Dear Friends,
Our Wednesday went as planned. I came home after a quick nine holes of golf. The painter was finishing up the last of the painting. I did take his business card. I might have him do the deck and the screened in room on the deck next spring. I have done it over the past few years. You can really tell an amateur has done it.
Linda did a little more thinning out of her closet while the painter man was doing his project.
Linda made a couple of sandwiches for our lunch. She really is a good sandwich maker. Maybe she passed that talent onto Kevin. His sandwiches at his restaurant are some of the best in the Boston area.
After lunch, and after the painter finished, Linda went off to do some errands, and I took a nap. Linda was still doing her errands when I woke up. I gave the lawn a trim, and took the clippings to the resource recovery plant.
She once again became a domestic goddess, and prepared a restaurant quality salad. We also had some leftover crock pot soup.
Her girlfriends picked her up at 6:45 PM, and they headed off to BONCO. I was in bed by the time she arrived home. She will fill me in how things went when she wakes up today.
I am free today until 12:50 PM. I am picking up a UNICO friend, who lives a couple houses north of the Curley home, and we are heading off to the ITAM. My friend and I and some other UNICO brothers and sisters will be preparing and serving finger food for a fundraiser for a baby boomer couple. The wife has ALS, and she is failing very fast. The husband, who I played high school football against, has Alzheimer’s disease. This couple has been dealt an awful deck of cards. Neither of them is even able to play the hand that they were dealt. For a husband and wife to be sick at the same time is the worst of the worst.
The actual fundraiser goes from 5 PM until 9 PM. The community has really been rallying in support of this wonderful couple. We are hoping for a great turnout despite the forecast of an all day rain.
On a happier note, we are finally going to get some needed rain. My grass might be green by the time that the storm exits the Berkshires.
Observation – The news had the usual stuff in it, but I did focus on the brawl during a youth football game in Texas. The brief video showed the coaches from both teams in an all out brawl. All the coaches and both teams have now been banned from the league that they were in. What is wrong with these people who deal with our youth? Often the volunteer coaches are frustrated athletes who didn’t fair well when they were playing. They see their children as budding stars in the NFL.
I remember Kevin played hockey in the youth leagues, and eventually at the high school level. I used to stay away from the parents who to thought that their children would continue with hockey after high school, and eventually become professional athletes. These parents used to yell at the referees, pound the glass around the rink at what they thought was a bad call. I didn’t want to be around them.
When I was a high school soccer referee, I did a soccer game at my former high school. One of the parents for the Lee High School team screamed during the whole soccer match. His son was embarrassed by the action of his father. His father never played soccer. There were only three sports when his father went to Lee High; Football, Basketball, and Baseball. At one point during the game the boy went over to his father, and told him to be quiet. His father’s ranting and raving actually broke his son’s concentration.
Massachusetts passed a law that only a few States have enacted; No texting while driving! You can’t even scan the internet while driving. A 16 or 17 year old can’t even talk on the cell phone. Any driver under 18 caught using their cell phone will be fined ($100) and lose their license for 60 days. The law was enacted to save the lives of our young people. I have never texted anyone while driving. I struggle just making a cell phone call to anyone, or answering a call to me. One of these days, we might even get a hands free device for the Kia. Was life simpler without cell phones? Cell phones are a way of life right now.
A few months ago, I stopped in a rest area to make a longer than normal cell phone call. A Sate trooper was there trying to pick up speeders by using his radar gun. He thought that I pulled into this “no sanitary facilities” area to get his help.I was just using common sense about talking on a cell phone and driving. I was ahead of the law Massachusetts just passed.
I wonder if the people who think that government should not butt into our cell phone use will protest the new law.
Have a great Thursday.
I say: “Let the rains fall”, but not flood our area like it did in the Carolina’s.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Neither the ceiling guy nor the painter was able to finish their jobs on Tuesday. The ceiling guy ran out of ceiling tiles, and the painter had to sand and prime the spots that we thought were just touch up spots. Oh Darn!
Linda a fun time at Mah Jongg, and her friends gave her a mini birthday party.
I did get to read a book while the workers were at our house.
It was too muggy for cooking food in the kitchen for supper so I grilled some burgers and dogs.
I am booked in for a 9:10 AM tee time. Me and the usual suspects will be squeezing in a quick nine holes.
I am pretty sure that Linda has no commitments during the day. She has her monthly BONCO session at a fiend’s home in a neighboring town. This means that she will be missing her knitting group which meets at Panera Bread on Wednesday nights.
Today is supposed to be a nice day for golf. Thursday we have some rain from a tropical storm coming in. The rain is supposed to end by Friday morning which I hope doesn’t interfere with our Friday golf with my senior buddies Tee times end after Thursday.
The weekend will be seasonally cool with Saturday not getting out of the 50’s. I am ready for the cooler weather.
National News – How about the wackos who attended the birthday party for a 3 year old at an Eagles Hall. They brought in there own beer, and ended up using the bottle as weapons during a big time brawl. The father of the girl, and the mother’s new boyfriend initiated the fight. “Stupid people shouldn’t breed” rings true again.
Another news item which caught my attention was the college student in Texas who took an AK-47, and started shooting while on campus. He did shoot himself before the ordeal ended.
A few military guys killing civilians for sport in Afghanistan has caused a bit of harm.
Well, the President’s talking about the fact that our schools need an overhaul on Monday has people discussing how to do it all week. I still say to fix the family, and you will fix education.
Sports – The Yankees, and the Tampa Rays clinched playoff births. “Wait until next year” will be the theme for the Sox for the rest of the season.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Neither the ceiling guy nor the painter was able to finish their jobs on Tuesday. The ceiling guy ran out of ceiling tiles, and the painter had to sand and prime the spots that we thought were just touch up spots. Oh Darn!
Linda a fun time at Mah Jongg, and her friends gave her a mini birthday party.
I did get to read a book while the workers were at our house.
It was too muggy for cooking food in the kitchen for supper so I grilled some burgers and dogs.
I am booked in for a 9:10 AM tee time. Me and the usual suspects will be squeezing in a quick nine holes.
I am pretty sure that Linda has no commitments during the day. She has her monthly BONCO session at a fiend’s home in a neighboring town. This means that she will be missing her knitting group which meets at Panera Bread on Wednesday nights.
Today is supposed to be a nice day for golf. Thursday we have some rain from a tropical storm coming in. The rain is supposed to end by Friday morning which I hope doesn’t interfere with our Friday golf with my senior buddies Tee times end after Thursday.
The weekend will be seasonally cool with Saturday not getting out of the 50’s. I am ready for the cooler weather.
National News – How about the wackos who attended the birthday party for a 3 year old at an Eagles Hall. They brought in there own beer, and ended up using the bottle as weapons during a big time brawl. The father of the girl, and the mother’s new boyfriend initiated the fight. “Stupid people shouldn’t breed” rings true again.
Another news item which caught my attention was the college student in Texas who took an AK-47, and started shooting while on campus. He did shoot himself before the ordeal ended.
A few military guys killing civilians for sport in Afghanistan has caused a bit of harm.
Well, the President’s talking about the fact that our schools need an overhaul on Monday has people discussing how to do it all week. I still say to fix the family, and you will fix education.
Sports – The Yankees, and the Tampa Rays clinched playoff births. “Wait until next year” will be the theme for the Sox for the rest of the season.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hello on Tuesday
Dear Friends,
Our Monday was a quiet one.
Our son and his child left for north Tewksbury at 8 AM.
After they left, I spent a little while returning our house to an adult only living space.
I spent several hours doing loads of my clothes, and hauling bar glasses from the basement to the dish washer and back. I never realized how many glasses that I really had. I have another load or two to do today.
The contractor dropped off ceiling tiles during the middle of the afternoon, and he plans on installing them this morning at 10 AM. The painter is coming a little earlier to do some touch up paint work in the hallway.
Linda whipped up a crock pot soup while I was doing my thing. The boneless chicken thighs, beans, and vegetables in the soup made for a wonderful supper meal along with some Italian Bread.
Linda did make a one grocery store stop to pick up a couple of those pork rib roasts that I mentioned in a previous e-mail. She also took our Mac computer to a repair shop to see if it is worth fixing. It has been inoperable for several months. We use a Dell lap top currently for all of our computer needs, and we really like the operating system.
Linda has her usual Tuesday Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4 PM. I have enough to keep me busy around the home.
I might require an afternoon nap. I did take one on Monday.
Sports – The Red Sox won their game, and the Yankees and Rays lost their respective contests.
I can’t believe that Chicago Bears beat the Packers last evening.
Education – Linda and I watched the interview between Matt Lauer and President Obama on the Today Show on Monday. Longer school years are on the horizon, but how are our local communities going to pay teachers to work a month longer than they normally do? The President wants the best and the brightest teachers in the classroom, but so doesn’t every school system. He wants the students from the tough and low income schools and students in general to get higher standardized test scores, but he did admit that education starts in the home. There are currently a good deal of single parent homes which almost makes the President’s proposed goals a daunting task. I am not trying to imply the single moms or single dads can’t do the job, but it is so difficult.
Many these students who enter our schools come from fatherless homes. Unless this changes, a good number of our students are doomed to failure. It takes two people to make a baby, and it also takes two people to participate in child rearing.
A statistic came out the other day that grandparents are raising 3 million of their grandchildren in the United States. This is a scary statistic.
Parents have to be willing to shut off the television, computer games, cell phones, etc., and have their children sit down and read to them, and when they get older make them sit down and do their homework.
Role models are another important component of child rearing. Children have to see their mother and father interacting with one another. They should observe that one or both of their parents have to go off to work to provide for the family. Parents have to engage their children in extra curricular activities. It would have been quite impossible if Linda had to raise our two boys on her own. Fathers and their male children bond in a different way than with their Mom. Do you think that Linda would have played catch with our boys in the back yard? Do you think Linda would have shown them how to put a worm on a hook, or take the boys ice fishing, target shooting, hunting, swing a baseball bat, swing a golf club, shoot some hoops, etc.?
One Christmas when our children were small, Linda spent days and hours searching for those Cabbage Patch Dolls. Well, she bought them for our two sons. She didn’t get the reaction that she wanted from our two boys. Our boys wanted dart guns to shoot each other with, and action / reaction toys. They wanted remote control cars, and boats, new pairs of skis, new pairs of skates, new bikes, skate boards, etc.
Well, I have to stop rambling. This education thing is another item that won’t be a quick fix. Also, don’t blame the teachers, and the teacher Unions for all the ills in education. As the family unit has started to deteriorate over the past 30 or 40 years, so has our society.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our Monday was a quiet one.
Our son and his child left for north Tewksbury at 8 AM.
After they left, I spent a little while returning our house to an adult only living space.
I spent several hours doing loads of my clothes, and hauling bar glasses from the basement to the dish washer and back. I never realized how many glasses that I really had. I have another load or two to do today.
The contractor dropped off ceiling tiles during the middle of the afternoon, and he plans on installing them this morning at 10 AM. The painter is coming a little earlier to do some touch up paint work in the hallway.
Linda whipped up a crock pot soup while I was doing my thing. The boneless chicken thighs, beans, and vegetables in the soup made for a wonderful supper meal along with some Italian Bread.
Linda did make a one grocery store stop to pick up a couple of those pork rib roasts that I mentioned in a previous e-mail. She also took our Mac computer to a repair shop to see if it is worth fixing. It has been inoperable for several months. We use a Dell lap top currently for all of our computer needs, and we really like the operating system.
Linda has her usual Tuesday Mah Jongg session from 11:30 AM until 4 PM. I have enough to keep me busy around the home.
I might require an afternoon nap. I did take one on Monday.
Sports – The Red Sox won their game, and the Yankees and Rays lost their respective contests.
I can’t believe that Chicago Bears beat the Packers last evening.
Education – Linda and I watched the interview between Matt Lauer and President Obama on the Today Show on Monday. Longer school years are on the horizon, but how are our local communities going to pay teachers to work a month longer than they normally do? The President wants the best and the brightest teachers in the classroom, but so doesn’t every school system. He wants the students from the tough and low income schools and students in general to get higher standardized test scores, but he did admit that education starts in the home. There are currently a good deal of single parent homes which almost makes the President’s proposed goals a daunting task. I am not trying to imply the single moms or single dads can’t do the job, but it is so difficult.
Many these students who enter our schools come from fatherless homes. Unless this changes, a good number of our students are doomed to failure. It takes two people to make a baby, and it also takes two people to participate in child rearing.
A statistic came out the other day that grandparents are raising 3 million of their grandchildren in the United States. This is a scary statistic.
Parents have to be willing to shut off the television, computer games, cell phones, etc., and have their children sit down and read to them, and when they get older make them sit down and do their homework.
Role models are another important component of child rearing. Children have to see their mother and father interacting with one another. They should observe that one or both of their parents have to go off to work to provide for the family. Parents have to engage their children in extra curricular activities. It would have been quite impossible if Linda had to raise our two boys on her own. Fathers and their male children bond in a different way than with their Mom. Do you think that Linda would have played catch with our boys in the back yard? Do you think Linda would have shown them how to put a worm on a hook, or take the boys ice fishing, target shooting, hunting, swing a baseball bat, swing a golf club, shoot some hoops, etc.?
One Christmas when our children were small, Linda spent days and hours searching for those Cabbage Patch Dolls. Well, she bought them for our two sons. She didn’t get the reaction that she wanted from our two boys. Our boys wanted dart guns to shoot each other with, and action / reaction toys. They wanted remote control cars, and boats, new pairs of skis, new pairs of skates, new bikes, skate boards, etc.
Well, I have to stop rambling. This education thing is another item that won’t be a quick fix. Also, don’t blame the teachers, and the teacher Unions for all the ills in education. As the family unit has started to deteriorate over the past 30 or 40 years, so has our society.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, September 27, 2010
Hello on Monday
Dear Friends,
Well our Sunday didn’t go as planned.
I did go off to the nursing home to visit dear old mom on Sunday. Shortly after I was in my mother’s room, Linda called to say that our son Kevin, and his son were at our doorstep as she was reading the Sunday newspapers.
I ended the short visit to come home and bond with our son and our grandchild.
Even though Max is not walking yet, he sure was a human dynamo for the whole day. He appears to be about a week or so from walking. He can crawl just as fast as an almost 14 month old child can walk. His big new learned trick yesterday was to crawl from the family room out onto the deck by way of the sliding glass doors. We kept the doors open because their two dogs made the trip from Tewksbury too, and they were going in and out like Max.
We thought that the visit was going to be just for the day, but Kevin decided to sleep over, and head home early this morning after Max wakes up and has breakfast.
Kyla, his wife, didn’t make the trip because she was in California at a friend’s wedding in Wine Country. She will be returning today.
We asked who took care of Max on Saturday when Kevin went into East Boston to run his restaurant since Kyla wasn’t home. Kevin said that Max went to work with him. Kevin was teaching Max about the food preparation business. He even took Max on some deliveries and a small catering gig where they prepared several trays of sandwiches for a community group.
I asked Kevin how everything is going with respect to Max, and both parents working. He said that everything was going well. He did tell me a story of one day when Kyla and Max were home alone. Kyla got distracted, and Max crawled up the stairs to the second floor without her knowing so. Kyla went looking for Max when she realized that he wasn’t there. She looked everywhere on the first floor where they had both been. She found him in the Master Bedroom playing with the clothes in their walk in closet.
I did remind Kevin that he was like that when he was growing up. On one occasion, we hired a baby sitter, and went out with another couple. We received a frantic telephone call from the baby sitter that she couldn’t find Kevin. This happened when there were no cell phones. We gave the baby sitter some places to look. Kevin was hiding under a couch in the living room.
Payback is a wonderful thing!
It was difficult for us to watch the whole Patriot Game without chasing after Max, but we were able to see almost all of it.
Linda whipped up a pork loin supper with green beans, and over roasted potatoes. One of Kevin’s childhood friends joined us for supper.
Pork loins are not the type of meat that we usually cook in the crock pot because they are so lean. Linda cooked it to perfection in our oven. She also puts her own spices on one of these pork loins which are different than the crock pot types of pork.
Note – I had to stop today’s blog because Max woke up at 6 AM, and I had to go into baby sitting mode. I made him breakfast, We have been outside with the dogs, and now his into playing with plastic containers.
Well, Linda just got up, and I have a helper.
Sports – The Patriots did win their game , but was supposed to be by over 14 points.
Even though I went to bed early, the orar of the crowd woke me up. I watched Papelbon lose the lead in the bottom of the 9th inning, and eventually watch Okajima walk in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Have to go for now.
Kevin just got up, and has to head out the door. He has to drop off Max at daycare in North Tewksbury before going to his restaurant at “Dough East Boston.”
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Well our Sunday didn’t go as planned.
I did go off to the nursing home to visit dear old mom on Sunday. Shortly after I was in my mother’s room, Linda called to say that our son Kevin, and his son were at our doorstep as she was reading the Sunday newspapers.
I ended the short visit to come home and bond with our son and our grandchild.
Even though Max is not walking yet, he sure was a human dynamo for the whole day. He appears to be about a week or so from walking. He can crawl just as fast as an almost 14 month old child can walk. His big new learned trick yesterday was to crawl from the family room out onto the deck by way of the sliding glass doors. We kept the doors open because their two dogs made the trip from Tewksbury too, and they were going in and out like Max.
We thought that the visit was going to be just for the day, but Kevin decided to sleep over, and head home early this morning after Max wakes up and has breakfast.
Kyla, his wife, didn’t make the trip because she was in California at a friend’s wedding in Wine Country. She will be returning today.
We asked who took care of Max on Saturday when Kevin went into East Boston to run his restaurant since Kyla wasn’t home. Kevin said that Max went to work with him. Kevin was teaching Max about the food preparation business. He even took Max on some deliveries and a small catering gig where they prepared several trays of sandwiches for a community group.
I asked Kevin how everything is going with respect to Max, and both parents working. He said that everything was going well. He did tell me a story of one day when Kyla and Max were home alone. Kyla got distracted, and Max crawled up the stairs to the second floor without her knowing so. Kyla went looking for Max when she realized that he wasn’t there. She looked everywhere on the first floor where they had both been. She found him in the Master Bedroom playing with the clothes in their walk in closet.
I did remind Kevin that he was like that when he was growing up. On one occasion, we hired a baby sitter, and went out with another couple. We received a frantic telephone call from the baby sitter that she couldn’t find Kevin. This happened when there were no cell phones. We gave the baby sitter some places to look. Kevin was hiding under a couch in the living room.
Payback is a wonderful thing!
It was difficult for us to watch the whole Patriot Game without chasing after Max, but we were able to see almost all of it.
Linda whipped up a pork loin supper with green beans, and over roasted potatoes. One of Kevin’s childhood friends joined us for supper.
Pork loins are not the type of meat that we usually cook in the crock pot because they are so lean. Linda cooked it to perfection in our oven. She also puts her own spices on one of these pork loins which are different than the crock pot types of pork.
Note – I had to stop today’s blog because Max woke up at 6 AM, and I had to go into baby sitting mode. I made him breakfast, We have been outside with the dogs, and now his into playing with plastic containers.
Well, Linda just got up, and I have a helper.
Sports – The Patriots did win their game , but was supposed to be by over 14 points.
Even though I went to bed early, the orar of the crowd woke me up. I watched Papelbon lose the lead in the bottom of the 9th inning, and eventually watch Okajima walk in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Have to go for now.
Kevin just got up, and has to head out the door. He has to drop off Max at daycare in North Tewksbury before going to his restaurant at “Dough East Boston.”
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Hello on Sunday
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned for Linda and me.
I arrived at the Melville Block Party a little before 10 AM to help with the cooking of hot dogs and hamburgers. A UNICO brother had just fired up the grill when a lady and her daughter stopped by wanting to purchase some hotdogs. The event didn’t start until 11 AM, but we were serving food around 10:45 AM.
You have to visualize 100’s of our neediest families, and individuals with disabilities, etc. coming to our booth wanting burgers and dogs. We were the only group serving food. Other booths were giving away popcorn, chips, and the Knights of Columbus were selling soda. The party goers would purchase tickets for $1 each. They could purchase a hot dog or hamburger for just 1 ticket each. By 2 PM, we ran out of hot dogs. I decided to leave, and when I did, UNICO had only 40 hamburgers left.
As soon as I arrived home, I took a nap.
The evening birthday party at the Polish Falcon Hall went very well. The organizers provided all the food for the buffet. If Linda and I had known that, we would have made some kind of epicurean delight. Linda and I did notice that the food had an Italian theme to it. The food was wonderful. I did have a second helping of some pasta which I probably shouldn’t have had, but I did come to the affair very hungry.
I think that today neither of us have anything booked into our social calendar. I will be watching the Patriot versus Bills NFL game at 1 PM today. Any household activities will have to take place in the morning.
One of Linda’s girlfriends will most likely give Linda a call, and they will either do breakfast or lunch, and then head off to do some recreational shopping, or head off to attend any of the multiple events going on in the Berkshires today.
I do have one mission for Linda. A local grocery store has rib portion pork roast on sale this week. This is the poor man’s version of prime rib that we cook in a crockpot. When the roast is done, I can slice the meat like I was slicing a prime rib except that it will be pork instead of beef. At $1 per pound, you can’t go wrong. We have several great crock pot recipes that really work for this kind of roast.
Some people who read my daily blog really picked up on me saying that our house renovations are almost complete, and the Curley’s are ready to have a party. They asked me when the first party is taking place. As I look at our October calendar, just about every weekend has us socially engaged. We try to keep some weekends free, but it doesn’t seem to be possible.
Observation – I am really getting tired of all those mud slinging political advertisements. The Republicans, Tea Party people are really spending a great deal of money trying to oust the Democratic incumbents. One of the Albany news channels analyzed one of those political ads. The ad had a bunch of elderly people saying how this incumbent voted to take away or decrease their social security, Medicare, drug prescriptions, etc. The news channel investigated the claims, and they were found not to be true. If the average voter listened to these political advertisements, they would definitely have voted against this very good Democratic incumbent. After seeing this advertisement, I am not going to believe much of the content of any of them. My conclusion is that politics are a very messy and dirty business. I am still going to keep my Liberal Democratic views on voting matters.
News -- The CNN news didn’t have too many interesting items in it today. The only one that jumped out at me was the 37 year old Oregon mom who robbed a bank of $1300. She went from the bank to school to pick up her two children. The police arrested her and her boyfriend as the children were having an after school snack at her home. Talk about a dumb bank robber. I will bet that the bank robbery was drug related.
This goes back to the quote that I picked up somewhere that “Stupid people shouldn’t breed”!
Well, I have to read the Sunday newspapers before Linda wakes up so that I can start my activities one of which will be to visit Mom in the nursing home. She is in her own room now because she has a medical issue that requires anyone going into the room to wear a mask, and gown. Oh Darn!
Have great Sunday!
The temperatures have dropped in the Berkshires, and we might have to wear a light jacket today.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned for Linda and me.
I arrived at the Melville Block Party a little before 10 AM to help with the cooking of hot dogs and hamburgers. A UNICO brother had just fired up the grill when a lady and her daughter stopped by wanting to purchase some hotdogs. The event didn’t start until 11 AM, but we were serving food around 10:45 AM.
You have to visualize 100’s of our neediest families, and individuals with disabilities, etc. coming to our booth wanting burgers and dogs. We were the only group serving food. Other booths were giving away popcorn, chips, and the Knights of Columbus were selling soda. The party goers would purchase tickets for $1 each. They could purchase a hot dog or hamburger for just 1 ticket each. By 2 PM, we ran out of hot dogs. I decided to leave, and when I did, UNICO had only 40 hamburgers left.
As soon as I arrived home, I took a nap.
The evening birthday party at the Polish Falcon Hall went very well. The organizers provided all the food for the buffet. If Linda and I had known that, we would have made some kind of epicurean delight. Linda and I did notice that the food had an Italian theme to it. The food was wonderful. I did have a second helping of some pasta which I probably shouldn’t have had, but I did come to the affair very hungry.
I think that today neither of us have anything booked into our social calendar. I will be watching the Patriot versus Bills NFL game at 1 PM today. Any household activities will have to take place in the morning.
One of Linda’s girlfriends will most likely give Linda a call, and they will either do breakfast or lunch, and then head off to do some recreational shopping, or head off to attend any of the multiple events going on in the Berkshires today.
I do have one mission for Linda. A local grocery store has rib portion pork roast on sale this week. This is the poor man’s version of prime rib that we cook in a crockpot. When the roast is done, I can slice the meat like I was slicing a prime rib except that it will be pork instead of beef. At $1 per pound, you can’t go wrong. We have several great crock pot recipes that really work for this kind of roast.
Some people who read my daily blog really picked up on me saying that our house renovations are almost complete, and the Curley’s are ready to have a party. They asked me when the first party is taking place. As I look at our October calendar, just about every weekend has us socially engaged. We try to keep some weekends free, but it doesn’t seem to be possible.
Observation – I am really getting tired of all those mud slinging political advertisements. The Republicans, Tea Party people are really spending a great deal of money trying to oust the Democratic incumbents. One of the Albany news channels analyzed one of those political ads. The ad had a bunch of elderly people saying how this incumbent voted to take away or decrease their social security, Medicare, drug prescriptions, etc. The news channel investigated the claims, and they were found not to be true. If the average voter listened to these political advertisements, they would definitely have voted against this very good Democratic incumbent. After seeing this advertisement, I am not going to believe much of the content of any of them. My conclusion is that politics are a very messy and dirty business. I am still going to keep my Liberal Democratic views on voting matters.
News -- The CNN news didn’t have too many interesting items in it today. The only one that jumped out at me was the 37 year old Oregon mom who robbed a bank of $1300. She went from the bank to school to pick up her two children. The police arrested her and her boyfriend as the children were having an after school snack at her home. Talk about a dumb bank robber. I will bet that the bank robbery was drug related.
This goes back to the quote that I picked up somewhere that “Stupid people shouldn’t breed”!
Well, I have to read the Sunday newspapers before Linda wakes up so that I can start my activities one of which will be to visit Mom in the nursing home. She is in her own room now because she has a medical issue that requires anyone going into the room to wear a mask, and gown. Oh Darn!
Have great Sunday!
The temperatures have dropped in the Berkshires, and we might have to wear a light jacket today.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Hello on Saturday
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned on Friday. My golf game was okay, and I did break 100, but our team still had to pay the maximum of 3 dollars. The three dollars is really not a big deal because in a few weeks we will have our final pizza party for the season.
Linda had to miss her retiree breakfast because the carpet guys did come to the house at 9:30 AM. We now have new carpeting on the stairs leading to the second floor, and in the hallway on the second floor. It is a nice and dark colored carpet which will hide dirt stains quite well.
The contractor is coming on Tuesday to replace some ceiling tiles in the basement. Linda and I have to hang some pictures in the basement, and we will finally be back to normal. The journey has been long, but the changes have really made the damaged portion of the home look pretty nice.
We are almost ready to have a party!
I didn’t take my usual nap after golf because we had some errands to do. We picked up some smaller mums at Home Depot, but our main goal was to find a way to hang some metal art work in the first floor laundry room. It sounds like a simple job, but the usual hanging devices, which we normally hang pictures with, just wouldn’t work. I now understand why simple errands turn out to be not so simple.
For supper, we hooked up with a south county couple, and went to a place called “The Heritage House” located in the town of Lenox. Lenox was actually hopping when we arrived around 6:30 PM because some people were setting up tents for this weekend’s Apple Squeeze event. The “Heritage House” was hopping too. The evening temperatures were very pleasant. Our friends were lucky enough to get a table outside. We had a lot of food, fun, and merriment for several hours before we called it a night.
Linda and another girlfriend will be heading off to the Apple Squeeze while I am doing my volunteer work during the day today.
We both have to come home, and get dressed for the evening birthday for an Irish Sister City friend. The Polish Falcon hall will be hopping this evening. I think that we have to be there at 6 PM because this is supposed to be a surprise birthday party for the lady.
Today also happens to be Linda’s birthday, but it looks like we won’t be celebrating it today.
Observation -- Speaking of birthdays, another friend had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. She turned 60 years old. She didn’t want a party at all, and she is always up for a party. She stayed home with her boyfriend, and had some Chinese food delivered.
Every person has a different way of celebrating a birthday. As some people get older, they sometimes want to forget that they have become another year older.
Since I am a people person, I prefer to be surrounded by people. I am also fortunate to have my birthday two days before Christmas, and I can make my birthday a Christmas Party.
Another friend, who is of French decent, usually goes out to a French Restaurant to celebrate his birthday. It is sometimes just a husband and wife affair.
I have also noticed that women are so different when it comes to having birthdays compared to men. Women want to hide the fact that they are another year older. They usually want to keep their age a secret, and want people to think that they are younger than they really are. My position is that if most of the body parts are working okay, and I still have my hair, and not too many wrinkles, that I am one happy person.
None of us can stop the aging process. We can slow the process down by doing certain things, like exercise, eating the right food, etc., but we are all going to get old. I hope that I will be able to do it gracefully.
This is a busy and event filled weekend in the Berkshires. There is an Alzheimer’s walk today on our Berkshire Rail trial. Sunday there is an ALS walk. Some friends went to Boston for Breast Cancer walk. There are all kinds of plays and events every where in the county. If our grandchildren were with us, we would be heading off to Whitney’s farm in search of the perfect pumpkins. Whitney’s even has a small playground, and petting zoo, and a corn maze.
When the sun comes up, I will be working in the back yard. I have some dead plants to dispose before I go off to my volunteer activity.
Sports – I did fall asleep watch the Red Sox do battle with the Yankees. I couldn’t believe that the Sox let the Yankees almost make it all the way back from a 10 to 1 lead that the Sox had.
Have a great weekend.
Get out and enjoy this time of the year.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned on Friday. My golf game was okay, and I did break 100, but our team still had to pay the maximum of 3 dollars. The three dollars is really not a big deal because in a few weeks we will have our final pizza party for the season.
Linda had to miss her retiree breakfast because the carpet guys did come to the house at 9:30 AM. We now have new carpeting on the stairs leading to the second floor, and in the hallway on the second floor. It is a nice and dark colored carpet which will hide dirt stains quite well.
The contractor is coming on Tuesday to replace some ceiling tiles in the basement. Linda and I have to hang some pictures in the basement, and we will finally be back to normal. The journey has been long, but the changes have really made the damaged portion of the home look pretty nice.
We are almost ready to have a party!
I didn’t take my usual nap after golf because we had some errands to do. We picked up some smaller mums at Home Depot, but our main goal was to find a way to hang some metal art work in the first floor laundry room. It sounds like a simple job, but the usual hanging devices, which we normally hang pictures with, just wouldn’t work. I now understand why simple errands turn out to be not so simple.
For supper, we hooked up with a south county couple, and went to a place called “The Heritage House” located in the town of Lenox. Lenox was actually hopping when we arrived around 6:30 PM because some people were setting up tents for this weekend’s Apple Squeeze event. The “Heritage House” was hopping too. The evening temperatures were very pleasant. Our friends were lucky enough to get a table outside. We had a lot of food, fun, and merriment for several hours before we called it a night.
Linda and another girlfriend will be heading off to the Apple Squeeze while I am doing my volunteer work during the day today.
We both have to come home, and get dressed for the evening birthday for an Irish Sister City friend. The Polish Falcon hall will be hopping this evening. I think that we have to be there at 6 PM because this is supposed to be a surprise birthday party for the lady.
Today also happens to be Linda’s birthday, but it looks like we won’t be celebrating it today.
Observation -- Speaking of birthdays, another friend had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. She turned 60 years old. She didn’t want a party at all, and she is always up for a party. She stayed home with her boyfriend, and had some Chinese food delivered.
Every person has a different way of celebrating a birthday. As some people get older, they sometimes want to forget that they have become another year older.
Since I am a people person, I prefer to be surrounded by people. I am also fortunate to have my birthday two days before Christmas, and I can make my birthday a Christmas Party.
Another friend, who is of French decent, usually goes out to a French Restaurant to celebrate his birthday. It is sometimes just a husband and wife affair.
I have also noticed that women are so different when it comes to having birthdays compared to men. Women want to hide the fact that they are another year older. They usually want to keep their age a secret, and want people to think that they are younger than they really are. My position is that if most of the body parts are working okay, and I still have my hair, and not too many wrinkles, that I am one happy person.
None of us can stop the aging process. We can slow the process down by doing certain things, like exercise, eating the right food, etc., but we are all going to get old. I hope that I will be able to do it gracefully.
This is a busy and event filled weekend in the Berkshires. There is an Alzheimer’s walk today on our Berkshire Rail trial. Sunday there is an ALS walk. Some friends went to Boston for Breast Cancer walk. There are all kinds of plays and events every where in the county. If our grandchildren were with us, we would be heading off to Whitney’s farm in search of the perfect pumpkins. Whitney’s even has a small playground, and petting zoo, and a corn maze.
When the sun comes up, I will be working in the back yard. I have some dead plants to dispose before I go off to my volunteer activity.
Sports – I did fall asleep watch the Red Sox do battle with the Yankees. I couldn’t believe that the Sox let the Yankees almost make it all the way back from a 10 to 1 lead that the Sox had.
Have a great weekend.
Get out and enjoy this time of the year.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, September 24, 2010
Hello on Friday
Dear Friends,
My day went as planned!
Golf, a visit with Mom in the hospital, giving the lawn a trim (if you really want to call that burned up stuff grass), and a power nap before supper is what my day was comprised of.
Linda had a pleasant morning without me. She ended up doing lunch and some recreational shopping with a friend while I was doing my thing.
Hamburgers and hot dogs for supper were nice and simple.
In a few short hours, I will be whacking that little white ball around. I hope that I don’t embarrass myself today. The weather is going to reach the mid 80’s today. It will be a great day whether I hit the ball like I want to.
The carpet guy is coming at 9:30 AM to do the stairs and hall where the bedrooms are located.
Linda is supposed to have her monthly retiree breakfast, but she might show up a little late.
Observation – I was thinking about global warming as I was cutting the lawn yesterday. The lawn is getting close to a dust bowl, and not a lawn. In our area, we are down about 7 inches from the normal amount of rainfall. Some people might claim that weather is cyclical, but I think that more things than the cyclical nature of climate changes are going on.
We are so used to a few days of nice weather, and then some rain. For a couple of years, I very seldom had to use lawn sprinklers because we had a normal cycle.
It has been so dry that the leaves are turning, and I am guessing that many of the leaves will be on the ground by the time the Columbus Day weekend arrives.
I sound like I am complaining, but the grass on the golf course is in mint condition. The amount of players on the course during the week is minimal. When my friends and I play during the week, it is like we are on our own private course.
Speaking of golf, after one of our “quick nine wholes of golf” the other day, I asked the friend, who I was riding with, to take back the cart because I wanted to go visit Mom in the hospital. He did drive the cart back, but left his clubs still attached to a cart. He didn’t realize that he did so until he went to a discount golf store. He wanted to add some new clubs that he purchased to his golf bag, but soon realized that his clubs weren’t there. The pro shop attendants realized that some one left their clubs, and put them in the bag storage place at the club. My friend was so relieved when he called the pro shop, and they said that they found his clubs. My friend is not suffering from memory issues, and no, he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol.
I have to read the local newspapers, and select my golf wardrobe for today.
Have a great weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My day went as planned!
Golf, a visit with Mom in the hospital, giving the lawn a trim (if you really want to call that burned up stuff grass), and a power nap before supper is what my day was comprised of.
Linda had a pleasant morning without me. She ended up doing lunch and some recreational shopping with a friend while I was doing my thing.
Hamburgers and hot dogs for supper were nice and simple.
In a few short hours, I will be whacking that little white ball around. I hope that I don’t embarrass myself today. The weather is going to reach the mid 80’s today. It will be a great day whether I hit the ball like I want to.
The carpet guy is coming at 9:30 AM to do the stairs and hall where the bedrooms are located.
Linda is supposed to have her monthly retiree breakfast, but she might show up a little late.
Observation – I was thinking about global warming as I was cutting the lawn yesterday. The lawn is getting close to a dust bowl, and not a lawn. In our area, we are down about 7 inches from the normal amount of rainfall. Some people might claim that weather is cyclical, but I think that more things than the cyclical nature of climate changes are going on.
We are so used to a few days of nice weather, and then some rain. For a couple of years, I very seldom had to use lawn sprinklers because we had a normal cycle.
It has been so dry that the leaves are turning, and I am guessing that many of the leaves will be on the ground by the time the Columbus Day weekend arrives.
I sound like I am complaining, but the grass on the golf course is in mint condition. The amount of players on the course during the week is minimal. When my friends and I play during the week, it is like we are on our own private course.
Speaking of golf, after one of our “quick nine wholes of golf” the other day, I asked the friend, who I was riding with, to take back the cart because I wanted to go visit Mom in the hospital. He did drive the cart back, but left his clubs still attached to a cart. He didn’t realize that he did so until he went to a discount golf store. He wanted to add some new clubs that he purchased to his golf bag, but soon realized that his clubs weren’t there. The pro shop attendants realized that some one left their clubs, and put them in the bag storage place at the club. My friend was so relieved when he called the pro shop, and they said that they found his clubs. My friend is not suffering from memory issues, and no, he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol.
I have to read the local newspapers, and select my golf wardrobe for today.
Have a great weekend.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Hello on Thursday morning
Dear Friends,
Our Thursday went as planned with respect to lunch and going to a movie. The lunch and the movie were great.
We did a little shopping after the movie. I did forget that Linda had her Wednesday night knitting group gathering at Panera Bread which started at 6 PM.
I was in bed by the time that she arrived home.
I never did go and visit Mom on Wednesday, but I will do so after playing a quick nine holes of golf today with the usual suspects. I am not sure if she will be at the hospital, or whether she will be going back to the nursing home. The golf course is about 3 miles from the hospital.
Observation – I am already tired of the political advertisements on television. The mud slinging has really begun. Since we get the New York news since we are part of the Albany, New York Time Warner district, I have been watching the Cuomo vs Paladino fight for Governor. The Republican Challenger is within a percentage point of Cuomo as of last night. The Republican claims that he is going to bring a fresh face to the Governor’s office. Andrew Cuomo has been in the political arena his whole life, and has followed quite well in his father’s footsteps. If I could vote for Andrew I would. Paladino is running on a platform as an agent of change. He is a self made millionaire who has earned over $10 million dollars from rent subsidies because of housing properties which he owns. Of course, he is going to cut out waste, but won’t stop the flow of his income from these state and federal subsidized rents.
What really is sad is that the voters will be throwing out some really good politicians. Andrew Cuomo is the current Attorney General of New York State. From all the reports, he has been doing a great job. He actually is good Presidential material.
Sports – The Red Sox won last evening. So what! The Sox play the Yankees this weekend. Even if they win the series, I think that their season is all over. Too little, too late!
I was also thinking about last week’s edition of Sports Illustrated magazine. When a Sport’s figure gets his picture on the front cover of the magazine, it seems to be a kiss of death. It was for Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Patriots should beat Buffalo this weekend, but you never know on any given weekend.
Social Calendar – I am not sure if Linda has any commitments. Tonight was supposed to be a book club meeting, but I don’t think that the participants were free. I do know that she has to return some household items which she purchased yesterday. She has been having a bad run of luck of buying items that don’t work as described on the package, or curtains to long or too short, or lamp shades that don’t work on any of the lights which we have in our home, etc.
I think that she is really ready for a day of total relaxation, and me not bugging her. I don’t think that that this could ever happen.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our Thursday went as planned with respect to lunch and going to a movie. The lunch and the movie were great.
We did a little shopping after the movie. I did forget that Linda had her Wednesday night knitting group gathering at Panera Bread which started at 6 PM.
I was in bed by the time that she arrived home.
I never did go and visit Mom on Wednesday, but I will do so after playing a quick nine holes of golf today with the usual suspects. I am not sure if she will be at the hospital, or whether she will be going back to the nursing home. The golf course is about 3 miles from the hospital.
Observation – I am already tired of the political advertisements on television. The mud slinging has really begun. Since we get the New York news since we are part of the Albany, New York Time Warner district, I have been watching the Cuomo vs Paladino fight for Governor. The Republican Challenger is within a percentage point of Cuomo as of last night. The Republican claims that he is going to bring a fresh face to the Governor’s office. Andrew Cuomo has been in the political arena his whole life, and has followed quite well in his father’s footsteps. If I could vote for Andrew I would. Paladino is running on a platform as an agent of change. He is a self made millionaire who has earned over $10 million dollars from rent subsidies because of housing properties which he owns. Of course, he is going to cut out waste, but won’t stop the flow of his income from these state and federal subsidized rents.
What really is sad is that the voters will be throwing out some really good politicians. Andrew Cuomo is the current Attorney General of New York State. From all the reports, he has been doing a great job. He actually is good Presidential material.
Sports – The Red Sox won last evening. So what! The Sox play the Yankees this weekend. Even if they win the series, I think that their season is all over. Too little, too late!
I was also thinking about last week’s edition of Sports Illustrated magazine. When a Sport’s figure gets his picture on the front cover of the magazine, it seems to be a kiss of death. It was for Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Patriots should beat Buffalo this weekend, but you never know on any given weekend.
Social Calendar – I am not sure if Linda has any commitments. Tonight was supposed to be a book club meeting, but I don’t think that the participants were free. I do know that she has to return some household items which she purchased yesterday. She has been having a bad run of luck of buying items that don’t work as described on the package, or curtains to long or too short, or lamp shades that don’t work on any of the lights which we have in our home, etc.
I think that she is really ready for a day of total relaxation, and me not bugging her. I don’t think that that this could ever happen.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hello on Wednesday
Dear Friends,
We had another pleasant day in the life of two retirees.
I didn’t strike the ball that well for the nine holes that we played, but the day on the golf course was picture perfect.
I went from the golf course to visit mom in the hospital for a couple of hours. She was okay, but kept saying that she was really feeling sick.
I think that she will be shipped back to the nursing home any day now. After 10 days in the hospital, the nursing home will start charging my father the daily rate if she still remains in the hospital longer than those ten days.
Linda’s Mah Jongg session went well both on Monday night and during her Tuesday session. He change purse was full at the end of both sessions.
Supper went as planned; grilled steak, half of a sweet potato, and a vegetable.
I tried watching television with Linda, but I got too fidgety, and I left the family room to do my own thing.
Observation – I lost one of my readers yesterday. The reader and her husband belong to the Tea Party, and the wife didn’t like me using the word “Wacko” when I referred to the Tea Party. I sent a personnel message saying that she should “lighten up”, but she told me that she was “divorcing” me. She said that I caused her much stress when she reads my daily blog.
She didn’t heed my words of “not to sweat the little stuff.” To me Politics are not like the life and death issues that some of our friends and my Mom are going through. Won’t we still function whoever gets elected in the national and local elections?
Linda doesn’t like it when I make waves. I really try not to, but it just happens. Some of my friends actually love to see the banter going back and forth when I strike a nerve on a particular issue. For me, it tells me that people are reading my e-mails. This gives me the motivation to keep writing, and sometimes create controversial topics. Maybe some readers should treat my blog like I have a daily editorial column in a local newspaper. You have the ability to agree or disagree with my position on a particular issue, and you have the luxury of responding immediately.
Social Calendar – Today is husband and wife bonding day. Linda was actually shocked when I asked her if she wanted to do lunch and go to a matinee since we have nothing on our social calendar for today. Of course, she knows that we won’t be watching a “Chick Flick”. We are going to see the latest Ben Affleck movie “Town”. There is a little romance in the movie when Ben Affleck falls in love with a teller in the bank that he is going to rob.
Well, I have to send some other e-mails, and do some quiet activities before the Queen wakes up.
Have a great Wednesday.
For the Berkshire people, we are going to reach the low 80’s today even though it is quite cool right now.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
We had another pleasant day in the life of two retirees.
I didn’t strike the ball that well for the nine holes that we played, but the day on the golf course was picture perfect.
I went from the golf course to visit mom in the hospital for a couple of hours. She was okay, but kept saying that she was really feeling sick.
I think that she will be shipped back to the nursing home any day now. After 10 days in the hospital, the nursing home will start charging my father the daily rate if she still remains in the hospital longer than those ten days.
Linda’s Mah Jongg session went well both on Monday night and during her Tuesday session. He change purse was full at the end of both sessions.
Supper went as planned; grilled steak, half of a sweet potato, and a vegetable.
I tried watching television with Linda, but I got too fidgety, and I left the family room to do my own thing.
Observation – I lost one of my readers yesterday. The reader and her husband belong to the Tea Party, and the wife didn’t like me using the word “Wacko” when I referred to the Tea Party. I sent a personnel message saying that she should “lighten up”, but she told me that she was “divorcing” me. She said that I caused her much stress when she reads my daily blog.
She didn’t heed my words of “not to sweat the little stuff.” To me Politics are not like the life and death issues that some of our friends and my Mom are going through. Won’t we still function whoever gets elected in the national and local elections?
Linda doesn’t like it when I make waves. I really try not to, but it just happens. Some of my friends actually love to see the banter going back and forth when I strike a nerve on a particular issue. For me, it tells me that people are reading my e-mails. This gives me the motivation to keep writing, and sometimes create controversial topics. Maybe some readers should treat my blog like I have a daily editorial column in a local newspaper. You have the ability to agree or disagree with my position on a particular issue, and you have the luxury of responding immediately.
Social Calendar – Today is husband and wife bonding day. Linda was actually shocked when I asked her if she wanted to do lunch and go to a matinee since we have nothing on our social calendar for today. Of course, she knows that we won’t be watching a “Chick Flick”. We are going to see the latest Ben Affleck movie “Town”. There is a little romance in the movie when Ben Affleck falls in love with a teller in the bank that he is going to rob.
Well, I have to send some other e-mails, and do some quiet activities before the Queen wakes up.
Have a great Wednesday.
For the Berkshire people, we are going to reach the low 80’s today even though it is quite cool right now.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Hello on Tuesday Morning
Dear Friends,
My Tuesday went as planned. Linda observed me working so hard that she felt guilty. She got involved thinning out her closet. By the end of the day, both of our bodies were aching.
My project was to clean up the garage so that both of our cars could fit into it. “Mission Accomplished” as a former President once said. I made three trips to our Resource Recovery plant. I loaded up the Subaru three times as if it was a pickup truck. Good thing that I didn’t use the Kia because I would have made a mess of the vehicle.
I worked non stop from 6 AM until 3 PM. I didn’t go to Retro Fitness on Monday, but my body felt like it got a pretty good workout.
When I came home from my UNICO membership meeting, I tried to read a book and watch the Monday Night Football game in bed. I fell asleep with my glasses on. The book must have fallen out of my hands, and I lost my place in the book.
Linda Planter Fascitis kicked in while she was doing her project, and she could hardly walk as she got through getting rid of multiple clothes.
Observation -- At the UNICO meeting, my friend and I had one of those “Count your lucky stars” moment. As the meeting broke up, my friend and I went over to talk to a baby boomer friend whose wife has Alzheimer’s disease. This friend and his wife are a year or so older than us. Our friend’s wife has a fast moving version of the disease. We asked the husband how his wife was doing. We could see the pain as he was telling us his daily routine. He said that he has to bathe his wife, comb her hair, do her nails, and dress her each day. His wife spends a good portion of the day crying because she knows something is wrong with her, but doesn’t know exactly what the problem is. She has already begun to have trouble speaking, and forming coherent sentences. Recognizing people has become more difficult. Our friend said that his wife has become like his child rather than his spouse.
My friend and I offered to help in whatever way possible that we can. We got the feeling that our friend is pretty much trapped in his own surroundings. Our friend can’t go anywhere, and leave his wife alone.
As we were driving home from the meeting, we were talking about how fortunate that we are with our little aches and pains. My friend and I are motivated even more to enjoy each moment as though it was our last. When we tee off at 9 AM this morning, we are going to relish every moment that we are on the golf course even if we aren’t playing golf that well.
After playing nine holes today, I will be heading to the hospital to visit Mom. I hope that the medical staff has gotten a handle on her infection. Mom wasn’t feeling well the other day. When she said that she knows that she was really sick, then this indicates that something was really wrong with her. My mother often masks an illness or doesn’t tell anyone that she has really needs to see a doctor.
Linda has her Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend’s home.
I will be doing a little grilling tonight for supper. I will figure out a menu of something healthy. Yeah Right! Is a steak, baked potato, and some vegetables are healthy meal? A glass of red wine will flush out those bad things that collect in our arteries from eating red meat.
Speaking of healthy things to eat, the chemicals that are put into mass produced chicken, farm grown salmon, farm grown pork, beef, etc. will kill us before our arteries ever clog up.
Unless we grow it and produce it ourselves on our own farms, we are all in trouble.
Yesterday the news media were talking about the fact that they have cloned Salmon which can reproduce at a faster rate than they can in nature. Genetically engineered food will be on our plates soon.
I didn’t mean to depress anyone with my “Observation” this morning. As we go through life whether it is raising your children, working your butt off each day, spending each day in retirement, remember to take time to “smell the roses.” Try to find some joy in what ever you are doing because you never know when and what bumps that you will encounter in the road of life.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My Tuesday went as planned. Linda observed me working so hard that she felt guilty. She got involved thinning out her closet. By the end of the day, both of our bodies were aching.
My project was to clean up the garage so that both of our cars could fit into it. “Mission Accomplished” as a former President once said. I made three trips to our Resource Recovery plant. I loaded up the Subaru three times as if it was a pickup truck. Good thing that I didn’t use the Kia because I would have made a mess of the vehicle.
I worked non stop from 6 AM until 3 PM. I didn’t go to Retro Fitness on Monday, but my body felt like it got a pretty good workout.
When I came home from my UNICO membership meeting, I tried to read a book and watch the Monday Night Football game in bed. I fell asleep with my glasses on. The book must have fallen out of my hands, and I lost my place in the book.
Linda Planter Fascitis kicked in while she was doing her project, and she could hardly walk as she got through getting rid of multiple clothes.
Observation -- At the UNICO meeting, my friend and I had one of those “Count your lucky stars” moment. As the meeting broke up, my friend and I went over to talk to a baby boomer friend whose wife has Alzheimer’s disease. This friend and his wife are a year or so older than us. Our friend’s wife has a fast moving version of the disease. We asked the husband how his wife was doing. We could see the pain as he was telling us his daily routine. He said that he has to bathe his wife, comb her hair, do her nails, and dress her each day. His wife spends a good portion of the day crying because she knows something is wrong with her, but doesn’t know exactly what the problem is. She has already begun to have trouble speaking, and forming coherent sentences. Recognizing people has become more difficult. Our friend said that his wife has become like his child rather than his spouse.
My friend and I offered to help in whatever way possible that we can. We got the feeling that our friend is pretty much trapped in his own surroundings. Our friend can’t go anywhere, and leave his wife alone.
As we were driving home from the meeting, we were talking about how fortunate that we are with our little aches and pains. My friend and I are motivated even more to enjoy each moment as though it was our last. When we tee off at 9 AM this morning, we are going to relish every moment that we are on the golf course even if we aren’t playing golf that well.
After playing nine holes today, I will be heading to the hospital to visit Mom. I hope that the medical staff has gotten a handle on her infection. Mom wasn’t feeling well the other day. When she said that she knows that she was really sick, then this indicates that something was really wrong with her. My mother often masks an illness or doesn’t tell anyone that she has really needs to see a doctor.
Linda has her Tuesday Mah Jongg session at a friend’s home.
I will be doing a little grilling tonight for supper. I will figure out a menu of something healthy. Yeah Right! Is a steak, baked potato, and some vegetables are healthy meal? A glass of red wine will flush out those bad things that collect in our arteries from eating red meat.
Speaking of healthy things to eat, the chemicals that are put into mass produced chicken, farm grown salmon, farm grown pork, beef, etc. will kill us before our arteries ever clog up.
Unless we grow it and produce it ourselves on our own farms, we are all in trouble.
Yesterday the news media were talking about the fact that they have cloned Salmon which can reproduce at a faster rate than they can in nature. Genetically engineered food will be on our plates soon.
I didn’t mean to depress anyone with my “Observation” this morning. As we go through life whether it is raising your children, working your butt off each day, spending each day in retirement, remember to take time to “smell the roses.” Try to find some joy in what ever you are doing because you never know when and what bumps that you will encounter in the road of life.
Have a great Tuesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hello on Monday
Dear Friends,
My Sunday went as planned except for the fact that the Patriots lost the game to the Jets. As Brady said in a public interview “We suck and we will work hard this coming week in preparing for our next opponent.”
Maybe I should have gone to the covered dish affair instead of watching so much football.
I did visit Mom as planned. The doctors did a scan and found where the infection was located. This means that she is still in the hospital.
Linda left the house while I was watching the 1 PM NFL game. Her only stop was at two grocery stores for some basic supplies.
No one wanted to cook any food so we decided to have Chinese food delivered.
There are so many new television programs starting up this week, I don’t know if we can DVR all of them. Some are on “Programs on Demand” channels so that we don’t have record them. Some of the previews of certain programs look like they could be cancelled in a very short amount of time. Let the battle of the channels begin!
My one goal today is to make the garage so that we can fit both of our cars in it. I will have to load up the Subaru several times with things to throw out. The Kia takes up a bit more room than the Neon.
We won’t have to worry about supper this evening because Linda can have left over Chinese food before hosting her Mah Jongg session. I will be dinning with my UNICO brother and sisters at a membership meeting at Mazzeo’s Ristorante at 6 PM.
We never did get to hanging pictures in the basement since it is on our low priority list.
Observation -- Nothing in the National news caught my eye. It is very much of the same old same old! I wish that I could be like some of our baby boomer friends who hardly watch any television at all. Maybe watching a good deal of sports is a good thing. I definitely don’t want to watch or listen too the talking Republican Heads (Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity), and The Tea Party people who seriously think that they are going to change to two party political system. The Tea Party people have tuned a few heads over the past couple of months, but they have a lot of work to do if they think that they will be the new party of change. Most of my Liberal Democratic friends think that they are still a bunch of wackos (sorry if I offended some of my readers) with Sarah Palin as their spokesperson.
It is like the people who say that Public Education is a failure. Instead of getting rid of Public Education, parents, the community (who are paying for education), educational leaders, and teachers (who are taxpayers too) should work to repair any inadequacies.
Well, I have to do some quiet activities before Linda wakes up.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My Sunday went as planned except for the fact that the Patriots lost the game to the Jets. As Brady said in a public interview “We suck and we will work hard this coming week in preparing for our next opponent.”
Maybe I should have gone to the covered dish affair instead of watching so much football.
I did visit Mom as planned. The doctors did a scan and found where the infection was located. This means that she is still in the hospital.
Linda left the house while I was watching the 1 PM NFL game. Her only stop was at two grocery stores for some basic supplies.
No one wanted to cook any food so we decided to have Chinese food delivered.
There are so many new television programs starting up this week, I don’t know if we can DVR all of them. Some are on “Programs on Demand” channels so that we don’t have record them. Some of the previews of certain programs look like they could be cancelled in a very short amount of time. Let the battle of the channels begin!
My one goal today is to make the garage so that we can fit both of our cars in it. I will have to load up the Subaru several times with things to throw out. The Kia takes up a bit more room than the Neon.
We won’t have to worry about supper this evening because Linda can have left over Chinese food before hosting her Mah Jongg session. I will be dinning with my UNICO brother and sisters at a membership meeting at Mazzeo’s Ristorante at 6 PM.
We never did get to hanging pictures in the basement since it is on our low priority list.
Observation -- Nothing in the National news caught my eye. It is very much of the same old same old! I wish that I could be like some of our baby boomer friends who hardly watch any television at all. Maybe watching a good deal of sports is a good thing. I definitely don’t want to watch or listen too the talking Republican Heads (Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity), and The Tea Party people who seriously think that they are going to change to two party political system. The Tea Party people have tuned a few heads over the past couple of months, but they have a lot of work to do if they think that they will be the new party of change. Most of my Liberal Democratic friends think that they are still a bunch of wackos (sorry if I offended some of my readers) with Sarah Palin as their spokesperson.
It is like the people who say that Public Education is a failure. Instead of getting rid of Public Education, parents, the community (who are paying for education), educational leaders, and teachers (who are taxpayers too) should work to repair any inadequacies.
Well, I have to do some quiet activities before Linda wakes up.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hello on Sunday Morning
Dear Friends,
Our Saturday went as planned.
We boarded a yellow school bus at 11 AM. Since the bus had no restrooms, we stopped half way at a Dunkin Doughnuts place to stretch our legs, and use the facilities.
The Irish Festival was wonderful. I never did see rings that I wanted to purchase to replace the ones that I either lost the stone in, or cracked the stone in a second ring.
Linda did do a little recreational shopping for me and the grandchildren at the Irish Festival. I think that she purchased a couple of articles of clothing for herself.
She also purchased a couple of CD’s from some of the Irish bands which performed so that she can play them in her Kia which came with a CD player. The Neon had a radio only. My Subaru has a tape deck.
I am going off to the hospital mid morning today to see Mom. She still had a little fever on Saturday that the medical staff is dealing with before she gets sent back to the nursing home.
There is not much going on in our house today. I am all set to watch professional football from 1 PM until after 11 PM.
I am not sure what Linda has planned for today. I would imagine some coupons will be arriving in the Sunday newspapers, and that would mean a little recreational shopping might be on her social schedule. On the hand, she might just want to chill today.
I do know that she has to make a grocery run for some snack food since she is hosting a Mah Jongg session at our house on Monday evening.
We decided not to attend a covered dish gathering at 3 PM today since we had a busy and full week.
The pictures from our Cheshire friends who became grandparents for the first time are hitting the e-mail airwaves. The baby girl is so cute. Having grandchildren is another phase that we retirees go through if we are lucky enough to have fertile children.
Observation – I am watching local news on a Boston Channel right now. I have come to the conclusion that when commercials are made, they shouldn’t me made using the people who own the business. The hokey commercials actually turn me off from ever buying the products that they are selling. The commercials even get worse when the whole family is involved making the commercials.
Have to go, and do the normal Sunday routine before going off to Berkshire Medical Center to visit Mom.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Go Patriots, and beat those New York Jets! The game takes place on a CBS Channel at 4:15 PM today.
Our Saturday went as planned.
We boarded a yellow school bus at 11 AM. Since the bus had no restrooms, we stopped half way at a Dunkin Doughnuts place to stretch our legs, and use the facilities.
The Irish Festival was wonderful. I never did see rings that I wanted to purchase to replace the ones that I either lost the stone in, or cracked the stone in a second ring.
Linda did do a little recreational shopping for me and the grandchildren at the Irish Festival. I think that she purchased a couple of articles of clothing for herself.
She also purchased a couple of CD’s from some of the Irish bands which performed so that she can play them in her Kia which came with a CD player. The Neon had a radio only. My Subaru has a tape deck.
I am going off to the hospital mid morning today to see Mom. She still had a little fever on Saturday that the medical staff is dealing with before she gets sent back to the nursing home.
There is not much going on in our house today. I am all set to watch professional football from 1 PM until after 11 PM.
I am not sure what Linda has planned for today. I would imagine some coupons will be arriving in the Sunday newspapers, and that would mean a little recreational shopping might be on her social schedule. On the hand, she might just want to chill today.
I do know that she has to make a grocery run for some snack food since she is hosting a Mah Jongg session at our house on Monday evening.
We decided not to attend a covered dish gathering at 3 PM today since we had a busy and full week.
The pictures from our Cheshire friends who became grandparents for the first time are hitting the e-mail airwaves. The baby girl is so cute. Having grandchildren is another phase that we retirees go through if we are lucky enough to have fertile children.
Observation – I am watching local news on a Boston Channel right now. I have come to the conclusion that when commercials are made, they shouldn’t me made using the people who own the business. The hokey commercials actually turn me off from ever buying the products that they are selling. The commercials even get worse when the whole family is involved making the commercials.
Have to go, and do the normal Sunday routine before going off to Berkshire Medical Center to visit Mom.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Go Patriots, and beat those New York Jets! The game takes place on a CBS Channel at 4:15 PM today.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
I was the first one to leave the hose on Thursday. I went off to visit Mom in the hospital. It is a miracle, but she is going back to the nursing home at 11 AM today without a feeding tube. She is back to eating food, but mostly pureed. It looks like she will be with us when she turns 94 at the end of September.
After the visit with mom, I came home and gave the lawn a trim, and took a power nap.
Linda wasn’t feeling that great so she spent most of the day in the calm mode.
Around 3:15 PM, I headed off to the Third Thursday event in downtown Pittsfield to set up for the 5 PM to 8 PM event. About 1 minute after I arrived at the Sister City spot on North Street, the rain started. It rained from 3:16 PM until we picked up and left at 7:30 pm. Most vendors never even set up except for our group and Civitan. The streets were pretty much empty except for a few hardy souls. The police chief did stop by for some Irish Bangers. The chief, a former student of mine, stops by every Third Thursday and buys some bangers.
We did sell enough bangers and whiskey cake to just about cover expenses. Our own members bought the leftover bangers as the evening ended. I cooked them in the rain, but another member had an electric grill, and cooked his in the entry way of Pasko Gift and Frame.
My 12 Whiskey Cakes got sold. I asked one elderly lady how the cake was. She said that she had a little buzz on after eating the cake. She said that she would have to walk around a little before driving her car home.
Most of the Irish Sister City group moved on to Patrick’s Pub for more fun and merriment. The live Irish band was wonderful. I even got up at one point and did a combination Irish jig, and an Italian Tarantella. The crowd wanted more, but I though it best to sit down and finish my beverage.
I just spent 15 minutes emptying my car because I needed a place to put in the golf clubs for today’s senior golf day. The weather is eventually going to be partly sunny and into the mid 60’s. Today is our pizza party. I just put a couple cans of anchovies in the car to put on my slices of pizza.
Well, I don’t have time to ramble anymore.
I am heading off to the golf course.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
I was the first one to leave the hose on Thursday. I went off to visit Mom in the hospital. It is a miracle, but she is going back to the nursing home at 11 AM today without a feeding tube. She is back to eating food, but mostly pureed. It looks like she will be with us when she turns 94 at the end of September.
After the visit with mom, I came home and gave the lawn a trim, and took a power nap.
Linda wasn’t feeling that great so she spent most of the day in the calm mode.
Around 3:15 PM, I headed off to the Third Thursday event in downtown Pittsfield to set up for the 5 PM to 8 PM event. About 1 minute after I arrived at the Sister City spot on North Street, the rain started. It rained from 3:16 PM until we picked up and left at 7:30 pm. Most vendors never even set up except for our group and Civitan. The streets were pretty much empty except for a few hardy souls. The police chief did stop by for some Irish Bangers. The chief, a former student of mine, stops by every Third Thursday and buys some bangers.
We did sell enough bangers and whiskey cake to just about cover expenses. Our own members bought the leftover bangers as the evening ended. I cooked them in the rain, but another member had an electric grill, and cooked his in the entry way of Pasko Gift and Frame.
My 12 Whiskey Cakes got sold. I asked one elderly lady how the cake was. She said that she had a little buzz on after eating the cake. She said that she would have to walk around a little before driving her car home.
Most of the Irish Sister City group moved on to Patrick’s Pub for more fun and merriment. The live Irish band was wonderful. I even got up at one point and did a combination Irish jig, and an Italian Tarantella. The crowd wanted more, but I though it best to sit down and finish my beverage.
I just spent 15 minutes emptying my car because I needed a place to put in the golf clubs for today’s senior golf day. The weather is eventually going to be partly sunny and into the mid 60’s. Today is our pizza party. I just put a couple cans of anchovies in the car to put on my slices of pizza.
Well, I don’t have time to ramble anymore.
I am heading off to the golf course.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, September 16, 2010
dear Friends,
Yesterday went as planned with respect to Linda and me workking in the basement. While we were doing our thing, a floor guy finished putting about 18 inches wide by 20 feet long of laminated flooring in the basement. Another guy is coming at 8 AM to make the seam between the wood, and the carpet.
Linda and I really tried to throw out things during our clean up. We have to hang a few things on the wall. The damaged ceiling tiles have to be replaced, and I think that that will be the end of the restoration project.
Every bone in our body ached when we got finished for the day.
I had forgotten that Wednesday at 6 PM is her knitting group gathering at Panera Bread. I was content to be home alone watching a little sports, and reading a book.
I had all intentions of going off to the hospital to visit with Mom, but the lady who purchased our Neon was running late. She was supposed to be at our house around 6 PM, but it ended up arriving closer to 7 PM. I will go to the hospital this morning. My sister did call and said that Mom had perked right up, and appeared to be returning to normal. I will get all the details when I see her this morning.
It was so sad to see the Neon drive off into the sunset. We have had that beauty since 1996.
Even though Linda cancelled the ad in the newspaper after only one day since we sold the car, people kept calling the house. A guy walking down our street, as I was waiting for the lady who bought the Neon, stopped by and asked if it was for sale when he noticed that the license plates had been removed. Even the floor guy, who was at our house, asked if the car, was for sale.
While we were in the basement working, I received a very interesting call around noontime. I saw that there was a 3 (international code for Spain) in front of an unfamiliar telephone number. I answered the telephone call, which I normally don’t do if I don’t recognize the number. To my surprise it was Ramon Davila who was an exchange student from Spain who lived with us during our son Kevin’s last year of high school in 1995. We chatted for a while, and I told him about how everyone in our family is doing. I told him that our two sons are married, and they have children of their own. I asked Ramon if he was married, and he said not yet. He does have a girlfriend who might be moving in with him.
I asked him what he does for a living. He said that he was a lawyer (like his dad), and he is also an IT person. He said that he teaches tennis also. I told them that he and his family are welcome to stay with us if they ever come to the east coast of the United States again.
In our 10 minute conversation, I did remind him that the last time that we had a live Christmas tree (until last year) was when Linda, Ramon, and me went to a local Christmas tree farm, and he cut down a fresh tree. This was a first time experience for him.
We exchanged e-mails so that we can stay in touch with one another. I also said that if he ever flew into Logan, I could pick him up, and we can eat at Kevin’s restaurant “”Dough East Boston” since it is 1.1 miles form the airport.
Our son Kevin, and Ramon are the same age 33 years old.
My Sports Illustrated magazine came to the house yesterday. The quarterback for the Patriots was on the front cover of the magazine. When some sports stars make the front cover of this magazine, it is often the “kiss of death.” The good thing about the article was that they didn’t praise Tom Brady too much on how talented he really is. Often, when an article tells how wonderful that the guy on the front cover is, the athlete has a bad year. Let us hope that this curse doesn’t work for Brady.
The Patriots have a 4:15 PM game this weekend against their division rival, the New York Jets. I will be in my renovated “Man cave” watching the game from start to finish. There is a covered dish affair this weekend at a friend’s place. If Linda so chooses to go, she will be without me.
Linda is driving a loaner car as of last evening. The repairs done to our recently purchased Kia Sportage, and the final cleanup of the car couldn’t be done at the close of business on Wednesday.
I could have used the Kia yesterday because there are a whole bunch of items in the garage that I want to take to our local Resource Recovery plant. These are big items which I can’t easily fit into my Legacy wagon. Do you think that Linda will let me use the Kia?
Actually I am going to cut up any large wooden items so that they can fit in my car. I want the newness of the Kia to last a few weeks before I mess it up.
Third Thursday – I made an Irish Whiskey Cake before Linda woke up on Wednesday. I picked up the Irish Bangers too.
The weather forecast for today might be a problem. Light afternoon rain, and thunderstorms this evening could put a damper on the event. Even though they close down the streets for the Third Thursday, I am not sure if people want to walk the streets in the rain. I will think positive, and hope that the rains hold off until the 5 PM to 8 PM event is over.
A bunch of us are going off to Patrick’s Pub at 8:30 PM to continue with more fun and merriment. We do have an Irish band which will provide entertainment during The Third Thursday event. A different Irish Band will be playing a Patrick’s Pub.
If any of my local e-mail readers want to join Linda and me at the Irish Festival at the Saratoga Fair grounds this weekend, there is still room on the bus. The cost is $25 per person as long as you are recommended by a member (Linda and Me). The bus leaves at 11 AM at the South Street / Clinton Ave. Parking lot, and leaves Saratoga at 11 PM. The weather for Saturday is total sunshine and temperatures near 70 degrees. Respond to this e-mail if you are interested.
Well, I had trouble sleeping again last evening. I still have too many things on my mind. I think that I might need a week or two of no commitments. Well, this won’t happen until January of 2011 or later.
Have to do some quiet chores, and finish my morning routine.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Yesterday went as planned with respect to Linda and me workking in the basement. While we were doing our thing, a floor guy finished putting about 18 inches wide by 20 feet long of laminated flooring in the basement. Another guy is coming at 8 AM to make the seam between the wood, and the carpet.
Linda and I really tried to throw out things during our clean up. We have to hang a few things on the wall. The damaged ceiling tiles have to be replaced, and I think that that will be the end of the restoration project.
Every bone in our body ached when we got finished for the day.
I had forgotten that Wednesday at 6 PM is her knitting group gathering at Panera Bread. I was content to be home alone watching a little sports, and reading a book.
I had all intentions of going off to the hospital to visit with Mom, but the lady who purchased our Neon was running late. She was supposed to be at our house around 6 PM, but it ended up arriving closer to 7 PM. I will go to the hospital this morning. My sister did call and said that Mom had perked right up, and appeared to be returning to normal. I will get all the details when I see her this morning.
It was so sad to see the Neon drive off into the sunset. We have had that beauty since 1996.
Even though Linda cancelled the ad in the newspaper after only one day since we sold the car, people kept calling the house. A guy walking down our street, as I was waiting for the lady who bought the Neon, stopped by and asked if it was for sale when he noticed that the license plates had been removed. Even the floor guy, who was at our house, asked if the car, was for sale.
While we were in the basement working, I received a very interesting call around noontime. I saw that there was a 3 (international code for Spain) in front of an unfamiliar telephone number. I answered the telephone call, which I normally don’t do if I don’t recognize the number. To my surprise it was Ramon Davila who was an exchange student from Spain who lived with us during our son Kevin’s last year of high school in 1995. We chatted for a while, and I told him about how everyone in our family is doing. I told him that our two sons are married, and they have children of their own. I asked Ramon if he was married, and he said not yet. He does have a girlfriend who might be moving in with him.
I asked him what he does for a living. He said that he was a lawyer (like his dad), and he is also an IT person. He said that he teaches tennis also. I told them that he and his family are welcome to stay with us if they ever come to the east coast of the United States again.
In our 10 minute conversation, I did remind him that the last time that we had a live Christmas tree (until last year) was when Linda, Ramon, and me went to a local Christmas tree farm, and he cut down a fresh tree. This was a first time experience for him.
We exchanged e-mails so that we can stay in touch with one another. I also said that if he ever flew into Logan, I could pick him up, and we can eat at Kevin’s restaurant “”Dough East Boston” since it is 1.1 miles form the airport.
Our son Kevin, and Ramon are the same age 33 years old.
My Sports Illustrated magazine came to the house yesterday. The quarterback for the Patriots was on the front cover of the magazine. When some sports stars make the front cover of this magazine, it is often the “kiss of death.” The good thing about the article was that they didn’t praise Tom Brady too much on how talented he really is. Often, when an article tells how wonderful that the guy on the front cover is, the athlete has a bad year. Let us hope that this curse doesn’t work for Brady.
The Patriots have a 4:15 PM game this weekend against their division rival, the New York Jets. I will be in my renovated “Man cave” watching the game from start to finish. There is a covered dish affair this weekend at a friend’s place. If Linda so chooses to go, she will be without me.
Linda is driving a loaner car as of last evening. The repairs done to our recently purchased Kia Sportage, and the final cleanup of the car couldn’t be done at the close of business on Wednesday.
I could have used the Kia yesterday because there are a whole bunch of items in the garage that I want to take to our local Resource Recovery plant. These are big items which I can’t easily fit into my Legacy wagon. Do you think that Linda will let me use the Kia?
Actually I am going to cut up any large wooden items so that they can fit in my car. I want the newness of the Kia to last a few weeks before I mess it up.
Third Thursday – I made an Irish Whiskey Cake before Linda woke up on Wednesday. I picked up the Irish Bangers too.
The weather forecast for today might be a problem. Light afternoon rain, and thunderstorms this evening could put a damper on the event. Even though they close down the streets for the Third Thursday, I am not sure if people want to walk the streets in the rain. I will think positive, and hope that the rains hold off until the 5 PM to 8 PM event is over.
A bunch of us are going off to Patrick’s Pub at 8:30 PM to continue with more fun and merriment. We do have an Irish band which will provide entertainment during The Third Thursday event. A different Irish Band will be playing a Patrick’s Pub.
If any of my local e-mail readers want to join Linda and me at the Irish Festival at the Saratoga Fair grounds this weekend, there is still room on the bus. The cost is $25 per person as long as you are recommended by a member (Linda and Me). The bus leaves at 11 AM at the South Street / Clinton Ave. Parking lot, and leaves Saratoga at 11 PM. The weather for Saturday is total sunshine and temperatures near 70 degrees. Respond to this e-mail if you are interested.
Well, I had trouble sleeping again last evening. I still have too many things on my mind. I think that I might need a week or two of no commitments. Well, this won’t happen until January of 2011 or later.
Have to do some quiet chores, and finish my morning routine.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hello on Wednesday
Dear Friends,
My political comments stirred up a good deal of discussion. During the back and forth e-mails, I found out that some readers are members of the Tea Party. The Tea Party won quite a few elections across the nation including knocking out some long term incumbents. I can see where the Tea Party and a good portion of the country are tired of the current two party system.
President Obama wanted change when he got elected, but soon realized that change doesn’t come as fast as he wanted it to happen.
I don’t see a need for a new party which thinks that they are going to solve all the problems without the Democrats and the Republicans. The Tea Party people should decide which of the parties’ best fits their ideals. Instead of creating a new beast, the advocates of the Tea Party should work to strengthen the party of their choice. As an example, if the Tea Party thinks that the Republicans have lost touch with some of the diehard principles which they were based on, then work to get the Republican Party back on track.
Our Tuesday went as planned. I played a quick nine holes of golf, and then headed off to see Mom at the hospital. I asked the attending physician to explain exactly what were all of mom’s problems, and how to proceed. The doctor said that there were only two options; death by starvation, or insert a feeding tube into Mom. My father, sister and I have decided that the second option is what we are going to do.
It appears that we are getting close to the Good Lord taking mom. Mom has been ready for that to happen for quite some time.
After my visit, I sat down with the Mah Jongg ladies and had lunch with them since Linda was hosting the Tuesday session. When they went off to play their multiple games, I went into the Man Cave to do a little work of returning the basement to normal.
Linda has promised me that today we will work together, and finish that task.
We had to drop the Kia to the dealer yesterday afternoon because there was a part in the vehicle that was on a recall list. Our dealer said that they would fix the part so that we wouldn’t have to go through the process of getting it fixed. I say process because the part has to be fixed at a Kia Dealership with Albany, New York being the closest one to us in Berkshire County. All other repairs can be done at the local Subaru dealership where we purchased the car.
Yesterday, I kept on looking at the Kia from top to bottom, and I couldn’t find one ding or knick in the car. These are the ones that all of get in parking lots. I have done that multiple times to the Neon in our own garage. I don’t know how the previous owner went from 2006 to 2010 without getting a mark on his car. Linda (& me) bought a real gem for being a used car. The car also is a 6 cylinder vehicle. We have had four cylinder cars for most of our married life. I can wait to see how the car runs while traveling on the Massachusetts Turnpike or on any long trip.
We (mostly Linda) sold the Neon yesterday too. Linda put an advertisement in the newspaper for one week starting on Wednesday. The cash sale took place at 4:30 PM on Wednesday. I am going to clean and wash the car before the new female owner picks up the car during the late afternoon today. I also have to remember to take out the transponder, and cancel the Neon, and add the Kia to the transponder.
I hope that if there were elections in your town or State that your candidate won. Our Democratic ticket had many people on the ballot with no opposition. The big Democratic election (no Republican candidates) in Berkshire County was for County Sheriff. A former student of mine and a member of the Pittsfield police force for 24 years was going up against a career State politician from a nearby Berkshire town. Who do you think won a convincing victory? The politician conceded the election early Tuesday evening.
Well, I have been up so early because I couldn’t sleep because I had so many things on my mind that I am going back to bed after sending this e-mail.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My political comments stirred up a good deal of discussion. During the back and forth e-mails, I found out that some readers are members of the Tea Party. The Tea Party won quite a few elections across the nation including knocking out some long term incumbents. I can see where the Tea Party and a good portion of the country are tired of the current two party system.
President Obama wanted change when he got elected, but soon realized that change doesn’t come as fast as he wanted it to happen.
I don’t see a need for a new party which thinks that they are going to solve all the problems without the Democrats and the Republicans. The Tea Party people should decide which of the parties’ best fits their ideals. Instead of creating a new beast, the advocates of the Tea Party should work to strengthen the party of their choice. As an example, if the Tea Party thinks that the Republicans have lost touch with some of the diehard principles which they were based on, then work to get the Republican Party back on track.
Our Tuesday went as planned. I played a quick nine holes of golf, and then headed off to see Mom at the hospital. I asked the attending physician to explain exactly what were all of mom’s problems, and how to proceed. The doctor said that there were only two options; death by starvation, or insert a feeding tube into Mom. My father, sister and I have decided that the second option is what we are going to do.
It appears that we are getting close to the Good Lord taking mom. Mom has been ready for that to happen for quite some time.
After my visit, I sat down with the Mah Jongg ladies and had lunch with them since Linda was hosting the Tuesday session. When they went off to play their multiple games, I went into the Man Cave to do a little work of returning the basement to normal.
Linda has promised me that today we will work together, and finish that task.
We had to drop the Kia to the dealer yesterday afternoon because there was a part in the vehicle that was on a recall list. Our dealer said that they would fix the part so that we wouldn’t have to go through the process of getting it fixed. I say process because the part has to be fixed at a Kia Dealership with Albany, New York being the closest one to us in Berkshire County. All other repairs can be done at the local Subaru dealership where we purchased the car.
Yesterday, I kept on looking at the Kia from top to bottom, and I couldn’t find one ding or knick in the car. These are the ones that all of get in parking lots. I have done that multiple times to the Neon in our own garage. I don’t know how the previous owner went from 2006 to 2010 without getting a mark on his car. Linda (& me) bought a real gem for being a used car. The car also is a 6 cylinder vehicle. We have had four cylinder cars for most of our married life. I can wait to see how the car runs while traveling on the Massachusetts Turnpike or on any long trip.
We (mostly Linda) sold the Neon yesterday too. Linda put an advertisement in the newspaper for one week starting on Wednesday. The cash sale took place at 4:30 PM on Wednesday. I am going to clean and wash the car before the new female owner picks up the car during the late afternoon today. I also have to remember to take out the transponder, and cancel the Neon, and add the Kia to the transponder.
I hope that if there were elections in your town or State that your candidate won. Our Democratic ticket had many people on the ballot with no opposition. The big Democratic election (no Republican candidates) in Berkshire County was for County Sheriff. A former student of mine and a member of the Pittsfield police force for 24 years was going up against a career State politician from a nearby Berkshire town. Who do you think won a convincing victory? The politician conceded the election early Tuesday evening.
Well, I have been up so early because I couldn’t sleep because I had so many things on my mind that I am going back to bed after sending this e-mail.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Hello on Tuesday Morning
Dear Friends,
My day on Monday didn’t start as planned. My sister called at 9:30 AM and said that the nursing home was sending Mom to the hospital. The nurse told my sister that she thought that Mom wasn’t going to make it. I met my sister in the emergency room, and Mom was sitting up in bed (hooked up to oxygen and monitors), but in an unconscious state.
Well, Mom is still on this earth as of yesterday. She was admitted to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Her lungs are all congested, and filled with fluid.
I went to see her before I went off to my 6 PM UNICO board meeting, but she wasn’t in the room that they told me she was supposed to be located in. The nurse told me that she hadn’t arrived on the fourth floor yet. I will stop in after I vote, and play a quick nine holes of golf with the usual suspects.
Since Mom really wasn’t on death’s door, I kept my appointment for the noon time radio talk program.
Mom spent most of the day going through a battery of tests before she finally got to her room. Her heart, kidneys, etc. are still working pretty well for a soon to be 94 year old woman. I am hoping that she will be able to speak to me when I go there today.
I too realize that pneumonia for an elderly person is much worse than for someone thirty years younger like me.
Linda did her thing while I was going through dealing with Mom. Her Kia Sportage was delivered to the house while I was at my meeting. She drove it around the block, and that was it.
She did put an advertisement in the local newspaper about the NEON being for sale. I imagine that the telephone will be a bit active today.
I will be putting the Neon on the street; parking the Kia in the garage to make room for the Tuesday Mah Jongg players since Linda is hosting the session today.
I have a boneless beef roast brewing in the crock pot for supper tonight.
Our Irish Sister City meeting this evening was cancelled because we didn’t have enough members for a quorum.
Aunt Gladys’ son and his wife, who live in Fort Meyers, Florida, went to the nursing home to visit Mom not knowing that Mom was at Berkshire Medical Center. I chatted with my cousin on my cell phone while he was at the hospital, and he mentioned that the last few times that he has tried to visit my mom (while visiting), she always seems to be in the hospital.
I have to enter some meeting dates and events for UNICO in my calendar before finishing my morning routine.
The poles open at 7 AM this morning, and I will be among the early ones. You know that I will be voting for a Democratic ticket.
Observation – Speaking of voting, I still think that if any candidates for the primaries are incumbents, they are in jeopardy of losing their jobs. The Republican talking heads have been sending a daily message that our President has us heading in the wrong direction, and that all politicians are corrupt, and not doing their jobs.
The Tea Party people really scare me. These bible toting, non tolerant individuals are pretty equivalent to some of the terrorists whom we are fighting throughout the world. If they really think that they are like the American Revolutionists who fought the British when our country was in the formation stages, then we are in real trouble if their candidates get elected.
I am so glad that I was born into a Democratic family. I will be a Democrat for the remaining days of my life on this earth.
Sports – I did watch a little NFL football last night. I was so glad to see the Jets lose. The Patriots will be playing them this weekend in an away game. Could the Jets be overrated?
I watched some of the Chargers vs Chiefs game. I thought I was listening to a Patriot game. Several of the Kansas City coaches are former Patriot coaches. The player personnel guy (Pioli) worked for the Patriots too. Cassel, the Chiefs quarterback, was the back up quarterback when Tom Brady went down for a season ending injury two years ago. This team might be a hidden jewel in their division.
The Red Sox won. Who cares?
Have to go and do some quiet chores.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
My day on Monday didn’t start as planned. My sister called at 9:30 AM and said that the nursing home was sending Mom to the hospital. The nurse told my sister that she thought that Mom wasn’t going to make it. I met my sister in the emergency room, and Mom was sitting up in bed (hooked up to oxygen and monitors), but in an unconscious state.
Well, Mom is still on this earth as of yesterday. She was admitted to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Her lungs are all congested, and filled with fluid.
I went to see her before I went off to my 6 PM UNICO board meeting, but she wasn’t in the room that they told me she was supposed to be located in. The nurse told me that she hadn’t arrived on the fourth floor yet. I will stop in after I vote, and play a quick nine holes of golf with the usual suspects.
Since Mom really wasn’t on death’s door, I kept my appointment for the noon time radio talk program.
Mom spent most of the day going through a battery of tests before she finally got to her room. Her heart, kidneys, etc. are still working pretty well for a soon to be 94 year old woman. I am hoping that she will be able to speak to me when I go there today.
I too realize that pneumonia for an elderly person is much worse than for someone thirty years younger like me.
Linda did her thing while I was going through dealing with Mom. Her Kia Sportage was delivered to the house while I was at my meeting. She drove it around the block, and that was it.
She did put an advertisement in the local newspaper about the NEON being for sale. I imagine that the telephone will be a bit active today.
I will be putting the Neon on the street; parking the Kia in the garage to make room for the Tuesday Mah Jongg players since Linda is hosting the session today.
I have a boneless beef roast brewing in the crock pot for supper tonight.
Our Irish Sister City meeting this evening was cancelled because we didn’t have enough members for a quorum.
Aunt Gladys’ son and his wife, who live in Fort Meyers, Florida, went to the nursing home to visit Mom not knowing that Mom was at Berkshire Medical Center. I chatted with my cousin on my cell phone while he was at the hospital, and he mentioned that the last few times that he has tried to visit my mom (while visiting), she always seems to be in the hospital.
I have to enter some meeting dates and events for UNICO in my calendar before finishing my morning routine.
The poles open at 7 AM this morning, and I will be among the early ones. You know that I will be voting for a Democratic ticket.
Observation – Speaking of voting, I still think that if any candidates for the primaries are incumbents, they are in jeopardy of losing their jobs. The Republican talking heads have been sending a daily message that our President has us heading in the wrong direction, and that all politicians are corrupt, and not doing their jobs.
The Tea Party people really scare me. These bible toting, non tolerant individuals are pretty equivalent to some of the terrorists whom we are fighting throughout the world. If they really think that they are like the American Revolutionists who fought the British when our country was in the formation stages, then we are in real trouble if their candidates get elected.
I am so glad that I was born into a Democratic family. I will be a Democrat for the remaining days of my life on this earth.
Sports – I did watch a little NFL football last night. I was so glad to see the Jets lose. The Patriots will be playing them this weekend in an away game. Could the Jets be overrated?
I watched some of the Chargers vs Chiefs game. I thought I was listening to a Patriot game. Several of the Kansas City coaches are former Patriot coaches. The player personnel guy (Pioli) worked for the Patriots too. Cassel, the Chiefs quarterback, was the back up quarterback when Tom Brady went down for a season ending injury two years ago. This team might be a hidden jewel in their division.
The Red Sox won. Who cares?
Have to go and do some quiet chores.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hello on Monday Morning
Dear Friends,
Linda and I both had fun weekends, but not together.
I did depart from Pittsfield on Saturday and headed East to North Tewksbury. I went directly to Kevin and Kyla’s and did some baby sitting while Kevin and Kyla did some errands. While they were doing their thing, I took Max to the Brodeur’s for a couple of hours. Max was his usual good self, and didn’t touch any items that could have caused a problem. There house is not child proofed yet since their grandchild is a few months old.
Linda went to the Colonial on Friday night with a bunch of Irish friends. She saw a chick flick alone because all of her friends had already seen the movie.
Kyla prepared a wonderful supper on Saturday night. Ginny Brodeur stopped by to join us. Jerry was kind of whipped from his Friday dialysis, and took a rain check for dinner.
On Sunday, I took care of Max when he woke up at 6:45 AM. I hope that I didn’t wake him up as I was cleaning up the kitchen, pots, and pans from the Saturday night supper. We had a roasted chicken, and some asparagus that I grilled. Kyla also made some rice.
Speaking of grilling, I think that I grilled a mouse in their Webber Grill. I turned on the burners, and heard this creature running back in forth for the first few minutes, and then the noise stopped.
Kevin and I left the house at 8:30 AM for the Patriot Game. We went off to Reading to pick up a friend. We arrived in the parking lot at 9:30 AM, and had Steak Tips cooking by 10 AM. We had a great time tailgating. The stuff people were cooking and the food smells from the parking lots were wonderful. Some guys even cooked a whole pig.
