Uploads from Vincent James Pia, tagged danburyct, with geodata

Day 348 - "Down(town) at Night"

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:59:09 -0800

December 14, 2011 - "Down(town) at Night"

I'm not having a good day.

Actually... I'm not having a good week.

Strike that... I'm not having a good month!

Actually - this year has been pretty sucky!

I'm not well. Not feeling well.

Having lots of pain in the area of my liver... again.

Not sleeping at all at night.

Feeling worn-out and stretched-thin.

Tonight - while making a quick trip to the grocery store, I collapsed into the shelves.
Head-spinning...
Body-shaking...
Vision-blurred...
Hearing-distorted.

Not well... and wanting all of "this" to be over with already!

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Day 109 - "Calm and Quiet"

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:12:52 -0700

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

April 18, 2012 - "Calm and Quiet"

On our way out for a late dinner, we came across this beautiful scene on Candlewood Lake... and had to stop and take it in for a while.

(lifeisgood!)

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Mole con Pollo @ Pancho's Tacos Mexican Restaurant

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:47:46 -0800

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

Amazing Mole con Pollo - served with rice and beans. I love this stuff! (via Foodspotting)

Phở @ "Phở Vietnam" in Danbury, CT

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:28:24 -0800

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

Phở...

Or, more specifically - the "Phở-Sizzle" - which is traditional Phở topped with marinated grilled steak.

This was incredibly delicious! (via Foodspotting)

Oxtail Dumplings @ "Phở Vietnam" in Danbury, CT

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:25:21 -0800

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

Absolutely AMAZING Oxtail Dumplings with fried egg.

I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly delicious this was! (via Foodspotting)

Day 282 - "Flying High at Thirty-Five"

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:23:50 -0700

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

October 09, 2011 - "Flying High at Thirty-Five"

It's my birthday. My thirty-fifth, to be exact.

And it has turned out to be the single-best birthday, ever!

The day began with my BFF Lenny "kidnapping" me - at what I thought was waaaaaaay too early for anyone to have to be awake on their birthday, especially when it falls on a Sunday! We headed to the Holiday Diner for a wonderful breakfast and conversation... before heading up to "Shooters" in New Milford for an hour of "release", with five pistols... and a LOT of ammunition. Some 9mm... some .22-cal... and a ton of 40-cal rounds hitting targets. It felt awesome!

I thought that THAT was it... and believe me, THAT was already more than I could have ever hoped for - but Mr. Lenny had other plans. On the drive home, we passed the exit that would easily lead to my house... and the next thing I know we seem to be heading towards the mall. No big deal... and I'm thinking that Lenny is planning to hit the Mall - perhaps the Apple Store for some iPad dreaming or something to that effect. Then he pulls out a bag and tells me he has something for me. I look inside to find a small die cast Cessna plane. Pretty cool! I'm thinking it's just a freakin' cool little plane... then he tells me that there's "something else" inside. I open it to find a gift certificate for a 1/2-hour flight out of Danbury Airport! I'm freakin' shocked!

Lots of jokes about the pilot having only two flights under his belt... lots of talk about recent plane crashes in the area... and next thing I know I'm sitting at the controls of a tiny puddle-jumper - and we're taking off! Slow climb... a little jittery... a few dips and "bumps" that send my stomach into a flurry - then we turn and head out over the Mall and towards Candlewood Lake - and the pilot says "You have the controls!" - and the next thing I know, I'm flying! I think he's completely joking until my nervous hand hits the wheel a bit too far to the right and the plane jolts that way and I realize "HOLY SHIT! I'M FREAKIN' FLYING!".

It was incredibly awesome! We flew out over Candlewood Lake - and looked down at my house - before turning, heading over New Fairfield... FCI... then Danbury High School - before aiming towards the Mall - and Tarrywile Park, which is the subject of today's photo. We looked out over the horizon and could see the Manhattan skyline to the right... and Long Island and The Sound to the left. The pilot took back the controls for the landing... which was incredibly smooth.

More jokes... and a promise to kill Lenny at some point in the future.

My heart racing... my palms sweaty... and me, happy as hell!

We make our way to the Sycamore for a quick round of Root Beer Floats - before heading home. I'm thinking that this is the most incredible birthday I could possibly have... and I'm planning to go in the house, relax a bit... maybe watch some football... then go to the dinner that Holly told me she had reservations for later.

I walk in the door - to the sight of a table overflowing with food... and dozens of people shouting "SURPRISE!!!" - while party horns blew and my heart starts racing again! I was set up! So much excitement and shock, it took me more than a few moments just to figure out who the hell all of these people were!

Family and Friends everywhere... hugs... happiness... laughter - it was, perhaps, the single-most wonderful feeling I've experienced since the birth of my children!

Wonderful conversations... Great food... Lots of laughter... More food... a great game of "Pin the tail on the donkey"... even MORE food... music... dessert... more dessert... even more dessert - a terrific viewing of "JAWS"... followed by "The Big Lebowski".

Now it's almost 11:30PM... everyone is gone and now I'm relaxing on the couch... STILL IN SHOCK!

Today was - without a doubt - the most wonderful day... the BEST birthday I've ever had - or could ever hope to imagine!

To all of you who made this day so wonderful - THANK YOU!!!

I love you ALL... so very much!

Life truly IS, good!

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Honey BBQ Wings @ TK's American Cafe

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:42:42 -0700

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

TK's has the best chicken wings I've ever had. Their sauces are phenomenal... and they have 37 flavors to choose from!

We were there to celebrate my wife's birthday. In Danbury it's pretty much a tradition to go to TK's on your birthday... because they give you your age in free wings. She turned 34... so that was 34 free wings! (via Foodspotting)

Day 9 - "Duck Pin"

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:22:18 -0800

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

January 09, 2011 - "Duck Pin"

Fantastic day today!

Took the kidlings sledding at St. Greg's church...

followed by a game at Danbury Duck Pin Lanes.

I love Duckpin Bowling! Small bowling balls, all the same size and weight. No holes... you just hold it in your palm. Shorter lanes... shorter pins... and three rolls per frame.

Plus our local Duckpin lanes have been around forever... and there's just this sense of nostalgia and history there that I can't get enough of.

But I digress...

Full game of Duck Pin. Holly and I tied for the win. Bowled one more frame just to break the tie... and, well, lets just say that I let her win.

Still... a wonderful day spent making the kids smile.

Life is good!

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Day 8 - "No Place To Sit"

nobody@flickr.com (Vincent James Pia) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 11:02:00 -0800

Vincent James Pia posted a photo:

January 08, 2011 - "No Place To Sit"

Woke up to bad coffee. Very bad coffee. That means I've got to head in to work, even though it's my day off - to pick up some good coffee, to prevent this from happening again!

Went to the library... but couldn't find anything interesting. Decided to wander around the courtyard while Holly and the kids checked out their books. It's beautiful out here! Quiet... oddly warm... everything covered in snow... the holiday lights still up and twinkling. I could sit out here for hours... if there was actually someplace to sit, that is!

Books checked out... time to go. Head over to Molten Java. The place is packed, and there's no place to sit - which is pretty frustrating, because most of the people here aren't even buying drinks - they're just hanging out and taking up tables. So we grab a few drinks to go and head back out as quickly as we came.

A million thoughts are pouring through my mind on the drive home. Dreams... Plans... Hopes... Fears...

A million thoughts... making my brain hurt.

Need to sit down and figure things out...

... but there's still no place to sit.

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