Friday, September 18
Monday, August 3
Tuesday, February 7
NYG = Super Bowl Champs!!! Eli = MVP!!!
Donaldo - you would have loved it! Eli and the G-Men spank Brady and the Pats again! With another version of "The Catch"
Tuesday, August 2
Wednesday, September 1
A Day at Flies
Was on the North Fork last week and we spent a day at the ocean over at Flies. It was a gorgeous day, but fairly flat. Water looked like the Caribbean. Brought back good memories of days of yore with Dootze and the gang.
Monday, August 2
Happy Birthday Don
Got that wave of the day for ya, Bro. It happened to have been yesterday, but you would have been proud.
Happy Birthday Brother!
Hey-Hey, Captain Dootze - Happy Birthday! I got this photo of us in my office, so you're never far from my thoughts.
I remember some wild b-days back in the day, before Dootze became a model citizen. In our mid-20s Don's favorite vice was flaming shots, which flew past a bushy 'stache, then ended with a deafening roar that brought the bar to a standstill. Crazy man. I also remember a 30th with brother Randy. That story will remain out of the public domain to protect the innocent. Suffice to say at some point we were all firmly asked to leave the bar and not come back. Hang loose, Don - you are truly missed by all.
I remember some wild b-days back in the day, before Dootze became a model citizen. In our mid-20s Don's favorite vice was flaming shots, which flew past a bushy 'stache, then ended with a deafening roar that brought the bar to a standstill. Crazy man. I also remember a 30th with brother Randy. That story will remain out of the public domain to protect the innocent. Suffice to say at some point we were all firmly asked to leave the bar and not come back. Hang loose, Don - you are truly missed by all.
Sunday, July 25
Miss ya' Dootze...
Rest well, my friend, we're always thinking of you. It's been a long year without you. Hope you have a box seat next to Big Stein...
Saturday, April 10
D-Rod
Hey D-Rod - the boys of summer are back! CC came within 4 outs of throwing a no-hitter today. Wanted to call you - hope you get my message up there watching with all the Yankee greats...
Friday, February 26
Sailing at MYC
Bindu and I went to a museum opening this week for a show of American painters at LACMA and I was surprised to see the first painting in pride of placement was Winslow Homer's Gulf Stream, on loan from the Met. The original looks fantastic (this image is too green). It reminded me again how much I miss the great Donaldo and that I had another story to tell about those Seeth boys.
This photo brings back memories of those sailfish races at the MYC - every Tues, Thurs and Sunday.
The four of us were always paired off: me and Paul vs. Randy and Don. Paul and Randy would skipper for the juniors and Dootze and I skippered the midgets.
Anybody who knows sailfish racing knows the crew is the brains of the operation. (This is why Harringtons always crewed for Seeths - ask Doug.) So when I crewed for Paul and Randy crewed for Don, we'd always win. Then, when we switched for the midgets, Paul and I would always come in second. Odd.
Now it occurs to me that I was the victim of some secret fraternal pact where Paul was throwing the races for his little brother. At least that makes sense to me.
Sunday, January 17
Don's Surf Buddy
We've lost another great man, surfer, and brother. I apologize for not having much in the way of details yet, but Tucker Geery has passed away after a 2-year battle with rectal cancer.
A dear friend of so many, he and Don and I were inseparable in our high-school surf days. With incredible effort, he made the trip from Montauk to Don's memorial in September, laying flat for the ride in his brother Scott's car because for almost 9 months already at that point he could not sit. He was the same old Tucker to me that day, even though I had not seen him for at least 25 years, and despite his illness. He had a grin that was utterly contagious, and a personality to go with it.
He will be dearly missed by so many. I can certainly vouch for how much someone can be missed, even over the years and over the miles.
There has to be surf where these wonderful guys go, and you can bet Don and Tuck are trading off on the bombs out the back.
Monday, December 28
From Bruce Landau
The Seeth Family
When I think of the 60’s and Long Island, I always think of the Seeth Family. Growing up in East Williston, they were a big part of my life. There was always something going on in there house. Always motion, activity, energy and challenge. Always a story to tell or to be apart of. Randy and I were good friends. Don was very much apart of my life too.
I also spent sometime with them in Mattituck. It was there that the love I have for sailing today was cultivated. Donald was the inspiration. Good memories of sailing in a sailfish on the Great Peconic Bay. Don showing me the ins and outs of sailing. Don and I being in races at the yacht club.
One day Don came up with the idea of trying to sail around Robbins Island. Mr. Seeth , Paul and Randy will best appreciate this story. I was maybe 8 or 9 years. He asked me if I would go with him. He said it would be good experience. I of coarse agreed. Early in the morning we set out in a sailfish, headed east to the north point of the island. This took almost to lunch to do. It was a sunny day. Light winds. What we did not realize was that we were only a third of the way through the journey. We most like likely would have returned home late that night at the speed we were going. Unknown to us, Mrs. Seeth and my mother had been following our progress from the beach in front of the yacht club. They saw us round the point and came after us in a power boat. They caught up to us. There was a lot yelling from the power boat ordering us to turn around which we did. When we returned there were lectures related to “what were you think of” and “do you know what could of happened” kind of thing. We were ground from sailing for a few days.
