Hello on Saturday Morning

Dear Friends
Our doctor's appointment went well on Friday. The doctor (we have the same Primary Care guy) told Linda that she is fine.
The doctor sent me for a lumbar X-ray. We will see if the picture can find any abnormalities.

After the medical stuff we went to see the new James Bond movie. Our newspaper had given it a two star rating. The ratings were on the mark. I would advise people to wait to see it when it comes out on a DVD.

We went to the Shamrock for some seafood last evening. None of our friends were available so we sort of went on a date.

I watched the Boston Celtics go down to defeat in their own house while Linda watched some reruns and some of her favorite live shows.

I am heading off to do some volunteering from 10 AM until noon today. My UNICO brothers and sisters will be doing a little food preparation for a St. Joseph's Alumni gathering. I am not sure what the food preparation is, but a bunch of Italians in a kitchen is a great deal of fun. I am not sure who will be the general in the kitchen today, but everybody wants to be a leader at some point.

This evening we are doing dinner, and a show with another couple. The show is a Jimmy Fund fundraiser. It will be some local people performing a Rock and Roll themed event. I will need to squeeze in an afternoon nap so that I can make it through the dinner and the show.

Politics -- It seems like a lot of different groups are in line for a financial bail out. Do I detect a little hint of a Socialist type of government?
I can't wait for Saturday Night Live. Our politicians give the comedians a lot of raw material to work with each week!

Shopping -- I was thinking about how people are not flocking to the stores buying things. Linda and I have been in discussion with family members about skipping, or at least decreasing the number of Christmas gifts which we usually give each other. Belt tightening may not be a bad thing.
Us Americans are notorious for spending beyond our means, and then try and getting out from under that debt. Maybe we can go through some of our buckets in our garage, and find some gifts.
Re-gifting might be a tactic that we may use this Christmas. I say this in jest because I know Linda really likes the hunt for the perfect gift. She enjoys creating a list, clipping coupons, and battling the crowds in the small stores, and Malls. Usually, she comes home from her shopping adventures exhausted, but down deep she loves it.
Speaking of coupons, Macy's ( and many retail stores) are experiencing a downturn in sales. You can find a Macy's coupon in our local newspaper, or in the mail on an almost daily basis, but did you ever try and use the coupon. The restrictions in the fine print of the coupon don't allow you to get any discount at all.
Maybe gifts this year should be in the form of gift cards for grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, restaurants, fuel for heating homes, auto repair shops, etc.
I am all for this kind of gift giving, are you?

We are in for some rain today in the Northeast, but don't let that dampen your spirits.
Have a great weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad