos:

Molokai camping

Brother Jay,

The boys and I just finished an outrageous camp trip that you would have loved:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/paddleMolokai2006.html

Aside from the great scenery and fun nature to explore, you would have liked the spirit of creativity we had. Because once you start this trip, you can't go back, and you have to make do with what you brought in the kayak. Jay figured out a way to turn his rain poncho into a pretty cool sail, for example. We had to improvise things like wind shelters and river dams. Ya shouldda been there!

Jim

It's a movie! It's a Pillow Fight! It's a movie ABOUT a pillow fight!

Hi Dad,

Here's a short movie of the kids to brighten up your Father's Day:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Pillow%20Fight.html

Thanks for everything you've done for me in the last 42 years. The camp trips to Mexico, the car you got me in college, and all the various jackets and coats you've given me through the years. I always seem to be caught traveling without a coat!

I love you,

Jim

Easter Theatre

Hi folks,

Here's the latest movie from the home studio, about 3 minutes long:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Easter%2006.html

Enjoy!

Jim

The Mikado

Jack Smart. What a guy! He stars as Koko in the Punahou production of The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan uber alles!

We are so pround and happy for him. What a treat to be a dad and watch your son be successful and delight big audiences.



I loved it when Jack went out for a midnight meal with his co-stars after Saturday's show. I just feel so happy for him.

Dad

Big Apple, Big Friendships

I love these guys. We only childs gotta make up our own sibling situations. So I have my sister Jeanne, who is really my ex-step-sister, but a real sister in my heart.



And I have John, who along with Jay Cole and Simeon Spiegel, are my brothers.



Fun to see all these guys on the streets of New York!

Jim

The Big Apple

Click here to see our Big Apple photos:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/NYCbest48.html

Excitement and thrills in new York City:

Jack, jumping up and down with excitement at the Color Purple, his first big Broadway show. His smile when he was able to get some of their autographs afterwards.

Jim, getting very very close to Ray Davies and Vincent Van Gogh (well, his paintings).

Bill, smiling at seeing his old school chum at breakfast, Jack O'Brien, who is the director of two current Broadway hits.

Today's our last day. One day more, one show more, and a 3:30 wake up call in the morning.

Jack was blown away by Wicked. We all were. The ultimate peak comes at the end of act 1, with Defying Gravity. It's easily the best, most powerful theatre moment I've ever been a part of.

It was cool when we got to do the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour the morning before the show. Two friendly, amazing cast members showed us how Wicked works behind the scenes. Very worth it.

I love walking around this city, staring at the lights in Times Square, getting purposely lost in Central Park, meeting friends, and drinking Guiness (a word I don't know the plural of) in Irish pubs.

We spent a lot of time at Ground Zero feeling the pain, checking out the latest plans for the Freedom Tower, and learning about September 11.

Upward!

Jim

college tour photos

Today we went into the scenic Hudson River Valley in upstate New York. Roosevelt territory, across the river from West Point.

Bard College is great and cool, but it didn't have the right vibe for Jack.

Vassar College, just down the river, is his favorite so far.

Tomorrow we enter New York City for more schools and a few Broadway shows. Jack is in heaven.























48 photos of our trip so far: http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/

The Bershires

Hi all,

We've been driving around the lyrics of some old favorites. First we drove through Stockbridge and the Berkshires, mentioned in Sweet Baby James. We even played it on the car stereo via my iPod. Ditto for Barrytown and My Old School by Steely Dan as we neared Annandale-on-Hudson.

Oh yeah, and the colleges. Been a lot of fun seeing the wild student activists at Clark, the gothic beauty of Amherst, the stunning Boston-in-the-Adirondacks majesty of Williams, and the funky farmlands of Bennington.









Today we ate at two diners, both of them old metal tubes that look like motor homes or boat bubbles on a city lot. We stuffed our faces with good old American grub, and now I can barely lift my fingers to type this.



Tomorrow we go to Bard and Vassar before entering the Emerald City on Thursday.

Viva la Revolucion!

Jim, Jack, and Bill

Boston

Hi!

We are having fun on our Three German guys on an East Coast college search trip. Bill and I would like to go back to college instead of doing our jobs.

We started at Harvard on Sauturday, where we saw a student production of Chicago that was fun of fun and spirit.

It's really cold here, so Jack and I bought gloves and Harvard hats for strolling between the ivy colored walls with the squirrels.

Today we walked through BU and had a great visit at Emerson. We got some students talking about how they like the school, and they just went on and on about how great it is. Bunch of theatre/arts/English/creative types who are in heaven at the school. I think they got to Jack.

Bill and I are ready to enroll!

At night we enjoyed the spunky impossible-to-describe Blue Man Group, a show that makes you smile, makes you think, and then makes you talk a lot about what it all meant.

Onward!

Jim

Sunday surf tradition

Photos from early 2006

The two highlights of our year so far have been Sierra's 4th birthday and the Punahou Carnival. Jack is a junior, and they are the class that runs the carnival. That makes Jack and Shari very busy for months and months.

Enjoy more photos:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb

vacation photos

Grampa Carter and Sierra:




Click here for 48 photos of the Smarts in Palm Desert, Mexico, and San Diego:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum54.html

Mexico

Mexico is a land of contradictions. The beauty and the beast together in one tasty but fattening lobster roll. The Rosarito Beach Hotel has a long history, and it's been perfect for us. We saw the Titanic movie studio at Foxplorations, where nothing is quite what it seems. Same goes for the lobster dinner we went to in Puerto Nuevo. This was the site of our first date 21 years ago, but everything has changed and grown almost beyond recognition. I love the whole enchilada down here. Perfect gorgeous waves, tasty food.

Jay, being 13, indulged in fireworks and ATV riding on the beach.

We love lounging in our big hotel rooms and watching Mexican TV.

Sierra loves the big freedom of the beach. She has smiled a lot down here.

Prospero ano nuevo

Palm Desert

Visiting family in Palm Desert = How important and right it feels to connect my children to their relatives and ancestors. I love those Joshua Tree Smarts. Aunt Meg is an inspiration, coping with her broken body, smiling and keeping up our spirits. My kids don't remember how vital and healthy she was before her back was broken stopping a rolling car from entering a group of children at her school.

Photos from Mammoth

Our new iPhoto photo album has been published at:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimsmart1/PhotoAlbum52.html

Kids' White Christmas

Ah, kids at Christmas in the snowy mountains.



Fun with snow and cookies.



What a gift to be able to give my children these experiences.

Jim

Skiing in Mammoth

I love Mammoth. I stare at the frozen trees as they pass in front of the mountains where I've backpacked in sunnier seasons as I ride chair 14 to the sky. Renewal. Recreation. Settling back into my real self.

Jim

skiing in Mammoth

having a blast!

Ski Sierra, ski!

Sierra had her first ski day yesterday, the first day of winter. She is a natural at age 3. Thanks to Devon Cole for the great gear!

Christmas picture 2005

Peace...really!

Peace, yeah, that's still the thing. The Holy Grail that we just can't seem to get closer to. Sierra, who's about to turn four, has recently become a fan of the bonky head guys, those monks in Monty Python's Holy Grail who chant and then hit themselves in the head with a sturdy piece of wood. I can't help thinking that we humans are a bit like that. We say our lines over and over, pausing only to hit ourselves in the head.

Sierra is a joy to spend time with. XTC sang Every minute spent with her's a bulging wallet. In fact all of the lyrics to "The She Appeared" sum up my feelings for Sierra. What happiness to pick her up at pre-school and have her run into my arms with a smile as big as the sun.

Jack's voice is so low, folks who call our house wonder who that man is answering the phone. It's strange living with a tall basso profundo who used to be this size of a loaf of bread and ask to play Thomas the Tank Engine. Stranger still is looking at Jay, a long haired seventh grader who looks and acts like I did back when the first Star Wars movie came out. I feel like Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Past when I bump into my former self when we crash into each other on the way to Tutu's cookie tin.

Most of the members of our house are in good stead, but Gramma Betty is fading fast. She will turn 90 at the end of December, and her decline is hard on us all.

I'm always telling folks how busy we are, but 2005 makes past years seem like a lazy afternoon with a good book. Things are reaching their crescendo now as we have one last crazy week before flying off to California for the holidays. Away from all these house projects, school events, and lists of things to do.

All my resolutions will be about making our world more peaceful. I hope you are on that path, too.

Jim

Here's a brief rundown on where the family is at as 2006 approaches:

JACK
~ enjoyed roles in Godspell, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the Laramie Project
~ traveled to Rapa Nui and Tahiti with school group
~ A junior is looking at colleges
~ got certified in SCUBA; in process of getting driver’s license



JAY
~ learned to SCUBA dive with dad at many island dive sites
~ played water polo and swim team for Punahou
~ seventh grader
~ climbed mountains, sailed boats, and starred in a play at Camp Treetops in New York



SIERRA
~ moved up to the age 3 group at Kuapa Preschool
~ sings and plays piano
~ still likes sign language
~ swims like a fish



JIM
~ jobs included teaching at Punahou, leading Hawaii Writing Project, and teaching guitar at Camp Treetops
~ teaching sixth grade at Punahou and playing in bands
~ released solo album called “Mist” and played gigs in several cities (www.jimsmart.net)




SHARI
~ working as a substitute between massive home improvement projects
~ enjoyed teaching marine biology at Punahou summer school and crafts at Camp Treetops
~ inducted to the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame