What a day. The weather was stunning... okay it was cloudly all day. But if the weather didn't look good at least we did. A regular fashion parade... okay a lot of plaid. But at least the golf play was, how can I put this, something to behold. Try to imagine an epileptic cat swinging a golf club. Well if you'd been here that exercise would so much easier. Balls were flying everywhere, at one point it looked like all groundskeepers were called in for safety reasons and air traffic was being rerouted to Phili until the event was over.

According to Charlie Donnelly, "I'm sure they had to close down the course for repairs after we played." 

On June 1, 2008 Tom Ryan and his happy group of travelers departed from The Friendly Sons and headed south for Nashville, Tennessee. Upon arrival many of us were rewarded with sightings of Minnie-Pearl, Roy Acoff and of course Elvis.

The Grand Ole Opry Museum offered us a trip down memory lane with three floors of memorabilia. The Old Opry Hotel fascinated us with it’s lobby, a fully enclosed landscape that included waterfalls, a riverboat ride, lush gardens and restaurant after restaurant. Not to be left out was Loretta Lynn’s ranch, The Wild Horse Saloon, The Oak Ridge Boys, Tom giving lessons in Line Dancing and much more. He was so good that he and Lorraine were asked to pose for Nashville’s latest monument.

So Tom, Thanks for all the work you put into making this a great trip… where are we going next year? 

Photos and Article by Lorraine Schuld

The FSOS Seisiun of June 22, 2008 was another in a series of seisiun broadcast live from the Great Hall of FSOS to both a live audience as well as a radio and web listeners. The evening was kicked off by Mr Tommy Burns, of Burns & Cashman, and The Moonshiners, with his version of Brian Boru's March, the signature tune of the Voice Of Ireland, heard on 88.7 FM Sunday evenings 5:30 - 7:00 PM.  The music continued with Chris Finnegan on Uileann Pipes, tin whistle, guitar, accompanied by a host fine musicians.  There a plethora of reels, jigs, slip jigs, waltzes and few songs sung in Gaelige and English.

Photos and Article by Mike Callaghan

The day of the Pig Roast was hazy, hot and humid, it was day two of a heat wave bearing down on the North East. This was not a good day for any kind of gathering as once again the mercury was pushed to a hundred degrees in the shade. I didn’t need to worry about the heat in the shade though, with mulch in the driveway and landscaping to be done before friends arrived next weekend, I was on a mission. Having started at 6:30am to beat the heat I knew I’d have all the work done before the blistering heat of high noon arrived. Of course by the time high noon arrived I was on my third change of clothes, the chafing was starting in, the fantasy of my sons coming to my aid had long since faded and the steaming pile in the driveway seemed to be daring me to continue... so I did. By 3:00pm I was walking around like John Wayne, having just dismounted his horse after a 3 days in the saddle, all chafed and blistered in the nether regions.

A shower, change of clothes, slow walk to the car with Barb and we were off to the Sons. We were late... but we'd made it. All I could think about as I got there was “how do I walk without moving my legs?” Within minutes all that was gone as friends with smiling faces greeted us and an ice cold beer was put in my hand. Everywhere the sounds of music, conversation and laughter filled the air. You’d catch someone’s eye on the Great Lawn or in the Pavilion and they’d return a smile, a nod, a wave, a wink.

The smells that filled the air from the BBQ pit to the cutting tables were mouth watering. Corn, garlic, potatoes, deep fried turkey seasoned to perfection, barbecued pork, hot dogs, burgers, beans, greens and well, you get the picture. The cooks, the heroes of the day, who had stood over coals and fryers preparing food for all were smiling to the last baked man. As I looked at them memories of gardening began to creep into the out edges of my consciousness. It was time for another beer. 

Duly inoculated I continued on my stroll past the smiling pork to the horse shoe pits.  Here there was plenty of competition as men at both ends took up position and launched there shoes. The thud or clink that followed would lead to a nodding or shaking of heads and perhaps a little ribbing as scores were calculated and  recalculated. “Good try Joe, does your husband throw?”, “Were you aiming for this post or that one?”, "Hey, I'm glad you're on their team"'

Walking from the pits to the stage you passed by the kids playing in the pool. They didn’t notice the heat at all they just squealed with joy as they leapt into and out of the water. One way to stay cool. Going into the club by the back door I saw another way, two kids sitting on kegs to cool down… glad I wasn’t drinking Bud! And though my dreams of winning big in the pool for the Belmont were shot down only slightly faster than my plans for where I’d put the kegerator should I win, it was in all, a good day. I ended it sitting in the shade laughing and talking in the company of friends and thinking to myself… “Every day should be like this.”

Photos provided courtesy of Jeff Schuld.

Now that the lazy hazy days of summer are here so are Picnic Sundays. Every Sunday during the summer we will have a DJ at the pavilion from 1:30pm until 6:00pm. Great music, great friends, great venue. Bring your frisbees, volley balls, bocce and your picnic. You can enjoy the shade of the pavilion or sit in the sun. Most importantly bring your family and friends. See you on Sunday.

It's always fun to review events of the year by looking at the moments captured by our friends. One photo can define an event, can bring a smile or a tear to someone.

Right now I'm looking for Photos from the Pig Roast. Please send your favourite photos from the day. One member can't be everywhere at an event, but every member will be somewhere at the event. So if have captured some of those moments please consider sharing them on the web site.

You can get photos to me either via email, Editor@FSOSDiary.Com or upload your photos from this page by clicking on Upload files.

On May 17th, a beautiful Saturday morning a team of charity bicycle riders set out for a three hour tour. The weather started getting rough (strong winds),but all of the FSOS riders were able to complete the 25 mile tour. There was even two riders (Micheal lee Foster and Joe Nagy) who endured the two day 170 mile journey. Some people are just gluttens for punishment.

The so called normal FSOS riders enjoyed a more leisurely ride through some beautiful beach towns of the Jersey shore. There were some awesome sights to behold along this ride. Some of the sights were the revitalized Asbury Park, a surfing contest, a kite festival and of course use your imagination. After all was said and done and countless beers later the FSOS riders were able to raise 6345.00 dollars for this wonderful cause.

Participants in 25 mile ride.
Stephanie Adams, Don Bruchez, Jim Burke, Joe Bustos, Greg Cameron, Ken Cameron, Tim Fink, Fred Henninger, Dan Pappas, Mike Pappas, John Rivituso, Mike Schubiger, Chris Stragazzi, Mike Stragazzi, Nicholas Stragazzi &  Bazil Waithe.

Congratulations on a job well done to all of this years riders. Finally, John and Scott if you want to keep up with us on the next bike ride, I have three words of advice. "Yamaha, Harley, Honda!"

Another Sunday night seisiun has come and gone and for those present it was a great night indeed. If you've read the postings on the "Search for the Perfect Pint" you'll know that a few of us stole away to Ireland for almost a week this past April. And, while we were searching we spent many's the night in a pub with a seisiun going on.

It's part of the Irish heritage, music, a pint, good craic and good conversation. So being an Irish Club we offer that on the second Sunday of every month. The same music we seek out when we go to Ireland presented right here in FSOS hall. On Sunday, May 11 we were blessed with 7 accomplished trad musicians. They played and joked there way through 3 hours of music and then it was over.

For those curious to learn more don't forget that next month will also have a second Sunday and you'll be more than welcome. Stay for an hour, stay for a few. Ask the questions that are on your mind like, "Just exactly what is Craic?", "Why do the Irish spell 'Session' wrong?", "Who took the mouth piece off Chris' bagpipes?" These and many more questions will be answered between bouts of laughter and music at the next Seisiun.

In the spirit of Seisiun music and musicians of Ireland I've included a clip of Christy Moore and Planxty as they perform "The Little Musgrave", give it a try,... enjoy.

Don't forget. Second Saturday of each month we'll have live music at the club. So bring the wife down, bring the girlfriend down and of course bring yourself down for an fun evening surrounded by friends. The fun begins this Saturday, May 10.