Before we went into the Stadium, we went over to visit our friends from Attleboro whom I used to tailgate with when my Berkshire friend and I had season tickets. They all said that they missed me and my cooking skills. I didn’t realize that I made quite and impression with those guys in the few short years that we had season tickets.
While saying “Hi” to everyone, I had one of those “life is a crapshoot“ moments. The leader of the group whom I call “Mike from Attleboro” said that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He is in his middle 50’s. He took a pill before the game started to help stop his legs from being too restless. He said that he would most likely stand for a portion of the game.
The seats that we had were terrific. The three of us said that if we had access to them, we would purchase the season tickets in a heart beat. The tickets actually belong to a cousin of one of our Berkshire friends. This cousin usually chooses a couple games to attend, and then sells the rest to their friends and relatives. I wonder if the person would accept one big check for all three tickets to responsible people like us.
I guess that I really miss the whole football experience at Gillette Stadium. I love everything about. Since I am retired, it doesn’t matter whether the game starts at 1 PM, 4:15 PM, or 8:30 PM. If I don’t want to drive back home, I could always stay at our son’s house in North Tewskbury if I didn’t want to make the 2.5 hour + journey home.
Social Calendar – Linda has an appointment and some errands to do today. I have a noon time radio program (WBRK 1340 on the AM dial) that I will be on discussing Irish Events along with our Sister City President. I also have a 6 PM UNICO Board meeting. I would like to finish up cleaning up the basement with Linda’s help and supervision before the Board meeting.
We do have an extremely busy week coming up. I am going to try and squeeze in a few rounds of nine holes of golf during the week starting tomorrow morning while Linda hosts her Tuesday Mah Jongg session.
We will be picking up the car any day now too, and we have to get rid of the tired Neon.
An Irish Sister City meeting is on the agenda for Tuesday evening at 6 PM.
We have Third Thursday this week, and I will be back cooking Irish Bangers. Oh! I forgot that I have to make an Irish Whiskey Cake for the event too. I might have to make a double batch since we didn’t have many volunteers offering to make cakes.
Friday golf with the seniors includes a pizza party.
Saturday we are going to an Irish Festival in Saratoga.
Sunday there is a covered dish gathering which we aren’t sure if we will have the energy to make it to.
Does it seem like the Curley’s are a little bored with retirement? Yeah Right!
Well, I am going to finish my morning routine, clean my greasy grill, and clean my messy car after Linda wakes up. I will then head to the basement, and do some work down there.
I saw an e-mail where the other Mah Jongg groups want to play some day this week too. It would be nice if the basement was returned to normal so that they could do so.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Linda and I both had fun weekends, but not together.
I did depart from Pittsfield on Saturday and headed East to North Tewksbury. I went directly to Kevin and Kyla’s and did some baby sitting while Kevin and Kyla did some errands. While they were doing their thing, I took Max to the Brodeur’s for a couple of hours. Max was his usual good self, and didn’t touch any items that could have caused a problem. There house is not child proofed yet since their grandchild is a few months old.
Linda went to the Colonial on Friday night with a bunch of Irish friends. She saw a chick flick alone because all of her friends had already seen the movie.
Kyla prepared a wonderful supper on Saturday night. Ginny Brodeur stopped by to join us. Jerry was kind of whipped from his Friday dialysis, and took a rain check for dinner.
On Sunday, I took care of Max when he woke up at 6:45 AM. I hope that I didn’t wake him up as I was cleaning up the kitchen, pots, and pans from the Saturday night supper. We had a roasted chicken, and some asparagus that I grilled. Kyla also made some rice.
Speaking of grilling, I think that I grilled a mouse in their Webber Grill. I turned on the burners, and heard this creature running back in forth for the first few minutes, and then the noise stopped.
Kevin and I left the house at 8:30 AM for the Patriot Game. We went off to Reading to pick up a friend. We arrived in the parking lot at 9:30 AM, and had Steak Tips cooking by 10 AM. We had a great time tailgating. The stuff people were cooking and the food smells from the parking lots were wonderful. Some guys even cooked a whole pig.
Before we went into the Stadium, we went over to visit our friends from Attleboro whom I used to tailgate with when my Berkshire friend and I had season tickets. They all said that they missed me and my cooking skills. I didn’t realize that I made quite and impression with those guys in the few short years that we had season tickets.
While saying “Hi” to everyone, I had one of those “life is a crapshoot“ moments. The leader of the group whom I call “Mike from Attleboro” said that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He is in his middle 50’s. He took a pill before the game started to help stop his legs from being too restless. He said that he would most likely stand for a portion of the game.
The seats that we had were terrific. The three of us said that if we had access to them, we would purchase the season tickets in a heart beat. The tickets actually belong to a cousin of one of our Berkshire friends. This cousin usually chooses a couple games to attend, and then sells the rest to their friends and relatives. I wonder if the person would accept one big check for all three tickets to responsible people like us.
I guess that I really miss the whole football experience at Gillette Stadium. I love everything about. Since I am retired, it doesn’t matter whether the game starts at 1 PM, 4:15 PM, or 8:30 PM. If I don’t want to drive back home, I could always stay at our son’s house in North Tewskbury if I didn’t want to make the 2.5 hour + journey home.
Social Calendar – Linda has an appointment and some errands to do today. I have a noon time radio program (WBRK 1340 on the AM dial) that I will be on discussing Irish Events along with our Sister City President. I also have a 6 PM UNICO Board meeting. I would like to finish up cleaning up the basement with Linda’s help and supervision before the Board meeting.
We do have an extremely busy week coming up. I am going to try and squeeze in a few rounds of nine holes of golf during the week starting tomorrow morning while Linda hosts her Tuesday Mah Jongg session.
We will be picking up the car any day now too, and we have to get rid of the tired Neon.
An Irish Sister City meeting is on the agenda for Tuesday evening at 6 PM.
We have Third Thursday this week, and I will be back cooking Irish Bangers. Oh! I forgot that I have to make an Irish Whiskey Cake for the event too. I might have to make a double batch since we didn’t have many volunteers offering to make cakes.
Friday golf with the seniors includes a pizza party.
Saturday we are going to an Irish Festival in Saratoga.
Sunday there is a covered dish gathering which we aren’t sure if we will have the energy to make it to.
Does it seem like the Curley’s are a little bored with retirement? Yeah Right!
Well, I am going to finish my morning routine, clean my greasy grill, and clean my messy car after Linda wakes up. I will then head to the basement, and do some work down there.
I saw an e-mail where the other Mah Jongg groups want to play some day this week too. It would be nice if the basement was returned to normal so that they could do so.
Have a great week at work or play.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Hello on Saturday
Dear Friends,
Our Friday went as planned. I played golf, signed some papers about our recent car purchase, found out that the Neon repairs would cost too much, and squeezed in an afternoon nap.
We are picking up the car early next week. It is officially Linda’s car for now, but it is my kind of car. It would really be great for ice fishing. It would be so easy to put all of my gear including my ice auger in the Kia since the rear seats fold down flat. My extra large sled would go in without a challenge too. There is even a tow hitch that comes with the car. Maybe I could tow ski mobiles, or jet skis, pop up camper, etc. These are just some random thoughts.
Linda kept herself busy all morning coordinating things with respect to securing car insurance for the vehicle which we are purchasing, and do several house related errands.
I am exiting Pittsfield at 9 AM and heading to ours son’s restaurant in East Boston. I want to personally see the two week effort of Kevin and his partner Mike, Todd Brodeur (certified contractor and family friend), etc. of sprucing up the place from ceiling to floors as well as doing work in the basement too where many of the dry products are stored. Kevin has shown us videos taken on his i-phone, but it is just not the same until I see it in person.
Linda’s dinner with the girlfriend’s and our Irish guest went very well. She called me at 8:30 PM to say that they were still socializing at the restaurant. I took the Neon and headed toward the house party. There much food, fun and merriment at the house party. Linda left a little after 11 PM, but I stayed until midnight. When I left, they had a fire going outside. There was plenty of wood for the fire. I imagine that the party continued on well past midnight. I didn’t want to drive to Boston with a fuzzy brain today other wise I would have been there when the party ended.
I am psyched for the Patriot Game on Sunday. I am putting the three tickets in the car right now so that I don’t forget them. I have some tailgating gear already packed, but I still have a bunch more stuff to put in the car.
The Sunday rain is not going to reach Gillette Stadium until after the game. The temperature is supposed to reach 71 degrees by game time in Foxboro.
The Berkshires won’t reach 70 on Sunday, and the rains arrive much earlier here than in Foxboro.
Well, I have to cut this e-mail short, and get packing.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our Friday went as planned. I played golf, signed some papers about our recent car purchase, found out that the Neon repairs would cost too much, and squeezed in an afternoon nap.
We are picking up the car early next week. It is officially Linda’s car for now, but it is my kind of car. It would really be great for ice fishing. It would be so easy to put all of my gear including my ice auger in the Kia since the rear seats fold down flat. My extra large sled would go in without a challenge too. There is even a tow hitch that comes with the car. Maybe I could tow ski mobiles, or jet skis, pop up camper, etc. These are just some random thoughts.
Linda kept herself busy all morning coordinating things with respect to securing car insurance for the vehicle which we are purchasing, and do several house related errands.
I am exiting Pittsfield at 9 AM and heading to ours son’s restaurant in East Boston. I want to personally see the two week effort of Kevin and his partner Mike, Todd Brodeur (certified contractor and family friend), etc. of sprucing up the place from ceiling to floors as well as doing work in the basement too where many of the dry products are stored. Kevin has shown us videos taken on his i-phone, but it is just not the same until I see it in person.
Linda’s dinner with the girlfriend’s and our Irish guest went very well. She called me at 8:30 PM to say that they were still socializing at the restaurant. I took the Neon and headed toward the house party. There much food, fun and merriment at the house party. Linda left a little after 11 PM, but I stayed until midnight. When I left, they had a fire going outside. There was plenty of wood for the fire. I imagine that the party continued on well past midnight. I didn’t want to drive to Boston with a fuzzy brain today other wise I would have been there when the party ended.
I am psyched for the Patriot Game on Sunday. I am putting the three tickets in the car right now so that I don’t forget them. I have some tailgating gear already packed, but I still have a bunch more stuff to put in the car.
The Sunday rain is not going to reach Gillette Stadium until after the game. The temperature is supposed to reach 71 degrees by game time in Foxboro.
The Berkshires won’t reach 70 on Sunday, and the rains arrive much earlier here than in Foxboro.
Well, I have to cut this e-mail short, and get packing.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, September 10, 2010
Hello on Friday
Dear Friends,
Thursday ended up being a 12 hour day for me. I worked in the basement from 8:30 AM until the start of the NFL Football game which was 8:30 PM. I made decisions without Linda, and I threw out items that I hope that she doesn’t as me to go get for her.
I did have my 3 PM meeting in the basement since I cleaned up the bar area well enough for my guests to sit on the bar stools. I think that Linda and I will need one more day of working together, and then the basement will be habitable.
Yesterday was trash pick up day. I added to the amount of trash all day long because they don’t pick up the trash until around 3 PM.
Linda made it through her retiree breakfast, and body maintenance procedure. As she left the house, I told her to go and buy a car which she proceeded to do. She stopped by in the middle of the 3 PM meeting and showed me the 2006 KIA Sportage that she eventually signed the dotted line on. An elderly gentleman drove the car about 24,000 miles before he turned it in the other day. It hasn’t even been cleaned up since the guy just brought it in a day ago. The elderly gentleman wanted to change to a sedan.
The car would be great for getting in my ice fishing gear, grass clipping which I take to the resource recovery plant, etc. Linda said that this is her car, and don’t even think about trashing her car! She will be picking up the car in a day or so.
She seemed so excited, and happy about the purchase, and I was happy for her. She has been killing herself trying to get our house back to normal, dealing with the insurance company, contractor, etc.
We are now working on getting rid of the 1996 Neon. The Neon was the last car that we purchased in the brand new condition.
Today is golf day for me. It will be a long pants and a sweater day for golf. I am going to take a nap after golf.
Linda doesn’t have to move until the car dealer calls and says that her car is ready.
She is booked in for a girls’ night at the Dakota Restaurant at 6:30 PM. Like I said yesterday, the party continues on at 8 PM at a house party where we males will hook up with our significant others.
Saturday morning, I will be gathering up my tailgating stuff and heading east to North Tewksbury. I will be staying at the Brodeur’s on Saturday and possibly Sunday night after the Patriot Game. I will also weave in a visit to see the grandchild who lives one street over from the Broduer’s. I have been watching the Boston news channel the past few days. We might make it through the game before some rain hits Foxboro. Kevin did get a third person to attend the game. The brother-in-law of his partner in the restaurant will be joining us.
Kevin called last evening, and told us how the renovation is going. He has about another day or so, and everything will be done. He said his usual customers have been coming to the door looking to purchase food. He hated to turn them away. I would imagine that he will have some specials next week to lure them back. Yesterday, he had a whole bunch of police and fireman come to the door wanting to purchase some of his great foods that he and his workers prepare. He has been killing himself for the past two weeks. Like father like son!
Speaking of the game, can you believe that Tom Brady got in a car accident in Boston while on the way to practice at Gillette Stadium yesterday morning? A guy ran a red light, and hit Tom’s car broadside. Brady walked away from the scene, but the other guy had to be hospitalized. Brady said that he was fine yesterday, but I would imagine that he might be a little sore today.
Yesterday also was the day that they extended Brady’s contract until 2014. He will be making about $20 million per year.
When the fireman and EMT’s arrived at the scene, they were dealing with the injured guy, who has had numerous driving violations. The emergency personnel didn’t even know that the other guy in the accident was the quarterback of the Patriots. Luckily, there were witnesses of the accident so that the other guy can’t claim that he wasn’t at fault.
While I am out of town, Linda will be having a good time too. She is booked into an event at the Colonial Theater with a bunch of Irish Sister City friends for Saturday night.
I am already booked in for Monday. I will be on a noon time Radio Talk Program with some Irish friends as well as our guest from Ballina.
While at the meeting yesterday, one of the guys in attendance asked me how I was doing physically. I told him that I could lose a few pounds, but that I was feeling great. So then I asked him how he is doing. He is 62 years old, a year younger than me, and he had a silent stroke. He is teaching at my former High School. He is not retired like me because he started his teaching career later on in life. He is on Coumadin, a drug that I know well when I had a blood clot (DVT). He said that he changed his eating life style and lost 30 pounds. He has the shakes in both hands, and one arm has no strength even though he works out.
Like I always say “life is a crapshoot.” You never know what each day brings to you, your loved ones, and friends. I opened one of the Chinese cookies the other day, and the saying on the slip of paper said “Enjoy each day as though it was your last.”
I understand and get the message, but I am not sure all of my friends do.
Well, I have to read the newspaper, and finish my morning routine. My friend and neighbor up the street will be picking me up for golf since we currently are functioning with only one car.
Have a great weekend even though it might be on the fall like side.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday ended up being a 12 hour day for me. I worked in the basement from 8:30 AM until the start of the NFL Football game which was 8:30 PM. I made decisions without Linda, and I threw out items that I hope that she doesn’t as me to go get for her.
I did have my 3 PM meeting in the basement since I cleaned up the bar area well enough for my guests to sit on the bar stools. I think that Linda and I will need one more day of working together, and then the basement will be habitable.
Yesterday was trash pick up day. I added to the amount of trash all day long because they don’t pick up the trash until around 3 PM.
Linda made it through her retiree breakfast, and body maintenance procedure. As she left the house, I told her to go and buy a car which she proceeded to do. She stopped by in the middle of the 3 PM meeting and showed me the 2006 KIA Sportage that she eventually signed the dotted line on. An elderly gentleman drove the car about 24,000 miles before he turned it in the other day. It hasn’t even been cleaned up since the guy just brought it in a day ago. The elderly gentleman wanted to change to a sedan.
The car would be great for getting in my ice fishing gear, grass clipping which I take to the resource recovery plant, etc. Linda said that this is her car, and don’t even think about trashing her car! She will be picking up the car in a day or so.
She seemed so excited, and happy about the purchase, and I was happy for her. She has been killing herself trying to get our house back to normal, dealing with the insurance company, contractor, etc.
We are now working on getting rid of the 1996 Neon. The Neon was the last car that we purchased in the brand new condition.
Today is golf day for me. It will be a long pants and a sweater day for golf. I am going to take a nap after golf.
Linda doesn’t have to move until the car dealer calls and says that her car is ready.
She is booked in for a girls’ night at the Dakota Restaurant at 6:30 PM. Like I said yesterday, the party continues on at 8 PM at a house party where we males will hook up with our significant others.
Saturday morning, I will be gathering up my tailgating stuff and heading east to North Tewksbury. I will be staying at the Brodeur’s on Saturday and possibly Sunday night after the Patriot Game. I will also weave in a visit to see the grandchild who lives one street over from the Broduer’s. I have been watching the Boston news channel the past few days. We might make it through the game before some rain hits Foxboro. Kevin did get a third person to attend the game. The brother-in-law of his partner in the restaurant will be joining us.
Kevin called last evening, and told us how the renovation is going. He has about another day or so, and everything will be done. He said his usual customers have been coming to the door looking to purchase food. He hated to turn them away. I would imagine that he will have some specials next week to lure them back. Yesterday, he had a whole bunch of police and fireman come to the door wanting to purchase some of his great foods that he and his workers prepare. He has been killing himself for the past two weeks. Like father like son!
Speaking of the game, can you believe that Tom Brady got in a car accident in Boston while on the way to practice at Gillette Stadium yesterday morning? A guy ran a red light, and hit Tom’s car broadside. Brady walked away from the scene, but the other guy had to be hospitalized. Brady said that he was fine yesterday, but I would imagine that he might be a little sore today.
Yesterday also was the day that they extended Brady’s contract until 2014. He will be making about $20 million per year.
When the fireman and EMT’s arrived at the scene, they were dealing with the injured guy, who has had numerous driving violations. The emergency personnel didn’t even know that the other guy in the accident was the quarterback of the Patriots. Luckily, there were witnesses of the accident so that the other guy can’t claim that he wasn’t at fault.
While I am out of town, Linda will be having a good time too. She is booked into an event at the Colonial Theater with a bunch of Irish Sister City friends for Saturday night.
I am already booked in for Monday. I will be on a noon time Radio Talk Program with some Irish friends as well as our guest from Ballina.
While at the meeting yesterday, one of the guys in attendance asked me how I was doing physically. I told him that I could lose a few pounds, but that I was feeling great. So then I asked him how he is doing. He is 62 years old, a year younger than me, and he had a silent stroke. He is teaching at my former High School. He is not retired like me because he started his teaching career later on in life. He is on Coumadin, a drug that I know well when I had a blood clot (DVT). He said that he changed his eating life style and lost 30 pounds. He has the shakes in both hands, and one arm has no strength even though he works out.
Like I always say “life is a crapshoot.” You never know what each day brings to you, your loved ones, and friends. I opened one of the Chinese cookies the other day, and the saying on the slip of paper said “Enjoy each day as though it was your last.”
I understand and get the message, but I am not sure all of my friends do.
Well, I have to read the newspaper, and finish my morning routine. My friend and neighbor up the street will be picking me up for golf since we currently are functioning with only one car.
Have a great weekend even though it might be on the fall like side.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Hello on Thursday Morning
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned. I played a quick nine holes of golf after Linda dropped me off at the golf course. We dropped the Neon off to see if the repair shop could fix the gauges at a reasonable price. It is getting very close to us replacing the Neon.
My golf was a little better on Wednesday. I cut down the number of miss hits. My putting let me down which is usually one of the better parts of my game.
Linda’s eye appointment went well. Our optometrist had a new machine that can do so much more when testing a person’s eye. When Linda goes to the Optometrist it is usually takes close to two hours for her.
I got a ride home after golf, and took a wonderful afternoon nap.
Linda went off to her Wednesday Knitting group at Panera Bread at 6 PM. She said that all the teachers who were there in the summer, weren’t there last evening.
I stayed home and watched the Red Sox, and read a book after cooking myself supper. I found two lonely spare ribs in the freezer. I made a barbecue sauce concoction, and cooked them in the electronic pressure cooker. They turned out wonderful.
By skipping a gathering at Dream A Way Lodge, I missed a guest appearance by Arlo Guthrie (who lives in Berkshire County). Oh Darn!
Our guest from Ireland has been enjoying herself quite a bit on her vacation here in the Berkshires, Today she is going on a boat ride on Onota Lake with a Sister City friend who lives on the lake. She is meeting with our Mayor too.
Friday it is a girls’ night out at the Dakota Restaurant. Linda has already said “yes” to that invitation. After dinner, all of us are going to a house party until the “wee” hours of the morning.
Observation – Most of you know my saying that “life is a crapshoot”. Well this week I found out that a baby boomer from another town, who was a three sport athlete, is fighting prostate cancer (the aggressive kind).
One of Linda’s book club ladies was diagnosed with colon cancer. She was in surgery on Wednesday. The female surgeon was a former student of mine, and the surgeon is considered one of the best at Berkshire Medical Center. The woman and the doctor were hoping that the cancer was localized. The woman’s son is getting married, and she hopes that she would be okay for the upcoming wedding.
The television doctor “Dr. Oz”, who was made famous by Oprah Winfrey, let his colonoscopy be done live on national television while he was awake. He was shocked to see that he had a precancerous polyp. This 50 year doctor has no body fat, and he works out daily, eats the right food, and has written several books on what to do to stay healthy.
Yes, there are things that all of us should do to stay healthy, but a lot of the health issues which we seem to develop over time come right back to genetics.
We have friends who developed breast cancer, and their Mom’s had the disease too.
We have friends who have heart problems, and their dad’s had those same issues too.
Here is the Curley Lad with Mom soon to be 94 years old at the end of September, and Dad turning 87 in early November.
I know that my habits need a little improvement if I am going to live as long as my parents have. These recent health issues, which people whom I know are dealing with, are the motivation for me to enjoy every moment that I am on this earth, and not sweat the little stuff!
Social Calendar – Linda has breakfast with the retirees, and a body maintenance appointment early afternoon. I will be working in the basement while Linda is doing her thing until my 3 PM meeting that was cancelled last week. The meeting takes place at our home.
Sports – I did watch a little of the Red Sox game last night. Even though they beat the second place team in their division, it still remains a “Wait until next year” when this season comes to a close.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned. I played a quick nine holes of golf after Linda dropped me off at the golf course. We dropped the Neon off to see if the repair shop could fix the gauges at a reasonable price. It is getting very close to us replacing the Neon.
My golf was a little better on Wednesday. I cut down the number of miss hits. My putting let me down which is usually one of the better parts of my game.
Linda’s eye appointment went well. Our optometrist had a new machine that can do so much more when testing a person’s eye. When Linda goes to the Optometrist it is usually takes close to two hours for her.
I got a ride home after golf, and took a wonderful afternoon nap.
Linda went off to her Wednesday Knitting group at Panera Bread at 6 PM. She said that all the teachers who were there in the summer, weren’t there last evening.
I stayed home and watched the Red Sox, and read a book after cooking myself supper. I found two lonely spare ribs in the freezer. I made a barbecue sauce concoction, and cooked them in the electronic pressure cooker. They turned out wonderful.
By skipping a gathering at Dream A Way Lodge, I missed a guest appearance by Arlo Guthrie (who lives in Berkshire County). Oh Darn!
Our guest from Ireland has been enjoying herself quite a bit on her vacation here in the Berkshires, Today she is going on a boat ride on Onota Lake with a Sister City friend who lives on the lake. She is meeting with our Mayor too.
Friday it is a girls’ night out at the Dakota Restaurant. Linda has already said “yes” to that invitation. After dinner, all of us are going to a house party until the “wee” hours of the morning.
Observation – Most of you know my saying that “life is a crapshoot”. Well this week I found out that a baby boomer from another town, who was a three sport athlete, is fighting prostate cancer (the aggressive kind).
One of Linda’s book club ladies was diagnosed with colon cancer. She was in surgery on Wednesday. The female surgeon was a former student of mine, and the surgeon is considered one of the best at Berkshire Medical Center. The woman and the doctor were hoping that the cancer was localized. The woman’s son is getting married, and she hopes that she would be okay for the upcoming wedding.
The television doctor “Dr. Oz”, who was made famous by Oprah Winfrey, let his colonoscopy be done live on national television while he was awake. He was shocked to see that he had a precancerous polyp. This 50 year doctor has no body fat, and he works out daily, eats the right food, and has written several books on what to do to stay healthy.
Yes, there are things that all of us should do to stay healthy, but a lot of the health issues which we seem to develop over time come right back to genetics.
We have friends who developed breast cancer, and their Mom’s had the disease too.
We have friends who have heart problems, and their dad’s had those same issues too.
Here is the Curley Lad with Mom soon to be 94 years old at the end of September, and Dad turning 87 in early November.
I know that my habits need a little improvement if I am going to live as long as my parents have. These recent health issues, which people whom I know are dealing with, are the motivation for me to enjoy every moment that I am on this earth, and not sweat the little stuff!
Social Calendar – Linda has breakfast with the retirees, and a body maintenance appointment early afternoon. I will be working in the basement while Linda is doing her thing until my 3 PM meeting that was cancelled last week. The meeting takes place at our home.
Sports – I did watch a little of the Red Sox game last night. Even though they beat the second place team in their division, it still remains a “Wait until next year” when this season comes to a close.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Hello on Wednesday Morning
Dear Friends,
Hope that all of you had a great Tuesday. The temperatures soared into the middle 80’s here in the Berkshires.
We have a little morning rain today before the sun pops out of the clouds.
Tuesday went as planned for the both of us.
Linda played Mah Jongg at a friend’s home until 4 PM.
I did my multiple errands, and gave the lawn a trim. I even made time for a 10 AM funeral. An Irish Sister City friend lost her 52 year old son to a car accident. He was struck by a car while crossing a street. He struggled with his injuries, but they were too severe to overcome. No parent ever wants to bury their own son!
I did take an afternoon nap, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The next door neighbors were having tree work done to a tree that seems to be slowly falling apart. The tree crew fired up the wood chipper just as I put my head on the pillow. I put on the air conditioner in the bedroom to help drown out the noise. I fell asleep before they finished the job.
No one wanted to cook anything so we went off Matt Reilly’s for some fish and chips for supper.
Sports – The Red Sox were getting beat so badly that I shut off the game. Watching “Dirty Harry” reruns were more exciting than the game. At least I knew who was going to win in those movies.
Social Calendar – I am booked in for a 9 AM tee time with a couple of friends. Linda has a routine eye appointment while I am at the golf course.
We also have to drop off the Neon at a place that fixes electrical problems. She can function without air conditioning, but not without all the gauges working. It would be nice to know how fast that the car is going or when the gas tank needs a fill up.
Observation – The American minister who wants to burn the Koran has already got the Muslims in the world all fired up especially in the war torn regions. I am worried about our troops who are in those areas. The Muslims will take out their anger on the soldiers or anything American.
While in Church yesterday, I saw several people with blouse or shirt tags sticking out of their garments. I was wondering what was the appropriate way to remedy the situation. Should I quietly say something, or just tuck the tag into the garment, or just mind my own business? The hands on approach could possibly get me in trouble!
We missed an evening of fun and merriment on Tuesday. Some of our Irish friends were meeting at Patrick’s Pub to do a little socializing with our guest from our Sister City in Ballina, Ireland. Neither of us had the stamina to party on.
A group of Irish friends and our guest are going off to Dream Away Lodge this evening for some food, and open mike night. Linda and I might take another pass. The Curley’s giving up chances to party is highly unusual.
After golf today, I might go into the basement and do some work to help get the basement back in working order. Since we are busy through the weekend, the both of us will be unable to work together until next week. I need supervision. There are some items which I need to have the “okay” to throw out.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Hope that all of you had a great Tuesday. The temperatures soared into the middle 80’s here in the Berkshires.
We have a little morning rain today before the sun pops out of the clouds.
Tuesday went as planned for the both of us.
Linda played Mah Jongg at a friend’s home until 4 PM.
I did my multiple errands, and gave the lawn a trim. I even made time for a 10 AM funeral. An Irish Sister City friend lost her 52 year old son to a car accident. He was struck by a car while crossing a street. He struggled with his injuries, but they were too severe to overcome. No parent ever wants to bury their own son!
I did take an afternoon nap, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The next door neighbors were having tree work done to a tree that seems to be slowly falling apart. The tree crew fired up the wood chipper just as I put my head on the pillow. I put on the air conditioner in the bedroom to help drown out the noise. I fell asleep before they finished the job.
No one wanted to cook anything so we went off Matt Reilly’s for some fish and chips for supper.
Sports – The Red Sox were getting beat so badly that I shut off the game. Watching “Dirty Harry” reruns were more exciting than the game. At least I knew who was going to win in those movies.
Social Calendar – I am booked in for a 9 AM tee time with a couple of friends. Linda has a routine eye appointment while I am at the golf course.
We also have to drop off the Neon at a place that fixes electrical problems. She can function without air conditioning, but not without all the gauges working. It would be nice to know how fast that the car is going or when the gas tank needs a fill up.
Observation – The American minister who wants to burn the Koran has already got the Muslims in the world all fired up especially in the war torn regions. I am worried about our troops who are in those areas. The Muslims will take out their anger on the soldiers or anything American.
While in Church yesterday, I saw several people with blouse or shirt tags sticking out of their garments. I was wondering what was the appropriate way to remedy the situation. Should I quietly say something, or just tuck the tag into the garment, or just mind my own business? The hands on approach could possibly get me in trouble!
We missed an evening of fun and merriment on Tuesday. Some of our Irish friends were meeting at Patrick’s Pub to do a little socializing with our guest from our Sister City in Ballina, Ireland. Neither of us had the stamina to party on.
A group of Irish friends and our guest are going off to Dream Away Lodge this evening for some food, and open mike night. Linda and I might take another pass. The Curley’s giving up chances to party is highly unusual.
After golf today, I might go into the basement and do some work to help get the basement back in working order. Since we are busy through the weekend, the both of us will be unable to work together until next week. I need supervision. There are some items which I need to have the “okay” to throw out.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Monday, September 6, 2010
Hello on Labor Day
Dear Friends,
Happy Labor Day!
Our Sunday went as planned for the most part.
I say the most part because my going to Lee to shampoo the stairs at the family home didn’t happen. I couldn’t find the hose to our machine. I looked for the darned thing for over two hours. I knew exactly where everything was before the water damage. I looked in boxes and buckets, and just couldn’t find it. I called dad, and told him of my problem. He said not to worry about, and that I can do the best that I could do after the stair glide is installed.
On the other hand, I did find two bags of summer plastic glasses that were among the missing as summer started. I looked for them for many days, and it took three months before I could finally locate them.
It is a balmy 44 degrees right now in Pittsfield. This is my kind of weather. For two nights in a row, the air conditioners were in the off position.
I took a nap while Linda and her girlfriend did a little recreational shopping on Sunday afternoon. By the time that she retuned home, it was time to head off for the Labor Day picnic.
The picnic was wonderful from appetizers to dessert. Besides the usual cheese and crackers, one couple brought a fruit salad with non typical ingredients, one couple brought some shrimp, another couple brought some bruschetta. The main meal was grilled steak tips, broccoli salad, macaroni salad, grilled vegetables which the Curley’s brought (I cooked them on the Curley grill), and corn on the cob. We had a choice of two different home made pies, one made by the hostess, and one made by one of the guests. As you see from the menu, no one went home hungry. There was much food, fun and merriment before this party came to a close.
Linda mentioned that she is willing to attack the remaining confusion in the basement and the garage today. I hope that she is willing to start throwing things out. We have so much stuff that we have to sort through that one day will not be enough to clean up the confusion.
Observation 1 – Our son Kevin had some help this past week with respect to renovating his restaurant “Dough”. Todd Brodeur, a certified contractor, was contacted by Kevin to see if he was available to help out with the renovation. I knew when Kevin talked about what he wanted to do in his place that he was taking on an almost overwhelming task. As we left North Tewksbury on this past Monday, I suggested to Kevin to see if Todd was available. Since the Brodeur’s are considered family (even though there is no blood connection), Todd found time help Kevin out. I am not sure when the renovation will be complete, but his patrons will be impressed with the new look of the restaurant.
This is another example of the Curley theme of surrounding yourself with a good set of friends who can lend a helping hand when needed.
The Curley’s have kept their friendship with the Brodeur family since Linda and Ginny Brodeur (Todd’s mom) were roommates at Framingham State College in the late 1960’s.
Observation 2 – The corn on the cob last night at the picnic was sweet. We had corn from a competitor farm stand the night before. The corn was like cow corn. It looked good, but had no taste at all. We were on our way home from the Irish and Garlic Festival in Bennington Vermont. We stopped at the farm stand at the lower end of Crane Avenue because it was convenient. We should have gone to the corn stand on Partridge Road which was about a mile off of Crane Avenue. Their corn is some of the best grown in Berkshire County. Before this day is over, I am sending Linda off to get some for our supper this evening.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine. I am really going to be kind to Linda, and not press her to get to the tasks at hand.
Have a great Labor Day.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Happy Labor Day!
Our Sunday went as planned for the most part.
I say the most part because my going to Lee to shampoo the stairs at the family home didn’t happen. I couldn’t find the hose to our machine. I looked for the darned thing for over two hours. I knew exactly where everything was before the water damage. I looked in boxes and buckets, and just couldn’t find it. I called dad, and told him of my problem. He said not to worry about, and that I can do the best that I could do after the stair glide is installed.
On the other hand, I did find two bags of summer plastic glasses that were among the missing as summer started. I looked for them for many days, and it took three months before I could finally locate them.
It is a balmy 44 degrees right now in Pittsfield. This is my kind of weather. For two nights in a row, the air conditioners were in the off position.
I took a nap while Linda and her girlfriend did a little recreational shopping on Sunday afternoon. By the time that she retuned home, it was time to head off for the Labor Day picnic.
The picnic was wonderful from appetizers to dessert. Besides the usual cheese and crackers, one couple brought a fruit salad with non typical ingredients, one couple brought some shrimp, another couple brought some bruschetta. The main meal was grilled steak tips, broccoli salad, macaroni salad, grilled vegetables which the Curley’s brought (I cooked them on the Curley grill), and corn on the cob. We had a choice of two different home made pies, one made by the hostess, and one made by one of the guests. As you see from the menu, no one went home hungry. There was much food, fun and merriment before this party came to a close.
Linda mentioned that she is willing to attack the remaining confusion in the basement and the garage today. I hope that she is willing to start throwing things out. We have so much stuff that we have to sort through that one day will not be enough to clean up the confusion.
Observation 1 – Our son Kevin had some help this past week with respect to renovating his restaurant “Dough”. Todd Brodeur, a certified contractor, was contacted by Kevin to see if he was available to help out with the renovation. I knew when Kevin talked about what he wanted to do in his place that he was taking on an almost overwhelming task. As we left North Tewksbury on this past Monday, I suggested to Kevin to see if Todd was available. Since the Brodeur’s are considered family (even though there is no blood connection), Todd found time help Kevin out. I am not sure when the renovation will be complete, but his patrons will be impressed with the new look of the restaurant.
This is another example of the Curley theme of surrounding yourself with a good set of friends who can lend a helping hand when needed.
The Curley’s have kept their friendship with the Brodeur family since Linda and Ginny Brodeur (Todd’s mom) were roommates at Framingham State College in the late 1960’s.
Observation 2 – The corn on the cob last night at the picnic was sweet. We had corn from a competitor farm stand the night before. The corn was like cow corn. It looked good, but had no taste at all. We were on our way home from the Irish and Garlic Festival in Bennington Vermont. We stopped at the farm stand at the lower end of Crane Avenue because it was convenient. We should have gone to the corn stand on Partridge Road which was about a mile off of Crane Avenue. Their corn is some of the best grown in Berkshire County. Before this day is over, I am sending Linda off to get some for our supper this evening.
Well, I have to finish my morning routine. I am really going to be kind to Linda, and not press her to get to the tasks at hand.
Have a great Labor Day.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Hello on Saturday
Dear Friends,
Procrastination did win out on Friday.
My golf wasn’t great because the heat started to get to me, but I won’t use that as an excuse. My team lost the maximum of $3, but who cares when anything we do lose is going to our next event which is a pizza party in a couple of weeks. I did miss the picnic because it occurred during our trip down south.
Observation -- In our foursome, we played with a banker friend (he took the day off) who I used to go skiing with on Monday nights at Jiminy Peak Ski (in another life). As usual, I asked him how he was doing. He said that he almost died several months ago. An aneurysm burst in his intestine, and he lost 80% of the blood in his body. I asked him what were the signs, and where did it happen? He got up for work one day, and said that he knew something was wrong. He was bleeding internally. He had his wife take him to the emergency room instead of calling 911. After a several week stay in the hospital, he recovered. He said that the doctors wanted to do more procedures to completely fix the problem. He decided not to have the procedures, and let nature do what it wants to do. I didn’t say anything, but I was thinking he is a walking time bomb.
He then tells me while he and his wife were at a wedding in Washington, D.C. few months after he recovered, and she blew out a disc. They go back to Pittsfield, and the doctors spent 10 days trying to do therapy to solve her disc problem. He took her to Bay State medical center, and they performed an operation to solve her problem. She is on the mend too. My friend estimated that their two problems cost about $500, 000. Thank God for Obama Care!
The point of this little story is to remind people that we all are going to get aches and pains as we age. When you think that your problems are pretty bad, there is always someone worse off than you are.
As we were playing golf in the heat and humidity, I was thinking about the inside windowless classroom in which I spent my last few years of teaching. I would rather be sweating on the golf course than sweating in my former classroom. If it was my time to meet my Maker, it would be better to do so while on the golf course.
I did take a nap after golf. I miss my afternoon naps. This was the first one in a while.
Last evening, we went off to the Wahconah Country Club for supper. Filet Mignon was on the menu. All of us were a member of the clean plate club. They cooked each filet exactly the way that we ordered them. Three of us had the Filet’s, and one person had a Lobster roll, and a cup of clam chowder. Her meal was wonderful too.
Since I had a nap, I had enough energy to stay up a little later. We returned to our house and finished up the lemon dessert leftover from BONCO before we played a few hands of cribbage – Women versus the men. The women won by two games to one margin. Oh Darn!
Social Calendar – We are going off to an Irish Festival in Bennington, Vermont this morning. Our exit strategy is a 9 AM departure time. Almost across the street from the festival grounds is a Garlic Festival. We plan on making an appearance at that festival too. Some of our Berkshire County friends have already made plans to attend the Garlic Festival.
The heat and humidity has left the Berkshires. It will be a jacket and long pants today at the Irish Festival. Linda and I love the cool weather, and we are going to enjoy every day of this clean and crisp air. We are going to open up the windows and get that stale air out of our house. Yeah!
We did get invited to a Labor Day picnic. It takes place late afternoon on Sunday at a friend’s home. I can’t wait to attend.
Well, I hope that everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.
Some friends will be attending a soccer tournament for their children or their grandchildren. Linda and I have few years before we will be watching our grandchildren engaging in extracurricular activities.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Procrastination did win out on Friday.
My golf wasn’t great because the heat started to get to me, but I won’t use that as an excuse. My team lost the maximum of $3, but who cares when anything we do lose is going to our next event which is a pizza party in a couple of weeks. I did miss the picnic because it occurred during our trip down south.
Observation -- In our foursome, we played with a banker friend (he took the day off) who I used to go skiing with on Monday nights at Jiminy Peak Ski (in another life). As usual, I asked him how he was doing. He said that he almost died several months ago. An aneurysm burst in his intestine, and he lost 80% of the blood in his body. I asked him what were the signs, and where did it happen? He got up for work one day, and said that he knew something was wrong. He was bleeding internally. He had his wife take him to the emergency room instead of calling 911. After a several week stay in the hospital, he recovered. He said that the doctors wanted to do more procedures to completely fix the problem. He decided not to have the procedures, and let nature do what it wants to do. I didn’t say anything, but I was thinking he is a walking time bomb.
He then tells me while he and his wife were at a wedding in Washington, D.C. few months after he recovered, and she blew out a disc. They go back to Pittsfield, and the doctors spent 10 days trying to do therapy to solve her disc problem. He took her to Bay State medical center, and they performed an operation to solve her problem. She is on the mend too. My friend estimated that their two problems cost about $500, 000. Thank God for Obama Care!
The point of this little story is to remind people that we all are going to get aches and pains as we age. When you think that your problems are pretty bad, there is always someone worse off than you are.
As we were playing golf in the heat and humidity, I was thinking about the inside windowless classroom in which I spent my last few years of teaching. I would rather be sweating on the golf course than sweating in my former classroom. If it was my time to meet my Maker, it would be better to do so while on the golf course.
I did take a nap after golf. I miss my afternoon naps. This was the first one in a while.
Last evening, we went off to the Wahconah Country Club for supper. Filet Mignon was on the menu. All of us were a member of the clean plate club. They cooked each filet exactly the way that we ordered them. Three of us had the Filet’s, and one person had a Lobster roll, and a cup of clam chowder. Her meal was wonderful too.
Since I had a nap, I had enough energy to stay up a little later. We returned to our house and finished up the lemon dessert leftover from BONCO before we played a few hands of cribbage – Women versus the men. The women won by two games to one margin. Oh Darn!
Social Calendar – We are going off to an Irish Festival in Bennington, Vermont this morning. Our exit strategy is a 9 AM departure time. Almost across the street from the festival grounds is a Garlic Festival. We plan on making an appearance at that festival too. Some of our Berkshire County friends have already made plans to attend the Garlic Festival.
The heat and humidity has left the Berkshires. It will be a jacket and long pants today at the Irish Festival. Linda and I love the cool weather, and we are going to enjoy every day of this clean and crisp air. We are going to open up the windows and get that stale air out of our house. Yeah!
We did get invited to a Labor Day picnic. It takes place late afternoon on Sunday at a friend’s home. I can’t wait to attend.
Well, I hope that everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.
Some friends will be attending a soccer tournament for their children or their grandchildren. Linda and I have few years before we will be watching our grandchildren engaging in extracurricular activities.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hello on Friday Morning
Dear Friends,
Our day went exactly as planned. I played a quick nine holes with the usual suspects minus one golfer. I had forgotten that this baby boomer friend was still working. He was among the students and teachers in Berkshire County who went back to school.
Well he missed a pleasant day on the course which was almost empty of golfers.
Fall is the best time of the year for playing golf. A good number of people put away their clubs. The first hint of cold weather has the snow birds heading south.
Our golf course is the best shape that it has been all year. The winter kill on all the greens are just a distant memories.
It was so nice yesterday that it was like we were playing on our own private course.
After golf, I headed off to the Providence Care nursing home to visit dear old mom. I stayed with her through lunch. She was in good spirits. She did ask me to explain how and why she ended up in the nursing home.
At the end of the month, she will be 94 years old.
Linda did her baking while I was at the nursing home. After her baking, she had to set up three tables so that four people per table could play BONCO. At each table the host must provide snacks, but not the same ones at each table.
I decided to skip my afternoon nap, and work on my “Man Cave”. I moved some stuff around, and disposed of some stuff so that I could find a spot on the couch where I could sit and watch television. I had two sporting contests to watch. One was the Patriots vs New York Giants preseason football game. The other was the Red Sox game.
In a few short hours, I will be back on the golf course playing with the seniors. It is not supposed to hit 90 degrees today. The cooler weather comes in on Saturday. Linda and I can’t wait.
I might have to give up an afternoon nap again if I want to do some more work in the basement. This time Linda will be available to help out or we could procrastinate until next week. I am leaning towards procrastination.
Observation – It was hot in the house for the ladies when they were playing BONCO last evening. Linda and I can’t stand the heat. Next year we are purchasing an air conditioner for the first floor. Two of the ladies must not have minded the heat because they decided to have coffee. Most people wanted cold drinks. After visiting in Kansas, Hotlanta, Edisto Beach, South Carolina, we are convinced that we could never live in the summer time in places like this. I don’t want to go from and air conditioned house to an air conditioned car, to air conditioned stores, etc. I want to live in a place where 70’s during the day, and 50’s during the evening are the norm with an occasional day or two in the 80’s. I don’t want heat and humidity to control my life.
I remember going back to school when temperatures were in the 80’s, but never with temperatures in the 90’s. These past few days have been an aberration from the norm. I think Al Gore’s global warming theory is right on the mark.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
There are so many cultural events going on here in the Berkshires this weekend that I can’t keep them straight in my head.
Usually, we are invited to a Labor Day picnic, but we haven’t heard from any possible hosts yet.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Our day went exactly as planned. I played a quick nine holes with the usual suspects minus one golfer. I had forgotten that this baby boomer friend was still working. He was among the students and teachers in Berkshire County who went back to school.
Well he missed a pleasant day on the course which was almost empty of golfers.
Fall is the best time of the year for playing golf. A good number of people put away their clubs. The first hint of cold weather has the snow birds heading south.
Our golf course is the best shape that it has been all year. The winter kill on all the greens are just a distant memories.
It was so nice yesterday that it was like we were playing on our own private course.
After golf, I headed off to the Providence Care nursing home to visit dear old mom. I stayed with her through lunch. She was in good spirits. She did ask me to explain how and why she ended up in the nursing home.
At the end of the month, she will be 94 years old.
Linda did her baking while I was at the nursing home. After her baking, she had to set up three tables so that four people per table could play BONCO. At each table the host must provide snacks, but not the same ones at each table.
I decided to skip my afternoon nap, and work on my “Man Cave”. I moved some stuff around, and disposed of some stuff so that I could find a spot on the couch where I could sit and watch television. I had two sporting contests to watch. One was the Patriots vs New York Giants preseason football game. The other was the Red Sox game.
In a few short hours, I will be back on the golf course playing with the seniors. It is not supposed to hit 90 degrees today. The cooler weather comes in on Saturday. Linda and I can’t wait.
I might have to give up an afternoon nap again if I want to do some more work in the basement. This time Linda will be available to help out or we could procrastinate until next week. I am leaning towards procrastination.
Observation – It was hot in the house for the ladies when they were playing BONCO last evening. Linda and I can’t stand the heat. Next year we are purchasing an air conditioner for the first floor. Two of the ladies must not have minded the heat because they decided to have coffee. Most people wanted cold drinks. After visiting in Kansas, Hotlanta, Edisto Beach, South Carolina, we are convinced that we could never live in the summer time in places like this. I don’t want to go from and air conditioned house to an air conditioned car, to air conditioned stores, etc. I want to live in a place where 70’s during the day, and 50’s during the evening are the norm with an occasional day or two in the 80’s. I don’t want heat and humidity to control my life.
I remember going back to school when temperatures were in the 80’s, but never with temperatures in the 90’s. These past few days have been an aberration from the norm. I think Al Gore’s global warming theory is right on the mark.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
There are so many cultural events going on here in the Berkshires this weekend that I can’t keep them straight in my head.
Usually, we are invited to a Labor Day picnic, but we haven’t heard from any possible hosts yet.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Hello on Thursday
Dear Friends,
Another day went as planned for the most part.
Our first floor is almost back to normal. The furniture was delivered as scheduled at 11 AM on Tuesday. We have to hang a few items on walls today which will be our first project. We are still in enjoyment stages of how wonderful things have turned out so far. The change from laminated wood in the hall way from the linoleum which we had for over 25 years really looks great. The linoleum selection for the laundry room is great too. The vanity which we purchased at Home Goods is quite a nice piece of furniture. At times, I think that the vanity is too nice for that room, but it is the bathroom which most people will be using if they come to our house.
With the laminated wood in the hall way, I might be forced to take off my shoes especially in the winter time. On the other hand, floors are designed to be walked on.
Linda did go off to her Tuesday Mah Jongg session a little late because of the furniture delivery, but she did have a good time.
The cable guy did come to the house to repair a cable which the floor installer guys cut. The cable guy was technically challenged and couldn’t get everything back to working the way it was. I am having a friend come over after he gets out of work today to see if he can work out the kinks.
I did give the lawn a trim after the cable guy left. I used the rear bagger since the grass was a bit high. I will deposit the clipping at the resource recovery plant this morning before Linda wakes up.
After hanging pictures, Linda will be doing a little baking for Thursday’s evening’s BONCO session. I am going off to visit Mom in the nursing home when she is doing the baking.
My day doesn’t end with my visit with Mom. I have a 3 PM meeting at our house. A sports’ committee are going to discuss the possibility of sending a girl’s basketball team to our Irish Sister City in Ballina, Ireland.
Observation – I see where the President is going to address the nation with respect to our withdrawal from Iraq. He is not going to say “Mission Accomplished” like our last President did. There will be much discussion about whether the Iraq conflict was worth the loss of so many fine men and women in the military as well as civilian contractors. Can the Iraq people govern themselves without the help of the United States? Are the Iraq people better off than they were before? Will women experience the freedom that the women in the United States enjoy? Can Democracy survive in such a war torn region?
The winners in any war are the businesses which provide the military armament. These people want wars to continue as long as it is not their children who have to go to war.
In my Liberal Democratic way, I still believe that we can all get along without killing each other. Yes, we do have to be prepared for the wacky people who think killing your perceived enemy is the best way to address the situation.
If most people just tried to take care of their own family, and had just a little piece of the economic pie to do so, at the end of each day, they would be so exhausted that wouldn’t even think about taking the life of another human being.
I can see this as I watch my two sons and their wives work so hard to make their family situation work. One son tries to run a restaurant while his wife has a high level job of her own, and they try and raise a child too.
Our military son works his butt off, and is good at what he does. His wife gave up her military career as a pilot to be a stay at home mom raising their two children which is one of the most challenging careers that a person can have. Ask my sons and their wives how much “gas is in their tanks” at the end of each day.
Well, I have to finish the rest of my morning routine, and read the local newspaper.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
Another day went as planned for the most part.
Our first floor is almost back to normal. The furniture was delivered as scheduled at 11 AM on Tuesday. We have to hang a few items on walls today which will be our first project. We are still in enjoyment stages of how wonderful things have turned out so far. The change from laminated wood in the hall way from the linoleum which we had for over 25 years really looks great. The linoleum selection for the laundry room is great too. The vanity which we purchased at Home Goods is quite a nice piece of furniture. At times, I think that the vanity is too nice for that room, but it is the bathroom which most people will be using if they come to our house.
With the laminated wood in the hall way, I might be forced to take off my shoes especially in the winter time. On the other hand, floors are designed to be walked on.
Linda did go off to her Tuesday Mah Jongg session a little late because of the furniture delivery, but she did have a good time.
The cable guy did come to the house to repair a cable which the floor installer guys cut. The cable guy was technically challenged and couldn’t get everything back to working the way it was. I am having a friend come over after he gets out of work today to see if he can work out the kinks.
I did give the lawn a trim after the cable guy left. I used the rear bagger since the grass was a bit high. I will deposit the clipping at the resource recovery plant this morning before Linda wakes up.
After hanging pictures, Linda will be doing a little baking for Thursday’s evening’s BONCO session. I am going off to visit Mom in the nursing home when she is doing the baking.
My day doesn’t end with my visit with Mom. I have a 3 PM meeting at our house. A sports’ committee are going to discuss the possibility of sending a girl’s basketball team to our Irish Sister City in Ballina, Ireland.
Observation – I see where the President is going to address the nation with respect to our withdrawal from Iraq. He is not going to say “Mission Accomplished” like our last President did. There will be much discussion about whether the Iraq conflict was worth the loss of so many fine men and women in the military as well as civilian contractors. Can the Iraq people govern themselves without the help of the United States? Are the Iraq people better off than they were before? Will women experience the freedom that the women in the United States enjoy? Can Democracy survive in such a war torn region?
The winners in any war are the businesses which provide the military armament. These people want wars to continue as long as it is not their children who have to go to war.
In my Liberal Democratic way, I still believe that we can all get along without killing each other. Yes, we do have to be prepared for the wacky people who think killing your perceived enemy is the best way to address the situation.
If most people just tried to take care of their own family, and had just a little piece of the economic pie to do so, at the end of each day, they would be so exhausted that wouldn’t even think about taking the life of another human being.
I can see this as I watch my two sons and their wives work so hard to make their family situation work. One son tries to run a restaurant while his wife has a high level job of her own, and they try and raise a child too.
Our military son works his butt off, and is good at what he does. His wife gave up her military career as a pilot to be a stay at home mom raising their two children which is one of the most challenging careers that a person can have. Ask my sons and their wives how much “gas is in their tanks” at the end of each day.
Well, I have to finish the rest of my morning routine, and read the local newspaper.
Have a great Wednesday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad
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