Hello on Thursday

Dear Friends,


We made it through a cool Wednesday in the Berkshires. I had to turn the heat back on in the house. As we were doing some errands, the people whom we observed were wearing hoodies, and winter type clothing. The wind howled for most of the day.


Linda has an afternoon appointment at the would clinic today. I am hoping that the doctors give her a clean bill of health. She went in there last week thinking along those same lines, but it didn't happen.
When she wakes up each morning, and comes downstairs, she still doesn't feel like her normal self. Her wound area is still bringing her some discomfort. Like I said in previous emails, she looks perfectly normal when we are out and about, but not all the issues have been resolved.


I am assuming that she had fun with her knitting group last night, but I was in bed trying to watch the Celtic game. I fell asleep as usual, and was woken up by the roar of the crowd at the end of the game. The Celtics did win their last game of the season, but all the starters were given the night off. The second team players did a nice job against the New York Knicks who they will meet in the playoffs this weekend.


Speaking of the weekend, today I will put together a duffle bag of clothes in preparation of my babysitting gig in Tewksbury this weekend. I think that I will park the car in the driveway this evening, and head off to Tewksbury while Linda is still sleeping on Friday morning.


Social Calendar -- Linda's doctor's appointment isn't the only thing on our social calendar today. Linda is now a member of another book club, and they are meeting this evening. While she is doing her thing, I think that I will be heading off to the Italian American Club. There is another Polenta dinner which starts at 6:30 PM. Most of our friends who we would normally invite are busy, and some are partying in Las Vegas as I type this email. I will have to find an empty spot at someone else's table. Oh Darn!


Charlie Sheen was in Boston yesterday. Our son Kevin, who posts his daily special on line for his restaurant, "Dough East Boston", created a new sandwich in honor of Charlie Sheen. The description of the sandwich sounded great.
Charlie's one man show got mixed reviews. It is time for Charlie to get back to what he does best!


The New York State mom who drove her car into the water from a boat ramp with the thought of killing herself and her four children was a real sad story. The 10 year old who survived and who swam to safety will be messed up for the rest of his life.


The Japanese crisis, the Libyan conflict, and the unrest all over the world is so depressing to listen to and watch each day.
Also trying to follow American politics, and what out Congressmen and Congresswomen think should be cut is discouraging.
The rich continue to become wealthier. The Apple Company is nearing the 1 trillion mark in sales. The Curley's have contributed to that number.
More jobs are starting to become available which is a sign that our President has our country heading in the right direction.


USA Today had an article that losing weight is linked to better memory besides spending less money towards our health care system.


Observation -- Linda decided to watch a new program about coupon clipping and using. I watched the first show with her. The people highlighted in the program are fanatical. I watched them purchase over a $1000 dollars worth of groceries, and the out of pocket expenses were under $50 dollars. There are a couple of major problems. The film crew went inside the homes of the two people. Every room in their houses, including bedrooms, basements, and even a shower stall were filled with grocery items. A shelf in one house, had 50 mustard containers, 40 or 50 containers of laundry soap, over a 100 rolls of paper towels, etc. They also purchased frozen dinners, pizza, etc. Meat bought with coupons went directly into their freezers.
To me it was like those people whom we call hoarders.
I started thinking about all the food pantries which are always in need of food. The food bank volunteers could do exactly what these coupon cutters do every week. The people in the program will purchase multiple Sunday newspapers, and sit down an clip coupons. Often the whole family will participate in the coupon cutting, and purchasing of the items. If every food bank did what the coupon cutters did, the shelves in the food pantries would never be empty!


Weather -- It is supposed to hit the 60 degree mark today before we return to cooler temperatures for the next few days. I looked for 70 degree temperatures in the long term forecast, but I couldn't find any.


Gasoline prices -- Anyone who has to commute long distances to work has really taken a hit in their pocket books or wallets. We need these oil producing companies to stop fighting. I think that we are getting crude oil from these countries, but that the oil companies are gouging we Americans. I did see where they are going to let companies drill for oil in Pennsylvania, and most restrictions have been lifted. I hope that the lifting of regulations doesn't come back to bite us years from now.


Baby Boomer Stuff -- There was a very good article in our Sunday newspaper about who wants all the items that we Baby Boomers have collected and saved during our life time. Our children don't want any of it. As a matter of fact, our son and his family are moving from Kansas to Southern Georgia, and they are planning a huge tag sale. Since our son is doing some training at another Air Force Base, Danielle's mom is driving from Minnesota to Kansas to help her out with the tag sale, and to help take care of the two grandchildren.


Well, I have to stop composing, and finish my quiet morning routine.
Have a great Thursday.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad