Laughter Yoga - SCSC Meeting

Missy Gifford leading a laughter exercise

Tobey & Missy Gifford explaining Laughter Yoga

Tobey leading a laughter exercise

Some of the group "getting into it".

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At our Senior Citizen Service Club (SCSC) meeting this week, we had Tobey Gifford, E-CYT and her daughter, Missy, who are co-owners of the Lemon Tree Yoga Healing Arts Studio come speak to us about Laughter Yoga. Boy! was it fun. And boy did we laugh. The best part was watching Jenny laugh so much that she could hardly breathe!

There has been research on laughter which shows all the benefits it does for you and your body. You remember your mother telling you. “laughter is good medicine”. Well, as it turns out, she was most likely right.

My Home Town - Glens Falls, NY

Town Hall

Town Clock

Glen Street (Main Street) looking north

Wood Theater - home of Adirondack Theater Festival

Lower Adirondack Arts Council (LARAC)

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I know some of my southern family and friends might not think that Glens Falls is my home town, but after about twenty years of living in Queensbury, I think I should call this HOME.

Yeah I said Queensbury and not Glens Falls; just a little history lesson on the area. Glens Falls, until 1908, was a village in the Town of Queensbury. After 1908, it became a City and a separate municipal government (yeah we have a lot of municipal governments around here).Since Glens Falls was the village in the Town of Queensbury, and since Queensbury doesn’t have a “downtown” (are you following me?); Glens Falls is my downtown! Oh! Queensbury’s population, at about 28,000, is more than double that of the City of Glens Falls. Go Figure!

Family - Glens Falls Senior Center Service Club (SCSC)

Glens Falls Senior Center

George introducing our speaker

Our speaker for the day: Ms Nancy-Jo Johnson

What can I say about this one?

The hams in the Club

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Definition of family:

1. Group consisting of parents and children living in a household
2. The children of a person or a a couple
3. A group of people united in criminal activity

Susan, a member of our Club, was saying the other day that a family to her was more than the definition listed above (and certainly not the third definition) but a “group of close-knit friends”. I totally agree with her and I have already written in previous blogs about three of my families. Today I would like to add another one to the list: SCSC.

SCSC is a service organization affiliated with the Greater Glens Falls Senior Center. The organization is dedicated to support of local charities though our time and money and provide social interchange between its members.

This is a group I joined about three years ago after one of my neighbors and Joe K. kept bugging me to join. To be frank, I wasn’t interested in committing myself to a luncheon meeting every Thursday. However, I did reluctantly joined and they have become my family; I look forward to our luncheon meeting every Thursday.

The Hyde Collection - Glens Falls, NY

The Hyde Collection, founded in 1952 by Mrs Charlotte Hyde, is located in Glens Falls, NY. It is a jewel that must be seen to believe; it is difficult to believe that such a great museum can be located in a small town.

The Hyde Collections has a large number of Old Masters including: Rubens, Rembrandt, Tintoretto, El Greco, Degas and many, many more. Also American painters are well represented: Whistler, Hassam, Homer, Peto and of course many more. And if you are going to be within five hundred miles of Glens Falls between July 12th and October 12th, you must come to see the Degas & Music Special Exhibition at the Hyde.

Education Building and entrance to the Collection

The Hyde Mansion

The Atrium

Music Room with an El Greco in the back ground

Lobby of the Education Building

NY Wildlife Center - June 2009

Tourists on the bridge outside the museum.

The Visiter Center

Some of the exhibits inside the Center.

The littlest hiker!

Tourists overlooking the wetlands on the hiking trail.

"Z" and Dad masquerading as rock climbers!

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The Wildlife Center located in Tupper Lake, NY, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, is an excellent natural history museum, especially for kids. Needless to say it is located in a beautiful area. Take a look at the web site and even though it is off the beaten path, it is well worth a visit.

The highlights for us was the otters, hiking the museum trail (very short and easy) and the two movies: “A Matter of Degrees”, narrated by Sigourney Weaver; a true history of the Adirondack and “The Wild Adirondacks”, a movie of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains.

Zola's Queensbury Visit - June 2009

Members of the mutual adoration society!

Such a sophisticated look!

Tea time preparation; a favorite time for Zola & Jenny.

The clowning "Z" Girl!

Zola teaching Jenny Ma Ma how to play Stratego.

Another favorite past-Time: eating fruit.

West Point, New York - June 20, 2009

Statue of Washington on the Parade Grounds.

Reveille Gun

USMA Museum

Location on the Hudson where the barricade was placed.

Actual links of the Chain used in the barricade.

Miss Jenny in front of tank!

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Jenny and I were fortunate to be able to take a trip to the US Military Academy (USMA) and tour this important place. Later in the day, we took a cruise on the Hudson River. Even though it rained most of the day, it was still a great trip.

Everyone who is a historian or just claims to be a historian knows the significance of West Point in the Revolutionary War. General Washington knew that if the British could control the Hudson River they could split New England from the rest if the colonies and just maybe the British would win the war. With the help of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, he established at West Point a fortress that prevented the British from controlling the Hudson.

Just as important, everyone knows the significant of West Point Graduates to our military, past and present, and some great men who made significant contributions to our country, including two Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. USMA Graduates also played an important role in the Civil War; I’m told of the 60 or so major battles in the Civil War, 55 of them had West Point Graduates as the commanding officer on both sides.