Hello on Friday Morning

Dear Friends,

Linda and I have returned from our Mexican adventure. We had a great time. I
could have given you daily updates, but we chose not to bring the laptop, or to
make our cell phone available while in Mexico.
I did hand write a daily journal, but you can read it when I publish my memoirs
or see it upon request.

Even though the flights to and from Mexico went as planned, my luggage never
made it back to Boston last evening. I was hoping to see it delivered to my
son's address here in North Tewksbury when I woke up this morning, but it did
not happen. The airlines claim that my luggage was on a different flight.

We are supposed to head back to Pittsfield today because Linda has a shower to
attend on Saturday, and they we are heading off to a Kentucky Derby party after
she returns from the shower.

As many people were leaving the resort that we were at, they were saying that
they were not looking forward to getting back to their daily grind, routine,
job, etc. Since Linda and I are lucky enough to be retired, we kept on saying to
ourselves: "What grind?" We will be going back to our daily routines, but those
are mostly fun activities, or activities which we chose to participate in.

Another thing that the Mexican resort did not have was newspapers. For eight
days, we tried to get our news from watching channels in Spanish. They did have
their version of ESPN Sports Center with Mexican announcers. Most sports
Channels spoke about world wide soccer. I did watch a couple innings of a Red
Sox Game in Spanish before we went off for dinner one evening.

I will give you an example of a typical day at the resort. I would wake up
before 7 AM and select chairs at poolside. I then would go about 50 paces to a
small gym for a light workout on the few machines that they had. I would go back
to the room and shower, and make enough noise to wake up Linda. We would either
head off to the breakfast buffet, or sit pool side until the Crepieri would
start making fresh crepes at 10 AM. While waiting for the Crepes, we would have
a fresh made Cappuccino or two.
After breakfast we would go pool side, and start off with refreshing Margaritas.
The pool side bar is open from 9AM until 11 PM each day. As you are sitting
poolside, waiters and waitresses would tend to your beverage needs. Since this
was an all inclusive resort, an occasional tip given when the drinks arrived
would give you a friend for life. Tips weren't actually required to be given out
since we paid for this all inclusive resort. At lunch we would have a choice of
the giant buffet off of the main lobby, are a snack bar buffet type of meal
where you sit down, and have waiters deal with your beverage requirements. They
had the typical hot dogs, and hamburgers, chicken wings, fruits, cold meats,
cheeses, salad making greens, fruits, desserts, yogurts, etc. For the evening
meal, you could back to the buffet room, or go to one of four restaurants. The
restaurants have full service gourmet meals from soup to nuts as the expression
goes. The food was spectacular. I am talking about meals that would cost $150 to
$200 per couple if we had to pay for them at a high priced restaurant.

Did we get tans while in Mexico? When people start talking to me in Spanish
(this was after a few days) because I look like a native, then I know that I
have a good tan. Linda is about a month behind me in the tan department.

Linda did like saying "Ola" to strangers everyday as we went anywhere on the
compound.

How was the water? The pool and the place in general was kid friendly. As we
watched some of the kids in the pool, I could visualize Linda and I with our
grandchildren, and their parents at a resort like this. The ocean was wonderful.
The sand never got hot to walk on even in the heat of the day. Linda and I had
purchased new water shoes, but we never needed to use them. There was never a
rocky bottom or coral to step on. The waves were fun, but not overpowering.

We left the resort yesterday with a Margarita in hand. The lobby has a full
service bar open 24 hours per day.

Well, I have to end the e-mail, and call the airlines to see where my bag is
located. I had asked them to deliver the missing luggage to Kevin and Kyla's
place, but the luggage tags have our Pittsfield address on them.

Have a great Friday. We hope to be in Pittsfield at some point today. The
Curley Lad

Hello on Wednesday Morning

Dear Friends,

Yesterday went pretty much as planned.
Kyla decided to do work from home which meant Linda was the doing a good portion
of the baby sitting while Kevin and I went off to Home Depot. Kevin is turning
into a real home owner instead of an apartment dweller. He now owns a self
propelled Toro Lawn mower which pretty much runs it self. It is not a riding
mower, but that purchase is for another couple years from now. He purchased a
weed whacker too. He cut the lawn as I did the weed whacking. By the end of the
day, Kevin was pretty exhausted. He did get an estimate from a guy who used to
cut the lawn when the previous owner occupied the house. This guy said that he
would cut the lawn for $65 per week. The neighbors might think that was a good
deal, but Kevin didn't think so.

The Webber Genisis grill got a workout on Tuesday. I cooked some burgers for
lunch for the four of us. For supper, it was beer can chicken, some grilled
vegetables, and steamed artichokes. Both meals came out very well.

In a few short hours this house will be empty. Kyla wants to leave for work
before 7 AM. Kevin needs to drop Max off at day care as well as Linda and I for
our next adventure. If you don't hear from me /us for several days by way of my
daily blog be assured that everything is okay in our world. We are leaving the
lap top in North Tewksbury, and we won't have cell phone use at this
destination.

I did go to bed a happy Boston Sports fan last evening. The Celtic won their
playoff game, and the Red Sox finally broke their multiple game losing streak.
The Sox won their game through the efforts of a guy called up on Tuesday from
their minor league team in Pawtucket. This guy hit a pinch hit two run homer to
tie the game in the 7th inning, and he also had the winning hit in the bottom of
the ninth inning. The Sox finally looked like they did in the past by coming
from behind to win a game. I would bet that some of the Red Sox fans shut off
the game when they were losing by a 6 to 1 margin.

Note -- Ortiz got benched during the game, and broke his bat over his knee after
striking out.

I didn't see any news that jumped out at me except that the latest group of
people trying to enter the military are over weight. Too many years of sitting
on the couch playing computer games, and eating processed foods would appear to
be a couple of the culprits.

I did get several compliments from the way my hair was cut by Linda the other
day. It looks like it was done professionally. Kyla even said that she gives
permission for Linda to cut our grandchild's hair. She can't do it today, but
she will do so soon.


Well, I have to quietly separate the items which are staying here, and the items
which we are taking on this next adventure.
Have a great Wednesday.
Today is supposed to be the warmest day of the week in the Boston area before it
drops off to more seasonal temperatures for the rest of the week.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Tuesday Morning

Dear Friends,

Another day went okay in Tewksbury with just a couple of bumps along the way.
Linda and I let Kevin and Kyla do their normal routine for a Monday. This means
Kyla is the first one to get up, and get ready for work and take the first shift
with Max. I was up, but I didn't take part during the initial stages of their
routine. Kevin was up next, and took over child rearing, and said goodbye to
Kyla as she headed off to the train which takes her to North Station. Kevin then
takes Max to day care around 9:30 AM, and heads off to his restaurant in East
Boston.
Linda and I were home alone with the cats and dogs. Linda said: "Let's go off to
the Christmas tree shops in Salem, New Hampshire". Since it was near lunch time,
we decided to "do lunch." We had a nice lunch at an Italian chain restaurant
called "Policari's" which has its origins out of the North End (Italian section)
in Boston. The Calimari, and small classic pizza were delicious. The dough on
the pizza tended to be light and airy as opposed to our son's home made dough at
his restaurant. We brought a couple pieces home for Kevin and Kyla to sample,
and they both agreed that the pizza was pretty good.

We purchased a car load of treasures at the Christmas Tree Shops before we
headed home. Kyla left work early and arrived ten minutes before we got home,
but she was doing some work at home as we walked in the front door. To our
surprise, Kevin came home early , and joined us for the Pot Roast crock pot
dinner. It was super as usual.

I did purchase Kevin some grill devices, one of which we might use today. I
bought a beer can chicken device. Kevin seemed like he wanted to try it today,
since it is his day off. The only glitch with that thought is that Kyla has been
craving a burger on the grill. Maybe we will do both forms of meat to make her
happy.

The bump along the road occurred last evening. A little after midnight, Max
started crying. He still has his runny nose, and Linda and I detected that he
had a slight fever. Linda was the first one up to try, and get Max settled down.
After a while Kevin got up, and had to go through the process once again. I even
got semi blamed for causing the problem. Our room is adjacent to Max's room. I
put my sleep apnea device on a side table which leans up against the wall. On
the other side of the wall is Max's crib. Kevin comes into my room, and says the
noise of the machine is vibrating into Max's room, and that it causing him to
stay awake. I put the sleep apnea device on the floor, and the vibration ended
so that Max could go back to sleep. I seem to bug people even when I am
sleeping!

Everybody is so exhausted, that they all are still sleeping except for me. There
are going to be a few tired people in this house today.

Social Calendar -- Kevin wants to do some yard work. I could either help him, or
do some protective taping of a room Kyla wants to change the color of. Kevin is
also thinking about getting a lawn mower. The computer research has begun for a
self propelled lawn mower. He still insists that he wants to do the lawn
himself, and not pay a lawn service guy to do so. It looks like Linda will be
taking care of Max while Kevin and I do our thing.

Sports -- It is discouraging watching or listening to the Red Sox. To lose the
first four of a ten home games is not good. The Yankees do nothing but win. I am
going to use the phrase which my Yankee friends always us when their team is not
doing well: "It is early in the season!" Well, this all sounds nice, but the Red
Sox don't have the makeup of a come from behind team this year.
The bright spot last night was the fact that the Boston Bruins Hockey team now
leads their playoff series by a 2 to 1 margin.
The Celtic's on the other hand, will be without Kevin Garnett for their
Wednesday night playoff game. He got suspended for an incident during the first
playoff game. Oh Darn!

Linda and Kyla have been very understanding to let Kevin and me watch sporting
contests instead of putting on what they want to watch. Good thing for the DVR
system which they have. A few years from now, Kevin can finish off one of the
two rooms in his basement, and turn it into a man cave. The tile floor and heat
are already there. He needs a drop ceiling. The cable connections are there. I
can see him and Max bonding in the Man Cave a few years from now.

The Volcanic Ash problem has even affected a person at Kyla's place of work. A
person from their London office has been stuck here in the States for several
days.

World News -- I feel bad for the 10 year old girl from Mexico who is 17.5 weeks
pregnant by way of her step father. Abortion is legal in Mexico, but not at such
a late term in this very Catholic country. I used the word Catholic because this
religion would like no abortions to be performed at all.

Well, I have to grab a second cup of coffee, and do so quietly. Kevin heard me
banging pots, pans, and dishes when I emptied the dishwasher on Monday morning.
I guess that is not a quiet activity.
Linda has some yarn that needs to be balled up which is a quiet activity. The
only problem is that the two cats think that I am trying to play with them, and
try to grab the yarn with their claws. I give up! There is pretty much nothing
that I can do that ends up a quiet activity. People will just have to adjust to
me!

Have a great Tuesday!
It will be a few degrees warmer around here today compared to yesterday.
Tomorrow will be in the 70 degree range before returning to more seasonable
temperatures for this time of the year in the Boston area.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Monday Morning

Dear Friends,

Our Sunday went quite well with some changes in our original plan. Linda, Kyla,
and Max went off to the baby shower. Max was his usual cute self at the baby
shower. He did not fuss once, and he enjoyed all the attention from the 27
people who attended the shower.

While they were doing their thing, Kevin and I did a couple errands, but spent
most of the time searching for the perfect grill. The search started with Kevin
going on line, and reading details, and reviews of every grill which you could
possibly purchase. Well, we ended up with the Cadillac of Grills, the Webber
Genesis. The $100 off sale price was a mere $799. You might go Wow!, this Curley
most have a money tree in the back yard. Not! A decision was made based on
quality of the stainless steel, and the longevity of the grill. Most grills are
designed with a very thin gauge of stainless steel, and parts that rot out after
a couple of years (which is my kind of grill). So do you invest the money right
now for a device that can last at least 10 years, or do you spend $350 every
three years, which is what I do. Kevin made the correct choice!

We called up the Brodeur Lad who has a good size truck, and headed toward New
Hampshire, "The Live Free or Die" State. We saved $100 because they don't have a
sales tax in New Hampshire. We headed to the Home Depot in Salem New Hampshire
to purchase the Webber which was still in the box. We get the grill to Kevin's
place, and Kevin decided to bring in the heavy box into the house, and assemble
it in the kitchen , and bring it through the sliding glass doors onto his above
ground deck.
It took Kevin and I about two hours to assemble the grill. I did have fears that
the assembled grill couldn't fit through the sliding glass doors, and then we
would be stuck with a grill in the middle of their kitchen. I did fit through
the doors quite easily.
We opened the grill, and hit the ignition switch, and the grill lit up. The heat
was even, and instantaneous. Now that we had it going, and everyone was starving
at the time approached 7:00 PM, Kevin wanted to use the grill, and cook supper
on it. Kyla called the Brodeur's, and invited them for a steak dinner with all
the fixings. Kevin asked me to cook the steaks, and I jumped at the chance to do
so. Everything turned out well, and we were all part of the clean plate club.

Kevin, Kyla, and Max will be doing their normal routine today. Kyla will be the
first one leaving the house for work today. Kevin will be taking Max to day care
on his way to his restaurant in East Boston, and Linda and I will be here alone
except for the two cats and two dogs. Today has already been mentally planned by
Linda and I. I am getting a haircut, and mustache trim in their back yard by way
of the skilled hands of Linda. I packed the necessary tools to do the job.
The birds in North Tewksbury will be getting some nesting material on this
Monday.

We are going to do a pot roast crock pot dinner with all the fixings for supper
this evening. We will save some for Kevin since he usually doesn't arrive home
until about 9:30 PM (or a little later). Kyla will be picking Max up on the way
home from work so the rest of us will have supper together.

I must admit that I didn't watch any sports yesterday. Jerry Brodeur told me who
and how the person won the professional golf tournament. The Sox were losing as
we went off grill hunting. I can watch the Boston Bruins in a third playoff game
this evening which makes me happy, but not the women.
The Sox have an 11 AM game on this Patriots' Day which we celebrate in
Massachusetts.

Observation -- Yesterday was one of those days where being surrounded by family
and friends turned a so so day into a great day. It also got me thinking about a
conversation we had the other evening with our Dalton friends while at the
Shamrock Restaurant. Steve told me the story of his conversation with a baby
boomer while he was at his golf course the other day. This baby boomer is a
retired fireman in Pittsfield, maybe a year or two older than I am. The guys
tells my Dalton friend that he has liver cancer, and the cancer has started to
spread to other parts of his body. Here is guy, who looks no different than any
of us baby boomers, but he pretty much has a death sentence. This person didn't
do anything in his life to abuse his body. Like I always say "Life is a crap
shoot." Some people are just dealt with an awful hand of cards. The guy's family
is crushed, but this guy is trying to live a normal life until his time is up.
This is another case which should send all of us a message to not sweat the
little stuff, and surround yourself with family and friends until the day you
die!

On a happier note, I want everyone to enjoy this week at work or play.
If all your body parts are working and you have relatively good health, count
your lucky stars.
Yes, I know you have heard these words of wisdom from the Curley Lad before, but
the teacher in me says that a little repetition is okay to help you remember
these words.

Have a great Monday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Saturday

Dear Friends,



The gloom and doom weather forecast never materialized on Friday until after we had supper at the Shamrock with our Dalton friends. The weather was warm enough that I had a chance to give my car a good cleaning both inside and out.



Linda made it through her two body maintenance procedures, and returned to do some packing. I took an afternoon because I wanted to stay up and watch the opening day Red Sox game at Fenway. As I watched the game, seeing the people bundled up in winter clothes, and watching the visible breaths come out of the mouths of the ball players on a cold and windy night in Boston, I was so thankful that I was watching the game in the comfort of my own home. During the last few innings of the game the rains started to fall, I stopped watching the game when the score was tied, and the umpires halted the game in the bottom of the ninth. Good thing that I went to bed because the game was eventually suspended.

I am not sure if you gave me tickets to a Red Sox game in April that I would jump at the chance to go to the game. April in the Northeast is always iffy with respect to weather. When you are at Fenway, and a wind is blowing off of the ocean, it could be one cold day at the ballpark. The baseball players last night looked like they didn’t want to be there when the rain started to fall. Their opponents were a team from Florida, and they for sure looked like that they weren’t having any fun at all.



While at the Shamrock, I met one of my Italian friends and his wife who live in Florida during the winter. As we chatted, he said Florida was really cool during their multi month stay there. He said that the natives wearing winter gear (hats, gloves, and scarves) on some of the days when temperatures were in the low 60’s.



Linda said that she met another couple, during one of her errands, who spent some time in Florida too. They kept on asking themselves why they were in Florida when it was so cool there especially since it wasn’t too cold back in Pittsfield.



Last night, while we dinning at the restaurant, our wives told us a story that one of the women from their book club meeting told the group. I thought that you might enjoy this real life story. The daughter of one of the women, who lives down south, has a high functioning Down syndrome child who is 19 years old. The Down syndrome person can be left alone when not working. This one day, the mother calls the home to check with the son to see how things are going. When the son answered the telephone, he seemed very agitated. He kept on saying: “The troll’s in the closet, the troll’s in the closet, the troll’s in the closet!” The mother knew something was wrong, and immediately came home. Her Down syndrome child had locked someone in the closet. The mother, fearing that it could have been a robber, called the police before unlocking the closet door. The police arrive with their guns drawn, and unlocked the closet door. Inside the closet was a midget (little person to be politically correct). The dwarf was a “census worker”. When he came to the front door, the Down syndrome boy got confused, and really thought that the midget was a bad troll, and stuffed the guy in the closet. I am guessing that the Down syndrome boy saw a movie with trolls in it, or had a story read to him by his mom that had a troll theme. The good thing is that our government doesn’t discriminate with respect to who they hire as a census worker!



Well, in a few short hours, we will be heading east again to be with our youngest son’s family. My son opens his restaurant, “Dough”, on Saturday at 1 PM. We won’t see him until he closes the place. We will be there to help take care of the grandchild so that Kyla can finish unpacking some of the rooms which still have boxes and bags of stuff in them. I am guessing that some of the items might make it to the storage room in the basement.

On Sunday, Linda and Kyla will be going off to a baby shower for family friend. Kevin, Max, and me will be watching the Red Sox if the temperatures are too cool, or listening to the Red Sox while doing some yard work.



I am also debating whether to take some form of meat from our freezer with us to do a crock pot dinner during the few days when we will be with them in North Tewksbury. I am leaning toward binging one of those boneless pork tenderloins, and using a recipe that our Kansas City daughter-in-law prepared in her crock pot for us when we were there a couple of weeks ago. The recipe was so simple, and the ingredients made it taste so wonderful. We all had an Au Jus cup to dip the pork into as we ate the pork. I am getting hungry just thinking about how good the pork was that night for supper. If our pork turns out to be as good as it was in Kansas, then I will share the recipe with my readers.



Well, I have some quiet activities to get to.

Have a great Saturday.

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Friday Morning

Dear Friends,



I just returned from Retro Fitness. I forgot what a gym looked like since I haven’t been in one in over two weeks. I took it easy today so that I wouldn’t damage vital organs.



Linda has two body maintenance procedures today. I have some errands to run, and some packing to finish up.



If we were going to be around this weekend, we would have a Lobster Fest. A local supermarket is selling Lobsters at $5.99 per pound. This is about as low as the price of Lobsters would sell for. Normally, we would invite a bunch of people, and party on the deck. I would boil the Lobsters in my Turkey Fryer (with water). We have two days of temperatures predicted not to get out of the 40 degree range so a deck party wouldn’t work well this weekend anyways.



Observation 1 – While on the treadmill this morning, I watched a CNN news program. Anderson Cooper was interviewing Doctor Jack Kevorkian, the assisted suicide doctor. Dr. Kevorkian just got through spending 8 years and 3 months in jail. The good doctor didn’t think that he violated any Hippocratic Oath, or any law of nature. He still believes what he did, which was helping 130 people end their life of pain and misery because of a physical illness, was completely justified. I agree with him! The person who wanted to die always pushed the button which would start the chemical reaction which eventually would cause death. I think that he got caught because he pushed the button for one of his really sick patients.

There is going to be an HBO special called “You Don’t Know Jack”. Al Pacino is playing Doctor Kevorkian. I am so looking forward to the program.



Observation 2 – While on the way home from the gym this morning, there is a morning radio program where the host throws out a question and asks people to call in with their response. Today’s question was: “Do you believe in spanking as a form of discipline for your child?” Our generation of Baby Boomers grew up with: “Spare the rod, spoil the child!” adage. I used to believe in this adage, but as I see our children raise their children, I see that there might be a better way to deal with disciplining a child. I am starting to believe that “violence begets violence!” I am not sure what my readers think about spanking.

Most of the people who called in to respond to the question said that they were spanked as a child. They claim that they had no ill effects. One guy, who did get spanked, did say that he has turned into an aggressive adult, and that he wouldn’t back down from any conflict.



Yesterday, I did visit my father at the family home in Lee before visiting Mom in the nursing home. Dad seemed to be in good spirits. He had just come back from the grocery store. He wasn’t buying food. He had purchased laundry soap. Mom was always the person who did the laundry, but he has been on his own for over a year now, so he is getting pretty good at washing his own clothes.

As we were chatting, he told me a story related to his sometimes forgetfulness. Let me start by saying that some of my idiosyncrasies have been passed on through my parents, When my father’s gas tank in his car gets to a half a tank, he fills up his gas tank. One day he filled up his tank, but he forgot he did so. He goes to a gas station the next day, and tries to fill up the already filled up gas tank. Well, the automatic shut off won’t allow him to do so. He goes into the convenience store and tells the clerk that the gas pump is not working. The attendant was too busy, so my father left the store. He goes to another convenience store and tries putting gas in again. He goes into the store and says that the pump is not working at this place. This time the attendant goes out to the pump, and to assist my father. The attendant asks my father to check the gas gage in the car. The needle was on the full mark! Is this a preview of coming attractions for me?



My visit with Dear Old Mom in the nursing home went well also. I go into the nursing home a happy person, but I lose some of my joy as I leave the place.