My family moved to Princeton, NJ in the late 60’s. I lost track of the Seeth family. Many years later I eventually bought a sailboat of my own and started doing a lot of single handed sailing out to Block Island or Newport RI. From my home in NJ, I liked the run out through the New York Harbor and the Long Island Sound. This route gave good places to anchor for the evening.
On one of my runs out, I anchored one evening at the end of the Mattituck creek. I found a spot next to a boat called Sea Dreams. I took notice of it because my boats name is Seahorse. Someone eventually came out on deck. I noticed how tall the person was and his smile. He asked where I was going and coming from. We talked about the weather and a few other things. He then introduced himself to me and it was Don. I told him who I was and we were both taken back. We did not recognize each other because of the years. I can’t tell you how gratefully stunned I was to see him. It was karma. Meeting on boats in Mattituck many years later. We had a few drinks, Bloody Mary’s as I recall, and talked of family and the doings of life. I think we exchanged numbers and addresses. I left early the next morning.
The last time I saw Don was at a Blue’s festival in Ft Lauderdale when I went to visit Randy. It was good to see him.
I new Don best in his youth. I only had brief moments with him in later years. But of him I want to say this. He always made me feel like a close friend. You could see his spirit in love with life and adventures. Always energy. Always challenging himself. A good smile and heart.
As I write on this Christmas Day, I am grateful to have known him. May he rest in peace.
To The Seeths on this day my thoughts are with you.
Bruce Landau
When I think of the 60’s and Long Island, I always think of the Seeth Family. Growing up in East Williston, they were a big part of my life. There was always something going on in there house. Always motion, activity, energy and challenge. Always a story to tell or to be apart of. Randy and I were good friends. Don was very much apart of my life too.
I also spent sometime with them in Mattituck. It was there that the love I have for sailing today was cultivated. Donald was the inspiration. Good memories of sailing in a sailfish on the Great Peconic Bay. Don showing me the ins and outs of sailing. Don and I being in races at the yacht club.
One day Don came up with the idea of trying to sail around Robbins Island. Mr. Seeth , Paul and Randy will best appreciate this story. I was maybe 8 or 9 years. He asked me if I would go with him. He said it would be good experience. I of coarse agreed. Early in the morning we set out in a sailfish, headed east to the north point of the island. This took almost to lunch to do. It was a sunny day. Light winds. What we did not realize was that we were only a third of the way through the journey. We most like likely would have returned home late that night at the speed we were going. Unknown to us, Mrs. Seeth and my mother had been following our progress from the beach in front of the yacht club. They saw us round the point and came after us in a power boat. They caught up to us. There was a lot yelling from the power boat ordering us to turn around which we did. When we returned there were lectures related to “what were you think of” and “do you know what could of happened” kind of thing. We were ground from sailing for a few days.
My family moved to Princeton, NJ in the late 60’s. I lost track of the Seeth family. Many years later I eventually bought a sailboat of my own and started doing a lot of single handed sailing out to Block Island or Newport RI. From my home in NJ, I liked the run out through the New York Harbor and the Long Island Sound. This route gave good places to anchor for the evening.
On one of my runs out, I anchored one evening at the end of the Mattituck creek. I found a spot next to a boat called Sea Dreams. I took notice of it because my boats name is Seahorse. Someone eventually came out on deck. I noticed how tall the person was and his smile. He asked where I was going and coming from. We talked about the weather and a few other things. He then introduced himself to me and it was Don. I told him who I was and we were both taken back. We did not recognize each other because of the years. I can’t tell you how gratefully stunned I was to see him. It was karma. Meeting on boats in Mattituck many years later. We had a few drinks, Bloody Mary’s as I recall, and talked of family and the doings of life. I think we exchanged numbers and addresses. I left early the next morning.
The last time I saw Don was at a Blue’s festival in Ft Lauderdale when I went to visit Randy. It was good to see him.
I new Don best in his youth. I only had brief moments with him in later years. But of him I want to say this. He always made me feel like a close friend. You could see his spirit in love with life and adventures. Always energy. Always challenging himself. A good smile and heart.
As I write on this Christmas Day, I am grateful to have known him. May he rest in peace.
To The Seeths on this day my thoughts are with you.
Bruce Landau
Sunday, December 27
Mine Goes to Eleven!
When a friendship spans a lifetime you end up sharing a lot of those awkward but funny ‘coming of age’ moments. In retrospect, one of the most memorable was when we discovered ‘girls.’ As most of you know, Don was always popular with the ladies and this is where it all started.
I think I had already discovered girls during the school year, but out at Mattituck most of the girls we knew were either older or younger so our summers were still focused on sailing, steal the bacon, boating, fishing, clamming, crabbing and any other mischief we could cook up. I remember in August, 1966 some parents organized a kids’ dance at the MYC. I remember the time because Don had just turned 10 and I was “almost 12.”
Well, this little 13 year old hottie we had never seen before shows up at the dance and Don and I were off to the races. As rival suitors we monopolized that girl’s dance card all night. Though she may have hoped for some attention from the older boys, she sure played it up for ours. I remember she asked how old I was and I said “almost 12” (Don was still a 10 year old kid) and she whispered that 12 was not so young. I wonder what she was telling him! So Dootze and I traded off slow dance after slow dance and at one point he told me, “Ten! I’m up to ten!” And I replied, “Yeah, well, mine goes to ELEVEN!” (Okay, maybe that was Spinal Tap.)
Anyway, we were both being played and I remember I scammed on that girl for several years after, but by that time she was pursued by the older guys with money and cars. But for the next 40 years I don’t think any woman ever came between us again. Not even at 4 am in the Broken-Down Valise!
I think I had already discovered girls during the school year, but out at Mattituck most of the girls we knew were either older or younger so our summers were still focused on sailing, steal the bacon, boating, fishing, clamming, crabbing and any other mischief we could cook up. I remember in August, 1966 some parents organized a kids’ dance at the MYC. I remember the time because Don had just turned 10 and I was “almost 12.”
Well, this little 13 year old hottie we had never seen before shows up at the dance and Don and I were off to the races. As rival suitors we monopolized that girl’s dance card all night. Though she may have hoped for some attention from the older boys, she sure played it up for ours. I remember she asked how old I was and I said “almost 12” (Don was still a 10 year old kid) and she whispered that 12 was not so young. I wonder what she was telling him! So Dootze and I traded off slow dance after slow dance and at one point he told me, “Ten! I’m up to ten!” And I replied, “Yeah, well, mine goes to ELEVEN!” (Okay, maybe that was Spinal Tap.)
Anyway, we were both being played and I remember I scammed on that girl for several years after, but by that time she was pursued by the older guys with money and cars. But for the next 40 years I don’t think any woman ever came between us again. Not even at 4 am in the Broken-Down Valise!
Thursday, December 10
Easter Morning Massacre
Growing up in the Seeth family with 3 rowdy brothers was a very rough & tumble experience. My job as the oldest brother was to beat on my little brothers on a daily basis. This is the divine right and solemn duty of older brothers everywhere. And it was so easy to divide and conquer. Pummel Randy in the morning, tease and bully Don in the afternoon.
It all came to a screeching halt on Easter morning, about the same time frame when this photo was shot. Doug and Jane were sound asleep in their bedroom. I was in the process of beating on Randy (no doubt to steal some of his candy), we were rolling around on the kitchen floor. All of a sudden Don came flying out of nowhere and jumped on my back. Much to my chagrin, Don and Randy had formed an "alliance" just like on Survivor. Next thing I knew Don and Randy were all over me, they pinned me to the ground gave me the licking I deserved. Doug and Jane slept thru the whole episode.
That Easter morning forever changed the Seeth brothers balance of power. For the rest of Don's life mentioning Easter morning always brought a big happy smile (and Randy too).
Friday, November 20
Williston Park Water Tower
When Don was in his early teens, late one night he was carousing with some friends in Williston Park. There might have been some beer involved in this caper, no doubt warm. Someone in the group decided to bet Don $20 that he couldn't climb to the top of the water tower. All the way to the tippy top (above where the water is stored). The tower doesn't look too tall in this photo, but it's about 300 ft high. And the only way to get to the top is via a skinny vertical ladder that is completely exposed (one wrong move and you fall all the way to the ground). To make matters worse, it was the middle of the night and pitch black. Needless to say, Don made the climb to the top and collected the $20 (much to the amazement of his buddies).
Doug found out about this adventure several years later and almost lost his lunch !!!
Saturday, November 14
Priceless!
Was watching this movie the other night, Changing Lanes. Not a great flick but this brief exchange grabbed my attention. Hollywood is stealing your lines, Dootze!
Thursday, November 12
Wave O the Day
We had a great weekend of surf this just past. Oftentimes, when you're not ridin', you're reflectin'. I think of Don often between sets, miss him a ton, and soon a set wave comes along with his name on it. He called them "Loomers" at Flies..."Loomers, glistening on the horizon" he used to say. I'm pretty sure he knows that as long as I'm out there, there will be some for him.
Friday, November 6
Yanks Dedicate Victory to George
No doubt they were referring to our George, not the rich old dude in Tampa !!!
Thursday, November 5
THEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!!!
Hey D-Rod,
We talked about this back in June - how this was the year - and they finally did it! Andy, Hit-deki and Mo' were awesome and Moose and Frootz were thinking about you last night as we celebrated over the phone lines. #27 will always be for you brother.
Monday, October 26
World Series!
Hey D-Rod, Yankees are finally back where they belong! A-Rod is finally playing like the star we always expected. I imagine you had something to do with that up there in Yankee heaven. Go Yankees!
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