ear Friends,
We did get a little weather tease on Friday. It did make it into the 50 degree range with rain before the temperature dropped last night. We are set to start a week of low 30's for the high, and teens for the low. Winter doesn't want to leave quite yet even though we lost a whole bunch of snow over the past few days.
Linda made it through a retiree breakfast at 8:30 AM, and a whole hour in the dentist chair before the dentist found what was causing her pain. She thought she had a cavity (she only has one). The Dentist looked, and looked, took multiple X-Rays, and finally found a crack in a point of a molar.
Usually, I am the one who never has a quick appointment. One time, the dentist even popped out a filling when I went in for routine cleaning. I have one of those routine cleanings in a couple of weeks which I am not looking forward to.
Linda was actually hurting when the concert ended a little after midnight since she got quite a workout in that Dentist's chair. Now she has much more sympathy for what I go through every time I get in that chair. Linda doesn't have dental insurance. It cost $200 to make the pain go away.
Speaking of the concert, The WolfTones (an Irish Band) were wonderful once again. The band has been together for 45 years, and they put on a great show. The Wolftones played to a packed house at the Wahconah Country Club. The 350 + crowd consumed a lot of beverages, and I might have had a Guinness or two while we were there. They had two bars going, and a separate tap for the Guinness. I would have liked to have seen the cash register receipts for the two bars, and the Guiness Tap.
The Irish do have a tendency to consume a lot of alcoholic beverages. Like an old Guinness poster said : "Guiness is Food". When a friend was in the hospital, we used to bring him Guinness because it does help if you have an iron deficiency. Yeah Right!
I did visit Mom at Kimball Farms in the morning on Friday. The wing that my mother is on is in a Quarantined Status. There is a bug going around, and even my mother's roommate spent the Thursday night vomiting. They want the patients to stay in their room, and have their meals there. The physical therapist came to the room to work on Mom. I called Dad to tell him skip his daily visit because we don't need him to get sick too.
We do have a free day on our social calendar. Every time I say that the word "Free", the telephone rings and we get booked into some kind of event. The telephone rang at 7:30 AM yesterday, which helped to wake up Linda for her breakfast. The person called to tell Linda that she wasn't able to attend the breakfast. For some reason, people think Linda is the party planner, or they just believe she is the " person in charge". This is what us "first born's" have been dealing with our whole lives. We project leadership qualities.
Politics -- The usual mayhem throughout the world. When Obama addressed some troops saying that 2010 is the target date for the Iraq pullout, he got the loudest cheer when he told them that he was going to get them a pay raise, better housing, and medical care.
News -- The octopus who pulled the plug in a fish tank at the Santa Monica Aquarium made for some interesting reading.
The desperate dad who tried to rob a bank because he was in financial difficulty was a sad story.
I forgot to mention that Linda won an online pool for "The Top Chef" program on television. The most unlikely person won the contest. 16 people have to send Linda a gift, gift card, etc. The value of the gift is no more than $15. Maybe Linda should purchase a lottery ticket right now.
Well, I have to finish my quiet morning routine so that Linda can get some well deserved rest. I tell people not to call before 9 AM so the Queen can get her 7 to 8 hours of sleep, but people have a tendency to not follow this guide line.
Have a great Saturday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
Linda missed the wake last evening. She received a telephone call from some of her Tuesday Mah Jongg friends, and they invited her to attend a program at the Colonial Theater. When she comes home, and says that I would have "hated it", I feel so relieved.
I am so happy that Linda has such a large circle of friends who are willing to attend cultural events, and to attend movies which I have no motivation to see.
I did have a good time at the wake which I attended, and participated in. I was the lead guy in a prayer service for the ITAM, and UNICO. One of my friends called me "Father Curley" after the brief service.
I did make an afternoon visit at the nursing home to see Mom. Dad happened to arrive shortly after I did. Yes, Mom continues to be a bit feisty.
Social Calendar -- We are going to an Irish Concert this evening at Wahconah Country Club. The group called the "Wolftones" have been playing together for over 35 years. We are going to the Shamrock early before heading off to the concert. We have a table all reserved with a bunch of friends from the Irish Sister City Group. There will be much fun and merriment before this day is over.
Politics -- Just like I said yesterday, a Republican Governor from Louisiana as the spokesperson for the GOP bodes well for the Democrats. Even Jim Carville (an former Clinton adviser) is getting into the fray. I wouldn't want to mix it up with Mr. Carville.
Sports -- Tom Brady married his model girl friend. I wish him the best of luck in marriage, and I hope that he takes care of his girlfriend and their child who bore their child a few years ago. I hope these distractions don't interfere with his ability to play quarterback for the Patriots.
News -- I like the article of the Russian guy who made a bet with two women who didn't think that the guy could keep up with them in a 12 hour sexual marathon. The guy took a whole bottle of viagra, won the bet ($4300), and died of a heart attack. He was only 28 years old.
How about the lady who agreed to sell two of the three children under her care for a Cockato Parrot? She claimed that the birds were easier to take care of than the children.
Weather -- We might even reach 50 degrees today as the rains fall. The temperatures will be dropping later on this evening as the front moves through.
We might avoid a coastal snow storm on Sunday night into Monday. It all depends on the track of the storm.
Have to finish my morning routine.
Have a great weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda missed the wake last evening. She received a telephone call from some of her Tuesday Mah Jongg friends, and they invited her to attend a program at the Colonial Theater. When she comes home, and says that I would have "hated it", I feel so relieved.
I am so happy that Linda has such a large circle of friends who are willing to attend cultural events, and to attend movies which I have no motivation to see.
I did have a good time at the wake which I attended, and participated in. I was the lead guy in a prayer service for the ITAM, and UNICO. One of my friends called me "Father Curley" after the brief service.
I did make an afternoon visit at the nursing home to see Mom. Dad happened to arrive shortly after I did. Yes, Mom continues to be a bit feisty.
Social Calendar -- We are going to an Irish Concert this evening at Wahconah Country Club. The group called the "Wolftones" have been playing together for over 35 years. We are going to the Shamrock early before heading off to the concert. We have a table all reserved with a bunch of friends from the Irish Sister City Group. There will be much fun and merriment before this day is over.
Politics -- Just like I said yesterday, a Republican Governor from Louisiana as the spokesperson for the GOP bodes well for the Democrats. Even Jim Carville (an former Clinton adviser) is getting into the fray. I wouldn't want to mix it up with Mr. Carville.
Sports -- Tom Brady married his model girl friend. I wish him the best of luck in marriage, and I hope that he takes care of his girlfriend and their child who bore their child a few years ago. I hope these distractions don't interfere with his ability to play quarterback for the Patriots.
News -- I like the article of the Russian guy who made a bet with two women who didn't think that the guy could keep up with them in a 12 hour sexual marathon. The guy took a whole bottle of viagra, won the bet ($4300), and died of a heart attack. He was only 28 years old.
How about the lady who agreed to sell two of the three children under her care for a Cockato Parrot? She claimed that the birds were easier to take care of than the children.
Weather -- We might even reach 50 degrees today as the rains fall. The temperatures will be dropping later on this evening as the front moves through.
We might avoid a coastal snow storm on Sunday night into Monday. It all depends on the track of the storm.
Have to finish my morning routine.
Have a great weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hello on Thursday Morning
Dear Friends,
The wintry mix is starting right now. It is fortunate that we don't have to be on the roads for the morning commute.
We had a pleasant Wednesday. The day included two visits with Mom, attending a movie that was okay, but not great, attending a wake, and dinning with another couple for supper which didn't include meat.
Social Calendar -- We will be attending a Wake and Prayer service for an ITAM member who passed away at the age of 96. Her son is a UNICO member so that means we will be doing a UNICO prayer service too.
After making my comments on Wednesday about the lawless which seems to be occurring throughout Pittsfield, and the nation, I opened the Berkshire Eagle, and read about a bar fight which ended with a guy, taking a gun out of his waist band, and shooting the person who he was arguing with. Are we in the Wild West or what?
Politics -- It is kind of quiet on the political front. Obama did allow $200 million to be infused into our military.
The Burris saga in Chicago continues even though people want him to resign.
Well, it is time for me to get back to my morning routine.
Have a great day
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
The wintry mix is starting right now. It is fortunate that we don't have to be on the roads for the morning commute.
We had a pleasant Wednesday. The day included two visits with Mom, attending a movie that was okay, but not great, attending a wake, and dinning with another couple for supper which didn't include meat.
Social Calendar -- We will be attending a Wake and Prayer service for an ITAM member who passed away at the age of 96. Her son is a UNICO member so that means we will be doing a UNICO prayer service too.
After making my comments on Wednesday about the lawless which seems to be occurring throughout Pittsfield, and the nation, I opened the Berkshire Eagle, and read about a bar fight which ended with a guy, taking a gun out of his waist band, and shooting the person who he was arguing with. Are we in the Wild West or what?
Politics -- It is kind of quiet on the political front. Obama did allow $200 million to be infused into our military.
The Burris saga in Chicago continues even though people want him to resign.
Well, it is time for me to get back to my morning routine.
Have a great day
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Everything went as planned on Tuesday.
Linda was lucky playing Mah Jongg, and won the most BONCO'S last evening.
We both voted for the candidate who garnered the most votes in our Ward primary even though the second place candidate spent more than $18000 dollars during her campaign (which was the highest amount for a ward candidate ever in city politics). Our guy spent about $6000.
I did make it to the victory party at the Italian American Club, and I also stopped in for some fun and merriment at O'Laughlin's with my Irish friends after the party at the Italian American Club. Good thing that I took an afternoon nap.
Mom is starting to get feisty which means that she is getting better. Once the therapists help to get her leg strength back, she will be ready to come home. It should be soon.
Social Calendar -- After a visit with Mom, I think Linda and I will be going off to a matinee at the Mall theaters, catch a wake or two, and find an restaurant which will be serving fish. Today is Ash Wednesday for all you Catholics. Ash Wednesday is supposed to be a day of fast and abstinence, and eating meat is not allowed.
Politics -- Linda and I missed the President's speech last evening. I came home just in time to see the Republican view on the speech. The Governor of New Orleans was chosen as this person. I can't believe the words of any politician who comes from New Orleans.
Speaking of New Orleans -- How can anyone take out a gun, and start shooting into a crowd at what is supposed to be such a happy occasion as Mardi Gra. I am so tired, even in Pittsfield, of the way people settle their differences with guns, and knives.
There is a lawless segment of our population that act like savages, and they should be treated as such.
They grow up with no family structure, and discipline. They produce children with multiple fathers who don't participate in the child rearing. When there is a domestic dispute, the women get the crap beat out of them.
These people join gangs because the gang is the family which they never had. They become part of the drug culture, and often die on the streets, or they become part of the penal system. We, as the American taxpayer, end up paying for all of this, and hope that we don't get shot in the cross firer.
Well, I guess it is my time to stop my editorial.
I am so happy that Curley world is not what I have described above. I am also happy that the good guys outnumber the bad guys.
Have to go and finish my morning routine before I head out the door to the nursing home.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Everything went as planned on Tuesday.
Linda was lucky playing Mah Jongg, and won the most BONCO'S last evening.
We both voted for the candidate who garnered the most votes in our Ward primary even though the second place candidate spent more than $18000 dollars during her campaign (which was the highest amount for a ward candidate ever in city politics). Our guy spent about $6000.
I did make it to the victory party at the Italian American Club, and I also stopped in for some fun and merriment at O'Laughlin's with my Irish friends after the party at the Italian American Club. Good thing that I took an afternoon nap.
Mom is starting to get feisty which means that she is getting better. Once the therapists help to get her leg strength back, she will be ready to come home. It should be soon.
Social Calendar -- After a visit with Mom, I think Linda and I will be going off to a matinee at the Mall theaters, catch a wake or two, and find an restaurant which will be serving fish. Today is Ash Wednesday for all you Catholics. Ash Wednesday is supposed to be a day of fast and abstinence, and eating meat is not allowed.
Politics -- Linda and I missed the President's speech last evening. I came home just in time to see the Republican view on the speech. The Governor of New Orleans was chosen as this person. I can't believe the words of any politician who comes from New Orleans.
Speaking of New Orleans -- How can anyone take out a gun, and start shooting into a crowd at what is supposed to be such a happy occasion as Mardi Gra. I am so tired, even in Pittsfield, of the way people settle their differences with guns, and knives.
There is a lawless segment of our population that act like savages, and they should be treated as such.
They grow up with no family structure, and discipline. They produce children with multiple fathers who don't participate in the child rearing. When there is a domestic dispute, the women get the crap beat out of them.
These people join gangs because the gang is the family which they never had. They become part of the drug culture, and often die on the streets, or they become part of the penal system. We, as the American taxpayer, end up paying for all of this, and hope that we don't get shot in the cross firer.
Well, I guess it is my time to stop my editorial.
I am so happy that Curley world is not what I have described above. I am also happy that the good guys outnumber the bad guys.
Have to go and finish my morning routine before I head out the door to the nursing home.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hello on Tuesday Morning
Dear Friends,
It is a balmy 13 degrees as I begin this e-mail, and we won't get much warmer than about 22 degrees in the Berkshires. Winter won't let go in the Northeast!
Our Monday went as planned. I was with Mom before her breakfast arrived. The CNA wheeled her to a room where they assist the patients when it is meal time. I wheeled her back to her room, and she ate breakfast in her own room. She ate her breakfast unassisted, which was a good way to start the day. I made her an appointment with the hair dresser. I visited for a while and headed to their home to check on my father.
Dad had already left the house, and he was heading to visit Mom. She was scheduled for a therapy session just after I departed for Lee.
I will be heading to the nursing home around the same time today.
Social Calendar -- I probably won't see Linda until about 10:30 PM this evening. She has a 10 AM body maintenance procedure. After that, she has to vote for one of three candidates in a special Ward Election, a Mah Jongg session from 11:30 PM until 4:30 PM, and BONCO at 7 PM at a friend's home.
After visiting with Mom , and casting a vote in the Ward Election, and taking an afternoon nap, I will be free until the "Party/ Reception" for candidate whom we are supporting. If all goes well, there will be much fun, food, and merriment at the Italian American Club after polls close at 8 PM. If Linda gets through BONCO early, she might even join the party.
Politics -- The Stock market dropped to the lowest point in years. This tells you what investors in the stock market think about Obama's Stimulus Bill.
Obama's Congressional speech this evening should be enlightening.
Ice-Fishing -- I would go today, but it is a bit too cold for the Curley Lad. The Sunday newspaper showed a picture of a guy who caught one of those Salmon which were stocked by the Fish and Game personnel a month ago. I have been trying to catch one for weeks, It was a 12 pound 10 ounce beauty. They didn't say where he caught the fish on Laurel Lake, but I would bet that it wasn't where I was fishing.
Linda is ready to purchase one of those "As Seen on T.V." caulking devices. She is going to give me a chance at caulking again. This could be a big mistake!
Smoking -- I think that it is so sad that some people who work at a hospital are hooked on tobacco products. At Berkshire Medical Center, their smoking area is located next to two huge Oxygen Tanks on hospital property on the main road into the hospital. I might use an e-mail to express my dismay at the situation.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It is a balmy 13 degrees as I begin this e-mail, and we won't get much warmer than about 22 degrees in the Berkshires. Winter won't let go in the Northeast!
Our Monday went as planned. I was with Mom before her breakfast arrived. The CNA wheeled her to a room where they assist the patients when it is meal time. I wheeled her back to her room, and she ate breakfast in her own room. She ate her breakfast unassisted, which was a good way to start the day. I made her an appointment with the hair dresser. I visited for a while and headed to their home to check on my father.
Dad had already left the house, and he was heading to visit Mom. She was scheduled for a therapy session just after I departed for Lee.
I will be heading to the nursing home around the same time today.
Social Calendar -- I probably won't see Linda until about 10:30 PM this evening. She has a 10 AM body maintenance procedure. After that, she has to vote for one of three candidates in a special Ward Election, a Mah Jongg session from 11:30 PM until 4:30 PM, and BONCO at 7 PM at a friend's home.
After visiting with Mom , and casting a vote in the Ward Election, and taking an afternoon nap, I will be free until the "Party/ Reception" for candidate whom we are supporting. If all goes well, there will be much fun, food, and merriment at the Italian American Club after polls close at 8 PM. If Linda gets through BONCO early, she might even join the party.
Politics -- The Stock market dropped to the lowest point in years. This tells you what investors in the stock market think about Obama's Stimulus Bill.
Obama's Congressional speech this evening should be enlightening.
Ice-Fishing -- I would go today, but it is a bit too cold for the Curley Lad. The Sunday newspaper showed a picture of a guy who caught one of those Salmon which were stocked by the Fish and Game personnel a month ago. I have been trying to catch one for weeks, It was a 12 pound 10 ounce beauty. They didn't say where he caught the fish on Laurel Lake, but I would bet that it wasn't where I was fishing.
Linda is ready to purchase one of those "As Seen on T.V." caulking devices. She is going to give me a chance at caulking again. This could be a big mistake!
Smoking -- I think that it is so sad that some people who work at a hospital are hooked on tobacco products. At Berkshire Medical Center, their smoking area is located next to two huge Oxygen Tanks on hospital property on the main road into the hospital. I might use an e-mail to express my dismay at the situation.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hello on Monday Morning
Dear Friends,
It is a winter wonderland in the Berkshires once again. I would guess that we picked up about 6 inches of snow.
I heard the clunking of the snow plow on our driveway a little before 5 AM. Our reasonably priced snow removal guy does a very good job. I still have to snow blow the sidewalks, and paths to my bird feeders.
After a chilly Monday, we are in for a bit of a warm up with a little rain coming in at the end of the week before temperatures drop again.
Social Calendar -- I am leaving the house as soon as I finish snow blowing. I will then head off to do a whole bunch of errands which will include a visit with Mom.
Linda has a Mah Jongg session this evening, and that is it for her social calendar.
Politics -- It was a quiet weekend for Obama except for people finding fault with certain aspects of the Stimulus Bill.
Today is the last day before us voters in Ward 3 in Pittsfield go to the polls to cast a vote for one of the three possible candidates. Everyone knows who I will be voting for since they published my "letter to the editor" in the Sunday edition of The Berkshire Eagle.
News -- A Seattle man didn't think through the sinking his small yacht in Pudget Sound for the insurance money. Because of environmental concerns, the EPA had to remove the vessel from the water. They found that owner drilled a hole in the boat, and he put a hammer to the engine before he got on his dingy, and returned to shore.
We prepared the crock pot last evening, and Linda turned the crock pot on before she went off to bed. A chicken soup has been brewing all night, and the house is filled with such good odors.
Have to finish my morning routine before cranking up the snow blower. I might not be quiet as I usually am because I have too many things to do today. I will be firing up the engine at day break.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It is a winter wonderland in the Berkshires once again. I would guess that we picked up about 6 inches of snow.
I heard the clunking of the snow plow on our driveway a little before 5 AM. Our reasonably priced snow removal guy does a very good job. I still have to snow blow the sidewalks, and paths to my bird feeders.
After a chilly Monday, we are in for a bit of a warm up with a little rain coming in at the end of the week before temperatures drop again.
Social Calendar -- I am leaving the house as soon as I finish snow blowing. I will then head off to do a whole bunch of errands which will include a visit with Mom.
Linda has a Mah Jongg session this evening, and that is it for her social calendar.
Politics -- It was a quiet weekend for Obama except for people finding fault with certain aspects of the Stimulus Bill.
Today is the last day before us voters in Ward 3 in Pittsfield go to the polls to cast a vote for one of the three possible candidates. Everyone knows who I will be voting for since they published my "letter to the editor" in the Sunday edition of The Berkshire Eagle.
News -- A Seattle man didn't think through the sinking his small yacht in Pudget Sound for the insurance money. Because of environmental concerns, the EPA had to remove the vessel from the water. They found that owner drilled a hole in the boat, and he put a hammer to the engine before he got on his dingy, and returned to shore.
We prepared the crock pot last evening, and Linda turned the crock pot on before she went off to bed. A chicken soup has been brewing all night, and the house is filled with such good odors.
Have to finish my morning routine before cranking up the snow blower. I might not be quiet as I usually am because I have too many things to do today. I will be firing up the engine at day break.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hello on Sunday Morning
Dear Friends,
My Saturday activities started off with a trip to Lee to visit with dad, and to make him breakfast. I went from Lee to The Kimball Farms Nursing home in Lenox to visit Mom. The staff said that Mom ate her own breakfast, but I did assist her for lunch.
I headed back home, and had to take a nap because Linda didn't want me to fall asleep during our cultural experience at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady, New York which had an 8 PM starting time.
Speaking of the cultural experience, it was more entertaining for Linda and Judie than it was for us husbands. The food at the Bangkok Tai & Martini Bar was okay, but their specialty drinks could do with a little more alcohol, especially since they were in the $8 to $9 price range.
The musical was called "Happy Days", but it wasn't such a happy time for John and I. Linda always quizzes me at half time (I mean intermission), and she asked me if I liked the musical. I couldn't lie, and I said : "No". John agreed with me. We did notice the audience didn't even cheer that loudly after every singing number. They cheered loudly when it was over because most of the packed house was happy that it finally ended.
We analyzed the musical on the one hour drive home, and we all agreed that if the play went to the theater district in New York or Boston, it would not make it for too many weeks.
I don't want to seem like like a Grumpy Old Man, but I did have a money saving solution to attending cultural venues which us men have no desire to attend. Linda and her girl friends should purchase tickets to whatever cultural function which they would like to attend. The husbands will go off and purchase a whole bunch of thick and juicy steaks and grill them, and eat this man food until we are stuffed.
We will park our butts in front of a wide screen television at whomever wants to host the man party, and watch sporting contests until our wives come home. We can drinks some beers, or make our own stiff drinks, and save a whole bunch of money.
Of course at the end of the evening, we will still have to listen to our wives tell us how they had such a wonderful time. If they cultural event was awful, they will still tell us it was really good with the hopes that we will attend the next one with them. Not!
Weather -- It is not time to put away our snow blowers in the Northeast yet. We have a few inches of the white stuff heading our way right now. The snow totals in the Berkshires have already started to go downward according to The Weather Channel. Time will tell.
Politics -- Obama wants to take less out of our paychecks by April 1, 2009. This almost sounds like a Republican concept? Liberals do have a tendency to become conservative as they mature.
Social Calendar -- When a snow storm is predicted, we don't venture out of the house. I told Mom that I wouldn't be visiting her today unless the forecast changed.
Well, I can finally relax a little, and read The Berkshire Eagle, and the Boston Globe.
I will be really quiet, and let Linda sleep for as long as she wants.
I will even make her a delicious breakfast when she gets hungry.
Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My Saturday activities started off with a trip to Lee to visit with dad, and to make him breakfast. I went from Lee to The Kimball Farms Nursing home in Lenox to visit Mom. The staff said that Mom ate her own breakfast, but I did assist her for lunch.
I headed back home, and had to take a nap because Linda didn't want me to fall asleep during our cultural experience at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady, New York which had an 8 PM starting time.
Speaking of the cultural experience, it was more entertaining for Linda and Judie than it was for us husbands. The food at the Bangkok Tai & Martini Bar was okay, but their specialty drinks could do with a little more alcohol, especially since they were in the $8 to $9 price range.
The musical was called "Happy Days", but it wasn't such a happy time for John and I. Linda always quizzes me at half time (I mean intermission), and she asked me if I liked the musical. I couldn't lie, and I said : "No". John agreed with me. We did notice the audience didn't even cheer that loudly after every singing number. They cheered loudly when it was over because most of the packed house was happy that it finally ended.
We analyzed the musical on the one hour drive home, and we all agreed that if the play went to the theater district in New York or Boston, it would not make it for too many weeks.
I don't want to seem like like a Grumpy Old Man, but I did have a money saving solution to attending cultural venues which us men have no desire to attend. Linda and her girl friends should purchase tickets to whatever cultural function which they would like to attend. The husbands will go off and purchase a whole bunch of thick and juicy steaks and grill them, and eat this man food until we are stuffed.
We will park our butts in front of a wide screen television at whomever wants to host the man party, and watch sporting contests until our wives come home. We can drinks some beers, or make our own stiff drinks, and save a whole bunch of money.
Of course at the end of the evening, we will still have to listen to our wives tell us how they had such a wonderful time. If they cultural event was awful, they will still tell us it was really good with the hopes that we will attend the next one with them. Not!
Weather -- It is not time to put away our snow blowers in the Northeast yet. We have a few inches of the white stuff heading our way right now. The snow totals in the Berkshires have already started to go downward according to The Weather Channel. Time will tell.
Politics -- Obama wants to take less out of our paychecks by April 1, 2009. This almost sounds like a Republican concept? Liberals do have a tendency to become conservative as they mature.
Social Calendar -- When a snow storm is predicted, we don't venture out of the house. I told Mom that I wouldn't be visiting her today unless the forecast changed.
Well, I can finally relax a little, and read The Berkshire Eagle, and the Boston Globe.
I will be really quiet, and let Linda sleep for as long as she wants.
I will even make her a delicious breakfast when she gets hungry.
Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Hello on Saturday Morning
Dear Friends,
Our day didn't go as planned on Saturday. I left the house at 8 AM, and headed to the hospital for a visit with Mom. Mom was feeding herself breakfast, which was a good sign. The doctors and residents all showed up around 9:30 AM, and decided that she was well enough to be discharged. The paperwork process began around 10 AM. The case worker set up all the details from the ambulance to take her to the new nursing home, finding a nursing home that had a bed for a female patient (which many did not have), transferring medical history, etc.
Linda joined me at the hospital (after a body maintenance procedure) around lunch time, helped Mom eat a good lunch, and waited until the ambulance crew arrived to take her to Kimble Farms Nursing home which is located about 5 miles south of the hospital. The ambulance departed from the hospital at 1 PM.
After taking a 30 minute lunch break at home, we headed off to do one errand before going to Mom's new nursing home. We were having cell phone issues. I would send Linda a text message, but she wouldn't receive it. We tried to figure out why these text messages weren't being received. The cell phone store people said that our text message system was not activated. We don't remember ever shutting it off.
We also found 9 text messages on the cell phone sent on December 8, 2008 sent by some unknown person. We didn't get my new cell phone until February 14, 2009. We asked the cell phone people if they sold us a refurbished telephone. The cell phone people, who weren't the same ones who sold us my new cell phone, said that they don't sell refurbished cell phones in their store. He said that this phone was probably a display cell phone, and someone forgot to clear those text messages before they sold it. We would have gotten a brand new cell phone except for the fact that I sent in the 30 dollar rebate slip a day ago. Linda, who his good at making deals, asked to be compensated for our pain and suffering. I now possess a device so that I can charge the cell phone in my car.
We went from the cell phone place to the new nursing home, and remained there through supper. So essentially, I spent from 8:30 AM until 6 PM dealing with the saga of an aging parent. I was so tired that I went to bed too early, and here I am typing an e-mail, and it is not even 5 AM.
We did go to our favorite seafood place for supper, and we walked right in and sat down. The place was kind of dead which is unusual for a Friday night.
Social Calendar -- I can only deal with parent issues for half of the day. Linda and I are hooking up with another couple and we are driving to the Albany area to Proctor's Theater to see a musical called "Happy Days" which is an offshoot of the television sitcom of the same name. The reviews have been fabulous!
Politics -- The mayors of the big cities met with Obama to hopefully get some help to survive through these tough economic times.
How about the bungee jumper who survived a bungee cord break , and lived to talk about it, and was well enough to be interviewed on a local television station? The 49 year old guy can't wait to go back and do it again.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine, and decide where I am going first. I think that I will head off to Lee and see how dad is doing, and then go off to the nursing home to check on Mom.
I decided that sharing this personal stuff with respect to my parents is good for me mentally. It is also a preview of coming attractions for all you youngsters on my e-mail list. The first wave of us baby boomers hit 65 years of age in 2011. The medicare system (and health care in general), social security, will be the largest part of the Federal budget in the United States. Let us hope that our economic crisis will be but a distant memory.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our day didn't go as planned on Saturday. I left the house at 8 AM, and headed to the hospital for a visit with Mom. Mom was feeding herself breakfast, which was a good sign. The doctors and residents all showed up around 9:30 AM, and decided that she was well enough to be discharged. The paperwork process began around 10 AM. The case worker set up all the details from the ambulance to take her to the new nursing home, finding a nursing home that had a bed for a female patient (which many did not have), transferring medical history, etc.
Linda joined me at the hospital (after a body maintenance procedure) around lunch time, helped Mom eat a good lunch, and waited until the ambulance crew arrived to take her to Kimble Farms Nursing home which is located about 5 miles south of the hospital. The ambulance departed from the hospital at 1 PM.
After taking a 30 minute lunch break at home, we headed off to do one errand before going to Mom's new nursing home. We were having cell phone issues. I would send Linda a text message, but she wouldn't receive it. We tried to figure out why these text messages weren't being received. The cell phone store people said that our text message system was not activated. We don't remember ever shutting it off.
We also found 9 text messages on the cell phone sent on December 8, 2008 sent by some unknown person. We didn't get my new cell phone until February 14, 2009. We asked the cell phone people if they sold us a refurbished telephone. The cell phone people, who weren't the same ones who sold us my new cell phone, said that they don't sell refurbished cell phones in their store. He said that this phone was probably a display cell phone, and someone forgot to clear those text messages before they sold it. We would have gotten a brand new cell phone except for the fact that I sent in the 30 dollar rebate slip a day ago. Linda, who his good at making deals, asked to be compensated for our pain and suffering. I now possess a device so that I can charge the cell phone in my car.
We went from the cell phone place to the new nursing home, and remained there through supper. So essentially, I spent from 8:30 AM until 6 PM dealing with the saga of an aging parent. I was so tired that I went to bed too early, and here I am typing an e-mail, and it is not even 5 AM.
We did go to our favorite seafood place for supper, and we walked right in and sat down. The place was kind of dead which is unusual for a Friday night.
Social Calendar -- I can only deal with parent issues for half of the day. Linda and I are hooking up with another couple and we are driving to the Albany area to Proctor's Theater to see a musical called "Happy Days" which is an offshoot of the television sitcom of the same name. The reviews have been fabulous!
Politics -- The mayors of the big cities met with Obama to hopefully get some help to survive through these tough economic times.
How about the bungee jumper who survived a bungee cord break , and lived to talk about it, and was well enough to be interviewed on a local television station? The 49 year old guy can't wait to go back and do it again.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine, and decide where I am going first. I think that I will head off to Lee and see how dad is doing, and then go off to the nursing home to check on Mom.
I decided that sharing this personal stuff with respect to my parents is good for me mentally. It is also a preview of coming attractions for all you youngsters on my e-mail list. The first wave of us baby boomers hit 65 years of age in 2011. The medicare system (and health care in general), social security, will be the largest part of the Federal budget in the United States. Let us hope that our economic crisis will be but a distant memory.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, February 20, 2009
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
Our Thursday went as planned. Linda did have a totally free day. I use the word totally because I left the house a little after 9 AM to visit Mom at the hospital, and returned home around 2 PM. I had an hour break before I went off to the Pasta Fund raiser for the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. Linda spent her time knitting, and watching recorded programs.
The Pasta Fund raiser went extremely well. We had no clue of how many people were going to show up. Our kitchen crew was guessing that we would be preparing for about 100 people. To our surprise, we served about 250 (adults and children). We had to squeeze in two more tables to accommodate some large families. We started serving at 5 PM, and served the last meal around 6:45 PM.
Mom is doing okay in the hospital. They found another bladder infection which explains her listless state for the past several days. The anti-biotic regimen was going to start on Thursday. The sodium levels have improved, but they weren't where they were supposed to be. They lost my mother's hearing aid when she was moved from the room with the wacky guy to a more calm room. She does have a back up hearing aid.
The discharge date has been changed to this weekend if they solve the sodium problem, and they make progress with the infection. The doctors said that they will not keep her until the infection is gone, but just as long as the infection has dissipated somewhat.
On a happier note, Linda has another free day today. I am going off to the hospital in a little while to be with Mom for at least a half of a day.
It is a balmy 16 degrees today, and we are not getting out of the 20 degree range. I did have to use the snow blower yesterday. The winter wonderland continues for another few days with a series of snow showers and wind in the forecast.
Politics -- The newspaper, which had the racist cartoon, made an apology for doing so. The police shooting the monkey would have been okay because that is what happened, but since the Stimulus Bill was mentioned in the cartoon, it became a political issue.
What is this world coming to? A man stole a money bag ($250) from some girls scouts in Texas as they were packing up their table and cookies after a day long shift. The police are looking for the man who ran to a waiting car which was driven by a woman. The troop leader did get the license plate number of the car as she chased them down the street before they got out of sight. My guess is the robbery was for drugs. Are you allowed to carry a pistol in Texas?
Have to finish the morning routine, and head out the door.
Have a great weekend. The Curley Lad
Our Thursday went as planned. Linda did have a totally free day. I use the word totally because I left the house a little after 9 AM to visit Mom at the hospital, and returned home around 2 PM. I had an hour break before I went off to the Pasta Fund raiser for the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. Linda spent her time knitting, and watching recorded programs.
The Pasta Fund raiser went extremely well. We had no clue of how many people were going to show up. Our kitchen crew was guessing that we would be preparing for about 100 people. To our surprise, we served about 250 (adults and children). We had to squeeze in two more tables to accommodate some large families. We started serving at 5 PM, and served the last meal around 6:45 PM.
Mom is doing okay in the hospital. They found another bladder infection which explains her listless state for the past several days. The anti-biotic regimen was going to start on Thursday. The sodium levels have improved, but they weren't where they were supposed to be. They lost my mother's hearing aid when she was moved from the room with the wacky guy to a more calm room. She does have a back up hearing aid.
The discharge date has been changed to this weekend if they solve the sodium problem, and they make progress with the infection. The doctors said that they will not keep her until the infection is gone, but just as long as the infection has dissipated somewhat.
On a happier note, Linda has another free day today. I am going off to the hospital in a little while to be with Mom for at least a half of a day.
It is a balmy 16 degrees today, and we are not getting out of the 20 degree range. I did have to use the snow blower yesterday. The winter wonderland continues for another few days with a series of snow showers and wind in the forecast.
Politics -- The newspaper, which had the racist cartoon, made an apology for doing so. The police shooting the monkey would have been okay because that is what happened, but since the Stimulus Bill was mentioned in the cartoon, it became a political issue.
What is this world coming to? A man stole a money bag ($250) from some girls scouts in Texas as they were packing up their table and cookies after a day long shift. The police are looking for the man who ran to a waiting car which was driven by a woman. The troop leader did get the license plate number of the car as she chased them down the street before they got out of sight. My guess is the robbery was for drugs. Are you allowed to carry a pistol in Texas?
Have to finish the morning routine, and head out the door.
Have a great weekend. The Curley Lad
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Hello on Thursday Morning
Dear Friends,
It is a winter wonderland in Pittsfield. It is snowing lightly as I type this e-mail. There is only a couple inches of snow, but it sure looks a lot like Christmas, and not even close to being Spring.
Our Wednesday went okay. I spent from 9 AM until 2:30 PM at the hospital with Mom. I assisted Mom with breakfast and lunch. I also met with a Case Worker for the hospital, and a kidney specialist doctor. When my sister and father arrived during the early afternoon, we all sat down with the Case Worker once again, and discussed what happens to Mom when she does eventually get discharged. The doctor was looking at a discharge day of Friday if all went well.
The most interesting part of my visit was listening and observing how the staff dealt with the person in the bed next to my mother. From what I gathered, the male patient had suffered a seizure due to consuming too much alcohol. Here is how the conversation went when the staff asked questions: "Are you still seeing snakes?": "No" was his answer. "What year is it?": "1972" was his response. "Where are you?" : "Walmart" was his answer.
The patient also struggled to take out the tubes and wires which he was hooked up to so much, that security had to be called in at least twice when I was there to retrain him from hurting himself and medical staff.
This room that they were in was called an "Observation Room", but I think that this guy needed his own room in the psychiatric ward. My mother and I shouldn't have been in a room with a person who had such mental and medical problems.
When the snow started falling during the middle of the afternoon, Linda made a decision to not attend the book club meeting. She was so happy about her decision that she turned into a domestic goddess, and made a wonderful supper.
Social Calendar -- I will be going to visit Mom in the morning, and then I will be working a pasta dinner (for the Girls and Boys Club) with my UNICO brothers and sisters. I have to be at the Italian American Club around 3:30 PM, but we are serving between 5 PM and 7 PM.
Linda has a free day I think.
Politics -- Nothing really jumped out at me. I did see that Al Sharpton didn't like a political cartoon because it was racist in his mind.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It is a winter wonderland in Pittsfield. It is snowing lightly as I type this e-mail. There is only a couple inches of snow, but it sure looks a lot like Christmas, and not even close to being Spring.
Our Wednesday went okay. I spent from 9 AM until 2:30 PM at the hospital with Mom. I assisted Mom with breakfast and lunch. I also met with a Case Worker for the hospital, and a kidney specialist doctor. When my sister and father arrived during the early afternoon, we all sat down with the Case Worker once again, and discussed what happens to Mom when she does eventually get discharged. The doctor was looking at a discharge day of Friday if all went well.
The most interesting part of my visit was listening and observing how the staff dealt with the person in the bed next to my mother. From what I gathered, the male patient had suffered a seizure due to consuming too much alcohol. Here is how the conversation went when the staff asked questions: "Are you still seeing snakes?": "No" was his answer. "What year is it?": "1972" was his response. "Where are you?" : "Walmart" was his answer.
The patient also struggled to take out the tubes and wires which he was hooked up to so much, that security had to be called in at least twice when I was there to retrain him from hurting himself and medical staff.
This room that they were in was called an "Observation Room", but I think that this guy needed his own room in the psychiatric ward. My mother and I shouldn't have been in a room with a person who had such mental and medical problems.
When the snow started falling during the middle of the afternoon, Linda made a decision to not attend the book club meeting. She was so happy about her decision that she turned into a domestic goddess, and made a wonderful supper.
Social Calendar -- I will be going to visit Mom in the morning, and then I will be working a pasta dinner (for the Girls and Boys Club) with my UNICO brothers and sisters. I have to be at the Italian American Club around 3:30 PM, but we are serving between 5 PM and 7 PM.
Linda has a free day I think.
Politics -- Nothing really jumped out at me. I did see that Al Sharpton didn't like a political cartoon because it was racist in his mind.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
No luck on the frozen pond once again. I waited from 7 AM to 3 PM to catch one of those hatchery Salmon which I saw them put in a month ago. I found out that the Salmon had moved to the other side of the lake. I also found out that nobody has caught any where I have been fishing.
Linda had fun at her Mah Jongg session while I was doing my thing.
In the middle of our activities, my mother was shipped to Berkshire Medical Center for some evaluations. She was admitted last evening. Hopefully the hospital staff can get her back to her feisty self. We also made a family decision not to return her to the Laurel Lake facility if she can't come home after the hospital stay.
On a happier note, we have some kind of light wintry mix with a possibility of a couple inches of snow before turning to rain. Our temperatures will be hovering around the freezing mark as the day progresses. We are a balmy 10 degree right now.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a book club dinner meeting this evening. They will be discussing a book which I read, but she has not. I might type up a book report so that she can fake her way through a discussion of the book.
This book club doesn't do the books which I normally read (Murder/ Mystery). The only reason that I did read the book, which they are discussing tonight, the fact that it was about an Italian scientist whom we all know from our history books, "Marconi". The book is called "Thunderstruck" if anyone wants to borrow it.
Politics -- The Stimulus Bill is now law. Let's give it a chance to work.
Bill Clinton thought that it was a good "Bill" for the most part. Former President Clinton left office with a balanced budget, and a little sex scandal. Yes, I am aware that the Republicans helped with balancing that budget.
Obama is working on another "Bill" as I type this e-mail.
Burris is encountering a little difficulty in filling Obama's spot in Chicago. Where is the "Daley Political Machine" when you really need them?
World news -- I had a feeling that the woman who was beheaded by her husband in Buffalo, New York lost her life because of a marital problem. The husband was a bit upset when she filed papers for divorce. I guess some learned behavior was the motivating factor for such violence.
I will be visiting Mom in the hospital today, and that is it for my social calendar.
The pot roast dinner, made in the crock pot, was wonderful. Neither of us had the energy to make any supper because of the different directions which we were going in. I arrived home after 6 PM by the time I dropped Dad off in Lee. My sister stayed in the hospital until they admitted Mom around 7:30 PM.
Have to finish my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
No luck on the frozen pond once again. I waited from 7 AM to 3 PM to catch one of those hatchery Salmon which I saw them put in a month ago. I found out that the Salmon had moved to the other side of the lake. I also found out that nobody has caught any where I have been fishing.
Linda had fun at her Mah Jongg session while I was doing my thing.
In the middle of our activities, my mother was shipped to Berkshire Medical Center for some evaluations. She was admitted last evening. Hopefully the hospital staff can get her back to her feisty self. We also made a family decision not to return her to the Laurel Lake facility if she can't come home after the hospital stay.
On a happier note, we have some kind of light wintry mix with a possibility of a couple inches of snow before turning to rain. Our temperatures will be hovering around the freezing mark as the day progresses. We are a balmy 10 degree right now.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a book club dinner meeting this evening. They will be discussing a book which I read, but she has not. I might type up a book report so that she can fake her way through a discussion of the book.
This book club doesn't do the books which I normally read (Murder/ Mystery). The only reason that I did read the book, which they are discussing tonight, the fact that it was about an Italian scientist whom we all know from our history books, "Marconi". The book is called "Thunderstruck" if anyone wants to borrow it.
Politics -- The Stimulus Bill is now law. Let's give it a chance to work.
Bill Clinton thought that it was a good "Bill" for the most part. Former President Clinton left office with a balanced budget, and a little sex scandal. Yes, I am aware that the Republicans helped with balancing that budget.
Obama is working on another "Bill" as I type this e-mail.
Burris is encountering a little difficulty in filling Obama's spot in Chicago. Where is the "Daley Political Machine" when you really need them?
World news -- I had a feeling that the woman who was beheaded by her husband in Buffalo, New York lost her life because of a marital problem. The husband was a bit upset when she filed papers for divorce. I guess some learned behavior was the motivating factor for such violence.
I will be visiting Mom in the hospital today, and that is it for my social calendar.
The pot roast dinner, made in the crock pot, was wonderful. Neither of us had the energy to make any supper because of the different directions which we were going in. I arrived home after 6 PM by the time I dropped Dad off in Lee. My sister stayed in the hospital until they admitted Mom around 7:30 PM.
Have to finish my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Hello on Tuesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Our day went as planned on Monday. My date with the Tax Man went as scheduled.
Linda played Mah Jongg, but didn't have to host the 1:30 PM session.
My UNICO membership meeting went well. The food at Mazzeo's was wonderful.
I did receive another compliment from a member about the quick and efficient way in which I conduct a meeting. This gentleman want me to run again for President, but we have a one year term limit according to our by-laws.
Social Calendar -- I am going off to the frozen pond today while Linda has a Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4:30 PM. I just got through preparing a pot roast dinner in the crock pot with all the fixings.
News of interest -- A man in upstate New York had a little marital conflict. His solution was to behead his wife. This guy had started a television station with the hopes of portraying Muslims as a peaceful and loving people. He must have had a little problem with anger management, and how to deal with stressful situations.
Politics -- I will miss the signing of the Stimulus Bill in Colorado today since I will be ice- fishing. Oh Darn!
I never visited Mom on Monday. I will do so today.
Weather -- Today is going to be a sunny day with temperatures reaching the low 30's in the Berkshires. We have some nuisance / wintry type weather predicted for Wednesday and part of Thursday.
Have to go and gather my ice-fishing gear, and make myself a lunch.
Have a great Tuesday at work or play. The Curley Lad
Our day went as planned on Monday. My date with the Tax Man went as scheduled.
Linda played Mah Jongg, but didn't have to host the 1:30 PM session.
My UNICO membership meeting went well. The food at Mazzeo's was wonderful.
I did receive another compliment from a member about the quick and efficient way in which I conduct a meeting. This gentleman want me to run again for President, but we have a one year term limit according to our by-laws.
Social Calendar -- I am going off to the frozen pond today while Linda has a Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4:30 PM. I just got through preparing a pot roast dinner in the crock pot with all the fixings.
News of interest -- A man in upstate New York had a little marital conflict. His solution was to behead his wife. This guy had started a television station with the hopes of portraying Muslims as a peaceful and loving people. He must have had a little problem with anger management, and how to deal with stressful situations.
Politics -- I will miss the signing of the Stimulus Bill in Colorado today since I will be ice- fishing. Oh Darn!
I never visited Mom on Monday. I will do so today.
Weather -- Today is going to be a sunny day with temperatures reaching the low 30's in the Berkshires. We have some nuisance / wintry type weather predicted for Wednesday and part of Thursday.
Have to go and gather my ice-fishing gear, and make myself a lunch.
Have a great Tuesday at work or play. The Curley Lad
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hello on Monday Morning
Dear Friends,
I am a little late this morning with my daily e-mail because we had a full day on Sunday. We went from the ITAM meeting, which we left before it ended, to Great Barrington for supper, and eventually to the Bacon Brothers Concert Concert at the Mahaiwe Theater. Since the concert was a "no intermission" one hour and 45 minute affair, it ended at around 8:45 PM. No we didn't go straight home. We headed to the home of another couple, who we associate with, so that the fun and merriment could continue. We arrived home a little after midnight. By the time Linda tucked me in, it was after 1 AM.
Happy President's Day if you have it off.
No, the Curley's don't have a free day. I have a 10:30 AM appointment with our tax preparation guy. Linda might be hosting an afternoon session of Mah Jongg.
Tonight, I am off to a UNICO Membership Meeting at an Italian Restaurant called "Mazzeo's" which starts at 6 PM. I can't skip this one since I am the President of the organization.
I also have to weave in a visit to see Mom since I didn't do so on Sunday.
Politics -- The big signing of the Stimulus Bill takes place in Colorado on Tuesday if all goes well.
Have to get dressed, and finish gathering all my documents for my 10:30 AM appointment.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
I am a little late this morning with my daily e-mail because we had a full day on Sunday. We went from the ITAM meeting, which we left before it ended, to Great Barrington for supper, and eventually to the Bacon Brothers Concert Concert at the Mahaiwe Theater. Since the concert was a "no intermission" one hour and 45 minute affair, it ended at around 8:45 PM. No we didn't go straight home. We headed to the home of another couple, who we associate with, so that the fun and merriment could continue. We arrived home a little after midnight. By the time Linda tucked me in, it was after 1 AM.
Happy President's Day if you have it off.
No, the Curley's don't have a free day. I have a 10:30 AM appointment with our tax preparation guy. Linda might be hosting an afternoon session of Mah Jongg.
Tonight, I am off to a UNICO Membership Meeting at an Italian Restaurant called "Mazzeo's" which starts at 6 PM. I can't skip this one since I am the President of the organization.
I also have to weave in a visit to see Mom since I didn't do so on Sunday.
Politics -- The big signing of the Stimulus Bill takes place in Colorado on Tuesday if all goes well.
Have to get dressed, and finish gathering all my documents for my 10:30 AM appointment.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Hello on Sunday Morning
Dear Friends,
We had a pleasant Valentines' Day which ended with a home cooked meal for the two of us. Linda whipped up a shrimp & pasta Primavera which was wonderful.
Speaking of food, I did go to Lee to visit Mom. I was their to assist her for breakfast and lunch. I even wove in a funeral between the two meals. The funeral was for a mother of a former high school classmate of mine.
We have another busy Sunday today. We have our officers' meeting, and monthly meeting at the ITAM. No, our day doesn't end when the meeting does. We have to leave right after the meeting, and go home a freshen up for dinner and a Bacon Brothers Concert in Great Barrington.
If we didn't have this type of busy day, I could be attending an ice- fishing derby for the Lee Sportsmen's Club, or a Texas Holdem Tournament for a group which the Irish Sister City supports. If we weren't going to the evening concert concert, we could be attending the monthly membership meeting of the Italian American Club. Decisions! Decisions!
Sometimes, I hesitate to check the National news before composing my e-mail. We do live in such very trying times. I continue to be amazed how "man's inhumanity to man" continues on a daily basis. Can you visualize people from another planet looking how we treat each other on earth. Even if these aliens were unfriendly, and wanted to take over our planet, they wouldn't have to lift a finger to do so.
Politics -- As I head off to see the tax man on Monday, Obama will be signing the Bailout Bill. I hope that it has safeguards, and does what it is supposed to do. What will the naysayers say if really does work?
Well, have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
We had a pleasant Valentines' Day which ended with a home cooked meal for the two of us. Linda whipped up a shrimp & pasta Primavera which was wonderful.
Speaking of food, I did go to Lee to visit Mom. I was their to assist her for breakfast and lunch. I even wove in a funeral between the two meals. The funeral was for a mother of a former high school classmate of mine.
We have another busy Sunday today. We have our officers' meeting, and monthly meeting at the ITAM. No, our day doesn't end when the meeting does. We have to leave right after the meeting, and go home a freshen up for dinner and a Bacon Brothers Concert in Great Barrington.
If we didn't have this type of busy day, I could be attending an ice- fishing derby for the Lee Sportsmen's Club, or a Texas Holdem Tournament for a group which the Irish Sister City supports. If we weren't going to the evening concert concert, we could be attending the monthly membership meeting of the Italian American Club. Decisions! Decisions!
Sometimes, I hesitate to check the National news before composing my e-mail. We do live in such very trying times. I continue to be amazed how "man's inhumanity to man" continues on a daily basis. Can you visualize people from another planet looking how we treat each other on earth. Even if these aliens were unfriendly, and wanted to take over our planet, they wouldn't have to lift a finger to do so.
Politics -- As I head off to see the tax man on Monday, Obama will be signing the Bailout Bill. I hope that it has safeguards, and does what it is supposed to do. What will the naysayers say if really does work?
Well, have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Hello on Saturday Morning
Dear Friends,
Just finished savoring another murder / mystery book called "Twisted". Loved every page of it.
Didn't visit Mom yesterday, I will do so in a little while.
Dinner at Cafe Adam in Great Barrington went well. Our group did what diners are starting to do. No drinks except the water on the table as well as no desserts. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. The restaurant leans toward French cuisine. We were all members of the clean plate club. We did do dessert at the birthday girl's home.
Speaking of the birthday girl's home, they are now the owners of a flat screen High Definition television. I helped the man of the house lift the old television out of the cabinet. The husband of the house bought a television which just fits inside the cabinet. I tried to convince the couple to get rid of their monster piece of furniture, and get a modern television stand. Parting with the old stuff is not a possibility. They need a step ladder to dust off the monstrosity.
The old television is the size and weight of a space satellite. You would need a pick up truck to haul it away.
Politics -- Stimulus bill is being decided along party lines. If it doesn't work out, you know who to blame.
Social Calendar -- Yet to be determined.
I did forget that this coming week is school vacation in Pittsfield. Every day is a school vacation for retirees.
Happy Valentines Day! Does this mean that there is only one day per year for that warm a fuzzy feeling between couples?
Have a great Valentines' Day, and a great weekend. The Curley Lad
Just finished savoring another murder / mystery book called "Twisted". Loved every page of it.
Didn't visit Mom yesterday, I will do so in a little while.
Dinner at Cafe Adam in Great Barrington went well. Our group did what diners are starting to do. No drinks except the water on the table as well as no desserts. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. The restaurant leans toward French cuisine. We were all members of the clean plate club. We did do dessert at the birthday girl's home.
Speaking of the birthday girl's home, they are now the owners of a flat screen High Definition television. I helped the man of the house lift the old television out of the cabinet. The husband of the house bought a television which just fits inside the cabinet. I tried to convince the couple to get rid of their monster piece of furniture, and get a modern television stand. Parting with the old stuff is not a possibility. They need a step ladder to dust off the monstrosity.
The old television is the size and weight of a space satellite. You would need a pick up truck to haul it away.
Politics -- Stimulus bill is being decided along party lines. If it doesn't work out, you know who to blame.
Social Calendar -- Yet to be determined.
I did forget that this coming week is school vacation in Pittsfield. Every day is a school vacation for retirees.
Happy Valentines Day! Does this mean that there is only one day per year for that warm a fuzzy feeling between couples?
Have a great Valentines' Day, and a great weekend. The Curley Lad
Friday, February 13, 2009
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
It is difficult to believe that just two days ago, it was warm enough so that I washed both cars in our driveway. It is also amazing that even though we lost a good deal of snow, the remaining dirty snow is now pure white. Linda drove home in a short lasting snow burst from her gathering at the Brew Works Pub last evening. She said that it was like driving in a raging snow storm. She couldn't wait to get home. She doesn't like dashing through the snow in her 1996 Neon.
I left the house only once on Thursday to visit Mom in the nursing home. She picked up a new roommate who happened to be a senior citizen from the old neighborhood in Lee.
Speaking of Dear Old Mom, she saw her primary care doctor the other day. If mother doesn't get out of her semi-zombie like state within 3 or 4 days, the doctor said that her next stop is going to be Berkshire Medical Center.
On a happier note, we have relatively quiet day today. We are going to miss an Irish American Club affair, and help a friend celebrate her birthday. She is one of our friends who hasn't hit the "60" plateau yet.
It is Valentines' Day on Saturday. The floral shops, jewelry stores, the purveyors of Chocolates, and restaurant owners, etc., hope that you will be out their spending any disposable funds that you might have. Most of us pensioners are living from paycheck to paycheck, and just trying to keep up with paying our bills. From what I observe, young families are struggling with the same issues.
Politics / World news -- Obama had a third person not wanting to be a member of his Cabinet. The New Hampshire Republican "Gregg", said that he didn't want to be another token Republican associated with a Stimulus Bill that he didn't fully believe in.
There was an airplane crash of a commuter jet which crashed in Buffalo. Unfortunately, there were no survivors.
The United States finally got involved with the pirates working out of the "Horn of Africa" / Somalia. The "suspected pirates" will have to change their tactics now since they are dealing with the "Big Boys (and girls)"! When I saw the bad guys with their hands raised in the skiff (loaded with weapons) that the Untied States military captured, I was thinking that maybe a well placed missile would have saved a lot of money which will be wasted on a trial. Whoa, is this a Republican or a Democrat speaking like this?
Have a great weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It is difficult to believe that just two days ago, it was warm enough so that I washed both cars in our driveway. It is also amazing that even though we lost a good deal of snow, the remaining dirty snow is now pure white. Linda drove home in a short lasting snow burst from her gathering at the Brew Works Pub last evening. She said that it was like driving in a raging snow storm. She couldn't wait to get home. She doesn't like dashing through the snow in her 1996 Neon.
I left the house only once on Thursday to visit Mom in the nursing home. She picked up a new roommate who happened to be a senior citizen from the old neighborhood in Lee.
Speaking of Dear Old Mom, she saw her primary care doctor the other day. If mother doesn't get out of her semi-zombie like state within 3 or 4 days, the doctor said that her next stop is going to be Berkshire Medical Center.
On a happier note, we have relatively quiet day today. We are going to miss an Irish American Club affair, and help a friend celebrate her birthday. She is one of our friends who hasn't hit the "60" plateau yet.
It is Valentines' Day on Saturday. The floral shops, jewelry stores, the purveyors of Chocolates, and restaurant owners, etc., hope that you will be out their spending any disposable funds that you might have. Most of us pensioners are living from paycheck to paycheck, and just trying to keep up with paying our bills. From what I observe, young families are struggling with the same issues.
Politics / World news -- Obama had a third person not wanting to be a member of his Cabinet. The New Hampshire Republican "Gregg", said that he didn't want to be another token Republican associated with a Stimulus Bill that he didn't fully believe in.
There was an airplane crash of a commuter jet which crashed in Buffalo. Unfortunately, there were no survivors.
The United States finally got involved with the pirates working out of the "Horn of Africa" / Somalia. The "suspected pirates" will have to change their tactics now since they are dealing with the "Big Boys (and girls)"! When I saw the bad guys with their hands raised in the skiff (loaded with weapons) that the Untied States military captured, I was thinking that maybe a well placed missile would have saved a lot of money which will be wasted on a trial. Whoa, is this a Republican or a Democrat speaking like this?
Have a great weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hello on Thursday Morning
Dear Friends,
Wednesday did not go as I thought that it would, but it still did turn out to be a pleasant day for the both of us.
Linda now owns another vintage Mah Jongg set. It took an extra day for the seller to find some missing pieces, but the deal was sealed by 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Linda can't wait to use the new set when she hosts the next session.
After purchasing the Mah Jongg set, we went off to the AT&T cell phone store to find me a new cell phone. I am now the proud owner of a new cell phone. It is a mirror image of Linda's. I tried to purchase a cell phone of a different color, but my color blindness interfered with my selection. The red cell phone, that I really wanted, had gray keys, and I had trouble seeing the keys. We did purchase insurance on this phone because there is a strong possibility that I will do something dumb like putting it in the washing machine again, or losing it.
No, our day didn't end with the cell phone purchase. Five of us UNICO guys decided to attend a wake for the 56 year old son of one of our members. The 6 PM to 8 PM wake was in Worcester, Massachusetts, which is 1.5 hours from Pittsfield.
We left Pittsfield around 4 PM. The wake was around supper time so we got off one of the exits on the way home to eat an Italian restaurant in the West Springfield area. We went to a place called Carabbas which is one of the chain places like an Olive Garden. Two of the friends in the car recommended this place. They have eaten at every restaurant off of every exit on the Mass Turnpike. This was the first time that three of the five of us have eaten at this place, and I would definitely go back again. I thought the food at this place was better than Olive Garden, and Bertucci's.
Linda hooked up with a girl friend whose husband was out of town like me, and they did a little recreational shopping at the Mall. They dined at Bennigan's, and had their Wednesday special which is their giant hamburger and fries. The special price is about four dollars off the normal price.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a body maintenance procedure today near noon, and then this evening she is meeting some female friends at the Brew Works Pub. These ladies are planning for their annual Cape Cod trip.
I will be spending the day gathering all of our tax records. I have a date with the Tax Man on Monday morning.
I also have to visit Mom at the Rehab Center in Lee at some point today.
Politics -- I am still waiting for the bailout to be completed, and with most of the issues to be resolved. Time will tell.
The Governor of Massachusetts wants add 27 cent to the gasoline tax to solve some budgetary problems. Just what the middle class needs at this time in our lives. Yeah Right!
The mother of the Octuplets is requesting donations on line. Most of my friends, and the public in general think that the woman is a lunatic. She won't be getting a donation from the Curley's.
A report from an expert on the "Today Show" said that she will need 1.55 million dollars to raise her 14 children. Do you think that she should have put in a little more thought into having so many children?
How about locking her up in a mental institution, and have the doctor, who inserted the 8 embryo's in her womb, do the child rearing and pay for all of the bills?
Well, I have to do some quiet activities.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday did not go as I thought that it would, but it still did turn out to be a pleasant day for the both of us.
Linda now owns another vintage Mah Jongg set. It took an extra day for the seller to find some missing pieces, but the deal was sealed by 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Linda can't wait to use the new set when she hosts the next session.
After purchasing the Mah Jongg set, we went off to the AT&T cell phone store to find me a new cell phone. I am now the proud owner of a new cell phone. It is a mirror image of Linda's. I tried to purchase a cell phone of a different color, but my color blindness interfered with my selection. The red cell phone, that I really wanted, had gray keys, and I had trouble seeing the keys. We did purchase insurance on this phone because there is a strong possibility that I will do something dumb like putting it in the washing machine again, or losing it.
No, our day didn't end with the cell phone purchase. Five of us UNICO guys decided to attend a wake for the 56 year old son of one of our members. The 6 PM to 8 PM wake was in Worcester, Massachusetts, which is 1.5 hours from Pittsfield.
We left Pittsfield around 4 PM. The wake was around supper time so we got off one of the exits on the way home to eat an Italian restaurant in the West Springfield area. We went to a place called Carabbas which is one of the chain places like an Olive Garden. Two of the friends in the car recommended this place. They have eaten at every restaurant off of every exit on the Mass Turnpike. This was the first time that three of the five of us have eaten at this place, and I would definitely go back again. I thought the food at this place was better than Olive Garden, and Bertucci's.
Linda hooked up with a girl friend whose husband was out of town like me, and they did a little recreational shopping at the Mall. They dined at Bennigan's, and had their Wednesday special which is their giant hamburger and fries. The special price is about four dollars off the normal price.
Social Calendar -- Linda has a body maintenance procedure today near noon, and then this evening she is meeting some female friends at the Brew Works Pub. These ladies are planning for their annual Cape Cod trip.
I will be spending the day gathering all of our tax records. I have a date with the Tax Man on Monday morning.
I also have to visit Mom at the Rehab Center in Lee at some point today.
Politics -- I am still waiting for the bailout to be completed, and with most of the issues to be resolved. Time will tell.
The Governor of Massachusetts wants add 27 cent to the gasoline tax to solve some budgetary problems. Just what the middle class needs at this time in our lives. Yeah Right!
The mother of the Octuplets is requesting donations on line. Most of my friends, and the public in general think that the woman is a lunatic. She won't be getting a donation from the Curley's.
A report from an expert on the "Today Show" said that she will need 1.55 million dollars to raise her 14 children. Do you think that she should have put in a little more thought into having so many children?
How about locking her up in a mental institution, and have the doctor, who inserted the 8 embryo's in her womb, do the child rearing and pay for all of the bills?
Well, I have to do some quiet activities.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Hello on Tuesday
Dear Friends,
After Linda woke up, I decided to do a load of my clothes. Everything went well until I heard a clunking in the dryer. I soon realized that I washed my cell once again. Of course, we decided to drop the cell phone insurance after my last episode. I didn't panic because we watched a segment on the "Today Show" on how to deal with cell phones immersed in water. I am hoping that the process shown on television works for me.
Linda did not have the free day which I thought she had. She had a nominating committee meeting at the ITAM at 11 AM, and a last minute session of Mah Jongg at a friend's home at 6:45 PM.
My UNICO board meeting went well until I brought up a subject that I agreed to proceed with without going through the board first. It got kind of ugly!
Politics -- I missed Obama's speech last evening. I had the television off while I was savoring another book. By the time I turned the television on, his speech was over.
We had a comedian run for office in Minnesota. Now we have some guy wanting a porn star, Stormy Daniels, to run for political office in New Orleans. She is a Democrat!
Social Calendar -- Linda's Mah Jongg session was canceled for today. Too many players were dealing with illnesses.
I have a 1 PM REAM (Retired Educator Association of Massachusetts) meeting which I am chairing since I am the President of this organization.
We are both busy this evening. We have an Irish Sister City meeting at 6 PM, but Linda will not be going with me. She will be going to Patrick's Pub with her Pittsfield High School Red Hat Society. I wish she could take a significant other with her.
The Ice -- Almost every side walk, drive way, and side street is coated with a thick layer of ice in Pittsfield. People are falling down, and breaking various body parts. One of the days this week is supposed to get into the low 50's so that we should get some melting before it gets cool again.
Well, I have to get to my morning routine.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
After Linda woke up, I decided to do a load of my clothes. Everything went well until I heard a clunking in the dryer. I soon realized that I washed my cell once again. Of course, we decided to drop the cell phone insurance after my last episode. I didn't panic because we watched a segment on the "Today Show" on how to deal with cell phones immersed in water. I am hoping that the process shown on television works for me.
Linda did not have the free day which I thought she had. She had a nominating committee meeting at the ITAM at 11 AM, and a last minute session of Mah Jongg at a friend's home at 6:45 PM.
My UNICO board meeting went well until I brought up a subject that I agreed to proceed with without going through the board first. It got kind of ugly!
Politics -- I missed Obama's speech last evening. I had the television off while I was savoring another book. By the time I turned the television on, his speech was over.
We had a comedian run for office in Minnesota. Now we have some guy wanting a porn star, Stormy Daniels, to run for political office in New Orleans. She is a Democrat!
Social Calendar -- Linda's Mah Jongg session was canceled for today. Too many players were dealing with illnesses.
I have a 1 PM REAM (Retired Educator Association of Massachusetts) meeting which I am chairing since I am the President of this organization.
We are both busy this evening. We have an Irish Sister City meeting at 6 PM, but Linda will not be going with me. She will be going to Patrick's Pub with her Pittsfield High School Red Hat Society. I wish she could take a significant other with her.
The Ice -- Almost every side walk, drive way, and side street is coated with a thick layer of ice in Pittsfield. People are falling down, and breaking various body parts. One of the days this week is supposed to get into the low 50's so that we should get some melting before it gets cool again.
Well, I have to get to my morning routine.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hello on Monday Morning
Dear Friends,
It was a long an exhausting day for the Curley Lad. I left the house at 5:30 AM to attend the Jimmy Fund Ice-Fishing derby. The rain started falling around 9:30 AM. I was off the ice by 10 AM.
I did see the 22 pound northern pike when it was checked in at the weight station. I am assuming that it would garner first prize in the derby.
I socialized for about an hour before heading to the next event.
The Fund Raiser was a big success. The organizers had sold 350 tickets, but often the purchaser of a ticket, doesn't attend the event.
Well, everyone showed up. My UNICO crew of cooks, and servers fed 350 people in about one hour. Some people did show up after the mad rush, but by that time, we had pretty much run out of everything.
I see where a 47 year old Saudi married an 8 year old girl. The man promised the judge, who wouldn't annul the marriage, not to have sex with the girl until she reached puberty. Is this sick or what?
Social Calendar -- I think that Linda has nothing on her social calendar. I have a UNICO board meeting at 5:30 PM.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It was a long an exhausting day for the Curley Lad. I left the house at 5:30 AM to attend the Jimmy Fund Ice-Fishing derby. The rain started falling around 9:30 AM. I was off the ice by 10 AM.
I did see the 22 pound northern pike when it was checked in at the weight station. I am assuming that it would garner first prize in the derby.
I socialized for about an hour before heading to the next event.
The Fund Raiser was a big success. The organizers had sold 350 tickets, but often the purchaser of a ticket, doesn't attend the event.
Well, everyone showed up. My UNICO crew of cooks, and servers fed 350 people in about one hour. Some people did show up after the mad rush, but by that time, we had pretty much run out of everything.
I see where a 47 year old Saudi married an 8 year old girl. The man promised the judge, who wouldn't annul the marriage, not to have sex with the girl until she reached puberty. Is this sick or what?
Social Calendar -- I think that Linda has nothing on her social calendar. I have a UNICO board meeting at 5:30 PM.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hello on Sunday Morning
Dear Friends,
It was another day on the frozen pond without catching a fish. I did read a whole book during the 8 AM to 3 PM adventure on Laurel Lake so that the day wasn't a total waste.
Speaking of ice-fishing, how about the hundreds of people who got stuck on an ice floe on Lake Erie. A large section of the ice separated from another part of the Lake.
The ice on Laurel Lake is at least 15 inches thick. The pond is relatively small, and it pretty much frozen solid around the whole lake. I would go to the fish market before going out ice-fishing on adventure like the people did on Lake Erie.
I am up early today because I am leaving the house before 6 AM. I decided to attend a Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby for about 5 hours before heading off to the Pasta Fund Raiser which my UNICO brothers and Sister will be preparing and serving at 2 PM. By the end of the day, I will pretty much be exhausted.
Linda, my father, my sister and her husband will be attending the Fund Raiser at the ITAM today. My sister and her husband are pretty close to the family who lost their home in that gas leak explosion which I mentioned in previous e-mails.
Linda did have a pleasant day when I was ice-fishing. I did stop in and visited with Mom at the Rehab Center for a couple of hours before I headed home. She seemed to be in good spirits. My sister arrived about an hour after I got there.
When I arrived home, there was no aroma of a home cooked meal for supper. We went off for some wood fired pizzas at place owned by one of my UNICO brothers. The pizza was delicious as usual.
Politics -- CNN did a poll of people, and most people said that they could care less about a Tax Cut. They said what they really wanted a job, and to be able to pay a mortgage, and to be able to provide for their family.
The guy from Boston, who painted that famous picture of Obama, is in trouble with the law. He had some outstanding warrants on graffiti charges. He also is being sued by someone who said that picture of Obama, which this guy painted, came from her. She is claiming a copyright infringement.
Weather -- It is 42 degrees right now, and it will get a few degrees warmer by noon time before the temperature drops. It was 4 degrees yesterday at this time when I went off ice fishing. What a difference a day makes?
Well, I have to gather my ice-fishing gear for the derby as well as my cooking clothes for the fund raiser. With the warm temperatures, I can decrease the amount of layers of clothes which I normally wear for ice-fishing.
Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It was another day on the frozen pond without catching a fish. I did read a whole book during the 8 AM to 3 PM adventure on Laurel Lake so that the day wasn't a total waste.
Speaking of ice-fishing, how about the hundreds of people who got stuck on an ice floe on Lake Erie. A large section of the ice separated from another part of the Lake.
The ice on Laurel Lake is at least 15 inches thick. The pond is relatively small, and it pretty much frozen solid around the whole lake. I would go to the fish market before going out ice-fishing on adventure like the people did on Lake Erie.
I am up early today because I am leaving the house before 6 AM. I decided to attend a Jimmy Fund Ice Fishing Derby for about 5 hours before heading off to the Pasta Fund Raiser which my UNICO brothers and Sister will be preparing and serving at 2 PM. By the end of the day, I will pretty much be exhausted.
Linda, my father, my sister and her husband will be attending the Fund Raiser at the ITAM today. My sister and her husband are pretty close to the family who lost their home in that gas leak explosion which I mentioned in previous e-mails.
Linda did have a pleasant day when I was ice-fishing. I did stop in and visited with Mom at the Rehab Center for a couple of hours before I headed home. She seemed to be in good spirits. My sister arrived about an hour after I got there.
When I arrived home, there was no aroma of a home cooked meal for supper. We went off for some wood fired pizzas at place owned by one of my UNICO brothers. The pizza was delicious as usual.
Politics -- CNN did a poll of people, and most people said that they could care less about a Tax Cut. They said what they really wanted a job, and to be able to pay a mortgage, and to be able to provide for their family.
The guy from Boston, who painted that famous picture of Obama, is in trouble with the law. He had some outstanding warrants on graffiti charges. He also is being sued by someone who said that picture of Obama, which this guy painted, came from her. She is claiming a copyright infringement.
Weather -- It is 42 degrees right now, and it will get a few degrees warmer by noon time before the temperature drops. It was 4 degrees yesterday at this time when I went off ice fishing. What a difference a day makes?
Well, I have to gather my ice-fishing gear for the derby as well as my cooking clothes for the fund raiser. With the warm temperatures, I can decrease the amount of layers of clothes which I normally wear for ice-fishing.
Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Hello on Saturday Morning
Dear Friends,
Linda and I spent Friday thinking that it was Saturday. I decided to forgo the ice-fishing, and instead go with Linda for the baby viewing of the three month old girl. Well, the baby viewing was an all day affair. We arrived at our friends' home a little after noon. The baby was awake( or we woke her up), and she was passed around like a basketball. Aunts, Uncles, Great Aunts, and Great Uncles, Grandparents, Friends of the family (which we were), held the baby multiple times throughout their visit.
Linda and I did take a two hour break, and returned for a pasta dinner, and more baby viewing. I was all viewed out by about 8 PM.
When we left, the great Aunt and Uncle from New Jersey were taking care of Noelle. They are going to be the baby sitters for Noelle when Noelle's parents, and the grandparents go off to a 1:30 PM wedding today.
It is a balmy 3 degrees right now in Pittsfield. I think that I am going ice-fishing at Laurel Lake at day break, and stop off and visit mom at the Rehab Center across the street from the Lake. The temperatures are supposed to rise into the mid thirties which will be like a heat wave compared to what we have been experiencing the past couple of weeks.
I am not sure what Linda has planned. Once she finds out that I am gone, she will most likely have a wonderful day.
Politics -- Sarah Palin wants a little help from Obama with construction costs for a natural gas pipeline in Alaska.
Obama's Stimulus Package comes up for a vote on Tuesday.
Sports -- I fell asleep watching the Celtics do battle with the Knicks. The Celtics were victorious.
News -- A 60 year old woman in Canada wanted children. She is now the mother of twins. When the children are 21, the mother will be 81. I hope that the mother will be alive to be able to attend the college graduation of her children.
I am not sure if this woman really thought long term about being a mother at 60 years old. I was exhausted after one day of baby viewing. It was kind of nice to be able to go home to a quiet, and empty house.
Child rearing is going to be very difficult as this 60 year old women enters the golden years.
Well, I have to make myself lunch for my ice-fishing adventure, and load up my car with ice-fishing gear.
Have a great Saturday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I spent Friday thinking that it was Saturday. I decided to forgo the ice-fishing, and instead go with Linda for the baby viewing of the three month old girl. Well, the baby viewing was an all day affair. We arrived at our friends' home a little after noon. The baby was awake( or we woke her up), and she was passed around like a basketball. Aunts, Uncles, Great Aunts, and Great Uncles, Grandparents, Friends of the family (which we were), held the baby multiple times throughout their visit.
Linda and I did take a two hour break, and returned for a pasta dinner, and more baby viewing. I was all viewed out by about 8 PM.
When we left, the great Aunt and Uncle from New Jersey were taking care of Noelle. They are going to be the baby sitters for Noelle when Noelle's parents, and the grandparents go off to a 1:30 PM wedding today.
It is a balmy 3 degrees right now in Pittsfield. I think that I am going ice-fishing at Laurel Lake at day break, and stop off and visit mom at the Rehab Center across the street from the Lake. The temperatures are supposed to rise into the mid thirties which will be like a heat wave compared to what we have been experiencing the past couple of weeks.
I am not sure what Linda has planned. Once she finds out that I am gone, she will most likely have a wonderful day.
Politics -- Sarah Palin wants a little help from Obama with construction costs for a natural gas pipeline in Alaska.
Obama's Stimulus Package comes up for a vote on Tuesday.
Sports -- I fell asleep watching the Celtics do battle with the Knicks. The Celtics were victorious.
News -- A 60 year old woman in Canada wanted children. She is now the mother of twins. When the children are 21, the mother will be 81. I hope that the mother will be alive to be able to attend the college graduation of her children.
I am not sure if this woman really thought long term about being a mother at 60 years old. I was exhausted after one day of baby viewing. It was kind of nice to be able to go home to a quiet, and empty house.
Child rearing is going to be very difficult as this 60 year old women enters the golden years.
Well, I have to make myself lunch for my ice-fishing adventure, and load up my car with ice-fishing gear.
Have a great Saturday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, February 6, 2009
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
The day went as planned on Thursday. I spent several hours in Lee visiting Mom at the Rehab Center while Linda went off to Mah Jongg. Mom is still not ready to come home.
I went to the Dollar Store to see if I dropped my glove in there on Wednesday. They did find my glove. The clerks set it aside, and put it by the register. I was so happy to find it.
After our pasta supper, I went into the basement to watch the Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics do battle. The Bruins were victorious in a shoot out, but the Celtics lost by one point in a contest which went into overtime.
The Kellogs' company doesn't want a Bong Smoking swimmer on their cereal boxes anymore. The Olympic swimming committee suspended him for three months. Phleps has to realize that when he gained star status, it pretty much ended the possibility of him just hanging out at Fraternity Parties, etc.
Politics -- Another potential cabinet member has a husband who has some financial issues. Squeaky clean people must be difficult to find.
Coffee -- I have some friends who are fixated with Dunkin Donouts coffee. They buy it by the pound, or buy it by the cup. Yesterday, there was a report that said that Eight O'Clock Coffee is number one in the nation. Decaf Dunkin Dounuts was the best of that variety. The report did say that whole beans, and the type of coffee maker has a great influence on producing the best coffee. I checked what kind the Curley's have, and "low and behold" I saw a can of Eight O'Clock besides the flavored Gevalia varieties.
Social Calendar -- The only thing that I am aware of is "Baby viewing". The son of our Dalton friends, along with his wife YuPing, and their baby, Noelle, who was born around Thanksgiving, flew in from Atlanta so that he could be in a wedding of a high school friend. While the family is attending the wedding, we will be able to see the little one. I think that Linda might have whipped up a baby sweater, and hat. I will remind Linda to charge the batteries in her camera.
We won't be going to the Shamrock for supper since they are closed. The owners went off to Aruba which they have been doing for 25 years.
It is balmy 7 degrees right now. Most of us can't wait for the semi warm up which begins on Saturday.
Well, I have to get back to my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
The day went as planned on Thursday. I spent several hours in Lee visiting Mom at the Rehab Center while Linda went off to Mah Jongg. Mom is still not ready to come home.
I went to the Dollar Store to see if I dropped my glove in there on Wednesday. They did find my glove. The clerks set it aside, and put it by the register. I was so happy to find it.
After our pasta supper, I went into the basement to watch the Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics do battle. The Bruins were victorious in a shoot out, but the Celtics lost by one point in a contest which went into overtime.
The Kellogs' company doesn't want a Bong Smoking swimmer on their cereal boxes anymore. The Olympic swimming committee suspended him for three months. Phleps has to realize that when he gained star status, it pretty much ended the possibility of him just hanging out at Fraternity Parties, etc.
Politics -- Another potential cabinet member has a husband who has some financial issues. Squeaky clean people must be difficult to find.
Coffee -- I have some friends who are fixated with Dunkin Donouts coffee. They buy it by the pound, or buy it by the cup. Yesterday, there was a report that said that Eight O'Clock Coffee is number one in the nation. Decaf Dunkin Dounuts was the best of that variety. The report did say that whole beans, and the type of coffee maker has a great influence on producing the best coffee. I checked what kind the Curley's have, and "low and behold" I saw a can of Eight O'Clock besides the flavored Gevalia varieties.
Social Calendar -- The only thing that I am aware of is "Baby viewing". The son of our Dalton friends, along with his wife YuPing, and their baby, Noelle, who was born around Thanksgiving, flew in from Atlanta so that he could be in a wedding of a high school friend. While the family is attending the wedding, we will be able to see the little one. I think that Linda might have whipped up a baby sweater, and hat. I will remind Linda to charge the batteries in her camera.
We won't be going to the Shamrock for supper since they are closed. The owners went off to Aruba which they have been doing for 25 years.
It is balmy 7 degrees right now. Most of us can't wait for the semi warm up which begins on Saturday.
Well, I have to get back to my morning routine.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hello on Thursday Morning
Dear Friends,
Linda and I went off to see Mom yesterday, and you couldn't believe the turnaround which I saw from Tuesday to Wednesday. We walked in as she was 3/4 the way through lunch. She was eating without assistance. She was not in the Zombie like state which she has been for days. The miraculous change occurred because she had started with a regimen of antibiotics. Having a bladder infection caused all of the negatives changes which we have witnessed over the past few days. I learn something new every day.
I am going to the Rehab Center for a family meeting today to discuss her progress,and the next step in getting her back home.
After the visit, we went off to the Berkshire Mall to see the movie "Taken". The ratings for the movie weren't that great, but we enjoyed the action packed movie. Of course,after the film, the Curley's did discuss how the movie could have been better.
I lost a leather glove somewhere between the end of the movie, and a stop at a "Dollar Store". I lose one every year. Oh Darn!
A steak, cooked on the George Foreman grill, made for a wonderful supper.
After supper, we parted ways. I went into the basement to watch the Boston Bruins do battle. They came out victorious.
Speaking of sports, yes I did watch the Celtic's the night before who won their game on a last second shot with .5 left on the clock.
Politics -- The big discussion of the day was the limiting of executive bonuses especially if these bonuses are going to be funded by the American taxpayer. Donald Trump agreed with Obama.
Of course, we have baseball players, like Manny Ramirez, rejecting a one year contract of $25 million because he wants to get locked into a long term contract. Is there something wrong with this picture as the number of people losing their jobs each day increases as these people like Manny don't think that $25 million is a desirable offer.
Social Calendar -- Linda is playing Mah Jongg from 11:30 AM until around 4:30 PM. It is a bit cold for me to go ice-fishing today. Starting on Friday, the forecast will start to moderate. We are in for a stretch of weather reaching into the 30's (and sometimes 40's) for over a week. The next storm has rain as the form of precipitation. This must be the January thaw which we didn't get.
Supper -- I have the crock pot fired up with a red sauce, with hot and sweet sausages. Tonight is Pasta night.
Have to go, and read the local newspaper.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I went off to see Mom yesterday, and you couldn't believe the turnaround which I saw from Tuesday to Wednesday. We walked in as she was 3/4 the way through lunch. She was eating without assistance. She was not in the Zombie like state which she has been for days. The miraculous change occurred because she had started with a regimen of antibiotics. Having a bladder infection caused all of the negatives changes which we have witnessed over the past few days. I learn something new every day.
I am going to the Rehab Center for a family meeting today to discuss her progress,and the next step in getting her back home.
After the visit, we went off to the Berkshire Mall to see the movie "Taken". The ratings for the movie weren't that great, but we enjoyed the action packed movie. Of course,after the film, the Curley's did discuss how the movie could have been better.
I lost a leather glove somewhere between the end of the movie, and a stop at a "Dollar Store". I lose one every year. Oh Darn!
A steak, cooked on the George Foreman grill, made for a wonderful supper.
After supper, we parted ways. I went into the basement to watch the Boston Bruins do battle. They came out victorious.
Speaking of sports, yes I did watch the Celtic's the night before who won their game on a last second shot with .5 left on the clock.
Politics -- The big discussion of the day was the limiting of executive bonuses especially if these bonuses are going to be funded by the American taxpayer. Donald Trump agreed with Obama.
Of course, we have baseball players, like Manny Ramirez, rejecting a one year contract of $25 million because he wants to get locked into a long term contract. Is there something wrong with this picture as the number of people losing their jobs each day increases as these people like Manny don't think that $25 million is a desirable offer.
Social Calendar -- Linda is playing Mah Jongg from 11:30 AM until around 4:30 PM. It is a bit cold for me to go ice-fishing today. Starting on Friday, the forecast will start to moderate. We are in for a stretch of weather reaching into the 30's (and sometimes 40's) for over a week. The next storm has rain as the form of precipitation. This must be the January thaw which we didn't get.
Supper -- I have the crock pot fired up with a red sauce, with hot and sweet sausages. Tonight is Pasta night.
Have to go, and read the local newspaper.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Hope that you all had a pleasant Tuesday. I did a few errands around town before heading off to Lee to visit Mom in the nursing home. Dad was there when I arrived. He left around noon, but I stayed to help Mom with lunch. I am really finding it difficult feeding the person who did that for me, so many years ago.
On a happier note, today might be a slug type day for Linda and I. The forecast is for us to remain in the teens for most of the day.
When I was doing my thing, I thought Linda was having a pleasant few hours of peace and quiet, and having the fidgety one away from her. Not! She was on the telephone trying to come up with a slate of officers for our ITAM Lodge. She did this for several hours, and was mentally exhausted when I walked in the door.
Politics -- Jim Carville, former adviser to Bill Clinton, thinks Rush Limbaugh is running the GOP. This might be a good observation.
Obama admitted that he "screwed up" with a couple of his choices of people which he hoped would help him "right the ship". The two who dropped out had a few tax issues. When you run for office, you better be "squeaking clean". If you hired someone to, for example, baby sit your children / hired a Nanny and paid them cash or under the table, you would have a blemish on your record.
The Air Base, that the U.S. has near Afghanistan, is going to be closed, which isn't good. This base supplies all the needs of our forces fighting in the area. The Russians stepped in and essentially bribed the leaders to kick the U.S. out.
How about the story the 10 year old Yemen girl whose family arranged a marriage with a 30 year old man? She escaped from her husband who beat her and raped her after the wedding. She went to court (without his knowledge), and got a divorce. She wants to go back to school and get an education and be a champion for women rights' in her country. The report did say that these arranged marriages happen quite often with some girls as young as 8 years old. Is this sick or what?
This is one of our least busy weeks for the months of February, and March. Sunday is when all the craziness begins. Trying to find a free day on our social calendar will be a very difficult task.
Have to go, and do some quiet chores after reading the local newspaper.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that you all had a pleasant Tuesday. I did a few errands around town before heading off to Lee to visit Mom in the nursing home. Dad was there when I arrived. He left around noon, but I stayed to help Mom with lunch. I am really finding it difficult feeding the person who did that for me, so many years ago.
On a happier note, today might be a slug type day for Linda and I. The forecast is for us to remain in the teens for most of the day.
When I was doing my thing, I thought Linda was having a pleasant few hours of peace and quiet, and having the fidgety one away from her. Not! She was on the telephone trying to come up with a slate of officers for our ITAM Lodge. She did this for several hours, and was mentally exhausted when I walked in the door.
Politics -- Jim Carville, former adviser to Bill Clinton, thinks Rush Limbaugh is running the GOP. This might be a good observation.
Obama admitted that he "screwed up" with a couple of his choices of people which he hoped would help him "right the ship". The two who dropped out had a few tax issues. When you run for office, you better be "squeaking clean". If you hired someone to, for example, baby sit your children / hired a Nanny and paid them cash or under the table, you would have a blemish on your record.
The Air Base, that the U.S. has near Afghanistan, is going to be closed, which isn't good. This base supplies all the needs of our forces fighting in the area. The Russians stepped in and essentially bribed the leaders to kick the U.S. out.
How about the story the 10 year old Yemen girl whose family arranged a marriage with a 30 year old man? She escaped from her husband who beat her and raped her after the wedding. She went to court (without his knowledge), and got a divorce. She wants to go back to school and get an education and be a champion for women rights' in her country. The report did say that these arranged marriages happen quite often with some girls as young as 8 years old. Is this sick or what?
This is one of our least busy weeks for the months of February, and March. Sunday is when all the craziness begins. Trying to find a free day on our social calendar will be a very difficult task.
Have to go, and do some quiet chores after reading the local newspaper.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hello on Tuesday Morning
Dear Friends,
It was a slow day in the Curley home on Monday.
Linda and I were like slugs. I needed a two hour nap because of my cold issue, and a bit of too much partying at our Super Bowl Party.
I never left the house except for getting the mail from our mail box located at the bottom of our driveway.
Linda did leave the house at 5 PM to go off for supper, and a session of Mah Jongg at a friend's house. She was so relieved that she didn't have to host the affair.
I never made it to Lee to visit with my mother. The guilt is almost unbearable.
"The power of the pen is mightier than the sword"! I did forget that one of my e-mail readers is a member of Rotary. My comments about how we were somewhat offended by the "Jim and Tammy Baker" like revival event during the middle of the Saturday night auction made it to the board level of Rotary on Monday. I found out that the Curley's weren't the only ones offended by what went on during the middle of the auction. I also failed to mention in yesterday's e-mail that we left the auction when they were $3000 short of their $10,000 goal. This meant that we missed half of the auction.
Politics -- It was a slow day on the political front for Obama yesterday. The media had to create news. They talked about how the President is helping the economy by going out to eat. The public likes to go to the same eateries that the President has dinned in.
The media did say the Bushes were more of the "home body" type of people who have lived in the White House. The Bush's and the Curley's have something in common.
A New Hampshire Republican will be nominated as Commerce Secretary today.
The snow in Pittsfield is white again. We picked up a dusting last night. Boston is supposed to get 4 to 7 inches when the coastal storm is done.
Social Calendar-- We are free today, but I have to get out of the house and do something, like visit Mom, do a little ice-fishing, etc. Linda needs a day of separation from the man of the house.
While in my slug mode, I did savor another book which I finished a few minutes ago. It was a murder/ mystery called "Scarpetta" written by Patricia Cornwell. I enjoyed it!
Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and make some decisions on my activities for the day.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
It was a slow day in the Curley home on Monday.
Linda and I were like slugs. I needed a two hour nap because of my cold issue, and a bit of too much partying at our Super Bowl Party.
I never left the house except for getting the mail from our mail box located at the bottom of our driveway.
Linda did leave the house at 5 PM to go off for supper, and a session of Mah Jongg at a friend's house. She was so relieved that she didn't have to host the affair.
I never made it to Lee to visit with my mother. The guilt is almost unbearable.
"The power of the pen is mightier than the sword"! I did forget that one of my e-mail readers is a member of Rotary. My comments about how we were somewhat offended by the "Jim and Tammy Baker" like revival event during the middle of the Saturday night auction made it to the board level of Rotary on Monday. I found out that the Curley's weren't the only ones offended by what went on during the middle of the auction. I also failed to mention in yesterday's e-mail that we left the auction when they were $3000 short of their $10,000 goal. This meant that we missed half of the auction.
Politics -- It was a slow day on the political front for Obama yesterday. The media had to create news. They talked about how the President is helping the economy by going out to eat. The public likes to go to the same eateries that the President has dinned in.
The media did say the Bushes were more of the "home body" type of people who have lived in the White House. The Bush's and the Curley's have something in common.
A New Hampshire Republican will be nominated as Commerce Secretary today.
The snow in Pittsfield is white again. We picked up a dusting last night. Boston is supposed to get 4 to 7 inches when the coastal storm is done.
Social Calendar-- We are free today, but I have to get out of the house and do something, like visit Mom, do a little ice-fishing, etc. Linda needs a day of separation from the man of the house.
While in my slug mode, I did savor another book which I finished a few minutes ago. It was a murder/ mystery called "Scarpetta" written by Patricia Cornwell. I enjoyed it!
Well, I have to read the local newspaper, and make some decisions on my activities for the day.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, February 2, 2009
Hello on Monday Morning
Dear Friends,
Hope that your team won the Super Bowl. I did think that the Steelers would win the game which they did do. It was a very exciting game, and most of our Super Bowl guests were cheering for the Cardinals.
Our Super Bowl party went very well. There were very few leftovers which is always good.
We always like to go to bed with everything picked up, and the dishwasher loaded to its maximum. Linda did most of the cleanup. I just hauled the stuff from the basement to the kitchen. I am going to be extremely quiet today because Linda definitely needs all the rest which she can get for all the work she had done with the set up, and clean up. She especially needs a good rest since she woke up on Sunday morning with the beginnings of the cold which I might have passed on to her.
Politics / National news -- Well Obama's half brother, and the U.S. swimmer Phelps got themselves in trouble for smoking a little weed. If they lived in Massachusetts, it would be a misdemeanor for the amount that they were caught with or seen smoking (in the Phelps case).
The octuplets -- This case really bothers me. The women has 6 children of her own with four of them from the same father. She produces 8 more by invitro fertilization. Makes national news. Can someone tell me who is paying for all of these children? Even us Liberals have difficulties accepting what this women did. Her mother said that she always wanted to have children. I think that this educated women has some serious mental health issues, and we will be paying for her and her fatherless family from birth to death.
I see where Jim Carville, a former Bill Clinton adviser, is getting into a little verbal sparing with Rush Limbaugh. Carville is one smart dude who can battle every one of the Republican talking heads.
Social Calendar -- I think that today is a day of rest. I did hear some of the female guests, who play Mah Jongg, trying to arrange a session. If all the participants are free, the session might take place at our home.
Since I have abandoned my mother for two days, I will have to make a visit to the Rehab Center. I could drop in a few tip ups especially since we will be in the mid 30's today.
The Northeast storm won't touch us inland areas. The forecasters are talking about snow showers all day long on Tuesday in the Berkshires. The last time that we had snow showers, I had to use the snow blower.
Well, I have to empty the dishwasher.
Have a great Monday at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that your team won the Super Bowl. I did think that the Steelers would win the game which they did do. It was a very exciting game, and most of our Super Bowl guests were cheering for the Cardinals.
Our Super Bowl party went very well. There were very few leftovers which is always good.
We always like to go to bed with everything picked up, and the dishwasher loaded to its maximum. Linda did most of the cleanup. I just hauled the stuff from the basement to the kitchen. I am going to be extremely quiet today because Linda definitely needs all the rest which she can get for all the work she had done with the set up, and clean up. She especially needs a good rest since she woke up on Sunday morning with the beginnings of the cold which I might have passed on to her.
Politics / National news -- Well Obama's half brother, and the U.S. swimmer Phelps got themselves in trouble for smoking a little weed. If they lived in Massachusetts, it would be a misdemeanor for the amount that they were caught with or seen smoking (in the Phelps case).
The octuplets -- This case really bothers me. The women has 6 children of her own with four of them from the same father. She produces 8 more by invitro fertilization. Makes national news. Can someone tell me who is paying for all of these children? Even us Liberals have difficulties accepting what this women did. Her mother said that she always wanted to have children. I think that this educated women has some serious mental health issues, and we will be paying for her and her fatherless family from birth to death.
I see where Jim Carville, a former Bill Clinton adviser, is getting into a little verbal sparing with Rush Limbaugh. Carville is one smart dude who can battle every one of the Republican talking heads.
Social Calendar -- I think that today is a day of rest. I did hear some of the female guests, who play Mah Jongg, trying to arrange a session. If all the participants are free, the session might take place at our home.
Since I have abandoned my mother for two days, I will have to make a visit to the Rehab Center. I could drop in a few tip ups especially since we will be in the mid 30's today.
The Northeast storm won't touch us inland areas. The forecasters are talking about snow showers all day long on Tuesday in the Berkshires. The last time that we had snow showers, I had to use the snow blower.
Well, I have to empty the dishwasher.
Have a great Monday at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Hello on Sunday Morning
Dear Friends,
On Saturday, Linda spent most of her day in the kitchen preparing food for our Super Bowl Party.
I did some errands, and squeezed in a nap.
Yes, I am still fighting a cold, but I feel pretty good today.
Our major highlight of the day was attending the Rotary Auction last evening with two other couples. The pre-auction food was wonderful.
This year they had a professional auctioneer run the program. He was really good at it.
The only negative, from my perspective, is when they stopped the auction, and showed a short clip of an African School which the local Rotary Club took on as a project. The Rotarians (and a school in a neighboring Berkshire County town) helped to renovate one of the classrooms for this school. The auctioneer asked the audience to come up with $10,000 to continue to fund this project.
At this point, I felt like I was attending one of those "Jim & Tami Baker" religious fund raisers instead of being at the Rotary Auction looking for a bargain.
We left the auction as they were working on securing the last $3000 of their goal, which they did do.
I also thought that we have some needy schools, agencies, etc. in our own community. How about working on a projects to help these local worthy causes?
Our local Rotary Club does do a project in our schools. They provide dictionaries for all the elementary school age children. My thoughts on this project is: "What is a dictionary?" Most of these children, who grow up with computers, use spell check including me!
I better stop babbling before I get myself in trouble.
Politics -- Tom Dachule had a little financial trouble on his resume, but it will be business as usual.
Hillary Clinton starts her new job $6 million in campaign debt. With the help of a few friends, she should be able to wipe out the debt.
Social Calendar -- Super Bowl Party at 4 PM is the only thing on our minds today.
A visit to mom in the Rehab Center will have to wait until Monday.
Have to go and read the Sunday Newspapers.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
On Saturday, Linda spent most of her day in the kitchen preparing food for our Super Bowl Party.
I did some errands, and squeezed in a nap.
Yes, I am still fighting a cold, but I feel pretty good today.
Our major highlight of the day was attending the Rotary Auction last evening with two other couples. The pre-auction food was wonderful.
This year they had a professional auctioneer run the program. He was really good at it.
The only negative, from my perspective, is when they stopped the auction, and showed a short clip of an African School which the local Rotary Club took on as a project. The Rotarians (and a school in a neighboring Berkshire County town) helped to renovate one of the classrooms for this school. The auctioneer asked the audience to come up with $10,000 to continue to fund this project.
At this point, I felt like I was attending one of those "Jim & Tami Baker" religious fund raisers instead of being at the Rotary Auction looking for a bargain.
We left the auction as they were working on securing the last $3000 of their goal, which they did do.
I also thought that we have some needy schools, agencies, etc. in our own community. How about working on a projects to help these local worthy causes?
Our local Rotary Club does do a project in our schools. They provide dictionaries for all the elementary school age children. My thoughts on this project is: "What is a dictionary?" Most of these children, who grow up with computers, use spell check including me!
I better stop babbling before I get myself in trouble.
Politics -- Tom Dachule had a little financial trouble on his resume, but it will be business as usual.
Hillary Clinton starts her new job $6 million in campaign debt. With the help of a few friends, she should be able to wipe out the debt.
Social Calendar -- Super Bowl Party at 4 PM is the only thing on our minds today.
A visit to mom in the Rehab Center will have to wait until Monday.
Have to go and read the Sunday Newspapers.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
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