I did take Mom outside so that she could enjoy some fresh air and the sunshine. While I was wheeling her to a sunny courtyard, she said: “Could you remind me who you are again?” I responded by saying: “I am the son who hasn’t seem you in over two weeks.” “I am the son who you always tell to: “Get as haircut!” Her dementia is starting to get to me. I have to keep saying to my self to be patient and understanding.



Linda’s book club gathering went well last evening. Even though Linda wasn’t fond of the book, the other ladies liked it. The book is called “The Tourist”. I liked it, but you can’t judge a book according to what I liked to read.



Well, I have to read the local newspaper and grab a cup of coffee.

I will try and do quiet activities for a while. I already jolted Linda out of bed when I opened the garage door at 4:25 AM, but I did park the car in the driveway, and came in the front door when I returned from the gym. I am really quite a considerate and thoughtful guy, don’t you think?

Have a great weekend!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Thursday Morning

Dear Friends,



I accomplished most of my goals on Wednesday. My eye appointment showed no need to change prescriptions. The only negative was that the cataract in one eye appears to be growing since my 2008 appointment. The doctor wants me back there in one year instead of two years, or earlier if my vision starts to get impaired. My eyes were dilated for a good portion of the day, and I didn’t like the feeling!



I did give our front lawn a little trim. I did need to put a trickle charger on the battery before the engine would turnover.



I watched and listened to a little of the Red Sox game, which started at 1 PM. The Sox play again at 1 PM today. The listening part took place when the mobile windshield replacement guy showed up at 3:30 PM to replace my cracked windshield. I didn’t realize that I could have had this mobile service done when my car was sitting at the other end of the State. If the new windshield leaks at all, I just call an 800 number, and they will send a technician anywhere in the State to repair it. Live and learn!



I was in bed by the time Linda returned from her Mah Jongg session last evening. She too was busy throughout the day, emptying suitcases, and doing errands.



Social Calendar – I am going off to get the car inspected at 8:30 AM. I need to stop and visit Mom at the nursing home. I haven’t been there in two weeks! She will probably ask where I have been. I can’t show her any new pictures because Linda can’t find her cord that goes from the camera to the computer. Oh Darn!

I think Linda has a couple of body maintenance procedures during the day. She also has to make some desserts for her Book Club meeting which she is hosting tonight. I will be in my man cave watching the first Boston Bruins playoff game.



Observation – The fun things that we were doing for the past few weeks could have only been done if we were retired. If we both worked until age 65 or later, then we couldn’t have bonded with both grandchildren who live hundreds of miles from one another. If we wanted to stay and extra day or so, work would have been a stumbling block. Retirement does have its positive side, but you have to do the time in the workforce to get to the retirement stage. It is truly not normal for young people to sit home and do nothing unless you have a severe physical disability. If you are able bodied, you should enter the work force, even if the job is menial, or go back to school.

Work is good for your mental health! It is like the fad of “Self Esteem”. You don’t give self esteem; you earn it by doing something. A job well done can bring on “Self Esteem.” Working hard to play a particular sport with winning results can bring out self esteem. If Mom and dad sit home all day and do nothing what kind of message are you sending your children? More importantly, who is paying for and allowing this to happen? Luckily the children of all of our friends have entered the workforce. Their parents, like Linda and I, must have gotten the message across!



We will be keeping the heat on for the next several days. We will have highs in the 40’s, and lows in the 30’s. The hill towns might get a coating of snow when a front moves in this evening. I put my snow blower away yesterday. It is resting in the back of my shed until next winter, I hope!



Have a great Thursday!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Monday

Dear Friends,

Yesterday went okay despite my blossoming cold, and Linda trying to make it through her cold. I feel so much better this morning despite the baby waking up at midnight crying. Linda tried everything in her motherly skills which included taking the baby to bed with us to calm him down. Nothing worked until Kevin took Max into his King size bed. I woke up at 7 AM because I heard Kevin changing Max's diaper. Kevin went back to bed, and I am up with Max watching "Yo Gabba, Gabba."

Today is our last full day with Max. Kyla returns from her cruise this evening. I think that I might be the person who picks her up at the airport.

Yesterday was a full day outside for Kevin and I. Kevin weeded while I pulled up over 100 staples which held plastic sheeting around the structure which held an outdoor hot tub. The ex husband of the previous owners took the $12,000 tub with him as part of the divorce.
We went to home depot, and purchased white decorative rock and several bags of mulch. We didn't finish the project, but Kevin will do so on his day off on Tuesday.

I did listen to the Red Sox on the Radio, but I only caught the last couple holes of the Masters on television.

Ginny Brodeur stopped by to visit. She is so good at recognizing shoots of various plants and flowers. I have no clue which are flowers and which are weeds. One year I dug up many flowers thinking that they were weeds. Linda wondered why the flowers never came out that year. I told her that the moles ate them. Oh Darn! Could I be a sinner?

It was leftovers for supper last evening. We did get an invite from the Brodeurs, but Linda and I were so sick yesterday that we were afraid of passing on the germs to the Brodeurs.

I went to bed at 9 PM since I was feeling so bad.

I did have two weird dreams last evening. One was about one of me e-mails recipients who works for the government. They had a party for him where he was sort of roasted by all of his friends. I remember a punch bowl full of some kind of exotic alcoholic mixture. I do remember the party continuing at the Shamrock in Dalton.
Just before I woke up, I had a dream about a son of another friend who has a sister who has a couple of kids. I know that this friend in real life is very close to earning a doctorate degree. I asked him if he was married. He didn't respond right away. I also said that his parents are hoping that he brings them a grandchild soon. My dream ended when his gay partner walked into the discussion. I don't even know that this guy is gay, it was just part of my dream.
I was trying to figure out why these dreams occurred. The first story probably came about because of my other friend who works for the government, and turned 50 on April 9, and me talking about a party for him.. The second dream is a mystery to me. Wait that is not true! Just before I went to bed, I watched some type of two person challenge program which has two lesbians as partners on the same team. The mind works in mysterious ways, at least my mind does!

Kevin will be off to work at 9:30 AM. It will be Linda, Max and Me together until Mom comes home, and then Kevin when closes up "Dough" for the evening.

Today is also packing day for Linda and I. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but we have two sets of clothes, one for short term stays, and the other for long term stays. If we had children, we would have to strap them to the roof of my car once tha car is packed with all the clothes.

Well, I have to end this e-mail sooner than planned. Max trying to pick up and eat cheerios didn't last as long as I had planned. Frankie Beans was there to pick up any dropped cheerios.

Have a great Monday at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Sunday Morning

Dear Friends,

Another day in North Tewksbury went very well except I might have picked up the grandchild's cold too. Linda didn't seem to be much better fighting her cold on Saturday. I started to get the sniffles just before bed time.

I did get my dose of sports starting with the Boston Bruins, and then progressing to the Masters' Golf Tournament, to the Boston Red Sox, to the Boston Celtics, and the Boston College men's hockey team. All the Boston teams fared very well.
I did call our son, Michael, during the baseball game while the Red Sox were doing battle with the Kansas City Royals in Kansas. He was with 25 other military guys. Yes, he did have on his Red Sox tee shirt. There were many Red Sox fans at the sold out game, and they were cheering loudly as the Red Sox were hitting several home runs.
Mike said that he was taking his family to the game today. They can get 10 dollar tickets. Even if Isabelle gets fidgety, and wants to leave the game early, they will still have gotten their value for their money.
In Fenway park, you can get one beer for your $10 bill! $10 dollars would pay for a quarter of an arm rest at Fenway park. There are no $10 seats in Boston!

Max's runny nose had decreased quite a bit on Saturday as Linda and I were popping pills, and hitting the Kleenex box. This might be the first cold of the season for both Linda and I. Oh darn!

Kevin did some yard work before heading off to his restaurant on Saturday.
After the breakfast routine today, we are heading off to Home Depot for some red cedar mulch, and some yard tools. Living in East Boston didn't require any of this gardening stuff because the big task was finding a parking spot on the streets of East Boston. Kevin and Kyla --> Welcome to the world of being a home owner!

Kyla is still enjoying her cruise. Her and her girlfriends were partying on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico on Saturday. She requested the name of a few of our favorite restaurants because she remembered that we had taken our children to Cozumel when they were young boys. We haven't been there in such a long time that some places have changed names, or don't exist anymore. They did find one great place, and they thanked us for our recommendation.

Ginny Brodeur stopped by after her Saturday teaching job, and a mid afternoon shower for a friend of hers. She just visited for a few minutes because she saw that we were passing around a lot of not so good germs. Jerry can't get himself sick with a cold, because he already is in a weakened state, and has to go through dialysis three times per week. The Curley's don't need to complicate the life of the Brodeur's as it currently exists.

We ordered Chinese (which was delivered) for for supper last evening. The restaurant is about three miles from Kevin and Kyla's place. The food was okay. This place seems to give more rice or noodles along with the main dish. The flavors of the food was pretty much the same as what we get in the Berkshires.

I might be outside with Kevin, and listening to the Red Sox instead of watching the game on television this afternoon. I should be able to catch the final few holes of the Master's on television later on this afternoon. I am cheering for Phil Mickelson (who is an excellent role model), but I would like to see Tiger (who is a bit rusty) up near the top of the field too. Tiger's putting let him down on Saturday. Putting on that course is not an easy task even if the putts are only two feet long. I did enjoy seeing Fred Couples in third place who does have a legitimate chance of winning the Masters.

Our UNICO President sent an E-mail saying that the UNICO Wine Tasting event on Friday night in Pittsfield, which the Curley's missed, went very well. I will be missing the board meeting on Monday, and the membership meeting the following Monday so I will have to wait until the minutes of the both meetings get published to see how financially successful that our fundraiser went.

Mine disaster -- Working a coal mine wouldn't be on my list of favorite occupations.The workers seem to risk their lives going into the mine each day.

News -- It was sad to see the Polish President, and several top officials go down in a pilot error airplane crash.

More news -- I did like the article about the Somali pirates taking shots at a United States military vessel. When you mess with the big guys in your little skiff, you lose! The United States, picked up six pirates as their skiff was sinking, and were treating them on the U.S. vessel. Would any of us be sad if the all of the pirates just happened to have died in the conflict? I think not!
Father Albert Yesue would probably have forgiven the sinners!

Well, I just popped a couple of Sudafed. I am going to try and quietly go off and get a Sunday Boston Globe, and more cold supplies as soon as the Rite Aid drugstore opens up.

Have a great Sunday!
Despite our colds, Linda and I are planning on having a great day!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Saturday Morning

Dear Friends,

I am up again too early this morning. This means that Max and I will go for an afternoon nap about the same time. I did need a nap on Friday.

Our Friday went okay, but not great! Linda woke up with a cold, and suffered for most of the day. She did tough it out, and took the attitude that "Mothers (and grandparents) can't be sick when there is child rearing / babysitting to do!"

Max and me kept her busy so that she didn't have time to really feel the effects from the cold. When she woke up, she took all the cold remedies which we brought with us. The first thing that she had to do was to set up the crock pot of Beef Stroganoff. Kevin and I dealt with Max's morning needs until Kevin left for work at 9:30 AM. I then started a full load of my clothes which Linda eventually dried and folded.

After Max went down for his morning nap, I went off to Walmart to be with the beautiful people. I had to get some basic supplies for Kevin's home, and some cold stuff for Linda. We had just about enough time to have a sandwich for lunch before Max woke up from his morning nap. I abandoned Linda and Max around 1:30 PM because my body was calling for sleep.

When I woke up from my two hour nap, Max was just settling down for his afternoon nap. I watched a little golf. Kevin arrived home around the supper hour, and we all had supper together. It was kind of pleasant to have another set of hands to help take care of Max. The Strogonoff was a big hit. It is good to be living with a Domestic Goddess!
Max had a little crushed up potato and carrots left over from the pot roast supper instead of baby food. Did you ever try to eat baby food? It is some nasty tasty stuff.

Ginny Brodeur wasn't able to join us for supper especially after Linda told her that she picked up Max's cold / sniffles. Ginny also had to correct some papers, and prepare for her Saturday morning class which she teaches from 9 AM until 2:30 PM at a nearby Community College.
I will call Jerry today to see how his dialysis went on Friday.

Some of the kid's programs on television are starting to get to me. "Yo, Gabba, Gabba" is number one on my list. Our kids grew up with "Sesame Street", and that was enough. This generation has so many programs to choose from. Of course, I should be stressing reading, but with Max teething, he likes to chew on the books at the current time.

Max resisted going to bed, but he did eventually tire himself out. Kevin went to bed first. I stayed up and watched the entire Red Sox game even though they lost the contest. Linda stayed up and hour or so after I went to bed.

Our friends, whom would normally have gone to the Wine Tasting event, decided to go to East Side Pizza. That is quite a let down!
One couple are wine aficionados, but the other couple could really care less about wine as a primary beverage. They did miss a big time array of Italian food. Oh well, the Curley's are like a cog in a wheel. If the cog isn't there, the wheel won't turn!

Yesterday, was a dreary and rainy day here in the Boston area. Even the two cats, and two dogs didn't want to go out in the rain. It is going to be cool, but okay today. Sunday will be the best day of the weekend which is Kevin's day off.

We are missing another party this evening in the Berkshires. An Irish Sister city officer has a son who is turning 20 years old.
Have you noticed that the Irish don't need much of a motivating factor to have a party? We saw this happen when we visited our Irish Sister City in 1999. We were picked up at Shannon airport by our Irish hosts at 7:30 AM. There was a Christening the night before, and some of our hosts stayed up and partied all night before they picked us up by means of a chartered bus at the airport. To pull an all niter for a Christening opened our eyes!

Since Kevin doesn't open up until 1 PM on Saturday, he has a couple of projects around the home to take care of. I hope Linda wakes up better than she looked and felt on Friday. I feel great!

We have no supper food in the house right now. I was hoping that the Brodeur's would invite us for supper this evneing, but Ginny usually comes home from teaching around 3 PM, and she is totally whipped, and she is in no mood for preparing supper.
I haven't discussed what the Curley's are going to do for supper. It might be take out for both families!
One of these days, Kevin will have his own grill on his deck, and I( and Kevin too)will be doing some "Grillin and Chillin."

Politics -- The President will have a chance to appoint another Supreme Court Judge. The Republicans are probably "shaking in their boots" knowing that a second judge with Liberal tendencies might be appointed.

Sports -- I have the Bruins, the Masters, and the Red Sox to give me my daily jolt of sports while trying to entertain Max.

Kyla's Cruise Adventure -- Since this is her first Cruise, she didn't know what to experience. I am not sure if she would rate it an A ++ adventure.
This sounds a lot similar to my (Linda was with me) experience on the one and only cruise which I have been on. I like getting to a destination, and enjoying what the destination place has to offer. I couldn't get by the fact that the vacation begins the minute you are on the ship. Even though the Cruise ship is just like a large floating hotel, I felt trapped more that relaxed. Maybe it was my personality, or the fact that I could get to say to, "the Caribbean", within few hours in a airplane as opposed to a two day trip on a ship in the water. Will I ever go on a Cruise again in my lifetime? If we go with a bunch of people, or when my legs won't allow me to be too mobile.

Our next door neighbor turned 50 years old yesterday. If we were home, Linda and I would have had a little party /gathering in his honor even though he didn't want one. I think that 50 is the age where he can now join AARP!
We would have had a Maters' Golf Party since he is a huge fan of Tiger Woods. The ratings have already gone up since Tiger is back on the tour again. He is so good for golf even though he has a sexual addiction.
They reporters did say that his wife and kids are in town staying at a nearby hotel. I bet he goes straight to the hotel after golf to be with his family.

Have a great weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Friday Morning

Dear Friends,

I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I love the solitude of being up as everyone else is sleeping. It gives me a chance to gather my thoughts without interruption.

Our Thursday went very well. Our grandchildren was his usual jovial self. I just hope that his teeth emerge soon. He has been teething for what seems weeks. He is ready for some solid food.

I always like to accomplish tasks each day, and I did so yesterday. I went off with the Brodeur Lad for an hour or so to hit some gold balls at a nearby range. Jerry was giving a former colleague of his a lesson. His friend is a left handed ball striker. I even tried hitting left handed since my normal baseball swing is left handed. I am going to stick with being a right handed golfer.

Speaking of golf, it appears that Tiger is back in the hunt with respect to the Masters' Golf Tournament. He is only 2 strokes off of the lead. What really got me is when the reporters spent more time interviewing Tiger that the multiple amount of golfers whom shot better than he did. Yes, he does deserve a little press after returning to golf after his transgressions, but enough is enough! Actually, I am rooting for him as a golfer, but he won't be my role model as a married man!

Besides the golf, I borrowed a push rotary mower from the Brodeur's, and cut Kevin's lawn. It was a 45 minute non stop affair. Kevin insists that he wants to cut his own lawn. Well, he better get a self propelled lawn mower and / or a riding one too. The previous owner had a lawn service guy do the lawn. As a matter of fact, the guy across the street had his lawn done at 7:15 AM yesterday morning. This lawn care outfit did several houses on the street. They were gone before I had a chance to ask them for a business card.

The temperature really cooled off in the Eastern end of the State yesterday. The Berkshires were warmer than Boston.

Speaking of the Berkshires, the Curley's will be missing the UNICO Wine Tasting event this evening. Some of our friends are attending the event without us which is highly unusual.

Speaking of alcohol, I made a beverage run to the local Liquor store yesterday. As I left the parking lot, I always turn on the radio and listen to the Boston Sports channel WEEI. The first words on the radio station were: "Do you have a problem with alcohol?" The commercial went through all the problems a person might have with alcohol in hopes of recruiting people for one of those test trials at a major Boston Hospital. I think that they want to test a pill on people who might have a problem with alcohol to see if the pill can help resist the urge to consume alcohol.

What really got to me was this was the second time this week that I got in the car and the commercial was playing. I had to drop off something at the Brodeur's, next door neighbor's to our son's home, on Wednesday. I had one beer at the Brodeur's, and got in my car to head back to my son's place (a one minute drive), and what do I hear: "Do you have a problem with alcohol?" Is this some kind of message from God? Not!

Our son came exhausted from another 12 hour day. They were busy once again at "Dough". At least there is no recession in our son's line of work. People have to eat, and sometimes they want someone else to do the cooking.

The crock pot pot roast which Linda and I prepared turned out very well. We saved some for Kevin, and he enjoyed every morsel of it. We should have invited the Brodeur's for supper, but the boneless pot roast was on the small size. If I did a little more planning when I bought the roast the other day, I could have bought two of them.

It is beef Strogonoff this evening. We are going to use hamburger meat instead of chunks of beef. I can't invite Jerry Brodeur because he will be in the middle of his dialysis session, but Ginny Brodeur is welcome to join us. Kevin said that he might be getting out of work a little earlier today so that we can all eat together.

Kyla called last evening when we were all home, she was at the Casino on the cruise ship that her and her girlfriends are on. The moment she called, she was winning, but most of us know that the Casino is the eventual winner.

Kyla did call us earlier in the day to see how her son was doing. I think that she might have gotten the impression that us baby boomers were struggling with the baby sitting because I used the word "exhausting" in a previous e-mail. Well, I can't lie! The thirty year age difference between us could be a reason that we are tired at the end of the day. Like I always said, child rearing is a young person's game. All those women who decided that they wanted to bear a child after they were 50 years old better be in great physical and mental shape.

Speaking of the grandchild, Linda, Max, and I have been having supper together at the dinning room table. Linda puts the high chair right next to her, and feeds Max in between bites of her own food. Last evening it was supper and a bath. Max likes water just like when our two boys were his age.

Politics -- Nothing really jumped out at me.

News -- I don't think that I could ever be a coal miner. When the news reporters said that the trapped miners are 5 miles down in the ground, it got me thinking. I can't even do a normal MRI because I get claustrophobic when I enter that tube. I always opt for open MRI's.

I have to go to Walmart today to purchase some basic supplies. We are also going to wash and dry some of our clothes. We havn't been home since March 26. When we arrived that day, we had on cold weather type of clothes. We will wearing them today and through out the weekend. We have a stretch of weather in the Boston area not getting out of thew 50's.

The Red Sox are trying to recover from their thrashing by the New York Yankees earlier this week. I hope they fair well against a not so great team, the Kansas City Royals. Mike, our other son, will be attending one the games with a bunch of his buddies. Of course, he will be wearing a Red Sox shirt.

I was also thinking that I really don't miss home. When we arrive home early next week, there will be so much to do, and I am not looking forward to doing any of it. Of course, I have to visit Mom in the nursing home. I haven't seen her in almost two weeks. Guilt!

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend.
We will have another fun day in North Tewksbury for sure.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Tuesday Morning

Dear Friends,



Our final full day in Kansas went as planned. We had our last supper at a barbecue place in downtown Kansas. It was spectacular. I am so glad that Linda and I and this Curley family are not vegetarians. If you ever visit Kansas, you have to sample the various meats that are available, and we did!



In a few short hours, we will be flying back to the East Coat. Our one stop flight should have us arriving at Logan a little after 5 PM. Our son Kevin will be chilling with Max at his restaurant, and he will be waiting for us to call for the pickup. If you remember, his restaurant is 1.1 miles from the airport.



This trip has been so much fun. We started off with Max and his family from East Boston, and went to Kansas to be with his cousin Isabelle in Kansas. We now head back to Boston, and eventually to their now North Tewksbury home to be with Max through the weekend. Can you overdose dealing with grandchildren? I think not!



Life is so good right now, and I hope that it continues for a long time. I say this because I lost another baby boomer friend from the Berkshires the other day. He was the co-owner of the repair shop where we take our cars. A brain tumor was the cause of his eventual death which was diagnosed in November.

Like I said, don’t sweat the little stuff in life, you never know when you are going to meet your maker. Surround yourself with family and friends which the Curley’s constantly do!



I did watch some sports yesterday. I tried watching the Kansas City Royals on their opening day yesterday. The reporters have been talking about how the Royals are going to improve their prone ways this year. Five players tried to catch in infield pop during the first inning of yesterday’s game, but they couldn’t catch the ball. They eventually lost the game by an 8 to 4 score.

The Red Sox are coming to Kansas this weekend. Mike and some friends are going to one of the games this weekend. If we planned out rip a little better, I would have been going with them.

I will catch the Red Sox vs Yankee game in North Tewksbury this evening.



My bird feeding experience in Kansas has been put on hold. The wind has been lifting the cover off the bird feeder, and dumping the whole container of seed on the ground. It is not squirrels doing the thing because we haven’t seen any squirrels during the several times which we have visited Kansas.



Well, I am going to grab some breakfast, and do some packing. We are departing their home at 10:15 AM. It will be sad to say goodbye at the airport.





Have a great Tuesday.

Ours will be a fun one for sure! The Curley Lad

Hello on Monday Morning

Dear Friends,



We had a wonderful Easter here in Kansas. The brunch went well at the home of a military friend one street over from our son’s house.

Isabelle was the youngest of the 7 children whom were there. After consuming a delicious amount of breakfast type food, the hosts had an Easter Egg hunt, and played some games until Isabelle decided it was time to go back home.



Once again, Isabelle failed to take an afternoon nap, but not Grandpa. I was watching the Boston Celtics basketball until I started to fade. 1.5 hours later I awoke refreshed! After seeing the highlights of the game on ESPN, it looks like I should have watched the game to its completion. The game turned out to be close at the end. There were a bunch of technical fouls, and an ejection of the Cleveland coach. The game was a preview of the upcoming playoffs.



Linda and I put together a wonderful ham dinner. Danielle had purchased a semi boneless low sodium ham. Linda whipped up a delicious glaze for the ham. We also made a casserole dish of scalloped potatoes. I grilled a batch of asparagus, and the meal was complete. We skipped making gravy for the ham What was really great was that I talked Linda and Danielle into not getting a spiral ham. I like getting a ham that you have to carve yourself. Linda does cook a spiral ham very well so that it is not dried out, but there is nothing like carving your own ham (as long as you have sharp knives which Mike and Danielle do have.)



After cleaning up the kitchen, and interacting with Isabelle, I hunkered down for a little Sunday night baseball. The Yankees and Red Sox had their usual marathon baseball game. If you went to bed early because the Yankess had a 5 to1 lead, you missed a great game. The Sox ended up winning by a 9 to 7 score. Pderoia received the player of the game award, but there were many heroes for the Red Sox.



Well, today is our last full day with Isabelle, and her Mom and Dad. We will maximize the interaction with Isabelle and her Mom and Dad. Mike is going off to work a little after 7 AM (CST).

We fly out of Kansas around 10 AM on Tuesday. This won’t be a direct flight. I think that we have a layover in Milwaukee before flying into Logan. Since Tuesday is the day Kevin takes off from work, he and Max will be picking us up when the plane arrives a little after 5 PM.



As of this moment, Kyla’s cruise with a few girlfriends is still on. This means that we will be taking care of Max until she returns from the short cruise. This could mean that we won’t be going home until the following Tuesday. There is a UNICO wine tasting event this coming Friday night. I might go back to the Berkshires, and attend the function alone. This is not a firm decision on my part.

I also have to get that crack in the windshield repaired before my car can get inspected. April is my inspection month.

I just realized that I made an eye doctor appointment for the day Kyla returns from the cruise. I am busy even if I am not home!



We never did the predicted thunderstorms on Sunday. Kansas did get some, but not here where Mike and Danielle live.



Our other grandchild Max went to day care for the first time on Friday. The child care workers had to fill out an accident report because Max banged his head. It was a minor event, and there were no visible signs of any injury, but I guess it is standard protocol.



In a telephone conversation, the Brodeur’s said that they had three deer in their yard eating the tender shoots of the flowers which are starting to emerge from the ground. I had just asked them when we were there a week ago if they had seen any deer.

I did notice one the ornamental evergreen bushes in our son’s yard, one street away from the Brodeur’s, had been chewed on in precisely the way that a deer would eat them. The same set of woods border the Brodeur’s back yard as well as Kevin and Kyla’s back yard. Should we get a bird feeder for Kevin and Kyla?



Also their son Todd, who lives in New Hampshire with his pregnant wife, Anitra, said that they saw a moose and her offspring foraging for food in the small pond which borders their home.



The bird feeder which we put out for Isabelle has attracted on bird in three days. Oh Darn!



Kansas is a nice place to visit, but I miss the woods back home. I love seeing the creatures in my back yard except for the bears who knock down my bird feeders.



Well, I have to do some quiet activities. I thought that I heard Isabelle making some noise, but I didn’t wake her up. Our bedroom is one floor below where we are sleeping. Can me tapping the keys of the laptop wake her up? Isabelle does have bionic ears. When she hears something which is barely audible to us, she always says; “What is that?”

Speaking of Isabelle, she has a bug phobia. When she sees the common house fly on her outdoor toys, she won’t go on them. We had to purchase her a fly swatter at Walmartfor her. Nobody knows where she got this phobia from. We are guessing that she go stung by a bee last summer, and now she figures all bugs are bad!



Have a great week at work or play.

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Easter Morning

Dear Friends,



We had a pleasant day on Saturday. The eggs got colored and the cookies were made and decorated by Linda. Isabelle snuck a couple of cookies before Linda put the icing on them last evening.

I watched the Red Sox in their final exhibition game on Saturday afternoon. I got to watch NCAA basketball last evening after another great supper.

What can I say but “Life is Good!”



Today we are off to a 9:30 AM brunch at a neighbor’s house. It appears that we will have a ham supper with scalloped potatoes, and a vegetable.



My Red Sox play the first game of the season this evening on Sunday night baseball. I am one happy camper.



Isabelle is going to do a little Easter egg hunt in the house this morning before we head off to the brunch. The temperatures will reach the mid 70’s here in Kansas.



Observation – Like I said in previous e-mails, I like reading the local Kansas City Star newspaper. I look for the similarities and differences of East Coast newspapers. There is always some good local stories in the newspapers that you wouldn’t read about in our eastern newspapers. For example, a person reported to the police that his 6 foot boa constrictor escaped from his house. The people in the neighborhood were asked to watch out for their small children and pets.



The Sunday fliers came in the mail today. I was looking through the typical CVS flier which we get every Sunday. Kansas sells beer , wine, and liquor out of their CVS stores. You can skip getting your prescriptions and stick to getting alcohol for any aches and pains that you might have.



Kansas City has its share of shootings, robberies, and assaults just like we do. Their obituaries are well written, and long. They even highlight one of the deceased everyday in the local newspaper.



There is lot more religion related articles, and bible stuff pretty much daily along with Billy Graham’s column in the Kansas City Star.

More people come to the neighborhoods trying to get you to join some church. A Church Revival Meeting for a Baptist Church was stuck on the front door this morning.



The newspaper has a Democratic slant which I enjoy, but the conservatives don’t relish that fact.



I can’t believe that a week has gone. Today and tomorrow are the last full days we have left in Kansas. We will probably be back after Danielle has her baby in mid May. Her parents, from Minnesota, will be there when she delivers the baby.



While doing different activities throughout the day with the grandchild, I noticed that she likes mechanical things like tools. Of course, she has her favorite soft creatures, she is also fashion conscientious, but her next gift from us might be a kids tool set. She also has no fear when she goes to a play ground, and gravitates to the highest slide. I think that she might be a pilot some day when she grows up like her mom.



Have to get dressed for our first adventure!

Have a great Easter.

Talk to you soon! The Curley Lad

Hello on Saturday

Dear Friends,



Our Friday went okay except for a little bump in the road. I caused the bump in the road. The day was going fine. Mike and Danielle went off to see a movie while Linda and I took over taking care of Isabelle. I took a nap, but Isabelle refused to take a nap. Linda almost fell asleep trying to tire her out. Isabelle won!

The bump in the road occurred after I woke up from the nap. I peeled a bunch of potatoes, and put the peels in the garbage disposal. I turned on the disposal, and the peels clogged the drain line. It was so jammed up that a plunger didn’t help at all. So after a pleasant afternoon at the movies, Mike came home to the mess that I created. He had to empty the contents in the cupboard underneath the sink, just to get at the pipes. About 30 minutes later the water was flowing freely.

I guess that I forgot that appliances put into a house by contractors are not necessarily of a top notch quality. Our Maytag disposal at home (which is not made by the Maytag Corporation any more even though appliances still carries the name) can grind up pretty much anything. Ours will even grind up shrimp shells. Vegetables peels aren’t even a challenge with our machine. Corn husks and banana peels are about the only thing that it can’t handle. I usually stay away from bones, but it will grind up small chicken bones if I want to give it a work out.



We had a wonderful Salmon meal with oven roasted potatoes, and green beans.



We are just about ready to color the eggs, and then make and decorate a batch of sugar cookies.



The temperatures will reach the mid 60’s today, but the skies are blue and cloudless.



I have plenty of sports to keep me busy starting with some NCAA Men Final Four playoff games which start at 5 PM CST.



Observation – Setting rules for Toddlers appears to be a trying task. To try and get toddlers to listen and process information takes a lot of repetition. Actually this sounds a good deal like me. I try and process what Linda tells me, but I often just do what I want to do. Linda says that this trait seems to have arisen / evolved with age. She claims that I was more cooperative when we were first married. I hope that you young married couples listen to what I am saying. For you young wives, let us hope that your husbands haven’t started this evolution yet. Maybe it is because we have been together so long.

Could it be we started off as caveman, tamed a little by our wives during the early part of marriage, but had the primal urge to return to the caveman state?



The egg coloring ended. Good thing that we did only a dozen because the attention span is not great for a toddler even though she had fun.



Have a great Saturday.

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Good Friday

Dear Friends,



We had another pleasant day in Kansas. We dined out at a local restaurant for supper. Isabelle didn’t take an afternoon nap like I did so there were a few complications trying to get her to sit still. The food was great. Linda and I had ribs for two people, and four side dishes. Usually you get two sides if your order one set of ribs.

Today everyone will be home together since Mike has the day off. I believe that we are going to color a batch of eggs.

The cup cake making went by well yesterday. I worked with Isabelle to put some sprinkles on a cup cake. She gave up after a minute or so and ate the cupcake.

That one cupcake messed up her biorhythm all day. Anyone who claims that sugar doesn’t affect children is really mistaken!



Tiger Woods is playing in the Masters next week. His wife and two children will not be present to cheer him on. Oh Darn! I guess she is not in the forgiving mood quite yet. Maybe Tiger Woods should be like our Lord, and do what Jesus did for us sinners by dying on the Cross. Hold on a minute!

I don’t want to get hung up on religion again even though I know that the elder Yesue was pulling the Curley chain with respect to his comments made on Thursday.



Parents can be the purveyors of a moral education for their child just by the way they bring them up.



There are more churches in Kansas than you can imagine. On the way to Walmart on Thursday, we have to go by a Church in the middle what once farm land called the Church of the Open Door. The Church is huge including a parish center. There must be a lot of believers in Kansas to support a place like this. In the local newspaper, Blly G. has a daily column to help its readers be connected to religion. After the Jim and Tammy Baker fiasco, you would think that people might stop sending contributions to some of these less than honest ministers, but they keep on doing so. Even if the Bakers fell by the wayside, new ones pop up to keep the contributions flowing. Religion is big business as well as attempting to save a few souls.



Speaking of Walmart, this is one is a Super Walmart where you can purchase pretty much everything including grocery store food, and beer and wine. I was glad to see that this Walmart continues it policy to hire the mentally and physically challenged.



While in Walmart, I purchased some sunflower seeds and a bird feeder and hanger. I will let Mike hang it today. They don’t get the same creatures in their back yard that we do so there will be no threat to life and limbs.



I finished savory another book, but I still have two more to go.



The potty training is going quite well. Isabelle didn’t wear a diaper all day on Thursday. She is really progressing quite nicely.



I am the one up right now, but I think that I hear her stirring.



Fish is on the menu for this evening supper.



We have some thunderstorms rolling in around noontime. The East coast will be getting them soon. I did some pictures of the Rhode Island flooding on the news. It looked kind of devastating.

I also saw that the President was making his rounds in the Northeast. I wish that I could have been there for a photo op.



Have a great weekend!

Spend a little time thinking of God!

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad

Hello on Thursday Morning

Dear Friends,



Before we headed off to the zoo on Wednesday morning, Isabelle was talking about seeing the Hippo’s. We are not sure why. Maybe she saw them in one of multiple children’s books.

We headed right to the Hippo exhibit. They were feeding the two of them as we arrived. Isabelle was happy.



When we arrived at the zoo around 10 AM it seemed like other people with children thought it would be a perfect day to visit the zoo. There was also a good deal of Moms who were pregnant like Danielle. Kansas seems to be a place with a good deal of young people who happen to be producing children.



Observation I – The zoo visit also got me thinking about how difficult the job for the female has who decides that she wants to have children. The male’s role in the production of the child is so minimal. Think of the female who has this bundle of joy growing in their body for nine months. After the child is born, the mother is still the go to person. If the mother so chooses, she then has to juggle between a job, and the family. The female is the pulse of that family no matter what form or shape it takes on.

The stay at home Mom has no easy task either. Besides being the first nurturer, the stay at home mom becomes the child’s first teacher. The stay at home mom is in charge of the household. While taking care of their first child, I can see Danielle thinking about what the supper time meal will be for her husband and child.

When the second child arrives during mid May, another challenge begins with a newborn, and toddler both with a different set of needs. I guess I forgot what it was like when we had our two boys. I guess that I never realized how strong the female of the species really was.

As soon as our son comes home from work, their daughter comes running to dad. Dad gets her out of the house and does some form of physical activities with her. The other set of hands is so important in childrearing. I praise the single moms who try and make it work, but their task is even more daunting. Having another adult to interact with after taking care of the child all day is important for the mental health of the Mom.



Observation II -- So Sandra Bullock’s soon to be ex husband is claiming that he is addicted to sex. To me these guys are like pedophiles. Most pedophiles do the crime again and again after jail, after counseling, etc. Even if it is not a crime in the eyes of the law of having multiple sex partners, I don’t think that these men (like Tiger and Bullock’s husband) can ever stop their learned behavior. How many of our wives would take us back after we violated our marriage vows, and went through counseling? My wife has already told me that she would take matter in to her owns hands with a meat cleaver!



Social Calendar – I went to be before that was decided. I know that there was some talk about egg coloring, decorating, and some bunny shaped cup cake making.

Mike does have Good Friday off which doesn’t happen that often. There was some talk about going to ribs place before we head back east on Tuesday.



We have another day on tap with temperatures in the 80’s. This means that we will be spending time outdoors today.



Well, I hope that everyone has a great Thursday.

The time is going by too fast for us in Kansas.

Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad